This past Sunday evening we held our annual Back-to-School Bash on the church grounds. We had spent many months preparing, planning, and gathering things to make the event successful. As the trucks began to park, raising tailgates and flashing lights, things started to feel exciting—this was definitely going to be a different kind of night! The air around us seemed to point to a storm coming, but our phones showed no rain on the forecast.
The rain came first as a little sprinkling just as the Bash kicked off at 6, but then about 20 minutes later the whole bottom of the sky seemed to fall out with thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. Pandemonium broke out. People were running for shelter under the many tents or under the covered awnings. This could have been the terrible ending of a hard planned evening, but instead something beautiful happened. The teams quickly pivoted, pulling in tables and tents and resumed passing out backpacks. The guests were gracious and grateful. Everyone was a little wet (no one was spared) and we had to change nearly all of our plans, but every person I talked to was joyful.
I think my favorite part was watching our church members who were passing out the backpacks say many encouraging words to the tiny students, just like my grandparents did to me. They were telling the kids “We prayed for you” and “You get all A’s this year!” (much to their parents' delight). The whole thing felt warm, kind, and loving--even in the midst of the thunderstorm. I know those upstairs near the registration table and games experienced and displayed similar spirits of love. I came upstairs shocked and delighted to see where they had invited everyone inside. Our sanctuary was full of people singing and chatting to ride out the storm.
I’m so proud of the way the church showed up for the community in this event, and for the love that persevered through our wet clothes and wet hair. I saw glimpses of Christ’s love just about everywhere I turned. If you weren’t able to come, ask someone who was there for a story or two.
Beloved of Highland Hills, thank you for Sunday night. It was beautiful. We’re on the right track, and I think we’re running the right race. You all are a wonderful cloud of witnesses.
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