Small Town Church

A good friend of mine and her husband chose to "move back home" a few years ago.  Her father thought it would be a good idea since he was alone, getting up there in years and could use the help.

In a small town, you also have small churches.  SS Philip & James is one of them.  My friend's dad is a pillar of the church and at 90 still teaches a small class in CCD.  Everyone knows him and he attends just about everything.  She recounted a story a couple of weeks ago that you'll enjoy.

One evening she returned home from work (she worked at the library), and there were all kinds of cars in the driveway.  She walked into the house and in the living room was a group of people, some she knew.  My friend asked what was going on and one of them answered, "Oh, we were looking for a place to hold our meeting and your front door wasn't locked."

And then, just as quickly, probably when she saw the look on my friend's face, she said, "Naw, your dad's downstairs having his meeting and we're having our meeting up here.  He told us to come over."

And her dad didn't think they needed a second bathroom.

Another story involves the annual mulching event at the church, usually held on a spring weeknight.  One guy who lives a ways down the street brings his John Deere mini-digger.  Oh no, he doesn't put it on a flatbed; he just drives it down the street to church.  Everyone else shows up in cars and digs shovels, rakes, clippers, and other yard tools from the trunks.  The mount of mulch in the church parking lot is enormous, but with all of the help it doesn't take long to do the fronts and sides of the church and school.  One of my friends found a way out of it; she professes to getting poison ivy from the mulch. 

Just before the church's 150th anniversary, people got together to plant some mums and of course, do the mulch.  I've never seen the place look so good.  One idea that seemed to catch on over the last few years was asking for volunteers to take care of one small section of the grounds.  The volunteer should weed, water, plant or do what is needed in that section to make it look good.  As a result, we have a nice variety of plants, colors and shapes but everything seems to flow together beautifully.  It is peaceful at church, with the small cemetery just out back.  Stones there date back to the Civil War.

When we talk about church, WE are church.  It isn't the building; it is the community of believers who gather together to know, love and serve God better.  Nothing illustrates this concept better than the stories about churches that have burned down, but on Sunday everyone shows up for services, even if they sit on folding chairs in the dirt.

Easter is coming closer, isn't it?  It seems like it was just Ash Wednesday and here we are just two and a half weeks away.  I still have a lot to do!!

Our Lenten quote for today is:

Teach us to give and not to count the cost.
St. Ignatius of Loyola