Weekly Announcements

The Week of June 1st at a Glance

Mon. June 2 – Trustees Meeting, 6:00 pm (Rm 7)

Tues. June 3 – Food Pantry, 10:30 am - 2:00 pm (FLC)

Wed. June 4 – Prayer, 6:00 a.m. (sanctuary)
Praise Band, 6:00 pm (FLC)
4th of July Planning Meeting, 6:00 pm (Rm 7)

Thu. June 5 – Chancel Choir, 6:30 (6/7)

Pastor’s Corner

Angie and I had a wonderful vacation, we visited family and then drove to Fort Lauderdale Florida to take a 6-night cruise. We have not cruised in more than 30 years due to motion sickness, but there are new medications out there to help. And they did! The seas were calm and the weather was warm but still quite pleasant. But there was something I experienced and learned while we were out to sea. That is what this testimony is about.

The crew was made up of over 1000 people from 70 nations. They would be assigned to a ship for 6-7 months at a time. I believe the only thing they had in common was their employer, and they all spoke English fairly well. But I also noticed they had a strong desire to take care of their passengers. I am fairly good at reading people, but their desire to work together and take care of people seemed deeper than just doing a job to get a paycheck. Despite their differences, they worked together as a team.

And then there were also about 3000 passengers, mostly from the USA. My observation is that we were fairly diverse as well. There were the well to do, and I am sure there were some who scrimped for a once in a lifetime trip.

Then came my observations… often the elevators were very busy. But people were courteous to one another… all the time! Or at least all the folks I observed. If someone needed to bring an electric scooter in, we made room. If someone in the back needed out, we made a way and then piled back in. Most of the time with smiles on our faces.

There was always a diverse array of food to eat, to suit just about anyone’s tastes. Whether it was the high-end restaurants, the buffet or main dining room, there was something good to eat. (And too many of them were desserts). They celebrated Greek, German, Italian, and English cuisine days, but always had pizza, burgers and the likes available.

Now, I know not everyone was happy all the time. I have been around folks long enough to know better. Maybe I just didn’t see the below-deck drama, or the entitled snobbery of wealth. But what I did see was a diverse group of people, from all nations, races, social status, etc. working together, as servants or as passengers trying and actually succeeding in getting along together. If it can happen for 6 days on a ship, can it happen in real life? I have hope, after all, “with God, all things are possible.”

Blessings in Christ, Pastor Tom

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