Field Notes #8: Memorial Day Off (Sorta Kinda)

I was hoping to spend this Memorial Day reading by the pool. Sadly, the weather has crushed my dreams. However, Mark is out back grilling now since the rain has let up a bit, so we'll still have our cookout in a way.

The church office is closed today, but I had already planned to be working from home, especially since I'm planning to be out of town Friday and Saturday. Plus I just have some cool ideas for things and want to work. I spent most of the morning brainstorming themes, Scripture and music for these alternative worship services we're planning for youth and young adults, and it was awesome. At one point I just stopped and thought, This is my job. I can't believe that this is my job. I feel energized. I'm doing cool stuff for Jesus that isn't a form of procrastination but is actually my job. Way cool.

We're looking at doing this new worship service (which needs a name...ideas?) on Sunday evenings every other week. I emailed a bunch of the youth leaders to get their thoughts, and I also asked them about something Val had reminded me about--planning a weekday activity of some sort for the youth. We could do lots of cool things, whether service, fellowship or formation, so I'll find out what they've done in the past and what they might enjoy. I definitely want to try and bring them to The Upper Room in Statesville when I play there on June 25.

I've also been thinking about possibly teaching a weeknight class maybe every other week. I've been feeling drawn to the Psalms as a topic, and I've already drafted an outline of a 4-part series looking at the Psalms as prayers, as music, as poetry and wrestling with the psalms of vengeance. Val is supportive but warned me these sorts of things, especially in the summer, usually draw pretty small numbers. I'm OK with that. We'll see what comes of it.

My other work item I want to start on today is sermon preparation. I'm preaching next Sunday. Egads! I've briefly looked at the lectionary texts and didn't get a whiffle (that's what some of my high school friend in youth group called a movement of the Holy Spirit), so I'll revisit them in a bit. I may even depart from the lectionary. Horror of horrors! But it's promotion Sunday, when HCUMC celebrates high school and college graduates as well as children moving from elementary to middle school and from middle to high school. I may choose something that would work well with that.

Burger time. Later I'm planning to watch Gattaca. I rented it yesterday along with Children of Men, which I watched last night (and which might get its own post someday due to one particularly moving scene). It's like I'm having my own personal futuristic dystopia film series.