VBS and Retirement

Pastor Dick and Pastor Char showing off the thumbprint crosses the children made for them during VBS week.

Here's a video of the kids singing "Ten Thousand Reasons," a beautiful song they learned during VBS. Can you spot Jack and Owen singing their hearts out (in the back middle, wearing blue and turquoise shirts)?

This was my third year working in the kitchen with my friends Emily and Marnie for VBS week. I kind of grumble about it but then it's always a lot of fun.


Pastor Dick and his wife Esther. After a lifetime in ministry, Dick retired. He is so loved and there were lots of tears shed in church on Sunday. We are deeply grateful for his sharp mind and tender heart. Someone stood up in church and said it best: Pastor Dick has the ability to combine intellectual rigor with messages that comfort the heart. He makes everyone he talks to feel like they're his favorite person. And he truly reflects the love of God, challenging us all to "live freely and responsibly in Christ." We are very sad to see him retire but we honor his years of faithful service.

Pastor Char, our Children's Minister, also retired on Sunday. She has been such a light to our family and many others. Under her watchful eye, the children's ministry has grown enormously. She knows each child by name and makes them feel so special and loved. She has taught the boys so much about Jesus.

It feels like the end of an era at our church. We're sad to see these precious leaders go but also excited to see what unfolds.

pageant

Jack's line: "That night in the fields near Bethlehem, some of the shepherds were guarding their sheep."

Yes, folks, we had real live animals traveling to the stable in Bethlehem.

Owen kept patting baby Jesus' head, while corralling his restless goat. Check out the video:

And suddenly a great company of the heavenly host came upon them. Literally. Whoosh.

Owen was a very attentive shepherd. Notice him bending over his goat. Owen named his goat Munchie, because apparently he enjoyed eating Mary and Joseph's hay bale.

Check out the video for the general ambiance. Just a few traffic jams and runaway goats. I believe there was even a rogue bowel movement.

Christmas pageant

On Sunday, we had the children's Christmas program at our church. 

First up: a rousing musical number. I hesitate even to include this sample of my trashy videography skills. Seriously, take some Dramamine before you watch it. Good luck finding Jack. Hint: he and Owen are just about the same height. (Plus, who is that shepherd yawning in the front row? Full disclosure: we only made it to one rehearsal; can you tell?)

Next up: Jack, a tourist in the "Colorado Christmas" part of the play. All the kids had different lines about our special state, and how no matter where we live the most important part of Christmas is Jesus' birth. Didn't he do a great job? He had it memorized but wasn't averse to some help from Pastor Char, our director of children's ministry. And how about that native Spanish accent?

And finally: Owen as a shepherd in the nativity play. I was so nervous watching "Mary" hold two-week-old baby "Jesus," especially when the angels jostled their way up to the stable and everyone started petting his head.

 See that sweet shepherd on the back left?

 Classic Christmas pageant mayhem. But sweet nonetheless!