Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Liturgical dancer from morning service

Tuesday, July 3 

    OK, so maybe the title for today actually doesn't apply until tonight, but it sounded much better than writing "Committee Meetings, Round 2" 
     I spent about 45 minutes today at Subway, eating breakfast and sketching before attending worship at 8:30. Enroute to the Convention Center I dropped down to walk through the waterfall river between the two sections of the center.  As it slopes downhill, I had the initial sense of descending into the depths of hell (yesterday's committee meetings), but washed cleaned in baptism of Christ as we go into the world.  May I take that sense of peace to my Committee today.  May all committees.  And then worship.  A wow moment.

Mark 2:1-12 - The story of the paralyzed man lowered through the roof.  "They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men.  When they weren't able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher.  Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, 'Son, I forgive you sings.' (The Message, 2-5)
Margaret Ahmer, professor at the Interdenominational Seminary in Georgia, was our preacher on the above text with a sermon titled, 'The Faith of the Unidentified'.  I was nearly in tears over the power o this sermon, delivered with the volume, intensity, and humor of good black gospel!  I hope I can portray some of that intensity in my drawing. The music and dance of the service were also wonderful.  Heart of the sermon: We can't get past identity today, but Jesus didn't care.  What mattered was their faith, what they did.  (My roommate just told me that Margaret Ahmer is the writer of this year's Beautitudes Horizons Bible Study.)

     After worship, a hurried rush upstairs so as to be on time for Committee Meetings.  We plodded through the morning, making a little faster progress as our moderator and leadership team seemed to be a little better prepared, or at least had read up more on some of the tricker polity issues!  The discussion was polite, but it was apparent that the consensus of this committee is NOT to return to our previous policy, but to move on.  By noon, we still had over 10 overtures to act upon.  Most of them were singles, each needing action as we couldn't group any together anymore!
     Roger, Linda, and I went to Mahoney Sports Bar for lunch, where I had a wonderful portebello mushroom burger with sweet tater fries!  Yes!

Roger, Ginger, Linda, and Pete at the Pirates game

     Back to work and things really started to pick up.  We got into more detailed discussion on adding "repentance of sin and grace" to one of the overtures, but overall most everything went as I voted.  Basically we were done with the voting and moved into a worship and communion service at 3:45 to 4 pm.  The worship was good, as we joined in one big circle, all sharing a verse of scripture we found personal, singing some songs, etc.
     Back to pack up for the ballgame (change shoes to tennies, etc) and then returned to DLCC - Luke was STILL in his committee, so I went in and sat with him for about 20 minutes.  The exhibit hall was closed.  Then off to meet Roger, Linda, and Pete for our trip to the ballgame.  The weather is hot and sticky, but at least the short and quick little thunderstorm didn't change anything.  It was a great game - the Pirates came back to win with a home run in the 9th inning!  Three home runs were hit, so $300 for food banks from the Presbyterian church!  Pete bought us all chili cheese dogs, and I went and bought a soft ice cream cone later.  Got a Roberto Clemente jersey as a gift also!
     Asleep by 1 am - I have a 7am breakfast in the morning.  Oh boy.

     Too late to color any pictures.  I have five waiting to be finished!  But I need some sleep!