A friend, mentor, and brother priest once remarked to me that every parish has a “thing.” It might be a bazaar or a fish fry or a bluegrass mass or a preaching series, but that thing can say a lot about the true nature of a community, much more than any creed or mission statement. Obviously, our thing at the Chapel is a Day in the Country and it says a lot about us.
First of all, I am so grateful for another successful Day. Liz and Tony Risher provided excellent leadership, the booth chairs rallied their troops, the crowds were huge (despite the road construction!), and the weather was perfect. The only noteworthy “crises” I know of was the Drink Booth ran out of water and the Snack Shack ran out of nacho cheese! Good problems to have. Our diligent financial folks are still tabulating the net income and Liz and Tony will announce “the number” as soon as it is available.
A Day in the Country is many things: a fundraiser for outreach and historical preservation, a herald of the arrival of autumn, the opportunity to clear out some unwanted stuff for the Chapel Attic, and a chance for our bakers and canners to show of their culinary mastery to the detriment of my waistline. But most importantly a Day in the Country is a celebration: a celebration of our community.
I like to use the word celebrate a lot at church. Worship is a celebration: a celebration of God’s love, Christ’s resurrection, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. In our prayers every Sunday morning, we remember different members of the parish, not only because they might be ill or in need, but also because we celebrate their place in our community. At our august and historic altar, we celebrate the Holy Eucharist and feast on the bread and the cup – and us priestly types do not monopolize that celebration, but all of us celebrate the sacrament as a community. And a Day in the Country is full of celebrations. We celebrate when we put those little decorative thingys on top of the jams and bottled hell. We celebrate when we knead dough and shape loaves. We celebrate when we stir red beans, roast corn, and boil peanuts. We celebrate with beautiful music and crafts from local artists. We celebrate when we share our stunning chapel and her history with our neighbors. We celebrate each time her bell rang out.
A Day in the Country is a success because we welcome so many, because we use the proceeds to do good works in our community and be good stewards of this sacred place, and because we work so hard to accomplish all that needs to be done. But Day in the Country is a celebration, because in the booths, friendships are made and confirmed. In the kitchen, differences are reconciled in the breaking of bread. On these grounds, we cease to be just people, and we become brothers and sisters in Christ. And that is worth celebrating.