Day at RUMC

Roswell United Methodist Church. I spent almost my whole day there two days ago. In the morning we got ready, taking showers, eating breakfast, getting dressed in church garb, such as long collar shirts with dark red and grey, for me anyway. Then we drove to the church, parking and going into the large huge sanctuary. When we walked in, the congregation was already singing and then they did a nativity playact with people reading from the Bible out of mikes, other people singing songs in between this time, with people pantomiming being shepherds, Mary and Joseph, and angels. They didn't do the wise men though, as they came three days after, not at the very night. How can you blame them, one was from Africa, another Greece. That's a long way from Bethlehem. Their caravan got delayed, a camel broke down in mid trot. Still, three days isn't too bad. Anyway, their acting was nice. The person in charge of the drama asked me to be a shepherd by phone, but we only got the message after the practice. I'm kind of glad I didn't do it. It didn't look fun, to just stay still while the people sang, in a position of fear or terror. After that they lit the four out of five candles that have some official title....hmmm...., oh well, they lit some candles. After that they did an advent.... that's the name for the candles! Ok sorry I just forgot. Advent Candles. Anyway, after that they talked about a mission trip and other things in Africa, where they teach people to become ministers. It was very sad to hear about all the children and how little food, water, and utilities they have. Very sad.

Closing songs and a benediction, then the service ended. It was a really good service. The nativity scene thing made me remember the true meaning of Christmas, and the songs were great. We went into the big, lobby, going down a lot of indoor carpeted stairs and then the stone outside ones. Mom, Dad and Rebecca went to the car, and I headed with my bible up a hill to the youth building. I saw Mr. and Mrs. Gould, plus their children Betsy and Steven. They are our friends, and they went quickly inside after saying hi for a minute. I'll describe them at a later date, as I am seeing them today actually. They had to leave because they were involved in yet another nativity scene, and so ran in with Mary and Joseph garb. I walked through a path on a field, then up to the yellow twisted house looking building, three floors in all, the Dod. I checked in with Mr. Sawyer over a technology thing, and then stayed around in the lobby before going back into the lounge. There I casually talked to Sydney and a kid with glasses, brown hair named Jackson, who I later found out was the son of Jason and Jennifer Scott, Jason Scott being a youth minister. Jackson is nice. We all talked of girls and school and church, you know, kid conversations, joking around and throwing doughnut boxes at each other. Oh yes we did.

We were called to go into the little Sunday school room, where we sit around a large table, do a lesson,(after checking in on a piece of paper on the wall) talk about Christ and different things, and then after that either break into smaller groups or either staying together, depending on the size of the group. The room is called Corinth, others Israel and other famous places of the bible. The bible is full of so many great stories, it's incredible. In there we talked about whether it's good to be inside or out of the box, me thinking Mr. Dorvee (the man doing the lesson, nice, brown haired, smart, knew we were going on the trip) meant being boring or creative. He meant being inside or outside of the box for God, wanting God to be in the box with you, as in go with your life and don't do anything out of the ordinary, or go outside of the box for God, doing good works and administering the gospel. He asked what would we do if a guy needed money on the street, what would we do if he asked? I told about the Louisville Kentucky incident in which we gave money to a guy who needed to get on a bus. In return, he did a back flip onto and off of a wall, telling us that he was a Karate master. Dad had said he scammed us, which might or might not be true, and other people told of other experiences. We later talked about the story of Zechariah and how he didn't believe the angel and didn't want it to happen, and then how Mary accepted the circumstances and pledged herself to God. It was a very good lesson, although some rowdy boys were doing silly things and lessening of the fun time of it. Oh well. That's life. Make it into cranberry juice.

At the end we all left, and I talked to Mr. Dorvee a little about the trip. We did read bible verses in the lesson too, I forgot about that. After talking I waited around for Mom, talked to Jackson a little, about Kendall and Sydney and their relationship. Then I found out he was Mr. Scott's son, and suddenly a lot of stuff made sense. I waited on the porch and inside for Mom, and she finally came, and I went with her into the car. For the next hour or two I would read those unputdownable Left Behind books, blog, and chill out a little. We wrapped a present we had gotten the day before, an awesome black flashlight that is long as a stick, has lights on it's sides, and can change colors. Who was it for and why did I reveal it? It was for someone, in a game called Dirty Santa which the kids at RUMC were to play in the Fellowship Hall, after eating and seeing the iHope thing. I was going. It was to be very fun.

At 5:45, Mom and I got into the suburban, with present and five dollars for the meal. We drove over, and I was dropped off, without my money. So when I came into the fellowship hall, seeing middle schoolers and high schoolers in a line getting tacos and salsa and other Mexican foods, I had to stay put until Mom came in to make sure everything was okay, which she said she was going to do. Everything was all pumped up for Christmas, complete with elf hats. By one entrance was a table with ladies taking money. I stayed below the radar, even though I saw a few of my friends. Zach was there. He had his costume on from a prior day, the mailman thing. I then saw Mom, and she gave me the money. I then paid the nice ladies at the table and picked up a plate, going through the line with the people handing me things. It was from Moe's, a restaurant Julie and I went to one night. I sat at a table seeing Kendall and his friend he brought, a nice black haired guy named Riot, which was what I thought was his name until he confirmed it as Wyatt. Embarrassed was I. I wanted to talk to them, but they were only on their phones doing little games, and so I quietly took my plate to a room in the back, where the performers, including Zach and Sydney, were staying. Mrs. Cheryl had prior told me I could do that if I wanted. I told Mom (she was still there, with Rebecca, wanted to stay for Rebecca to see iHope) that I was going and explained why. I came into a small room with the same round tables as in the other, kids of my age all about. I knew most all of them. As I sat down, I talked to Zach a little before JJ, a nice lady who works there said, "Okay, 8 minutes 'til show! Everybody finish up." With that everyone got up and put away their plates, all in a fast measure. Zach and others were sorry that they had to leave. A few of the teachers stayed, and then left. But that wasn't the worst of it. I said, "Well it could be worse" as a rain drop from the ceiling came onto my plate and one in my head. This was very, very lonely. It was sad too. I finished up though, and walked off. Such is the life of a traveler.

At Kendall's table again, the show started and it was as great as I saw it the last time, with the music, sound, lighting, acting and band all being good. I had seen it before on another Sunday, which you can see in Sunday the 11h, a blog of mine. At the end though they finished it before doing a certain song, Mrs. Cheryl came out and acknowledged it. She also made it do again, and then they did it well. Mom took some good pictures. After they did it we sat in our tables as Jason Scott made a few announcements. About this time Zach left, with his Dad. Jason told us to get in two groups to play the Dirty Santa game, and I went on to the right with only a friend named Mitch, and Sydney. Other people I knew were on the other side. He explained everyone was going to be in a circle, and people would start either going to the table and getting a present or taking a present from a different person. A present could only be bought 3 times. We got into the back of the fellowship hall, into a circle. I was by Sydney and an older awesome mentor I have named Chad. It was to be an interesting game. People started going, mostly getting gift cards and maybe a CD. There were cool ones though, a lava lamp and a 20 questions thing. Not many people stole from each other, they just kept going to the table. There was a lot of 7th and 8th graders, and only a few of us, 6th graders. It finally came to Sydney's turn, who was on my left. She went to the table and came back with my wrapped snowman papered gift, my flashlight. She didn't know it though. I laughed and had some guilty looks. She opened it and I proclaimed it was mine, yes mine. She said, "Oh yeah! You talked about getting a flashlight." I guess she liked it, and she kept laughing about how she got it from me and other things. Well, it was then my turn. I can't say I was excited, because, most of them were gag gifts. Over at the little table I saw a basket full of different gift cards, and little bags with paper hiding the gift. I picked the biggest of those. Back at my circle I opened it, and behold! An angel nightlight!

I have to admit I was disappointed. A nightlight. Really? There was something else though. A green little cardboard box, which I opened. In there was a silver square tag with a slot in which paper goes. It was the tag to a suitcase, with instructions and all. This was worse. A lot worse. I was disappointed. I admit it.

Chad, who didn't go to the table, stole the flashlight from Sydney. She was reluctant to give it away. She did though. After the game, everyone made barter deals as they switched their presents outside of the game. I kept pursuing people to trade but couldn't get anyone to take two presents: one that was a baby gift, and one an adult one. When people started leaving Sydney kissed Kendall (gross,) I ran around chased by Jackson's little sister and horse played, and I confronted Morgan and we made up. By that I mean we were okay with each other, and that neither one of us was mad at the other. Happy ending. Jackson and I were the last to go. I saw Mrs. Scott again. She has brown hair and is thin and nice. Mom picked me up and then we went home. Dad laughed over the gifts I got. I then went to bed. I had a good day at church and had an awesome time playing. Goodbye for now.