from the pastor

August 25, 2002

Yesterday was Urbana’s Sweet Corn Festival. I missed last year’s festival but did manage to catch a few minutes of this year’s. The crowd was pretty thick yesterday. And there were numerous things to catch the eye, ear, and nose: sweet corn, kids on stage, antique cars, babies in strollers, the dunking booth, and informational displays ranging from church efforts at evangelism to gubernatorial electioneering to yoga lessons. And even at high noon, with the hot sun dodging most of the clouds, and the relieving breeze only sporadic, the festival was festive.

I was surprised in reading the Thursday paper to note how many other festivals were occurring around the area. We had our choice of the Windsor Harvest Picnic, the Tuscola Harvest Festival, the Fiesta Latina in Danville, the Hog Roast and Demolition Derby in Georgetown, and the Sangamon River Music Festival in Mahomet.

Why so many festivals? Do they serve some hidden, profound purpose in the community? What is their value?

When my daughters were little, we tried to make as many festivals as we possibly could. We had recently moved into a new community (Glen Carbon) and its festivals helped us feel a part of the village. Festivals showcased food and fun and fellowship: all essential ingredients to our communal life. Festivals were antidote to the routine and ruttedness of everyday life. Festivals help us define ourselves: with color and food and achievement and music and neighborliness.

In the Bible, festivals make an appearance even before the ten commandments and the rest of the laws. The first annual festival established was called the Passover. It involved food and drama and storytelling. It was a festival to introduce the children to past stories of God. It included a drama that brought the past alive again and helped people see how God was STILL doing the same things that God did in years past. The Bible goes on to establish a number of other festivals. In each case a festival resurrects joy, regales folks with stories of God’s faithfulness, and reconstructs a sense of community among people who often tend to veer in their own separate directions.

May God bless all our festivals.

The sermon series for September will center around the life of King David. David is a fascinating character in the Bible. His life consists of poverty, royalty, fights with giants, adultery, murder, treason, multiple wives, war, friendships, trouble with children, sibling rivalry, poetry, and music. His life had everything. And through it all, he and God stayed connected. The sermons in September will focus on David and his relationships: with Goliath, with Saul, with Bathsheba, with his children, and with God. I’ll look forward to your responses and thoughts as we share in this remarkable character. --Mike

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