Church Picnic - Alaskan Style

All-Church Picnic – Alaskan Style
Cars, pickups, and even a motorcycle began arriving at the site. The Tesoro Oil Company’s Picnic Grounds was the place. Some 125 people from Peninsula Grace Brethren Church, Soldotna, Alaska attended the all-church picnic on Sunday, July 15th. By 4:30 pm canoes were launched on the lake. By 5:00 kayaks had been added to the flotilla.
“Y’all come” was the invitation (some of our people hail from the south). So we did. Some regretted wearing sweatshirts, because the sun was shining and the day was… well, the day was considerably warmer than at first expected. Some hardy souls (plus a bunch of children) went swimming in the (approximately) 43 degree lake. Frisbees and footballs flew. The volleyball court was busy. People talked (some simply sat, sunned, and, maybe, snored).
Chef Leroy Heinrich and his minions ably grilled the hamburgers and hotdogs, while the ladies set out side dishes and desserts (among which was one of Janice Thornton’s strawberry-rhubarb pies – Umm-mm!). Lemonade was the beverage of (only) choice.
At 5:00 pm, the Native Youth Drummers Team played and sang Native Alaskan songs. Then we ate.
But that was just the beginning. There was more to come. After the eating, the Drummers led us in another Native song : “Jesus, Purify us”. Then we participated in a feet-washing ceremony as the second portion of the Communion service. Not always do we meet out of doors, nor do we use water dipped from the lake, but we obeyed Jesus’ command to “Wash one another’s feet”.
While this was taking place, one young boy asked his uncle : “What are the men and boys doing in the pavilion?” His uncle replied: “Washing each others’ feet. Would you like to? “Yes.” “Before you do, there is something you must understand. Everyone in the pavilion has trusted Jesus as his Savior, and only they should wash feet...Have you ever asked Jesus to be your Savior?” “No.” “Would you like to?” “Yes.”
So Tim told Carlos the Old, Old Story, and shortly after the main foot washing had ended I looked into the pavilion, and there was Tim, kneeling at the feet of his “new-born brother-in Christ” nephew, washing his feet. What a Birthday celebration there must have been in heaven just then !
Following that we shared in the Eucharist. Then, after the Drummers led us in “We Are One in the Spirit, We Are One in the Lord”, we moved to the lake front. There Pastor Keith presided as Brian, a father baptized his two daughters, Fiona and Devon, in testimony to their faith.
Then back home again. Back to...a normal week? No way! We entered the week with a renewed sense of what it means to be part of the Family of God, including being a portion of the sub-family called Grace Brethren.
Picnic – Alaskan style...now that’s the way to do it (up here on the Kenai Peninsula, at least).