We've survived 5 weeks of construction disruption and it has been (mostly) painless. That's "fixin'" to change this weekend. Today we got the "official" word that Parkhill, Smith and Cooper (our architectural and engineering firm) has closed the east entrance into the worship center to avoid safety issues. It is anticipated that the entrance will be closed from 4 to 6 weeks. It's unreasonable to ask everyone to travel "around the world" to get the the choir entrances to the worship center for up to 6 weeks. So, today the staff made the decision to move worship to the Family Life Center for the duration of the closed east entrance. (Can't wait to see Jerry's face when he returns and sees/learns all that's transpired during his absence. We'll teach him to go off fishing in Canada and BRAG ABOUT IT before he leaves. This may very well be the last time he takes vacation and leaves me in charge!)

What does this change in worship locations mean? For one thing, we've had to relocate some Adult Bible Classes--mostly those meeting in the Family Life Center. Mike Lewis is contacting the teachers who will contact their class members. We will have folks in the halls Sunday to help direct you to your class. Another thing relocating worship means is moving chairs and getting a sound system. We're contacting deacons and class leaders to come tonight, Thursday, August 12, at 7:00, and help us set up the FLC. This is very short notice, but we're trusting that enough people will be available and willing to help. (We're doing it tonight so we'll have Friday and Saturday to "tweak" the setup, plus Friends of God Church meets Saturday, so we need to be ready for them.)

As I write there is a mason working on the space that used to be my window. The two windows in the inner office are blocked in and mine will be partially blocked. This is prep work to change the office space into preschool space. For a little while I've had an outdoor office--kind of nice but a little warm. It's all about progress, and we're making some.

Tennessee Ernie Ford was an entertainer of by-gone days (I'm barely old enough to remember him) who had a variety show. One comment from Old Ern' that tickled my dad was this, "You've got to go through a little brush to have a picnic." When our construction is finished, we'll have a picnic, but for now we're going through a little brush.