28 October

On the Journey

                            The Miracle of a Christmas Bazaar

              The first Saturday in November is quickly approaching. Some among us may be unaware of the significance of that day. Others of us may be nearing panic mode as the day looms ahead on our calendar. I would advise you not to ask Wynn Ava Sherron or Theresa Prewitt about the first Saturday of November. For months, along with a group of bazaar women and men, they have been living in anticipation of this day—the day of our annual Christmas Bazaar. As the day approaches, their hearts tremble with both hope and fear.

              Their fear is a natural but unnecessary emotion. Fear is natural because they want the bazaar to be an unprecedented success. For more than a decade, our Christmas Bazaar has grown larger and larger. Our success has required us to expand our seatings for lunch from 80 to 136 at each session. The gym is now completely devoted to trash and treasures. Since January, folks have been sewing, quilting, drawing, painting, creating, and arranging things for sale on this day. The folks who have invested so much time and energy want to build upon the success of past years. It is their deepest hope that the total on Saturday afternoon becomes a new standard for measuring success.

              Their fear is unnecessary because we will celebrate the success of the Christmas Bazaar no matter what the totals are. For years now, the Christmas Bazaar has provided welcome moneys for our outreach ministries. We cannot imagine how many children have been touched by the proceeds of the bazaar through the Immanuel Preschool. Countless children have been taught to celebrate the wonder of their uniqueness—a gift of God. Thousands have been introduced to Jesus through The Life of Christ in Living Pictures. This presentation of music and drama has prepared the hearts of believers across our region to remember the true meaning of Christmas—the birth of Immanuel, God with us. We wait to see the impact of mission trips to Eastern Kentucky, Toronto, Russia, and Chicago upon the lives of our young people. Hopefully they will be possessed by a global consciousness seeking peace for our world. For these intangible reasons, we will celebrate the success of the 2009 Christmas Bazaar. Our hope is that more lives with be touched by the love of Christ, as we continue to reach out beyond ourselves.

              The Christmas Bazaar is also, in some ways, a test of our faith. You see Immanuel Baptist Church is an organization composed of volunteers. We freely, without coercion, participate in the life of Christ through the mission and ministries of Immanuel. As of today, absolutely no one knows what the fellowship hall will look like on the first Saturday in November. We don’t know if the tables will be laden with wares for sale, or if they will be embarrassingly bare. We don’t know because we are unaware of the things many of our members are preparing for that day. Somewhat miraculously, they will begin to appear on Monday, 2 November, and they will keep appearing right up until we open the doors on that Saturday.

              Today, we know the menu we will serve at the luncheon. We know, too, the number of tickets we have sold. As of today, there are less than 5 tickets available with folks on a waiting list hoping some tickets are turned back in. Today we don’t know how well we will serve the meal. For you see, on that Saturday morning, volunteers who may have never worked together will arrive to serve a meal that was prepared on Thursday and Friday by folks who may have never worked together. Yet, miraculously everyone will enjoy a delicious lunch served with great courtesy and beaming smiles.

              The most fearful thing about leading a volunteer organization is that you cannot anticipate the sacrifices individuals will make for the sake of the whole community. Yes, we all have busy lives with places to be. Yet, is there not a time when we choose to do something that has the potential to touch many lives, sacrificing our own plans for a Saturday for the greater good of the community? Yes, it is possible; in the mystery of God’s way that sacrifice may be rewarded when you stumble upon a special Christmas gift or bump into a friend you haven’t seen.

              For those of us who say we aren’t that “crafty” or that we are not into “that kind of thing”, can we not be gracious enough to simply come by the bazaar on Saturday, 7 November 2009, to let those friends who are working so hard know that we appreciate the sacrifices they are making on behalf of us all.

              The Christmas Bazaar is amazing to me because so many people give so much of themselves, their time, and their creative and imaginative energies for the sake of others gladly and joyfully. Yes, it is better to give than to receive. I invite you to experience the joy of giving on Saturday, 7 November 2009, through the Immanuel Baptist Annual Christmas Bazaar.jamie