My dad loves to tell stories. Now granted, most of
them require a LOT of creativity. Like the one about
how he invented snowboarding…In downtown Peoria…On
Marquette Street…In the 60’s…Oh, when you have time,
ask him about his decade long reign as the checkers
king of Marquette Street. Whether or not he intends
to be, my dad is a master storyteller.
As a boy I always loved it when he told stories
about the block parties his neighborhood threw.
While I can’t remember exactly what he said, I
remember the pictures that were painted in my head.
Actually, what I am probably imagining is the 4th of
July scene from the 3rd greatest movie of all time,
The Sandlot.
What I remember picturing in my head was children
playing in the streets—whiffle ball or that game
y’all refer to as kick-the-can (and I’m certain if
you ask my dad if he played those games, he’d tell
you yes and how he was the champ of those as
well…)—while their parents sit in their aluminum
lawn chairs catching up on the latest gossip or
exchanging their best casserole recipes.
Folks would stand with Lucky Strikes hanging from
their mouths and cool beverages clamped in their
sweaty hands. The heat from the setting summer sun
causing condensation to form on the cans. The
streets would be filled with celebration and
laughter, community and love. You wouldn’t be able
to hear the hum from the streetlights because there
was so much playing going on. In my head, I
understand why people refer to them as “the good ole
days…”
This past Saturday, the stories I was told as a boy
came to life as we at First Presbyterian Church had
a block party of sorts. Now, despite the unexpected
thunderstorms that rolled across Logan County late
Saturday afternoon, the party went on and a great
time was had by all. Friends and strangers, children
and adults, Presbyterians and Lutherans, among so
many others, gathered around tables, including the
picnic kind, and shared life.
What was the reason? Why did we spend money to do
something like this? What mission organization will
benefit from this? Well, we had a party because we
wanted to. And we had hotdogs and games, art and
music. And it was a great time!
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What a joy it was to see people gather together for
the sake of gathering and breaking bread on a day
that wasn’t Sunday. As a community, we have
something good happening among us. Our space, it is
a warm and inviting one. You know something, though?
What we did Saturday night wasn’t new. The church
has been doing this for quite some time. In chapters
14 & 15 of the Gospel of Luke we see how many party
scenarios there are:
• Lessons at a dinner party - 14:1-14
• Parable of the party - 14:15-24
• Party over finding one lost sheep - 15:1-7
• Party for finding one lost coin - 15:8-10
• Party for the return of a son - 15:11-32
Jesus went to parties. Jesus talked about parties.
Jesus loved to party! Celebrating and being
neighbors for the sake of being neighborly is
important for the development of community. It is
necessary for the love of God to manifest here and
now. By celebrating in parking lots and in the pews,
in the streets and in sanctuaries, we are reclaiming
a lost art, the art of life together. Not only as a
church but also as a neighborhood. You never know,
we might invent a new game. Or at least be known on
the block as having the best neighborhood block
parties! And that’ll be a story to tell! Party on
church! But do so responsibly!
[Adam Quine, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church
of Lincoln]
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