July 26, 2017
“How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony” (Psalm 133:1). I observed this statement in action last Friday evening at the annual Wood Village City Nite Out on our church campus. While the community enjoyed four hours of free food and entertainment, more than 100 teens and adults from our church family served hot dogs, chips, salad, popcorn, cotton candy, ice cream, water and sodas – and cleaned up the campus afterward.
After doing this for 19 years, we have worked out a plan that runs smoothly and moves along quickly. But the best procedures are only as good as the people who do the work. The crew that sets up during the day follows pictures and diagrams of past events. My own checklist has 21 items on it just for the day. Some items, like ice for the drinks, have to be done just hours before the event.
As the start time approaches, the traffic people move into action and the parade arrives. Most years, a helicopter lands on the field. This adds drama as well as serves as an announcement to the community. The roads are cluttered with vehicles, and many people walk from their home. Within minutes, the campus is buzzing with hundreds of people.
A bounce house and obstacle course for children, demonstrations by the Sheriff’s Department, music by professionals – this all follows the opening ceremony with a Color Guard and singing of the National Anthem. At 9:00 p.m., the crowd is gone and a clean-up crew works for an hour. We go home thinking, “That was fun and I’m glad it is done for another year.”
What happens at City Nite Out is an example of how marriages and families, as well as churches and businesses, are supposed to operate. When everyone has the same goal and no one is trying to gain personal attention, a lot can be accomplished in a joy-filled experience. How wonderful and pleasant it is when people work together in harmony.
Pastor Bill Ehmann