Hallowed & Bethlehem

I will tell you about some of the events that I have been busy with through church:

Hallowed (if you are confused by this description, just skip to the next paragraph):

Tonight there is an event called Hallowed. It's kind of hard to explain, but it will be a night of music and art with the theme of "sanctuary" that is an outreach in Downtown San Jose. The building is an old dilapidated youth center that I love because I love old buildings that are falling apart. On Tuesday we painted two little rooms and installed lights and doorbells and such and last night we brought in furniture and decorations. The people are going to enter the first room, which is all black with a black light. On the wall is written, "have you ever felt lonely? If so, write your name." and they write their name with yellow highlighter (which is really fun, I think). The idea is that everybody has lonliness. On another wall, it says "if you are alone, push this button." So they push it, and it is a doorbell and we are inside another room that is decorated like a living room with Happy Birthday stuff and we sing happy birthday to them (we know their name because someone on the outside greets them with a wireless mic) and they blow out the candle on a cake. The idea is that sanctuary is a place where you are accepted, like a birthday party. It's a little complicated, and I'm excited to see what happens tonight.

My college/career group is in charge of just one room -- there are lots of different groups involved in this event.

Bethlehem

Each year, my church does an event called "Bethlehem" where they turn our church parking lot into Bethelehem. It looks amazing. go to: www.bethlehemsc.com. Our church isn't that big, so I'm amazed at the size of this production. This was the first day of construction and I went to help from 9-2. Everything is in big trailers all year in pieces so they just have to put it all together (I say "just," but it is an enormous task.) I had the job of shoveling dirt to fill in around where they recently poured concrete. My arms are jello now. It was so good to be working with people, to be doing something physical, and to be outside. I thought a lot about family work days... building fences and roofs and gardens. It was funny to me that a guy my age had never shoveled before, because I think I have done a fair share of shoveling in my life. I think the day would have been more perfect if Cindy had been there calling for cookie breaks every so often. :)

So if you want to come visit me sometime, you should come December 6-10 and see the Bethlehem performance. I think I'm going to either be a greeter or in the marketplace. I hope I'm in the marketplace. Sounds more fun.