Listen to how Frederick Buechner once described what could be a typical congregation as they gather in preparation for this thing that God has ordained… this thing called “preaching”:

“In the front row the old ladies turn up their hearing aids, and a young lady slips her six year old a Lifesaver and a Magic Marker.  A college sophomore home on vacation, who is there because he was dragged there, slumps forward with his chin in his hand.  The vice-president of a bank who twice that week has seriously contemplated suicide places his hymnal in the rack.  A pregnant girl feels the life stir within her.  A high school math teacher, who for twenty years has managed to keep his homosexuality a secret for the most part even from himself, creases his order of service down the center with his thumbnail and tucks it under his knee.”

Buechner then goes on to describe the one who preaches:

“The preacher pulls the little cord that turns on the lectern light and deals out his note cards like a riverboat gambler.  The stakes have never been higher.  Two minutes from now he may have lost his listeners completely to their own thoughts, but at this moment he has them in the palm of his hand.  The silence in the shabby church is deafening because everybody is listening to it.  Everybody is listening, even himself.  Everybody knows the kind of things he has told them before and has not told them, but who knows what this time he will tell them, out of the silence he will tell them?  Let him tell them The Truth.”

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
—Christ

Last Saturday a goodly number of Cornerstoners, ranging from seven–year–olds to seniors citizens, went on a fun–filled, four–and–a–half mile float trip with some outstanding young students from Boys Hope Girls Hope.

Only two canoes went belly–up, by the way.  And I had nothing to do with either one.  Honest.

Don’t know what Boys Hope Girls Hope is?  Here’s their mission statement:

“Boys Hope Girls Hope helps academically capable and motivated children–in–need to meet their full potential and become men and women for others by providing value–centered, family–like homes, opportunities, and education through college.”

One of our members, who volunteers at BHGH as a tutor, has described it this way…

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Some of the children from the church recently enjoyed an outing at beautiful Castlewood State Park.  What a great place for a Saturday hike!  The River Scene Trail is described in this way: 

This three-mile loop is the most spectacular trail in the park and highlights the park’s most memorable features. The trail climbs to and then traverses a series of bluffs overlooking the Meramec River. It then goes down a long wood staircase that takes you from the top of the bluffs to the valley below. From there, the trail takes you through an up-close and personal look at the river and the bottomland surrounding it. Along the way, you will pass panoramic vistas, remnants of the historic resort era and floodplain forest.

It did not disappoint.

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Ah… summer camp.  How does one describe it?

Faith–building lessons about the heroism of the Lord Jesus.  Silly games.  Camp food.  Silly songs.  Hayride.  Swimming.  Canoeing.  Serpent slaying.  Capture the flag.  Sports.  Bonfire.  Smores.  A cabin full of third & fourth grade boys.  The toilet in said cabin overflowing. 

And, oh yes… shaving cream fights.