Festival of Lights Set-up, Part I

It's that time of the year already! There is just a little over two weeks until Thanksgiving ... and around Calvary Church, it's time to set up for the annual Festival of Lights. Ten or twelve years ago, I know I helped with set-up one year -- maybe it was 15 years ago -- the boys were young then and enjoyed this kind of thing ... but it's been a long time since I have participated. I remember Sabrina and Jesse really being into setting this up, Nick and Shane (at about 10 years old) liked to hang out together at events like this, and I think Adam enjoyed it too. But most of them are very far away from Grand Rapids now. Mr. Jones signed the two of us up last week. He has helped out ever since he retired a few years ago.

However, our morning began getting our flu shots out at Grand Valley Health, Rockford. I have never had a flu shot bother me, but this time -- it was like the nurse was firing darts at a dart board -- OUCH!

Here are some pictures of what it was like for us today, helping to set up for Festival of Lights. Mr. Jones is singing again in the choir. I am not. I do not have the kind of voice that is needed for an event like this! But I can do this, not the technical stuff or electrical work, but I can test lights and climb ladders and do whatever is needed. It's a really big job and a lot of fun to be part of!

Mr. Jones and his choir buddy, Gordy,
were assigned the front of the auditorium ...
they made a good team!
This is Kevin, the main maintenance guy at Calvary,
building the stage that will extend up to the main platform
and along the wall of the baptistry ...
This shot is from the balcony ...
This guy is hanging the "icicles" ...
Mr. Jones and I only worked about 5-1/2 hours today,
but hope to work a full 8-9 tomorrow ...
It's pretty well-organized chaos actually ...
all the lights are separated out and labeled as 50's or 100's,
and each corridor of the church is marked and numbers
of lights assigned, etc.
This is Ron making sure the
Star of Bethlehem's lights all work ...
These are cascading lights that extend from floor to ceiling --
everywhere -- close to 200,000 lights ...
the end result will be dazzling and sparkling
and magical!
Just a perfect atmosphere to tell the
greatest story in the whole world ...
the one I never get tired of hearing ...
After all,
"God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all!"
I JOHN 1:5

Every year, hundreds of folk come to Festival of Lights --
some who have never heard the story, and others
who have hardened their hearts to it ...
but each year, many people's lives are forever changed
by hearing the Truth and receiving it!

I'll try to post more pictures tomorrow ...