A few weeks ago, my family and I watched the movie musical, In the Heights. Some of you Broadway Musical buffs will remember that this was once a Lin-Manuel Miranda production about life in the New York City community of Washington Heights.
It’s a great take on life in a dynamic community, but that’s not the subject of today’s forecast.
No, what’s got my attention today was the ‘Behind the Scenes’ featurette about the movie-musical that we watched several days later. The ‘making-of’ video revealed all the behind-the-scenes magic, hard work, and coordination that it took to make the movie look so authentic and pitch-perfect. The video also highlighted how little I know about what goes on behind the scenes in the world.
When I go to the bank, I see only a fragment of all that is required for me to access our funds. When I make a quick grocery store to grab some bananas and milk, I rarely think about how those bananas got to me and what was required of countless individuals so that I could have my morning cereal. I could go on and on, as I’m sure we all could.
For the moment, though, I want to say thank you to the cast and crew who help to make the First Baptist Church of Sylva possible. Much of their work happens backstage and in the orchestra pit, and goes unnoticed. Although their efforts may not receive much attention, their contributions are immeasurably important to the work we’re called to do.
Thank you to our staff who have had to make last-minute changes to their rhythms, schedules, and tasks these last months.
Thank you to the ones who arrive early to help set up for worship, and to those who stick around late to accommodate the needs of others.
Thank you to those who spread tablecloths for special events, and those who bake goodies to share at receptions and parties.
Thank you to those who pick up trash on our campus, and who crunch numbers from our church’s investments, and order supplies that the rest of us often take for granted.
Thank you to those who share their love of gardening with our community by tending to our flower beds in our front and back yards.
Thank you to those who meet and prayerfully discern projects for us to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.
Thank you to the ones who manage our soundboards, video cameras, and microphones on Sunday morning.
Thank you to those who set up chairs, care for the noisy air conditioning units, and clean carpets.
Thank you to the ones who do the maintenance on our church vehicles, and for those who spray the weeds in the cracks of our parking lots.
Thank you to those who look over spreadsheets, transfer funds, and know when it’s time to refinance.
Thank you to those who review resumes, manage our hiring processes, and tabulate something called FICA.
Thank you to those who fiddle with technology so that Sunday School classes can have good content.
Thank you to those who text, call, and visit those who are sick, anxious, and worried.
Thank you for those who rehearse their worship offerings and for those who endure 2-hour planning meetings.
Thank you to those who are good under pressure, who ask good questions, and who can remain calm in a crisis.
Thank you to the ones who count our church’s tithes and offerings, and who write acknowledgements to those who receive honorariums and memorial gifts.
Thank you to those who throw out old ketchup from refrigerators, and for those who broker deals for our facility to be cared for, and for those who meet with contractors and vendors.
Thank you to those who put toilet paper in our bathrooms, and for those who dry clean our baptism robes, and for those who swap out the flowers in our sanctuary.
Thank you to those who give content for our newsletters, share recipes, and send birthday cards.
Thank you to the imaginative and selfless ones who are willing to care for others in new and creative ways.
Thank you to those who linger in the parking lot to visit with someone after worship, and to those who make special trips to drop off diapers to an expectant mother.
Thank you to those who preserve our history, dig trenches for water to drain better out of our playground, and research new door-entry systems for our office staff.
And thank you to those who open doors and take extra time to assist those who move a little slower than they once did.
I suppose we could be church without these selfless acts that happen off-stage. But who would want to?
Thank you, First Baptist, for being faithful in the small—and often unseen—ways. We couldn’t be church without you.