This is an annual fall-kick-off event at St. Paul’s, followed by a picnic across the street in Bush’s Pasture Park.

Lots of pre-service choir stuff:

To start with, it was unexpectedly chilly, so Katie and Hollie found some warm sweaters to borrow from the poor barrel.

Then Dr. Klemme begins his instructions to the choir.

Even in picnic clothes, he has no trouble commanding respect.

Becky is here to rehearse us.  We are going to miss her when she leaves for her “winter  season” in Florida.

Sam is here, so we can get started.  It wouldn’t be church with out him as head usher.

Everything is ready.

The procession comes down the driveway.

Dr. Klemme turns from the keyboard to tell the congregation to stand up and sing.

Mother Heather welcomes everyone and reads the announcements.

The most popular worshippers:  Mother Heather’s daughter Eleanor Madge and her dad are comfortable on the lawn.

And this beautiful care-giver dog:

And, speaking of dogs, today the gospel reading was from Mark 7, in which the Syrophoenician woman dares to approach Jesus to heal her little daughter.  He says to her in verse 27,”It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”  And in verse 28 the woman replies,” Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”  At exactly the moment that Father Jim was preaching on this verse, a car full of barking dogs drove down High Street.  Father Jim’s timing could not have been better!

After the recessional,  everyone headed to the cars for the dishes for the picnic.  Here are a couple of smarties next to their Smart Car.  Actually Charlene is indicating their Obama sticker 🙂