As I was getting dressed this morning, I discovered that I had a problem finding a pair of socks. It’s not that there weren’t any clean socks in the sock drawer. My problem was that there were 8 white socks in the drawer, but none of them made a pair. Over the years I’ve had tube socks, crew socks and ankle socks of different brands. I’d buy 3-6 pairs of socks at time. It was easier that way. Instead of making “pairs” when they came out of the wash, I’d just dump them all in the drawer. Then, when I needed socks, I’d just grab the first two I could find, and most of the time I’d have a pair. But somehow, socks don’t always make their way to the laundry, or back to the sock drawer. I never worried about it. I figured the “lost” sock would show up after the next round of laundry. Today, however, all the white socks have been washed —and the reality is that I now have these 8 “un-attached” socks.
       I’m not really excited about the socks, though. I’m much more excited about the Organ and Sanctuary Project. A contract has been signed with Jacobson Contracting. The plans are in the final stages with the Department of Buildings. And, we have a tentative starting date of Monday, August 11th! The imminent start of construction means that we have some work to do. We have to move hymnals and banners and pianos and Lovefeast mugs and more, and store them while the work is being done. We will be preparing the Conference Center to be our temporary Worship Center. Some of the packing and moving has already begun. The date of August 9th, beginning at 9 AM, has been set as a “Work Day” to finish the work that needs to be done. Then, when  construction begins, it will mean that for about 4 months, things will be quite different. There will be some confusing moments, and some awkward moments, and some dusty moments, but, at the same time there will be some very exciting moments, as all the dreams and visions and all the planning becomes reality.
      So, what does this have to do with my socks? Well, it’s like this—as we begin to move things around, there will be a few “surprise” items in the drawers and closets. We will find a few things that we didn’t know we had. There will be “pieces without partners.” There will be a few “I thought we threw that out years ago” items. We will also probably find a few special items that will help us
remember special times, special events, special people, and special services that are part of our congregation’s sacred history. But, this project is so much more than just “cleaning out the sock drawer.” This will be the third time the current sanctuary will undergo a renovation. Each project has been undertaken with an appreciation of our past history and witness, with a commitment to continue that witness and ministry. Likewise, we aren’t doing all of this just to fix an instrument and give the sanctuary a face life. We are doing it to help prepare ourselves and our church for the ministry still ahead of us, and the mission of reaching out in the Name of Christ to this generation, and the generations yet to come.
       And WOW! That’s exciting! Exciting enough to knock your socks off!