FATHER'S DAY IN THE PARK

This morning I arose early to help set up for an outdoor Father's Day service and barbecue at church. Arriving at the Bear Creek Park amphitheater at 8:30 a.m. to prepare for an 11:00 a.m. service, much of the work had already been done. Some of the guys arrived at 5:30 a.m. to fill the portable baptistry and start heating the water. The tents were in place and the grill was already set up.

So, the 8:30 a.m. crew moved several dozen large, potted plants around the stage, roped off walkways, unloaded ice and bottled water and hamburger buns, ate doughnuts and drank coffee.

Then we posted ourselves at different entrances to the amphitheater, greeted folks as they arrived, and passed out programs and song sheets.

At 8:30 a.m., the tents for the food line (right) and the tents for the shade worshippers (left) were already in place.

Looking downhill from the shade tents toward the stage, a large trailer containing sound equipment and potted landscaping plants is being unloaded. The black box to the right of the stage is the baptistry.

The sound guy in the control booth checks his equipment. From this view, the baptistry is seen to the far left.

From the top of the amphitheater looking downhill toward the stage, the equipment truck and trailer (left) and the baptistry (right) are visible.

The baptistry up close.

From the baptistry (corner of baptistry shown in lower right corner), the sound guy is seen approaching the sound booth with the shade tents in the background.

Two women tell thirty men where to put the plants.

Plant placement crew at work as seen through a shade tent.

Eventually, we needed a coffee break.

The multitudes begin to arrive.

Debra and Ashley arrive and chat with friends.

A small group gathers and prays.

The multitudes continue to arrive.

An eyeball view of a Bible.

A Bible-eye view of an aging Christian.



A between-Debra-and-Ashley view of the preacher.

With the pastor shown preaching in the background (click photo to enlarge), not everyone was totally into his sermon.

After several baptisms, the multitudes were fed burgers and hot dogs. Then they departed unto the uttermost parts of the Rogue Valley.