Where Church and Footy Combine
Idle chit chat around the dinner table, a few reminiscences about Celebration Sundays past, Ezra Janetzki (a keen sportsman) just dropping in the comment …” we could have a footy theme”. Laughing contributions from the assembly … goal posts, banners, sirens and umpires …. all was ridiculous grist to the mill and nonsensical ideas flew thick and fast. And then, we thought, we can do this.
The Pastor was a little bemused, and he wasn’t the only one. But the idea gained momentum and with each load of crepe paper and completed banner the excitement grew. Pastor Tom figured it out. Malcolm Schmidtke wrote the slogan “many clubs one team”, Mark designed the flyer, the congregation were encouraged to, and did, wear their footy scarves and club colours. Sunday School made pom poms, the younger people helped with the floggers on their weekend away. Irene organised a post-match footy feast.
The big day arrived. The excitement was of Grand Final proportions. Children were everywhere, blowing up balloons, waving streamers and generally having a good time. The prelude, the procession, banners lining the walls of St Johns, the siren, the welcome, the wonderful hymn “Love Divine, all loves excelling” sung with joy and thanksgiving. The forgiveness.
The service was full of happiness and gratitude for God’s goodness to us all, we gave thanks for our peaceful land, our right to worship openly, and for sport and footy especially. We joined in Psalm 100 with glad hearts. We sang “There’s a gladness in my heart”, and it was true. The readings were all about thankfulness. Our Pastor showed that he knows, and can sing, almost every club song. We shared communion and community. We were blessed, and we knew it.
Postlude in E-flat major pro organopleno, cum cantumanusTigriumRichmondiae(~JS Bach) arranged by Graham Lieschke. A shower of red balloons representing footballs, streamers everywhere, and smiling, laughing, happy people. So much happiness and generosity and open spirit and love.
And then Melbourne beat the Gold Coast Suns by 2 points. A perfect day.
Pat Buchanan St John’s Southgate