Two winters ago, Craig and I were both serving at the Unitarian Universalist church in Geneva, Illinois. We liked to stand out in front of the church and greet people as they came in. Since both of us have a bit of a competitive streak in us, we kept on standing outside to greet people nearly every week right up through the end of December, no matter how cold it was (rain was a different matter — we stood inside when it rained). And we managed to brave the cold at least once a month through the entire winter.
So last week I got a challenging email message from Craig. He’s now at a church in Wisconsin, and he said that he had been standing out in front that church on Sunday morning greeting people. As I said, we’re both a little competitive. Of course I had been outside that morning — I nearly always stand out in front of the church here in New Bedford to greet people before worship. But now, clearly, the gauntlet has been thrown down. So Craig, I’m making this public:
Sunday, February 4, 2007. Stood outdoors to greet people for 15 minutes, from 10:40 to 10:55 a.m. Weather at 10:53 as reported by the National Weather service Web site: clear, winds 17 mph (gusts to 25 mph), temerature 24 Fahrenheit.
How about you, Craig? Any other ministers or religious educators out there want to take the challenge?
You are soooo bad.
You crack me up.
I was telling this very same story to some of my parishoners today after the service. The topic came up because one of them mentioned in jest that I was not outside to greet them today.
“Ha Ha,” you say.
“Ahem,” I say.
The temperature in Milwuakee this morning was 6 degrees Fahrenheit. The wind chill … well, lets not talk about the wind chill. It was so cold, the walk from where I park to the church was down right dangerous.
And, in another flashback from those days of yesteryear, when I walked into the sanctuary, I could see my breath. (A boiler fan had gone out in the night. It was 30 degrees in our sanctuary this morning.)
No, Dan, I did not stand out and greet people this morning. I was a little busy.
But I thought about it.
And I might next week.
And the week after that?
When I have a mutual friend in our pulpit, I will then for sure– just to have the witness.
Hey… wait a minute, Rev. I-checked-the-National-Weather-Service.
Don’t suppose you already knew how cold it was in these parts prior to this whole gauntlet throwing thing….
Hmmmm?
“Sunday, February 4, 2007. Stood outdoors to greet people for 15 minutes, from 10:40 to 10:55 a.m. Weather at 10:53 as reported by the National Weather service Web site: clear, winds 17 mph (gusts to 25 mph), temerature 24 Fahrenheit.”
Well, sure you were outside: that’s a *heat* wave!
Craig — No I didn’t check how cold it was out there this past Sunday. I do remember one Sunday when it was that cold in Geneva when you and I stood outside for five minutes. But you get a pass this week because the heat was out.
Jean — You forget, this is a boy machismo thing. I’ll be out in front of the New Bedford church the next time it’s really really cold here (which may be this Sunday). And yeah, it gets cold here in New England too — that cold front just came through into our area last night (we’re usually about 24 hours behind you).