By Rev. Andy Nelms
October 27, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Trunk or Treat
6:30 p.m. One Church Worship in the Sanctuary
Once upon a midday dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
I read my Bible some more.
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping at my chamber door.
“Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my door.”
It was the Raven, all black and slender, arrived this time to deliver
A message cheerier than the last, although who could forget the past?
Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore” arrived again for something more
He was donned with a scroll as he flew through the door
But I did not know what for.
After chasing the Raven through my living room
Breaking everything and incurring my wife’s doom
I had finally a chance to read the Raven’s returning message.
Although it was oddly clear, no one questions a Raven quite so dear
To the holiday of Halloween or to the oft-remembered Poe of yore.
I unrolled the scroll donned on his claw and began reading more.
“I came to invite you to a family-fun event” began the note,
“to spread a message of love and hope.
You’re invited to a Trunk or Treat on October 27, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Acts 2.
We’ll have 40 trunks, all lined in a row, for your children to go
Collect candy and play in a safe place.
Finally, when you get hangry, we’ll have pizza in the gathering space.”
“So please don’t attack” quoth the Raven,
“I’ll help you clean up before your wife gets back.”
Then the Raven perched above my chamber door, to tell me something more.
“I’ve got more to say,” “Okay,” I said and listened closely.
“You’re invited and you should go,” said the crow…err…I mean Raven
“This will be such fun, come all of you. Bring family and friends too!”
We’ll have balloon animals and fun, for the whole family to invent.
“There’s even a chance to win a $100 gift card to Main Event!”
Quoth the Raven “but wait, there’s more.”
“There’s good people there, at that church.
There is a community called Acts 2, but they’ve also started something new.
A new community for new people they hope to invite you to.
They worship every Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel.
They worship on Fridays so your family won’t be in a lurch.
What’s more, they call the thing “One Church.”
Now this Raven had come back to my home, but instead of delivering a dreary tone
Has invited me to find a church home.
“This is odd,” I said to the bird who shrugged and flew away, not another word.
Now I’m left with this mess still to clean all by myself but also something more.
I’ve a chance to go to this Trunk-or-Treat find other families to meet,
There’s even pizza to eat!
Who could forget about a chance to worship and even that gift card?!
This could be fun and shouldn’t be hard.
All I have to do is come and play, I don’t think I could wait all day!
I’ll be there and I hope you will too
As we do what families during this time do.
Please come and have some fun, I swear I’m almost done,
To the Trunk-or-Treat, on October 27, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Acts 2.
It will be so much fun for me and you!
