THE RECTOR’S CORNER

The Reverend Canon Greg Frost

    Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer

“Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Those days of soda and pretzels and beer. Or so the song goes.” We are into summer in the church. At one church in which I served on the last Sunday of May each year this fellow used to come up to me and say, “Have a great summer. I will see you in the fall.” Basically,
he took the summer off from church. This used to bother me, but it doesn’t any more.

Summer is, of course, the time for vacations. It is the time for us to get away from all those things which we need to get away from. We “vacate” the premises so to speak. And that is okay. So, this summer as you vacate Los Angeles and get away how about you take along a copy of the Fisherking or one of our bulletins and take a picture of you and the Fisherking or bulletin at the place where you have gone on vacation. If you do this, then I will grant to you, by permission of my most holy office, dispensation from going to church while on vacation. But more than that, it would be just fun to see how far and wide our parishioners travel. And it is like taking us with you. All photos can be sent to Cathie Coppolino upon return, and she will print them in future Fisherking editions. As a prize, I would grant you a free get out of Hell pass, but since Hell doesn’t exist, it would be useless.

Now, for those not traveling far and wide, I have an offer for you. Take the Fisherking and photograph it with something in a very creative way. In the past, one parishioner, who loved to fish, took a photo of a dead trout wrapped in our newsletter. It was pretty funny, but the editor of the newsletter didn’t take too kindly to the implication.

I know that attendance will be down in the summer as all of you take vacations. But it doesn’t matter if when you travel, you take the spirit of our faith community and the God we believe in along with you. Remember to love others not as you love yourself since many of us don’t love ourselves very much at all. Instead, love others as God loves them. Look for Christ in the faces of those who are strangers. Look for Christ in the different cultures and customs even if you never leave the United States. If you do this, then I don’t mind if you don’t show up during the summer. I don’t mind if you “vacate” us because I know that you are living out the love of
God wherever you go. Oh, those lazy, hazy, crazy, days of summer! Have a soda, a pretzel and a beer. And enjoy!

A note from the editor. I think this is a terrific idea and I’m gong to look forward to those pictures coming in during the summer. Here’s how. Most cell phones these days have remarkably good pixel quality and if yours is one then just have someone take a digital picture with your cell phone and email it to me from the phone—
Use this email address cathiegc@hotmail.com. The larger the picture is, the better! So check the settings on your cell phone. I can edit as needed. Or wait until you get home and load up your digital pix on to your computer and then email the one you like to me. September’s issue will be larger and won’t it to be fun to see
where you (and the church publication (bulletin or newsletter) have been! Have a fun and safe summer!