Read Online The Lutheran Ladies' Circle: Plucking One String by Kris Knorr, Barb Froman - Free Book Online Page B

previous summer’s soccer season. He shoved a pair of clunky-footed tennis shoes off the coffee table as he strode to the front of the room. “Okay, Pastor Jim once said that an epiphany meant—”
    Eyes were watching the big screen TV even though the sound was muted. Taking two long steps, he smacked the “off” button to a chorus of groans.
    “Now, if I could have your full attention. Kevin, how about removing your leg from the back of the couch, so you’re in a more upright position? Thanks. Now, because we’re in the season of Epiphany—”
    “What’s epiphany?” a blonde youth said as she checked her cell phone.
    “I’m glad you asked. Pastor Jim used to define it this way:   Epiphany is when you have a moment that makes you do this…” He held up one finger, signaling wait-for-it, drew a breath, and said, “Aaaaaah! I didn’t know that.”
    The kids stared at him with a nobody’s-home look.
    “When life makes you gasp, ‘Aaaaah! I didn’t know that,’ you’ve just had an epiphany,” he explained. The room filled with kids practicing their gasps and I-didn’t-know-thats.
    “Okay, okay. Now in order to give you many opportunities to have your own epiphanies this year, the youth group is going on a mission trip.”
    “Aaaaah! I didn’t know that,” said Marcus.
    “That’s not an epiphany. That’s an announcement,” said Phil.
    “What’s the difference?” Marcus squinted.
    “You’ll find out on this mission trip.”
    “Where’re we going?” someone asked.
    “Your committee voted on San Francisco. We will be working with inner-city youth, serving in soup kitchens and doing some improvement projects.”
    “San Francisco? I thought all the mission projects were in Mexico,” a tall blond teenager said.
    “See, you’ve had an epiphany already,” said Marcus.
    “Nope, that’s not an epiphany.” Phil pointed at the unenlightened youth. “That’s just correcting misinformation.”
    “I still don’t get it,” said Marcus.
    “You will. We’ll have fundraisers, so each of you can go. The Lutheran Ladies Circle has graciously offered to help us do the first one. Mrs. Henley is here to tell us about it.”
    The kids hadn’t seen Vera slip into the back of the room. She strode to the front, clutching a clipboard and pens, and stared at them until she felt it was quiet enough to begin. “The Ladies Circle wants to support you in raising money for this mission trip, so we propose to work with you in a deli sandwich sale for the Super Bowl.”
    Blank faces looked at her.
    Vera cleared her throat and continued, “All of us will take orders for custom-made sandwiches from now until a week before the big game. We’ll sell them by the foot, up to three feet. Our ovens can’t bake buns bigger than three feet.”
    Kevin snorted.
    Vera gave him her dead-pan stare. “We’ll meet on Saturday before the game and assemble them so people can pick up their orders when they come to church on game day. All of us will be working together, ladies and youth. I have sign-up sheets for baking, manning the sales table, and helping shop for supplies. All of us will assemble. Any questions?”
    “Didn’t Jesus kick over the tables and whip people who were, uh, you know, selling stuff at church? Isn’t this wrong?” Marcus had kept his hand in the air the whole time he’d asked the question.
    “Way to pay attention in Sunday school.” Kevin smacked his brother on the back. Marcus replied by elbowing Kevin in the ribs. Rowdiness broke out as the kids began laughing and talking.
    “Okay, okay.” Phil sprang out of his chair and stood bouncing slightly on his toes. “We’ll work out the theology. It’s a great start, and we want to thank Mrs. Henley and the ladies, don’t we ?” Vera was squinting toward the back of the room.
    “Mrs. Henley?” Phil asked.
    She craned her neck forward, trying to peer into the darkened corner. There were four wooden chairs in a semi-circle, facing the