You've done it! You baked 240 dozen delicious chocolate chip and sugar cookies, neatly packaged two per baggie, now ready to be given to almost 1,400 hungry school children on Calhoun Square this morning.

The lemonade is prepared and the cups and ice are on the tables ready to be poured and shared with 1,400 thirsty school children on Calhoun Square this morning. Volunteers from our church will serve cookies, lemonade and a generous portion of God's love to these public school children who come annually to Calhoun Square for Massie May Day.

I wish you could see these children filling Calhoun Square dressed in the costumes of various countries, sitting on blankets with their teachers, dancing around May poles - 1,400 lovely children, laughing, dancing, and behaving very well.

This congregation is involved in all kinds of service to others. In the last couple of weeks a faithful group of men worked over the course of 3-4 days to renovate a Savannah home in the sweltering heat. We participate every year in Rebuilding Together, both with generous financial support and with willing servants. We host families and children three times per year through Interfaith Hospitality Network, providing meals and beds for families trying to get back on their feet. We feed children every week through Backpack Buddies. I could go mention many other areas of service.

Serving cookies and serving lemonade to children is mission, too. It is the simplest way this church can show love to others, and I am proud of this cookie-baking congregation! To see the smiles on the faces of these children is a huge reward. To cooperate with our Calhoun Square neighboring Massie School is immensely satisfying. To cement the historic relationship of church and public school for the greater good is inspiring.

As I gaze from the window of my office the children are gathering. Soon we'll give away all cookies and lemonade and those children will climb back aboard their yellow school buses fortified with God's love. And maybe, just maybe, there will be one baggie left for the senior pastor.

Creede Hinshaw

P.S. Memorial Day marks the traditional start of summer, although the thermometer tells me it arrived early. At any rate, you won't want to miss worship this Sunday. The heat comes just in time as I warm up for a sermon on "The Harrowing of Hell." We'll also rejoice over a baptism and the confirmation of our newest class of church members.