We are approaching the first official weekend of Summer 2022. What are your plans?
Many of us look forward to enjoying the great outdoors or possibly traveling to another locale. Summertime is eponymous for sun-baked relaxation and vacation time, but with so many options and a such a big block of time, knowing exactly what to do can sometimes be overwhelming. Where will you turn to find out what options are available?
Sadly, our favorite cruise director Julie McCoy from the old “Love Boat” television series will not be available to help set our schedule of events. Instead, you will have to look elsewhere to find out what is happening. Are any outdoor festivals or art shows taking place? What concerts are being held in the area? When are the beaches and parks open? Does anyone know what sporting events are planned?
You can peruse calendars of events found in local newspapers, tourist magazines found in hotel lobbies, or pamphlets from local chambers of commerce to help you plan your summer adventures. These resources provide valuable information to help organize your fun, but I wonder how enjoyable it is to compile listings of all these interesting gatherings. There must be real-life cruise director Julies working behind the scenes.
Two “Julies” come to mind. One I’ve never met, the other is a transplant from Arizona who now knows Long Island quite well. The first cruise director is named Lynn Petry; the second is Kristen Reynolds. I only know Lynn through her byline in Newsday; she is a researcher/reporter that covers most stories in the entertainment section of the newspaper recommending things to do. Let’s pray she gets to enjoy many of the events she suggests. The other cruise director is someone I have personally worked with over the years. Kristen is the Executive Director of Discover Long Island, formerly known as the Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau & Sports Commission. She is charged with marketing and promoting tourism in our region, an effort that infuses more than six billion dollars in visitor spending. Both ladies are fabulous at fostering fun!
Wherever you ultimately receive your ideas to plan for your weekend, please remember to include on your to-do list some time to give thanks for all the choices for entertainment and enjoyment. Worship the source: the Almighty God. We invite you to cruise into worship this Sunday, June 26th at our 8:00 AM, 10:15 AM, or 6:00 PM worship liturgies.
Blessings,
Pastor Marc
