Last Tuesday I joined with some members of Faith UMC for the South Burlington "National Night Out" Parade! (You may have seen our picture in "The Other Paper.") The weather was beautiful and the spirit was joyful. Maybe it's true that everyone loves a parade!

During our walk down Kennedy Drive and Dorset Street we handed out Twizzlers and church brochures to the spectators lining the sidewalks. Bouncy Balls were bounced to the kids. We also shared our treats with those stuck in traffic while waiting for the parade to pass. It was fun to see their grumpy faces turn to smiles as we passed a Twizzler through their open car window.

What I enjoyed most about the event was being involved and present in our community. The banner we carried displayed our Cross and Flame and declared us as "The People of the United Methodist Church." To those we encountered, we were the people with the Twizzlers and Bouncy Balls, the people who shared a smile. There are certainly worse things to be known for! It seems to me that if we brightened just one persons day, if we shared the love of Christ with just one individual, we were exactly where we were supposed to be!