I have been deeply involved in VBS this week. It was important for my little congregation to have their own independent VBS this year, as opposed to doing a collaborative effort like they have for the past 30 or so years. It makes them feel like the "big league", since they finally have their own pastor (me) for the first time in as many years.

We used denominational curriculum. We chose it, frankly because it was very affordable (cheap), and could be done in a kind of "homespun" way, with a minimum of purchased props. We came out about $5 ahead, budget-wise, after members donated funds and materials, plus we collected about $50 in kids' offerings, which will be sent to Heifer Project International.

Last year I and some stalwart volunteers from St.Stoic assisted in a collaborative effort with a parish arrangement that my church had been part of for many years. It was slick, hollywood, and had high production values. It was cool, but cost about $600 dollars to pull off. It also had to be altered slightly because of theological reasons (it skewed a little evangelical for our group).

I'm liking my little homespun church of 160 members more and more all the time!

But I'm tired. Combined with my little insomnia problem this week, it has left me drained and without a written sermon as of 9:00 PM local time on Friday. I am considering doing something I have never done: preaching a re-tread. Since I have actually preached this lectionary passage before at a real church, it's not as if I'm trying to pass a seminary paper off as a sermon or something. But still I'm feeling guilty.

Have any of the Revpals ever done such a thing, at the end of a hard week?