This weekend has been mostly good. I did a dialogue sermon with Jon on St. Patrick and it was a hit at all three services. The performance of “Some Enchanted Evening” by the Licking County Players raised almost $1700 for the Heating Fund. (The church really needs a new heating system.) The Irish Potato Bake was a success and raised quite a bit for the Licking County Food Pantry. It’s about 50 degrees warmer than it was earlier this week and absolutely beautiful outside.

The Setback: Someone came in and stole the offerings from the first two church services this weekend and the money raised last night for the heating fund. It happened some time between 10:00 and 11:30 and it really spoiled the rest of the Irish Potato Bake. I’m furious about this not because of the offerings stolen (even though those go to pay Jon’s stipend), but because they got the heating fund money. Jon’s supervisor Bill and his wife Judy subsidized the performance and Judy was actually the musician. These are two very giving people and it pains me that their gift to the church was stolen. Bill was in shock and I’m not even sure he ate lunch today. I seriously hate this — Bill has really tried to make sure that Jon and I have been comfortable this year and he’s been almost a father to us in a lot of ways; and I hate that something like this has happened that seems to have wounded him.

I would be more than willing to put another $30 (the price for our two tickets) toward the heating fund because last night’s performance was worth far more than that. If everyone there did that, we could probably raise the money again and there would be something to go to the fund. I know that the church has been really trying to figure out how to pay for the new heating system, including not having an intern for a few years, which would put a great deal of stress on Bill as the parish really does need an intern.

I know I shouldn’t let this ruin my weekend, but I am so angry that this theft happened.