All Saints Page #8

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It's almost time for the service.

You don't want to miss my last sermon.

(GUITAR STRUMMING)

ALL:
(SINGING) For the beauty

Of the earth

For the beauty

Of the skies

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies

Christ, our God

To thee we raise

This our sacrifice

Of praise

Thank you, children.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Today marks the end of a great institution.

It's so beautiful out.

I think we should go outside today.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Ain't got no mud in Nashville, George?

We made some friends.

I thought I knew the will of God.

Then came the flood.

What was I to think?

Why, if God asked us to plant these crops,

would he allow them to be destroyed?

Now, I don't know the mind of God,

and that's the truth.

Was it his voice I heard, or was it mine?

That's something to question, something

to pray over, at least for me.

A friend of mine felt called

by God to go to Africa, build a chapel.

But he wound up with an aqueduct.

Which is what the people needed.

We tried to save our church

by starting a farm,

but as we fought together

down here in these fields,

we found that we had actually

started something else,

something each of us,

in our own way, needed more.

A community.

Baptists from Riverview,

Buddhists from Nashville,

farmers from Smyrna,

farmers from the other side of the world,

connected beyond that building,

beyond this land.

It's our aqueduct.

Maybe it's what God intended all along.

Let us pray.

Father, we stand today,

not on the sinking sand,

but on the solid rock of eternal hope

in your promises through Jesus Christ.

Well, perhaps...

Oh, I don't know.

I know, George.

It's a shame, if the flood hadn't happened,

this would be a whole different meeting.

Okay.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(SIGHS)

Atticus, take a jacket,

it's an outside party.

The Reverend Michael Spurlock.

(AIMEE CHUCKLES)

It still sounds pretty good to me.

Even if I'm selling paper?

Especially if you're selling paper.

(CHUCKLES)

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

He did not almost hit me with the tractor.

I wish you'd quit saying that, Forrest.

- So, what did he do?

- I almost hit him

with a tractor, but it was

a very slow tractor.

So, I hear you may join Riverview, Mary O.

Yep. Seein' them boys helping us

in the rain, that sold me.

What about you, Forrest?

I'm gonna stick with these folks here.

Sorry I didn't call first.

No, you're... you're always welcome here.

I thought I might say a few words.

Okay.

I won't keep you long.

Closing All Saints

wasn't a hard choice for me, at first.

You, all of you, changed that.

I've spoken to the council,

and we've agreed to designate

All Saints a mission church,

like the churches we've built

in South America, Asia, Africa.

We believe that missionaries, young people,

and, most importantly, lost souls

will come to work these fields with you.

This place speaks to lost souls.

So, congratulations. All Saints' mission

is just beginning.

They don't understand you, George.

We get to keep the church!

(ALL CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)

Well, Michael, let's talk.

- Wonderful!

- Congratulations!

So, we'll assume responsibility

for the church's debt,

including anything

you've borrowed personally.

(CHUCKLES)

Wow.

I mean, wow.

(EXHALES)

Can we hire Ye Win as a lay worker?

I've already worked it out.

How?

In fact, how are you affording any of this?

We lost a top salary,

gave up a position in the leadership.

Oh...

Whose?

Mine.

I resigned, everyone moves up,

we leave a spot vacant.

I don't understand.

You know what I do more than anything else?

Budgets. (CHUCKLING)

Budgets.

I'm tired of it, Michael.

I want to be a pastor again, do some...

Some mission work.

Well, that's great.

Where?

Africa.

Maybe Burma.

We both have changes ahead, Michael.

You're at the River Jordan, son.

You got them to the promised land

but you can't cross over.

All Saints needs an experienced hand

to build its future, and you...

Well, you need some seasoning.

What's... what's the job?

Assistant pastor, not even associate?

Apparently, I need more seasoning.

- Was he punishing you?

- I don't know.

Where are they sending us?

New York City, St. Thomas Church.

Midtown. That big one.

Technically, it's a promotion.

But we've built a home here.

You should've heard him,

"Son, we need you up there."

St. Thomas is a dream church.

What could they possibly want from us?

Maybe an aqueduct.

(BOTH CHUCKLING)

(RHYTHMIC CLAPPING)

(INAUDIBLE)

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

MAN:
(SINGING) What do you see in me?

All those years are gone

When you were planting seeds

Did you expect my

crooked branches would grow?

The kind of fruit that feeds

Or the kind that leaves you wanting more

When I'm feeling tired

My head is hanging low

And I can't find my way back

Can I follow you home?

The second you believed

All those years ago

When you were pruning me

Said my crooked branches would grow

The kind of fruit that feeds

The kind that feeds the body, mind and soul

When I'm feeling tired

My head's hanging low

And I can't find my way back

Can I follow you home?

When I'm feeling tired

When I'm feeling all alone

And I can't see the road ahead

Can I follow you home?

When I'm feeling tired

Head is hanging low

And I can't find my way back

Can I follow you home?

Can I follow you home?

(SONG ENDS)

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly lean on Jesus' name

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

All other ground is sinking sand

Sinking sand

When He shall come with trumpets out

Oh, may I then in Him be found

Dressed in His righteousness alone

Faultless to stand before the throne

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

All other ground is sinking sand

All other ground is sinking sand

(SONG ENDS)

(SINGING) Dark clouds

Hovering over my house

Close the door and breathe out

Wait for the skies to calm down

'Cause one day I know

The storms, they gonna come

When it rains it pours it floods

With a new day comes the sun

Bringing life with her one touch

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