☀️Launched Sun

Friday, August 18 - 2023 Week 33

Aug 18, 2023

It’s Friday, Marysville! Let the Sun launch you into the weekend.

☀️Summer Sundays

“Sleepless in Seattle” lied. One of the characters tells Meg Ryan’s character, “It rains nine months a year in Seattle,” and she says, “I know.” We locals know that it doesn’t really rain that much in Western Washington, and much of that “rain” is more like sprinkles anyway. But even when it’s not raining, the skies speak in grey. That part is for real, except for July-August-September when the sun is out and about.

When I moved here more than twenty years ago the summers surprised me, not so much because it was hot and bright, but because everyone went camping. Sun’s out - go out. Rain is away - get away, somewhere.

I’ve been a pastor during all these years, and as anyone who has ever made a religious joke knows, that means I only work one day a week. That day is Sunday, what we moderns think of as the end of the weekend. Add that to the fact that I’ve never been the hiking, tree-hugging, tent-dwelling type, and my preferred view of the summer sun has often been through windows.

This is no rant against RVs and road trips. The desire to enjoy the outside while it’s more enjoyable resonates with me now more than ever. It’s proverbial wisdom applied to vacations: make camp while the sun shines.

But don’t forget that there is nothing new under the sun, that everything done under the sun is vanity and striving after wind, that much of what is done under sun is grievous and with nothing to be gained. King Solomon made these observations, and of course he was referring to all of life without a transcendent reference point, not just to more time exposing yourself to possible skin cancer.

Perspective depends on where one looks from. Standing near the top of Mt. Pilchuck enables quite a panoramic view, but viewing Mt. Pilchuck as part of God’s creation enables quite a humbling and heartening head’s up. Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and all these mountains! And while these thoughts can occur ubiquitously, they are stimulated and supplemented when we gather to worship with the saints on the Lord’s Day.

Corporate prayer and praise, singing and Scripture-hearing, these are how we keep politics in its place, how we realize what education is truly about, how we remember what our work in business is for. The Sun has highlighted a few Marysville churches in previous issues this year (Marysville Foursquare, Cascade Christian Reformed, Allen Creek Community), and still hopes to do more. But when the sun is out this summer, don’t forget the good of Sunday and worshiping the Lord with a local church.

☀️Viral Feelings

The song “Rich Men of North Richmond” has been viewed over 21 million times on YouTube in just nine days. The thing is all over social media, and I even heard it played on the local pop-country radio station yesterday. Major news outlets are writing reviews, major record labels are offering Oliver Anthony yuge contracts. If you haven’t heard it, please note that it does have some strong language. Here’s one positive reaction worth watching, and here’s a criticism about how the song “doesn’t love its neighbors” that may (or may not) be worth reading.

It’s been a while since the Sun has ran a poll, so, let’s see what you think:

☀️Big Buildings

From Jake Goldstein-Street in last Friday’s The Herald: “Marysville planning $73M sports hub, with downtown apartments, hotel.” The second paragraph includes the line, “will become a top destination,” and YES! Do click through to read the article, which includes a photo of the spot near Ebey Waterfront Park where the Riverview Sports Complex will be built, along with more explanation of development plans for the 20-acre area.

And from Lauren Rosenblatt in last Friday’s Seattle Times: “Amazon to open its largest WA warehouse in Snohomish County.” It’s on the map as “PAE2” and while technically an Arlington address, Marysvilleans will be benefitted (and traffic-burdened) by the new facility.

☀️Local Events

Free Popsicles with the Marysville Police Department and LINC, NW - today, Friday, August 18, 11:00am to 1:00pm at Comeford Park. See the Facebook event page for more.

All Marysville Garage Sale - tomorrow! - Saturday, August 19, 8:00am - 5:00pm. For more info follow the Facebook page or see the website - marysvillegsale.com - which includes a map of all the participating homes.