St. Patrick's Day dawned bright and glorious, and while Andy and three of our children were up in West Virginia snow skiing, Lucia and I were marching in Augusta's St. Patrick's Day parade once again this year.
Alleluia Community has for several years had a contingent marching in this parade. It started with just a couple of our college aged men desiring to represent Christianity in a parade that celebrated a Christian Holiday. They donned six foot crosses and proudly marched the downtown streets of Augusta, amid the floats and marching bands. Over the years it has grown from those first few men to entire families complete with babies in strollers and toddlers in wagons, throwing candy to those they pass along the parade route.
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| Lucia and Me |
Marching on St. Patrick's Day has become a tradition for our family. The younger kids love the excitement of it all; the gathering of their friends and classmates; the sporting of silly green hats and fancy beads; the throwing of the candy. The older kids have taken their turns carrying one of the large crosses.
Yes, I have to admit, marching is fun, but there is more to our tradition than the secular world might realize.
We march because we want to remind others that St. Patrick's Day is a celebration of the life of a man who loved Jesus, and he lived his life in a way that is worthy of our admiration. We march because the world needs to hear the good news of Jesus' cross and resurrection. We march because we have been given this opportunity to represent Jesus, and if we don't take it, we may someday lose it. Sometimes we find mission work right in our own backyard.
So lift high those crosses, put on your green clothes, and let the celebration begin!
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| Waiting to Start |
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| Here We Go1 |
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| Hi, Laura! |
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| Lined Up On Broad Street |
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| The Stroller Brigade |
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