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Pastor's Page |
J. STEVEN MINDRUP, INTERIM PASTOR - Phone 815-988-4992 - Email:
Hurrah for the Sandwich Fair!
When I got the news in June of 2014 that I would be assigned to a church in Sandwich, Illinois, numbers of people said things to me like, “Don’t miss the Sandwich Fair!” Folks from all over know about the fair and want to be part of it.
When I got settled into Sandwich that summer I soon learned what a Big Deal the fair is. Practically before I ever preached a sermon I was recruited to run a cash register and cook French fries at the Log Cabin. I found that, not only did my church members volunteer hundreds of hours, the whole community seemed to come together to participate in the five action packed days.
I admire the sense of unity and strength the fair gives us. Wandering the thoroughfares, it seems that all of northern Illinois is there.
I love the fact that there is something for everyone at the fair, from the outrageously cheesy to the beautifully sublime. What’s your pleasure -- carnival rides, machinery, handcrafts, foods, animals, entertainment, all sorts of goods and services to buy? If you can’t find something at the fair to capture your interest, you’re not paying attention. Maybe having an elephant ear will help focus your mind.
I love how the fair celebrates rural culture, and the agrarian economy that drives it. It reminds us of a time when most Americans lived on farms. At the fair we see that our neighbors still plant and harvest, still care for livestock, still fashion things of beauty with their own hands, and still contribute to the vibrancy of American life.
So I say, “Hurrah for the fair!” Sadly, my current disabilities will likely keep me from attending, so have a smoked turkey leg for me and enjoy yourself.
- Steve Mindrup
