Issue 47: Planning

End of one Season. Prelude to the next.

Dec 20, 2024

The Season 25 Project is sitting at Christ The Good Shepherd Parish and I’m at the point where I’m going over the entire season. The good and the challenging elements. Taking the time to see what worked with the build and what needs to be improved on. Coming up with new ideas on how I can build Season 26. Along with a lot of prayer as to which direction the Lord wants me to travel on. Both with the build and with my goal of bringing out my work so people can see what I’m doing in person.

Challenges in my work is not unexpected. Given the nature of what I do. Often times I get ignored or minimized because I’m a “grown man who plays with LEGO”. Yet I think that as it relates to the Catholic faith I do have something unique to offer. Devoting a lot of my life’s work to prayer as I’m building. I often think that my work is a reflection of that dedication and trust I have in God. Season 26 will be no different in that respect.

To that end I have a few goals in mind for the upcoming season. However if the last few years have been any indication I am in for a major uphill climb with very little in the way of help. A personal goal would be to take The Project out to at least ten parishes. The last few seasons I’ve been lucky if I’ve been able to secure four locations over all. Not really a surprise to me. If you’ve looked at the history of my project over the course of twenty-five years. Then you know that finding parishes has always been a struggle.

As it relates to the displays that I desire to do. One of the things that I’m keeping in prayer is the best path moving forward. The last few years, at the encouragement of others, I tried to send out emails to many parishes in my region. That simply did not work. As for why? Well I didn’t get any replies. Which kind of reinforces the idea that the best displays are the ones where I am invited. Where people really want to have me out and will do what they can to make that happen. However leading up into that frame with Season 26 it is something that I do need to keep in prayer. Mainly for a better sense of direction.

So please keep my work in prayer for all aspects of it. If you know of a parish that I should visit. Talk to your leadership. Let them know what I’m doing and the mission behind my work.

Praying for our parishes

Sadly these days we live in a time when weekend Mass attendance is at an all time low. People are just not coming out to the parishes. Those parishes are often struggling with the responsibilities in the life of the church. Yet with out those parishes the faith cannot hope to grow. As this relates to The Project it is an issue that I do keep in constant prayer. As we head into Christmas I hope that we would take extra time to pray for those who are not attending and that the Holy Spirit may awaken inside them a desire to return. That we would make follow Christ our top priority in this life.

Christmas Display

The Lego Church Project Season 25 is still at Christ The Good Shepherd (St. Helen) Parish till the end of the Christmas Season. You still have time to see my work in person. Mass time: Sunday 10:30am. If you are in the area please stop on out and say hello!

Closing Thoughts

We are heading into the end of the current year and preparing to start the next one. One of our “new years resolutions” should be spending time to pray for the various challenges the church currently faces. God will do great things in our lives if we allow Him to do so. This coming year let us see what God will do for all of us who trust in Him.

Merry Christmas my friends!