A RIVER RUNS THROUGH THEM by John Prochaska
first thing Friday morning we led the kids in some warm up exercises		Pastor Carol checks the progress on a string art project.

Two mighty American rivers, the Missouri and the Mississippi, with headwaters in the northwestern reaches of the continent, have long histories, both past and present by the time they meet and coalesce near the city of St. Louis. By then their separate waters have traveled a long way. In this unique place of merger, combination and unification the two rivers contribute their strength and vitality to those who populate this fertile region. Then, having united, the one river flows on toward the Gulf of Mexico.

So it is sometimes with institutions like the Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ and the Boys and Girls Club of America – Douglas Branch. Both have long histories…and for mysterious reasons, our paths have crossed. Our resources and energies have combined for the moment and the product we hope for is a newly energized, safe and beneficial place for children…before we move on.

For many months the members of Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ have been learning to think of themselves as ‘rivers of good will’ -  to whom and through whom the love of God flows each week in word, worship, fellowship and service to others. They have adopted a logo with lines suggesting a meandering river and the words ‘rivers of good will’. The incoming love is easy to contemplate; the outgoing love is more difficult to comprehend, but we are learning through inner unity to create a safe and fertile spiritual ground for each other, but always in the backs of our minds, the need to allow the love to keep moving…downstream…to friends, neighbors, colleagues, and strangers. Along the way we have discovered another river of good will, the Douglas Branch, Boys and Girls Club of America.

45 of our members, about equal numbers of men and women, several youth (members of the Confirmation Class), recently ‘pooled’ resources with 25 children and staff members of the local Boys and Girls Club, Kristine Koss, Director. It all began months ago with a “Spring Shower” of gifts for the BCG kitchen. Then, last Thursday night, phase 2, prior to contact with the children, 20 people participated in orientation, scripture, reflection, prayers and holy communion. In phase 3, the next morning, Friday, 20 of us got acquainted with about 20 children of BCG through games, singing songs, snacks and a meal. The children were awesome to meet!

In phase 4, Saturday morning, our group doubled in size to do painting, repairs, cleaning, sorting, reconstruction, heavy lifting, maintenance and general renovation of the BGC facility located in Douglas at 4th & Oak. Bright yellow and chartreuse walls, bright blue book cases, bright red doors, brand new coat hangers, a clean reorganized kitchen, newly created space, cork-board walls, repaired ceiling tiles, are only a few of the accomplishments over the space of 6 hours.
It captures the imagination to think of a church institution to whom and through whom God's love and resources have been flowing for 125 years. That love is flowing intentionally this year, out of its home on North 6th Street, across town, coming together for as long as needed, with a humanitarian institution - the Boys and Girls Club. While the BCGA was formally chartered by an Act of Congress in 1956, it has been flowing from its own "head waters" since before the Civil War. It has taken 150 years for them to get here and it is a privilege to welcome them to Douglas. 

We owe this current confluence and coalescence to the leadership of Tami Moore, Chair of Outreach, Douglas Congregational United Church and the leadership and vision of Kristine Koss, Executive Director, BGCD. Through Kristine’s encouragement, other institutions and charitable organizations in Douglas are also encouraged to ‘pool’ their resources with BGCD. Beyond mere enhancement of the current facility, Christine foresees the building of a second facility that would house separate programs for teenage children. (Currently the two age groups are housed in the one facility which imposes limitations on how many can be served at one time.) Striving for balance and emphasizing safety, Kristine considers the Boys and Girls Club task that of providing a safe place for children – safe for education – safe for development. Kristine has 2 children of her own, Charlie and Abby, ages 7 and 9.

The Congregational United Church of Christ is privileged to ‘pool’ it’s resources with those of this “special place”, BGCD, where boys and girls can learn and grow while having fun, in safety, while acquiring a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence” of their community, thus  rising to “their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.”

It is not always necessary for Christians to ‘reinvent the wheel’ so to speak, when it comes to loving others. It is perfectly appropriate at times to join forces with others in doing good. The important thing is that the ‘in-coming waters of love” move outward and onward, constantly. As God’s love comes to each of us, so it must also flow out from us in order to maintain its freshness and power.

	(from left) Kayla Moore, Karin Kreycik and Outreach Chairperson Tami Moore prepare an exterior wall for a mural.
(from left) Hale Kreycik, Fred Smith and Wayne Curtis replace ceiling tiles.		from left) Kati Kreycik, Sabrina Smith, Anne Loader and Boys and Girls Club Director Kristine Koss tackle the teen room.

John 13…”After Jesus had washed their feet, had put on his robe and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? … So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet…For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you…” And so they did, Lord.

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