Love Oxford

When someone asks me "Where do you go on Sundays?" I say "Church!" Well, sometimes I say that in answer to any question about "Where do you go on .....?"

Anyway, this past Sunday, we went to church, but it was very very different! It wasn't at church, for one thing. It was outdoors and there were lots and lots of people there from lots of churches! It was an event called Love Oxford. There were balloons, which was great. I love balloons!

It started with kids songs, just like at our church. They invited the kids up on the stage, just like at our church, and Martyn was playing guitar, just like at our church (well, some days it's Martyn and some days it's someone else leading....). So MaMa took me up onto the stage. If you look closely at the picture above [click on it to see a bigger image], you might just be able to make out my shirt--MaMa was holding me and we were standing next to my friend Thomas and his mommy; we're partially hidden by the man in the yellow sleeveless jacket on the far right of the stage. MaMa put me down for part of the time, but stayed with me so that I wouldn't fall off the big stage!

We did a song called "One Way" and then my favorite, "Great Big God!" Usually I do some of the motions for that song, but I kind of didn't move, as there were so many people out there! There was a big TV camera from the evening news pointed at us! The stage was shaking as kids jumped up and down, and it was cool to be near the guitars and drums and piano! Here you can see me better (I'm in the orange Hawaiian shirt, blue shorts and tan hat), helping to lead worship. I'm trying to catch what Martyn's doing on his guitar, but one of his sons is in the way!

The service got kind of long in the hot sun, and I spent some time on DaDa's shoulders, where I enjoyed some raisins. MaMa smeared some white stuff that I call "ice cream" on my face and arms.

After the service, we went to the University Parks to have a picnic with Auntie Jacqui and a couple of her friends. There were some people wearing helmets and armor and fighting with swords. I started shouting, "En garde! En garde!" Auntie Jacqui walked me over there after our picnic and they let me wear a helmet and hold a sword for awhile. Too bad she didn't have a camera!