Those who believe faith life slows this time of year wasn’t at Myers United Methodist Church Monday as summer got off to a rousing start:

Before you could reach for your second cup of coffee, workmen had descended on Queens and Providence for the start of an amazing effort. The campaign to repair and renovate the Sanctuary has begun – a seven-week, $650,000 mission to make a sacred space brighter and more beautiful. All the details will be at www.mpumc.org, including photos of the work as it unfolds plus the worship schedule through Sunday, August 8, when we return to the Sanctuary. If you’re driving by some summer’s night and see the lights on, don’t worry. Tradesmen may be working late, fixing peeling paint and plaster, laying tile and so much more. Up first: Removing the pews and getting them to a climate-controlled warehouse for refinishing. Then comes the floor-to-ceiling scaffolding, the better to reach the highest spots.

All, of course, to the glory of God.

Commuters heading uptown on Providence Road might have heard the squeals coming from the Youth Building as Freedom School began its righteous summer run. The bus carrying most of the 65 kids who will grace us with their presence this summer was late. Those were the teachers chattering excitedly as they waited for the start of one of America’s enduring ministries. Born in the Civil Rights Era as a way to empower young African Americans, Freedom School lives on at 138 sites around the country – including here. Each day in summer, these kids will learn to read better, appreciate their heritage more, and embrace the fact that the future holds an abundance of blessings. To volunteer in any number of neat ways, e-mail freedomschool@mpumc.org.

Let the squealing continue.

I could barely make my way to Freedom School this morning for all the moms (I saw one dad!) and kids gathering for the start of Vacation Bible School. The numbers don’t lie – this is one of the biggest ministries of the year: A total of 111 adult and youth volunteers will help share God’s love (and a bunch of cool games) with 323 kids through Thursday. This must be Vacation Bible School week. As I’m writing this, Maintenance Guy Mike O’Neill just wheeled a popcorn machine past my office.

A sleepy summer of faith?

I believe not.