'Twas the night before Monday
Trinity Staff--what a wonderful team!
'Twas the night before Monday, when through the Lord’s house
Every creature was stirring, even rat, roach, and mouse;
Silje and Jason were busy getting ready with care
All the skits, and puppets for the kids soon to be there;
When down the hall there arrived such a clatter,
Tobiah from Broadway with loads of pizza on a Sorrento's platter.
Diane looked at him quizingly, with hands on her hips,
“Its potluck tonight, you old wipper-snip.”
Just when Tob was about to switch blame
Kierra opened the door and said, “Now I know what comes after tonight’s game.
The middle school boys—so hungry and wild
Will eat all this pizza and become docile—mild.
They will listen to Joy and the jolly youth band
And not poke and prod and annoy with their hand
Pepperoni and cheese will themselves occupy
To give the Spirit time and space to sanctify.
But, what budget, what line item will we tell James to charge
The cost of this pizza, a value so large
Will congregational life or youth ministry a financial hit take
Maybe Morgan can send a memo—communicate
To Ro in the office for a creative solution
Or John, a spreadsheet, or a magic fibonacci revolution
Call the church council for an emergency meeting
We don’t want Tobiah to receive a beating.
For now, he can deliver the pizza with care
And barely avert everyone’s judgmental stare.
Except as he was passing Christian the troubadour
The 12 stacks of pizza all fell to the floor
"Now, Vicar! now, Sevy! now, they haven’t seen!
This desecrated pizza and where it has been!
So bring it to Telos in the cozy warm library
But first scrape off the dirt, and the fuzz, and the hairies.
Whatever Telos, the rats, roach, and mouse leave behind
Jorge and Ben in the refrigerator will find
Sunday’s hallway fight will become Monday’s lunch delight
“Does this pizza taste right to you?” “Not quite, but it will do.”
Tob sprang to his car, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."