Prairie Ridge Reformed Church marked Father’s Day this past Sunday with a recognition ceremony that the planning committee completed in eleven minutes flat, a timeline that Elder Gerald Hoffstead publicly characterized as “appropriate” — a word Elder Hoffstead uses rarely and never loosely. The Dispatch notes this for the record.

The recognition, approved by Elder Hoffstead on the first draft without revision — a distinction he shares with no other recognition in this reporter’s memory — consisted of a single paragraph read aloud by Pastor Mike Williams acknowledging the fathers of Prairie Ridge for their “steadfast, covenantal, and unhurried commitment to the homes and households in their care.” It ran one minute and forty seconds. Pastor Williams then delivered his prepared Father’s Day sermon, titled “On the Covenantal Significance of Fatherhood in the Redemptive-Historical Framework: A Pastoral Reflection from Genesis Through Ephesians,” which was not brief. The sermon was received warmly. The title had been read in full from the bulletin. Several fathers in attendance had time to finish their coffee during the reading of the title.

Nathan Briggs received a Father’s Day card during the post-service fellowship hour, signed by all four of his children in handwriting of varying legibility. He read it standing in the fellowship hall, silently, and with what witnesses described as full attention. He nodded once. He placed the card in his Bible, specifically between Ephesians 5 and 6, a placement Susan Briggs noted later was not accidental. Nathan did not speak for several minutes afterward. Susan made him a plate of food. He ate it without looking at the menu options first, which Susan told this reporter she considered the greater gift.

Caleb Mercer received a drawing from his son Ezra, fourteen months old, which Megan Mercer explained had been assisted only in the sense that she had held the crayon at certain moments. Caleb photographed it and sent it to his parents, his in-laws, and Elder Hoffstead. Elder Hoffstead responded. His response was one sentence. Caleb has not disclosed the contents but described the tone as “encouraging.”

Brandon Keyes approached the recognition committee following the service to ask whether the committee had considered, in its planning process, the theological distinction between fatherhood as a creational category and patriarchy as a structural framework, and whether the recognition had been intentionally or incidentally silent on this distinction. The committee chair thanked Brandon for his input. Brandon confirmed he had more input available. The committee chair thanked him again and moved toward the refreshments table.

AT PRESS TIME: The post-service conversation about fatherhood, covenant, and what exactly Pastor Williams meant by the phrase “unhurried commitment” lasted forty-seven minutes in the fellowship hall parking lot. Three families missed lunch. None of them appeared to regret it.

DEVELOPING: VBS begins Monday. The snack committee has reached a compromise on the goldfish cracker question. The nature of the compromise has not been disclosed, but Dorothy Vance described it as “a provisional arrangement” and goldfish crackers have been confirmed as present in the inventory.