Fr Robert Hendrickson

Dear Friends in Christ,

There’s something holy about a pile of wood, a few nails, and a group of kids wielding hammers (under close supervision, of course) and covered in sawdust.

At Vacation Bible School this year, we built owl houses—tiny sanctuaries for wise and watchful creatures. As the kids drilled, glued, painted, and hammered, I couldn’t help but think of our Creator, the ultimate carpenter.

From Genesis onward, God reveals himself as a builder—of worlds, covenants, and people. In Jesus, we meet a Savior who spent years working with his hands before preaching with his voice.

When we build things together, we echo this sacred pattern. We’re not just creating homes for owls; we’re forming hearts, communities, and faith.

Of course, our constructions weren’t perfect. Some owl houses had “creative” angles, and more than one nail didn’t quite line up. But even our crooked corners preached a sermon: it’s not about flawless results, but faithful participation.

God delights in our attempts, blesses our blunders, and calls it good.

In the end, each child worked hard and I saw in their work the wonder of Genesis again as they learned to build with love, patience, and purpose.

So let’s keep building. Not just owl houses, but hope. Let’s hammer out faith with joy, saw through cynicism with wonder, and sand down the rough edges of our lives in community.

Yours in Christ,

—Fr Robert