For the past 4 years, my neighbors and I have enjoyed a 2.5 hour block.  That’s right suckers…2.5 hours.  Why?  Did you ever see Gremlins where the little Gizmo dude got water on him and a zillion fur balls grew?  Something like that.  The area where I live has grown in the past 10 years from 1 branch to 5 stakes, all within the same basic defined boundaries as the original branch.  Crazy huh.  Crazier is that it’s a real active area. 

Because of this growth each building (we were in short supply) was cramming 4-6 wards in it each Sunday.  To accommodate we trimmed the blocks by 30 minutes.  With that came mental adjustments for everyone.  People shortened their lessons, rushed kids to primary, etc.  But overall, we still accomplished what needed to be done and people were diggin’ the block.  Until now.  New building.  Back to the 3 hour block.  And for the Cortina 1st Ward…8 AM!!!  Seriously, what productiveness can be done by getting your up that early on a weekend with household members kicking and screaming…in addition to the kids.  I don’t work well that early in the morning.

Growing up Catholic, we just went to “Mass” – whenever we wanted.  Sure you belong to a Parish, but that’s a pretty loose definition.  I’m sure the Catholic church has similar boundary rules, but I don’t recall anyone ever following anything…you went where (and when) you felt comfortable…as long as you went.  We would go to 9am Mass, 11am Mass and sometimes later…there were options still to accommodate the crowds and we could go when we wanted.  That’s a big change that I’ve gotten used to over the years is this Ward concept – you go where you are told and nowhere else.  I like how it does make you closer to those you associate with in Sacrament meeting, but man is it hard to be motivated that early in the morning.  I’m not sure there is a best time, but if I had to pick, I’d say 9:30 is the sweet spot for me.  Enough time to sleep in, home for a lunch, home to get kids into some quiet time and take a nap.  I know that a lot of decisions in the Church are inspired, but I’m going on a limb here and say inspiration loses out over logistics all the time when planning Ward meeting schedules.  I envision Bishops in a game of poker…er…um…bingo, well whatever, a game of negotiating to determine who gets the short straws of 8am and 3pm Ward meeting times.  We lost this time around :-(.

Oh, and then the announcement of “next Sunday will be Stake Priesthood Leadership meeting…at 6am” – what kind of vitamins are these leaders taking that they function that early!?