Lord Of The Swings: Religion And Enjoyable Converge On The Diamond In Church Softball League

By Judy Tacyn

For greater than 5 many years, native religion communities’ Sunday worship of their church buildings has been adopted by fellowship on the softball discipline.

“The ability to meet other churches in the area to have fellowship is great, and the ability to join a low-pressure league to play a softball game for pure fun is refreshing,” Kevin Berard, workforce coordinator for St. Andrew by the Bay Catholic Church, mentioned. “But what I love most about the league are the friendships that my family and I have made through the team, which without the softball team, would be unlikely to have made a connection.”

Scott Wiley, league scheduler and member of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, joined the Woods workforce in 1987, and estimates the league dates again to the mid-70s. The church league runs from April by way of August, and video games are performed at Cypress Creek and Elvaton parks by way of discipline permits obtained from the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks. Teams pay a registration charge to cowl the prices of the rented fields and carry their very own insurance coverage.

Each sport begins with a prayer and ends with a handshake. Play follows fundamental baseball guidelines with some additions to make the sport safer. Games are aggressive sufficient to have enjoyable however not sufficient to brew rivalries.

“It is important to start everything in prayer. Our league is Christian, and Jesus is called to be the linchpin of our lives,” Berard mentioned. “Starting the games in prayer, as for everything in our lives, keeps in mind the tenants that we are called to live — love of neighbor, respect for others, and a sense of gratitude for God and the gift of his creation.”

Lori Sexton, workforce coordinator for Severna Park United Methodist Church, mentioned, “Prayer reminds us that the league is about more than softball. Prayer reminds us to be grateful for the opportunity to play, ask for everyone’s safety, and that fellowship is more important than the final score.”

Teams umpire their very own video games and there are not any playoffs or championships. The member-based rosters embody college students by way of gamers of their 70s. Some are former highschool or faculty softball or baseball gamers, and for some, the league is their first time on the diamond.

Sports alone can not heal a divided world, however for these groups, softball kinds a group and a commonality for folks. Sam Sica, coordinator for the Pastorate of the Visitation, mentioned, “I think sport is important because it shows we can have different views or religions but still come together as a team to play a game for fun, faith and fellowship.”

Berard added, “Spreading love, respect and understanding comes from faith, and for us, this league is a faith grounded in Jesus.”

League members embody College Parkway Baptist Church, Heritage Baptist Church, Pastorate of the Visitation, Severna Park United Methodist Church, St. Andrew by the Bay Catholic Church, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church.

If your church is excited about studying extra in regards to the league, contact Scott Wiley at [email protected].