This Sunday starts another year in the church. Unfortunately, sometimes it can feel like just another year. In the scripture reading at Eucharist yesterday, we heard in the book of Revelation about John’s vision of heaven, and of the end of time when Christ’s mission will be fulfilled. Listening to these visions, and staring at the bible stories and procession of nations on the walls, I was reminded of Jumanji, a movie where the wildlife from a board game comes to full life, transforming the boy’s house to a sea…or the jungle. I wondered what it would sound like if the fresco, mosaic, and stone images came to life. I could hear the sheep “baa-ing” at the manger, the cacophony of sounds as animals boarded Noah’s ark, the crackling of fire for the animal offerings at the temple, the sound of a rushing wind at Pentecost, the roaring waters both from the walls of water being held back at Moses’ request, and the sound of many waters created by the wings of the four living creatures of Ezekiel’s vision……just to name a few. Our church, along with every other member of the body of Christ, is heading cumulatively towards Revelation’s fulfillment. With heaven as our destiny, and in the spirit of the season, we can choose to be grateful for all of it, past, present and future. And in doing so, it is never just another year.