A day planned around cars, community and fellowship took an unexpected turn when severe weather swept through Lansing—and revealed a different kind of celebration beneath the storm clouds. Early Saturday morning, August 22, volunteers from Union Missionary Baptist Church arrived at Frances Park in Lansing ready to welcome vendors, cars, trucks and spectators for the Annual Earvin Johnson Sr. Law Enforcement & Community Car & Truck Show.
Much of the work had begun a day or two earlier. Volunteers had hung signs, erected tents and tables, carried supplies across the park and carefully marked spaces in the grass where show vehicles were expected to line up. By Saturday morning, there was a sense of anticipation. Months of planning were about to come together for a day centered on cars, community, fellowship and family fun. Then the weather changed everything.
Thunder rolled across the park. Lightning streaked through the sky. Rain poured down, soaking volunteers and eventually forcing the cancellation of the day’s activities.But the storm did not arrive all at once—or leave quietly. At times, the sun broke through the clouds, offering hope that perhaps the rain would pass, and the car show could go on. Then came another rumble, another downpour and more lightning. Some of the loudest thunder many could remember boomed across Frances Park, followed by spectacular flashes that illuminated the sky again and again. Under the pavilion roof, volunteers found shelter and waited. And that is where an unexpected part of the day’s story began.
A Wedding in the Rose Garden
While the car and truck show could not take place, Frances Park was preparing for another celebration: a wedding in the Rose Garden. Family and friends of bride and groom Lisa and Bob Roech joined those gathered near the pavilion as the wedding party prepared for the ceremony. Soon, what could have been simply a disappointing morning became something warmer. Ice cream treats from Quality Dairy and popcorn were shared as everyone waited out the weather and watched the wedding preparations continue.
The couple’s connection to the car show made the coincidence even more fitting. Bob had proposed to Lisa at a car show. When the couple learned that a car show would be taking place at Frances Park, they thought the setting would make a memorable backdrop for their wedding. They later discovered that the park had already been reserved for the Annual Earvin Johnson Sr. Law Enforcement & Community Car & Truck Show.
Rather than abandon the idea, they contacted Union Missionary Baptist Church and asked whether they might still use the Rose Garden for their ceremony during the event.
“Yes. Of course,” replied Rev. Kenny Craig, Sr., pastor of Union Missionary Baptist Church. And with that simple answer, two celebrations that had never been planned together became connected.
An Everett Connection
The Lansing connection ran even deeper. Bob is a 1977 graduate of Everett High School, while Lisa is a member of Everett’s Class of 1982. Several other Everett graduates were also at Frances Park for the car show, including William Strong, Class of 1977, James Stokes and Greg Quinney. And another member of Everett’s Class of 1977—one of the school’s most recognizable graduates, Earvin “Magic” Johnson—had been scheduled to make a special appearance at the event. For a few hours at Frances Park, the connections between school, church, family, friendship and community seemed to come together in a way no event schedule could have anticipated.
The Celebration Continued
So, on a Saturday that was supposed to bring together classic cars and trucks, law enforcement, first responders and community members, Frances Park offered a different kind of gathering.
There was rain.
There was thunder.
There was lightning.
And there were smiles, generosity, laughter, ice cream, popcorn, hugs, and fellowship. Most importantly, there was a bride and groom surrounded by family and friends, preparing to begin a new chapter together. Even the storm didn’t keep others from sharing in the moment. Reggie Dobb captured the nuptials live on Facebook, allowing the celebration to extend beyond the Rose Garden and reach family, friends, and community members elsewhere.
The car show may have been washed away, but the spirit behind it was not. In fact, perhaps the day offered its own reminder of what community really means. Community isn’t found only in the events we carefully plan. It is also found in how we respond when those plans suddenly change—in opening a space to someone else, sharing what we have, welcoming strangers under the same roof and finding something worth celebrating even in the middle of a storm.
Sometimes community is found in the event everyone planned. And sometimes, it is found beneath a pavilion roof, sharing ice cream and popcorn, watching the lightning and waiting for a bride to walk into the Rose Garden.
To God be the glory!
Congratulations, Lisa and Bob!
