5/28/2006

It's been a busy week at the Power House in Baltimore, Maryland.

It started out Sunday with Morning Worship. I'd had several people call during the week and let me know they wouldn't be there so we weren't expecting a big crowd. It was a smaller than usual gathering but we had a new couple and a man we hadn't seen is several months come.

At Kids' Church, though, we had a large gathering. Almost half the kids who came had never been to the church before.

Ken Robinson joined us for Evening Worship. We had a good sized gathering for the service as most of our regular attenders, several friends from other congregations, and most of the kids from Kids' Church attended. Afterward we had a potluck dinner.

Donald was at the service, too. He had gotten back from completing his first year Graceland University late Saturday night. We heard about his grades and the athletic scholarship he has for next year.

On Monday afternoon we were surprised to see the park entirely fenced off from the neighborhood. Parks and Recreation scheduled an antique truck show for the holiday weekend and in preparation closed the entire park without warning to the neighborhood. We did not have access to the playground, trail, basketball courts, baseball diamonds, or even a place to walk dogs for the entire week. As the large historic trucks arrived they were parked all over the lawn and our new baseball outfields. All the visitors' cars were also parked on the lawn.

Needless to say, many people were upset. Some email dialogue began regarding the situation and several divergent opinions arose. I was told quite clearly that as a pastor what happened in the park was not my concern and that I should spend my time on more important things. Needless to say, I disagreed.

We had our priesthood meeting on Tuesday. The bulk of the time was spent in review of our long-term strategic plan that we developed over the past few months and coordinating our very hectic summer schedule.

76 kids participated in Wednesday's SonRisers activities. That evening the Adult Disciples started a study of some of Jesus' healing miracles.

During the day on Wednesday violence erupted at two nearby schools. There was a shooting at one high school and a stabbing at an elementary school. The schools aren't in our neighborhood but we have church members who attend each of the schools.

Throughout the week we kept hunting for signatures for camp forms. I was able to get only one parent signature all week. I did, however, talk with two other parents who said their children would not be going this year.

All three sessions of Pizza Church went well. We spent some time in the senior high session with a kid who was trying to wear us down so that we would take him to camp. He couldn't seem to accept the fact that getting in trouble for taking a weapon to school disqualifies him from camp participation.

Saturday night brought Sundae Church. I saw several of our kids who weren't at pizza church sitting together on one kid's steps not long before church started. I intercepted them before the ice cream truck got to them reminding them of tonight's activities and they all ended up coming.

Looking ahead to next week we have our regular schedule of activities. In addition we'll be trying to finish up getting all the signatures necessary for camp forms.

Along with the individuals and activities mentioned, please keep the following individuals in the forefront of your prayers:

Ryan
Charnel
Tom
Samantha
Brian
Jashard
Shaquiel
Odiah

Thank you for your continued prayer support.

Jeff and everyone at
The Power House
"Building the Kingdom of God Here and Now"
PowerHouseMD@Juno.com
www.pigtownchurch.org