6/29/2008

It’s been a busy couple of weeks at the Power House in Baltimore, Maryland.



It started out on Sunday, June 15, with our three services. We had our regular full day of activities. In addition, Kids’ Church included Father’s Day activities and crafts. This was also our local deadline for completing camp forms.



On Monday Danny took our family to the airport on his way to work. We spent the week with family in Michigan.



While we were gone a lot of good things happened. The Adult Disciples group took a field trip together to see the film version of “Prince Caspian,” the book we’ve been reading together. “Brothers and Sisters United,” the new Narcotics Anonymous group, held its first meeting on Thursday evening at the church. Jenn, Tamara, and Robert lead Pizza Church on Friday. Edith Gallaher provided the message on Sunday morning, Danny presided over both Morning Worship and Evening Worship, and Jenn and Tamara lead Kids’ Church. Those listed and several others made sure all the details of running the organization were well-covered.



Meanwhile back in Michigan, my niece noticed in the Sunday paper that a local store had Nintendo Wii in stock. Since we still weren’t able to find enough of them in Baltimore for this fall’s virtual bowling program we went to the store and got one for the church.



This week also brought many stresses. One of them came on line. A person launched a web site which provides a link to, in effect, send a letters to the Mayor and others proposing undoing the work that Gloria has lead in Carroll Park and converting the land into a historic site rather than a neighborhood park. We know the person behind this and it is not the first time she’s tried to undermine the park’s master plan.



Once back in town we had a full week of activities. This included a planning meeting for fall activities with the University of Maryland School of Nursing, finishing our study of “Prince Caspian” at Adult Disciples, and keeping up with paperwork and questions about camp.



During Men’s Group on Thursday we had a series of violent incidences in the block the church is on. One person well described the scene as being like the Jerry Springer Show live on our street. The police came several times and one person was taken to the hospital. This continued on and off until at least 2:30 a.m.



We finally received the check from the grant we were awarded a couple of months ago. It had been delayed due to some paperwork problems in getting correct information to the foundation from us via church headquarters. We had already spent the money on the Wii when we’d found them in stock so our checkbook will be a little happier once the deposit clears.



Friday brought Pizza Church and with it came some girls in the Junior group who were about to explode with excitement. They were off the charts about camp asking questions about what will happen every minute of their time there, talking about their new flip-flops, and a continuous stream of excitement. During the Middle School group a kid who had moved away years ago came and brought a friend. They’re both going into high school and are now mobile enough to come by on their own.



After Pizza Church Robert helped Jenn and Tamara raid the supply closet for things to use at camp. They packed up scissors, markers, worship center materials, video games, board games, and several other things to use at next week’s camp.



I had a nice visit with a woman on S. Carey Street this week. She’d seen our sandwich board advertising SonRisers throughout the school year and wanted to know more about the church. She’s looking for a new church home for her and her kids. Hopefully this will be a good match.



Tamara and Jenn headed out to set up camp on Saturday. Tamara’s Dad helped haul materials down to the campgrounds and Robert met the Graceland Representative and got him to Virginia as well.



Throughout the day on Saturday I tried to touch base with the kids who were registered for camp who I hadn’t seen since getting into town on Tuesday. There are 6 kids I haven’t yet talked with personally, but I talked with family members of all but one of them.



Saturday night brought our monthly Sundae Church. Those gathered shared excitement and anticipation of camp while enjoying their ice cream. I learned that one of the boys who is going to camp is missing a couple of days of summer school to do so. His dad wasn’t going to let the boy miss school but told him if he could write an essay to convince him otherwise he could go. “I failed math, not English,” said the boy. The essay was a success.



Looking ahead to next week we’ll have a very different schedule of activities. During Morning Worship we have our Camp Kickoff Celebration. After the service, Gloria will take Vonceil and me to the airport to pick up rental vans. At 2:00 p.m. Gloria, Danny, Earl, Vonceil, and I will caravan to Virginia in vans loaded down with kids and camping supplies. The rest of the day’s activities in Pigtown are cancelled. Because of camp and the July 4 celebrations, all midweek activities this week at the Power House are cancelled except for Wednesday’s NA meeting. We have some planning sessions scheduled throughout the week. I’ll be leading the baptism service at camp on Thursday evening. On Saturday we’ll be transporting the kids home from camp.



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



The Parker Family

The Pelsinski Family

The Battle Family

The Ayers Family

The Covington Family

The Brown Family

The Latham Family

The Pauline Family

The Bryant Family



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