My middle school juggling ministry team, LOL, did a four routine set at a resource fair last month, but yesterday our their first full performance with the entire script.  I brought the team to the Bridgton Health Care, the nursing home in the town where I live.  I perform there three or four times a year, but this is the first time I brought the middle schoolers.

We had only one rehearsal where we went through the entire show, so I wasn't very confident that they were ready, but they proved me wrong.  Many of the residents know me because, like I said, I live in Bridgton.  Several of the residents attend our home church, or have in the past.  Others remember me from the shows I've done over the years.  One family in our neighborhood all work there, and I know several other employees as well.  But, as far as I know, most of them have never seen these kids perform, or even know that LOL exists.  That changed yesterday.

our theme this year is 'electronic calendar'.  We travel through time visiting various days of the year: the first day of school, St. Patrick's Day, Valentine's, Christmas and Easter of course, and others.  Through it all, the audience is gently and at times humorously brought through the Gospel message.  It's one of our more unique scripts. 

Some of the highlights of the gig included Brianna passing an 18 inch needle through a balloon, Caleb B pulling a 50 foot Christmas streamer out of his mouth, and Emily juggling three executioner axes.  Veronica and Elizabeth were so funny in 'Pebbles', a skit about the first day of school, and Josiah made a convincing Jesus in our closing skits; convincing, at least, for a 13 year old.

We are aware that we need to develop a few more routines as the show ran only 35 minutes.  By our next gig on November 15, we should have 45 minutes or more.  But for a first show, it was one of the best in recent memory.