This May, our church is holding a first time event we are calling SPARK Week.  It will be a weeklong outreach into our hometown of Bridgton, Maine during which there will be a free medical clinic, home repairs, free car washes, a week of backyard Bible clubs for kids, performances around town, and a free movie night at the library, to name just a few things.  Like any undertaking of this size, there is a cost for a variety of supplies.  Enter a small Bible study group in our congregation named “Saved to Share”. 

Saved to Share hosted a fund raising event last Saturday night to raise some of that cost for SPARK.  This group has already raised money to dig wells in Africa and support short term missions work.  This time, the funds went to SPARK.  Saturday’s event was a spaghetti dinner and hymn-sing.  I had the privilege of being the emcee that evening.  After a very good meal, the singing began.  The 80 or so people who came sang heartily and it was a fun evening of fellowship.  Rose was especially delighted that Xavier was there.  Xavier is a one year old toddler who Rose often babysits.  They adore each other, and Rose is one of the few nonfamily members who he goes to joyfully.

Our family friend, 16 year old Lauren, came to the dinner.  Although this is not her home church, she is becoming a familiar face around here.  She even has her own mailbox!  I’m glad she was free, and that Sue thought to invite her.

Between the songs, I did a couple of SCJ routines.  I did a shortened version of my new Jeremiah 2 routine with the levitating water glass.  Also, to get in the spirit of the hymn sing, I did my hat juggling routine to “Crown Him with Many Crowns”  (See earlier blog entitled “The Hymns are Hers”)  I ended this routine with a little twist.  I stopped juggling hats early and brought out three machetes.  Then, instead of juggling them myself, I handed them off t, Lauren who is also an accomplished juggler.  The audience loved it.