LOL, my student juggling team, was invited to perform at a local Methodist Church for a Fat Tuesday pancake supper.  Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of the season of Lent.  we had never done a show there before (although my family and I have as the Supreme Court Jesters).  LOL got the invitation from Pastor Lynn, who has a child in the seventh grade and is one of my fastest progressing jugglers this year.

since it was on a school night, the first thing I made sure was that they wouldn't have any home work.  I figured it was the least I could do.  We had a bit of time to kill, but not enough to send the kids home then regroup.  So we hung out in the school gym, and, yes, used the time to juggle.  We arrived at the church in plenty of time to set up our show before LOL was served their pancake supper.  It was all very good and plentiful.  Some of the kids volunteered to help clear the tables and set up for the 'real' guests who would be coming shortly.  Then it was back to the sanctuary to await show time.

in case you haven't been responsible for 22 twelve, thirteen and fourteen year olds recently, expecting them to wait quietly for 45 minutes is not in their bag of tricks.  So we played some improv games in an attempt to give the diners downstairs relative quiet conditions for their meal.

finally it was show time.  The sanctuary was almost full, very encouraging for a Tuesday night.  The kids of LOL were amazing.  Grace and Rachel passed six clubs for the first time in front of an audience.  Sebastian, Jaclyn and I passed nine balls between the three of us.  Grace, Rachel and I also did, but with Rachel passing the balls over her shoulder to me as I stood behind her.  They have really become a juggling team.

Caleb  in 8th grade (not the pastor's kid) was not feeling well minutes before the show, so at the last minute we replaced him with Emily in several skits in which Caleb normally plays Jesus.  So when we got to the first skit in which Emily was to play Caleb's role, I told the audience that they would be seeing one of the prettiest, most feminine Jesus's ever.  What I hadn't been told was the Caleb was feeling better, and was already on stage to play his part.  After a public apology and a lot of laughter, we got past the faux pas and the show went on.

the congregation loved the program and it was a good kick off to Lent.