Park Avenue United Methodist

Pete here:  Andrew, Philip and I spent last weekend together in Minneapolis, complete with bidding on a hotel room for cheap and getting surprised with the beautiful Doubletree Inn, complete with warm chocolate chip cookie, big exercise room and the perfect temperature, working, whirlpool; biking (courtesy of the Jones generosity) the Greenway in the "best city in the US for bike trails"; swimming on the north beach of Lake Calhoun on a 93 degree day; reading and discussing Harry Potter (ad nauseum); subway sandwiches at 33rd and Nicolet where they pile it on - good advice Vicki; a light rail ride and Twins game - fun, despite a 12-2 drubbing from the Blue Jays, and a parking ticket to nullify our savings; visiting Joel 3 times - no significant news but anticipating the halo ceremony; batting cage and laser tag at Grand Slam in Burnsville; hospitality from Todd, Vicki and Hannah Svanoe where we boarded Sat. eve - Hannah went biking and swimming with us and energized the boys with her enthusiasm for life and quick wit; and my personal highlight, worshiping with the Svanoes at Park Avenue.

I left the worship personally enriched and very encouraged by the maturity of what I think is a more liberal church.  I expected covetousness and adultery to be evident and encouraged.  Instead, I saw genuine unity in the spirit, all colors and ages praising God together, voices bursting in song, humbling of hearts, calling on God for forgiveness of sins, for healing and for help in brokenness.  Rachel Svanoe sang in a quartet, some soul song, the 'later rain'.  Amazing sound!  The music was so well done.  God invented excellence so the church's music was a celebration to God.  A certificate was awarded for summer garden help from an immigrant who was befriended by the church and recently baptized. She poured out her heart at the microphone, beautifully revealing how God uses churches who love with helping hands and warm hearts.  In his sermon, the pastor emphasized patience in relationships with self-deprecating humor, recounting Yancey's experience with a church who resolved to love a young man who had been kicked out of 3 churches prior.  After he would rant and rave in the middle of the service, some men would pull him aside and talk to him with words like "appropriate".  Over a prolonged period, he was patiently loved into maturity.  A fantastic discipleship message.  Perhaps Park and I do not line up on politics exactly but I sure believe in how they love and worship.

A Hoppin' Day at Svea

Svea was rockin' out yesterday!  Little Feather, a mime clown, graced our Family Sunday School hour with her version of making cupcakes.  The elementary age boys got quite a kick out of her silent misreading of the directions - "put in 6 eggs" meant shells on, of course, and "put in paper cups and bake in oven" resulted in the muffin cups thrown into the batter and the whole bowl in the imaginary oven.  When she pulled out a pan of cupcakes, one boy said, "You ARE magic!"

Callie played a fifteen-minute harp prelude, which enabled everyone to enter a worshipful attitude (except me   - I had to keep preparing for the various events).  Pete led worship because Pastor Mary's grandpa died.  He had the kids do a skit for the sermon - he was the governor hiring a chief of staff to represent him; David, Callie, Daniel, Andrew & Philip all arrogantly informed him of their superior qualifictions; Hannah, played by Sarah, humbly suggested that she would do her best because she believed in his cause - and was hired.  They improvised and provoked lots of laughter.  Then Pete wrapped it up by encouraging us all to trust God when we are brought low.  Good stories.  Jake gave a Temple Talk to tell us that we're in great financial condition.

Zach Sowers, on his 18th birthday, sang "Who Am I?"  which  fit in perfectly - he volunteered to sing it a couple of weeks ago, knowing nothing of the theme.  Thanks Lord!  After worship, we held a mini-recital.  Nina Thompson, granddaughter of Jan & Ed, played two pieces on the piano; Jordan sang "Danza, Danza" in Italian; Zach sang a piece and accompanied himself on electric guitar; Callie played a very fun and jazzy song called "Great Day" on the harp.

When all this was over, the Luther League families enjoyed a potluck and set some dates for future events.  We arrived home, Pete took a nap and packed up bikes, and Philip, Pete and I met the Sowers, Chambers and Johnsons at the high school for a bike ride to Spicer.  I had good visits with Patti, Dianne, Darla and Dean.  Ethan Johnson sped the entire distance on roller blades!

We parted from the Svea folk, watched the Vikings lose and had pizza at my folks', and Skyped with Michelle and Saul from 8:30-10.  What a day!  Praise the Lord!