For the last 21 years, I have coached a juggling troupe of middle school students to share the Gospel through juggling, magic and skits similar to the ministry that my family and I have done since 1985.  This year I have 14 students in the LOL troupe.  

Since 1994, my family and I have attended Bridgton (Maine) Alliance Church.  Last weekend the two worlds interacted when LOL did a performance at the church's Sunday morning service.  We did an hour long performance, and the kids represented well.  Their juggling was as universally good as it's been all year.  Caleb H and Sam's partner diabolo routine gets better and better, and their final catch on a juggling ring is seemingly fail-proof.  Also, the kids are becoming better and better actors. Elijah is hysterical as the devil, Sam provides comic relief as the older son in "Prodigal Juggler" and the entire cast of "Pebbles" stepped it up several notches.

But there were two moments that set this show apart from any others this year.  First, Liz did her eighth grade solo, not with juggling but with singing.  She sang "Warrior" by Demi Lavato.  Liz sang with such strength and confidence that several in the congregation were wiping away tears.  Although this is a secular top 40 song, in the context of the show, it came across as powerfully spiritual.

Also, we ended as we usually do with "Beautiful, Scandalous Night", a routine where Jesus (ironically, also played by Elijah) calls jugglers one by one to bring their burdens to the cross.  These are represented by bandanas with labels like "fear", " sin", and "shame" which are draped on the cross, exchanged for juggling balls that the kids rise up and juggle.  Simple. It powerful.  But this time, we allowed the congregation to bring their own burdens to the cross as well.  We provided pens and post-it notes for anyone who wanted to act out the spiritual reality of leaving their concerns with Jesus.  Many, perhaps half the congregation, chose to participate.  It was a powerful moment.