4:30 Service or Circus on Sundays?

So the 4:30 service on Sundays has turned into quite the amazing circus. As 4:30 approached, I returned from lunch with my California cousin who is in town briefly to find a guy totally smashed on the corner of 9th and 4th. He was so drunk, on Listerine, he couldn't stand up. Shortly after that a student from North Central University arrived on the scene, and decided he really wanted to "help" the man who couldn't see straight, walk straight or anything. I had to get ready for the service, so I was more than happy to let him take care of the guy. At about 5 or so, they finally realized the best thing to do was to call 911 and get the guy to detox.

So the detox folks came and took him away, and now we have a bike in the Church.

Then another guy came in and interrupted the service with a story about how he was arrested and had to get to St. Cloud by 8 to finish his service hours that he had started otherwise he had to spend a month in jail. Usually this guy just comes in, participates in the service and then, literally begs for money, this time he was quite distraught and when we finished, and made it crystal clear we were unable to help him, I got him to the Greyhound station and hopefully he will make it there in time to get checked in.

So there you have it, quite the eventful afternoon, it was crazy! What do you do? If you haven't experienced the tightrope walking of the 4:30 service, come and join us, it can be quite amazing and wild.
Be well,
A+

Comments

Anonymous said…
Ah, the joys of an inner city parish. The student will have learned something valuable from this experience. Maybe the time is right to sit down and figure out how we want to minister to people who come to us during this time..or the block party. SBM
12:53 PM
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