Summer in the City

As June winds down and temperatures begin to rise, central Queens comes alive. Commuters make their ways home emerging from overheated subway stations to have reheated leftovers for dinner and watch re-runs on their plasma TVs or sit out on the stoop to engage in chit-chat with their neighbors.

Children play in water from fire hydrant sprinklers and anxiously await the familiar chimes of the Mister Softee ice cream truck and beg their parents for money to buy a vanilla/chocolate twist cone or bomb pop. Playgrounds in Flushing Meadows of Forest Park, complete with swings, slides and see-saws are popular destinations for families with small children, while the bigger kids pick up a game of softball or basketball. Even the streets are home to a few games of wiffle ball, stick ball or freeze tag, while little girls in pigtails still play hopscotch and jump rope.

Shoppers browse the windows of the swanky shops on Austin Street in Forest HIlls or look for bargains along 63rd Drive in Rego Park. Outdoor tables fill along restaurant row off Queens Blvd. or beside the tracks at Austin's in Kew Gardens.

Summer in Queens still has much of the magic it had when I was a kid growing up on 78th Street and in my opinion it's still the time of year when NYC's largest borough shines brightest.

Ascension Church has some big doings this Summer. The biggest is our Vacation Bible School which we are continuing to promote by word-of-mouth and fliers posted all around the area. We are excited by the prospects of introducing the neighborhood children and families to the Gospel thought what is shaping up to be an exciting program. The Indie Society, our young adults/singles ministry has a number of outings and other social events that Summer in the city affords. Michael and I will hopefully be making another attempt at a fundraising trip in August. The Summer is a challenging time for a young church considering people's crazy and unpredictable schedules. Please keep all out summer plans in your prayers as we seek to serve the Lord as we serve our neighbors and engage in Gospel interactions with them.