Fire at Simple Way: Please Pray and Donate

Official Fire Update from The Simple Way in Philly, PA

This morning, a 7-alarm fire consumed an abandoned warehouse in our Kensington neighborhood in Philadelphia. The Simple Way Community Center at 3200 Potter Street was destroyed as well as at least eight of our neighbors' homes. Over 100 people were evacuated from their homes, and 400 families are currently without power. Despite this developing tragedy, we are incredibly thankful to share that all of our community members and every one of our neighbors is safely out of harm's way.

This fire will forever change the fabric of our community. Eight families are currently homeless, and in many cases have lost their vehicles as well as their homes. One of our neighbors, the Mahaias Family, lost their three cars as well as the equipment one family member uses for her massage therapy business. Teenager Brian Mahaias is devastated not because he has lost his belongings, but because he fears that this fire will force him to move away from this neighborhood that is his family as well as his home.

The Simple Way has lost a community center that was home to our Yes! And… afterschool program, community arts center, and Cottage Printworks t-shirt micro-business as well as to two of our community members. Community members Shane Claiborne and Jesce Walz have lost all of their belongings, Yes!And…'s after school studio and library were ruined, and community member Justin Donner's Cottage Printworks equipment and t-shirts were destroyed.

We are thankful that we are able to help each other during this time of need, and we will continue to keep your informed about today's events.

We have established funds to support the families who have lost their homes, the Yes! And… afterschool program, and the Simple Way community.

A fund to support the families has been established through a partner organization, EAPE. Tax-deductible donations can be made at https://www.tonycampolo.org/donate.php#ssl. Please make sure to put "Kensington Families Fund" in the memo section.

Donations to the Rebuilding Fund can be made via PayPal to contribute@awip.us.

-The Simple Way Community

Worship Tricks!

Hello cohort -

For June and July we're trying some "workshop" cohorts, instead of our regular topical discussions.

We had planned to do a "Music Monday" in June, but a couple of the musicians who regularly attend cohort will be out of town, so we're moving that to July. Let us know if you want to play!

THIS MONDAY we'll be doing "Worship Tricks" inspired by Johnny Baker's list. Isaac and I will be bringing "Communion By Numbers" kits from our Easter at Avalon Service, and I was wondering if any of you have a 10-15 minute worship component that you could bring in to do with the group, followed by some discussion, brainstorming, etc.

An innovative approach to prayer, to confession, to reading scripture, whatever... The only limitations I can think of are that it should take less than 20 minutes (tops!) and should be something that anyone who shows up can participate in.

We may also end up sharing stories about interesting worship approaches we've experienced and maybe even trying some worship approaches extemporaneously...

Hope to see you there!