His Branches 2012 Banquet

Watch the slideshow above for an overview of our ministries shared at last night's wonderful Banquet of Blessing. Click the arrow in the player below while you're watching the slides to hear the anointed message Rev. Cherry brought to our gathering:

"Pro-choice" at record low

A new Gallup poll shows the number of Americans who consider themselves pro-choice has dropped to 41 percent, which is a record low in the United States. Compare that number to July of 2011, where 47 percent of Americans viewed themselves as pro-choice. The previous record low was in 2009 when 42 percent considered themselves pro-choice.

Fifty percent of Americans now call themselves "pro-life," the poll also shows. In analyzing the data, Gallup notes:

Gallup began asking Americans to define themselves as pro-choice or pro-life on abortion in 1995, and since then, identification with the labels has shifted from a wide lead for the pro-choice position in the mid-1990s, to a generally narrower lead for "pro-choice" -- from 1998 through 2008 -- to a close division between the two positions since 2009. However, in the last period, Gallup has found the pro-life position significantly ahead on two occasions, once in May 2009 and again today. It remains to be seen whether the pro-life spike found this month proves temporary, as it did in 2009, or is sustained for some period.

In other words, this number for the time being could be fluid or fixed.

One commentator, Joe Scarborough, said he thinks advances in technology may play a large role in that number:

You now have the technology that not only takes parents inside so early. And it’s three-dimensional imaging and you sit there and you know what you do? You tear up. That’s what you do…The imagery that’s allowing parents to see their unborn children earlier, that’s having an impact. I remember seeing the 3-D imagery, and as I walked out of the office, I said ‘This is going to change the abortion debate. This is gonna change that because you see that and you immediately go ‘Ok, you can call it what you want to call it, but that’s a human being in there.’ That’s not a political statement. That is a statement as a dad.

Click here to read the May 23, 2012 Gallup report and here to read some commentary and view a news video about the report.

Doug and Cynthia

Congratulate them the next time you see them! Our good friends Douglas Smith and Cynthia Hobbs were married on May 12 in a lovely ceremony at the Adams Street Church of God by Faith, surrounded by family and friends. A rousing reception was held afterwards at The Diplomat Party House, and then they disappeared from sight!

Doug counsels young men about the risks of STDs through our Embracing Options ministry and has recently become the leader of our Rochester Youth Outreach (RYO) program. Cynthia is becoming more active in our neighborhood planning and helps Doug on Sunday afternoons when Grace Community Mission holds open services in the RYO suite on Warwick Avenue.

Doug and Cynthia will be inspiring us with music and song again at our annual "Banquet of Blessing" on May 24th, this time as Mr. and Mrs. Smith!

Our Friend Pat Donohue

 

Mr. Beau the Clown, AKA Pat Donohue

On May 9th our good friend, Pat Donohue, known throughout the northeast as Mr. Beau the Clown, suffered a heart attack and was pronounced dead at 3:55 pm at Rochester General Hospital. Pat Donohue entertained children and adults of all ages for nearly 36 years. His talent for encouraging laughter was only matched by his ardent attempt to make clowning "not scary." He was a faithful supporter of our ministry, known to many in our neighborhood for his delightful performances at our annual Block Party.

As part of his 36 year reign, Pat Donohue transformed into Mr. Beau the Clown before the eyes of his audiences. It was through this transformation that Pat Donohue captured peoples' hearts and encouraged them to laugh inside and out.

Pat Donohue is succeeded by his beautiful wife of 32 years, Kathy, and his five proud sons, Michael, Andrew, Patrick, Brian, and Chris. Family and friends are invited to sign his Legacy Guest Book or attend his Funeral Mass on Saturday, May19th at 9:30 AM at St. Stanislaus Church.

We will miss you, "Mr. Beau"!

 

Dr. Morehouse and Mr. Beau at the 2010 Block Party

Bike Clinic!

R Community Bikes (RBC) and the Arnett Block Association will be holding a neighborhood Bike Clinic in our parking lot at 350 Arnett Blvd this Saturday, May 12th, from 1-4 pm. We're expecting a great turnout and will be giving away 15 reconditioned bikes in a free lottery to kids who come in eager anticipation. We'll have 10 kids bikes and 5 teens bikes. Certificates will be available in case winners do not match sizes available. RBC's expert volunteer crew of bike mechanics will also be on site with parts and tools to repair any bikes that show up that day.

R Community Bikes a non-profit organization that recycles bikes in Rochester. RCB gives away over 1000 bikes to the Rochester community every year. Thanks to a grant, they have a trailer for bringing bikes, tools, and parts to off-site events. Their shop/warehouse is at 226 Hudson Avenue, and volunteers are welcome!

Our next collaborative event will be on Saturday, August 4th, from noon until 4 pm when RCB will join us again for our annual Block Party. Be sure to come and bring your neighbors and friends!