Last Tuesday, I went to the Trolley Car Diner (7619 Germantown Ave) in Mt. Airy for a local beer tasting course taught (in conjunction with the Mt. Airy Learning Tree) by none other than Joe Sixpack himself, Don Russell (pictured above). I attended the event with my good friend Pat who, along with his wife, bought me a ticket to the event as a Christmas present. After reading Tony's account of the February class, I was quite excited for the event.

About 30 attendees sat in booths and shared each bottle/can beer between them. Our table only had 3 so we had slightly larger portions per person than the rest of the class! Each student received a packet for the night complete with a list of all the beers we'd be sampling that night (I had had 5 out of the 11); a list of some of Don's favorite bars and a list, with examples, of various styles of beers. The first thing I learned was that all beers fall into one of two categories: Ales or Lagers. I never knew that. According to the handout, an Ale is "Brewed quickly with top-fermenting yeast at warm temperature." A Lager is "Brewed slowly with bottom-fermenting yeast at cool temperature." Who knew Beamish and Yards Philly Pale Ale were in the same family!

The first "beer" sampled was the most popular beer sold in Philadelphia. The watered down beauty taking this crown is Miller Lite. I thought, for sure, that Yuengling Lager would take #1, but nope. Don served this one first for the class to have an understanding of the baseline of beers in the town was. Moving on to the first real beer... a can of Phoenixville, PA's Sly Fox Pikeland Pils (German Pilsner, 4.9% ABV). The label on the can had a set of hops right on it so I knew I'd most likely not be a fan (not into hoppy beers yet at my young age). It was hoppy, but not overpowering. Don took a sec to explain the aluminum can phenomenon in craft beers these days. Apparently, a Canadian company has found a way to produce small quantities of aluminum cans (relative to the output of the Coors/Busch guys I suppose) at an affordable price. More durable than glass bottles, they end up being easier to transport. He said to be on the lookout for more and more small breweries to produce aluminum can versions of their beers. He added that the cans had a special coating to protect the beer from getting a tinny taste to them, but the psychological tie to drinking straight from the can still remains; he advised us to pour it into a glass instead.

The Big Picture is the Veggie Tales and small children worship coming to St. Michael's Lutheran Church...for more information, please call the church office 215-848-0199 and leave a message for Pastor Ingram!

Join us for a service commemorating the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr...

In addition to our regular worship, which includes the Word and Holy Communion, we will also have our liturgical dancers..

All are welcomed!

St. Michael's Lutheran Church
6671 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, Pa 19119
(215)848-0199

Worship begins at 11:00 am
Adult Forum at 9:30 am

You are invited to St. Michael's Watch Night Service, which will be held on December 31, 2007 at 11:00 pm.

Pastor Ingram
(267)625-1318

Christmas can be a painful time for some. It may be the first Christmas without a loved family member who has recently died; it may be a time that has always been difficult.

The constant refrain on the radio and television, in shopping malls and churches, about the happiness of the season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost or have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation - all these can make us feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and spending. We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern; we need to know that we are not alone.

Our spirits sink, as the days grow shorter. We feel the darkness growing deeper around us. We need encouragement to live the days ahead of us.

For these reasons, St Michael's Lutheran Church offers a special “Longest Night” service on December 21st at 7:00 pm. Come out, and join with us in sharing and hearing prayers, scripture, and music that acknowledge that God’s presence is for those who mourn, for those who struggle - and that God’s Word comes to shine light into our darkness. Everyone, regardless of church background (or lack of it) is welcome.

We are located at 6671 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa 19119, for more information, please call the church office: (215) 848-0199.

Take the Lead: Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise

Service of Holy Communion and the Word
December 2, 2007 - 11:00 a.m.

St. Michael's Lutheran
6771 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, Pa 19119

Join us as we come together as people of God, to worship and lift up those infected and/or affected by the HIV/AIDS virus.

Leadership is the theme of this worship service.

In the response to HIV and AIDS it is crucial that people in the church choose to accept leadership where there is none and to strengthen people already leading in the HIV response whether nationally, in their cities and villages, and in the churches themselves.

All are welcome.

Pastor Andrena Ingram
visit us on the web: http://stmichaelsgermantown.org

Take the Lead: Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise

Service of Holy Communion and the Word
December 2, 2007 - 11:00 a.m.

St. Michael's Lutheran
6771 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, Pa 19119

Join us as we come together as people of God, to worship and lift up those infected and/or affected by the HIV/AIDS virus.

Leadership is the theme of this worship service.

In the response to HIV and AIDS it is crucial that people in the church choose to accept leadership where there is none and to strengthen people already leading in the HIV response whether nationally, in their cities and villages, and in the churches themselves.

All are welcome.

Pastor Andrena Ingram
visit us on the web: http://stmichaelsgermantown.org

Tea Party Fundraiser - November 3rd, 1pm - 4pm
Ladies get out your fancy hats and gloves! There is going to be a fundraiser in St. Thomas Hall. The event is being hosted by the Women of St. Michael’s. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. Nyle Webber on piano and Vivian Williams, soloist.

St. Michaels Lutheran Church is located at 6671 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia Pa 19119
Telephone #215-848-0199

Masquerade Game Night - October 31st, 6pm - 8pm
Come and join us for an evening of fun and games. Wear a costume, if you are so inclined, but it is not required. There will be games, arts and crafts, snacks, lots of fun and probably some surprises.

We are located at 6671 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia Pa 19119 (between Springer and Phil-Ellena)
(215)848-0199

Community Share Table - October 27, 2007, 9 am - 1 pm
Rain or Shine. St. Michael’s will hold a day of sharing our household items, bric-a-brac, clothing, used toys, furniture, etc. with each other and the community at large. We will invite neighbors and community members to bring their goods or just come and take what they like. Free will offerings will be accepted.

Tables will be set up in the parking lot and side walk. In case of rain, we will set up in St. Thomas Hall. Leftover items will be donated to Whosoever Gospel Mission.

We are located at

6671 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa 19119

(between Springer and Phil-Ellena)
contact: Pastor Ingram (215)848-0199

There will be a service for "Blessing of Animals" at St. Michael's Lutheran Church on Germantown Avenue on Thursday, October 4, 2007, 12 noon. Weather permitting it will be an outdoor service in front of St Thomas Hall. In case of inclement weather, the service will be held inside St. Thomas Hall. All are invited for this brief service which will give thanks for the animals of the earth who provide companionship and friendship.

The address is 6671 Germantown Avenue, between Springer and Phil-Ellena Streets. For further information, call Pastor Ingram at (212)848-0199.

Thanks be to God!

The Great Bible Reef vacation Bible school at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church begins on Monday, August 20, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and continues through Friday, August 24. A light snack is served. This underwater-themed program is for children of pre-school age through entering grade 6. A barbecue, a pre-event on August 19 preceding the beginning of this program, will be arranged and prepared by St. Michaels’s confirmation class. Visitors, especially youth, are invited to this occasion for fellowship and getting to know others across generations. The barbecue will begin around 12 noon following our 10 a.m. worship.

Lively worship to begin and close each day, telling and talking about Bible stories, making creative crafts and having fun activities make Great Bible Reef Bible vacation Bible school an adventure. Special features include learning simple movements for Praise Dance in worshipping the Lord. Learning how to relate to others and to making new friends will add to social skills already developed.

It’s time to dive in and say you are coming! St. Michael’s is located at 6671 Germantown Avenue. Call the church office at 216-848-0199 or, if you prefer, email: stmichaelsgermantown@verizon.net. Should you forget to let us know, come anyway!

Just returned from Nairobi, Kenya where I attended the International Women's Summit for HIV/AIDS. Very empowering convention. I was blessed to sit on a panel...attached is my response about Women, Religion and HIV:

On June 3, members and friends of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, 6671 Germantown Avenue, will be ” Standing in Red” in front of the church property as peace walkers in the 4th Interfaith Walk for Peace and Reconciliation wend their way through Mt. Airy in a spiritual journey. “Standing in Red” as explained by Rev. Andrena Ingram, pastor at St. Michael’s, “symbolizes the blood that has been shed as the result of increasing gun violence.”

At approximately 3:10 p.m. as the peace walkers pass in the block on Germantown Avenue between Springer and Phil-Ellena Streets, they will do so silently. Persons wearing red at St. Michael’s will stand as a public witness to those no longer with us as a result of violence. It is our hope at St. Michael’s that we, our neighborhood and our community may be able to come together to be of one mind in a show of solidarity with those who are walking to increase the peace, and in solidarity with those who are affected and have been affected by violence throughout the world.

Community members are invited to stand in solidarity with us. For more information, contact Pastor Ingram at 215 -848-0199.

A visit by three-time Caldecott winner David Wiesner? A free kids' concert by Prose from Dover? Crafts, free pastries from High Point Cafe, award-winning storytelling, local children's authors and illustrators? All this and more awaits you at the first ever Mt. Airy Kids' Literary Festival on Saturday, April 14, and Sunday, April 15, 2007, all day! Free! Activities for preschoolers to young adults and beyond! Check out the full schedule here: http://www.bigbluemarblebooks.com/kidslit07.html