Bridges' float in last Saturday's (June 27th) Mequon-Thiensville Family Fun Before the Fourth Parade was a crowd favorite again this year. The float featured NeumaVox, the Bridges worship band. Bridgers also walked along with the float handing out generous amounts of candy and nearly 1000 Music of Bridges CDs with invitations to a free cookout and concert following the parade.

The response from the crowd to the free CD was enthusiastic. Bridgers had a hard time keeping up with the demand. In fact several hundred more CDs could have been distributed.

During the parade a number of Bridgers cooked burgers, brats, and hotdogs and set up for the cookout and concert. Many people stopped by to see what was going on before the parade was even over. Members of the worship band expressed delighted when they arrived at the cookout location. Lots of people were in line for food and more already eating and waiting for the concert. In all, approximately 350-375 enjoyed a free picnic lunch on Bridges in addition to a great concert. It was a great opportunity for Bridges to express the love of God to the people of Thiensville and Mequon.

And, Bridges' parade season isn't over. This Friday evening, July 3rd, Bridges will take part in the Grafton Holidaze Parade. This is Bridges' first time in the Grafton parade. Bridgers and friends of Bridges are welcome to walk in the parade and hand out candy and NeumaVox CD's. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. The worship band will set up at 2:30 p.m. in the Kennedy Elementary School parking lot (1629 11th Avenue, Grafton). If you are available at 2:30 p.m. please come help set up the float and put stickers on CDs with information about a cookout and concert at Veterans Memorial Park in Grafton on August 14th. Otherwise be at Kennedy Elementary School by 4:30 p.m. Don't forget to bring some candy to pass out at the parade.

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Front row: Cynde Kleven, Maggie Barr, Leslie Memmel, Deb Wojnarowski;  Second row: Mike Kleven, Bruce Barr, Paul Rowlett, Kerry Wilger, Brian Wilger

Thank you to the ten Bridgers who picked up bottles, cans, cigarette liters, numerous tennis balls, massive quantities of Styrofoam insulation, a tire, a chase lounge, and all sorts of discarded metal along the Milwaukee River in Mequon on Saturday, April 18. The team of volunteers from Bridges gathered with other people from the community at Thiensville Village Park at 8:30 a.m. for the annual Milwaukee Rivers and Parks Spring Clean-up.  The Bridges crew then headed out to their assignment along the Milwaukee River just south of Highland Road. After filling nearly ten bags of trash and stacking several piles of discarded metal and construction materials the team headed back to Thiensville Village Park for lunch. This was the second year Bridges took part in the clean-up. Other volunteers and event organizers remembered Bridges participation last year and expressed appreciation for the care Bridges shows for the community. In addition a number of people approached team members to find out more about Bridges.

Participating in service projects like the River and Parks Clean-up is a great way to demonstrate to the community that Bridges really is a church for the community.  Only three of the ten Bridges volunteers actually live in Mequon or Thiensville.  The fact that seven people from other communities served in the clean-up says alot about them and the heart of Bridges!  So again, thank you to all those who took part in this great service project! See you next year at the River and Parks Clean-up.  Click here to see more pictures from the clean-up day.

Project Clear View II participants (left to right): Brian Wilger, Mike Jakubiak, Lissa McDonald, Jennifer Kern, Maggie Barr, Paul Rowlett, Doug Shea, Lupe Duenas, and Mike Kleven (behind the camera).

Bridgers used more than 40 gallons of washer fluid to fill vehicle washer fluid resevoirs at Citgo Super Sales in Cedarburg, Citgo Super Sales in Grafton, and Towne Market Mobile in Mequon.  In addition to providing free washer fluid refills Bridgers also gave away 175 NeumaVox CD's.  The CD features music from Bridges Sunday morning worship gatherings.

The response by customers at the three filling stations varied from suspicious of the free offer to gratitude for the free gift.  Once people learned the washer fluid really was free most gladly accepted the simple act of kindness.