++++++   IT WAS A BUSY SPRING DAY!   ++++++

The Mukogawa Girls Chorus joined us, directed by Andrea Dawson.  We also honored the 15 (!) boys and girls who serve so well as Acolytes — under the training and guidance of Karen Winston.  Karen, thank you SO much!  These kids add so much to our worship service!  Then — we moved to the outside, where Rev. Kristi led us in blessing our newly re-landscaped gardens and new potato and vegetable garden.  Thanks to Edna Smith, Bob Redmond and Kent Kimball for their vision and work in making our grounds so much more attractive!

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HOLY WEEK

“WE ARE AN EASTER PEOPLE — PRACTICING RESURRECTION”

Bishop

Waggoner Joins the St. Stephen’s Pretzel Making Team as Kids Raise Money for a Worthy Cause

Bishop Jim Waggoner joins the fun as St. Stephen’s Youth make homemade pretzels to raise money for Heifer International. Every week during Lent, the children engage in a service project making fresh, hot pretzels to sell to the congregation at coffee hour.  They collect donations and educate pretzel patrons about Heifer International’s mission to provide farm animals to families in need around the world. These animals are often the key to lifting families, and the communities in which they live, out of poverty.

Last year, St. Stephen’s kids raised $808.00 for Heifer. The funds went toward the purchase of a whole host of animals including a pig, a sheep, and a water buffalo! The children hope to raise even more money this Lent.

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COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CAROL SING-ALONG A GREAT SUCCESS!

On Wednesday, December 9 this Annual Event welcomed families, friends, neighbors  — and, most importantly— many children for this special Christmas tradition.  It was a fun-filled evening of fabulous music, a carol sing-along, delicious treats and Santa.  Nick Dawson read Twas the Night Before Christmas to the little ones, and later Santa arrived to visit with them on his lap!

The pictures tell it all!  For our friends and neighbors who joined us, we hope you’ll return next year!   And for those who missed it, put it on your “must do” list for 2010!

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KICK OFF COMMUNITY DANCE AND BARBEQUE

Lenten “Heifer” Project

On behalf of the Sunday school children and teachers, I want to thank each and every one of you for making our Lenten service project a resounding success. Thanks to your enthusiastic support we raised $808 for people in need around the world!  With this  money we will purchase a goat, a pig, a llama, a water buffalo (in honor of Fr. John ), tree seeds, a trio of rabbits, a flock of chickens and a school of fish. With our donation, Heifer International that will help families break out of extreme poverty.

Mary Ayers, Sunday School Superintendent

Nearly every Sunday during Lent, the children have asked for donations during coffee hour for a very special Lenten project.  On a few Sundays, they have also offered fresh, homemade soft pretzels that they made themselves.  The pretzels have been a big hit! So far, the children have raised over $500 for Heifer International.

Heifer International is a nonprofit organization that provides animals for people living in poverty around the world. These animals provide families a way out of poverty and enable them to help their neighbors, as well. For example, a goat can provide milk and cheese that a family can sell. When a goat has kids, the family is encouraged to give one of the kids to their neighbors so that they can help others the way Heifer International has helped them.

During this Lenten season, our children are learning all about the many animals that Heifer International purchases for families in need. They are also learning a little about the people who will benefit from these animals and where they live around the world.  The children decided to raise money to purchase as many animals as they can in order to help as many people as possible. On the list so far are a pig and a goat. They expect to have enough money raised by the end of Lent to purchase several more animals.

Thanks to everyone who has participated in this fundraiser by donating, buying pretzels and helping the children make the pretzels.  You have been (and continue to be!) instrumental in this Lenten project’s success.

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