Switching Churches Can Be Refreshing

Brooklyn C&MA

Over time, things change, including churches.  I grew up in this church, got married in it, and served the Lord for many years in Hobby Club, as a Sunday School teacher, Youth Director, AWANA worker, Bowling League secretary and Church Secretary. We left the Brooklyn Christian & Missionary Alliance church because every week something seemed to bother me.  I came home upset and at times, even angry.  This should not be!  It was hard to leave but was time to try somewhere else.  

          PHBC is so sprawled out, I couldn't get the whole thing in one shot!

Since my sister attended PHBC, we tried there first and stayed.  When we first started attending Parma Heights Baptist Church ("PHBC"), we were very impressed with it and enjoyed the services.  Soon I started teaching Sunday School there and joined the puppet team with my husband.  It's a very big church which was quite different from the one we left which took some getting used.  We liked the preaching, the music, the cleanliness, the adult Bible study class, the opportunities for service and the fact that there were a lot of people who volunteered for things.  PHBC has a wonderful children's pastor and a top-notch children's ministry.  Special events such as VBS, Sports Camp, Summer Shake-Up and the Fall Festival brought lots of kids from the neighborhood.  

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Communion at Home

Well, today was another first for me--participating in an online communion service.  I used two Cheerios and a bit of joint juice for my "elements."  Normally at our Good Friday service the choir would sing but now with social distancing, only a few were actually there.  I think its really nice of our Pastor to put forth the effort to do this as well as putting Sunday messages and a Wednesday Bible study online during this time.

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"Back to Church Sunday" is a Real Thing!

Our new Pastor at Parma Heights Baptist Church told us that September 15 is "National Back to Church Sunday."  I never heard of it before and thought it was just some idea he came up with, so, I googled it.   Lo and behold, it's actually a real thing!

The idea is to try to get people who have dropped out of church for one reason or another to come and give it another try on that Sunday or for those who never stepped foot inside of a church to come that week.  We actually have invitations to give to people and even t-shirts are available for $7!  I think that's pretty funny.  My husband wants to get one, but I think it's silly since I already attend every week anyway.

Have you ever heard of this before?  Are you going?  If you are in Cleveland or its suburbs, I invite to to join us on Sunday, September 15 or attend a church near you.

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Summer Shake Up 2018--The First One Ever for Parma Heights Baptist Church

This year Parma Heights Baptist Church called it quits for sports camp which ran for 10 years and instead of VBS, had one week for a large ministry to kids in the community called Summer Shake Up which combined some good things from Sports Camp and VBS into something brand new.  I took this week for my vacation so I could be a small group leader for 4th graders and had a fun week with the kids, going along through all the activities with them.  I took some pictures and some video of some things and made this video.

Our theme of the week was Philippians 1:6:

God began doing a good work in you and will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.

They did five different main activities twice during the week:  create, Wacky Science, Obstacle Course, Large Group Games and Nature Alive.  It was set up to have something for everyone, not just kids who like sports, but some active things for those who do like to run around.  I felt it was a pretty good mix.  Most importantly, the kids had fun and enjoyed the week.  Everyone who came got caps and a prize bag with several items depending on how many days they came.

The devotions for the week were:  God is the Master Builder (sin entered world), Built Right (Nehemiah), Built New--Inside & Out (Zachaeus), Built with Power (Saul/Paul) and Invited Home Forever (John's vision of heaven).

Over $1,000 was brought in for hygiene items the Chain of Love orphanage in Brazil. 

I was disappointed on Thursday when I took some video with my Flip camera to find out later that I didn't have it on record so missed some really good shots of our group playing that pirate game.  I went over Friday to take some of the younger group, just so I could include it in the video.  Our kids really had fun with that one!

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Mystery Outing Goes On In Spite Of Stormy Weather

We had a special "Mystery Outing" for my Sunday School class yesterday that I went along on.  This is a fun event because the kids are not told ahead where they are going.  Normally we go to a park where we have a cookout, play some games, and then hike on hills and in between rocks in search of the "ice box" cave at Virginia Kendall Park.  This is the standard Kids Day Out day every year for those going into 6th grade in the fall.

Since it stormed and rained yesterday, it also became a real mystery outing for me.  The forecast was rain all afternoon and it started around 10 a.m.  That pretty much made it easy for those in charge to determine to use the rain plan instead.  What are they going to do that would especially fun for the kids for 5 hours? I was disappointed because I knew the kids would have really enjoyed hiking at Virginia Kendall; however, our summer interns who assist with children and youth ministry for the summer did a fantastic job on coming up with an alternate plan the kids really enjoyed.

As they arrived, they were invited to join in a game of "spoons" using popsicle sticks. Then they worked on creating a container to protect an egg from breaking when they dropped it from a balcony.  They came up with all kinds of different ideas.

We had hotdogs, munchies, fruit gummies, and veggies for lunch.  By the time we finished lunch, it stopped raining so we went in the van to a nearby park.  As we rode, we saw a group of 5 or 6 raccoons cross the road and go into the bushes--they were sooo cute!  (That was the highlight of the day for me!)  We went to West Creek  Park and the kids each got a list of things to try to find along the way as we walked on the path.  Then it started to drizzle again so we headed for the building where there is interactive exhibits about water.  There is also a big room with comfortable seating, large windows and a fireplace where we had a devotional on God's creation and why we were created.  It rained hard while we were in the building but finally let up.

The minister of children really was eager for the kids to be able to be outside so we started out once again.  This time, almost as soon as they left, it poured down rain again before all of our group even left the building.  They ran down to the other little pavilion to take cover.  By the time the ones left in the building borrowed some umbrellas to go rescue them, they were headed back the other way and got pretty wet.  They boys loved it!

Egg Drop Winners

Back to the church we went to do the egg drop. Two of the kids and one of the interns successfully dropped their egg hitting the target without it breaking.  We'll never know if Joshua's broke or not because he had it wrapped so tightly with painter's tape that he gave up trying to undo it.  My personal favorite was the one protected with playdough which was a winner (created by boys in picture on the right). 

First stir up the food coloring concoction

Then mix with bottle of glue

Then they made some slime using a whole bottle of glue, some water, Borax and food coloring. Some turned out very well and all the kids seemed to have fun making it.






 
The sun finally came out around 3:00 when we headed for Steak-n-Shake for milkshakes for everyone.  Two girls in our group never got their shakes until everyone else was finished so they finished theirs on the van heading back to the church.

It turned out to be a fun time after all!

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Friday Fragments: books, money, shopping, church

Friday Fragments is hosted by Half Past Kissin' Time for bloggers to post a list of short things on their minds that aren't really enough for a whole post. It's been quite a week so I have more than usual this week:

Favorite Reads

Gerard's favorite read in May is Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline.

Karen's favorite read in May is Now You See Her by James Patterson.
Click the links for our reviews.

 

Money

This must be the year of spending for us. So far:
$ 500 dental cleaning for our cat (Manny) close to $500
$ 1,000 New computer, 3 yr. virus protection & 3 yr. technical support (used tax refund and money gifts for this though)
$ 600 Car Repairs
$20,000 2012 Ford Escape (paid from savings so that's what we were saving for)
When is it going to be a year for savings again?

New Class

I've been teaching just the 5th grade boys in Sunday School but for the summer, I will have the 5th grade girls too! Should be interesting. Sort of looking forward to it but a bit anxious because I will be using material I haven't used before so will have to start from scratch every week.

Sports Camp

Last year I volunteered to be a head basketball coach and blue shirt worker for the Parma Heights Baptist Church FOCUS Sports Camp (Focus on Christ Using Sports) and this year I volunteered again to be a basketball coach for both morning and afternoon sessions. I requested being an assistant coach but will be a head coach if needed. We'll see what happens--trusting God to give me the stamina and strength I'll need. We are still short of volunteers for all the sports: flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, soccer and basketball. Registration ends June 5.



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Cake Auction Time Again

Sunday I attended the spaghetti dinner/cake auction at Parma Heights Baptist Church to support our youth by helping them raise money for camp and a missions trip this summer.  This year I actually did very well on my purchases, but not without a little disappointment.

First, of course, I looked over all the bakery.  I was very interested in bidding on a large pie called a sampler which had four different fruits in it with just strips of crust on the top.  My hubby likes pie very much so thought I would go out on that one.  Unfortunately, they did not auction it off.  Boo!  But I guess that was best because I got three other things instead and didn't have to bid very high.

Our Pineapple Poke Bundt Cake-not for you, Spunky!

For just $80, I go two trays of pumpkin pie squares--one tray without any crust called "Impossible Pumpkin Pie" and the other with a cookie crumb crust.   I also got the last cake, a delicious pineapple poke bundt cake and my husband and I are both enjoying very much.

I bid $100 for the Black Forest Cake which had cherries in it but was outbid.  I quit when it went over $100, but the kind gentleman (Jim N., one of our deacons) who outbid me for it brought me over a large piece afterward to share with me.  I thought that was very nice of him and the cake was delicious!  I never had anything like it before and shared some of it with my hubby, but he didn't care for it so I got to eat practically the whole piece myself. 

Pumpkin Squares--I even took some in my lunch to work!

The one tray of pumpkin squares was finished in two days.  I like pumpkin but am not big on the crust part of a pie so these were perfect for me. 

This is a fun event I look forward to every year now.  Even if I'm not actually the high bidder, I figure I'm helping the youth group raise more money just by bidding, right? 


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One Distracting Lady Bug

image source:  FreePik

In church yesterday, about just the time the Pastor started his message on Jesus being our Counselor, I became distracted by a cute little lady bug crawling across the back of the pew right in front of me.  I picked it up and put it on my notes and tried to keep it on the paper.  Lady bugs are fast!  I had to watch it very closely and when it got close to the edge of the paper, I gently used the pen to turn it around and get it going back in another direction.  I'm sure the Pastor was wondering what I was doing.  It went pretty good until I had to use the pen to write something in my notes.  It got on my thumb a few times and fell on my lap once but I got it back.

I had no intention of squishing this little bug, but rather was planning how I would get it back outside.  At the end I used two papers (the bulletin and my interactive note guide) to keep the little ladybug on a paper.  When it got to the edge, I just put the other paper next to it and let it crawl on that one.  It was pretty warm yesterday so I didn't have any problem opening a door and letting it out into the courtyard.

I was still able to listen to the message during my lady bug encounter in case you are wondering as some of my Facebook friends were.  Playing with the ladybug reminded me of how wonderful it is when God redirects our lives to accomplish the good plans He has for us. 

So, what would you have done in this situation? 

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Community Dinner--My First Experience

Yesterday I posted that I was looking forward to helping with the community dinner our church did so thought I would report on how it went.  We set up 50 tables with 8 chairs at each in half an hour and all were used except for about four tables.  Not all were filled, but there were a LOT of people.  Most of them arrived before 6 p.m. when it started.  It really was wild.

I wish I had pictures of the kitchen crew busily preparing the plates of food for the servers to take in, all the guests who came and the grocery distribution as the people left but I was too busy!  I could have gotten one while I was waiting the server line to get food for my tables but I didn't think of it then.

In theory, each table was supposed to have one church member at it to sort of be the "host" but I think we were a few short.  Each server was supposed to serve the tables that matched the border color on our name tags, but in reality, that didn't happen.  I'm not sure why--maybe because we had more servers than sections? 

This was my first time doing it so was a bit nervous, not knowing what to expect and trying to remember everything I was supposed to do:  keep their cups full, bring them all their food, clear the junk when they were done, bring them pie, watch for new arrivals and wait on them, greet and smile!  It was fun to serve the people, but I guess I was overly concerned about how long it was taking.  Hopefully, the guests weren't in a hurry--it didn't seem like they were.

Most of the people started clearing out between 7:00 and 7:15.  Some stayed and chatted and some still arrived as late as 7:20 p.m.   Out of curiosity, I checked the grocery giveaway area to see how much was left and there was quite bit.  There were lots of pumpkin pies left too, but the apple were all gone.  I don't know what they'll do with all the leftover food but my guess is it will most likely be donated to a local food bank.  I know I only got one slice of pumpkin pie at the end of the night.

I'm glad I volunteered to help, I sure felt useful and needed and it was great seeing so many new people come in to our church.  I hope they enjoyed the experience and will come back again!

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I'm Excited About Tonight--Our Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Church!

I am so happy to be a member at a church that actually puts faith into action and helps and encourages its members to do the same by providing lots of opportunities.  I grew up in a very small church and had some reservations about joining a large church such as Parma Heights Baptist (800-900 Sunday morning attenders is large to me).  I was concerned that there would not be a need for my service.  I wanted a church where I could serve the Lord and be actively involved in ministry.  I did not need to be concerned because there are lots of opportunities to serve others at Parma Heights Baptist.

Tonight we as a church are inviting the community to attend a free Thanksgiving meal.  We did this last year and had about 250 attend but I was not involved.  This year, they said they needed more help because we are expecting around 500!  I am taking the day off so I can help with this and am so excited to see how we are going to feed that many people a good hot meal!  Don't worry, I am not one that will be in the kitchen cooking.  I will be waiting on tables so I hope I don't drop anything.  This morning, I will help set up.

This is a picture I took early Sunday morning of just one of the areas where we have sorted the food brought in by our members to give away to each family attending the dinner.  By the time I left, there was another area of tables set up right across from this that was full too.  Then last night, I saw another bunch of tables filled with groceries for the giveaway.

As of yesterday at noon, here is a list of what was brought in for tonight's community Thanksgiving dinner:

• 2,825 items have been donated just for the food drive alone!
• 214 people are currently signed up to help out in some way tomorrow night.
• 117 pounds of potatoes will be peeled and mashed.
• 60 pumpkin and apple pies will be consumed.
• 14 twenty-three pound turkeys have given their lives. :-) Thanksgiving isn't fun and games for everyone!

Parma Heights Baptist Church's mission statement is "To help people find and follow Jesus Christ."  If you are seeking God or a place to worship and serve him in the Cleveland area, I invite you to come and join us.  Sunday services are at 8:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a..m.  Growth groups for all ages are at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.

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Sunday Sharing: Everyone Wants Our Money!

Boxes for Operation Christmas Child at church

These last few months it seems every day we get solicitations for donations to charities in the mail (American Bible Society, the City Mission, Lakota School, Operation Christmas Child, animal rescues), the church has lots of projects going on that need money (Pastor appreciation month, food baskets, pantry, pavilion building project, groceries for the community dinner, support for the missions team to Haiti and items for them to take, running behind budget) and then there are the disasters (the Philippines) that occur in the world that I just can't help but feeling compelled to include a donation for the relief effort.

I was getting to the place where I was becoming overwhelmed and blew up a couple Sundays ago when the Pastor wondered why the general offerings have been low and we are running behind budget.  I am a giving person but even I was feeling pressure and said enough already!  But then God through his word spoke to my heart and reminded of of a few things:

1)  My Sunday School lessons this month are on laying up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19--24), sharing what we have with others (Luke 12:13-21), and making loving and obeying God my top priority (Matthew 6:33).

2)  Last Sunday, I read I Chronicles 29 about King David asking the people to contribute materials for the temple his son Solomon would build and how he even gave out of his personal things to set the example.  They got lots of materials and David celebrated praising the Lord before the people saying:

 Lord, you are great and powerful.  You have glory, victory and honor.  Everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you.  The kingdom belongs to you, Lord.  You are the ruler over everything.  Riches and honor come from you.  You rule everything.  You have the power and strength to make anyone great and strong.  Now, our God, we thank you.  And we praise your glorious name.  These things did not really come from me and my people.  Everything comes from you.  We have given you back what you gave us.  . . . Lord our God, we have gathered all this to build your Temple.  We will build it for worship to you.  But everything has come from you.  Everything belongs to you.  I know, my God, that you test people's hearts.  You are happy when people do what is right.  I was happy to give all these things.  I gave with an honest heart.  Your people gathered here are happy to give to you.  I am happy to see their giving.  Lord, you are the God of our ancestors.  You are the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Please help your people to want to serve you always.  And help them to want to obey you always.  Give my son a strong desire to serve you.  Help him always obey your commands, laws and rules.  Help him build the Temple for which I have prepared. - I Chronicles 29:11-14, 16-19 (ICB) [ emphasis added]

This reminder that all I have is from the Lord and it's all his was just what I needed to get my heart back on track and be the cheerful giver God loves.  I am now looking forward to the community dinner, cheerfully bringing my groceries to share and volunteered to help at it as well. 

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:  for God loveth a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:  (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor:  his righteousness remaineth for ever.--II Corinthians 9:6-9 (KJV)

3)  Other scripture came to mind as well.  This is why it is so important to read God's Word every day and memorize it so that when we get off track with the Lord, His powerful word can speak to our hearts and bring us back.

And let us not be weary in well doing:  for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. --Galatians 6:9-10 (KJV)  

4)  Then, last week the Pastor's sermon was on James 2:17 which says:

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

I love when God speaks to my heart because it shows proves He is a personal God who loves me.  I think it is so cool how He knows just what I need and gives it to me.  How about you?  Has God spoke to you this week about anything in particular?  I encourage you to read the Bible every day.  It will change your life if you have an open heart that is seeking to know God better and obey Him.

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Being Flexible

Sometimes it does no good to plan ahead.  Sometimes what we think is going to happen doesn't, so we need to be flexible.  This is what we are told when we sign up to work in Sports Camp at our church.  Our best laid plans are always subject to change because we o not always know what God has in mind.

I was originally told I would be coaching first grade girls basketball so planned some games to play at the beginning during registration geared to that age level, such as Johnny Can't Cross My Ocean, Mother May I, Mr. Fox, Red Light, Green Light and Spud.  I touched base with my assistant coach and felt ready.

First thing I was told when I arrived was surprise--there's been a change.  I would now be coaching 5th grade boys instead of 1st grade girls.  OK.  We are short on men coaches this year but I assisted with 5th grade boys last year and have taught that age in Sunday School so felt comfortable with the new assignment.  Quickly, my mind is thinking of new presession games because what I had planned clearly would not be good now.

Monday went very well, better than I even expected as far as my morning session.  One even prayed for forgiveness and asked Jesus to be his Savior!

I volunteered as a blue shirt worker in the afternoon which is basically just to be available to assist coaches if needed, taking kids to first aid or the restroom.  I was assigned to 1st gr. boys soccer and had the pleasure to assist two of my former 5th grade boys I had in Sunday School and watch them coach soccer.  They even invited me to play to balance out teams for a little time, it was fun! 

We had a record attendance of children this year and for the first time had to close out some sports.  This outreach ministry into our community takes the whole church working together to make it happen. 

I look forward to another great day today and am excited to see what happens!  This is my idea of a fun vacation--I LOVE it!  What is your idea of a great vacation?

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A Spaghetti Dinner and Dessert Auction--What Fun!

There were so many great looking desserts!

I went to the spaghetti dinner/dessert auction at church last Sunday determined to bid this year but didn't want to go over $50. It was a fun time and the youth raised a lot of money for their mission trip to Haiti and camp for this summer. I love seeing the boys I taught when they were in fifth grade continue to be actively involved in the youth group. There were over 50 desserts auctioned and when bids reached $100, all the servers did a cute little dance. If someone bid $200, they got to smash a cream pie in the face of a Pastor of their choice who were all good sports.

Oreo cake

The Oreo cake was the first item I bid on but it went for $60 to a kid one table over from me.

Four of the teens were auctioned off: two for yard work, one for housework and one for child care for four hours each.  David and John (the two for yard work) were the first item to get a $200 bid, but the lady who bid said she didn’t want to throw the pie so she let John do it. He chose to throw it at his dad, our main Pastor.

Kraig, the worship Pastor got chosen twice, and the Pastor of Youth and Pastor of Outreach all got included too. Pam, the children’s minister almost escaped until she and her mother got into a bidding contest for the candy cake baked by Kylie (her niece and fellow puppeteer) which finally went to Pam’s mother for $300! That was the highest bid of the day! (I bid on her cake too, but wasn't about to go anywhere near that high.)

Servers Mallory and Kylie (baker of the candy cake that went for $300)

The spaghetti was good too. The teens were the servers and the Family Life Center was full with a good crowd of people all willing to support the youth. It was a fun afternoon and my server, Mallory (a fellow puppeteer), was kind enough to keep bringing me brownies for dessert—I had four! I was excited to bid this year and got the item I most wanted for just $45: a strawberry chiffon pie! It was a fun few hours from noon to 3:00, an hour later than anticipated!

Lots of people went home happy with delicious desserts.  This lady who was at my table bought the cupcake bouquet--actually, her husband bid on it.  Another couple at my table bought the coconut cookies and a cake.

Here is a video showing some highlights of the event and all the desserts, including the dessert I bought:


P.S.  I tried to take notes and record all the bids but sometimes it was hard to tell which cherry pie it actually was although the bunt cake in the box sold for $30, there was another chocolate peanut butter bunt cake with a container that went for $200.  Since I didn't have a good picture of that one, in the video I used the bunt cake in the box for the $200 bid.

This is a great fund-raiser and I am already looking forward to bidding again next year!  How much would you bid for a cake or cookies?  Here's a link to Parma Heights Baptist Church where you can see upcoming events and learn more about it.

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What Was The Last SUPER Event You Attended?

The first question in Wednesday Hodgepodge last week caught my attention because I did recently attend a super event:

In the USA this coming Sunday millions will be watching the Baltimore Ravens take on the San Francisco 49er's in the Superbowl. What was the last event you attended that could be described as super?

It was our annual Children's Workers' Breakfast at church where the volunteers in children and youth ministry get some further training and are shown appreciation. Since I am on the puppet team and volunteer in both our Vacation Bible School and Sports Camp weeks, I get to attend. The best part is just seeing what a big group of dedicated workers we have at our church with a heart for kids. It was awesome to see how many years of service were represented there. Over ten people had more than 40 years of service (I was at 42).

We were served a great breakfast of scrambled eggs, ham, oatmeal, fruit, grits, and sausage. I enjoyed hearing the testimonies of a high schooler and young adult who grew up in our church thanking the adults who were their Pioneer Girl leaders and youth leaders and the ones who taught the silly songs with the hand motions to help them remember the verses set to music. It was also great hearing from a seasoned volunteer about his beginnings as a helper in the 2s and 3s group many years ago.

Workshops

There were 8 workshops available from which we could choose two.  I chose the one on "How Important Good Helpers Are" led by our Children's Minister.  I knew that would be good and I may get a better idea of how to help better during VBS and Sports Camp weeks.  It was an excellent workshop with lots of teens attending which was very encouraging to me.  We basically covered all kinds of little things helpers should do through brainstorming in small groups and short little skits and discussion.

The second workshop I attended was "Strategies For Teaching Special Needs Children" led by our Special Needs coordinator.  I went because I know there is a need for more helpers in there and I thought perhaps if I got some training, I could help out.  WRONG.  Teaching these precious special needs children takes a very special, patient, sensitive, creative person.  There is just too many things that would make me crazy, I am not the type to do this.  Number one, you MUST be flexible and able to "go with the flow" and "think quickly."  I am a planner and much too organized to be able to handle this. 

They can't use food in there because of all the different allergies the children have.  No candy.  Playing at the water table for any lesson involving water is their favorite activity.  In fact, one boy brings a change of clothes for these days!  Each has an individual "reward" system for behaving well.  For example, one boy gets to play with his favorite toy at the end, and another boy gets to feed the fish, etc. 

They can't have playdoh, again because some of the children are allergic to one or more of the ingredients so they use shaving cream instead.  I can just picture the mess which is also something that I have an aversion to.

It seems all of the children have different quirks so the workers have to be very watchful.  One child likes to put stuff in his mouth all the time.  One day, they were doing a craft with cotton balls and discovered this kid ate them!  Whoa!  One child is very sensitive to noise so if he's there, they can't use the music or sound affects that they planned to go with the lesson.  Another kid really responds well to sounds but has some other thing that bothers him.  The biggest challenge for the workers is getting to know how each child learns best and trying to incorporate teaching methods that cover all the different learning styles represented on any given week.

Sometimes they spend the whole first hour just trying to calm down the children so they are ready to learn something the next hour.  Oh, and the age range is from 3 to 12!  What is really most helpful is to have a teaching ratio of 1:1.  Plus, you never know when someone is going to have a seizure or a major meltdown and they need to get the parent.

I knew this would be a tough class, but didn't realize just how challenging it was until I attended this workshop.  It blew me away!  Now I have resolved to pray especially for this class on Sunday mornings.  I would be so on edge and stressed out working in this classroom and yet, some of the older children do come in to help with the kids.   Thank God for them! 


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Tips on How To Make Your Buffet Table Beautiful

A Thanksgiving Holiday Buffet (Image from Side-by-Side Facebook Page with permission)

First of all, these are all tips I got from Julie, the hospitality workshop speaker at this month's Women of Wonder (W.O.W.) meeting at Parma Heights Baptist Church.

1)  Cover table with 3-5 different pieces of material (big napkins draped, basic white base).

2)  Add boxes to create tiers for bringing food dishes and center piece up higher.
 
3)  Use pretty platters and bowls.
 
4)  Keep cold food cold by using one bowl with crushed ice and set a smaller bowl with the food on top of it.  

5)  Use warming trays to keep the hot food hot, hide cords under material.
 
6)  Add protected candles and put a layer of little colorful Styrofoam balls around the base.
 
7)  Fill in the lower parts of the table with greenery, pine cones and ornaments.
 
8)  Add a string of small lights among the greenery.
 
9)  Label all the food dishes and add a warning if nuts are in it.
 
10)  Set up the drinks/punch bowl at a separate table.
 
11)  Set up a special buffet table for the kids with foods they like.

12)  Martini glasses work well for holding candy and/or nuts.

13)  Wait until the guests all leave before cleaning up--enjoy spending time with your company!  (I really like this one!)
 
14)  Have some music playing softly.

 I asked Julie what she included on the menu for a Christmas buffet and here is what she said:

My menu I had planned for that buffet is:  Turkey and Ham croissants, Holiday Potatoes, sweet potato crunch, Waldorf Salad, Sweet and sour cabbage salad, asst. olives, vegetable tray shaped as a wreath.  For Dessert I planned a heath bar triffle, mini choc mouse cups and mini cherry cheesecakes.  I also had tall martini glasses filled with chocolate mints and kisses.   For the beverage I will have a lime punch, which is a combo of 7-up, limeade and lime sherbert. 

I'm kicking myself for not taking a picture of the sample buffet table she had set up but I left my camera in my jacket in the other room.  The greens, ornaments, pine cones and lights really made the table look wonderful!  Hope you can use some of these suggestions for your holiday entertaining.  Thank you, Julie, for doing this fantastic workshop!

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9 Friday Fragments from a Wife and Husband

Friday Fragments is hosted my Half-Past Kissin' Time for bloggers to post a list of short things on their minds that aren't really enough for a whole post. Here we go:

My Leg Pain Update

My pain is almost gone, whew! I find if I don't sit too long it's better. Some days I didn't even have any! I am happy to report I can now put my socks on standing up again, do my morning exercises pain free and was even able to run for the bus coming home from work Wednesday with no pain! Yay! Praise the Lord. Sometimes I do still need an Advil to sleep good at night. It seems I feel it most when I'm in bed now.

Funniest Post of the Week

I love to laugh and I thought Mama Sick's post, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, is hilarious. I laughed so hard that my hubby came to see what was so funny. It's a conversation with her 6-yr-old son about drawing her portrait.

Birthday Surprise

Monday my wonderful husband turns 60 and boy is he going to be surprised! I can hardly wait.


Here's Things Gerard Learned This Week:

Restaurants

It pays to apply to restaurant web sites--I got four free offers from Denny's, Perkins, Arby's and Eat and Park--Yum! Yum!

Larry Hangman

Larry Hangman passed away (Karen didn't even know who he was, do you?) I loved watching him as J.R. on "Dallas." He was a great actor!

Black Friday Shopping

I still love to shop on Black Friday early in the morning even if my shopping bag did bust open! Bath and Body Works was the most crowded store in the mall!

Happy Sunday

I like being a greeter at our church; didn't think I would like it as much as I do. I enjoy greeting people as the come and wishing them a Happy Sunday (I'm still waiting for my official greeter name tag.

Awesome Saturdays

Both Ohio State and Notre Dame went 12-0 which made me very happy--my Saturdays were awesome! Sad to see the season end.

Audio Book of the Week

Cold Ice by Tess Gerritsen was the audio book I looked forward to listening to all week. It's a thriller that I highly recommend. Click the link to see my review and find out more about it.

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My First Day As An Official Greeter

Sunday was my first day as an official greeter at Parma Heights Baptist Church. I am both excited and honored to greet people at the door as they come to church. I think it's nice to be greeted when I go somewhere and I remember a couple very faithful greeters from my old church. There is quite a crew of greeters at my church because there are six doors and three services on a Sunday morning. We have enough to rotate every three months. All I have to do is be at the door 15-20 minutes before the start of the service. I was assigned two services because one of the greeters couldn't make it. It was fun seeing families arrive and watching kids come with big smiles and anxious to come in.

I hope I will make a good first impression and make everyone feel welcome as they arrive. Do you have greeters at your church?

Please go vote for Spunky if you are on Facebook. This is the last day for voting!

(50 cents per legitimate comment during May goes to Joni and Friends for family retreat scholarships for those having special needs children.)

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A Surprise For My Pastor

Sometimes people can be very stubborn.  A few months ago, our Pastor nicely asked the people who attend our 8:15 a.m. service to sit in the middle section because we are so spread out.  We have a fairly large sanctuary and only about 50 people in the early service who sit all over.  My husband and I used to sit on the right side near the doors, but moved to the center the week after he asked and have sat there since.

8:15 service on Dec. 4, 2011

I don't understand why people refuse to move.  This seems like such a little request to me and yet, very few have cooperated.  I would think this would make him feel so discouraged and unappreciated.  Isn't it sad how people get so set in their ways that they refuse to budge?  I felt like standing by the door and reminding people that the Pastor would like for us to sit in the center and so I think it would be a nice surprise for him if we all did it today.  Do you think they would?

I decided to go ahead and do it last Sunday.  I wrote up a little note and handed to the people as they arrived. Here is what it said:

LET'S SURPRISE PASTOR DAN TODAY


Several months ago he asked us to sit in the center section at the 8:15 service so let's all do it today. He'd be shocked and encouraged, don't you think? It'll be fun o see his reaction and would be a cool surprise that doesn't cost us anything! --Karen Zemek

8:15 service on Dec. 11, 2011

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Marty Mouse Goes To Church

Our youth pastor spoke about how God has chosen us before the creation of the world to be His adopted children with the help of Marty, his mouse.   Ephesians 1:4-5 says:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love; Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

I loved his object lesson and having the mouse up there next to him as he preached helped keep our attention.  The mouse was cute and very active, walking around his cage and spinning on his little wheel.  Gerard was impressed that he actually went to buy a mouse to assist with his sermon.

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Sunday Snippets: Why Praise God?

Praising God somehow brings about an inner satisfaction.  Praise gets our focus on God and off ourselves which can greatly improve our mood. 

My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. Psalm 63:5 (New American Standard Bible "NASB")

You can always praise God for His love because nothing can separate us from it.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Rom. 8:38-39 (NASB)

You can always praise God for his help. 

For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.  Psalm 63:7 (NASB) and

so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID,  WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?" Hebrews 13:6 (NASB)

You can choose to always praise God like David did:   

I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:4 (King James Version)

Be sure to come back tomorrow to see a good illustration of how this really works in my life.  

 

Source:  10/23/11 Sermon Notes, message by Pastor Dan Barfell.

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