Great Success for A Night Out!

On Saturday, March 24, Geneva’s sanctuary was once again transformed into an elegant eatery hosting 95 people who purchased tickets for our youth mission trips fundraising dinner and auction.

The evening started with valet and coat check service (even though it was unseasonably warm and not many coats were worn.)  Dinner was served by the youth, which included spicy squash/bean chili, beef wellington or baked salmon, mashed potatoes and peas. Along with serving and busing tables, many youth also participated in the entertainment for the evening.  Steven Daubenmeyer, Billy Stark, Louie Stark, Josh Doering, Jessica Krone, Caitlin Marchand and TJ Lowmaster started us off with a skit called “Out of Focus” that depicted a little bit of what our your group meetings are like. Lauren Arquette shared her talent on the piano with a song called “When September Ends.” Amanda Glass and Nathan Pohl told us a little bit about Washington DC and Cincinnati, the cities where our youth will be serving this summer. Nathan Pohl, TJ Lowmaster, Marilyn McBain, Caitlin Marchand, Amanda Glass, Beth Stark, Madelyn Degener, Steven Daubenmeyer, Lauren Arquette and Drew Degener performed a skit called “Disciple Auditions.” We showed a filmed skit called “Are we HIS Neighbors?” with Louie Stark, Drew Degener, Jessica Krone and Travis Wiggins. Beth Stark, Jessica Krone, Amanda Glass, TJ Lowmaster and Marilyn McBain participated in a skit called “Amazing Grace.” Marilyn McBain shared her talent as well, singing “Blessed Be Your Name.” Beth Stark, Drew Degener and Madeyln Degener performed a reader’s theater titled “A Love Letter From His Love Letter.”. Several Almuni shared their thoughts on youth mission trips via a video, edited by Ian Glodich. One of our youth alumni, Hannah Glodich, came back to perform a song. “Awake My Soul,” with Marilyn McBain and Beth Stark. And finally, Beth Stark closed the show with “A Sailor’s Prayer.”

None of this could have been accomplished without help the help of numerous volunteers. Yummy hors d’oeuvres, a fabulous dinner and a scrumptious dessert were created by Carol Bunch with the help of Barb Berbert, Ella Bastine, Kay Sousa, Dwight Gibson, Sarah Wiggins, and Christy Marchand. Valet service was headed up by Mark Arquette and his expert parking team of Chuck TenBroeck, John Glodich and Jeff (and Zachary) Doering. The volunteers of the Youth Ministry Team (Brian Anderson,  Dan Degener, Mike Graunstdat and Bryan Smith) were essential in pulling off this event. Diana Noble was indispensable in helping to create amazing baskets for the auction. The decorating team, led by Angie Stark, and aided by Anne Degener and Julie Graunstadt created a beautiful atmosphere in our sanctuary. Debbie Krone and Christy Marchand facilitated the silent auction check out process. Stu Delaney and Jeff Doering stepped in to run our sound board and video projections. The parents of all our youth stayed after to help transform the space into our worship area for Sunday.

A big thanks to all of those people mentioned above who took their time, talent and energy to make this night so successful. (Please forgive us if we’ve left anyone off the list.) A special thanks goes to everyone who attended, helped set up, ironed table clothes and napkins, stayed to help clean up, donated auction items and bid on auction items this year. Our silent auction had 42 items or packages to bid on. Along with items in our auction, each youth attending the mission trips this summer donated a service to be auctioned off. Services included babysitting, gardening, cooking, pet sitting, yard work and odd jobs.  Several bids were over the donation value! A generous $3200 was raised from the silent auction alone. The total fundraising from this night netted approximately $4300. Adding our bake sale and Super Bowl sub fundraisers, the youth have raised over $500 toward the cost of their mission trips. Through your generous support many lives will be touched by the love of Christ this summer. 

It's almost time!

I'm getting very excited about our event on Saturday. Tickets are all sold, auction items have been logged in and the bidding has started. We already have over $1200 in bids! Whoo hoo!

I want to thank you all for being supportive of this event. I especially want to thank those who’ve helped who aren’t even going on the mission trip.

Although a lot has been done so far, we still have a lot to do! 

THIS WEEK Ironing! Anytime the church is open or after, PLEASE let me know if you can iron tablecloths!! The ironing board is set up in the far right room of the lighthouse area. This is an especially good opportunity for your support if you have not brought in donations. We have LOTS of tablecloths to iron. (I can't stress this enough) Bring your own iron and ironing board if you can. Let me know when you can help. 

Saturday Morning: Arrive at 9:00 to help set up. And rehearse the entertainment. Hopefully we'll be done by noon, if not before. I will expect you to be able to stay the entire time. Other than setting up the sanctuary, auction tables, and coat check areas, we will be talking about how we will be serving dinner. 

Saturday Afternoon: Come on back to church at 4:30 dressed in black bottoms – skirt or pants and a nice white top (with sleeves). Also, closed-toed shoes are required for when we are serving. (You will be in the kitchen at some point.)

I will also expect EVERYONE (Parents and Youth) to help clean up and set up for worship on Sunday. If we all work together it won't take very long. 

You have all worked so hard already, thank you! If you have any questions or concerns PLEASE let me know!

Your sister in Christ,

Nancy

Lenten Devotion

Since Ash Wednesday, I've been going to a website called Journey to the Cross. On this site, they provide a daily devotion for Lent. I find that some days, these devotions are just what I need to keep me focused on God that day, and help me to prepare for the joy that is Easter. Here is an excerpt from Saturday's devotion:

"How can you tell?"

That's a fair quesition whenever someone makes a prediction of what is going to happen, or even when they give an explanation for what is happening now. 

There are signs for those who will see them.  Take time now to watch for the signs God has for you.

Psalm 25:6-10

Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
   for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth
   and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
   for you, LORD, are good.

  Good and upright is the LORD;
   therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
He guides the humble in what is right
   and teaches them his way.
All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
   toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.

from Bruce Reyes-Chow

I still remember once getting caught in a lie by my mother. I told her i was in one place when i was in another, and i got busted... big time.  As a parent now, I can imagine how she felt - worry, mixed with anger, topped with disappointment.. I'm not sure how she ever forgave me, let alone let me out of the house again. But she did and, while i had to serve my time being grounded, in the end I was forgiven.  Once she felt that I was trly sorry and some time had passed, it was as it it never happened.  

Now I am sure that she never truly forgot, and was always keeping a little closer eye on me as I grew up, but she never held it against me. Go too is like that, when we mess up, God may get worried, angry, or disappointed, but God's love overrides it all; our faltering is not held against us. Wen you mess up or when you make choices that are not the best, God forgives and allows you to keep trying. So when you do find yourself in those kinds of struggles, be humble in seeking forgiveness, and be bold in living as God intends. 

If you'd like to participate in these daily devotions as well, I encourage you to visit www.d365.org/journeytothecross