Local Church Updates

• North Carolina Congregations Combine for Holy Day and Meal
• Dallas Seniors Enjoy Texas Barnyard Barbecue
• Member in Holland Earns Master's Degree
• Wisconsin Brethren Gather at Lake Lawn Resort
• Albuquerque Tries a Mystery Dinner
• Women's Retreat Held in Oregon
• Cincinnati Teens Serve Seniors

North Carolina Congregations Combine for Holy Day and Meal

The Charlotte, Asheboro and Greensboro, North Carolina, congregations enjoyed services together on the Last Day of Unleavened Bread.

Brethren heard speakers from all three churches and listened to special music from the combined choir led by Catherine Crawford. A piano solo was played for offertory by Inez Burrow.

A meal was provided between services by Jack and Nancy Holloway of the Asheboro congregation. Afterwards the young ladies of the church had fun as they pitched in to help with the cleanup. The beautiful weather inspired brethren to remain outdoors to fellowship long after services were over.

—Marti Springer

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Dallas Seniors Enjoy Texas Barnyard Barbecue

The fourth annual Dallas seniors' luncheon was held on Sabbath, April 29. The theme this year, choreographed by Kris Brooks, was a Texan barnyard barbecue honoring our seniors for being a special part of our congregation.

A CD complied by Mike Westberry of many all-time favorites of country music was given to each honored guest. The teens from the Dallas congregation joined with our older members to enjoy a fine home-cooked meal prepared by Dora Jennings and J.J. Brooks.

John Lusk welcomed the guests and provided introductory remarks to get the luncheon off to a stimulating start. After a blessing on the meal, each guest was served by one of the teens.

During the luncheon everyone enjoyed the down-home country atmosphere and dinner music. Afterwards, J.J. Brooks introduced a few of the teens and their parents (Katie Collins, Amber Benedict and Dara and Greg Vaughn) who treated us to a variety of musical selections.

After a break, Rick Bennis facilitated our traditional panel including three of our senior members (Tillie Crandall, Mary Ann Brennan and Dick Knapp) who answered many questions from the teens about their own lives as teens, the lessons they learned growing to adulthood, and the influence of God's way throughout their lives. This was a great opportunity for us to get know our panel members better and have them share their life experiences with all of us.

In addition, this year one of our senior members, Dick Knapp, offered a few words encouraging the teens and elder members regarding the benefits of painting as a hobby. He brought in one of his beautiful landscape paintings, which was given to a selected honored guest, Charles Oren.

After concluding remarks and thanks given by John Lusk and Rick Bennis, the teens came up on stage and led everyone in a rendition of "Happy Trails to You... Until We Meet Again." The luncheon then came to a close so that everyone could attend the regular Sabbath service.

In addition to the teens, the following Special Services team members helped make the luncheon an enjoyable success: John and Danny Bynum (sound crew); Rhona Springfield, Karen Collins and Denise Vulchev (food service); D.J. Palacios (transportation); and Diane Bennis (photographer/hostess).

—Diane Bennis

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Member in Holland Earns Master's Degree

After already earning a bachelor's degree in engineering, Maarten de Jong received his master of science in (international) business administration (MScBA) at the Rotterdam School of Management.

He specialized in marketing, and the title of his final thesis was "Just Do It, Gewoon Doen ... The Influence of Using Dutch vs. English Advertising Slogans."

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Wisconsin Brethren Gather at Lake Lawn Resort

Brethren from the upper Midwest gathered at the scenic Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, Wisconsin, to hear the president of the United Church of God, Clyde Kilough, speak on the weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread.

Brethren from four church areas—Wisconsin Dells, Oshkosh, Milwaukee and Beloit, Wisconsin, with guests from Chicago, Illinois, and Minneapolis, Minnesota—got together April 15. Mr. Kilough's sermon was titled "The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod."

The combined Wisconsin church choirs sang "On Eagle's Wings" and "Upon This Rock" accompanied by the ensemble. Randy Schmidt directed the music.

After services, there was a social hour while the dining room was being set up. A catered dinner was later served to those staying for the event. It consisted of roast beef, chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, pasta salad, tossed salad and desserts brought by the brethren. That gave everybody a chance to try other peoples' unleavened creations!

After sunset, a delightful dance took place. The dance lasted until midnight, so some had opted to stay overnight at the Lake Lawn Resort.

The weather was cooperative—sunshine and warm gentle breezes. This was a time of great spiritual and physical refreshing for all who had the fortune to be in such serene surroundings.

Ray and Francine Fabry and all their assistants worked hard in organizing this grand event.

—Leone Burns

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Albuquerque Tries a Mystery Dinner

The other night in the library when many of the storybook characters were out of their books and enjoying a sojourn in the night air, a crime was committed. Henry VIII—that famous monarch from the English history books—disappeared.

Dressed as storybook characters, the members of the Albuquerque, New Mexico, congregation gathered for a mystery dinner after the Sabbath on March 11.

The mystery was not in the meal itself, as Robin Hood thought might be the case, it was who erased Henry VIII from the history books and why. The prime suspects included Goldilocks, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Robin Hood and Cinderella.

The investigators puzzled over details from table to table and finally addressed the dinner guests to present their clues.

To find out "whodunit," see the Albuquerque Web site at www.ucg-abq.org for pictures from the event. Clue: She's wearing blue and she is not from Kansas.

—Susie Velazquez, aka Dorothy

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Women's Retreat Held in Oregon

"Hidden Treasure—The Pearl of Great Price" was the theme of the women's retreat held March 24 to 26 near Portland, Oregon. The setting at the Canby Grove Conference Center provided a wonderful woodsy atmosphere, with the rippling Molalla River flowing a short distance outside the wall of windows in the meeting room.

The opening evening began with a luscious meal and a warm welcome from the Canby Grove hospitality person. Dyanne Dick then gave a second welcome to the group of 76 ladies and outlined the activities of the weekend.

LeeAnn Luker ended this session by challenging attendees with lessons we can glean from the pearl, relating it to the friendships we make. Just as genuine pearls always have small flaws, we will have imperfect friendships. It takes practice to be a true friend, but a friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17).

John Cafourek conducted the Sabbath service, which was followed by a delicious lunch and fellowship time.

Five ladies of various ages and backgrounds spoke briefly on how each one found her pearl of great price—being called into God's Church. Then the moderator, Sandy Cafourek, split the group up into smaller groups to discuss how each one was called, how each dealt with problems, goals for being more involved in the local church, etc.

Following the Sabbath dinner, Becky Hornor spoke on "God's Pearls and Other Jewels."

Saturday evening and Sunday morning the ladies made fleece blankets for orphans in Balaka, Malawi, supported by LifeNets. Terri Werner coordinated this service project. The ladies completed 222 blankets, exceeding the goal of 200 blankets.

—Ruby Scruggs

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Cincinnati Teens Serve Seniors

The Cincinnati East, Ohio, AM and PM congregations put on a dinner April 29 to honor the senior citizens in the congregations. The teens helped plan, decorate, prepare, serve, provide music for and clean up after the event.

"The teens did a wonderful job in serving," said Ken and Jean Pulliam. "Everything was done in such good taste and we were so impressed with the meal itself, but also the many details—the table settings and decorations, etc. How nice to dine on china instead of paper plates."

Each table was decorated to represent a popular song of the 1940s, and the background music also carried on a '40s theme. "The background music brought back quite a few pleasant memories," said Dolores Mootz.

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