Local Church Updates

• Los Angeles and Garden Grove Participate in Rose Parade Fund-Raiser
• Salt Lake Enjoys "Greatest Snow on Earth"
• Raleigh Holds Good Works Auction
• 121 Attend Garden Grove's Women's Enrichment Weekend
• Arizonans Have Lunch in the Park
• Williamsburg Hosts Annual Virginia Beach Weekend

Los Angeles and Garden Grove Participate in Rose Parade Fund-Raiser

On Jan. 1, 2008, approximately 100 enthusiastic members of the Los Angeles and Garden Grove, California, congregations, ranging in age from 10 to 75, arrived at 5 a.m. at the Pasadena parking lot of the Travel Gallery.

They met to receive their final instructions for selling the official Pasadena Rose Parade Souvenir Program. The group had approximately 9,000 programs to sell. Everyone was prepared to face the challenge and determined to make the project a success.

The group divided into 10 subgroups, each under the capable leadership of an assigned team captain. Each group was then strategically placed along three miles of the Colorado Boulevard parade route with each volunteer given a specific territory to sell their programs.

The aroma of freshly grilled hot dogs along with chips and sodas greeted the happy, exhausted volunteers when they returned to the initial meeting place. It was a tasty reward for a job well done.

After the completion of the task, the pastor of the Los Angeles congregation, Larry Greider, praised the volunteers in an e-mail to the members: "I would like to thank Bob Brown and his captains for their hard work and energy. When you have good leadership, and lots of enthusiasm, projects like this can be most inspiring. Our teens and young adults were very involved as well, and I am very happy to see a group of people pull together to accomplish a mission. Standing around in the cold and dark at 5 a.m. is a good place to get to know the character of the people you work with. There was plenty of good cheer, hustle, laughter and strained backs with the handfuls of programs tugging in the canvas bags around our necks."

One of the volunteers commented to Mr. Greider: "It was, by every account, one of, if not 'the' best run, most fun days we have ever had…everyone seemed very pleased and it will provide a platform for possible additional involvement. If our participation numbers are correct, two churches, many friends and relatives assisted along with nearly 30-40 percent of our own members. Not bad."

After the final accounting by member Erin Ellis, the congregation netted just under $20,000 after tithes and all other expenses were paid. Organizer Bob Brown stated that the funds would be distributed to a number of charitable organizations, the Good Works Program and the local Church youth.

—Marion Snyder

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Salt Lake Enjoys "Greatest Snow on Earth"

Once again brethren enjoyed a successful ski weekend in the land of the greatest snow on earth! Jan. 19 and 20, over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, brethren converged in Salt Lake City, Utah, for its annual ski weekend. Two full days of events made for a sparkling good time.

Two seminars were presented Sabbath morning. Larry Neff showed how law and grace were clearly taught in the Old Testament. David Register moderated an interactive presentation on the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Sabbath afternoon, church services brought additional inspiring information, with split sermons by Mr. Neff on delayed gratification and Mr. Register on effectively using the gift of God's Holy Spirit. The day was capped off by a potluck, which provided good food and warm Christian fellowship.

Sunday morning brought a sunny break in the many recent storms that brought the powdery snow Utah is renowned for. Lessons were provided for novice skiers. Advanced skiers also had a marvelous time. In the evening an Italian dinner was served to all the skiers.

By holding the event on the Martin Luther King weekend instead of Presidents' Day, the ski runs were much less congested this year than previously. Consensus was that this year's event was a success. We are already planning for next year and invite your comments. Please contact Salt Lake City pastor Jon Pinelli directly by e-mail at jon_pinelli@ucg.org.

—John Fox

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Raleigh Holds Good Works Auction

Helping brethren in El Salvador and Africa was in the forefront of the Raleigh, North Carolina, brethren's minds on Saturday evening, Jan. 26. Raleigh held an auction with goods and services donated by the local members to raise money for the Good Works program.

More than 300 household items, arts and crafts, toys, books, antiques, electronics, jewelry and much more were donated, along with about a dozen services, such as room painting, handyman help and carpet cleaning.

Craig Scott served as emcee of the event, with friendly cajoling and teasing brethren into bidding "just a little bit more."

The congregation raised over $2,600 for the Good Works program.

—Laura Scott

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121 Attend Garden Grove's Women's Enrichment Weekend

From Friday evening, Jan. 18, through Sunday afternoon, Jan. 20, a record attendance of 121 enthusiastic ladies from ages 16 to 86 attended the seventh annual Women's Enrichment Weekend. It was held at the beautiful Embassy Suites in Santa Ana, California, with the theme "Becoming Women of Courage and Compassion." Most of the ladies were from Southern California, but some came from other areas of California, Arizona and even further.

After a Friday night optional dinner and mixer, the weekend started in earnest Sabbath morning with uplifting special music selections, followed by an inspiring sermon by Robin Webber, pastor of the Redlands and San Diego congregations.

After lunch Saturday afternoon, Caty Seiglie, wife of Mario Seiglie, Garden Grove pastor, welcomed the group. Dianne Clark highlighted the theme with Esther Salcedo following with a comparison of the lives of Esther and Mary, the mother of Christ.

After a break we enjoyed our moving keynote address by a guest speaker, Mary Carouba. She had traveled to New York City with a friend three weeks after 9/11 to find and interview women rescue workers who were on duty that fateful day. Together they coauthored the book Women of Ground Zero—Stories of Courage and Compassion and have presented these moving stories around the country. Mary is the niece of Vivian Fakhoury, wife of a longtime elder in the Garden Grove congregation.

After a wonderful meal together at the Embassy Suites Saturday night, Sunday morning began with seven presenters sharing personal stories of courage and/or compassion. The presenters were Anna Moore, Montse Warrington, Bonnie Shemet, Carolina Clark, Marion Snyder, Jackie Seiglie and Suzanne Miller.

In the afternoon Deborah Barr capped the presentations with "And to Courage, Add Compassion." This was followed by an interactive discussion by tables where the ladies shared examples of courage and compassion. Caty Seiglie wrapped up the weekend on a very positive note. Sylvia Kennedy provided the continuity among our many presentations as moderator, adding her zest and humor.

A wonderful spirit, energy and vibrancy permeated the weekend as the ladies enjoyed meeting friends old and new, sharing meals together, fellowshipping and bonding, learning and laughing (mixed with some tears as well). This year we had a special blessing of having three sets of three generations—grandmother to granddaughter.

At the end, one woman suggested we change our name to "California Women's Mini-Feast." Another commented: "I cannot believe I have not attended before now! What I have been missing!"

—Jean Updegraff

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Arizonans Have Lunch in the Park

About 150 brethren, mostly from the Phoenix, Arizona, area congregations, braved an unusually cold north wind to enjoy a lunch in the park on Dec. 25. The location was the Kiwanis Park in Tempe, Arizona. The gourmet buffet was a fantastic array of pit-roasted turkey, elk, beef and goat.

There were various activities for both children and adults. Archery was by far the biggest hit for all ages, and the children enjoyed the face painting table as well. All in all the day was a success in both fun and fellowship.

—Holly Foster

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Williamsburg Hosts Annual Virginia Beach Weekend

Jan. 18 to 20, the Williamsburg, Virginia, and Delmar, Delaware, congregations enjoyed a weekend of fellowship and activities at the beach.

The weekend opened with a Friday night interactive Bible study led by Todd Carey, pastor of the Williamsburg and Delmar congregations. Members were divided into six teams that competed to answer Bible questions. Every team was a winner based on the relationships built, laughter shared and the increased Bible knowledge.

Saturday morning Mr. Carey gave a study titled "The Armor of God" (Ephesians 6). Arnold Hampton led Sabbath services with a message titled "The Winter of the Spirit."

That evening, members had a catered dinner served at the Holiday Inn Sunspree.

Fellowship lasted well into Saturday night with a Renaissance-themed dance, silent auction to benefit the Good Works Program and art competition. Members had the opportunity to be knighted by "King" Jim Jordan for a $1 donation. Proceeds from all donations and silent auction items exceeded $900, and after some friendly urging, the total reached an even $1,000!

The weekend ended on Sunday morning with brethren swimming and fellowshipping in the Holiday Inn's Lazy River, with its strong current river, waterfalls and rock formations. A dusting of snow on the beach did not keep some from venturing out for a morning walk on the beach.

—Renea Apartian and Cindy Pryke

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