Local Church Updates

• Sherman Youth Host Seniors
• Volunteers Honored
• Salem Beautifies School as Service Project
• Member Named Office Manager of the Year
• Phoenix East Hosts Intelligent Design Seminar
• A Team Makes It Jamaican in Atlanta
• Unsung Hero: A Leading Lady

Sherman Youth Host Seniors

Young people in the Sherman, Texas, congregation hosted a very special seniors' luncheon on Feb. 3, 2007. For special music during Sabbath services, the children sang "Holy Is the Lord," led by Mrs. Amber Brock.

After services that afternoon the seniors were served a delicious meal of smoked chicken, green bean casserole, scalloped potatoes, green salad, drinks and assorted home-baked desserts.

Following the meal, the children played "Mystery Senior" with the honorees. The children had previously conducted interviews of various members of the congregation, collecting information about their lives, their experiences in God's Church and words of wisdom and advice for today's youth. They then presented the information they had collected and the seniors guessed who in the congregation their "Mystery Senior" was.

It was a great way for the youth and seniors to get to know each other and share details of their lives with each other. All ages enjoyed a wonderful day of fellowship.

—Donna Cartwright

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Volunteers Honored

On April 18, home office Mail Processing staff members prepared a luncheon to honor 19 volunteers who help with processing the Holy Day offerings. The volunteers were from the Dayton, Columbus, Portsmouth and Cincinnati North and East congregations.

—Janet Treadway

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Salem Beautifies School as Service Project

The Salem, Oregon, congregation held a combined landscaping and weeding service project on April 29 at Miller Elementary School where they meet for services.

On a balmy Sunday morning, 31 enthusiastic people, including three preteens and six teenagers, showed up at 10 a.m. with smiles and tools to help with the project. In addition to the workers, 15 women provided food donations for lunches to feed everyone when the project was completed. The project was coordinated by Kathy Foster. BJ Foster headed up the landscape crew, Jason Boise led the weeding crew, and Liz Janicich coordinated the lunch bunch.

The landscaping project was requested by the principal and teachers at the school. Guidelines for the project specified that the finished landscape planting would be a low-maintenance design.

The principal and teachers at the school are happy with the finished project. Principal Mary Russell wrote, "It looks absolutely beautiful! I looked first thing! You all did a fabulous job, and we are so appreciative."

—Kathy Foster

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Member Named Office Manager of the Year

Rachelle McGowen, a member of the Bentonville, Arkansas, congregation, was honored at a luncheon during the Oklahoma Rural Water Association's annual conference in Tulsa. Rachelle works for the Westville, Oklahoma, Utility Authority, and was chosen as Outstanding Office Manager of the Year for Oklahoma.

"I have always considered my job as a blessing from God and love the type of work I get to do," Rachelle said.

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Phoenix East Hosts Intelligent Design Seminar

Thanks to the efforts and coordination of Shaun and Marie Tuck, the Phoenix East, Arizona, congregation was able to host a thought-provoking seminar on intelligent design March 24. Phoenix North and other area congregations were also invited to enjoy the event. This seminar was the peak in a series of videos and sermons Phoenix East had been enjoying.

The congregation first enjoyed regular Sabbath services, which included split sermons given by James Capo (titled "God Has Called Us to Be Builders") and Mario Seiglie ("Intelligent Design vs. Evolution"). Both were wonderful preludes to the evening's messages.

Following services there was a Greek feast of gyros (a sandwich made of sliced roast lamb or beef, onion and tomato on pita bread) and the Turkish dessert of baklava.

The seminar began with 186 people in attendance. Starting things out was Mr. Capo, who continued with his intelligent design message from the service. Some of the topics included were DNA codes, flagellum and Darwinism in its various forms.

Following this session and the other segments of the presentations, Shaun Tuck had question-and-answer periods, followed by amusing skits that included Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton (played by Gary Sims, Bob Fenwick and Steve Kennedy).

The second session of the seminar was given by Mr. Seiglie and was called "Darwin's Big Lie." Mr. Seiglie spoke of the Scopes monkey trial and the different creation theories (young earth, progressive creation, theistic evolution and the gap theory). He also talked about the SETI project and asked the question, "Where does the evidence lead?"

The night was a huge success that left everyone enthusiastically talking for weeks about what had been discussed.

To finalize the recent lessons on intelligent design, on April 28, Phoenix East arranged an evening field trip to the Arizona Science Museum's Planetarium. The event was about an hour in length and started with an electronic interactive question-and-answer period. The children enjoyed answering, and with every correct answer they made, there was a chorus of cheers.

The show itself began in total darkness, with the rounded ceiling becoming a visual masterpiece of God's handiwork. It started with a view of the stars from earth, and then progressed to an outline of the constellations, as well as close-up views of the planets, moon, sun and solar system. The trip ended with a visual roller-coaster ride through the cosmos. What a wonderful way to end a very successful and educational series.

—Lorelei Nettles

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A Team Makes It Jamaican in Atlanta

Bonita Dunwell and Howard and Janet West, assisted by several other Jamaican transplants, put together an exciting Jamaican evening for the Atlanta, Georgia, congregation a few months ago. Atlanta enjoys a potluck covered-dish meal every four to six weeks with some kind of theme for the food and setting.

A Jamaican experience was suggested and, with the diligence of the six Jamaicans who now call Atlanta home, it was seamlessly brought together. The team wanted to do more than provide Jamaican dishes. They wanted to expose everyone to more of what it was like to grow up and live in the Jamaican culture.

The 150 plus brethren made their way through a buffet line assisted by menu cards listing the ingredients of some of the exotic dishes. Among the dishes was Jamaica's national dish, ackee and codfish. Other dishes were fried breadfruit, fried plantains, escoveitch fish, jerk chicken, rice and peas and curried chicken. Desserts included Jamaican rum cake, bun and cheese, banana chips and tamarind balls.

While eating, everyone also enjoyed a slide show of Jamaican scenery and relaxing national songs.

Following the meal, the brethren were treated to a folk song performance and the modeling of a traditional Jamaican dress. All joined in on the chorus of an old favorite, "Day O," made popular in the 1950s by Harry Belafonte. Everyone really appreciated the special evening.

—Bonita Dunwell

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Unsung Hero: A Leading Lady

The Las Vegas, Nevada, congregation may be small, but we have our share of "leading ladies"—converted women who lead by example, or as Paul referred to this special group in Titus 2:3, "teachers of good things."

Take for instance, our dear friend Clara Walden. Recently widowed, Mrs. Walden moved to our area a couple years ago to live with her son. Getting to know her has been inspiring to say the least.

Introduced to Mr. Armstrong's radio program in the early 1950s by a relative who thought the message was intriguing, Mrs. Walden began a quest to prove Mr. Armstrong's statements—and she did. Baptized since 1954, she has had her share of trials and losses. But of this she is sure: "Trust God, not men. It's not easy. You will be tested. But God's way is the only way to really live."

This 84-year-old woman daily battles debilitating rheumatoid arthritis, but has made a commitment to attend services if at all possible. "I'm going to be there. Going to Sabbath services keeps us alert and strong."

This commitment entails a 120-mile ride each way from St. George, Utah, with "the boys" (two members in their 50s and 60s). The long trip is made longer by the arthritic pain—but she does not let that discourage her from going or ruin her positive attitude. "I love God. He knows what I'm going through. I don't dare question Him. I trust His judgment."

During a hospital stay after a bad fall, she was faithful as ever, encouraging her healthy visitors instead of seeking attention. She told those present that one of her favorite promises of God is, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," and that she always has a prayer in her mind. She keeps going by focusing on God's plan. "I'll always believe in Him. I want to be in the Kingdom because we know what it is going to be like from the Scriptures."

The prophet Jeremiah shared what kept him going forward in Jeremiah 15:16: "And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart." Jeremiah was tested to the core. Yet he modeled for God's people that belief in God's plan produces great joy.

Like Jeremiah, Mrs. Walden has built her life on God's promises. Actually living God's way of life is how Mrs. Walden teaches and inspires us. She exemplifies the godly characteristics of love, faithfulness, endurance, patience and joy. To those who know her and are actively seeking God's Kingdom, Clara Walden is a leading lady, a legend in our time.

—Jennifer Gosse

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