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‘A Fresh Start’ for Christian Women

“A Fresh Start for the New Year” was the theme of the January 9 Christian Women’s Club noon luncheon held at the Allegheny Community Center.

Birdie Crandall, chair, opened the meeting showing a blessing bag which is a small plastic decorated bag containing personal items collected for those in nursing homes, someone facing a chronic illness, or for someone who just needs cheering up as part of random acts of kindness.

Karen Zurchan then led the attendees in opening prayer.

Crandall thanked Marian Aranyos for stepping up and taking on the position of recording secretary and co-treasurer. She also thanked David Ford of Jamestown, N.Y., for filling in as musical guest for the past three meetings. David led the group in the classic secular song, “On Top of Old Smokey,” both the original and the “On Top of Spaghetti” version as a humorous welcome to the New Year.

Birdie welcomed any first-timer attending and door prize gifts were drawn with Nancy Evertson and Pat Wilcox the winners.

Betty Brohn reported the club has received new Bible study series. Yvonne Lee told a post-Christmas story about the origin of the Christmas Tree Angel.

Next, Lee introduced featured guest Jason Passinger, who talked about how he apprenticed under two Franchina family shoemakers of Jamestown and Westfield, N.Y., networked with other cobblers all around the world. sharing tips and techniques through e-mail, and eventually started his own shoe and leather repair business two years ago on Jackson St. in North Warren. Passenger encouraged the group to let friends know that he is located in the same building as Floyd’s Barber Shop and to check out his shop.

Nancy Schuyler, greeter, asked for prayers for the Outreach Program for raising money for lunches for homeless shelters. Ruthie Gray mentioned and explained the mission of the Awana Children’s church program, which meets once a week at various churches for children in grades K-5 and whose goal is to introduce boys and girls to Jesus. Participants read Bible stories and memorize Bible verses, play games, and pray for others. A portion of monies collected monthly at Christian Women’s’ club goes toward Village Missions whose goal is to reach out to areas of the country that are rural, isolated, and do not have access to churches. The group teaches children about Jesus and the Bible.

David Frost then sang “I Should Have Been Crucified.” Following the musical selection, Pastor Madilyne Edwards of the Emanuel Church of Christ introduced herself and her message was “Jump Start your Joy.” Edwards explained joy is a by-product of happiness. Joy is getting up each morning and choosing to be happy. There are several types of happiness. We can pursue a short lived want that makes us happy for the short term. We can have altruistic happiness which is not thinking of ourselves but rather serving others and giving ourselves, our time, and compliments to others. This type of happiness gives us the longest lasting feeling of joy. We all have a super power, a talent or trait that makes us have an impact on others. We are wired to share and help others. It increases our life expectancy and our health. Service to others and random acts of kindness are cornerstone to every religion. Edwards explained we all have a superpower or something we are good at. Some of these superpowers are courage, justice, humanity, wisdom, knowledge, persistence, and enthusiasm. Edwards stressed that we all need to care for our physical selves. We need to practice forgiveness, temperance, self-control, transcendence, and responsibility. She concluded that people need people. We are not meant to be lonely; smile even if you are not on top of the world every day. Smiling releases happy hormones. Keep up your posture and how you carry yourself. Keep in mind those small random acts of kindness to others.

Ford closed with the benediction and his last selection, “My Tribute.” “How can I say thanks for what You have done for me? All that I am and hope to be, I owe it all to Thee”.

Next month’s meeting theme will be a “Valentine Luncheon” at noon Feb. 13. Pastor Buddy Ward will be the spiritual speaker. Tammy Shephard, a missionary who visited Haiti, will be the featured guest, and Richard Geer will be the musical guest.

For reservations, call Yvonne Lee at 726-7906 or Lee Jones at 723-5952. New visitors are always welcome as well as men. There are no dues or membership. A donation of $9 covers lunch and the program.

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