Happy Spring-Summer Friends!
First let me offer my apologies for not having updated this blog since December. Please don’t assume that because there has been no update that there is nothing going on at Creekside Village! The by grace alone ministry continues to serve as Jesus’ hands and feet bringing encouragement, food and a little joy to the approximately 100 residents who live in this Housing Authority complex in Florence, SC.
Monthly on the second Tuesday of the month at 6pm is G*R*A*C*E bingo with the most requested prizes being those of household paper products and house cleaning products, those things which cannot be purchased with EBT cards (formerly known as food stamps). Tell me…when is the last time nature called and you reached over for a few squares of toilet tissue only to find the roll empty? How about if there was no more in the cabinet and no money to buy any? What a basic, simple need. Thank you Tony Fowler and students of Florence-Darlington TEC and Dr. Joe Griffin for supporting this aspect of the ministry. Show up at Creekside at 6 pm and watch the fun begin. You could call out the numbers, deliver the prizes as they are won or perhaps you’d prefer to bring a child who is old enough to help one of our residents with their cards. Whatever you do, I promise laughter and a blessing or two!
The third Monday of the month at 6:30pm finds us at fancy fingers, a fun evening of volunteer teens from the Ebenezer Baptist Church (and elsewhere) providing simple manicures to those residents who desire them. What a fun time with refreshments, music and fellowship. I still smile when I recall the 80 year old lady who experienced her first “paint” on her nails through this ministry! Sharing the love of Jesus hand to hand! So many are faithful to this little ministry but a special thanks to Vickie and Christy of the Christy Moore Salon for the cool nail polish! Every wondered how many blessings Jesus could pack into those small bottles? Come and try to count’em!
For several years Cathy Phillips has been faithful to take her projector and show a Movie with a Moral on the 4th Tuesday at 7. Unfortunately, the bulb in that projector no longer works thus the movie night has been cancelled until further notice. Perhaps you know someone at a theatre local to Florence who would give us a great rate (free?) if we were able to transport a busload of residents to the movies monthly? I have never asked the question but I would not be surprised to find that we have residents who have never been to a movie theatre in their lives. Oh what we take for granted!
Angel Food delivery is typically the last Saturday in the month. While our residents are given the opportunity to order Angel Food, the majority of the food delivered is via donations. That Saturday never fails to mirror the “loaves and fishes” story as Jesus multiplies whatever has been donated to provide so many a little food for the end of the month. You may send a check made out to Ebenezer Baptist Church with an annotation for Creekside Angel Food or contact me or Paul Frazier about how to serve in this aspect of the ministry.
On those months when there are 5 Tuesdays, the 5 th Tuesday finds us at Creekside with any volunteers (or draftees) who are up for being silly! We have Laugh Out Loud night…typically charades or Pictionary. We’d love to have you show up for that but leave your pride at home….this night can shame you unless you are an actor or an artist!
One of the really exciting things I have to share with readers is “$1.00 difference”. During the season between Thanksgiving and Christmas 2010, our youth pastor, Justin challenged all who entered the youth house at EBC to bring a dollar and see what a difference it could make. Teens and adults were faithful and a generous donation was made to this ministry. In April, we were able to have our first ever Cook-Out for Creekside. The weather prevented us from being outdoors but because of the participation of so many each of our residents had a sit-down meal of bar-b-qued chicken, green beans, potatoes, bread, pound cake, tea or water. After that meal, they were given an identical one to take home, this one with an enclosed tract sharing the Good News of a Savior who loves them . For many, these two meals were the only 2 meals they had over the course of 48 hours. I had at least 6 meals in that same time period. You? Several folks came to sing with us and fellowship, so many contributed that I could never list them here. Please know my sincerity when I say thank you.
The $1.00 difference did not stop there. That $1.00 made a difference to the men at the House of Hope in Florence. At least 75 meals were provided for them…and the blessing continued. My heart is full to overflowing as I see these young people becoming mission-minded, learning to share and to provide for others. How like Jesus…I wonder which of them will be strolling by the Crystal Sea one day when an unknown face walks up and speaks the words “Your dollar did make a difference, it made a difference to me!”
In these difficult financial times the needs continue at Creekside Village. There have been several residents recently who have moved in with absolutely nothing but their clothing. Not a chair, not a bed, not a dish or a pot. No food, no money…can you even imagine it? Please think of this ministry when you replace your furniture. Our residents don’t care about matching…and they don’t complain if something needs cleaning or is old and outdated. Your donations will help to make their little apartment a home for them, a place of shelter and safety.
As summer quickly approaches one of the most common requests of our ministry is to provide fans to our residents. While each apartment has air conditioning, only a limited amout of electrical usage is included in their rent. Above that amount of usage and the resident must pay an electric bill thus many of them will not use the air conditioner for fear of another bill they can’t pay. A pedestal fan provides much needed air circulation to these old apartments. Many of our residents are wheelchair bound and are unable to move a fan from their living area to their bedroom so those folks need 2 fans. Could you help with this need? Dollar General typically has these fans for $20.00 or so…how could God bless that gift?
I close this update knowing that I have omitted some very important event or interaction---each visit to Creekside Village provides at least one! Won’t you drop by at one of the above-mentioned events and allow God to work through you…or perhaps IN you. Could be He wants to reveal to you what He is constantly showing me…..that it is not about who I need to bless but instead about the blessing He has for me!
by grace alone, Betty
843.206.6591
Monday, May 2, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
December 2010 at Creekside Village
2010 is behind us and so is another year of the by grace alone ministry to Creekside Village Apartments. December was a special time there with 2 separate groups of children caroling up and down the halls---how the residents love to see the children!
December G*R*A*C*E bingo was especially fun because while the first 2 wins were for paper product prizes, the 3rd and final win was for a $5.00 Walmart gift card! Our friends at Creekside were delighted, and so were we! $5.00 is a grand prize when $5.00 might be all the spending money you have for the month! We send a heartfelt thanks to our secret benefactor who made this gift possible. On bingo night I shared about a homeless colony recently discovered here in Florence and after our prayer for them, several of our residents donated coats to those homeless folks, one man even taking his coat off his back stating “I’ve got another one, take this.”
December also saw our annual fruit basket building and delivery to each of our residents. So many of the readers of this blog contributed so generously to the angel food fruit box purchases that made this effort possible. So many others donated boxes of fruit from the local schools and others donated candies, nuts, cello bags, plates, Christmas cards and your time as well as that of your precious little ones who helped to deliver. How do I say thank you to you? I don’t even know who some of you are! If you were at Creekside this Christmas then you saw the faces of our beloved friends and those smiles said more than my words could ever say!
2010 also allowed us to meet new friends at Creekside and required that we say good by to some old ones as well. Bittersweet but each of them professed and displayed a relationship with the ONE who gives eternal life so we have the promise of reunion in Heaven one day very soon!
We also had new friends join us in some of our activities or by donating items. A special thanks to those of you who thought of my friends before discarding household or food items. New faces among volunteers is always a cool thing. I can think of several off hand but I don’t dare mention a few without forgetting a few so allow me simply to say thanks and God bless.
The monthly calendar for this ministry is essentially unchanging:
2nd Tuesday 6-8pm-G*R*A*C*E bingo-just show up (preferably with paper products of $1.00 value household items!!!!)
3rd Monday 6:30-8pm-YOUTH girls ans several adults do “manicures” for 12 blessed ladies! (and occasionally Mr, George comes for this too and he is always a pleasant addition!)
4th Tuesday-6-8pm-Movies with a Moral-Cathy Phillips brings a projector, a cool movie, refreshments and the community room is transformed!
On those months when there are 5 Tuesdays-6-8pm-Gina Jones, unsuspecting volunteers and I rock the house with some silly game-charades, Pictionary---who knows what will be next! This is always a fun event to show up for but ONLY if you don’t mind being totally silly! The winning table wins $5.00 gift cards.
Angel Food delivery-last Sat of each month- 9-10:30am-meet us at Ebenezer Baptist to pray that God will multiply then join us in the delivery of bags of food to each resident who requests one.
2 Corinthians 4:15b reads “So that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause Thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” Thank you readers for donating, for serving for praying for this ministry and our beloved residents. Thank you for trusting us with your items, your money, your time, your food and your prayers. Thank you for loving Jesus in a way that blesses so many, me most of all.
by grace alone, betty moore-bell
December G*R*A*C*E bingo was especially fun because while the first 2 wins were for paper product prizes, the 3rd and final win was for a $5.00 Walmart gift card! Our friends at Creekside were delighted, and so were we! $5.00 is a grand prize when $5.00 might be all the spending money you have for the month! We send a heartfelt thanks to our secret benefactor who made this gift possible. On bingo night I shared about a homeless colony recently discovered here in Florence and after our prayer for them, several of our residents donated coats to those homeless folks, one man even taking his coat off his back stating “I’ve got another one, take this.”
December also saw our annual fruit basket building and delivery to each of our residents. So many of the readers of this blog contributed so generously to the angel food fruit box purchases that made this effort possible. So many others donated boxes of fruit from the local schools and others donated candies, nuts, cello bags, plates, Christmas cards and your time as well as that of your precious little ones who helped to deliver. How do I say thank you to you? I don’t even know who some of you are! If you were at Creekside this Christmas then you saw the faces of our beloved friends and those smiles said more than my words could ever say!
2010 also allowed us to meet new friends at Creekside and required that we say good by to some old ones as well. Bittersweet but each of them professed and displayed a relationship with the ONE who gives eternal life so we have the promise of reunion in Heaven one day very soon!
We also had new friends join us in some of our activities or by donating items. A special thanks to those of you who thought of my friends before discarding household or food items. New faces among volunteers is always a cool thing. I can think of several off hand but I don’t dare mention a few without forgetting a few so allow me simply to say thanks and God bless.
The monthly calendar for this ministry is essentially unchanging:
2nd Tuesday 6-8pm-G*R*A*C*E bingo-just show up (preferably with paper products of $1.00 value household items!!!!)
3rd Monday 6:30-8pm-YOUTH girls ans several adults do “manicures” for 12 blessed ladies! (and occasionally Mr, George comes for this too and he is always a pleasant addition!)
4th Tuesday-6-8pm-Movies with a Moral-Cathy Phillips brings a projector, a cool movie, refreshments and the community room is transformed!
On those months when there are 5 Tuesdays-6-8pm-Gina Jones, unsuspecting volunteers and I rock the house with some silly game-charades, Pictionary---who knows what will be next! This is always a fun event to show up for but ONLY if you don’t mind being totally silly! The winning table wins $5.00 gift cards.
Angel Food delivery-last Sat of each month- 9-10:30am-meet us at Ebenezer Baptist to pray that God will multiply then join us in the delivery of bags of food to each resident who requests one.
2 Corinthians 4:15b reads “So that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause Thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” Thank you readers for donating, for serving for praying for this ministry and our beloved residents. Thank you for trusting us with your items, your money, your time, your food and your prayers. Thank you for loving Jesus in a way that blesses so many, me most of all.
by grace alone, betty moore-bell
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Oct-Nov 2010 at Creekside Village
Please forgive me for not updating the blog recently-I simply cannot grasp how quickly time passes these days! While I’ve not posted on this blog that certainly does not mean that nothing has been happening within this little ministry to Creekside Village, a Housing Authority property here in Florence, SC . Our monthly calendar of events does not change unless by emergency.
2nd Tuesday of the month G*R*A*C*E bingo continues to be a huge success with 30-35 residents as average attendance. Light refreshments are served and then the games begin! Prizes are typically household items averaging $1.00 each but those are supplemented by items donated by others…like YOU! Bingo night is often a time when one of us is called aside and a special need or prayer request is shared.
3rd Monday of the month finds us at Creekside Village with fancy fingers….manicures for 12 ladies (and Mr. George). Truth be known, the youth girls from EBC who volunteer do a great job with nails but I suspect the fellowship ranks right up there with the glitter nails! Thanks Ellen Simmons and Renee Kennedy for never failing to coordinate this event.
4th Tuesday evening is Movie with a Moral night. Cathy Phillips is so faithful to prayerfully choose a movie with will not only entertain but uplift and encourage spiritually. Times of discussion after the movie are often intimate and moving.
Somewhere in between Paul Frazier will take Angel Food orders and typically on the 3rd Saturday several of us will gather at EBC to divide up Angel Food as donated by YOU, praying that Jesus will multiply. It never fails that He does so and how grateful I am that YOU continue to be faithful in contributing to this part of the ministry.
We’ve also begin a game night on those months which have 5 Tuesdays. Thus far tthis year one night was charades…and may I state here in a spirit of Christian charity and love that Gina Jones is a sick puppy..and Pictionary. I suspect every drawing seen for the next few months will be considered as a“sweet grass baskets from Charleston”---guess you had to have been there! Several of us were present for the fun including Tyler, Karen/Catfish, Courtney and Alison. A special thanks to the benefactor who provided $5.00 Walmart gift cards to the winning table.
One of the sweetest gifts I will receive this holiday season was when several ladies from EBC donated tickets to our Creekside Village friends so that they could attend our annual EBC Ladies Holiday Dinner. The tables were decorated to the hilt, the men were spit-shined and ready to serve us, the food was excellent and the speaker was profound. In that evening 17 Creekside Village ladies dressed-to-impress and shared in the blessing. Gina, Renee, Carolyn Newsome…how do I thank you? My heart gets so full it spills out of my eyes…
As I complete the December calendar to post at Creekside Village, I am overjoyed to add caroling by 2 teams of kids from EBC and the now annual event of fruit basket production and delivery. If you are led to do so, please make a donation to Paul Frazier towards an Angel Food fruit box. When delivered we will again pray the prayer of multiplication and several of us will gather on Sunday afternoon, Dec 20th to make fruit baskets for each of the 100 or so residents at Creekside Village. Plates are being donated by my pal Karen Ham (Numbers 24:9b), the gift bags have been ordered, we still need soft mints, mixed nuts in the shells, a few chocolate kisses, bananas…haven’t considered grapes until just now. Wonder if that could be the Holy Spirit speaking or my own stomach…(please excuse me a moment while I pray for discernment!). Back---- Several families with children have committed to dressing them up in Christmas colors and having them assist in delivering the baskets to each apartment door. How the residents LOVE that! Worried that we might have too much? Last year we had enough assorted fruit to make bags for 30 residents at another Housing Authority property---a property whose residents are not served by a ministry such as this (hint hint).
If you happen not to be an Ebenezer-ite (!) and you are reading this blog, and you are feeling a tug to reach out where you are, I promise you that there are folks very near to you to whom you can be Jesus’ hands and feet at whatever level of commitment you can make. Call me and I’ll help you find out how!
by grace alone, Betty
843.206.6591
2nd Tuesday of the month G*R*A*C*E bingo continues to be a huge success with 30-35 residents as average attendance. Light refreshments are served and then the games begin! Prizes are typically household items averaging $1.00 each but those are supplemented by items donated by others…like YOU! Bingo night is often a time when one of us is called aside and a special need or prayer request is shared.
3rd Monday of the month finds us at Creekside Village with fancy fingers….manicures for 12 ladies (and Mr. George). Truth be known, the youth girls from EBC who volunteer do a great job with nails but I suspect the fellowship ranks right up there with the glitter nails! Thanks Ellen Simmons and Renee Kennedy for never failing to coordinate this event.
4th Tuesday evening is Movie with a Moral night. Cathy Phillips is so faithful to prayerfully choose a movie with will not only entertain but uplift and encourage spiritually. Times of discussion after the movie are often intimate and moving.
Somewhere in between Paul Frazier will take Angel Food orders and typically on the 3rd Saturday several of us will gather at EBC to divide up Angel Food as donated by YOU, praying that Jesus will multiply. It never fails that He does so and how grateful I am that YOU continue to be faithful in contributing to this part of the ministry.
We’ve also begin a game night on those months which have 5 Tuesdays. Thus far tthis year one night was charades…and may I state here in a spirit of Christian charity and love that Gina Jones is a sick puppy..and Pictionary. I suspect every drawing seen for the next few months will be considered as a“sweet grass baskets from Charleston”---guess you had to have been there! Several of us were present for the fun including Tyler, Karen/Catfish, Courtney and Alison. A special thanks to the benefactor who provided $5.00 Walmart gift cards to the winning table.
One of the sweetest gifts I will receive this holiday season was when several ladies from EBC donated tickets to our Creekside Village friends so that they could attend our annual EBC Ladies Holiday Dinner. The tables were decorated to the hilt, the men were spit-shined and ready to serve us, the food was excellent and the speaker was profound. In that evening 17 Creekside Village ladies dressed-to-impress and shared in the blessing. Gina, Renee, Carolyn Newsome…how do I thank you? My heart gets so full it spills out of my eyes…
As I complete the December calendar to post at Creekside Village, I am overjoyed to add caroling by 2 teams of kids from EBC and the now annual event of fruit basket production and delivery. If you are led to do so, please make a donation to Paul Frazier towards an Angel Food fruit box. When delivered we will again pray the prayer of multiplication and several of us will gather on Sunday afternoon, Dec 20th to make fruit baskets for each of the 100 or so residents at Creekside Village. Plates are being donated by my pal Karen Ham (Numbers 24:9b), the gift bags have been ordered, we still need soft mints, mixed nuts in the shells, a few chocolate kisses, bananas…haven’t considered grapes until just now. Wonder if that could be the Holy Spirit speaking or my own stomach…(please excuse me a moment while I pray for discernment!). Back---- Several families with children have committed to dressing them up in Christmas colors and having them assist in delivering the baskets to each apartment door. How the residents LOVE that! Worried that we might have too much? Last year we had enough assorted fruit to make bags for 30 residents at another Housing Authority property---a property whose residents are not served by a ministry such as this (hint hint).
If you happen not to be an Ebenezer-ite (!) and you are reading this blog, and you are feeling a tug to reach out where you are, I promise you that there are folks very near to you to whom you can be Jesus’ hands and feet at whatever level of commitment you can make. Call me and I’ll help you find out how!
by grace alone, Betty
843.206.6591
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
August at Creekside Village was a month of fun for the residents and the by grace alone ministry team!
We started with long-time friends and supporters from Columbia, SC joining us for G*R*A*C*E bingo and bringing a load of really cool prizes. At long last our Columbia friends got to experience the joy the rest of us feel every 2nd Tuesday as we gather for fun and laughter. Y’all come again soon, okay? We loved having you with us!
Our 3rd Monday event, Fancy Fingers, resulted in manicures with special “girl” time for about a dozen of our residents. Ask one of the girls from the EBC youth who is most blessed; the one giving or the one receiving the manicure? Each lady leaves with a little surcie bag which is simply a reminder of Jesus loving them through us.
In August, our 4th Tuesday event, Movies with a Moral, was a huge success this month. Cathy showed the movie FireProof and all in attendance agreed that for any relationship to honor God He must be in the center of it!
The last Saturday in the month is always angel food delivery. We’ve collected enough reusable shopping bags (thanks y’all!) that we can divide up whatever food is donated while at the church and deliver it much easier to our residents who gather in the community room at Creekside Village at 9am that date. The first ones present get the first choice of a fruit or veggie from the fresh produce donated. It is very safe to say that this is the only fresh fruit and veggies that our residents get because of the high price of these items. They are so grateful and so are we for your generosity. Please know that your angel food donations are not wasted. Folks call me all through the month asking for some food to get them by and your gifts are helping to meet those needs.
We had 2 very special events this month as well.
On August 30th, the City of Florence Police Dept was honored by the management and residents of Creekside Village, partnering with EBC, for a job well done! They were given over 90 dozen cookies, a dozen cookies for each officer, filling 3 bins, one for each police dept district in Florence. What joy there was in being present when property manager Brenda Baskin presented Inspector Heidler with all those cookies! (I think he expected a plate of cookies…imagine his surprise when it took some of his big ole officers to haul them all out!) Thanks to all who baked for us!
Simply because God blessed August 2010 with 5 Tuesdays we celebrated with our first ever LOL (Laugh out Loud) evening on August 31st. Making up the rules as we went along, 3 of us acted out words/phrases/song titles in an attempt at charades while 5 teams of residents did the guessing! What a challenge for them! We laughed so hard at the foolishness and I’ll just bet that Jesus was laughing right along with us! I know my Savior well enough to know that He revels in our joy and laughter! Gift cards donated by our Columbia friends were the GRAND PRIZE for table #1, the big winners! $5.00 gift cards to Wal-Mart were presented to each table member and they were tickled! Those of us who were actors are still recovering!
As a result of the July sermons by our ministers at Ebenezer Baptist we have had many folks contact us about specific needs of our residents at Creekside and of the by grace alone ministry. Those names are too numerous to mention here and I fear I’d omit someone so just know how much we appreciate you! Perhaps you’ve provided refreshments for an event or baked cookies or agreed to sponsor a resident or donated or delivered furniture or goods for us? Perhaps you are one of the college students who shopped specifically for our residents after praying about their needs, or perhaps you’ve purchased an angel food box of food or fruits and veggies. Perhaps you’ve lifted a prayer of encouragement for one of our residents or a member of the ministry team. Keep praying, keep providing much needed items for bingo gifts, and keep thinking of us when you have furniture, TVs, kitchen items that can be re-used. Keep praying for the team and our residents.
God is so very in the midst of this effort and He uses you all to bless and encourage us. Would you like to visit one of our events? Would you like to adopt a resident? Would you like to see first-hand how Jesus is loving us and our Creekside Village residents? Call me, Gina Jones, Bunnie Weatherford, Renee Kennedy, Ellen Simmons, Cathy Phillips, or anyone whom you know has attended one of our events. We’ll share with you the joy that comes from being a part of this ministry. We won’t ask you to commit to anything, we promise, but we’re betting you’ll want to!
by grace alone, betty
We started with long-time friends and supporters from Columbia, SC joining us for G*R*A*C*E bingo and bringing a load of really cool prizes. At long last our Columbia friends got to experience the joy the rest of us feel every 2nd Tuesday as we gather for fun and laughter. Y’all come again soon, okay? We loved having you with us!
Our 3rd Monday event, Fancy Fingers, resulted in manicures with special “girl” time for about a dozen of our residents. Ask one of the girls from the EBC youth who is most blessed; the one giving or the one receiving the manicure? Each lady leaves with a little surcie bag which is simply a reminder of Jesus loving them through us.
In August, our 4th Tuesday event, Movies with a Moral, was a huge success this month. Cathy showed the movie FireProof and all in attendance agreed that for any relationship to honor God He must be in the center of it!
The last Saturday in the month is always angel food delivery. We’ve collected enough reusable shopping bags (thanks y’all!) that we can divide up whatever food is donated while at the church and deliver it much easier to our residents who gather in the community room at Creekside Village at 9am that date. The first ones present get the first choice of a fruit or veggie from the fresh produce donated. It is very safe to say that this is the only fresh fruit and veggies that our residents get because of the high price of these items. They are so grateful and so are we for your generosity. Please know that your angel food donations are not wasted. Folks call me all through the month asking for some food to get them by and your gifts are helping to meet those needs.
We had 2 very special events this month as well.
On August 30th, the City of Florence Police Dept was honored by the management and residents of Creekside Village, partnering with EBC, for a job well done! They were given over 90 dozen cookies, a dozen cookies for each officer, filling 3 bins, one for each police dept district in Florence. What joy there was in being present when property manager Brenda Baskin presented Inspector Heidler with all those cookies! (I think he expected a plate of cookies…imagine his surprise when it took some of his big ole officers to haul them all out!) Thanks to all who baked for us!
Simply because God blessed August 2010 with 5 Tuesdays we celebrated with our first ever LOL (Laugh out Loud) evening on August 31st. Making up the rules as we went along, 3 of us acted out words/phrases/song titles in an attempt at charades while 5 teams of residents did the guessing! What a challenge for them! We laughed so hard at the foolishness and I’ll just bet that Jesus was laughing right along with us! I know my Savior well enough to know that He revels in our joy and laughter! Gift cards donated by our Columbia friends were the GRAND PRIZE for table #1, the big winners! $5.00 gift cards to Wal-Mart were presented to each table member and they were tickled! Those of us who were actors are still recovering!
As a result of the July sermons by our ministers at Ebenezer Baptist we have had many folks contact us about specific needs of our residents at Creekside and of the by grace alone ministry. Those names are too numerous to mention here and I fear I’d omit someone so just know how much we appreciate you! Perhaps you’ve provided refreshments for an event or baked cookies or agreed to sponsor a resident or donated or delivered furniture or goods for us? Perhaps you are one of the college students who shopped specifically for our residents after praying about their needs, or perhaps you’ve purchased an angel food box of food or fruits and veggies. Perhaps you’ve lifted a prayer of encouragement for one of our residents or a member of the ministry team. Keep praying, keep providing much needed items for bingo gifts, and keep thinking of us when you have furniture, TVs, kitchen items that can be re-used. Keep praying for the team and our residents.
God is so very in the midst of this effort and He uses you all to bless and encourage us. Would you like to visit one of our events? Would you like to adopt a resident? Would you like to see first-hand how Jesus is loving us and our Creekside Village residents? Call me, Gina Jones, Bunnie Weatherford, Renee Kennedy, Ellen Simmons, Cathy Phillips, or anyone whom you know has attended one of our events. We’ll share with you the joy that comes from being a part of this ministry. We won’t ask you to commit to anything, we promise, but we’re betting you’ll want to!
by grace alone, betty
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
G*R*A*C*E bingo tonight at Creekside Village 8/10/10
Can you say EXHAUSTED? Exhausted but joyous! Exhausted but blessed! Exhausted yet filled to overflowing with how Jesus uses willing servants to carry out His work here at Creekside Village. G*R*A*C*E bingo is always a huge success and tonight even more so because of friends from Columbia who have been generous in their support for the past 2 years. To Mary, Dawn, Linda, Jackie and all of the other Sedgwick friends; thank you! Thank you for traveling the distance after working all day, thank you for giving up your dollars for bingo gifts for us, thank you for searching for the items that would most bless, thank you for laughing with us, playing with us, caring for us, praying with us; thank you for loving us at Creekside. We love you too! Y'all come back now, ya'hear?
Thanks to EBC for sharing left over Sunday morning refreshments; thanks Jimmy Norton for thinking of us! Those muffins were just perfect tonight!
Thanks Paul Frazier for the lighted hula-hoop exhibition.A word of advice? Don't gve up your day job.
And thanks so much to my friends at Creekside for trusting us, loving us, and welcoming us into their home. God never fails to bless me through you.
by grace alone, Betty
Thanks to EBC for sharing left over Sunday morning refreshments; thanks Jimmy Norton for thinking of us! Those muffins were just perfect tonight!
Thanks Paul Frazier for the lighted hula-hoop exhibition.A word of advice? Don't gve up your day job.
And thanks so much to my friends at Creekside for trusting us, loving us, and welcoming us into their home. God never fails to bless me through you.
by grace alone, Betty
Friday, August 6, 2010
August is HERE!
short blog today with 2 really big requests...
1. PLEASE pray for Mr. Davis' continued healing from a stroke and pray for Divine intervention regarding his discharge from the hospital. He is so fraile....
2.A gazillion of you have asked what you can do for this ministry but feel you don't have the time to be present with us? Start baking and freezing cookies! You can partner with Creekside residents to say thanks to the City of Florence police dept! Bake (YUM!) dozens and dozens and dozens of them (or just 1 dozen!), let me know when you're done so I can get them and then our Creekside friends will package them up to present to the City Police Dept as a way of saying thanks for always doing their jobs well! Interested in being involved?
Start baking up your favorite recipe and freeze them.Ask your friends to do it. Have a cookie making party. Get your Sunday School classes involved. Make it an end of summer event with your kids. What a great way to say thanks and a perfect way to partner…hand to hand! Our goal is 120 dozen cookies, beautifully packaged in cello bags and a ribbon by the end of the month. Questions? Call me at 206.6591.
how I love and appreciate you all, by grace alone, betty
.
1. PLEASE pray for Mr. Davis' continued healing from a stroke and pray for Divine intervention regarding his discharge from the hospital. He is so fraile....
2.A gazillion of you have asked what you can do for this ministry but feel you don't have the time to be present with us? Start baking and freezing cookies! You can partner with Creekside residents to say thanks to the City of Florence police dept! Bake (YUM!) dozens and dozens and dozens of them (or just 1 dozen!), let me know when you're done so I can get them and then our Creekside friends will package them up to present to the City Police Dept as a way of saying thanks for always doing their jobs well! Interested in being involved?
Start baking up your favorite recipe and freeze them.Ask your friends to do it. Have a cookie making party. Get your Sunday School classes involved. Make it an end of summer event with your kids. What a great way to say thanks and a perfect way to partner…hand to hand! Our goal is 120 dozen cookies, beautifully packaged in cello bags and a ribbon by the end of the month. Questions? Call me at 206.6591.
how I love and appreciate you all, by grace alone, betty
.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Sat,July 31, 2010
What an amazing morning…what an amazing MONTH! I’m completely drained though overflowing! I know, I know, it doesn’t make sense but sometimes the Jesus-stuff just doesn’t!
It was Angel Food day at EBC and Creekside Village. Many of you donated money toward boxes of food. 5 boxes were donated and just as we asked Him to do, Jesus multiplied it and 22 folks were fed from 5 boxes of food. And that doesn’t count the tickled faces over fruits or veggies to be shared! How like Jesus to use a pineapple to bless folks! Sometimes (rarely, I know!) I am simply at a loss for how to thank Him and you. Those who gave $$ for food (Mary and our Sedgwick friends from Columbia, SS classes, Phillip Kennedy, Mark and Donna Rutan, Renee and Danny, Judy Moody, Jackie Baldwin), those men who gave up their mornings to make the food available (love you guys!), those who came to meet and serve our friends at Creekside, Gail and Johnny, Renee and Danny, Gina and Michelle, and Bunnie all willing to give up a Sat. morning to be a blessing and to be blessed. Thanks y’all. Those faces of our friends at Creekside said it so much better than I ever could.
This whole month of July has been a busy, busy one for the Holy Spirit in and around Ebenezer Baptist Church. Our pastors’ message have been supernaturally empowered and so many hearts made tender to the needs around us. Those who have answered a call to the by grace alone ministry at Creekside Village especially have my heartfelt thanks. I’m making a list (just like Santa) and I will be in touch with you as I pray about where and how God wants you to serve with us. Fans are now cooling some hot apartments, Lura has a bed, TVs are on though we still need some converter boxes and folks who know how to hook’em up! That just is not Gina’s strong point (love ya, Girl!). We still also need transportation for Ms. Miona for her regular MD appts if anyone has some time during the day to help.
One of the big things on our calendar for August ---and that’s besides 2nd Tuesday G*R*A*C*E bingo, 3rd Monday fancy fingers manicures and 4th Tuesday movies with a moral night is an opportunity for EBC to partner with Creekside residents to say thanks to the City of Florence police dept. EBC folks will have the opportunity to bake cookies (YUM!) dozens and dozens and dozens of them with our Creekside friends packaging them up to present to the City Police Dept as a way of saying thanks for always doing your jobs well! Interested in being involved? Start baking up your favorite recipe and freeze them if you like until we get the exact date set. What a great way to say thanks and a perfect way to partner…hand to hand!
And as I wind down here, please take a moment and lift our friend Mr. Davis up in prayer. He fell yesterday and once again, we are fearful that he has had a stroke. I will be visiting him at the hospital soon and post an update on him. Ask Jesus to bless him with healing so that we might continue to love him as He has taught us to do.
A dear old friend taught me my favorite words of thanks and I will close with those to our Savior today. “How Good You are to bless us so far beyond anything we could ever dream to ask of You”….Thanks God. thanks Jesus, thanks Holy Spirit, thanks friends….
by grace alone, betty
It was Angel Food day at EBC and Creekside Village. Many of you donated money toward boxes of food. 5 boxes were donated and just as we asked Him to do, Jesus multiplied it and 22 folks were fed from 5 boxes of food. And that doesn’t count the tickled faces over fruits or veggies to be shared! How like Jesus to use a pineapple to bless folks! Sometimes (rarely, I know!) I am simply at a loss for how to thank Him and you. Those who gave $$ for food (Mary and our Sedgwick friends from Columbia, SS classes, Phillip Kennedy, Mark and Donna Rutan, Renee and Danny, Judy Moody, Jackie Baldwin), those men who gave up their mornings to make the food available (love you guys!), those who came to meet and serve our friends at Creekside, Gail and Johnny, Renee and Danny, Gina and Michelle, and Bunnie all willing to give up a Sat. morning to be a blessing and to be blessed. Thanks y’all. Those faces of our friends at Creekside said it so much better than I ever could.
This whole month of July has been a busy, busy one for the Holy Spirit in and around Ebenezer Baptist Church. Our pastors’ message have been supernaturally empowered and so many hearts made tender to the needs around us. Those who have answered a call to the by grace alone ministry at Creekside Village especially have my heartfelt thanks. I’m making a list (just like Santa) and I will be in touch with you as I pray about where and how God wants you to serve with us. Fans are now cooling some hot apartments, Lura has a bed, TVs are on though we still need some converter boxes and folks who know how to hook’em up! That just is not Gina’s strong point (love ya, Girl!). We still also need transportation for Ms. Miona for her regular MD appts if anyone has some time during the day to help.
One of the big things on our calendar for August ---and that’s besides 2nd Tuesday G*R*A*C*E bingo, 3rd Monday fancy fingers manicures and 4th Tuesday movies with a moral night is an opportunity for EBC to partner with Creekside residents to say thanks to the City of Florence police dept. EBC folks will have the opportunity to bake cookies (YUM!) dozens and dozens and dozens of them with our Creekside friends packaging them up to present to the City Police Dept as a way of saying thanks for always doing your jobs well! Interested in being involved? Start baking up your favorite recipe and freeze them if you like until we get the exact date set. What a great way to say thanks and a perfect way to partner…hand to hand!
And as I wind down here, please take a moment and lift our friend Mr. Davis up in prayer. He fell yesterday and once again, we are fearful that he has had a stroke. I will be visiting him at the hospital soon and post an update on him. Ask Jesus to bless him with healing so that we might continue to love him as He has taught us to do.
A dear old friend taught me my favorite words of thanks and I will close with those to our Savior today. “How Good You are to bless us so far beyond anything we could ever dream to ask of You”….Thanks God. thanks Jesus, thanks Holy Spirit, thanks friends….
by grace alone, betty
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