On Saturday, join us at St. Joseph Park on Monroe between 4th and 5th. This Neighborhood Party promises fun for all ages as we celebrate Nelson Neighborhood. There’s food and it’s free, served up by Central’s youth. Enjoy music and friends, new and old. Children’s activities include a Bounce House, Clothesline Art Show and other fun.

Then on Sunday, Sept. 12, the place to be is Central’s Parish Hall. At 9:30 am there’s food and another classic staff skit. We then reconnect with the church revitalization begun by Doug Anderson last spring. What are our next speps to the future God wants for Central? The fall worship schedule starts that morning in the chapel at 8:30 and sanctuary at 10:45. A potluck offers the chance for great fellowship and food at noon.

Don’t miss out on these Central Alive activities! Watch the bulletin for more details.

The truck was coming from the Grand Rapids Food Bank, Feeding America. It carried 10,000 pounds of fresh food and dairy products. Before noon that day, the Church Office began to answer the phone …”What do I need to bring to qualify for food?” “Where is the truck located?” “Will there be meat?” Erika went to Plumbs to receive a donation of bags used for the tomatoes.

By one o’clock, the line began to form for food at Nelson parking lot.  The temperature rose to a record breaking ninety degrees.  At three-thirty, Ron, Ethan, Andrew, and Mitch loaded up tables and chairs and we joined the crew from Mt. Zion to set up tables in preparation for the truck’s arrival.  Billy Joy, Sally, and Mitch joined woman from Mt. Zion to sign-in people and give out numbers.  As Mt. Zion set up a drink area, Kay and Lynn began to welcome and invite people to a party in St. Joseph’s park on September 11.  The shaded hill area filled with volunteers and those in need of food in anticipation of the truck’s arrival. 

About four-thirty, the driver pulled in and the work began, repackaging bulk food for distribution.  For the next hour and forty-five minutes many hands were busy.  Don and Bill P. unloaded potatoes while Linda, Jerry, and Paul stacked Yoplait Delights.  Ed partnered with Mt. Zion and unloaded the bread. Ellie, Kay F., and Paula bagged tomatoes as Julaine and Kimberly unboxed sour cream. Jan, Pat, and Sue B. bagged spinach while Sue Z. bagged lemons! Keith arrived on the scene to unbox iced tea. Vicki joined the apple crew. At three-fifty, Bill B. lined people by number while Jack and Chris greeted and Greig, Ron, Andrew, Ethan, Julie, and Huey were discovered among those who helped lighten the load by carrying food boxes, baskets, and bags.  Doris and Dean collected numbers saying good-bye as people made the journey home.  The driver pulled out at six fifteen to return the truck to Grand Rapids then return to Blue Lake Township where he resides.

At the end of the day, 832 lbs. of tomatoes, 2109 lbs. of potatoes, 905 lbs. of apples, 1327 lbs. of yogurt and dressing, 681 lbs. of bread and baked goods, 806 lbs. of produce including lemons, blueberries, blackberries, carrots, gourmet potatoes, and spinach, 1551 lbs. of sour cream, 360 lbs. of lettuce and mushrooms, and 1445 lbs. of iced tea was shared with 174 people.  At an average of 57 lbs per family, this food was taken home to feed a grand total of 688 people.  Approximately a quarter of those who came were over 60 years old.  Thank-you to all who made this ministry in the neighborhood possible!  And special appreciation to Cheryl Youngquist who coordinated this effort on behalf of Central’s Mission Team.

Note:  Last year – Sept. 3, 2009 – 105 people representing 346 family members received food. The need is great. We are already exploring the possibility of hosting another food truck before the year is over.

Children K-5 will gather in Room 204 to learn the stories of our faith.  People on the pages of our Bibles–Ruth, Joseph, Jacob–will come alive week by week.

Youth are invited to come to the Youth Room at 9:15 on Sunday mornings for Eat-and-Greet followed by activities and discussions that will help teens stretch and grow in faith.

Two Sunday morning settings for adults will be offered throughout the coming year. The Voyager Class will help us GROW through Bible Study…  the journey inward. The Navigator Class will get us ready to GO into the world to live our faith…the journey outward. Here’s what’s ahead for Sept. 19 through Nov. 21.

• Invitation to the Old Testament with Rev. Kay DeMoss and Doris Morgan in the Church Parlor. Weekly video segments take us to archeological sites. Scholarly voices from the video will guide our discussions to gain deeper understanding of God’s vision for all things.
• Becoming a Good Samaritan led by Rev. Lynn DeMoss in Rm 209. Explore ways to take action on issues of social justice. Weekly DVDs feature faith leaders like Desmond Tutu, Jim Wallis, and Eugene Peterson.

Hosts will invite persons to their home or to the Church Parlor. Light refreshments will be served along with the friendly conversation. Sessions will be informal.

Please contact the Church Office, 722-6545, if you are willing to be a host, sometime in September or later this fall.

Central’s CROP Coach is Lynn DeMoss. He has pledge envelopes for those who are walking this year. If you can’t walk yourself, please pledge to someone who can. Help the hungry one step at a time. One quarter of the funds raised stay in the community to support the work of agencies like Mission for Area People, Love, Inc., Christian Community Center and the Muskegon Rescue Mission.

If you want to use email to raise CROP pledges online, click here for instructions.