Grab those comfortable walking shoes and plan to join the Des Moines Area Hunger Hike on Sunday, October 12th at 1:30 pm. You will be hearing a lot more about this event in the coming weeks, but I wanted you to save the date. The Hunger Hike has fallen short of its goal of $50,000 the last few years. The anticipated need is great this year because of the economy and natural disasters that have hit Iowa this summer. Furthermore, taking a hike is fun, it’s great exercise, it’s a chance to enjoy the fall colors, you can catch up on news with fellow walkers, it’s an opportunity to promote our church, and its an opportunity to serve and help our community and state. The Hunger Hike benefits 28 agencies in addition to the DMARC Emergency Food Pantry.
A new perk this year will be an optional shortened hike. Walk as far as the carousel in Union Park, enjoy a free ride on the carousel, and then you can get a ride back to the starting point. It is hoped that more families with younger children will take advantage of this opportunity.
If you are part of a group (middle school, LOGOS, high school, book club, choir, Session, etc.) at St. Paul, talk to your cohorts to see if you can get some representatives to walk, and we will plan a friendly competition to see which group can raise the most money. Please let me know if your group wants to sign on! I don’t want to be the only walker from St. Paul this year. Debbie Wych
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Please consider volunteering for one of the following …
FUN EVENTS TO COME
Mark your calendars now for these upcoming events. Please plan to come and always remember to invite friends or family. We are a small town church and we want people to get to know us.
The What Color Do You Bleed Promotion is Back! -- DES MOINES, Iowa Do you bleed purple & gold, cardinal & gold, or maybe black & gold? Show your school spirit by donating blood and saving lives! Join The Blood Center of Iowa in giving your favorite state school, Iowa State University, the University of Iowa or the University of Northern Iowa, the recognition it deserves and show your support with blood donations!
-----Display your team colors proudly! It’s easy to show your school spirit. All you need to do is donate blood at a Blood Center of Iowa mobile blood drive or a donor center between June 30, 2008 and January 3, 2009. In fact, the more you donate the more school pride you can show!
-----Donate once during the promotion time period and have the opportunity to receive a special window cling that shows your school spirit! Donate twice and you will receive a ball cap in your favorite team colors! Donate three times and you will receive a commemorative t-shirt that shows your school pride! A special “What Color Do You Bleed?” logo will appear on these items so you can show your school spirit and blood donor pride at the same time!
----- You can schedule online at www.bloodcenterofiowa.org. Your frequent donations help The Blood Center of Iowa reach its mission of saving lives. Donate regularly to help prevent potential blood shortages in your community.
-----The Blood Center of Iowa is committed to serving the needs of Iowans by saving lives through volunteer blood donation. The Blood Center provides blood and blood products to 49 hospitals in 44 Iowa counties. Never donated blood? Give it a try. Eligible donors must be at least 16 years of age, be in general good health and weigh at least 120 pounds. To learn more about The Blood Center of Iowa, call (800) 287-4903 or visit www.bloodcenterofiowa.org.
---The M&E committee is always looking for volunteers to join the committee and invites anyone who has ideas for other events to please contact us. One of our goals is to get more visitors into the church in 2008. John Temple and Mike Wilson co-chair the M&E committee and are joined by Robyn Mills, Pastor John and Pauline Chambers in helping to make St. Paul an inviting and wonderful place! Please contact any of us with questions, ideas or thoughts throughout the coming year!
Des Moines Area Religious Council is looking for caring adults who can spend one hour per week during the school day mentoring children from 4th - 8th grade. Working with the Project Connect Mentoring Program, volunteers would be a friend and a homework helper to a child in a Des Moines Public School who might live in poverty and/or who do not speak English at home. Mentors of all ages are welcome. Some working adults give one lunch hour per week to serve a child. To volunteer, contact Vonnie Salem at DMARC, 277-6969, cell phone 770-9287 or email: vsalem@dmreligious.org.
Singles Club
For more information please call Shirley Adams at 255-7773.
The Closet at Crown Point
Johnston partnership for a Healthy Community Johnston and The Johnston Rotary Club are working on a joint project to provide basic necessities to those residents that cannot afford them. They will be looking for clean, in-season clothing. Please do not leave clothing items unattended at Crown Point as any abandoned items will be treated at trash and be disposed of accordingly. If you have questions, please call 986-2007. Mary Zirkelbach is involved in this project also and can answer question s and assist with donations. In addition to clothing possible donations include: Shampoo, Conditioner, Body lotion, Dish soap, Dishwasher detergent, Toilet bowl cleaner, Glass cleaner, Household cleaner, Laundry detergent, Fabric softener, Kleenex, Toilet paper, Disposable Diapers (all sizes), Baby wipes, New Socks, New Underwear (children and adult), back packs appropriate for middle school/ high school students. Also needed are plastic storage bins with lids and pant/suit hangers.
They are also looking for volunteers to sort, fold and steam clothing and to work at the Closet when it is open.
A men's basketball league was formed at the Church. We will meet on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month from 3 to 5 pm in the multi-purpose room for recreational play. Please come if you're at all interested. If you have any questions or want to express interest, please contact Aaron Wych or call the church at 276-2818. Thank you.
