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Merry Christmas!
We had a wonderful turnout for our Christmas caroling event and marshmallow toasting fest in the Garden Park around our holiday tree last night! The air was clear and dry, the fire warm and toasty, the moon shone brightly overhead (see that gleaming globe over the top of our tree), Santa Claus came to greet us all, and Christmas cheer filled the air. We even had participants who had never enjoyed a campfire or toasted a marshmallow before joining right into the festivities. What a great way to usher God’s Spirit into our neighborhood...
read moreSewGreen Grand Opening!
Have you always wished you knew how to sew? SewGreen Rochester held their Grand Opening at their new sewing store and learning center at 264-268 Arnett Boulevard on Saturday, December 5, and scores of people from the neighborhood came by to find out what they were up to and offer their congratulations. It was a wonderful event, and now all you have to do is go visit yourself and either donate or get some sewing supplies (or both). Sewing has so many benefits—you can mend your own clothes, make gifts for family and friends, even create a new...
read moreDecorating the tree!
A Christmas Celebration A lot of community minded kids and adults from School No. 29, the Arnett Block Club, the Arnett Branch Library, the Rochester Fire Department, New Life Ministries, and the North Pole were in a festive mood today! First the kids decorated the neighborhood Christmas tree in the Arnett Bird & Butterfly Garden, then the went by classes next door to the Arnett Branch Library where candy canes were eaten, stories were read, and holiday songs were song. As Bruce Tehan, Head Librarian at Arnett said, “These kind and...
read moreRosewood Club Award
This Monday evening, December 7, Susan Morehouse was one of three citizens chosen to be honored with a Distinguished Service Award at the 65th Annual Rochester Police Department Rosewood Club Dinner for her ongoing work in our neighborhood and broader community. According to the event program, the award is “presented annually to members of our community who have made significant contributions in the area of public safety. Tonight’s recipients have dedicated themselves to improving our community and making it a safer place to...
read moreOur Tree is Up!
Thanks to the generous donation from Don and Connie at The 1792 Filigree Inn of a wonderful tree for our Bird & Butterfly garden and a dedicated group of friends and neighbors, our 2015 Christmas Tree is up and illuminated! Decorating time If you can spare some time this coming Thursday morning, December 10, from 9 to 1 we’ll be hosting hundreds of kids from School #29 who will be walking to the garden park with their teachers and carrying the ornaments they’ve made in their art classes to decorate the tree. After each class...
read moreHanukkah 2015
Jesus at the temple Now it was winter, and the Feast of Dedication was taking place at Jerusalem. And Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s porch. Then the Jews encircled Him and said to Him, “How long are You going to hold us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” (John 10.22-24) Calendar: Hanukkah 2015 will be celebrated from December 6 through December 14. Click here to find out more about Hanukkah and how it is celebrated. Then get out your menorah and dreidel, light the candles day by day, prepare...
read morePoverty in Rochester
Rochester remains fifth poorest city in U.S. An analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released Thursday for the most recent five-year period shows that the City of Rochester’s poverty rate continues to rise. Data from the new American Community Survey for the years 2010 through 2014 shows: Rochester’s overall poverty rate increased slightly from 32.9 percent to 33.8 percent. Rochester’s child poverty rate increased markedly, from 50.1 percent to 52.5 percent. The city’s rate of extreme poverty (below half the federal poverty line) grew slightly...
read moreA “safe place”?
This is Not a Day Care. It’s a University! Dr. Everett Piper, President, Oklahoma Wesleyan University This past week, I actually had a student come forward after a university chapel service and complain because he felt “victimized” by a sermon on the topic of 1 Corinthians 13. It appears that this young scholar felt offended because a homily on love made him feel bad for not showing love. In his mind, the speaker was wrong for making him, and his peers, feel uncomfortable. I’m not making this up. Our culture has actually taught our kids to be...
read moreDiversity in action
Emily E. Smith is a fifth-grade social justice and English language arts teacher at Cunningham Elementary School in Austin, Tex. She was just awarded the 2015 Donald H. Graves Excellence in the Teaching of Writing award given at the National Teachers of English Language Arts Convention in Minneapolis. Smith created and founded The Hive Society, a classroom that inspires children to creatively explore literature through critical thinking and socially relevant texts. In her speech accepting the award, Smith talked about a seminal moment in her...
read moreThe Leaves are Raked!
It’s been a late fall with heavy leaves, acorns, and walnuts on the ground, surrounded by branches and large “twigs” blown down by the wind. Our main parking lot, back yard, courtyard, and side parking lot have been full, but now they’re empty, thanks to good brothers helping! Earlier this week Harry used a leaf blower to clear and bag about 6 large rubbish bags of leaves from the main parking lot, and today a crew from the youth group at Joy Community Church came over and completed the job on both sides of the...
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