CEMETERY CLEAN-UPS
Spring has arrived and it's time to clean up yards and also the local cemeteries. Decorations should be removed from the cemetery plots. There are some beautiful decorations adorning grave sites and if you intend to keep and possibly reuse those items then you need to retrieve those decorations before the caretakers do.
Romola Cemetery Association along Marsh Creek Road asks that lot clean-up be done before March 21. An annual meeting of the association will be held at 7 p.m. on March 26 for all members and lot owners. Cemetery workers will be removing items for garbage pickup after March 21. Call Ron at 625-2116 with any Romola Cemetery Association questions.
Jacksonville Cemetery Association asks that lot clean-up be completed by March 24. Cemetery workers and any interested volunteers should meet at 9 a.m. on March 26 (weather permitting) at the cemetery grounds to begin with clean-up. Call Joyce at 625-2278 with any Jacksonville Cemetery Association questions.
MUSEUM
MEETING
The annual election of officers and museum meeting of the Beech Creek and Marsh Creek Heritage Museum will be held at 7 p.m. on March 22. All officers, members and anyone desiring to learn more about the museum are invited to attend.
Lynn is excited about the participation at the museum over the last few months. Morgan and her dad have plans to finish up on the work to enlarge a closet to make an office out of it. A fall open house is being planned to celebrate all of the work that Morgan has done at the museum for her senior class project.
The museum is hoping to either buy or get a photocopier donated soon so that newsletters and flyers announcing the upcoming events can be printed up and handed or mailed out. If you would like to be on the newsletter mailing list please call Lynn at 962-2045 to get your name added. A donation to cover the cost of mailing postage would be appreciated.
Volunteers are needed at the museum during the openings on the first Sunday afternoon of each month from 1-3 p.m. and at other times during the month. There are a lot of items to arrange (and keep the dust off of) so if you're looking for something to do then the volunteering at the museum is just for you!
Membership dues are now being taken. The new membership year begins each January. Dues are just $10 for a person and if you'd be interested in a life-time membership the cost is $100. Your contributions are tax deductible and receipts can be furnished upon request.
Fund raising plans are being worked on to possibly have picture postcards made up to sell. There are still a few of the Beech Creek truck replica license plates left for sale yet. These are sure to be a collector's item and sell for only $15 each.
BOOK SALE
The used book sale at Howard United Methodist Church will conclude at noon tomorrow. Bring the children out to the "Dr. Seuss Cafe" and enjoy brunch and shopping for books from 9 a.m.-noon. Proceeds from the book sale will be used for a clean water project in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
MARCH
MISSIONARIES
The March missions focus at Marsh Creek BIC Church is on missionaries who are serving among the Navajo nation. The following are missionary couples that the church congregation will be praying for during March and throughout the year. Last names of the couples have not been mentioned to protect their identity and for their safety concerns.
We were excited and pleased to have Brian and Rochelle and their children with us for the Sunday school service on March 4. The family is on furlough visiting their family, friends and churches that have provided prayerful and financial support to them. Brian and Rochelle both grew up in Pennsylvania and met at a church Bible quiz event. They married in 1994 and are parents to Noah, Lydia, Elijah, Mercy and Sara.
The missionary couple shared with the congregation some of the dangers of living among the Navajo people. Those dangers include street gang violence, domestic and sexual abuse, drug and alcohol addiction and even snakes, black widow spiders and tarantulas. There is a serious battle among the Navajo people with gambling, depression and suicide, excessive drug and alcohol use and criminal activities that often leads to premature deaths. The life expectancy for a male is just 41 years of age and 43 years for females. Children are often born suffering the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome, broken family relationships and many innocent children are often forced "to grow up too soon" when they are subjected to molestation and other violent, life-threatening situations.
Brian and Rochelle shared photos of the landscapes, their home, church, their Navajo friends and also their missionary coworkers. Ben and Eunice are a missionary couple who have been ministering to the Navajo people for more than 40 years. Our congregation was formally introduced to this couple a few years ago when they were on furlough and visiting in Pennsylvania.
Jason and Rebekah have only been serving among the Navajo nation for a few years. They have three young children and are expecting their fourth child in May. We hope they will also be able to visit Marsh Creek when they are able to.
When I think of missionary couples who live among the Navajo people, the first couple that pops into my mind is Denny and Marie. Many of us have known them for a lot of years. I can't remember a time not knowing who this couple was and about their mission work. Denny grew up close by and has siblings, nieces, nephews and a big extended family in the Howard area. Marie's family lived in Fetzertown near Yarnell so she also has a number of relatives in the area.
The couple started a mission and school in 1974 and the Lord has always provided for their needs. They are able to collect food, clothing and personal hygiene items each year in the fall with the help of their Pennsylvania family members who then transport everything by tractor-trailer trucks to the mission so Denny and Marie can give out gifts to their Navajo "brothers and sisters" at Christmastime.
Denny and Marie were able to return to the Howard area last fall to renew their marriage vows and to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with their family and friends. We look forward to seeing and hearing from them again soon.
SOUP &
CRAFT SALE
Zion Community Church near Bellefonte will be holding a soup, baked goods and craft sale at 9 a.m. on March 24 at the church. All proceeds from the sale will go to help two local children and their families. Tessa is an infant with brittle bone disease and Tiarra is a 6-year-old that has a brain tumor.
Donations of baked goods and craft items are being accepted to ensure an abundance of food and a nice selection or crafts to provide financial help to these two families. Please call the church office at 383-4161 if you would like to learn more about this benefit event.
CHURCH
DINNER
Liberty Baptist Church in Blanchard will be holding an Irish corned beef and cabbage dinner on March 17 from 4-7 p.m. Dinner includes corned beef and cabbage with potatoes, bread, applesauce, desserts and beverages. A free will donation for the meal will be accepted. Take-outs are available.
There are some Easter eggs for sale that will be available at the dinner, too. This will be your last chance to buy a few of the eggs before they are all gone for this year. The eggs are just $1 each.
The church made a little over 14,000 eggs in just four weeks time for their annual egg sale. I've been asked to give a big "thank you" to all those who showed up on Saturday's to help mix the ingredients and to make and shape the eggs, to all the helpers who came to the church throughout the week to dip the eggs into chocolate and then individually package them for the sale and to all those who took orders, delivered and bought the Easter eggs.
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Howard Happenings is written and compiled by Tammy Coakley who can be reached by email to tammy@ioiofficeinc.com or by telephone to (814) 625-2684.
