Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ | Chesterfield, MO » News & Announcements

You can help – Haiti Earthquake Relief

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:39:10 +0000

The United Church of Christ responded immediately to the catastrophic January 12 earthquake in Haiti.

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) money and resources are already on the way. The United Church of Christ is sending disaster relief gifts to assist with the widespread needs in Haiti.

These resources are available because of our church’s annual One Great Hour of Sharing Offering Appeal. Thanks be to God that these resources are already in place!

More will surely be needed.

In addition to what is already being sent to Haiti, your SPECIAL GIFT is needed now.

Visit the UCC Disaster web site and click on the red DONATE box.

Or mail your gift to:

“OGHS – Haiti Earthquake Relief”
Wider Church Ministries
United Church of Christ
700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115

Please designate gifts in the memo portion :
“OGHS – Haiti Earthquake Relief”

Thank you for your generosity and for keeping the victims of this disaster in your prayers.

Ivy brightens Christmas for area families

Rich — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:00:08 +0000

A big thank you to all of the member of Ivy Chapel who gave gifts, money and grocery bags that were given to Joint Neighborhood Ministry for the annual “Adopt a Family” program. This year, our congregation adopted five families, a total of nineteen people. On Sunday, December 13, we loaded three vans packed with gifts and groceries – including four bikes and a tricycle.

The pink grocery bag fundraisers also netted a check to JNM for $81.

The mitten tree — an Ivy tradition — overflowed this year with mittens, hats and scarves, which were divided between JNM and Circle of Concern. Both of these organizations said how much these items were needed, especially this year.

Your generosity made Christmas brighter for many families in our area! Thank you!

Christmas resources from the UCC

Rich — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:35:56 +0000

Advent is an exciting season in the church as we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Christ. The United Church of Christ has a a variety resources to help you and your family experience the true spirit of the season.

• Free Advent Guide

• Christmas Kit

Follow this link for an even wider variety of Advent resources.

Starting November 28 and extending throughout Advent, visit the UCC’s Feed Your Spirit page, filled with reflections on the season and a virtual prayer chapel.

Undie Sunday brings warmth & comfort

Rich — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:44:02 +0000

Ivy Chapel’s Ark Youth Group (7th & 8th Graders) called upon the congregation for help… and we responded! The youth collected 291 pairs of underwear, 19 pairs of socks and six baby t-shirts for our annual Undie Sunday. The items will be donated to Joint Neighborhood Ministry, who will pass them along to children in need. Thank you to all who reached out to help.

HarvestFest 2009 raises over $10,000!

Rich — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:39:50 +0000

Breaking news from HarvestFest Chair Debbie Washburn: The results have been tallied and HarvestFest 2009 at Ivy Chapel was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who donated their time to make it a fun evening… to everyone who donated items for the auctions… and of course to everyone who came to the event and gave so generously to support Circle of Concern and Joint Neighborhood Ministry. We had a great turnout, and the bidding was busy. Please send any suggestions for the next HF (in 2011) to Deb Washburn.

After expenses… HarvestFest brought in $10,277.49. A portion of the proceeds will go to Joint Neighborhood Ministry and Circle of Concern, and the rest will support Ivy Chapel’s ongoing programs.We ask that you please patronize the following businesses that so kindly sponsored and supported Ivy Chapel’s HarvestFest 2009:

Ace Hardware – Maryland Heights

Paul Manno’s

Balducci’s Restaurant

Precision Cut

Cheesecake Factory – Chesterfield Mall

Salon Blanca

The Club at Chesterfield

Schnuck’s

Country Club Car Wash

Seasons St Louis

Creve Coeur Camera

St. Louis Cardinals

Discovery Channel School

St. Louis Rams

Drury Inns

Su Ellen’s

Edward Jones YMCA

Custom Entertainment Installation

Essential Fitness

Tami’s Trousseau

Four Seasons Barber Shop

Ted Drewes

Four Seasons Country Club

Imagine Hair Salon

Garden Walk Massage

Whipt Cream

Genovese Jewelers

Wildhorse Creek Grill

Gourmet Food Work Deli & More

Woods Mill Tennis Club

Graff Shoe Repair

Coldwell Banker/Gundaker – Chesterfield

Granite City Food and Brewery

Wines of Wildwood

Growler’s Pub

Garden Walk Massage

Gulf Shores Restaurant

McArthur’s Bakery

Gus’ Pretzels

Brunswick Bowling

Houlihan’s

Porter Paint

Imo’s Pizza

Baskin Farm

Jazzercise

Midwest Martial Arts Academy

Kirlins’ Hallmark

Jalen Hair Salon

Kreis Restaurant

Mad About You Hair Salon

Maggiano’s

Mimi’s Cafe

Morgan LeFay’s

Nail Studio

Napoleon’s Retreat B & B

The Olive Garden

Panera Bread Company

Panera Bread Company – Westport

Paper Warehouse

Paramount Conventions Services

Watch this space for more thank yous and, by request — recipes from the great food served at the event.

Thanks to all who made HarvestFest a success.

Rich — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:26:02 +0000

The results are still being tallied… but indications are HarvestFest 2009 at Ivy Chapel was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who donated their time to make it a fun evening… to everyone who donated items for the auctions… and of course to everyone who came to the event and gave so generously to support Circle of Concern and Joint Neighborhood Ministry. We had a great turnout, and the bidding was busy. Watch this space for updates. And for those who have asked — we’ll also be posting recipes from the most popular HarvestFest foods.

Ivy youth contribute to Festival of Sharing service project

Rich — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:44:19 +0000

Hats off to members of the Ivy Chapel Lambs & Genesis youth groups (and, of course, their parents) who collected almost $200 for the Festival of Sharing Layette Service project. The youth collected money in church, and then went shopping for baby care items. They returned to church and assembled the kits, which will be given to new moms who are having trouble affording the things they need to care for their babies. The groups collected enough money to assemble four full kits and to purchase several extra boxes of diapers, which will be donated to Joint Neighborhood Ministry in St. Louis.

Stay up-to-date with the HarvestFest blog!

Rich — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:48:31 +0000

Stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest developments about HarvestFest! This is our third HarvestFest, and we’re aiming to make it the best ever. We need everyone’s help to make this event a success… so check the blog often for ideas about what you can do to help, and for news updates (including a preview of auction items!).

Visit our new blog page here.

Update from Instituto El Rey

admin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:38:48 +0000

Every year, Ivy Chapel’s members support several students at Instituto El Rey, a Christian high school in Rio Viejo, Honduras that serves the rural poor.

The mission of Instituto El Rey is “to provide an oasis of hope and love in a region plagued by poverty, violence, abuse, superstition and ignorance.” Every student comes from a situation where there would be little chance for high quality education.

Recent events, including political upheaval and an earthquake, have hit close to the school.

Following is an update from Sharon Washburn, the school’s administrator.

On May 28 we experienced a big earthquake off the coast of La Ceiba. It was 7.3 on the Richter scale. For weeks after that we felt many aftershocks. One evening, June 15, the boys and I were startled by a 5.1 around 10:30 pm for the next 90 minutes we felt 5 more shocks between 5.1 and 5.3. I learned how to report our experiences to the US geology survey website. Together we learned more about earthquakes. Then we took our fledgling knowledge, including maps, down the steps to the school and taught our students and teachers. Did you know that on June 10 there were around 200 earthquakes in the world in only one hour? That is amazing. We are appreciating our world.

Then in June Honduras experienced a political earthquake. We continue to wait and pray for the outcome of that earthquake. This we know –God is in control. We, here on the North coast, are doing fine and are very safe. We are not much affected by the marches in Tegucigalpa. Instituto El Rey is still teaching our students. The teachers still come to school. We will have our 3rd quarter exams in two weeks. Our younger students had our first social studies fair June 10 and all participated in our Cultural Afternoon July 20. Our little band has started practicing for the Independence Day parade on Sept. 15. Things are moving along.

Groups have been coming to minister and work at the orphanage up the road and at the clinic across the street from us. We often are the receipients of the talents that they bring which enrich the school.

Oh, by the way, Ester, our principal, was at a meeting which featured as the major topic the local national university. The meeting was opened by the president of CURLA, the university. He said there is a high school in the Cuenca del Cangrejal which is producing excellent students. That when students come from this school they know how to be, study and do well in their classes. He asked if there was a representative from Instituto El Rey present. Ester raised her hand to receive his congratulations. Praise the Lord! So we are not only alive and well, but we are victorious and thriving. For that we are grateful for our students, parents and teachers.

We, also, are thankful for your partnership in educating these precious jewels. You are making a difference in the lives of our students and teachers. Thank you.

About the school

The school was established in 2001, and now serves 170 students in grades 7 through 12. It celebrated its first graduated class in 2006, and to date 61 students have graduated from Instituto El Rey. 60% of graduates are seeking college degrees or professional training. Among the most recent graduates are four students seeking medical degrees, three studying nursing, two pursuing systems engineering, one studying business administration, and one aiming to become a lawyer.

Students at IER come from 15 villages in the mountains south of La Ceiba. Many overcome tremendous obstacles to get their education – some just to get to school every day. Scholarships, family sacrifices and support from friends enable all their schooling. Each student’s family is required to pay a token amount (less than $5 month); the total cost per student is actually around $70 per month. Students who cannot afford the small monthly tuition can work at the school on weekends to earn that amount. A high percentage of students are supported through a sponsorship program administered by a separate foundation.

The faculty includes salaried Honduran teachers, plus American volunteers Earl & Sharon Washburn, who serve as both administrators and teachers. Earl’s brother, Russ, is a member of Ivy Chapel and over the past 7 years dozens of church members, including youth, have gone on mission trips to IER to help with construction and other projects at the school.

Subjects taught at the school include Spanish, English, math (incl. statistics & physics), science (including chemistry & biology), several computer classes including programming & design, social studies, accounting, art, music, P.E. and some practical skills such as carpentry, sewing and gardening (which will help them earn a living if they opt out of further education).

Click here to learn more about Instituto El Rey.

Supporting Joint Neighborhood Ministries & Circle of Concern food pantries

admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 22:45:07 +0000

The current economic downturn has meant that many that families who were previously able to keep up with their bills and feed their families are now finding the only way they can manage is to come to food pantries for help. Ivy is proud to support food pantries in our area, including Join Neighborhood Ministries in the City of St. Louis, and Circle of Concern in West County. We are collecting basic food items, along with monetary donations to help families in crisis with utility payments. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from our Oct. 24 HarvestFest will go to benefit these two organizations.

If you want to help, contact our church office for information at (314) 434-4991 or via e-mail.