Guys in the kitchen!

While I was rolling my Canaan Can down the hallway toward the Pantry this evening I heard a lot of noise coming out of the kitchen.  I propped my can up against the wall and went to look - what do you think I saw?  There were all kinds of handsome guys working in the kitchen!  They were fixing pancakes, sausage, buckwheat pancakes, eggs, pancakes, fried potatoes, pancakes, biscuits and gravy - YUM!  I stuck around to see what was going on and before too long there must have been 100 people in the Family Life Center talking and eating all those pancakes and having a great time.  There were all kinds of tasty crumbs on the floor!  Those guys can take over the kitchen any time they want!

A new friend

When I peeked out from my mouse hole in the Worship Center last Sunday I saw the nicest thing happening!  Pastor Mark was bringing a new friend into membership here at Canaan!  Tammy Holman-Carter officially joined us - WELCOME TAMMY!

Peeps!

What's this I hear about a Peeps invasion in the Worship Center?  Frances loves Peeps - I hope she's going to share some with me, especially the chocolate ones!

So happy!

I am SO HAPPY at all the activity going on around Canaan, even if it does occasionally interrupt my afternoon naps!

The pantry and the kitchen are serving more and more people.  While I wish that so many people didn't need those services, I am so happy that Canaan is able to step up to the plate and provide what people need.

Have you heard Canaan Praise! lately?  They are really rocking for God!  Craig Hinchman has worked wonders with the choir, too.  Isn't he such a cuddly teddy bear?

It was great to have Pastor Mark back in the pulpit on February 1 - I really missed him while he was off getting better.  I hear he plays a mean game of Monopoly - do they teach that in seminary?

What's making you happy at Canaan?  Please leave me some comments!

Did you hear bells ringing?

I heard Pastor Mark say that several of our Canaanites (Jim Bone, Charlie and Linda Snyder, Zach Zinn, Ed Pauley, Noble Connor, Rusty Join, Carr Grubb, Peter and Jonathon Triplet, Terry Stone and Bob Ramsburg all signed up for ringing bells for Heart and Hand Toy Fund this Saturday the 6th of Dec. All wonderful if all those Canaanites were able to spend their
time in service to the Heart and Hand Toy Fund.

-- Grace

So Much Activity, So Many Kind Acts

My head is still spinning from all the activities I've seen throughout Canaan in the last week. I hardly know where to start. The Christmas elves James, Cheryl, Bruce, Carr, Rusty, Freda and Phyllis worked deligently to prepare Canaan for the Advent season. The sanctuary looks beautiful! I heard Janet in the office say that Ed and Margie returned home safely from visiting friends and family for Thanksgiving holiday. I sure missed hearing them in the praise band Sunday. Did you see Phyllis holding an umbrella so that people could get into the church during that cold rain Sunday. Phyllis is such a joy! You can certainly tell that hospitality is one of her many gifts. And speaking of gifts.. I was thrilled to see Criag's mother, Martha playing her flute with the choir, it sounded wonderful. It has been a real blessing to see so many of Craig's family support Craig in his ministry at Canaan. And our own Mollie Means is playing the lead role in Mary this year! We're so proud of her accomplishments. I wonder if I dare sneak out, I'd love to see her performance, I found some pictures and it certainly looks exciting. Also exciting was to see so many of our neighbors coming out to join in the Community Dinner of Thanksgiving last weekend. Let see, Dorothy and Carol decorated the tables beautifully. I saw Mr. and Mrs. Hall, Terry and Ann, Tammy, Helen and Jim peeling and cutting potatoes, Connie and James worked hard making sure everyone had plenty to drink, Lindsey, Jeremi and Jasmine (on the eve of her 14th birthday) served up all those desserts. Ilene, Gail, Carr, Suzanne, Reba and so many others worked tirelessly to make the evening a success. I hope nobody saw me, I tried to stay as quite as possible. It was a blessing to see so many people working together for the common good. Sorta of like what heaven all be like.

Remember to love one another

-- Grace

Giving Thanks!

So much activity! I have seen several turkeys, hams, butter, coffee and all kinds of other foods and needed items coming in for this Sunday's Community Dinner of Thanksgiving. I heard that Dorothy King is going to decorate the tables (she certainly does have a gift!) and Mr. and Mrs Hall and Terry and Ann are going to peel 200 lbs. of potatoes! Such dedication. It really is a blessing to see the generosity of Canaanites and friends like Valerie, Marian, Dora, Bob, Ed, Leslie, Jeremy, Margie and countless others. I can't wait to watch all the activity and see our neighbors gather together for a meal! I wonder if they'll leave a plate for me?

During this busy time, don't forget to stop and give thanks for the blessings in your life and for those around you. I certainly give thanks for being a little mouse at Canaan and watching the word of God come alive in the ministries and the people Canaan touches.

Be good to each other,

-- Grace

Welcome Craig!

Well, after hearing so much about him, I finally got to see the new Director of Music for Canaan UMC. His name is Craig Hinchman, and he's adorable! And so, so talented! I understand from all the buzz that Craig graduated from Capital High School in 2006. He played trumpet, and was a member of the All-County Band, All-State Band, and earned about every musical honor possible while there. How wonderful! He apprenticed on the organ under David Donathan, Christ Church United Methodist's organist extraordinaire. Craig is now a junior at Marshall University, majoring in organ performance and a member of the Marching Thunder. Craig began his tenure here at Canaan on Sunday, October 26. Craig also brought his own musicians -- his mom Martha and friend Shannon sang with the Canaan Chancel Choir, and Shannon has joined Canaan Praise! It sure is nice to see the continued growth throughout Canaan.

--Grace

Star of the Show

Our little Kavona was the star of the show Saturday! Rev. Tom Clark found her an orange Pumpkin Harvest Festival volunteer shirt (so what if it was a little big!) and she had a ball greeting everyone and praising God with the praise singers.

On the Road Again!

It wasn't quite as exotic as the beach, but I had a wonderful trip to Beckley on Saturday, October 4 to work with seven of Canaan's Volunteers in Mission at the Burlington Child Services Center. I need my beauty sleep, but it was worth it to get up on Saturday morning to leave the church at 8:00 in the "MargieMobile" with Ed, Reva, Connie, Kavona and Margie to head south on the Turnpike. (Pastor Mark and Terry drove down in Terry's car.) We stopped for a wonderfully unhealthy breakfast at Tudor's in Marmet and then hit the road! When we got to Beckley we were immediately put to work at the food table selling yummy hot dogs, barbecues and all kinds of baked goods. Ed earned his title as the "Popcorn King"! There was a lot of money earned for the Center and we got to visit with some friends from Russia, too!

Another Picture of My Adventure

Grace's Big Adventure!

Many of my dear dear friends had wondered why I had not posted for a couple of weeks last month. Well, the truth to told I was able to stowaway with Pastor Mark and his wonderful wife Tara when they went on their cruise! Can you imagine this humble little church mouse from the West Side of Charleston on a cruise to the Caribbean Islands? God is good! And I had a wonderful time. There were so many nice people, from so many different places. Well, I have to get back, the office will be open soon. Oh! I almost forgot! I was so excited to see JC and Molly join the praise band! Such an awesome addition! I hope Molly can keep Carr's feet on the ground (he does like to dance, doesn't he!). I'm posting one of the pictures from my "adventure" I'll post more later.

And please, be good to each other.

--Grace

Brenna's Great Adventure

I've heard several people talking recently about updates from Brenna Wright on her bold and courageous move to Oregon to follow a calling given by God. Talk about faith!

I'll bet she feels like Abraham when he left Ur (see Genesis 12forthe whole story). Like Brenna, he had never been to the land God called him to, didn't know how to get there, and didn't know where he was going to live. Brenna has finally found an apartment in Beaverton, about 20 minutes from Portland. I understand that the lady who lived there moved to Indonesia and left Brenna all her furniture! Also, her schedule at Pacific University is filling up with private students as well as the accompanist position for which she was originally hired. She will also be accompanying a choir at an Episcopal church on Thursday evenings. Brenna is learning her way around the city, and the people there have been very nice, but she still misses all of us (even a mouse!). She has promised to keep us updated as she continues to settle into her new life.

Don't forget to get Brenna in prayer as she continues on her journey.

-- Grace

J.C. on the drums

What a wonderful surprise this morning to see Molly's friend J.C. on the conga drums in the Worship Center this morning! He really added some pizazz to the Praise Team. I hope he brings his full drum kit next week so I can really groove with Carr!

Schoenbaum Stars

I took a little trip Saturday down to the Schoenbaum Center and what do you think I saw? Frances, Connie and Reva were there at the community fair telling people all about Canaan! They had a very pretty poster and were passing out flyers, business cards, pens and lots of trail mix to tell people all about the Canaan Journey. You just never know where Canaanites are going to pop up!

Catching Up!

With all the activities going on at Canaan I didn't want to miss the opportunity to share. Lauren Bone gave so much of her time n the office in August. She set up files, cataloged Mark's library, ran copies, and cheerfully did anything she was asked to do. A good example of our college-aged kids. Dick Blankinship and Brenda Rucker are giving up their precious time to volunteer in the Canaan Food Pantry, helping out Dora and Stan Hundley and Freda Ray. Did you see how many people stood to "sponsor" Connie Crouch, Reba Butler, Kim Bradley and James Stull on Sunday? These good, kind, loving and decent people have won a place in the hearts of the people of our church and have been welcomed home to Canaan. It's easy to tell that Carr Grubb loves singing with Canaan Praise! He smiles and sways and even does his "rap dance." It's fun to watch him and it it makes me smile to see people having so much fun praising God. I heard that Pastor Mark and Tara are taking a much deserved vacation. I'm sure going to miss them, but we all need time to recharge our batteries and rest. I wonder if I can stow away? No, I don't want to miss anything here. -- Grace

So Much Activity!

I thought for sure that with the week drawing to a close the church would be quite. But wouldn't you know Canaan UMC was a busy as ever! I saw the praise band (Brenna, Ed, Carr, and Margie) making glorious music. I also saw Denise Joins. Some of the ladies from Simpson were also in to pick up food for their Mission Meal friday. I would sure like to stow away one afternoon and see what going on. Just as I was going in for dinner I saw Zack working on the light pole out front of the church. I overheard Janet say that Pastor Mark finally got some rest. Thank goodness, we all work better when we've had an opportunity to rest. I have to run, I think I hear someone in the hall........ -Grace

Mighty Kitchen Movers

Who was that I heard bringing kitchen things over from Bigley Avenue to Canaan Kitchen? I hear that Frances, Tammy and James have spent the last four evenings packing and toting cooking utensils, pots, pans and dishes into Lee's truck and unloading them at Maryland Avenue. That's a lot more work than I want to do!

Trustees on the move!

Wow! Isn't that Chris Parsley something else? He met with his Trustee team last Thursday evening and they were there till almost 10:00 taking care of Canaan business. What a dedicated bunch of people (even if they did keep me up beyond my bedtime!).

Canaan Was Really Busy This Weekend.....

Wouldn't you know it, shortly after I got up saturday morning I heard movement throughout the church! I quietly looked in the music room and there I found Brenna (our talented music director), Margie Price, Carr Grubb, Sue Carper, as well as Denise, Kylie and Shannon Joins organizing the music. Maybe now I will be able to find the sheet music for that wonderful hymn that I've been humming the last few days! I also saw Zack Zinn moving refrigerators and freezers around that came over from the Bigley Avenue campus. That Zack sure works hard!! Don't forget to post if YOU see someone do something around Canaan and around the community! There were ten folks from Canaan that went out for the "Hit the Road" event last week to tell the Canaan story! I waited to make some everyone got in okay, it sure was warm that night. I heard something about another "Hit the Road" event coming up soon, so I need to check the Canaan calendar and get the date and time. --Grace