By Mike Givler | Presbyterians Today
Jeff Jolly performs in front of technical crew Thomas Loyd (filming) and Seth Finch (in back) for Santa Fe Presbyteryâs online worship video. Courtesy of Santa Fe Presbytery
Upon this rock I will build my church. Thatâs the first reference to âchurchâ in the Bible, when Jesus declared this in Matthew 16. Itâs been a year since congregations have had to rebuild or reinvent church on a new ârock,â as the coronavirus pandemic that forced them in March 2020 to shut sanctuary doors led to new avenues for online or outdoor worship, all in an effort to keep parishioners at home and healthy. While this has been an anxious and stressful time, it also has been a fruitful one â paving the way for new partnerships among ministers and congregations who, being Presbyterian, have always heard of the value of being a âconnectionalâ church, but never fully embraced it.
Tuscaloosa residents donate items for victims of Texas snow storm
Tuscaloosa helping Texas ice storm victims By Kelvin Reynolds | February 24, 2021 at 6:10 PM CST - Updated February 24 at 7:27 PM
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) - Donations piled up quickly Tuesday in the parking lot of Tuscaloosa’s Grace Presbyterian Church.
Volunteers like Maggie Yancy moved just as fast to organize them. “We’re so overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. We had folks that came with loads of boxes. Our trailer is packed,” Yancy said.
Tuscaloosa Action, a group that gets behind worthy causes, wanted help people doing without in Texas after the severe winter weather. After contacting shelters in Texas, the group asked folks to donate canned goods, non-perishable items, PPE, personal hygiene items and water. Yancy, who is from Texas, feels people in Tuscaloosa have a desire to help others who may be struggling in times of disaster.
A group of Tuscaloosa area residents came together this week to collect donations that will help families in Texas affected by a devastating winter storm.
Darrin Griffin, the catalyst behind the collection of donated items, is a former Texan with family members who live in the Lone Star state. He was going home to help his family with recovery efforts, but he said he learned that they had what they needed. He decided to refocus his efforts to help others less fortunate than his family.
“I was planning to go to Austin to help my family, and when I realized they found aid, I then thought, I have a truck and trailer, maybe we can quickly fill it with donated supplies,” Griffin said.
Backroads: Real Christmas trees could make a positive impact on tough year kdhnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kdhnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Staff Writer
T-L File Photo/SHELLEY HANSON
TINA KOLLER, owner of Tina’s Sweet Celebrations in Martins Ferry, stands beside the grab-and-go station in her shop that features lunch items.
MARTINS FERRY Those looking for sweet treats to give as gifts this holiday season or to simply garnish their own dinner table at Christmastime may want to check out Tina’s Sweet Celebrations in Martins Ferry.
“We offer many different cookie trays, sweet treat bouquets and cookie baskets, Christmas doughnuts, cakes, cupcakes and cheesecakes,” owner Tina Koller said.
Koller has been a baker for more than 25 years. She also specializes in wedding and all-occasion cakes.