Hilltop Kids Enjoy Church Camps

With help from FUMC Hilltop Ministry, 8 kids received scholarships to attend church camp this summer. Middle school  students camped at Indicoso in Springville, IN, and elementary students stayed at Camp Lakewood in Wolcottville, IN.  Adult members of Breakfast Club transported camper to and from camp.

Mulch and Sand Project at Hilltop Neighborhood House

FUMC, through Hilltop Ministry, purchased and helped spread playground-grade mulch and sand at Hilltop Neighborhood House, summer 2013.

Breakfast Club Trip to RailCats Game Summer 2013

Breakfast Club Baseball Bash at RailCats Stadium on August 2, 2013

Families, friends, food, fun, fellowship!!!!

Hilltop Community Garden at Will Park

The youth from Walt's Place planted and maintained a garden spot at Will Park for the last two summers as a community service project.  FUMC volunteers helped with preparing the soil for planting.  Porter County Master Gardeners helped with funds for plants, and the Valpo Parks Dept. allowed us use of the space.                                            

                            

Hilltop Ministry Update July, 2013

                                                   Hilltop Ministry Update for 2013                                                            July, 2013

Mission: Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Dedicated To doing all the good we can, by all the means we can, for all the people we can, for however long we can.  (Wesley)  through:                                                                                                                                                          *our commitment to the Hilltop Neighborhood                                                                                        *expanding relationships with our Hilltop neighbors                                                                              *inspiring our church family in service

Since January members of our church family have been busy in the Hilltop neighborhood.

*Ongoing volunteering in classrooms at Hilltop Neighborhood House (HTNH) – childcare, as a greeter, reader of stories, leading the children in song, rocking babies, and generally helping as needed with the children.

*Donations to and helping at the Hilltop Food Pantry.

*UMW and others provided desserts, attended the event and helped the night of the HTNH Soups fundraiser.

*Hilltop Missions group participated and helped in organizing the Kids Against Hunger event.

*Donated funds to HTNH for purchasing of shelving for interests centers for the classrooms.

*Donated funds to HTNH for purchasing of playground grade mulch and helped spread it.

*Member taught an Adult Beginners Computer Class (8 classes) at Walt’s Place.

*Member tilled ground for a community garden at Will Park. Walt’s Place kids planted and are watering the garden.

*Two graduated Nexus participants have used their Nexus funds for laptop computers.

*Breakfast Club continued through the end of school.  (Monday mornings at 7 am for students attending Central Elementary School - providing them with breakfast and transportation to school, Bible stories and projects of caring, helping others, and interaction by caring adults.)

*Trip to a RailCats game – Breakfast Club members, their families, and Breakfast Club volunteers.

*Summer -Tuesdays in the Park – volunteers playing with any Breakfast Club kids or other youth that want to play at Will Park.

*Helped eight kids get signed up for camp; provided scholarships, transportation to and from their camps; emails and letters of support to them while at camp.

*Individuals being present in the community to talk with families, help, care, encourage, love.

*Members serve as a Board member for HTNH and as a staff member at Walt’s Place.

*Members are helping build a Habitat for Humanity duplex for two families in the Hilltop area.                                                                     

Respectfully Submitted by Sue Clemens and Debbie Fray

Adult Beginning Computer Class at Walt's Place

 

                  Eric Wilcox helping a student in the Computer Class he
is instructing this winter, 2013, for adult beginners.  The class is Wednesdays, 6:00 - 7:30 pm, at Walt's Place, 554 South Locust Street in the Computer Lab.

Desserts at Soups Event - Thanks UMW & Others

FUMC Women's Circle Groups (UMW) and other members- men and women volunteered to make desserts for the Hilltop Soups Fundraiser in February, 2013.  Look how beautiful and plentiful they were!  View at your own risk...will definitely make your mouth water :)


               Look at those beautiful pies!!!!!!!!!

 

                                                          

Brownies and cakes and cookies and pies and cupcakes and ....OH MY!!!!!!

   So many choices!!!!!!!

 

                          Thank you One and All!!!!!!!!!

Insights from some of those who serve

                
Carol Stoner - our fearless leader - before eating breakfast a different child lights the Christ candle each week, tells us why we light the candle, and says grace.
Bob & Carol have served since the inception of Breakfast Club.

I never viewed ministry in Hilltop (Breakfast Club) as "volunteering." Volunteering to me is 'doing something you don't have to do.' When my husband and I began walking the Hilltop neighborhood with our (then) two beagles over a decade ago, I would silently pray as we started out "take my eyes and see with them; take my ears and hear with them; and take my heart and set it on fire." How were we to be authentic in this neighborhood? How would we offer ourselves to this neighborhood and to God in ways that would be a blessing to the neighborhood and to God?
Evening after evening, we walked through the neighborhood. One spring evening, a little girl being raised by her grandma came out of their apartment, recognizing us from previous walks. As we were talking to her diminutive grandmother (Vonnie, short for Yvonne, and was Yvonne ever short--all of about 4' 9"), Jasper whispered something to Vonnie and sprinted back into their apartment. She emerged, interrupting adult banter, by holding up a package of candles, saying over and over, "pick one, pick one!!" The candles had been purchased earlier that day to adorn Jasper's birthday cake, and she wanted me to choose one from the several. I relented and picked out a yellow candle and held onto it as we finished up our small talk. Before going on our way, I tried to give the yellow birthday candle back to Jasper. She would have nothing of it. Something to the effect of "You keep the light," she said. Well, it's a moment you really can't explain, but in a moment of poignant clarity, I knew that I couldn't 'keep the light."
That summer we began a story hour in the park with anywhere from 8-18 kids present (including Jasper) each of 8 weeks. We 'drummed up' participants with a raucous parade through the neighborhood complete with loud circus music, clown/Reverend Laura Kirkpatrick, balloons, and ice cream sandwiches. We passed out story hour information sheets and permission slips. I tagged each participant's door the day before each story hour with a "Cow Story Hour" reminder. We picked up several kiddos each time (including Jasper), taking them both to and from story hour. We developed relationships with kids and their families and were decidedly and unabashedly about 'sharing the light'….including reading a book each week from the series of "Cow" books by Todd Smith (each with a 'Christian' theme). From there, Breakfast Club was born and many other neighborhood initiatives developed.
One of Bob's and my favorite movies is a spoof set in the Cold War era called "A Blast from the Past." Long story short, a young man (Brenden Frazier) spends the first 30 or so years of his life raised by two conservative parents in an underground backyard bomb shelter. Never having seen the light of day, he finally emerges from the bomb shelter into a world totally unlike the one his parents fashioned for him in their sheltered existence. Brenden's father (played by Christopher Walken) during their stint underground had tried to explain the game of baseball to his son, but his son just couldn't grasp the game. "But why do players run from first base to second base?" he asked his dad. Never having had the ability to play himself or see the game played, Frazier just couldn't fathom the game as his father described it.  Finally out of the bomb shelter, Frazier happens upon a kids' baseball game. He was mesmerized and had the definitive "ah-ha!" moment. Until he actually experienced and saw a baseball game, he couldn't fathom the game of baseball, but SEEING the game being played, Walken blurts out exuberantly, "I GET it!! He runs to second base from first base because he must!!"
Bob and I have had the very good fortune to meet many children, families, and neighbors along our journey into lives (both in Hilltop and Africa) we hadn't experienced or particularly understood before. It's never been about volunteering. It's been about seeking God, developing relationships, loving our neighbors.
The "ah-ha" moment has happened for us over and over, here and abroad; and because in the experience of loving our neighbors we have glimpsed the living God at work in others and our lives, we have fashioned our lives differently….because we simply MUST! ~Carol & Bob Stoner

Barb Punter telling a story of God's love during
                                                                                                         Valentine's Week.

                                                                         Cleo and Larry are serving at Breakfast Club.   Cleo helps with breakfast preparation and getting to know the kids better.   Larry has driven the bus, helped set up, and interacted with the kids.  They also help by driving kids to camp in the summer. 

We have been involved with Breakfast Club for 10 years and have found the experiece to be very satisfying. To see the kids grow in the Word thru prayer and Bible stories and the impact it has on their lives is very rewarding. In addition, the group tries to instill concern for others, better manners and develop friendships.   ~Cleo Smith~

 

                                               Shelly Gold - head chef on Monday Mornings at Breakfast Club.
     I began working with Breakfast Club in 2011 and have been blessed by the generosity and spirit of adults sharing their lives with elementary children.  The gospel and the lessons of Jesus are shared in story, crafts, and food with enthusiasm.
     It is bonding and teaching time for the kids as they begin their week each Monday.
     It is a delight to have children share and pray together and form some relationships that can support them in the years and challenges that lie ahead. ~Shelly Gold~

                                               Norma Wallace -works preparing breakfast for Hilltop Kids attending
                                         Breakfast Club.

                                             Eric Wilcox is teaching an Adult Beginners Computer Class at Walt's
                                         Place, 554 South Locust Street, on Wednesday evenings this winter.





                                             Winfred Bowen volunteers in the nursery at Hilltop Neighborhood     
                                         House, 460 South College Avenue.

 

      I have volunteered at Hilltop for over five years.  I started in the infant room when my grandson, JJ, was a baby.  I followed him to the one year room and to the three year room.  I just recently came back and i am in the baby room again.  I am so lucky!  I get to hol and sing to the babies.  The children are our future and if I canmake a difference in their life by showing concern and love I will be blessed.  I love Hilltop Neighborhood House.  They are doing a wonderful job in nurturing our young ones.  May the Lord always shine down on this place.  I am so blessed to be a part of  it.            ~Winfred Bowen~                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                              Bob Punter drives the church van or bus to pick up kids before Breakfast Club and after to take them to Central School.  Inbetween he helps set up tables, set them plates..., and play with the Clubbers.

                                              Eldon Versteeg also drives the church bus, sets up the room,    
                                         and interacts with the kids.   Marlene also volunteers at Breakfast Club!

                                             Mike Strayer helps set up for Breakfast Club in the basement at the
                                         Reiner Center on South College Avenue.  He interacts with the kids and
                                         helps all around. 
   Paying forward and receiving a ten fold return.  A rewarding experience to be a volunteer and to see the Breakfast Clubbers experience the Love of Jesus.  ~Mike Strayer~

There are many more members helping in the Hilltop area at this time!  More pictures and comments to come in the future.      Picture your picture below sharing your special gifts and being the hands and feet, voice and ears of God!!!  Talk it over with God.

One Time Hilltop Opportunity

Hilltop Neighborhood House is hosting its 

Heartwarming Soups & Hometown 

       Entertainment Event       

     It is their 14th Annual Soups Fundraiser!

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013    4 PM TO 7:15 PM 
 at CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH (across from Valpo High School, access through Door #14) (new venue)

YOU can help in several ways:
*BUY a ticket and come and enjoy great soups, desserts, & hometown entertainment.  
  (Adults $25, Children 12 & under $10)
  Tickets available at Hilltop Neighborhood House, 460 South College Avenue, Valpo
  Call 219-477-4222 ext. 247 for more information.  www.hilltophouse.org

*PROVIDE a dessert or cornbread muffins for the event. (Call Sue 628-2998 or Debbie 242-1692
  to let us know you will be donating a dessert or cornbread.  Items may be left in the FUMC 
  kitchen by noon on Feb. 12th.  Mark with Hilltop House. Nothing needing refrigeration please.)

All proceeds go toward Hilltop's childcare scholarships!
Hilltop awarded more than $215,000 in scholarships alone in 2012, allowing 65% of our enrolled children access to affordable, quality childcare!
                    Soups provided by 19 local restaurants!

Breakfast Club Caroling Pictures

 

Breakfast Club Kids, Parents, and FUMC Volunteers enjoyed pizza and desserts after the
caroling.