Music Corner

On Commitment ...

Most of us have, at one time or another, been part of a sports team, a golf or bowling league, a bridge or civic club. Membership includes regular participation and the expectation that we'll "measure up," in terms of whatever are the goals are of the group. Generally, we're willing to do what's needed in order to continue as viable members.

Knowing that ours is a loving and forgiving God, we sometimes cut ourselves a bit more slack when it comes to group participation in the activities of His house. We, of course, know that He sees what's in our hearts and understands our every move. It will be okay with Him if we aren't available for every practice of the Church "team."

While the attendance every week of each and every individual in certainly not a requirement for participation in a church group, everyone benefits when all can attend. Those who do participate faithfully in their respective church groups find it difficult to enjoy their involvement as fully when everyone is not there. Sometimes it leaves a burden on those remaining; often, it alters the plan for what can be accomplished; frequently, it requires a change in the complexity of what's been planned.

Regular participation in those groups to which we've pledged our involvement is something that becomes easier with practice. Faithful attendance can fulfill socialization needs as well as needs for expressions of creativity. Interestingly, involvement typically inspires us to do more! In many ways, it patterns itself after runners who say they just don't thrive on the days when they don't run.

We know, as parents, grandparents, colleagues, and friends, that commitment is best learned by modeling the behavior of those we love or with whom we have close emotional ties. Children and others around us learn by doing as we do. This gives us yet one more motive for faithful group participation.

Thanks, folks, for listening to something that's near and dear to my heart.

By Caryn Welter, Music Director


Children's Musical--Sunday, November 14
By: Michelle Smith

The children have been hard at work learning lines and new songs for their musical. The musical is called, "The Creation," and is an uplifting musical interpretation of the book of Genesis. Narration, contemporary songs, staging, and costumes tell the story of the creation of the universe as you have never heard it told before!!

We look forward to seeing you support the hard work of all these wonderful children on November 14. What better way to give thanks this season than to support our children's ministry! See you then!


Red Roses ...

To all the people who helped make the return to fall activities successful.

To all those who helped the Evangelism /Nurture Committee and Denise Dunn with the Pictorial Directory

To Pam Jennett for her work in decorating classrooms.

To all those who have been bringing personal care items to the church for distribution at the Thursday Fellowship Luncheon. Keep them coming. God bless you for your thoughtfulness. Margaret Woolcocks

To the Sewing Group for contributing clothing to the Quality Living Program participants' children.

To Win Anderson, Janet Hamilton, and Ed Spink for their continuing efforts to spruce up the library and shelf new books.

To Diane Boley for cleaning out the pre-school classroom.

To Frank Anderson, Dennis Kelley, and Jim Mort for scooping ice cream.


Fellowship Opportunities

Young Adults Group

The next get together will be at Kimber Wilson's house on November 13 at 7:30 pm. All you need to bring are a dish to pass and a smile. Call Kimber at 485-1268 for details.

Central's Collage Group
For all of you who are old enough to remember, the fellowship group known as Central's Collage is planning a revival! The group will assemble at the McCracken's house on November 6 at 6:00 p.m. for a potluck dinner. Please RSVP to Faye McCracken (337-0207). The Central's Collage is a fellowship group generally for the age group between the Boomers and the Central Nighters. Please join in the fun!

CentralNighters Group
CentralNighters will be attending an evening concert for its next meeting on November 7th. (Let's Do It , a Cole Porter Musical at the Grand Ledge Opera House) Dessert will follow at the Lansing home of the Harvey's. For reservations call Pegg Stebbins no later than November 3rd.


Thanks

From Bill Tennant Jr.

Thanks to everyone who participated this past summer with the church softball team. We had a fun and successful season this year, finishing with an 11-7 record, our best regular season record in years. Regular members who participated include Dennis Kelley, Brian Jacquette, Mike Cooper, Toan Nguyen, Linda McCracken, Bill McCracken, Bill Tennant Sr., Susan Grettenberger, Peter Hudy, Dan Schneider, John Boley, and Rob Boley.

Friends and co-workers of some of these members also helped us out this year. Special thanks go out also to Ron Jackson, Britt Bass' brother-in-law, for his help with managing the team.

And most especially to Ed Keen. Ed, our former manager, has a great commitment to the team. He purchases new equipment each year, including the softballs and new bases, transports the equipment to and from each game, gives other players rides. He is the #1 pitcher for the team, and, though struggling with injuries this season, came to every game even when he was not able to play. The softball team is very appreciative of Ed's great commitment, and of the participation of so many of our members. Bill Tennant Jr., Team Manager



Life Journeys

First in a continuing series highlighting "Central's Graduates" from the past decade

Class of 1998

Jack L. Lansing II, son of Jack and Barb Lansing, graduated from Lansing Eastern in 1998. He is a sophomore at CMU, working on a Bachelor's Degree in Business. He is currently playing hockey on a men's league in his spare time. During the summer, he had a job installing the track above the seventh floor for the window washer platform at the new hotel at the Casino in Mt. Pleasant. He loves to travel and spent Christmas in Scandinavia with his sister Amy, and has driven to Colorado, Seattle, and Florida for vacations. He plans on graduating from CMU in 2002.


Class of 1996

Sarah Keen, daughter of Janice and Edward Keen is a graduate of Waverly High in 1996. She is currently senior at Alma College in Alma, MI, majoring in psychology. She is an active member of the women's music fraternity and Psi Chi, the national psychology honor society. The Alma Symphony Orchestra's opening concert of the 1998 season highlighted section leaders as soloists. As first chair cellist, Sarah played the "Concerto in C Major for violoncello and orchestra, Moderato." Sarah is considering graduate school after graduation in April 2000. She has visited several universities to check out their information sciences (library) schools. This past summer Sarah interned at University of Oklahoma, Norman. She worked on a project for the psychology department as one of 14 interns. She was able to take sightseeing trips to Dallas, Texas and nearby Oklahoma City, visiting famous sites in history or recent news. During the summer of 1998, Sarah had a special time living with her sister Robin in Raleigh, NC. She was able to take a needed class at nearby UNC - Chapel Hill and have a summer job at a Raleigh bistro. The sisters visited the Outer Banks before Sarah's return for the fall semester at Alma.


Class of 1993

Jill Lansing Hahn, daughter of Jack and Barb Lansing, graduated from Lansing Eastern in 1993. She attended LCC on a Board of Trustees Scholarship and gave the graduation address upon graduating with an Associates Degree. She then attended Albion College where she earned a BS in Psychology and graduated with honors. She spent one semester at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Upon graduation, she enrolled in the Masters Program at CMU and in May, 1998, earned a Masters of Business Administration Degree. She is currently working in the Human Resources Department at Dart Container Corporation in Mason. On October 17, 1998 Jill married Curtis Hahn in a beautiful wedding at our church. They have a beautiful home in the Waverly area. They are hooked by the travel bug and have visited Jill's host family in Germany several times, as well as traveling around the states by car. Currently they are on a second honeymoon to visit Pennsylvania and Washington DC, where they are visiting Benno Battig, their exchange brother.

Stephanie Pizzo, daughter of Howard and Nell Pizzo is a 1993 graduate of Waverly High School, and attended Hope College and Central Michigan University, completing a Masters Program in Physical Therapy at Northwestern University's Chicago Campus on November 6, 1999. She is looking forward to experiencing what the work world is really like! She will be at Boston Children Hospital for her last clinical assignment before graduation this fall.


Class of 1992

Robin Keen Anderson, daughter of Janice and Edward Keen, graduated from Waverly High in 1992. She was married on September 18, 1999 to David Anderson. The wedding took place in Wisconsin where Robin and David both grew up unbeknownst to each other. The wedding took place at the Kemper Chapel (1875) on the grounds of a historical site in Kenosha, WI. Robin decorated the wedding bulletin with sketches of the chapel's architectural highlights. During his college years at Northwestern University, David was a member of the brass ensemble which played for the ceremony. The newlyweds live in Royal Oak, MI. Robin is employed by Albert Kahn Associates in Detroit. She is an architect intern in the Health Care Division. David is a piano technician at Evola Music in Detroit area. He tunes and restores pianos as well as installing digital music systems. He looks forward to expanding his own business of Anderson Piano. Robin did her graduate work in Raleigh, North Carolina at NC State University. Hurricane Fran welcomed her to the state in September 1996 and Hurricane Bonnie bade her farewell in 1998. Michigan feels high and dry by comparison. Robin received her bachelor's degree of architecture from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, MI.


Class of 1991

Amy Lansing, daughter of Jack and Barb Lansing, graduated from Lansing Eastern in 1991. From there she attended LCC on a Board of Trustees Scholarship. Upon graduation, she attended James Madison College at MSU and graduated with honors 1995 with a BS in Social Relations. She did an internship in Colorado Spring the summer of 1994 and after graduation, she obtained a position at Henry Ford Village Retirement Center in Dearborn where she is currently the Business Manager of the Assisted Living section. She is in the process of a transfer to the Boston area. She is working on a Master's Degree in Humanities from CMU. Her hobby continues to be traveling and she has made several trips to Europe for Christmas in Scandinavia, Carnival in Switzerland, a wedding in Switzerland and sightseeing in general, as well as trips to Hawaii with family members, a trip to the Shrimp and Petroleum in Louisiana, and a recent trip to Australia to visit former exchange students.

Sophio Pizzo Andring, daughter of Howard and Nell Pizzo is a 1991 graduate of Waverly High School and attended Lansing Community College, graduating with an Associate Degree in Interior Design. She is married to Michael Andring and has two lovely children; Samantha (5) and A.J. (2). She lives in Holt, MI and enjoys the Art of Parenting and Homemaking.


Editors Note:
If you are a "Central Graduate" honored since 1989 during one of our June Commencement Sundays, we want to hear from you (or your friends or family).

Submit a short narrative for publication in a future Journal. Outline your journey since graduation; your continuing education, where you have lived or traveled, your employment, and information on family, friend and hobbies.

Send to Central by mail, FAX ,or e-mail. See Address Directory on page 2. Text may be any length, but will be will be limited to 125 words or less when published.


REMINDER

Commissions & Administrative Council Meetings at the Church Wednesday Evening, November 17th.


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