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Knit/Crochet and Critters Groups Close Out 2018
with a Great Year |
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Posted January 3, 2019 |
by Sandy Cannon
The Knit & Crochet Group finished the year with 91 donations of knitted or crocheted items. They sent hats and blankets to Dallas Children's Hospital Cancer Center and Hospice, as well as afghans to WBC members currently living in Whitney nursing and assisted living facilities. Receiving the afghans were Alminice Harrison, Mary Nell Ashmore and Gayle Hatherly at CCRC Assisted Living and Ardell Botton and Glen Lively in Town Hall Estates. All of the yarn was donated by Chapel members as well as coming from the ladies’ personal stashes.
Knit & Crochet meets the first and third Monday of each month at 10:00-12:00 in WB Fellowship Hall.
This year the Critters Group has cut, sewn, stuffed with fiber fill, attached colorful ribbons, and bagged 1,870 precious little bears, frogs, cats, etc.! Our total since founding in 2001 is 31,229.
Critters meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays from 10:00-12:00 in the Fellowship Hall.
We lovingly call ourselves, "The Sweatshop for Jesus." It is our joy to use our hands and hearts to create these gifts of love for children in crisis. We invite you to join us! You don't have to be able to sew. Just come to fellowship with friends and neighbors to give to "the least of these my children."
You may contact Sandy Cannon at 254-694-1983 or loosecannons@nxlink.com for further information.
Have a blessed New Year!
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On the Road to Recovery |
Surviving Beyond Grief
Posted January 3, 2019
by Susan Johnston
This year, I am profoundly thankful for my family and my extended family—my church friends, DAR sisters and White Bluff friends. Having lost my father, my sister and my husband between May and October of last year, I can unequivocally say that without the support of my family and friends, I would not have survived 2017 intact. In spite of the grief, I am acutely aware of the awesome comfort and care of God as He has used so many of you to help me on this journey. You will never know how many times that just the right word or deed served as a balm or a nudge to help me cope.
I remain in awe of the many events, circumstances and people God aligned to make it clear to me that I should move to be close to my daughter. Although I miss White Bluff, He provided the perfect place for me to be at this time. I am truly blessed.
Christmas 2018, as for so many family gatherings before, I made a Cranberry-Apple Relish that Steve loved. I’ve found that serving family-favorite foods helps us to remember the sharing of fond times with our lost ones. This recipe calls for Splenda—Steve was a diabetic—but it can be made with sugar or a different sweetener, as desired.
Cranberry-Apple Relish
1 bag (12 oz) fresh cranberries
1 cup Splenda Granular
1 cup water
3 tbsp orange juice concentrate
1 medium apple, peeled, cored & diced
1/3 cup golden raisins
Place cranberries, Splenda, water and orange juice concentrate in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; boil 3 to 4 minutes or until cranberries start to thicken and water has reduced by about half.
Pour into bowl. Cover and chill 2-3 hours or overnight.
Add diced apple and ½ of the raisins to cranberries. Stir well
Chill until ready to serve. Just before serving, sprinkle remaining raisins over cranberries as a garnish. Served chilled with roast meats or poultry.
Makes 20 (1 ounce) servings. Total calories: 30
Recipe credit: Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, 2004, McNeil Nutritionals, a division of McNeil PPC, Inc.
Go to the On the Road to Recovery page to see prior "On the Road to Recovery" articles.
What We've Done
WBC Members Participate in Annual Christmas Gathering
Posted January 3, 2019
Each year near the beginning of the Christmas season, a group of Chapel members assemble for a progressive Christmas gathering. Approximately eighty members and guests attended this year’s annual event. Based on a progressive-dinner format started well over ten years ago and having undergone several transformations in design, this year’s format morphed into one consisting of three different stops.
The first stop on the itinerary featured a choice of two options for the hosts receiving guests in their home. Two couples, Gary and Cheryl Comer and Jay and Kay Miller, opted for a sit-down dinner with items on the menu being provided by the hosts and the couples assigned to their group. Other hosts opening their homes for the “progressive” party consisted of Perry and Joan Gaudet, Larry Smith, Dale and Pam Kimble, and Sherral and Judy Kidd. These hosts and their teams served a hearty hors-d’oeuvres buffet.
The second stop for the evening was a gathering at the Chapel sanctuary for a short concert of Christmas carols. Nancy McGinnis acted as emcee for the event and introduced the party hosts for the evening. Four musical renditions were performed by the new WBC hand bell choir, “Ring of Praise,” directed by Lois Partridge. The group’s assistant director is Lynette Moore. The new bell ringers have become a welcomed addition during Sunday service as they contributed to all of the worship services during Advent. Dwayne Redding ended the concert by leading the audience in the singing of a few popular carols.
Finally, the party guests proceeded into Fellowship Hall where Mary Parish and her team served an amazing array of desserts, punch and coffee. All in all, the camaraderie, delectable holiday cuisine and joyful Christmas music served as a wonderful way to usher in the Advent Season.
WBC Hosts 14th Annual Community Christmas Concert
Posted January 3, 2019
In partnership with the Lake Whitney Ministerial Alliance, White Bluff Chapel opened its doors to members of all churches throughout the Lake Whitney area to gather together for the Alliance’s community-wide Christmas concert. This event, which started with the custom of the hosting duties rotating among member churches of the Alliance, originates back to 2005. In more recent years, White Bluff Chapel has assumed that role, under the leadership of WBC Music Director, Tom Reedy. Betty Newman of WB Chapel, who serves as our liaison on the Ministerial Alliance Board, handled the duties of emcee for the standing-room-only event.
The program consisted of Christmas carols sung by the congregation and led by Tom Reedy, prayers and scripture readings offered by visiting clerics, and performances by several musical groups. A wide array of Christmas music was presented by Whitney High School (Jazz Band, Choir and Jazz Choir), First Church of the Nazarene, Whitney First Baptist Church and White Bluff Chapel. Tom Reedy lead the audience in singing carols during the intervals in which the choirs ascended and descended the dais.
Donna Spotts on the organ and Paula Carpenter on the piano provided the musical accompaniment. Mary Parish and her Hospitality Committee received the group in Fellowship Hall with a reception of seasonal treats.
Care Groups Hold Christmas Parties
Posted January 3, 2019
Two Care Groups, the Over the Hill Care Group and the Faught Care Group, each met in December for their annual Christmas and gift exchange evening. The former group was hosted by Bob and Cathy Valenta and the latter by Bill and Terry Pierce.
Marcie Burris, Over the Hill Care Group leader, thanked Bob and Cathy Valenta for hosting, Emily Morris and Chris Hicks for leading the Christmas carol sing-a-long, and Lou Storm for his heartfelt scriptural readings of the Christmas story.
The 21 members of the Faught group in attendance enjoyed a raucous game of “Left, Right, Center” before moving to their Chinese gift exchange, one they limit to a wide variety of $25 gift cards. Among a choice of practical gifts, the Over the Hill Group also had some silly gifts in their White Elephant event. These brought a lot of laughter, especially the big Christmas hat. For some reason the rubber chicken decided not to make an appearance this year. Everyone was looking forward to see who the lucky recipient would be, but most were disappointed that he didn’t appear in any of the packages!
Members of the two groups were reminded that everyone’s main purpose is to help those of their group who are in need of assistance. The groups may be in the "Over the Hill" time in life but will do their best to meet the needs of all. The groups’ prayer warriors always come together to send up much-needed prayers for those who request them.
Go to the
What We've Done page to see prior "What We've Done" articles.
Children's Education
