Ministerial Alliance discusses holiday events, services

From left, Reverends Kathryn Bell, Tom Absher, Dale Bean, Mary Williams and Wellington Gorham display the kettle, apron and sign that will be used during The Salvation Army's annual fundraiser outside Walmart in Marshall and Food Lane in Slater beginning Wednesday, Nov. 5.
(Geoff Rands/Democrat-News)

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Keith Jackson will speak at the Thanksgiving Service, which will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, at First United Methodist Church. The offering from the evening will be donated to the Local Benevolent Fund.

Marshall Community Chorus and Marshall High School Orchestra will both perform at the service.

MMA members discussed the upcoming fundraising effort by the Salvation Army, during which ministers and volunteers from Marshall churches will stand outside Walmart and solicit donations by ringing a bell.

Dave Van Horn told those present, "Make sure you thank people" for their donations.

The fundraising will begin Wednesday, Nov. 25, and continue through

Randy Shannon said that the Brothers And Sisters In Christ Band will perform a "contemporary Christmas concert" at Cumberland Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. A free will offering will be taken and donated to the alliance's Benevolent Fund.

The 2009 Saline County Holiday Project, for which gifts will be distributed at the Martin Community Center Thursday, Dec. 10, is still in need of food, said Lorel Box.

Anyone who needs to sign up to receive gifts under the Holiday Project can sign up at the Department of Family Services office in Marshall.

The Kansas City Southern Holiday Express, also known as the "Santa Train," will be in Slater Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m.

The Habitat For Humanity home on South Redman Avenue in Marshall already has its exterior walls in place, said Pam Sebastian, and is only three weeks into its construction. She added that project manager Darrell Ahrens hopes to have the home, the biggest one built so far by the efforts of Sebastian's group, finished within another three months.

Anyone interested in helping with the work can meet with Ahrens at 8 a.m. or after on any Saturday at the site in the 400 block of South Redman Avenue, she said.

A good deal of furniture is needed for the home, said Sebastian, and she asked that people consider "adopting" a room or one of the family's children to provide furniture and clothing.

Wayne Doolin, minister of education and music at First Baptist Church, gave the treasurer's report, saying that between June 16, 2009, and Nov. 16, 2009, the alliance disbursed $4,096.26 from its Local Benevolent Fund to 62 individuals, averaging about $66 per individual.

MMA will hold no regular meeting during December. Its next meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, in the President's Dining Room on the second floor of the Ferguson Center at Missouri Valley College.

Contact Geoff Rands at marshallreporter@socket.net