Ground Breaking for the

Shalom Center

Ground Breaking for the

Shalom Center
Invocation - Rev. Cherie Isakson, Pastor
Winchester First Presbyterian Church

Scripture - Ron Ferguson, Pastor
Winchester Friends Church

Comments - Mr. Cheech Albarano, CEO
St. Vincent-Randolph Hospital

Blessing - Rev. Mark Need
Winchester United Methodist

Ground Breaking
~~~~~~~~~

Shalom…..

     Commonly used as a word of greeting or farewell, the Hebrew word Shalom (or its Arabic equivalent salaam) is usually translated as “peace”.  Its meaning is actually much broader and deeper.  In its full biblical sense, shalom denoted that wholeness and fullness of well-being without which peace is impossible. 

     Searching for a fitting memorial to those who lost their lives as a result of Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and in response to the lack of “shalom” in our world, Winchester Area Ministerial Association (WAMA) launched a campaign in July 2002 to build commitment to our community that begins locally and reaches to embrace all whom God loves. 

     Under the banner of “Year of Shalom”, WAMA promoted a series of projects: moving Baker School furnishings into new classrooms, clean-up of Salt Creek, a Shalom Quilt, an informational meeting on local social services, promotion of “One City, One Book” on racism, and emphasis on recycling and the environment.  The commitment to community extended beyond Randolph County through the collection of 170 school kits and $1500 sent to children in Afghanistan and a monthly “Bread for the World” luncheon that continues to meet on the last Wednesday of each month at the Winchester Friends Church.   

  The Year of Shalom was a year to:

     ~remember those who lost their lives as a result of terrorist attacks

     ~reflect on our world in light of Sept. 11, 2001

     ~build community through cooperation

     ~hope for shalom: wholeness and well being in our lives and community.

In a world of suffering, war, and pain, our hope and work for shalom is even more needed today than it was in 2001.   

It seems fitting in light of Shalom and the needs in our community that the new building to house the Winchester Area Churches and Community Food Pantry and other poverty alleviation work to be named Shalom Center.

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Winchester Area Churches and Community Food Pantry 2011 Annual Dinner

 5:15 PM             January 22, 2012

Randolph County Fairgrounds

 …..Give thanks to the Lord

for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds

for people, for He satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things.

                                                        Psalm 107:8,9

Program 

Welcome                     Gary Girton, President           WACCFP Board

Invocation                                      Murray Schemmer               WACCFP Board

 Dinner

Provided by WACCFP Board

 WACCFP History and Update   Pam Ferguson,   Secretary WACCFP Board

 Treasurer’s Report    Marcia Holliger, CPA, Treasurer     WACCFP Board

 Remarks

 Second Harvest Food Bank, East Central Indiana        Mr. Tim Keene, Director Food Resources 

St. Vincent-Randolph Hospital    Mr. Cheech Albarano, CEO

 Mrs. Ceann Bales, WACCFP Board Member   RC YMCA, CEO

 Mrs. Kathy Beumer, WACCFP Board Member     St. Vincent-Randolph Hospital Foundation 

Rev. Chérie Isakson, WACCFP Board Member   Pastor, Winchester First Presbyterian Church

 Shalom Center  Ron Ferguson, Pastor, Winchester Friends 

Benediction

Shaded area is the size of the current pantry...........

On August 3, several friends (Murray Schemmer, John Edwards, Betty Locke, Judy Howell, Gary Girton and Ron and Pam Ferguson) unloaded 14,000 pounds of food (12,000 pounds of government TEFAP commodities) at the Winchester Area Churches and Community Food Pantry.  We filled the pantry!!

Courthouse renovations photo from backyard parsonage in June 2011         Church and parsonage from courthouse roof June 2011

Unveiling of Indiana Historical Bureau's Marker honoring Randolph County Quakers

L to R:  Deborah Thornburg, Walter Mills, and Greg Hinshaw

Click here for entire program and more photos.......

Renovation Report
During July, Winchester Friends' meetinghouse and parsonage received partial "facelifts."  Complete Masonry Services (Yorktown, IN) carried out tuckpointing of the turret and the east, south, and west sides of the upper section of the bell tower.  They repaired the building's original chimney and replaced its cap, and they replaced about 100 damaged bricks on the annex chimney and shortened it slightly.  The window air conditioners in the office and pastor's study were removed and bricks/blocks replaced. Culy Construction cleaned and repaired the storm drainage system on the north west side of the annex that had allowed seepage into the fireplace room in the basement.  John Engle then repaired and repainted damaged interior walls (thank you, John!).  In addition to the masonry work, Bill Emrick and Son repainted the exterior trim on the meetinghouse and completed painting of the outside of the parsonage.  And lastly, Mangus Construction replaced 5 upstairs windows and 2 downstairs windows at the parsonage.  Everyone involved spoke of how well the parsonage and the meetinghouse were built and have been maintained. Thank you to the Trustees and many others who are keeping the building safe and usable for another 100 years.

For more photos and details click here......