Morning Glories

  Morning Glories May 18, 2026 Meeting Notes

The April 20, 2026 meeting was led by Sue Marakovits with 31 members in attendance and 2 guest speakers.

Opening Song:  Good Morning, Lord – played by Betty Henderschedt

Devotions:  Karen Frankenfield spoke on Spring and Nature.  She had 6 tiny seeds that grew into 6-foot plants with beautiful, huge flower heads.  She showed us beautiful pictures of her sunflower garden.  Her devotion was about roots of the sunflower from the book:  “Devotions of the Garden”.  From the “Daily Bread”, she spoke how roots are resistant.  If we are deep rooted, we can survive; just like being deep rooted in faith.  Roots are vital to survival and must be healthy.  We need to care for our own bodily spiritual health along with our physical health.  Roots are the foundation of life.

Birthdays: May 1 – Sandi Smith, 2 – Cheryl Alvord, 14 – Lois McAllister, 17 – Linda Fetters, 24 – Mary Ann Gibbons, 29 – Pastor Brian

Special thanks to Karen Frankenfield for our 2026 birthday postcards, featuring Old Orchard Beach in Maine. The QR code on it allows us to connect to a YouTube video of Jeremy Camp’s song, “Keep Me in the Moment”. If you need help using the QR code, please ask.

Speakers: Big Brothers/Big Sisters CEO Susan Bartel and Leah Quirk, Leader told us about the Grand Ambassador Organization which is a mentor program for matching an adult to a child or a teen to a child.  They have implemented the program in the Catty Middle School calling the students the LITTLES and the Catty High School calling the student the BIGS.  An interview process is done to match the students for a successful pairing.  Guidance counselors have said Middle School boys have a greater need for mentors.  Great experience for both students but the BIGS can get an insight into possible careers in education of children, psychology, health and medical careers.  The program offers scholarships and numbers show this program is working.  For the adults going into this program there is training, background checks and clearances needed first. 

Two of the programs are:

1. Sports Buddies:  Large outings – 2 events a month.  Meet with your buddy at an event.  Organization pays for the event. No excuses:  removed all barriers regarding time, money, travel; anyone can give a few hours twice a month to mentor a child.
2. Steam Club: Located at The Fellowship (Friendship Hall) church.  Students grade 1^st – 5^th grade meet Tues/Thur. at the lab for educational builds.  Right now the students are working on a roller coaster.  There will be an end of the year party next Thursday from 3:45 to 4:45 at the Catty Middle School.

The program relies on Grants and Event fund raisers:  example a bowling fund raiser.  This was a very interesting and informative presentation.  We collected a varied of snacks, art supplies and misc. items for them along with $100 in a special collection basket.

Notes/Correspondence:  Thank you letter from last month’s speaker from ALS.

New Business/Old Business:

Ongoing: Sue pointed out the creative Morning Glories bulletin board done by Vicki and Steph Chimics and Judy Connelly

 Turning Point used electronic collection: Linda Wiland reported that 3 cell phones were turned in this past month.

Thinking of You card ministry:  Thanks to Sandi Smith, Diane Jones and Trevor Smith for preparing the cards.  Note:  After our meeting, Sue M. got in touch with Pastor Jimmy Lee Werley about Jamie Silvonik since we hadn’t heard from Jamie in a while.  This is his response:

“She’s doing well.  And as you guessed, very busy.  She’s working on her last classes.  She will shortly finish up and graduate with an associate’s degree.  Not quite sure about the details.  She will then start again in fall semester to move onto working for her BS degree in criminology.  That along with dog training, mentoring, her work, writing articles for criminal reform magazines and being interviewed for podcasts keeps her pretty occupied.”  He wants us to tell The Morning Glories how special it is that they keep in regular touch with Jamie. 

2026 Murder Mystery Dinner Theater: Linda Ettl has signed a contract with the Riddlesbrook Touring Theatre Company for them to present “October-Jest” on Saturday, September 12, 2026.  Linda sent in the $100 deposit and an angel is going to pay the remaining $1,100.  The Warming Station will be the charity.  The tickets will remain at $40/person.  After a lengthy discussion about the menu, it was decided we will have the traditional chicken meal that we had last year.  Barb Fister volunteered to make Black Forrest Cake which will be served with the King Kong Dixie Cups that Pat Fried will supply. Barb will cut the cake into smaller sections and have ready in cupcake papers. Liz Burda, our caterer will charge $10.20/person. A Thrivent action card will be requested from Curt Reinsmith.

 Cay Galgon Campaign: thank you to Paula Kesack and Deb Fry for organizing this year’s baby bottle campaign. Baby bottles were provided to the group. If donating by check, please make payable to “Holy Trinity” with “baby bottle” on the memo line. Bottles can be dropped off during regular Sunday worship services (8 and 10:30am) or at the church office M-F from 9-2.  They will report the final total in June.

Morning Glories Katie Wikander passed recently from pancreatic cancer.  The group voted to make a $50.00 donation to the Lustgarten Foundation which is the largest founder of pancreatic cancer research in the world.

Distribution of Offering:  Our monetary collection this month was $280.   2-$25.00 Walmart gift cards will be sent to Cay Galgon. $180 will go to the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund.

Since Sept. 2008, $98,982.23 has been donated to special causes; this does not include all the non-monetary donations that have been made over the past 17 years.

Diane Czar mentioned Trinity’s Junior Tea and Basket Raffle on May 31^st – 100% of the proceeds from the enjoyable kid-oriented event support the child sponsored through World Vision by Trinity youth as well as other organizations selected by the youth.  She could use volunteers to help unwrap the dishes and clean-up.  Anyone interested call Diane at 610-739-6006.

 Closing song played by Betty Henderschedt.

 Thank you to everyone who provided the Tasty Tacos and delicious desserts.  Thanks to Cheryl Kneiss and Vicki Chimics for doing kitchen clean-up.

Future Dates: 

June 15, 2026

Everyone should wear Red, White and Blue!!!!!!

Devotions:  Ruthann Reinsmith

Entertainer:  Rob Ballonoff

Collection: Summer Playground Snacks – individual size salty snacks: potato chips, Goldfish, cheese puffs, popcorn, pretzels, etc.

Picnic Lunch:  Hawaiian Meatballs/Pat Fried & BBQ/Cheryl Kneiss & Something Good/Linda Heiberger;

Rolls & Chips/Vicki Chimics

Chicken Salad/Lois McCallister; Potato Salad/Rena Bond; Green Salad/Terri Lynn;

Dessert/Kathy Nattress & Linda Ettl; Caramel Corn/Janice Unangst;

Deviled Eggs/Judy Connelly & Appetizer/Diane Carfara

Punch/Diane Lindeman

Kitchen Clean-up: Rena Bond/Diane Carfara

July 20, 2026

Devotions:  Janis Charvala

Speakers:   10:30 – Pinebrook Children’s Home/Lori VanBoren, Carlos Gomez, Eliana

 Point Person:  Janis Charvala

Collection: School Supplies…back packs, general school supplies

Plan next 6 months

Ice Cream Sundaes – Ice Cream/Pat Fried; Chopped Peanuts/Cheryl Kneiss

Caramel/Linda Ettl; Bananas/Linda ???

Chocolate Syrup/Karen Frankenfield

Kitchen Clean-up: Sue Marakovits/Sandy Cooper