Come to the Ivy Chapel HarvestFest, Oct. 24
It’s an auction. It’s a huge fellowship event. It’s a wine tasting. It’s Ivy Chapel’s HarvestFest, and it’s one of the biggest “fun raisers” on our calendar.
The 2007 event raised $9,000… and we need your help to make this year’s event even bigger. A portion of the proceeds from HarvestFest ’09 will benefit the Joint Neighborhood Ministries in St. Louis and Circle of Concern food pantries in St. Louis County.
How can you help?
Download the official Ivy Chapel HarvestFest Invitation, and pass it along to your friends.
Become a sponsor…
Take a look at our starter list of donation suggestions for the auction…
Or check out our list of businesses we’ll be contacting for donations. If you have a personal contact with any on the list and would like to ask them for help, let us know.
And if you have any ideas or questions about the event, please contact Deb Washburn.
Stay up-to-date with the HarvestFest blog!
August 30, 2009 by Rich
Filed under Livestream Links and Order for Worship
Stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest developments about HarvestFest! This is our third HarvestFest, and we’re aiming to make it the best ever. We need everyone’s help to make this event a success… so check the blog often for ideas about what you can do to help, and for news updates (including a preview of auction items!).
The new school year has begun!
August 16, 2009 by Rich
Filed under What's happening
On August 16, the Ivy Chapel congregation celebrated Rally Day, the beginning of the new Sunday School year. The day began with our 2nd outdoor worship… and while the St. Louis humidity was in fine form, a cool breeze made it more than tolerable. The children joined the service, walking down the hill from the main building holding streamers and artwork they created during the summer depicting their favorite Bible stories. The artwork will hang in the Sunday School hall downstairs.
It’s going to be a great year at Ivy Chapel!
For more photos of Rally Day, visit our Photos page.
For more information about Ivy Chapel’s youth programs, please contact our Youth Program Coordinator, Linda Lowry.
Welcome to the HarvestFest 2009 Blog.
Check back to this page for the latest updates on the 2009 HarvestFest!
Update from Instituto El Rey
August 4, 2009 by admin
Filed under Livestream Links and Order for Worship
Every year, Ivy Chapel’s members support several students at Instituto El Rey, a Christian high school in Rio Viejo, Honduras that serves the rural poor.
The mission of Instituto El Rey is “to provide an oasis of hope and love in a region plagued by poverty, violence, abuse, superstition and ignorance.” Every student comes from a situation where there would be little chance for high quality education.
Recent events, including political upheaval and an earthquake, have hit close to the school.
Following is an update from Sharon Washburn, the school’s administrator.
The school was established in 2001, and now serves 170 students in grades 7 through 12. It celebrated its first graduated class in 2006, and to date 61 students have graduated from Instituto El Rey. 60% of graduates are seeking college degrees or professional training. Among the most recent graduates are four students seeking medical degrees, three studying nursing, two pursuing systems engineering, one studying business administration, and one aiming to become a lawyer.
Students at IER come from 15 villages in the mountains south of La Ceiba. Many overcome tremendous obstacles to get their education – some just to get to school every day. Scholarships, family sacrifices and support from friends enable all their schooling. Each student’s family is required to pay a token amount (less than $5 month); the total cost per student is actually around $70 per month. Students who cannot afford the small monthly tuition can work at the school on weekends to earn that amount. A high percentage of students are supported through a sponsorship program administered by a separate foundation.
The faculty includes salaried Honduran teachers, plus American volunteers Earl & Sharon Washburn, who serve as both administrators and teachers. Earl’s brother, Russ, is a member of Ivy Chapel and over the past 7 years dozens of church members, including youth, have gone on mission trips to IER to help with construction and other projects at the school.
Subjects taught at the school include Spanish, English, math (incl. statistics & physics), science (including chemistry & biology), several computer classes including programming & design, social studies, accounting, art, music, P.E. and some practical skills such as carpentry, sewing and gardening (which will help them earn a living if they opt out of further education).
Click here to learn more about Instituto El Rey.
Supporting Joint Neighborhood Ministries & Circle of Concern food pantries
August 1, 2009 by admin
Filed under Livestream Links and Order for Worship
The current economic downturn has meant that many that families who were previously able to keep up with their bills and feed their families are now finding the only way they can manage is to come to food pantries for help. Ivy is proud to support food pantries in our area, including Join Neighborhood Ministries in the City of St. Louis, and Circle of Concern in West County. We are collecting basic food items, along with monetary donations to help families in crisis with utility payments. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from our Oct. 24 HarvestFest will go to benefit these two organizations.
If you want to help, contact our church office for information at (314) 434-4991 or via e-mail.
