Thanks much!
Becca Swartzendruber

What is the crosswalk?  It is a vital part of the evening and our discernment process, and will be a time of interactive confession and lament involving a walk around the neighborhood to various sites that signify the memories and hopes (personal and corporate) of the people of Vineyard Central.  The questions of Jesus’ disciples (We had thought?…we had hoped?) we will seek to make ours as a part of our transition into the Easter season.

After the crosswalk, we will assemble in the Upper Room of St. Elizabeth for a time of reflective worship through simple a-capella music and readings from Scripture focused on the Passion of Christ and the events leading up to Jesus’ death on the Cross.  We will be “stripping the cross” of our pieces of cloth during this time and adorning the worship space in black.

Easter Sunday: April 24th

• Worship Gathering @ 10am (in the main Sanctuary of St. Elizabeth)
• Pancake “Brunch” to follow at 12 p.m. (in the Speckled Bird Cafe, bring “fixins” you would like to have with the pancakes to share with others!)

Our hopes are not in vain!  The celebration of God’s redemption and resurrection will involve dedication of children, baptism for those desiring to commit their lives to Jesus, and an opportunity to adorn the same cross we have placed our laments and relinquishments on with beautiful flowers.  We will hear from VCers through poetry and testimony concerning the good God has accomplished in our lives

We apologize for this announcement coming later in the week.  We had said it would come earlier, and we want to be accountable to do what we have said we would do going forward.  Thank you for your patience as we all stumble toward the accountability and grace we need to hold one another as a community!

I wanted to send out a reminder that Jill and Josh Stoxen are very close to meeting their son! He’s due in less that two weeks, so be keeping their family in mind and in prayer these last exciting days before his arrival.

Also, I’ll be coordinating a meal share for their family with a fabulous new web organizational tool that Jill told me about. It will take our community meal share superpowers to the next level. Get a preview here. After baby boy arrives I will make a calendar and folks can mark when they can make food and what they plan on making so everyone can see. Gone are the days when lasagna comes 5 days in a row !  Woot!

I will send out another email when baby boy Stoxen arrives, but in the mean time, please let me know if you want to be on the list of people who get to bless this family with food during such a holy time in their lives.

You can reach me via email: elizabeth@bettyhatchettdesign.com or phone: 513.293.1549

gracias,
Elizabeth Hatchett

I wanted to share some upcoming classes at the Civic Garden Center with VC’s many homegrown-loving community members. If you have been plotting your chicken flock for the upcoming repeal of Norwood’s anti-chicken ordinance, the first class will provide you with all the info you need to get started!

Chickens: Selecting Breeds, Ordering Chicks and Setting up for a Laying Flock
Wednesday February 9, 6-7:30pm
Instructor: Madeline Dorger, Youth Education Coordinator
Cost: $10 (free for CGC Volunteers)
This class will cover breeds of chickens for the backyard chicken-keeper and tips for ordering from our local hatchery. Madeline will explain how to care for the chicks once you receive them and provide ideas for setting up your small backyard chicken habitat. Participants, if interested, will be able to submit a combined chick order to Mt. Healthy Hatchery.

Maximizing the Small Vegetable Garden, Part 2
Saturday, January 15, 1:30-3:30pm
Instructor: Kate Cook, Urban Farmer
Cost: $10 (free for CGC volunteers). Previous class not required.
This class will expand on the principles discussed in part one (planning concepts and planting techniques to maximize variety and yield). Participants are encouraged to bring their first round garden design ideas to workshop with Kate and the rest of the class. Estimating quantities for seed ordering and soil amendments will also be covered, as well as feeding and watering schedules.

Seed Exchange
Wednesday February 2, 6-7:30pm
Cost: Free
Bring the seeds you have saved from your garden (all kinds welcome) to exchange with other gardeners. Enjoy swapping stories and seeds from your garden with other like-minded folks. Light refreshments will be provided, feel free to bring something to share. Open to all of our CGC friends: teachers, community gardeners, home gardeners, urban farmers, etc!

If you have questions, feel free to contact Ryan at rbullock@civicgardencenter.org. You can register for classes on our website.

PLACE ::
The back of St. E’s, where we celebrated Advent

BREAKFAST ::
9-10 a.m. Bagels and coffee provided. You bring the rest: fruits, cheeses, etc.

WORSHIP ::
• singing
• liturgy & response
• teaching (Matt Dawson & Dave Nixon
• communion

Following our time together there won’t be a potluck lunch. (Put that excess cooking energy into breakfast.) Practice hospitality afterward by inviting someone into your home.

REFRESHMENTS for Advent Gatherings

Last Sunday night was the start of our four week series of Advent celebrations, leading up to Christmas and birth of our King. Thank you to all our friends and neighbors who made this beautiful time of worship and fellowship possible.

As the Advent season continues, we hope to draw even closer together as a family of Christ. One way you can contribute is by sharing the gift of hospitality through food and drink. Refreshments for the remaining 3 Advent evenings can be light and simple, and should easily be covered by a few willing volunteers ( one person for food, one person for drinks each week.)
Whether you have a talent for baking, coffee brewing, or just the extra time and resources to buy a few pre-made items from the grocery, your gifts will be gladly received and appreciated.

To sign-up (and to ensure that all our ducks are covered), follow this doodle link, type your name to the left, and check the box for the corresponding date and item you are willing to bring.

Blessings and Thanks,
Laura McNeel

(If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a note on Facebook!)

Join us Friday evening, 6pm in a celebration of fall! There will be fires, hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and marshmallows for roasting! Everyone bring your favorite “fallish” side, dessert, or drink to share. Also feel free to bring something to burn as a symbol of the changing seasons, or perhaps a pumpkin (or 2 for sharing) to carve.

We are looking forward to spending time with everyone, but more than that we are hoping this will be a more accessible event for our Norwood neighbors that we do not know or maybe just not very well! So please, spread the word invite your neighbors!

much love,

Austin & Sarah King ( and Lincoln too of course)

This is something where everyone can participate … everyone gets to play. Those who like to cook can cook. Those who don’t cook can stop at Kroger and pick something up that’s inexpensive. Kids can bake brownies or cookies. Folks can help set up the table, and clean up afterward. And we all get to enjoy food and family and friends together on a very special day.

So we’re asking that you think about how you can contribute. What can you bring to the table to share? There’s a list for signing up so we can get a picture of how things are coming together. We’d like to have a full table at this event. There are suggestions below if you’re not sure what to bring. Please take a moment to look it over and consider your contribution, then click on this link and let us know what you’re thinking.

• Meat (bake a ham or a roast or some chicken … bring a bucket of chicken … get cold cuts from Kroger … etc)
• Casserole (make something your family enjoys … meat or vegetarian … a pasta dish perhaps … etc)
• Side (green beans, corn, broccoli, some other vegetable or potato, potato salad from Kroger, baked beans … etc)
• Salad (put one together or get a bag salad and dump in a bowl)
• Bread (bake or buy)
• Dessert (bake or buy)
• Beverage (make a jug of tea or lemonade, pick up some bottled water, or just bring a pitcher you can put some water in … etc)

And we’ll also need a clean up crew. So please, check out the link and join the party!

This was a message from Jody Nixon

- Volunteers needed! -
- Be sure to check the FB event page -

:: St. Elizabeths – 1757 Mills Av. Norwood, OH 45212

Speakers to Include:

- Prof. Dan La Botz Miami University of Ohio – will speak about the history of immigration.
- Don Sherman – Executive Director of Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center (CIWC) – will speak specifically on worker’s rights issues here in Cincinnati.
- Voices from our community – real people speak about immigration issues from their perspective – come share your perspective.

:: Make plans to attend this informative and inspiring conversation to help promote justice in our communities.

:: Please bring a few dollars to donate to offset the cost of the tamales and the coffee.

:: Please invite your friends who have varying viewpoints to join the conversation, all are welcome.

Questions and Contact:
- Shaina Horner (Hispanic Ministry Coordinator at the Healing Center) – (shainarose@gmail.com)
- Joshua Hanauer – (joshuahanauer@me.com)
- Matt Dawson – (mattdawson7@gmail.com)

The Speckled Bird Cafe
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
6:00pm – 8:00pm

Hearth House Church invites you to join us for an evening of teaching from Matt Dawson, who will be sharing insights from a recent book he’s read. Also Jeremy Eyre and the “Hearthrob” band will be performing worship songs that you can sing along to.

We’ll even have $2.00 tamales for purchase prepared especially for our guests by Maria, Norwood’s very own “tamale lady”. Drinks, Chips and salsa will be offered as well.

It will be a great night of fun and fellowship amongst friends. Hope you can join us.

FB event page