by Al Arnold

Breathing life into the Uptown District

“Red and yellow, black and white” are not only familiar Sunday school lyrics, but they suggest the colorful appeal of the streets in The Uptown District. Jen Parrett’s paintings depict eye catching scenes, but it’s the excited children, dodging each other and their cabbies each Sunday morning, who breathe life into those scenes.  And as the sleuth reported last month, a group of behind-the-scenes Christians help fill those young lives with the Word of God. The sleuth had to “sneak” inside Kay Oakley’s kitchen on a Sunday evening to learn where the themes and teaching strategies for each month originate. Kay has met with either Peg Schilb, Kendra Kalkreuth, or Doreen Shellabarger once a month for the past five years. Using materials provided by Susan Mathew, these dispatchers have used their love of telling stories to youngsters along with their educational expertise to develop the Christ Child Chapel lessons. “It’s been a great experience because it helped me dig into the Word of God,” Kay volunteered. Bobbi Kleinschmidt and Julie Buranga are the dispatchers this year for the Starlight Theatre. “The children love to come to the theatre. They like the movies and they like the popcorn,” Bobbi enthused.  “Julie and I both have little kids, and it’s so nice to see them learn about Jesus.  My son comes home and tells me what he has learned!”  This year’s teams of dispatchers with their venues include Studio One: Marsha Osenga and Jean Auld; St. Paul’s Library: Jill Smelser; Pe@ce.com: Darla Dunlap and John Auld; Joseph & Sons Hardware: Kathy Muse and Dave Mathew.  Once dispatchers have produced the instructional materials, the Sunday morning leaders and teachers take over. One leader who can be found hustling the Church School area is Delda McHugh. “I was teaching Sunday School when we had traditional classes,” explained Delda. “Then I became a cabbie. When Jen Parrett moved to another community, I stepped in as Susan’s assistant.” Delda helps lead the opening gathering for the children in Krout. She greets the children as they arrive, helps the cabbies with the groupings, assists with the visual presentation, and often shares the Key Bible Verse as well as the Virtue Word for the month. “I like being with the kids; I like being able to help Susan,” Delda added. Please join the sleuth in thanking these dedicated church school planners.

Please direct questions or comments about this web site to dstaas@wcoil.com
Copyright © 2008 First United Methodist Church       113 W. Central Avenue      Van Wert, Ohio 45891      419-238-0631