St. Elmo News

Announcements
Friday, December 22
• Classes will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. for the winter break. There will be no school until Thursday, Jan. 4.
Sunday, December 24
• First Church of God-Christmas Eve worship service, 9:30 a.m.; no Sunday school. Come-and-go Candlelight Communion 4-7 p.m.
• First United Methodist Church-Sunday school, 9:30 a.m.; worship service, 10:35 a.m.; and  candlelight Communion, 6 p.m.
• Freedom Reigns in Christ Church-Connection Café, 9:15 a.m.; contemporary worship service and children’s church, 10 a.m.; and candlelight Communion, 6 p.m.
• New Horizons Church-Sunday school, 9:30 a.m.; worship service, 10:30 a.m.; and candlelight Communion, 5 p.m.
• St. Elmo Christian Church-Worship services, 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.; Sunday school, 9:45 a.m.; and candlelight Communion, 6 p.m.      
Monday, December 25
• Merry Christmas to Everyone!
St. Elmo Blood Drive
The American Red Cross had the St. Elmo community blood drive on Dec. 11 in St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall. Seventeen pints of blood were collected; the quota was 25.
Roger Fulk of Brownstown received an 18-gallon pin, Sandra Stine of Brownstown received a 12-gallon pin and Lillian Grobengeiser of St. Elmo received a 7-gallon pin.
Those who have donated 50 or more units of blood are Fulk, 151; Andy Lilly of Beecher City, 135; Stine, 98; John Krost of St. Elmo, 60; and Grobengeiser, 56.
Chairman Karen Denning expressed appreciation to those who donated and the following who worked: Joe Reck, for putting up the posters; Debbie Jo Hough, for registering the donors; Pat Porter, for giving the pins; Council of Catholic Women, for providing homemade cookies; and St. Elmo Women’s Civic Club, for covering the canteen expense. Denning made sure the donors had sandwiches and beverages, and kept the cookie plates filled.
The next American Red Cross blood drive for St. Elmo will be from 2-6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 5, in St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall.
St. Elmo Community Park Christmas Social
A Christmas social was held in the Avena Township park, the St. Elmo Community Park, from 1-5 p.m. on Nov. 26. Approximately 65 people went to the Centennial Building to visit with Santa and enjoy decorating cookies made and served fresh from the oven by Gabby Baron. They also had coffee or hot chocolate, had their pictures complimentarily taken by local professional photographer, Sarah Keller, on the new concrete patio that was decorated with a holiday theme complete with a Christmas tree and a rustic snow covered fence.
The pictures can be viewed on Keller’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Skellerphotography. She has told that anyone who has lens flare on their picture can have the picture retaken; just message her on the Facebook page.
The unseasonably warm weather allowed the families to enjoy walking in the park, swinging on the new swings, playing on the activity center and shooting some hoops.
Feel free to like the Facebook page of the St. Elmo Community Park District, which has the same name.
Lunch Bunch
Present for the Lunch Bunch Dec. 14 gathering at Mary Ann’s Restaurant were Pat Porter of
Farina, Wayne and Sandra Lovett of Brownstown and Karen Denning and Deb Hough of St. Elmo. Guests were Denning’s sister-in-law and husband, Betty and Allen Sharffler of Kell.
UMW District Officers Christmas Luncheon
Officers of the Embarras River District United Methodist Women met at the Effingham Centenary United Methodist Church for a Christmas potluck lunch on Dec. 14. District President Carol Kessler of Shelbyville furnished the ham and turkey, and the others took salads, side dishes and desserts. Vice President Carol Martin of Effingham served as hostess. Searoba Mascher of Marshall gave the meal blessing.
Others present were Nancy Sperry of Nokomis, Louella Christensen of Altamont, Rose Lyttle, Cheryl Murphy and Jo Sanders of Marshall, Joan Miller of Mode, Ione Elliott of Shelbyville, Evelyn Icenogle of Toledo, Jane Casey of Newton, Sheryl Brandenburg of Neoga and Anna Jean Rhodes of St. Elmo, who gave each one with a small Good Will ornament.
New officers for the 2018 year had been invited, but several were not able to attend. Two of the new ones who attended were Casey, who will be the president, and Brandenburg, who will be the spiritual growth coordinator.
Methodist Children’s Christmas Program
For the Dec. 17 First United Methodist Church 10:35 a.m. worship service, Cathy Spitler did the organ prelude, which was followed by announcements from Dave Maxey. Two birthdays and an anniversary were recognized. Jason and Ali Laack and family lighted the Advent Joy candle. Following the Rev. Dan Laack’s prayer concerns, pastoral prayer, Lord’s prayer and offering collection, the sharing of love was throughout the congregation.
Next was the children’s Christmas program, “Footprints to the Manger.” Songs they sung were “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “O Holy Night” and “Joy to the World.” The children were Angel Scheonhoff, Bethany Scheonhoff, Kelly Moss, Kinley Carson, Karlie Fasnacht, Gavin Koontz, Blain Mahon, Connor Reynolds, Audrey Burgess, Kyleigh Brown, Quorra Koontz, Violet Koontz, Emily Fasnacht, Brookelynne Wilson, Grady Laack, Klara Bartels, Keegan Bartels, Sophie Siebert, Kolby Tackett, Whittey Atwood and Lucy Laack.
Sunday school teachers in charge were Andra Carson, Penny Koontz and Shannon Moss.
The choir sang “Come Make a Place,” and the service ended with the praise song “Peace Has Come.”
A bag of goodies was given to each child.
St. Elmo Community
Park Board
The regularly scheduled meeting of the St. Elmo Community Park District was Tuesday evening, Dec. 12, in the Centennial Building and began with a late start in forming a quorum. Those present were Kim Baron, Daryl Calvert, Danny Tish and Karen Wegscheid. Gabby Baron was present as a visitor.
In old business discussed, the leaking roof was of great concern; local contractors have assessed the situation and have offered similar opinions of the situation and varying remedies. The cost factor of each type of repair and replacement is being taken into consideration with other options to be explored.
Tish presented a treasurer’s report in collaboration with Treasurer Calvert. Acknowledgement of recently received tax revenue checks were made, along with the uncashed insurance check.
Bills to be paid were presented, discussion followed, including that Terri Dial had rented the Centennial Building on a day during the cold spell when the furnace was rendered inoperable, and although she was congenial about the inconvenience of her having to take in space heaters, the board discussed a partial refund of the rental fee of $50. The board voted to return $25 to Dial. Baron phoned Dial and told her of the Board’s vote, and she graciously donated the refund back to the park. The bills were paid.
Reading and discussion of the Ordinance F-2-2017 as delivered by Attorney Rick Day took place. The board voted to accept the ordinance and sign and file it.
The 2018 budget is of consideration and will be discussed with much more thought at the next meeting when, hopefully, all tax revenues are in and the roof repair can take priority.
Recently, the furnace needed repair so it was discussed as to whether the board should invest in an annual checkup and maintenance of the furnace in October to avoid being without heat when it was most needed. After discussion, the board voted to acquire a professional inspection of the furnace annually.
Board member Rick Gillespie has been in contact with Mayor Ernie Myers regarding the Labor Day festivities to be held in the Avena Township Park (St. Elmo Community Park). The Lions Club and SEBA also have been in this consideration. Wegscheid and Tish volunteered to be on a committee to communicate with local entities to pull off a traditional event that will take a lot of work and collaboration of many people with vision and desire to make such an event take place. The board accepted their volunteered position.