Lustre Fifth/Sixth Grade Band
Lustre’s fifth and sixth grade band per- formed recently.
Jeannie Hathaway, the EMB pastor’s wife, was the speaker at the Lustre MB Church ladies’ Christmas party on Dec. 4. Emcee Lisa Neufeld welcomed the 50 women who enjoyed a salad supper and dessert. The high school girls were special guests and LCHS alumni Kaitlyn Brown and Emily Eggar sang O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Jennifer Zerbe led games scattered through the evening like fun snowflakes.
A science teacher won a quiz on Snowflake Trivia. Ashlee Pancratz won the quilted snowflake wall hanging, made by quilter Vernelle Unrau in recognition of the 25th year that the MB Church has hosted the ladies’ community Christmas party. A tiny birthday cake was presented to Jodi Neufeld, whose birthday fell on the date of party. Snowflake-themed gifts were exchanged and Jodi Neufeld led Christmas carols.
Hathaway inspired the ladies with recounting how prayer has influenced her life, and encouraged us to pray that God would “prepare the path of life” for the students we have, and for our grandchildren, daily. She told story after story of how “prayer is an amazing avenue that we have”. She talked of the titles we have — daughter of John and Clarabelle; granddaughter of Katherine and Peter Funk, sister, aunt, mother, Nana, gross-mother and friend. She says “I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for my Grandma Katherine’s prayers. In due time, they were answered.”
She told a story regarding her husband, Wayne. “Wayne’s dad died when he was about 2 years old. His family quit going to the church they had attended only a year, and moved. He grew up and chose to attend Northwestern College in Seattle, Wash., where she met him, and we were in a pastorate near Yakima, when a woman came to tell him she remembered him in the nursery when he was about 2 years old when his family had attended for one year. She said, “I have prayed for you 28 years every day.”
She talked about valleys and how God knows and sees and God provides. She told of how they had only a bag of white beans and an onion left in the house, with two teenagers and two toddlers to feed. “My 15-year-old Lisa and I made a list of all the groceries we needed and prayed over that list. By the end of the day, 12 bags of groceries had been dropped off in answer to our prayers and every one of those groceries on the list were there.” She spoke of her title as mother with daughter Clarissa, who was present with her Monday, and the dynamics of raising a child with muscle weakness; finding out in kindergarten she could not hear, etc. The story of her husband’s prayer for “the home being built across the street” for his family when the church had no parsonage was an illustration of God’s provision.
“The most important title I have is ‘Daughter of The King’. My King is Provider. He is Protector with the weapons ( Ephesians 6) we are to put on daily. My King is Peace. No matter where God call leads you, that’s where you get peace and contentment.” She encouraged three things to triumph over emotions and attitudes that defeat us: “1. Memorizing on the Scriptures, 2. Meditating on the Bible, 3. Applying God’s Word to your own life.”
The LCHS’ and LGS’ bands and choirs gave their Christmas concert Thursday evening, Dec. 7, to a full crowd at the EMB church. The fifth and sixth grade band did well, playing Holiday Sampler and Eagle Summit March (both by O’Reilly Williams). They finished with Deck the Halls. Many grandparents were present to hear this first milestone by those learning instruments from Dan Marasco. Marasco explained the central purpose for music is “to worship God”.
The seventh and eighth grade bands played Let it Snow (Smith/Story), a hearty Cyberspace Overture and Do You Hear What I Hear (arr. by Jerry Nowak).
The theme of the choir section of the program was Ancient Music. The fiftheighth grade choir sang Of The Father’s Love Begotten,
and Adeste Fideles from the first century, accompanied by KJ Brown, Lauren Fast, Ashtyn Traeholt, Holly Hilkemann and Kencia Brown on instruments.
The LCHS choir sang Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, Joy to the World and I Wonder as I Wander, (Solo by Katie Calderon); Full of Grace and a combined LGS/ LCHS choirs sang a tribute to the community founders by singing Stille Nacht by Gruber. The band played Now Let Every Tongue Adore Thee,
Dance of the Reed Flutes, O Little Town of Bethlehem and Carol of the Bells.
