Thanks to all who participated in, and contributed to the Soup-er Bowl Food Drive. Collectively the four churches who participated collected 9178 food items - that includes $1825. This was the largest total to date for this Operation InAsMuch drive. AND the largest number of food items that St Paul's members collected in one drive.

The final numbers:
First Baptist Church - 4512 food items
St Paul's Episcopal Church - 2560 food items (our largest collection ever!!)
First Presbyterian Church - 1193 food items
Central Christian Church - 763 food items

Special thanks to: Carole and Dan Felciano for making flyers and prepping the food bags, to Ed Arning and the Boy Scouts for counting and carrying, to Bob Shoemaker and Tim Seneker for counting and delivering, to Publix on Memorial Blvd for the loan of a grocery cart, and to all of you who shared your food bounty so others could have a meal.

Mark your calendar: the next food drive is May 6.

There are baskets in the narthex for your food donations. Bring items anytime, we will see that they get to the Rutherford County Food Bank, and will be included in the next food drive count.

Thanks to all - you are all winners!

By Newt Molloy

Megan Hutchins, Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Coordinator, contacted me about a build-out opportunity in our downtown ministry area that is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, January 18, 2012. We are looking for volunteers to work on January 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30-4:00 p.m.

This is a workday for many of our parishioners, but I wanted to make you aware of this project, especially since it is in our downtown neighborhood. Several years ago St. Paul's made a conscious decision to stay downtown and be a "Downtown Church." Many of the 107 homes built by Habitat since it began in Murfreesboro have been with five or six blocks of St. Paul's (Courtland Street, State Street, Sevier Street, Jackson Street, etc.). This new build is at 223 Kerr Avenue, which is just off East Vine Street in the South Maney Ave area.

If you are interested, please contact me (Newt Molloy) for more information.

Visitors from St. Paul's and the North Pole greet children at the St. Paul's Angels program.

Father Colin Ambrose reading to children as part of the St. Paul's Angels program in December 2011.