Jersey church helps sister church in Lithuania
«Pas de deux»
Jersey. Look it up in an atlas. If you know what an atlas is. Clue:
North is "up", East is to the right, West to the left, South is "down".
The horizontal lines are called parallels of latitude and the vertical
lines are called meridians of longitude. Got a headache already? Need
to lie down and take an aspirin?
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Rummage sale aids those near and far
Posted by the Ocean County Observer on 03/11/06
BY KAREN HAMMERDORFER DELANCEY
CORRESPONDENT
BAY HEAD — The thrill of the hunt, combined with helping organizations
from here to Lithuania, each played a role in attracting visitors to the
rummage sale at St. Paul's United Methodist Church.
The sale, organized by the Methodist Women's Group, ends today.
"Treasures" included a Victrola, which sold for $25. There were also
some off beat items like a green dragon-shaped vaporizer for $2.
Amy Zambella, Brick, a member of St. Paul's, said she was eyeing an
antique sled for $25. Meanwhile, her son, Noah, 3, was checking out the
toy cars and trucks.
The sale included mini faux Christmas trees, electric fans, portable
radio/cassette players, ski boots, chairs, coats, a couch, crock pots
and original works of art, to name a few. Books sold for 25 cents and
VHS tapes sold for 50 cents.
Laura Luzzi, Point Pleasant Beach, said she found a lot of great items.
"I found a glass coffee pot. I broke mine; that was a good find," she
said. She also purchased shoes, pocketbooks, glassware and knick knacks.
"I love rummage sales. They also have a lot of books here, which I
haven't looked at yet."
Lisa McNamara, Point Pleasant, had her arms full of goodies, included a
stuffed toy Snoopy dog and a Holly Hobbie.
"It's fun stuff. I don't really need these things but I haven't been to
a sale in a long time. The fun is in the hunt, but I'm helping the
church out too," she said.
Doris McDowell, a former local who now lives in Lakewood, joined the
church in the mid-'70s. At that time, she said, the town had only two
year-round churches.
"I'm a worker here today, but I'm not working very hard," said McDowell,
as she eyed a straw hat made into the Easter Bunny's face.
St. Paul's is more than 100 years old. Its 200-member congregation
includes many third-generation family members.
"I've only been a member of the church for six years," said Leslie Geer,
Brick. "I like the fact that the sanctuary has a center aisle. And, at
the time I joined, there was a female minister. We have traditional and
contemporary services as well as a service on the beach in the summer.
It's a very friendly church."
As she rearranged the toy stuffed animal section, Geer briefly held onto
a toy panda bear. "This originally came with a T-shirt that read
"Funeral Directors Convention 1989.' Personally, I think it would have
sold faster with the T-shirt on," she quipped.
"The church also has a volleyball team. We've lost every game — but
don't put that down," said Geer. When a volunteer chipped in that the
team won a game, Geer added, "That's right. We won our very first game
and lost every one since that."
The rummage sale itself was a winner in terms of helping those in need.
Proceeds will go toward regular church maintenance at St. Paul's. Some
of the funds will go to St. Gregory's Food Pantry in Point Pleasant
Beach, which is having an Easter food distribution program in early
April and Easter basket donations for children.
Jane Marion, Lavallette, missions coordinator for St. Paul's Church,
said the rummage sale will also aid St. Paul's sister church in
Kybartai, Lithuania. The church, she said, is struggling to rebuild
after more than 50 years under Soviet rule. St. Paul's and a few other
churches from around the world have joined up to "partner" with this
church by providing financial and spiritual support. Aid includes
helping to pay rent and the pastor's salary.