Naomi Circle met Tuesday, October 21, at Trinity to help prepare the Messenger mailing and held their regular meeting. They then adjourned to Woodside Health and Tennis Club, Westwood, KS, to celebrate Lee Glasnapp’s and Lucy Krieger’s birthdays.

Praise God for a wonderfully successful Great American Garage Sale. We had a gross total of just over $28,000 dollars! A big thank you to all who worked so hard to make this a successful sale.

2008 Garage Sale Stats:

250 Volunteers!
4000 Hours!
4000 Customers!
A Square Dance!

GAGS (Great American Garage Sale) 2007 Observations
What an apt acronym for our just completed sale. It was full of gags and interesting stories. Every year it gets bigger and better. And more fun. I can’t say for certain that we had more “stuff” this year, but we sure had lots and some of the best treasures were found after the first layer was sold off Thursday. But the absolute best treasures were the new friends we all made and visiting with oldfriends throughout the week.

More than making money for our Missions (and it always astounds us how much we make each year) is the camaraderie experienced by the folks willing to give up their time to work. Some of our members even take off from their work to volunteer their time at the sale. Our volunteers included brand new members of Trinity to non-members from the community joining in to help as well as regulars from years past. This is one of our best
outreach programs and we need to somehow learn how to follow up with all the people that walk in our doors these three days.

Overheard by one of the workers was a woman relating her experience of the sale. She said she had never seen so many diverse people; old, young, middle aged and disabled helping out and being so nice. Another woman made a point of going up to one of the cashiers and telling her how nice the folks were that worked the sale. She said they were so helpful in taking things to her car and helping her with her purchases. Another comment from two ladies from the community who volunteered to help said they thought they might consider joining our congregation because of the joyfulness of the environment. The Spirit of the Lord moves in mysterious ways.

What always touches me each year is the impact we have on our community with this sale. I get the feeling that this is the place to come for super bargains and word is out that we have good merchandise and good prices. It may not be everyone’s idea of shopping but by the volume of customers we see each year, we are getting people that still are looking for items of quality for their homes and children at a good price. Someone said we serve nine missions instead of eight as the garage sale, by itself, could also be considered a mission. Many of the families could not afford to clothe their kids with the quality of clothing we sell nor have access to
the home furnishings at these prices. By allowing them to purchase items at such reduced prices, and not give them away, retains their dignity and respect. We also heard of stories about families from other countries coming to our sale and sending the clothing they purchased to their families in the Philippines and Mexico.

I’m proud to be part of this endeavor and realize none of this would ever be possible without the generosity of our members who give so freely of their own goods, to the hardworking volunteers, and to the ever present supervision of our amazing leader, Nancy Meyer.

Marilyn Kubler
Rebecca Circle Chairman

LWML Mite Boxes — “Change with a Prayer”

Mite box change has provided $20,000,000 for chapels, schools, TV/radio programs, hospitals, mission houses, vehicles, planes, food, supplies, training, support and resources for missions all over the world. Each month, LWML members bring their change or “mites” to deposit in the large mite box in Trinity's foyer. Anyone can contribute, whether an LWML member or not, but remember: Donate your change with a prayer of thanksgiving and ask for God's blessing in its use!