April Showers Bring Family Ministry May Flowers

It’s exciting to see that spring is “just around the corner”! For those of us who have been at First Pres for many years, this also means it’s time for our annual flower basket sale!

To acquaint you with a bit of history, at one time our church was home to a preschool named “Glory Be Preschool”. Lori Arthur 

Carolyn Keefer

Morman, joined us as our Director of Family and Youth Ministries in 1995. Lori had already been inspired by her previous positions as the former Director of the Child Care Center of the Lutheran Church in Puyallup, WA, and then the preschool director at another church once she moved to CDA. According to her husband, Steve, she had a heart for starting a preschool at First Pres, which led her to begin researching and developing such a program. With the support and encouragement from colleague and Nursery Director, Bea McDonald, and the collaboration among members of the Glory Be Board, the planning continued for several years. 

Unfortunately, due to a diagnosis of ALS, Lori had to retire in January 2000, and the disease eventually led to her death in 2001. Lori’s cherished aspiration was not forgotten, however, and the Glory Bee Preschool opened its doors in 2008, led by its first director, Susan Nelson in honor of Lori and Bea. The first staff included Susie Fischer, Bev Teerink and Melody Dobit followed by many faithful who served the children.

From that time on, flowers were sold every spring to financially support the preschool. In 2015, our Session and church family launched a campaign to build what is now Krueger Hall, and the issues of finances and space required closing the preschool. 

In January 2019, Carley Walker was hired as Director of our Children & Family Ministry. She revived the flower sales that spring to support the ministry, and it has since become a First Pres annual event!

Kierstie Renninger, our current director of Family Ministries, has continued this fundraiser for her program. All proceeds benefit special events that promote Family Culture at 1st Pres. Those activities include our Summer Worship Series, the Christmas Cruise, and other special events throughout the year.

The flowers we purchase are from a local grower, and all proceeds benefit Family Ministries. We are taking orders now for the flowers, which will be delivered to the church for pickup on Wednesday, May 7th. That means they will be available to you just in time for Mother’s Day!

The flowers are geraniums in red, pink, or orange. We also offer mixed baskets in a variety of colors that contain petunias, calibrachoa, and bacopa. These are perfect for brightening your garden all summer long! Each arrangement costs $40.00. You may place your order on Sunday at the display in Krueger Hall, or you may go online through the church's giving portal.  The Family Ministries team thanks you for your support!

In His Name, Carolyn