Would you like to know how you can get involved?

Would you like to know how you can help Central give hope to 50 children?

We can arrange to have a speaker come to your event. We have a large team of  volunteers who have experienced Maputsoe first-hand. Each of us has our own story to tell. Each of us can give you a very personal glimpse into our Mission at Rachel’s Children’s Home.

For more information or to arrange a speaker, you can contact us at rachelshome@cpcmail.ca or you can contact the church office at (519)  623-1080.

There will be books, crafts, baked goods, toys and much more.

Rachel’s Home is suffering through a food crisis. In response, we’ve brought back the In & Out box program. Each envelope identifies an item of food that you can buy for the children at Rachel’s Home.

This is how it will work. Please pickup an envelope from the out-box. An item and its price will be written on the outside. Place the money for the purchase in the envelope and return it to the in-box.

These items will be such things as a jar of peanut butter or a box of macaroni. Prices will range from $1-$5. You can of course, choose to double up your order. Every little bit helps!

Each week, we will gather up the returned envelopes and add the purchased items to our regular order at the SPAR in Ficksburg.

Flower Basket Order Form 2011

I’m no brick-layer or electrician. I’m no carpenter or teacher, I’m not a leader. I’m not a lot of things that this mission needs.

I guess I am someone who said yes. Admittedly, it was a doubtful and reluctant yes; but, it was a yes nonetheless. I lacked faith in my own abilities. In fact, I still do; but to say yes, to surrender, is to trust that you will be provided with what you need, when you need it.

So, there are 27 of us. Some of us bring specific skills and talents. All of us bring heart and a willingness to say “Yes”. I guess I do have something that the mission needs after all.

I’ve always felt a certain sense of guilt about singing the offering hymn “A bleak mid-winter’s night”.

What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man,
I would do my part.Yet what I can, I give him.
Give him my heart.

God has been so generous to me. I felt I was being ungrateful by implying that despite everything he has given me, friends, family, and an easy, comfortable life, I somehow had nothing.

Now, I think I might get it. In terms of the specific talents and skills needed for this mission, I am the subject of that song. I don’t have the talents that some of the others do; but,I can still contribute simply by giving what I do have. I can work hard. I can be a grunt.  I can give my heart.

I guess I don’t have to feel guilty any more.

This was written by a member of our team prior to the 2009 mission. You don’t have to be a tradesman or a teacher, a preacher or a leader. You just have to be willing to listen to God’s call. You just have to give your heart, your strength and your mind over to showing God’s love to your neighbours whether their around the block or halfway around the world.

Currently, there are 50 students in the school and 4 teachers. We are also sponsoring 7 students at boarding school and 4 students at university. One student is in a gifted program and hopes to become a doctor. Our first student will graduate university next year with a degree in nursing. This will have such a positive impact on Lesotho as the next generation begins rebuilding a country devastated by AIDS.

As sponsors, we provide tuition as well as money for housing, food and expenses. Without Central Presbyterian Church’s support, education would be unattainable for these young people and they could only look forward to a bleak future.

We also continue to support the orphans at Rachel’s Home by providing milk, bread, peanut butter and vitamins. Sometimes this is the only food they receive in a week and so it is vital to their health.

Unfortunately, Hilda’s health is not good and she needs surgery. A temporary manager must be found to run the orphanage and school while she is recovering. We hope and pray for her and her health. Hilda is the backbone of Rachel’s Home and she needs to be strong.

Please pray for Hilda, Godwill and all the children. We are making a difference in so many lives. The orphans we help now, will continue to help others as they become educated.

Thank you for your support.

Flower Basket Order Form 2011

Lois Cherry

Lois Cherry grew up in Galt, where she studied piano with Miss Louise Birch. She attended The University of Western Ontario, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music, followed by an ARCT from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Lois has taught piano since the age of 17, and is currently teaching in Guelph. She is an experienced accompanist, playing for singers, instrumentalists, choirs and musicals.

Central Presbyterian Church is very familiar to Lois. She attended the church with her family, sang in the junior choir and belonged to many youth groups and feels honored to be returning here tonight.

Brian Otto

Brian has many years of  both amateur and professional credits as an actor and singer.  His professional appearances include principal roles at the Drayton Festival, Port Hope Festival, Theatre Muskoka and George Ignatieff Theatre in Toronto, and he has also appeared at Huron Country Playhouse and Port Dover Festival.  He has worked frequently with many of the area’s community groups, most recently appearing in the role of Rev. Shaw Moore in KW Musical Productions’ “Footloose” at the Centre in the Square, and the lead role of David O. Selznick in Elmira Theatre Company’s award-winning production of “Moonlight and Magnolias”.  He has been a tenor with The Renaissance Singers for the past 7 seasons, and is now directing a production of the multiple award-winning play “The History Boys” which will be seen at the Registry Theatre in Kitchener in May.

Program

My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose                                                  Robert Burns
Maria from West Side Story Leonard Bernstein

Stephen Sondheim

Tenor: Brian Otto

Piano: Lois Cherry

The Ladies of Love

Fur Elise                                                                                             Ludwig van Beethoven
Nola                                                                                                    Felix Arndt
Bethena                                                                                              Scott Joplin
Piano: Lois Cherry

Lady in Red                                                                                       Chris de Burgh
Shouldn’t I Be Less in Love with You? from  I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

Joe DiPietro

Andrew Roberts
Tenor: Brian Otto

Piano: Lois Cherry

Africa

Ufie III                                                                                      Christian Onyeji
Dancing Barefoot in the Rain                                                          Nkeiru Okoye
Dusk                                                                                                   Nkeiru Okoye
Lullaby                                                                                                Isak Roux
Builsa Work Song                                                                             J. H. Kwabena Nketia
Piano: Lois Cherry

On this Night of a Thousand Stars from Evita Andrew Lloyd-Webber

Tim Rice

Bring Him Home from Les Miserables Claude-Michel Schönberg

Alain Boulblil

Herbert Kretzmer

Tenor: Brian Otto

Piano: Lois Cherry