BNP Cooking Day – A Success!

by Office Manager | Nov 18, 2014 | 2014, Newsletter Articles

Just in case you’ve forgotten, or maybe never knew, BNP is the acronym for Brethren Nutrition Program. This program of church outreach functions from the soup kitchen located in the Washington City Church of the Brethren.

On Saturday, October 18th, we had an afternoon of group cooking in the Oakton kitchen preparing food for BNP. My personal input to our cooking day included pick up of donated produce from Garner’s Produce LLC of Warsaw, VA. They were very generous in their donation. At approximately 2PM cooks of many ages were assembled and functioning with high efficiency in the church kitchen and fellowship hall. The crew for the day included:

Emma Bachman
Jan Fischer-Bachman
Missy and Sary Burket
Cathy Carson
Mary Ellen Judd
Kay Lee
John Shafer
Anne, Audrey and Gillian Sullivan
and Al Zebrowski

Fellowship hall was converted to central chopping quarters, kitchen counter-tops to soup assembly plants and the stove to “cooking zone central”. After approximately 4 hours – a significant amount of that time was spent waiting for soups to cool – our cooking day was almost complete. Four different kinds of soups, as well as some chopped produce, were bagged and frozen. Carolyn Nestman, from BNP, picked up all prepared food on Monday, October 20th. She left with approximately 18 gallons of soup and as least 25 pounds of produce. Carolyn estimated that the food contribution from Oakton would supply the BNP for almost 3 months!

Karl Wilkerson coincidentally arrived shortly after Carolyn and assisted with the loading of her car. He agreed – a large quantity of frozen food is quite heavy! The Oakton all-church cooking day was sponsored by the Action-Reflection Committee. The day’s cooks and the committee have already loosely discussed plans for the next cooking day, some time during the 1st quarter of next year.

All in all, it was a great day; some fun, good conversation and significant education in squash preparation (thank you Anne Sullivan) were all part of our cooking day.

~Submitted by Cathy Carson

Fahrney-Keedy Plans Wreaths Fest, Luminaria Display on Dec. 13

by Office Manager | Nov 5, 2014 | 2014, Newsletter Articles

A Festival of Wreaths and a Luminaria Remembrance Display will occur at Fahrney-Keedy Home and Village from 3 to 7 p.m., Saturday, December 13.

The wreath event, along with a bake sale, will be from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Silent auction bidding, which begins in mid-November on nearly 50 donated wreaths, will conclude at the festival, and winners of the wreaths announced after 5 p.m. on the 13th. All proceeds from auctioned wreaths and from the bake sale will support Pastoral Care Ministries. Potential buyers are encouraged to visit Fahrney-Keedy often during the four weeks the wreaths will be on display, and check the status of their bids, increasing them as they wish. Bids will be accepted in $5 increments.

“The wreaths are ideal for decorating homes and businesses,” said Twyla Rowe, chaplain, and committee chair for the event. “The fact that this festival can help buyers decorate for the holidays and will support Fahrney-Keedy pastoral programming makes it a real win-win.”

Also at 5 p.m. on December 13, Fahrney-Keedy’s Auxiliary will be lighting its third annual luminaria display on walks and curbsides around the campus. The display will last until 7 p.m. A luminaria is a paper bag filled with two inches of sand and a votive candle placed in the middle of the bag.  People may pay $5 for each for as many candles as they would like to be lit at nightfall in honor or memory of selected friends or family members.  All proceeds from the display will go to support the many services the Auxiliary provides to Fahrney-Keedy.

People are invited to come and see the wreaths on display and place bids on as many as they would like to purchase. While perusing the wreaths and baked goods, visitors will be entertained with holiday music played by local, talented musicians. Horse-drawn sleigh rides will be available, too, as will refreshments offered for enjoyment. People may donate baked goods, with a list of the ingredients, on Friday, December 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Saturday, December 13, from noon until 2 p.m.

Luminaria order forms are available at the Fahrney-Keedy Gift Shop and on the Fahrney-Keedy website, listed under the News and Announcements section (www.fkhv.org).  The deadline for reservations and payment for luminaria displays is Dec. 1.

For further information about the wreath festival, contact Twyla Rowe at 301-671-5008; for luminaria information, call Diane Giffin, vice president of the Auxiliary, at 301-824-2340.

A continuing care retirement community, Fahrney-Keedy is along Route 66 a few miles north of Boonsboro.  With nearly 180 full-, part-time and contract associates it serves a resident population of more than 200 women and men in independent living, assisted living and long- and short-term nursing care.  Fahrney-Keedy is committed to enhancing the lives of seniors through caring quality service.  For more information, please call Deborah Haviland, Director of Marketing, at 301-671-5038, or Linda Reed, Director of Admissions, at 301-671-5007.

Exciting Things are Happening at BNP!

by Office Manager | Nov 4, 2014 | 2014, Newsletter Articles

BNP (Brethren Nutrition Program) is pleased to announce that, starting in 2015, we will be open on Thursdays. This will put us back on a full schedule, and will allow us to feed more of our hungry neighbors more often.

Be sure to read the full newsletter here and stay tuned for other upcoming BNP news and happenings!!

Our Christmas Craft Show ~ Nov. 20, 21, 22

by Office Manager | Nov 3, 2014 | 2014, Newsletter Articles

It’s a local holiday tradition now in its 21st year – Oakton Church of the Brethren’s Christmas Craft Show! Come browse the wide variety of hand-made items and craft supplies for purchase and enjoy the soup and sandwich lunch and bake sale. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 20 and 21, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22. There is no admission charge.

It all takes place downstairs in our church, which is located at 10025 Courthouse Rd., Vienna, Va., where Courthouse Rd. intersects Rt. 123 near Oakton. You’ll find one-of-a-kind presents and stocking stuffers; seasonal décor such as Thanksgiving centerpieces, Christmas ornaments and wreaths; cards and gift bags; jewelry; soaps, lotions and balms; ceramics; pillows and linens; kitchen accessories; baby and children’s items; scarves, hats and other attire; fresh baked pies and cakes and much, much more.

Once again, this show is “boutique” or consignment-style. A $20 crafter sign-up fee and 10 percent of sales go toward church projects, such as the fund for repayment of the disability access renovation loan.

A unique feature of our show is that, besides crafts, we also sell craft supplies. Every year many of our registered crafters consign or donate craft supplies to our craft supplies sales room, where you’ll find supplies like yarn, fabric, sewing notions, craft kits, etc.

We also welcome donations from the congregation of crafts, craft supplies and baked goods. These items are tagged “Oakton COB” and 100 percent of the price goes to the church. As we prepare for the show, a signup sheet for the congregation’s donations of lunch ingredients will be in the narthex.

Volunteers from our church family are needed, too! Many hands make light work. There are a number of jobs for the congregation including set up, food preparation and serving, and tear down. Please contact Pat Reed. And help us spread the word about this fun community event! Fliers are available in the narthex or contact the church office.

Quilt Raffle at the Craft Show
Look for the Amish-made quilt on display at the craft show. Buy raffle tickets to win the quilt and you’ll be supporting church youth projects.

November Volunteer List

by Office Manager | Oct 31, 2014 | 2014, Newsletter Articles