Connecting Caring Communities

News

HSU Writes Article About NorthPark Friendship House

Posted: Nov 23, 2009 in main | 0 comments

In mid November, North Park Community Coordinator, and HSU Alumni, Danyel Rogers,  was asked to speak to a group of Baptists at their annual convention in Houston about missional living and the impact the Friendship House has played in her families life.  HSU Columnist Janlyn Thaxton was there to record the event and shares an article with the HSU family that is available on their website.

To read the article about the NorthPark Friendship House written by Janlyn follow the link: https://mail.hsutx.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.hsutx.edu/news%2520details.aspx?Channel=%252fChannels%252fContent%2BChannel%26WorkflowItemID=505f7029-6047-4335-be53-f628b13124c6

CCC sells beautiful music for everyone!

Posted: Nov 19, 2009 in main | 1 comments

Instrumental CDs now for sale benefiting Connecting Caring Communities.

There are few sounds more beautiful than great piano music wonderfully arranged and performed. Abilene native Sarah Mulkey's series of CD's are a great addition to your collection-- or as a gift! You may remember Sarah as a former board and staff member of CCC!


The series includes Calm & Bright: Songs of the Season, Softly & Tenderly: Piano Meditations for the Soul; Draw Me Nearer: More Piano Meditations for the Soul; and Night Songs: For Babies & Other Gentle Souls. Get a free download of "Be Thou My Vision" here!

Each CD sells for only $5.00 or buy all four for $15.00. Shipping is available. These are available exclusively through CCC! Order or come by today!

To place order call 325.232.8241, email orders@wecareabilene.org or come by our office at 402 Cypress St, Ste 420 in Abilene.

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CALM & BRIGHT: SONGS FOR THE SEASON -- Holiday Instrumental

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NIGHT SONGS: FOR BABIES & OTHER GENTLE SOULS -- Instrumental, Vocal

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SOFTLY & TENDERLY: PIANO MEDITATIONS FOR THE SOUL -- Instrumental hymns

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DRAW ME NEARER: MORE PIANO MEDITATIONS FOR THE SOUL -- Instrumental hymns

Photo Fun

Posted: Nov 04, 2009 in main | 0 comments

HSU student, and volunteer Laura Guerra shares her passion for photography with neighborhood kids and other volunteers.

Laura for 3 weeks worked with neighborhood kids and other volunteers to teach them some basic photography skills, from shooting pics of still objects, to action photos and portraits.  The kids got to practice on disposable cameras, a SLR film camera and a digital camera.  Here are some of the photos they produced:

 

2009 Community Showcase a Success

Posted: Nov 02, 2009 in main | 0 comments

Local performers entertained the Paramount crowd on October 29.

CCC's 2nd Annual Community Showcase was a great success! With many performers and guest artists, we were able to raise $10,000 to further the work of community renewal in Abilene. Performers included Twyla Foreman, Slim Chance, Monique Trinidad, The Memory Men, Red Rhythm & Blues, Pure Gold, Ballet Folklorico, Arjun & His Brother, Verity Harden and the debut of the Ecumenical Chorus of Abilene--local pastors and church leaders performing in silence. The show was emceed by State Representative Susan King and Michael Dickenson.  

And a very special thank you to our 2009 headline sponsors: Hardin-Simmons University, Lone Star Electric, MinuteMan Press, Key City Electric, and United Supermarkets.

Enjoy this short collection of photos (thanks to photographer Rob Carleton) and a memorable song from the evening below:

Below, enjoy the Ecumenical Chorus of Abilene's performance of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus at the Community Showcase. For one night only, these local pastors and church leaders, in their vow of silence, still desired to praise God-- so they improvised. Choristers included Jesse Bruton (Beltway Park Baptist Church), Derrell Patterson (Aldersgate United Methodist Church), Jerry Hendrix (Crosspoint Fellowship), Don Wilson (First Christian Church); Todd Wilson, Cody Favor, C.V. Blake, and Phil Christopher (First Baptist Church), Chad Mitchell (The Mission), Louis Johnson (North Park Baptist Church), Steve Ham (New Haven Community Church), Chuck Rodgers (YoungLife), Cliff Stewart (First Central Presbyterian), and Brad Carter (Connecting Caring Communities).  (With hidden surprises from CCC's Linda Carleton & Lori Thornton).

 

In addition to our 2009 headline sponsors: Hardin-Simmons University, Lone Star Electric, Key City Electric, and United Supermarkets, we want to thank our other sponsors: Aaron’s Sales & Lease, American Electric Power, Briercroft Fire & Water Restoration, First Financial Bank, Rentech Boiler System, and Susan Stroud at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. And CCC also wants to thank our ticket sponsors: American State Bank, Borden Duffel PC; CBS Insurance, LLP; Dale Funk, M.D., Samuel Garcia State Farm Insurance, Daniel and Tracey Munton, Matt Preston, EdwardJones, Senter, Realtors, and the Texas Democratic Women, Big Country Chapter.

 

Neighbors Update on NorthPark Chili Cookout

Posted: Oct 28, 2009 in main | 0 comments

Patri Bailey, who is the NorthPark Neighborhood Association President helps publish a monthly neighborhood newsletter and wrote this article about the recent neighborhood gathering to publish in the neighborhood newsletter.

 

   Well folks, it’s that time of year again.  You know...when the weather gets cooler; the sweaters come out of storage and kitchens are filled with the aroma of comfort foods.  I love fall.  Another reason I love fall is because here in our neighborhood, it’s the time that we cook chili and share hospitality with each other!  We had a pretty good gathering of folks this year on October 17th over at the Barbians and Dodsons shared empty lot, and for those of us that were able to make it we'll all agree that the food was WONDERFUL!  One of the chili’s was so popular that I asked for the recipe so that you could try it out at home.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!  It sure is pretty tasty!:

 

 

 

Danyel’s Turkey Chili

*  1-2 lbs. ground turkey (your choice)
*  1 onion chopped
*  2 jars tomatillo salsa
*  1 Tbsp. garlic powder (or 3-6 cloves fresh, minced)
*  4 tsp. chili powder
*  2 tsp. dried oregano
*  2 tsp. sugar
*  1 tsp. ground cumin
*  Salt to taste
*  6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
*  2 cans drained pinto beans
*  2 cans drained black beans
*  1-2 cups corn kernels
*  1 handful chopped fresh cilantro
*  2 Tbsp. lime juice
*  2 Tbsp. cornstarch
*  2 Tbsp. Water


1.       Saute ground turkey and chopped onion in skillet, set aside.
2.       In large pot stir together tomatillo salsa, garlic, chili, oregano, sugar, cumin, and salt.  Add broth and bring to a boil.
3.       Stir in beans, corn, cilantro, lime juice, and cooked turkey, once boiling again, reduce hit to a simmer.
4.       Put

cornstarch and water in a cup and stir to dissolve.  Put a spoonful of the chili in the cup and stir together and then pour mixture into pot.  Stir until slightly thickened and let simmer for 15 minutes.
5.       Optional garnishes:  cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro, crackers, chips, cornbread, etc.

Article by: Patri Bailey, NorthPark Neighborhood Association President

 

 

 

CCC joins America's Giving Challenge

Posted: Oct 08, 2009 in main | 0 comments

Let's win $50,000!!

America's Giving Challenge (logo)
Connecting Caring Communities just entered America's Giving Challenge, which gives us a chance to win $50,000! To win, between now and November 7th we have to get the most donations to our online cause page on Facebook (every person can donate once per day and have it count as a unique donation). No one has to have a Facebook account to donate, however. We can also win daily awards of $1,000 and $500 if we can get the most people to donate in any 24-hour period. The great thing about this Challenge is that it doesn't matter how much you give, but instead how much you do to encourage friends and family to get involved in our cause. We all need to come together and start promoting CCC if we want to win!

Each of us has tons of friends who we can ask to donate to our cause. Let's think big too—can you put our cause in your email signature, can you throw a party and get people to donate through the cause when they enter, can you organize other people to go out and fundraise from all of their friends? As you reach out to your friends be sure to tell them why CCC matters to you.

Here are some specific ways you can help CCC to win the overall prize and/or a daily prize:

I think we can do it! But it's going to take all of us. Visit our CCC cause page to see how we're doing so far and get involved!

Let's win $50,000 for CCC!

World Wide Day of Play

Posted: Sep 30, 2009 in main | 0 comments

NorthPark Friendship House children along with HSU Gamma Beta Phi and APO members gathered together on Saturday September 26th to "get out and play" together.  There were over 50 people who came to the HSU intramural fields to play volleyball, basketball, football, frisbee, soccer, and even duck duck goose to help encourage North Park neighbors to get out of the house and play outside rather than sit in front of the television.

Nickelodeon shut down its programming for 3 hours on Saturday, September 26th as a way to encourage, kids, teens and families to get out and play instead of sitting in front of the television.  We decided at the North Park Friendship House this would be a fun event we could help host in our neighborhood and Hardin-Simmons students from two different clubs came to play with neighborhood families, kids and teens.  From a two year old, up to several middle aged parents everyone had fun.  Mrs. Danyel, NorthPark Friendship House Coordinator and Mrs. Brenda, a Northpark neighbor and Friendship House parent, played a game of one on one basketball to see who still had the best skills-both were definately rusty from being out of sports for over ten years, but it was fun.  HSU student, Ashley Mangrum loved the opportunity to play duck duck goose, a game normally reserved for preschoolers became a favorite for preschoolers and college students to play together.  Even KTXS and the Abilene Reporter News came out to see what was going on-just a lot of fun and play with neighbors and friends!

At the End of the Rainbow

Posted: Sep 21, 2009 in main | 0 comments

Not exactly a pot of gold, but...

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Students and Parents Enjoy "Friendship Friday"

Posted: Sep 21, 2009 in college heights | 0 comments

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Celebrating a new program year with chili and friends

Kids Club and Teen Club are back up and operating for the 2009-2010 school year at the College Heights Friendship House.  Club members celebrated their first week back with a special "Friendship Friday" on Friday, September 18.  The special day included a delicious chili dinner prepared and served by volunteer Mrs. Holly Sobin, with financial assistance from the Hendrick Health System Auxiliary.

Kids Club activities this semester are geared towards providing young College Heights neighbors with quality time with volunteers and each other.  The schedule for this semester is:

Holly and Shawntel

 

Space is limited, but applications for Kids and Teen Clubs are still being accepted; volunteers for all days are also needed.  For more information, call Dusty Garison at 325-668-0014.

 

 

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Dum Ditty Dum Dum Dum

Posted: Sep 11, 2009 in north park | 0 comments

North Park neighborhood children get a lesson in making rhythm with drums and various rhythm instruments from Danny and Vera Snook.  All ages had a good time and tried out new instruments.

"This is just like being on Sesame Street, the drumming school episode", I commented.  Danny and Vera Snook showed up to teaching drumming to our neighborhood children, and had all the kids sit in a circle, each person with their own instrument-which included various types of drums and rhythm instruments.  Each child was given the opportunity to try out each instrument, the cow bell seemed to be a favorite, as well as the unique african instrument made of goat toe nails.  We learned the names of each instrument and where each instrument came from as well as getting to learn to make simple rhythms, follow patterns, make up our own rhythms, we even got to RUMBLE, which was one of the kids favorite things because they got beat on the instruments as loudly and quickly as they desired.  We learned the difference between making noise and making a rhythm and made up some rythms as a group that played all together created a new and unique song.  We can't wait until Danny and Vera come back again and teach us about some new instruments and more kinds of drums.  Everyone from Mya at age 2 all the way to a middle schooler, high schooler, and college students were able to participate and have a good time learning.