A Seasonal Challenge

With summer officially here, many of us may be planning to take a vacation. Some of us may even be reading this at a vacation destination! With many members of our community out of town, summer blood drives tend to struggle.

The following information was provided by a representative of the Great Lakes Region of the American Red Cross:

In a spring survey of Red Cross blood and platelet donors, nearly 90% of donors plan to take a vacation this summer.
Many school where blood drives are held are out of session during the summer months.
During the summer months of June, July, and August, approximately two fewer donors schedule an appointment to give at each Red Cross blood drive, which can add up to more than 100,000 fewer donations.

The American Red Cross, Andrews University, and PMC are sponsoring a blood drive this Sunday, June 29, from 12 PM to 6 PM, at Pioneer Memorial Church. We encourage everyone to help alleviate this seasonal challenge by volunteering to give blood this Sunday.

If you're wondering if you are eligible to give blood, the requirements are simple (American Red Cross):

Be in good general health and feeling well.
Be at least 17-years-old, or 16-years-old with parental consent.
Weigh at least 110 lbs.

To book an appointment, log onto www.redcrossblood.org (sponsor code: Andrews University) or call 1800-733-2767.

See you Sunday!

by Kryzia Abacan
Information provided by JP Lanning, American Red Cross

Forgotten Facts about the RMES Garage Sale

Merlin and Wanda Poole had two school-age kids and decided to move to Berrien Springs from the suburbs of Illinois in 1988. Their children were soon enrolled at Andrews Academy & Ruth Murdoch Elementary School. The next year, Wanda was asked to be the RMES Home & School leader.

When asked about her passion to volunteer for this position for such a long time, she replied without hesitation, "My Christian parents always instilled in me the desire for service."

Wanda thought starting a garage sale would be a great fundraising idea; she had done something similar in Illinois. Wanda had a great support team: her parents, Roy and Cleo Wightman, faculty and parents. I could hear the excitement in Wanda’s voice when she said, “My parents & I made a great team; I could not have done it all those years without them.”

Wanda and her parents faithfully devoted 11 consecutive years, donating hundreds of hours to this cause. Every summer, they spend one month preparing and collecting for the big week. Wanda remembers there was a summer when she had to set up a large tent because there was no more space in the gym. She continues, “One summer the sale raised $17,000. No one ever got paid, every hour was donated to RMES.”

In closing our interview, Wanda said: “The community needs to be applauded, they were very generous.”

Would you like to get involved again? The RMES Garage Sale will be happening June 28-July 5. Remember, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:6).

by Willyta Ruiz-Wamack, Assistant to the Principal at Ruth Murdoch Elementary School

"Take a Number"

Don’t you love to hear, “Take a number,” when you’re already in a hurry! But have you noticed—it’s as if the headlines bombarding us lately are themselves stepping out of an interminable “take a number” line. Must be why something keeps telling us we have yet to hear from the last of them.

Here are a few of the ones we’ve already heard from this spring turned summer...read more

by Dwight Nelson, Lead Pastor

Sanctuary Choir

The Sanctuary Choir will be singing for church on June 27.

There is one more rehearsal for this appointment: June 24, 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the Teen Loft.

If you would like to lift your voice with singing, contact director, Jeannie Pedersen-Smith. jean.pedersen.smith@gmail.com 269-277-0488, voice or text

Pioneer Memorial Church

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