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Our Conference Chaplain
Reverend Richard Bartley
Village Grace Mission Web Site
22 Feb 2010
Our hope and prayers for a very blessed year goes out to
everyone -
I know that it has been a little over six weeks since I have sent out an
update from Village Grace and I cannot offer any excuses except that God has
BLESSED the Mission Center and the ministry of Village Grace immensely.
Actually I don't know where to start - So much has happened - OK let me try
and fill you in:
The Treasure Box Program started off with a few of our bigger supporters
pulling out this year for some unknown reason which was going to leave us
about 600 boxes short. This was going to force me to cut a whole school from
receiving the Treasure Boxes. I started to panic! Again this year I had to
pray and put the Treasure Boxes in God's hands and remember that He is in
control. Wow - that is hard for us to do sometimes isn't it? I sometimes
have that issue of planning too much and not letting God control the
situation, well He again taught me a BIG lesson in letting Him supply our
needs. After I checked with the schools and found out that the enrolment had
declined and some of the students had shifted - we only needed about 1250
boxes for our key Slavic Village schools. Amen!! In fact we had new
individuals step up and new churches join in and even new companies came on
board. In the midst of the recession when we were hit hard by most of our
long time loyal partners God sent us new partners and enough boxes so that
every child would receive one. Then our trailer that I pick up the boxes and
distribute to the schools was found out to have a broken axle and bent
frame, it was determined that it was unusable. We made call after call
trying to find one to purchase at a reasonable price - but we ran out of
luck when Kathy who volunteers at the center got one of her friends to loan
us his trailer for the three weeks that we needed it! Thanks tow both of
them!!! Plaza Management again donated a space at Northfield plaza for
Santa's workshop and 1,385 Treasure Boxes were assembled and tagged and
bagged for distribution by a host of volunteers. Then about two weeks before
the distribution our long time Santa Clause e-mailed me and informed me that
he was afraid of catching H1N1 and would not do Santa for us. Oh my! Now
what would we do, another round of calls went out and I tried to find a
Santa at the last minute to no avail. But the whole time we actually had a
Santa at Village Grace - John, my former student at Aviation High School,
who does our sound every Tuesday volunteered! God is good! All total this
year with your help $48,475 in cash, toys, health and necessity items was
distributed to the children around Village Grace in Slavic Village. Over the
15 years of the program you have contributed $858,475 to 18,070 children -
God has truly made a difference in so many children's lives with YOUR help!!
Thank You so very much!!
Then right after the that was finished we were blessed with donations to
completely carpet the whole church - Yes, the whole church! An individual
donated the carpet for the classroom and the computer room. He in turn
brought an installer who donated his time and the glue to install the
carpet. He measured the sanctuary and the office gave us prices at cost and
the rest is history. IT IS TRULY BEAUTIFUL!!! I will try to post some
pictures on the web if I can get someone to help me with the web page.
We also had new custom made counters that are 18" wide for the computers
installed in both rooms, new flat screen monitors and new computers donated.
Both rooms were just painted with "calming colors" - blue and green as
suggested by a psychologist who did her masters on the subject - we will see
if it works. Both rooms have been wired electrically for the computers and
wired to the server.
We have been pretty busy as you can see by the update.
For those of you who want to be involved again this year:
1. We are starting to fill in the Community Meal months. - May through
December are open. This is a good way for your group to be blessed by
preparing and serving a meal for approximately 125 people at Village Grace.
Simple or Gourmet.
2. Want to spend 2 hours a month mentoring a young person? Don't let the
streets steal all of our youth!! Get involved.
3. How about spending 2 1/2 hours on Friday evening at game night! Good
weather - outdoor activities. Poor weather - board games / Movie.
4. Still begging for a web master - - - - - - - - H E L P! ! ! ! !
Reida and I just want to take time to thank everyone from the bottom of our
hearts for the support that you have given to Village Grace this year.
This year Village Grace ended the fiscal year financially in the BLACK!!
AMEN!!!!!
Thank You,
We Keep Movin' for the Lord!
Rich and Reida Bartley
19 Dec 2009
As we enter into the Holiday Season – I have a few thoughts that I would like to share with all of you who actually read this…
First – As we celebrate at our Christmas and New Years parties – remember to stay safe and PLEASE – “DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE”
I have attended a few parties this month and the fellowship, friendship and camaraderie among the Blue Knights is amazing! What a great organization – I am so proud to be a small part.
I would like to personally thank , from the bottom of my heart the Blue Knight Chapters in Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio that have donated to the “Treasure Box” Christmas gift program this year! Reida and I are in the third day of passing out "Treasure Boxes" to the kids in inner-city Cleveland Schools. We are giving gifts to over 1300 children this year.
One of the problems with doing a program like this is that I had a hard time sleeping last night! Children's comments and expressions of innocent joy were dancing around in my head. True excitement - and some had tears of joy over receiving socks, hats, gloves, pencils, toothpaste, toothbrush and deodorant. one child so happy over toothbrush - because now he would have one to keep at his dad's house when he went to visit. A young girl was mesmerized by lavender deodorant "It smells so pretty - Oh thank you" and then she put it on - right in class! A snow globe will now be re-gifted to one child's grandmother because she collects them, a t-shirt will be re-gifted to a little brother because it will fit him and he loves the Indians and a $5 dollar bill will be spent on 2 bags of cool ranch Doritos because they are on sale! So many grateful comments - So much Joy!!
---------BUT---------
As I tried to sleep I thought of other children that I have observed that are not thankful of the "EXPENSIVE" gifts that parents try and shower them with so that they get more "stuff" than the parent have ever gotten. Because somehow they think that this is what will make them happy. They buy the children's love by fulfilling their "wants" (thanks to the TV) - not their "needs".
We just don't get it!!
But after 16 years of giving "Treasure Boxes" with the love of Jesus Christ to over 20,000 children, I believe that it would be safe to say... We should be teaching our children and grand-children the the joy in receiving gifts is not the quantity or the price of the gift - - - - IT IS THE LOVE THAT IS BEHIND IT!!!!!
Ride with Pride!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to ALL!!
Chappie
GLRC Chaplain
P.S. To Indiana III: Yes I do know the date of New Years Eve!!!!!
28 Nov 2009:
Richard Bartley sent a message to the members of Village Grace Mission Center.
Subject: November Update
"November - Treasure Boxes are rolling in!!!! Praise God! We will be collecting boxes through December 16th. New carpet has been installed in the kids classroom, computer room and the Mission Center office. We could use some painting volunteers before Christmas. We were able to bless 33 families with Thanksgiving baskets and turkeys. Thanks to all for their support!!! We need food donations for Christmas baskets!"
As you prepare for November 26th - the day that all of us
sit down and give thanks for our country and our family, I would like you to
remember to give thanks for your friends! Especially your Blue Knight
friends - - -
FRIENDS: Get upset if you're too busy to talk to them for a week.
BLUE KNIGHT FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will happily carry
on the
same conversation you were having the last time you met.
FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
BLUE KNIGHT FRIENDS: Have cried with you.
FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
BLUE KNIGHT FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.
FRIENDS: Know a few things about you..
BLUE KNIGHT FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.
FRIENDS: Are for a while.
BLUE KNIGHT FRIENDS: Are for life.
FRIENDS: Have shared a few experiences...
BLUE KNIGHT FRIENDS: Have shared a lifetime of experiences no citizen could
ever
dream of...
FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you've had enough.
BLUE KNIGHT FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say,
'You
better drink the rest of that before you spill it!!' Then carry you home
safely
and put you to bed...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And every once in awhile something will come through your e-mail that you
step back and say WOW!
I would like to share with everyone something that was sent to me by a
friend.
Always a Cop:
Once the badge goes on, it never comes off, whether they can see it, or not.
It
fuses to the soul through adversity, fear and adrenaline and no one who has
ever
worn it with pride, integrity and guts, can ever sleep through the 'call of
the
wild' that wafts through bedroom windows in the deep of the night.
When Cops Retire
When a good cop leaves the 'job' and retires to a better life, many are
jealous,
some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired, wonder. We
wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know. We
know,
for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it
will
remain as a longing for those past times. We know in the law enforcement
life
there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the
back of the closet . We know even if he throws them away, they will be on
him
with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the
very
bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.
These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people
suspiciously,
still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at
the
rest of the law enforcement world with a respect for what they do; only
grown in
a lifetime of knowing. Never think for one moment you are escaping from that
life. You are only escaping the 'job' and merely being allowed to leave
'active' duty.
So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your
heart
you never forget for one moment that 'Blessed are the Peacemakers for they
shall
be called children of God,' and you are still a member of the greatest
fraternity the world has ever known.
Have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving - Don't forget to give thanks to God
for everything!!
Chappie
October 2009 Update
Village Grace Mission Center
"Touching Hearts - One At A Time"
3561 Independence Rd Cleveland Oh 44105
216-341-2419
So many churches and organizations have been immensely blessed by partnering with us the past 15 years during the Holiday season. This year Village Grace will be giving at least 40 Holiday Baskets to families in our neighbourhood at Thanksgiving and at Christmas. In addition, we will be presenting “Treasure Boxes” to the children in our neighbourhood and the local schools. We invite you, your company or your church to “partner” with us this Holiday season by collecting food for our Holiday Food Baskets or by collecting small Christmas gifts to distribute to disadvantaged children in Southeast Cleveland . Our goal this year is to provide 2200 shoeboxes filled with “FUN” stuff - toys, books, gloves, scarves, etc. - for needy children in our area. We are trying to enlist the help of various individuals, churches, companies and organizations in Northern Ohio . Your help this year would touch the lives of so many children in need. If you feel you can participate or have any questions at all, please call me at (cell) 216-299-0752. We ask that all donations be collected by December 6th so that we can pick them up and distribute the boxes the week of December 14th.
Village Grace is being stretched to the limits. So many people are falling on hard times that the need for the compassion ministries that we provide is on the increase while our resources and funds are on the decrease. God has been good to us and we have been able to help quite a few families the last few months. We have had two professions of faith this quarter and three new people asking a whole lot of questions. Keep Michael, Rick, Darryl and Tim in your prayers that God will touch and open their hearts.
There is good news - God has blessed us again! As you may know - we feed about 100 to 150 people the last Saturday of each month. Our carpet has really taken a beating over the last 6 years from food and drink spills (kids and adults alike). It desperately needs to be replaced. On Wednesday of this week a certain person who I will not name at this time brought a carpet installer to Village Grace. They measured the computer room and the children's classroom and informed me that they will be replacing and installing new carpet in those two rooms at no cost to us. In addition they are going to purchase and install new counter tops for the computers to sit on. (Our tables are starting to warp). Again this will be a total donation!! And they are negotiating to have the carpet cleaned each month after the community meal. WOW - Again at no cost to us - I was totally blown away! The carpet installer measured the sanctuary and both offices and told me that at his cost the material to do these three rooms and the pulpit would be $2175. And if I could raise the money for the material he would install it for FREE!!!!! I prayed last night for direction and spent most of today talking to a few companies and individuals about donating funds to help purchase the carpet. Again - I was blown away because between pledges and donations in one day we now have $1100 towards the carpet We are HALF WAY there in just 24 hours!!!! Please pray that we can raise the $1200 balance that we need. Any help that can be sent our way will be greatly appreciated.
Friday game night is going strong. We have a few volunteers that are working with the kids on a regular basis but can use a few more - If you have time to give once a month for two or three hours let us know. Our volunteer Kathy has been working on a mentorship program. This will help keep the kids off the street and be a great way to witness to them. We hope to start the pilot program around the first of the year.
Got some spare time?? Volunteer opportunities -
1. Redesign the Village Grace web site.
2. Volunteer on Friday evenings to help with board games.
3. Collect food for a Thanksgiving dinner.
4. Collect food for a Christmas dinner.
5. Be a mentor.
6. Volunteer to host a community meal.
7. Play music and/or sing at Tuesday service.
8. Make a Treasure Box!!
9. Volunteer to help collect Treasure Boxes at work, church, small group.
10. Help us find 10 flat screen monitors (Somebody has downsized and they are just sitting in a store room somewhere.)
In His Service,
Rich and Reida
Hi Everyone,
Just a few words of encouragement as the month of August is starting -
The summer has past it's half way point and the riding season is dwindling
down so very fast. The last month has been a blur - BUT -
I want to personally thank everyone who has participated in chapter rides
and police oriented fund raising activities this summer. Allot of the rides
cost money but the benefits have lasting effects and fulfill the Blue
Knights International By-Laws. After meeting and talking to Ed Gallant (One
of the founding fathers) at the International Convention in Louisville, he
reminded me that sometimes we forget the original purpose and goals of the
Blue Knights.
Our purposes and goals are to:
1. Provide for the mutual assistance, enjoyment, entertainment, education,
physical, mental and social benefit of its members and the general public.
2. To promote and advance the sport of motorcycling and the safety of
motorcycling.
3. To serve the interests of motorcycle owners and users.
4. To promote by example and any other acceptable means, safe use, operation
and enjoyment of motorcycles.
5. To develop a fraternal spirit between law enforcement personnel and the
general public.
I truly believe that the Northern Ohio Chapters are banding together and
starting to support each other and the fundraising rides that are held in
high esteem by each different chapter. You see, everytime we ride people
look at us under a microscope - It is so impressive to see 25-30 Blue
Knights from 5 or 6 chapters attending the different events. It shows unity,
comradery and friendship that other people can see and then ask "How can I
become a Blue Knight", "It looks like they are having allot of fun".
A lot of discussion on the question "How do we increase membership and get
younger people to join" was done in Louisville. Many chapters are loosing
members. Why are they leaving? We all need to do some soul searching and ask
ourselves if we have become stale. A Iowa III member told me that a chapter
is only a good as it's members. How true that is - Are we supporting the
other chapters that are close to us geographically? Are we excited about the
things that our chapter is doing? Are we asking our friends, or our fellow
workers to ride with us? Do we carry a membership application to give to
qualified people that we meet? Do we go to places that others are at to show
that we truly are the "Good Guys"? Do volunteer to help out at Charity
Rides? HAVE WE FORGOTTEN WHY WE JOINED THE BLUE KNIGHTS?
OR - Are we doing things the way we have always done them even if they don't
work?? And seeing our friends drift away?
Let's turn the page on this book and start to look at ourselves in a more
positive way - Scripture states in John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than
this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Do we love our brothers and sisters? Do we love ourselves?
P.S.
I would like to extend my personal thanks to the Board of Governors and the
General membership for the "Distinguished Service Award" that was presented
at the International banquet. For one of the few times in my live I was
completely speechless! It meant allot to Reida and myself that we singled
out of 606 chapters in 30 countries and over 20,000 members. I am honored
and privileged to be a member of the best group of people in the world!
Thank You my friends!
Chappie
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