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Christ Kitchen Newsletter March 2004
What's Cookin' at the Kitchen?
Happy Spring!
A Note from Jan
As the huge snow pile outside my window finally melts away and the crocuses begin to peak through the soil, I'm reminded of the Lord's promise in Psalm 40 that He will put a new song in our mouths. My hymn of praise is for all of you who prayed so diligently for us this past year and those of you who bought our products and donated your time, talents and resources. Many new people heard about the Christ Kitchen ministry from you brave souls who sold our wares to your friends, neighbors and churches. We are deeply thankful for all your work and support. See details of our Financial summary for 200d below.
We're busy making gorgeous Easter Baskets for you to give or send to loved ones. Did you know that the word "resurrection" literally means, "to rise up or cause to stand"? Our mission at CK is to aid women living in poverty to rise up out of poverty and to stand on their own feet with the security of Christ.
We've been praying about the financial health of CK employees and are developing a savings program which you can read about below.
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Next Christmas, we're planning a Nativity Event! Artistic renditions of the manger scene will be on display and auctioned at a unique Christmas party. We'd love to get your artistic juices flowing! See Calling All Artists below.
Some Thoughts from CK women appear below as well as CK prayer requests. There are numerous ways to get involved with CK as a volunteer. See the Volunteer Corner and Announcements. Our New Products and ideas are so exciting.
Proceeds from the He's Got the Power concert by high-schoolers from Boulder, Colorado Presbyterian Church will benefit Christ Kitchen. See details below.
So, as the Spring sun melts Winter away, would you pray that every woman who walks through our doors would be intrigued by the Lord's promises and find a fresh start? May new songs burst forth from your blessings. May your garden bloom with Primise. Blessings, Jan. |
We'd like to start a financial mentorship project at CK where caring, committed believers could team up with interested CK employees to encourage, teach and promote financial health. The idea is to start a voluntary savings program in which CK women could set goals for the future, learn principles of budgeting and financial stewardship, and then save a set amount out of each check to meet those goals. We'd like to match their savings with donations. So, for example, let's say Judy wants to save $10 per week for the next year with the goal of starting an education fund for her 7 year old, at the end of one year, she's have saved $120. If we could fine some donors who would match that amount, she could put $240 towards her son's college education. Experiential learning seems to be a great way to teach new lessons and change old habits. Want to get involved? Call Jan, 325-4343.
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"I heard of a Nativity scene created entirely out of match sticks and began to dream.." Jan.
If you could create the most unusual, intriguing Nativity Scene any size, any shape, using any medium, what would you create?
Would you consider donating your creation to a Christ Kitchen Auction next Fall?
Start to dream!
For details and additional information write or call , 325-4343.
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| Patty Gay Christ Kitchen Employee. Patty has been coming to Christ Kitchen since 2000. She signs up all new women when they come to work and is our official greeter. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 23 years ago and slowly isolated herself from people and God. She was sad and bitter, until one day someone asked her to come to the Kitchen. "The Bible study gave me an understanding of Christianity and thus gave me the courage to stand up at my church and make a commitment to Jesus Christ. You are helping to change lives."
Jamie Webb Christ Kitchen Volunteer. Jamie faithfully makes lunch for the women once a month. "There is no other place I've been where I can see the faith and heart of Christ so clearly. I am so in awe of the commitment that the women make to God. I have gotten support and encouragement from the women by sharing prayer needs. They have lifted me up spiritually. I would invite others to come to Christ Kitchen. Once you see what God is doing in the lives of these women, your life will be changed too."
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Kendra Doellefeld Whitworth student volunteer. Kendra is a Junior at Whitworth and has been involved with Christ Kitchen for 3 years. "I spent those 3 years primarily selling products both on and off campus. Beginning this semester, I am at the Kitchen every week. It has become the highlight of my week to visit with the women, Jan and the other volunteers. To eat, pray and fellowship together is a wonderful experience. It is refreshing, in its own chaotic way, to be at the Kitchen after a long week of schoolwork, surrounded by many devout women of faith—to hear them speak of trust, patience and grace is a shinning example to me. No matter what we have here in this physical world, we are always full to overflowing with the love of God, which surpasses all understanding.Praise be to Him!
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| Easter Basket Sale. April 2nd at West Presbyterian Church, 2709 W. Boone. Hours are 9 am—6 pm.
We are busy making Easter Baskets for our sale. Easter is coming and what better way to tell your friends and family that you are thinking about them than with a beautiful Easter basket from Christ Kitchen. Order ahead and we'll have your basket ready for you. If you need a last minute gift, we have ready-made baskets for your convenience.
Care Packages. Send a Christ Kitchen Care Package to your diligent college student, homesick camper, overwhelmed new mom or favorite old friend. We have dorm-friendly items as well as whole meals ready to send out for you. Just give us a call. 325-4343.
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New Products. Crock Pot Meals! We will be adding crock-pot recipes to our product line soon. As our lives get busier, preparing wholesome and healthy meals becomes more and more difficult. We have discovered that cooking meals in a crock pot is easy and practical. Now, you will be able to buy delicious crock pot spice packages from Christ Kitchen. Instead of rushing home to make dinner, assemble your dinner before you leave home in the morning and Viola, dinner when you get home. What could be more simple? Look for them in the next few months.
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Store Displays. A wonderful donor is making countertop displays for businesses to present and sell CK products. What a gift to us! Do you know of a store or business that would want to sell Christ Kitchen products? call Jan. 325-4343.
Sales Reps. Do you have the gift of sales or just love to shop? Maybe you know the perfect place to sell CK products. We need some sales volunteers to market our products to local retail markets. Your skills would be a GREAT help to us! Call Jan, 325-4343.
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Recipes. DO you have a favorite crock pot recipe that you would like to share with us? Send it to Christine Brooks, 1066 S. Wall St. Spokane, WA 99204 or email it to:
We're always interested in recipes that you can make for a crowd. We have anywhere from 25-40 women every Thursday and it's always great to have new recipes to try. Send them to Christine.
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Salt and Light Foundation
PRESENTS:
"He's Got the Power" Concert Tour
Sunday, March 21st at 7:00 pm
Christ Redeemer Church/ Grace Baptist Church
1523 West Mallon Ave.
FREE ADMISSIN!
Proceeds benefit Christ Kitchen and Christ Clinic
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Where You can find Christ Kitchen Products
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He's Got the Power Concert:
Christ the Redeemer Church, 1523 West Mallon Ave. March 21, 7 pm.
Christ Kitchen Easter Basket Sales
April 2, 2004 at Westminster Presbyterian, 9 am—6 pm, 2709 West Boone
Garden Party: Moran Prarie Grange, May 7 & 8 10 am&$8212;4 pm.
Global Folk Art, Gifts and Imports. 35 West Main St.
Christ Clinic. 2709 West Boone every Monday—Friday, 9 am—12 pm, 1 pm—5 pm.
Want to feature Christ Kitchen products at your community function? Just call us! 325-4343
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We'd love to have you join our work on Thursdays. What would you do? Any number of things, like pray through our Bible study, work along side the women on the assembly line, write thank you notes, cut fabric, or make bows and baskets. We'd fit you in anywhere you're comfortable. You can come any Thursday and feel free to stay the whole day or come for Bible study at 8:30 am. Everyone's welcome for lunch, which is a nice way to see what we're all about.
Hot Lunch Ministry. Would you like to bring lunch for the CK women some Thursday? Having a hot meal in the middle of our work day is such a gift to the women. We'd love to have you eat with us and participate in our lunch prayer time. Call Christine Brooks (458-8914) for details.
Home Party. Plan a date and ask your neighbors and friends to come. Call Christ Kitchen and let us box up as many products as you need. On the Thursday before your party, come to Christ Kitchen ad we'll load your car with products and plenty of brocures. On the day of your party, put on a pot of soup and make some cornbread and brownies. When folks see and taste our products, they will sell themselves. It's a great way to share the mission of Christ Kitchen and a wonderful way to advertise Christ Kitchen products to people who have never heard of us.
Donate Clothes. When you do your spring cleaning, set aside your gently used clothes. You can bring them to the Kitchen on Thursday, or call Christine Brooks, 458-8914, and she will pick them up. The women always appreciate getting "new" things to wear.
Christ Kitchen Representative for your church. As a Christ Kitchen representative, you can partner with us by, publicizing Christ Kitchen news and events throughout your church community, displaying and taking orders and/or sell Christ Kitchen products at church functions, or organize gatherings to hear how God is changing the lives of women who come to the Kitchen. Their testimonies are powerful and truly a blessing back to the church. If you're interested, or know someone else who might be, contact Jan. 325-4343.
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Direction and strength. L
Wisdom. M
Health for my family. L
Thankful for hot water, a roof, and insulation. C
Thanks for Thursdays and everyone at the Kitchen. A
Wisdom and patience. P
Focus on my responsibilities and energy and sleep so I can care for my baby. L
Watch my mouth but speak the truth and be open to what God wants. S
Learn how to pray. B
Continue to follow the path that God wants and not get side tracked. P
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I'm a mess right now. I need strength, renewed spirit and a new body. L
Peace and contentment in life. B
A house for my family. D
My husband needs a job. T
My sisters who are non believers. C
For the Holy Spirit to empower me and to hold my husband up in prayer. Open his heart to the Lord. J
Prayer for the men and women in the military and their families. E
I need a place to live. P
Obey God. P
A job. P
Seeking God in the way I need to. L
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FYI
Total number of workers in 2003: 135
Number of workers who came 4 times: 73
Approx. number of products sold 2003: 6000?
Age range of the women at the Kitchen: 8-72 yrs.
Number of Bible studies at CK in 2003: 50
Sales Income: $30,468
Donations: $39,980
Cost of goods sold: $6,655
Gross Profit: $63,802
Labor for 2003: $44,492
Other overhead (rent. advertising): $19,961
Total Expenses: $64,483
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You can receive the newsletter by E-mail
We are always looking for ways to save money. When you get the newsletter by email, you'll still get all the news from the Kitchen and save us the cost of mailing it to you. Email
, with your address and we'll take you off our "snail" list and add you to the email list. We'll be able to keep you informed of upcoming events that aren't available in our mailed correspondence.
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Christ Kitchen Newsletter Contact Information
March, 2004
Location: 2709 West Boone, Spokane, WA, 99201
Mailing Address: 5708 S. Glendora Lane, Spokane, WA, 99223
Phone: 509-325-4343
Fax: 509-448-1438
E-mail:
Web: www.christkitchen.org
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