Friends Church plans weekend family event

`The Joy of Tablesetting ... The Joy of Service" is a family event similar to The Festival of Trees, according to Youth Pastor Garth Mickelson of Hayden Lake Friends Church.

Activities start at 8:30 a.m. today and continue through Sunday night at the Coeur d'Alene Inn.

An auction of set tables and a banquet are the main features. Like the Festival of Trees, a theme is chosen by a sponsor and the table is set accordingly. The variety in cost and use will be significant, such as beautiful Dansk Holiday Harvest fine porcelain settings to necessary settings for the avid outdoorsman. Although not all table settings will be auctioned, some will include more settings than shown. Viewing starts at noon today, with the auction and banquet beginning at 5 p.m.

"The Real Family Values Tour" is another feature of "The Joy of Tablesetting."

It is for parents concerned about the influence music and entertainment has on their children and teens. Al Menconi, considered a leading expert on the topic and author on entertainment media and parent/child communications, will lead the seminar offering practical hands-on strategies to control entertainment in the home and to teach children how to develop biblical values in their life decisions.

In January 1999, Menconi wrote: "This verse from Proverbs 22:6 is the desire of most of the parents I have ever talked to - `Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." The question I am usually asked is, `How is it done?' How can we train our children to love God and live for Him? Deuteronomy 6:7 indicates how God would have us teach our children to love Him. The verse commands that we should love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and that the commandments of God should be in our heart. Then we are told to `Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.'"

The parent seminar will be from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. on Sunday, followed by a rally featuring Menconi and Soul Journ, a local contemporary Christian band.

Many community resource agencies such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters of North Idaho, Crisis Pregnancy Center, Habitat for Humanity, Project Safe Place and Youth for Christ will share information about their organizations during the event from booths.

The event is presented by the Hayden Lake Friends Church and has many other family features including two rooms with items specifically for men. The church's goal is to inform the public about the huge need for volunteers and to encourage them to help when they can. Proceeds will benefit the church and "Gus the Bus" ministries.

For more information, call the church at 772-7544 or the Coeur d'Alene Inn at 765-0648.

In other church news

Let's face it, Halloween can be a chilly experience for young kids. Parents looking for a warm, indoor alternative to traditional trick-or-treating will be happy to learn that several Kootenai County churches are planning Halloween parties or fall festivals.

Coeur d'Alene Faith Center at 1602 W. Appleway is planning a God's Kingdom Fest Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. The church is going all out and is even bringing in a jumping castle. There will also be games and free food along with the obligatory candy. The event is open to all children age 12 and under.

A fall festival celebration is planned for 2 to 6 p.m. today at Emmanuel Baptist Church. There will be games, prizes, food, and a bike will be raffled off. All ages are welcome.

The church is located at 3115 N. 15th in Coeur d'Alene.

The congregations of Trinity Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church of the Master are planning a fall festival celebration Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran. A hot-dog dinner will be served from 5 to 6 p.m. There will be games, prizes, candy, and lots of fun for children in preschool through the fifth grade.

The church is also planning a Reformation Sunday celebration. There will be a lunch served at 11:30 a.m. following a special combined worship service at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome to attend.

Trinity Lutheran is located at 812 N. Fifth in Coeur d'Alene.

St. John's Orthodox Church in Post Falls is planning a fall fun festival Tuesday at 5 p.m. In addition to the usual games and activities, the church will have a bonfire outside for roasting hot dogs and toasting marshmallows. All are welcome to attend.

The church is located at 4750 E. 20th in Post Falls.

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