Mission fund established

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Clay Countians who have been called to missions work have a new possible new resource available.

Keystone Heights United Methodist Church has established The Laura Belle Thrasher Memorial Missionary Fund as a matching fund to support sister churches in Cuba and Peru. Any funds received for this purpose will be matched on a dollar for dollar basis up to a maximum of $5,000. Here, Cheryl Thrasher Bane presents a check from the Thrasher family to Rev. Jeff Tate of KHUMC in memory of her mother, Laura Belle Thrasher, former “First Lady” of City and the late wife of former Mayor Wil Thrasher.

Spring for the kids

MIDDLEBURG – Annunciation Catholic School holds its annual “Spring for the Kids” dinner and fundraiser on May 12 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Fleming Island.

Master of ceremonies will be longtime voice of the Jaguars, Brian Sextonc with guest speaker Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed with dinner at 7:30.

Funds raised go toward the school’s AngelPlex project, a cafeteria, performing arts and sports complex for Annunciation Catholic School. The groundbreaking on the gymnasium is slated for the Summer of 2017.

Individual dinner tickets cost $150 payable to Annunciation Catholic School. Table reservations for eight are available for $1,100 and for four tickets at $500.

Guests will also have a chance at “Once in a Lifetime” trip for two for 3 nights/4 days to San Francisco/Napa Valley. This trip includes several VIP wine tastings, a rental car, accommodations and air travel. Raffle tickets are available for a 25$ donation each. Only a total of 400 raffle tickets will be available.

Please contact Principal Victoria Farrington at ACS (904) 282-0504 extensions 222 for ticket and raffle sales. The dinner and raffle tickets may also be purchased online at

www.annunciationcatholic.org

Church school adding 5th and 6th grades

DOCTORS INLET – HighPoint Christian Academy is expanding in preparation of the 2017-18 school year by adding fifth and sixth grades.

The faith-based private school opened in the fall of 2010 with 12 students serving 7th through 12th grades.

“HighPoint Christian Academy has been a part of the lives of so many successful students thus far. By opening our doors to 5th & 6th graders, we hope to continue that tradition.” said Renee’ Pleasant, director of academics and head of school.

Focusin on the whole child, the school’s small classroom environment enables teachers to provide individualized attention and instruction to students. HighPoint is a place where students are valued, appreciated, and made to feel they are loved and needed, like family. HighPoint Christian Academy students discover they belong to a larger purpose.

The school uses a standard classroom curriculum that prepares students for college, life and ministry. Receiving accreditation in only three years from AdvancEd (formerly known as SACS, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) and Christian Schools of Florida when the norm is 5 or more years. The school holds memberships with the National Honor Society as well as American Sign Language National Honor Society.

In the first seven years, HighPoint Christian Academy graduated 30 students, of which three were early graduates. 80 percent of the total graduates have pursued secondary level education within Florida or out of state. Two graduates joined the military and seven are gainfully employed.

For additional information, contact the Admissions Director Michael Gant at (904) 272-7949 extension 109 or via email at mgant@highpointccop.com.

Church offering affordable camp

ORANGE PARK – Orange Park United Methodist Church is offering working parents an affordable adventure for children in June.

The all-inclusive weeklong day camp runs June 19 - June 23 from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. for $90. The fee includes breakfast, lunch, snacks and afternoon outings to the Alligator Farm, movies and bowling for ages VPK through sixth grade.

For more information, contact Jason Renault, director of Congregational Care, Orange Park United Methodist Church, at jrenault@orangeparkUMC.org or call (904) 264-2241, extension 277.

Calling all ministers

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Most denominational churches have some sort of arm or separate agency that responds to natural disasters.

For example, there is the United Methodist Committee on Relief and Catholic Relief Services, but what happens on the local level after a disaster?

That’s the question Clay County Emergency Management officials will discuss in a meeting planned for May 25 from 9-11 a.m.

“We are working with Clay SafetyNet Alliance – formally known as the Mercy Network – to help bolster community resources available to assist citizens with unmet needs post event. As the county’s clearinghouse of faith based and charitable organizations, Clay SafetyNet serves in our Emergency Operations Center as the coordinating entity for volunteers and donations during and after an emergency,” John Ward, director of emergency management for Clay County.

“We are working to help bring additional county faith based leadership into to fold to ensure that after an event, as many people in the community as possible can receive much needed assistance once the county’s government response ends and the community begins to return to normal,” he said.

Who commits to long-term disaster recovery after first responders and emergency personal have done their jobs is the main question that will be addressed in the seminar.

The meeting will be held at the Clay County Emergency Operations Center at 2519 State Rd. 16 West of Green Cove Springs.

Churches are asked to contact John Ward, director of emergency management at (904) 657-3174 or john.ward@claycountygov.com for more information.