Reading Group Forming

Read any good books lately?  If you’re like me, you don’t have enough time to read but your reading list is a mile long! 

I’m interested in exploring the idea of a St. Philip’s Women’s Reading Group, and if you are too, let’s explore the idea together Friday, March 2, 12:00 noon at the church.  Bring your lunch and we’ll share ideas.  Myrna Crooks Owen.

Spring Into Better Eating!

Although there are many things we can do to eat healthier, I thought I would share  two easy steps you may want to consider as we enter the spring season.

First and foremost, increase the amount of vegetables eaten daily.  Try a wide variety, emphasizing whatever is fresh during a given season.  Most of us have heard of the ‘five a day’ campaign, but the new federal guidelines call for 8 or 9 servings of vegetables a day. 

Remember a serving is just ½ cup, so it really is not difficult to eat what we should.  And if you or your kids don’t like eating plain vegetables, try adding chopped spinach to spaghetti sauce or finely chopped carrots to tuna salad.  There are many ways to add veggies into your diet in easy ways that your family will also eat and enjoy.

As we progress through spring, we will start seeing more fresh vegetables available to us.  Keep an eye out for fresh, regionally grown vegetables and fruits.  They will be riper and more delicious than those picked before they are ready, in order to travel across many miles.

The second tip is to increase the amount of fiber in your diet.  This means eating whole fruit instead of juice, and choosing mostly whole grain breads and pastas.  Try to reduce or eliminate white flour, as it has almost no nutritional value and is high in carbohydrates and calories. 

If your kids won’t eat whole wheat bread, try using one slice of whole wheat and one slice of white.  Or try the new ‘white’ whole wheat—it looks white, but the full grain is in the bread.  Remember, the label should say ‘whole wheat’ flour to get the full benefits.

Start with these two steps, keep an eye on portion control, and drink plenty of fresh water.  It’s easy to make small changes that will have a big benefit on your health—enjoy!

                          Susan Seaburg

Susan Seaburg is a Wellness Coach, Nutritionist, and Yoga Teacher who writes articles and consults with individuals and families to help them achieve their wellness objectives. © Susan Seaburg, 2006

New Leadership for Acolytes

Myrna Crooks Owen and Nathaniel O’Brien will be taking over the leadership of the St. Philip’s Acolyte Program from the wonderful Laura Gonzalez in whose capable hands this mission has flourished for more than a year.  Thank you for all your good work in this vital ministry, Laura, and welcome Myrna and Nathaniel to your new roles in  the spiritual life of St. Philip’s.

New Community Room Chairs

Most of the St. Philip’s congregation seldom has a reason to use the Community Room, so many of us hadn’t realized how seriously yucky the chairs in that room had become until one of the NA groups generously offered to split the cost of new chairs with the church. We have since purchased thirty new folding chairs at a good price from Costco and all of the groups using the Community Room have been asked to pitch in to help pay for them. The response both verbally and financially has been very positive and we hope to cover at least half of the cost through donations.

We are very grateful to our facilities-use groups and hope that they will all be more comfortable now as they minister to one another and the community.