#Small Church Fundraising Ideas

[jeonghansbunny]

Corrupted Priest

Rating: 18+ | Read at your own discretion

Content warnings: Dom/Sub, manhandling, crying/tearing up, unprotected sex, creampie, corruption. Please keep in mind that I wrote this with the idea that everything is consensual!

Priest soobin

Who in the beginning you thought as cute

Because he had that dorky smile

And wide eyes

And looked like a baby rabbit 

Who was so young and tall and attractive 

In comparison to the old priest before him

All of the other girls were going crazy about him

Trying to chat him up

And find out if he was married or in a relationship 

Being as innocent as he could be

He dodged their prying questions

By telling them he's only focused on his work 

Knowing you never had a chance to begin with

You never made an effort to strike up a conversation 

And showed no interest in him

But there were moments

When you'd catch him stare at you

And your eyes would meet for split second

Before the both of you would look away

Weeks would go by and you'd participate in different fundraisers

With each one getting to talk more and more with the new priest

At first he'd always give you that dorky smile of his when thanking you for your help

The he'd start to show skinship 

By patting your shoulder as a thanks

Something you noticed he didn't do with anyone else

As time went by you became closer

To the point of having an actual conversation 

As small as it was

It was a progress

And his skinship also started to increase

At first it was harmless

But deep down inside of you 

You felt that something is not right

The way he doesn't touch anyone else

Or how his elbow once accidentally touched your breast

Making him turn bright red

His cute and innocent expression 

Making you forget

About the uncomfortable feeling in your stomach 

Too focused on the loud beating of your heart

One night you found yourself in church

Stressed and overwhelmed with everyday life

You decide to come and pray 

Soobin saw you and decided to observe you from a distance 

A distance where you couldn't see him or feel his presence 

A distance he has been secretly keeping in order to watch you

You see Soobin isn't as innocent as everyone thought

He has had his eye on you for a long time

And has been thinking about you in ways a priest shouldn't 

Thoughts of what he'd do to you

The innocent you

Who doesn't talk much

And keeps to themselves

Who is diligent in helping the church out 

And diligent in your prayers and faith in God

His wicked mind wanted for you to be diligent to him as well

To follow his words

And do everything he tells you to do

For you to worship him as well

His facial expression had turned into one that no one else has seen before 

If they did they would wonder if that is the Soobin they know

Or a Soobin possessed by Satan

He catches himself and tries to focus in the moment

Rederecting his attention to you

He notices you silently crying

Something snapped

Somehow his pants feel tighter

A throbbing sensation taking over

He tried to calm down

And decides to approach you

He sits beside you and asks if everything is okay 

Startled you tell him it's nothing

And that you've just been stressed lately 

He empathizes and tells you he'd be willing to listen to your concerns 

After contemplating you agree

And willingly decide to follow him inside a private room

Where you wouldn't bother anyone else

Not that anyone else was there

And you start telling him about yourself and your daily life

Starting to well up at the exhaustion you feel

He tries to pay attention at what you say

But shit

You're such a pretty crier

The way your brows furrow 

And your lips get swollen

And how the tears leave your eyes and roll down your cheek 

Until they're reaching your jawline

That throbbing sensation in his pants returns again 

He decides to sit closer to you 

So he could subtly have a better look at your face

You rarely saw him make such a serious expression 

His gaze following your every move 

His hand starts to go up and down your shoulder 

As a gesture to comfort you

He tells you he's glad you could open up to him

And starts to wipe away your tears

You notice how big his hands are

And how one of his hands could cover your entire face

He must've noticed too

Because he starts to cup your face gently 

Telling you comforting words in a gentle tone

So gentle it becomes hypnotizing 

You lean on his hand

And his thumb starts rubbing on your lower lip 

One thing leads to another

And he starts to kiss you

His hand behind your neck 

Pulling you closer

Not being able to get enough of your swollen lips or your whines

You desperately hold on to his shoulders

Without realising you're sitting on his lap

While his hands wander up and down your body

Accidentally you grind on him

His gaze gets darker

His face serious 

He looks mad

Looking at the innocent you

Who doesn't even realise what you just did 

How his cock is throbbing because of the friction

Of you on top of him

How your white dress is riding up higher and higher

Exposing your thighs

He puts his hands on them

And starts caressing 

Going higher and higher each time

Until he's holding your sides

And pushing you closer on his bulge

Repeating this action 

Until you start moving your hips on your own

His eyes roll back

"This isn't enough" he thinks to himself

He tells you to wait a moment 

And pulls his cock out of the slit in his robe

He starts to play with the fabric of your underwear

And move it to the side

Nearing his tip to your entrance

He tells you to continue 

At first his cock only slides between your folds

But then he starts to enter you

Slowly he keeps pushing deeper and deeper inside of you

While you grab on his shoulders for support 

And let out whiney sounds

His big hand rest in a comforting way on your head while the other guides the movement of your hips

He praises you

For being such a good girl

And taking his cock inside of you

And how good you're making him feel

That he's going to cum any moment 

And that he's going to cum inside of you

Needy and desperate your hips begin moving faster and faster

Creaming his cock

Clenching around it more and more

The pressure in your stomach growing

You feel so good

Your eyes start to well up

You beg him with tears in your eyes

"please help me"  

You can't think clearly anymore 

You don't know what's going on

You just want to cum

His cock twitches at the sight of you begging him so innocently 

So he puts both hand on your hips

And starts thrusting into you mercilessly 

That's when you start to cry out loud from the senstation

Of his cock hitting the deepest part of you repeatedly 

Your eyes roll back 

While incoherently making sounds

That were supposed to be you tell him you're cumming

You start to shake from the intensity

And clench hard on his cock

Which makes him shoot his load inside of you

He groans in satisfaction 

Of having corrupted you 

And thinking of all the other ways

He's going to fill you up <3

#txt smut #soobin smut #txt imagines #txt reaction #txt scenario #soobin imagines #soobin reaction #soobin scenario #kpop smut

[soufcakmistress]

Charleston Blues

Part IV

Pairing: Erik Stevens x Thick Black OC

“I took it upon myself to personally bring you this small token of our appreciation and a warm welcome to Charleston from the CNWL and me as well. I hope you’ll be able to make a home here.” Mrs. Warner had her best curls pieced and placed perfectly on her heart shaped face. She showed every tooth in her mouth shoving the massive home baked apple crisp into Erik’s chest. 

“My freezer box is full to overflowing with desserts but thank you anyway! And you said your name was…”

“Warner. Stella Warner. My husband is also a business owner; he owns his own barbershop on the peninsula. Mr. Stevens, how you liking the south? The climate seems to be agreeing with you.” 

He walks to the back where a small break room lies with a table and two chairs and a refrigerator, with Mrs. Warner following like a yearning puppy. “Hotter than what I’m used to, but it’s beautiful. Everybody has shown such hospitality. Including you, little lady.” Erik winked at Mrs. Warner and she fought not to swoon and sway. 

“Well, I have to get a move on now. The club will be convening soon and I have to get my kids situated. Surely you understand right?” Stella blinked her brown eyes right in his face, curious and mischievous. “You don’t have to leave so soon Stella..”

Erik swaggered to the front and told Jerry to flip the sign on the door and go take a break. He came back in there with her coy eyes flittering every which way and Erik fought to pull at his dick in his pants. “She’s ripe for the taking, as long as you’re up for what could come next.” Erik’s God encouraged Erik’s fervor for the female form—this would be his first dip into the abyss since he was chosen by Badoru.

Erik brushed off his God’s warning and pounced on the willing prey. Erik hadn’t made it back two steps in the break room before Stella jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. “Damn. You even finer up close.” Her tongue moseyed into his mouth and one thing led to another that afternoon... 

~

Chantilly straightened her hat on her head and licked her teeth for any lingering lipstick as she walked into the clubhouse. Black women of all shades flittered about as the meeting was about to begin. It was impeccably decorated with a homey touch too. The cream walls had several framed portraits of past events and fundraisers held by the club, on-site and off. 

“Cousin! I so glad you came!!!” Frieda popped out from a back room, and embraced Tilly with so much tenderness. Tilly knew that she meant well, and after all that Frieda did for her, this was the least that she could do. 

“For you, I will do anything. Some familiar faces in here. Jacqueline Shackleford, Mary Boozer, even Edith Jenkins. Y’all don’t leave no stone unturned huh?”

Frieda rolled her eyes, shuffling the stack of papers in her hands. “Give it a chance. Who knows? You might end up enjoying yourself. Just try. For me.” Tilly squeezed Frieda’s shoulder and acquiesced. Frieda moseyed to the front where the rest of the officers began to congregate, while Tilly browsed the food table. “Mmm, this cake looks just as dry. They definitely need my help, gracious.” 

Tilly picked up a few finger sandwiches and found a seat, while some other women turned up the radio by the opened window. “The pastor’s vehicle was found on Johns Island. He was sighted walking along Sullivan Avenue but has not been sighted ever since. Theodore Dunne has been the lead pastor of his church for over 15 years working in ministry with a special interest in children. If you have any idea about his possible whereabouts, please call the tipline. And in other news of the Lowcountry, more and more colored people are becoming business owners and trailblazing into areas of Charleston with a different demographic…”

Several women gasped and clutched their pearls at the pastor’s disappearance. Tilly feigned like she was aghast but inside, she rumbled with laughter. Little did they know, Theodore Dunne would never be seen again. “Ladies, ladies—simmer down now. We’re about to begin.” The sickly sweet drawl of her former arch enemy Melissa nearly turned her stomach. Of course, she would be the president—her bossiness and penchant for getting in people’s business was legendary on Johns island. 

“Welcome ladies to our midweek meeting for the Club for Negro Women of the Lowcountry for the greater Charleston area. I see a whole lot of new faces, and I’m so happy to have y’all with us.” Melissa scanned her eyes among the faces and let them linger a second too long on Tilly. Tilly couldn’t read her expression but she would make sure to personally greet her before the meeting concluded. 

Tilly sipped her tea in silence as she listened intently at the agenda at hand. Roll was called and all of the newcomers were met with a warm welcome after a quick introduction and any possible legacy ties. Idella Morrow, the chapter Vice President, thanked several committees for their efforts for the Spring Fling for the high schoolers on the peninsula. All efforts now needed to be put toward the Cotillion at the end of the year. All of the women seemed so engrossed and engaged, Tilly could sense the sisterhood in the room. Several women began to interject with their suggestions and contributions to the cause. 

“My sister does hair out of her home, she could do some of the young ladies’ hair.”

“I’m a seamstress, please send the girls and boys to me for their gowns and suits.”

“We should fry some fish after the men’s softball games to raise money for the households unable to cover those costs right now, y’all know we right there on the water.”

“You’re just as valuable to this community as these women are. Show what you can do. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

Timidly Chantilly raised her hand in a fit of courage from her mother. “Ladies, I am a professional pastry chef. I actually have a bakery opening in the very near future off of Meeting Street. I would be honored to to assist in any bake sales and take care of the cake for the Cotillion as well.” 

“Aren’t we so lucky to have such an addition as Chantilly Davenport? The Club of Negro Women of the Lowcountry would is made better with your presence after such tragic circumstances that fell over your family. You’re looking much better these days, isn’t she ladies?” They all begin to clap for her, enraging Tilly. Bitch still knew how to capitalize on an opportunity to embarrass her. Maybe Tilly would become a permanent fixture; let’s see how Missy would like that. “Stay your hand, Chantilly. Her time will come.”

Fixing her lipstick, Mrs. Warner perked up to throw her hat in. “Well for all you moms with sons, y’all know y’all can come to my husband’s barbershop for their haircuts. I also have gotten some intel on that colored Yankee shaking up King Street.” She was so sure of herself by the way she twisted her lips up. 

“Now now ladies, we are not ones to gossip! Although he is quite handsome. What’s the fella’s name?” Missy inquired, nibbling on the cap of her pen. 

“His name is Erik Stevens and he’s from Massachusetts. He was in the Navy and was in the service during Korea. Said the things us colored folk down here experiencing made him want to do something! He’s quite the looker….” 

Sipping her tea to get the nasty taste out of her mouth, Tilly’s heightened intuition confirmed everything she already deduced. Mrs. Warner wasn’t just keeping her marital bed to her husband; it was written all over her face. Erik Stevens. The Yankee vet that shook up the lowcountry. With a smile like that, he has to be up to no good. 

~

Davenport Desserts & More would be opening in the next month. Tilly was still waiting on an industrial mixer to be delivered, and she could have sworn the electrician would be by to check the circuit breaker by 2. Here it is, coming up on 3:15, and a no show so far. 

These were the times she hated. With a snap of a finger, Ursilene could speed things along. But she didn’t want to overstep. Ursilene was an asset and the catalyst for change in her life, which is why she had to be discerning. She still had to live and be normal in Charleston and behave as normal. So human problems still plagued her. It kept her humble.

She painted the inside of the bakery sea foam green just like Ursilene’s colors. The wall facing the street was getting an extra coat when the slow wheeze of an old muffler came trudging down Meeting Street. On instinct, her stomach dropped into her butt.

Officer Josiah Morton was the resident hard ass, dying to prove a point. Charleston was very segregated and he would do anything in his power to keep it that way. Yet Josiah had a wandering eye that left him full of self hatred. Black women were beneath him and yet they occupied his mind. A sick combination of contradictions with too much power at his disposal. The police cruiser came to a halt in the front of the bakery. 

The electric sign was on its way and there was still paper on the windows shielding the inside. Tilly hadn’t known that the officer was approaching until she felt the pull from Ursilene. “He’s here to intimidate. Stay on guard, and he’ll leave.”

Tilly’s hand shook a bit painting upward with the paint roller. This particular pig was an incessant nuisance for this community and by the way his chest was poked out with that slimy smile of his—he’d been waiting to corner Tilly. 

“Officer.”

“You working for some folks here, gal?” His sly eyes roamed Tilly’s body and lingered on her round bottom in her overalls. She wanted to kill him where he stood.

“Not quite, Officer. Seems that luck has turned in my favor, I own this place.” She had the audacity to look in this white cop’s eye because she was a Davenport and they were proud people. Tilly saw how he ogled her with no regard for how she felt, and that ungodly anger swirled in her chest again. The slimy officer twirled a kinky ringlet of Tilly’s mane tied under a bandana, leading it down her arm. 

“You’ll have to make me something special once you’re all opened up, gal. I’ll be sure to pop up and every now and again….make sure you don’t get outta hand.” Tilly gulped down her ire until a smooth candy red Camaro parked behind the police cruiser. There’s no way..

“Everything okay here baby? I apologize for being a little late, I had to square away with Jerry before I closed up. I see we have a visitor..” Erik swaggered right up to Tilly, and gently brushed the officer aside and placed those unbelievable lips on her neck. The sensation that flowed through the both of them was unnatural, much like what had occurred already. Yet it felt ancient and familiar. 

Erik’s hand guided her face to his and they stared at each other momentarily before the officer cleared his throat. The haze wasn’t totally broken between the pair but Tilly was able to separate herself from him. However, not far enough to spoil the act. “This is Officer Josiah Morton, baby. One of Charleston PD’s best and brightest.” 

Erik shook the officer’s hand and looked him square in the eye. Erik easily was in a different weight class than the officer and stood almost a head above him. “Erik Stevens. United States Navy. Just made my way down south to help some vets and fell in love all the same. Isn’t she a stunner?” 

The hairs on the back of Erik’s neck stood up—he loved to gaze at her mouth specifically her cupids bow. But the wrath fought to overwhelm and it made his spine straight as steel as another cop abused his power. “Control yourself, Erik. Protect her, and that’s all.” 

Officer Morton turned red as a beet at the nerve of this uppity Yankee negro. He did shake his hand while he measured the man up. Josiah knew he would be overpowered man to man….but he had a different kind of power to aid him that Erik couldn’t access. “Stevens, is that it? You serve in Korea?”

“That’s right Officer. With the seals. We did what needed to be done.” Erik squeezed his arm around Tilly, and clenched his jaw. The tension was very high in this small space, and Tilly made sure to diffuse the pressure. “Well Officer, as you can see we have everything under control. Thank you for your….initiative to keep an eye on this community.”

She pinched Erik on his side and his head whipped towards her, with confusion and anger all in his features. The officer slowly dragged back to his cruiser and left them in a cloud of exhaust smoke. 

“I’ve beat men up for much less with the shit you just pulled. You don’t know me!” 

“Oh Miss Davenport, surely you don’t mean that. You played it tough, but your knight in shining armor came to save the day. You ain’t know?”

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#erik killmonger #erik killmonger smut #erik stevens #charleston blues #killmonger smut #killmonger fic #killmonger x reader

[claudethecrabdemoness]

Ok so I think I found a way to fix Vox LOLLOLOL. 

And by fix him, I mean make him much, much worse.

🔌 📺😝🎩⚡️

So I was drabbling in my head w Claude and Vox and they got to deep talking about their previous lives and regrets and all sorts of existential meanderings, when Vox surprised me by saying “I was a Christian, ya know. A good one. Never even missed a Sunday- come late night or hangover or hellwater. *chuckle* Fat lot of good it did me, right?”

And then I was like oh. OHHHH. 

He should’ve been a televangelist. 

So now this is canon as far as I’m concerned, and can even make perfect use of the little priest getup from his song number. After all, that is essentially what he’s doing with the V’s: amassing a hell-wide cult through the power of his broadcast monopoly. And explains why Claude had never heard of him before- he’s not your average kind of celebrity. 

I picture he got his start on local access TV, in the early 40s, just right after Al would’ve had his heyday with radio. He was an East Coast boy, no doubt, and mastered the quick-talking pander of the telecasters at the time. He often ran small broadcasts for local churches- fundraisers, telethons, what have you- and the Christian community ate up his All-American boyish charm. Especially the ladies. He married one who went to his church and really believed his words had the power to change lives, urged him to start his own televised worship, and boy did he thrive. They quickly became a household name, and he basically kick-started the whole televangelist movement into high gear. Like the bastard he is. Soon he gained a country-wide following and had money pouring in from the faithful by the buckets, and of course it all went straight to his head. Hence why it’s a TV now as punishment. That’s when he began exploiting his pulpit, believing himself a prophet, staying with his wife only to maintain their image, buying houses and toys and cars all with parishioner’s money, staying awake for days on cocaine and coming back down with barbiturates, the whole nine yards. 

It eventually caught up to him when his followers tried to commit a mass murder/suicide in his name, and a lengthy court appeal didn’t really smooth over their new reputation as a dangerous cult. Which is so unfair. It wasn’t like he told them to go all Old Testament, buuut… it’s not like his message was that far off from it either. Idiots. From then on, he started overworking, overthinking, and overdoing the whole thing right into the ground. His wife left him, he lost a ton of money in legal fees, and he had to hire protection now to keep up with the death threats from angry loved ones of his devotees. All the stress and resentment drove him into religious fanaticism, and his sermons just got more and more ego-driven and manic, asking for larger tithes and claiming it would be help him work the Lord’s magic even faster. He eventually was killed by a hit put out on him by an up and coming newer cult- ironically a spinoff of his original one- proving that he was very much mortal, but his faithful followers still believed he was a messiah of some kind. 

And that’s because- in his haze of drugs and self-destruction- he believed he was one too. He was sure that what he was doing was for all the Right Reasons, even if the methods were unorthodox. But hey- even Jesus flipped tables and rebelled against the Romans, so who’s to say his path is any less holy? He was SURE that he’d still be getting a ticket to Heaven, despite some minor setbacks…

So you can imagine his rage when he very much woke up in Hell. 

All his hard work, all his devotion, all his MONEY- for what?? Damned to live with a TV instead of his beautiful face and nothing to show for his decades of faith??

What the fUCK??

It was then that he realized God was the biggest scam of all and immediately renounced his faith, spending the first few years of demonhood sinning and drinking as much as possible. He had no idea how to cope with it all, and saw no point to trying, really. What good is having a TV head when you can barely stand the thought of using it- just a constant reminder of the empire you left crumbing behind you. 

And that’s when he met Alastor. 

Now here was someone else cursed by his favorite medium and a deer form that boasted anything but the predator he saw himself as- only this man was anything but deterred by it. The Radio Demon’s broadcasts may have terrorized everyone else in Hell, but they invigorated something deep inside Vox. Something he hasn’t felt since his first televised sermon… something like worship. 

He had to seek him out. 

This then ties in perfectly with his one-sided crush/obsession with Al, their doomed stint at friendship, and the impending rejection he receives at the end. AGAIN. First God, now Alastor…? You’d think that second blow would reduce him into an even greater depression than before, but instead, it flips a switch inside him. That’s when Vox decides ENOUGH. He’s done pandering, he’s done negotiating, he’s done elevating anyone else above himself. And why should he?? If anything HE should be the one on that pedestal, HE should be the only one to get credit for all HIS deeds…

HE should be God. 

And dammit, if he can’t join the original up in Heaven, why not try to become one down in Hell?

The rest is canon as we know it, but I just really realllllly love the idea of ex-Christian Vox, and all the disillusionment religious trauma can bring. He went straight from communion to capitalism, and I like that in my hell-bound guys. I will def be using this as his canon backstory for my AU with Claude, bc I needed to bring even more conflicted suffering and RSD to this character before I can truly ship them together hahaa. 

And…. despite what his real backstory actually is…. this is the only one I subscribe to now. 😈

ALSO:

TELL ME THIS ISN’T HIM!!??!??? HELP. CREEPY HANDSOME IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO FOR THIS CURSED TV MAN I HAVE DECLARED IT SO PLS ADJUST YOUR FANART ACCORDINGLY. 

Anyway, thanks for coming to my TED talk I’m going to go rot in my hole now thinking of more hcs for this akskshagaga-

#I've done it #I’ve cracked the code everyone #he’s now appropriately babygirl evil #think frollo without the genocide #and the personality of hades #mmmm what a man #vox hazbin hotel #televangelist vox #religious trauma vox #atheist vox #cult leader vox #1950’s tv cults #backstory hcs #claude x vox #hazbin hotel #the v’s hazbin hotel #alastor hazbin hotel #canon divergence #but I like it more #plotting #rotting #thotting

[theoutgriber]

Barbara Howard and Christianity Observations

As a chaplain and fan of Barbara Howard, I have a special interest in Barbara Howard’s relationship to Christianity and her church in Abbott Elementary, so here are a few thoughts. 

Her church is large enough that not everybody knows each other, that it can put on programs that sell out, and it has a finance board and cliques--Delisha Sloss is comfortable, at least with a small segment of her ‘coworkers in Christ,’ with scolding Barbara for ‘shaking people down again.’ That makes me the church ladies in the Fundraiser episode know that Mrs. Sloss has been stealing and either don’t care or actively benefit. I would also guess that the church organization itself is at least moderately wealthy. Mrs. Sloss is probably not the only member who is well-known or influential in the broader community. Canonically, Barbara may not be wealthy, but she hasn’t been in a personal position of having to ‘hustle,’ and she cares about her image. That makes me think that most of the church members are in the middle or upper classes and value respectability. 

It’s also notable that Barbara didn’t report the stealing to an authority within the church (it’s possible that she tried once using official channels and was shut down or just decided that reporting would stir up trouble and that ignoring it was better). Keeping a good surface relationship with one’s ‘colleagues in Christ’ is more important than almost anything else. It doesn’t sound like a church with a culture of trust and transparency. There’s no mention of pastors or priests, so it may or may not be a church in which the clergy or exceptionally powerful and charismatic. 

As other fans have pointed out and explored through fic, Mrs. Sloss is able to shame Barbara in the Fundraiser episode, like to both of them, the hypocrisy in scolding her is neither here nor there. Theologically, it’s possible that the leaders in the church tend to assert that all sins are equal, an idea that can allow leaders to gloss over major abuses to keep their communities on an even keel. This belief could contribute to Barbara’s struggles with making ‘immoral’ choices in the School Board and Fundraiser episodes. I suspect that the church as a whole promotes a certain moral rigidity or formula of morality (see also, cutting out controversial parts of popular Halloween movies) that makes it especially hard for Barbara to grasp the slur reclamation in “Forever Bitch Apparel.” 

At the same time, while my impression is that Barbara’s church is unhealthy and possibly even abusive, it probably also serves positive and resilience-building functions in her life as well, like opportunities to sing and dance and connect with friends outside the school. Barbara doesn’t seem to have an ‘angsty’ relationship with God (granted, Abbott Elementary is a comedy XD), and she seems to have a certain confident and casual way of speaking to God (”Throw us a bone, please. Amen”). God and Christian moral structure seem to be sources of comfort and confidence that help Barbara to persevere as a beloved teacher in a situation that burns most teachers out. She has a personal code that she sticks to as a teacher, evident from the first episode. She’s able to be creative, loving, lively, and welcoming to Jacob and Zach (which one wouldn’t necessarily expect). She also shows that she can navigate and maintain boundaries in the school setting and take time for herself. She doesn’t have a problem speaking her mind to Ava or her colleagues, so she’s not the stereotype of a resentfully over-giving Christian woman, at least in her work environment (that might’ve been a different story when Taylor was growing up, tbh). Granted, no human is completely consistent in their beliefs and actions, but maybe Barbara has honed very fine compartmentalization skills over the years (see also: Sea Barbara). Relationships with other adults, I suspect she is finding, defy the habit of  compartmentalization. 

I would like to see Christian faith be a source of strength and resilience for Barbara in fic and canon. I also want her to be given the tools and support she needs to let her experiences with people at Abbott shift her thinking. Based on what we’ve already seen, I think God is a loving and protective force for Barbara (not someone she worries about bothering), and her convictions fortify her to show up for her kids every day. You do *everything* you can for your kids, even, as she’s learning more deeply, when that means you have to prioritize and let your values shift. That conviction isn’t a historical contradiction to Christian behavior. In light of what she’s experiencing this season at Abbott, I hope that she will be empowered to see the problems in her church environment and make a change. That could mean taking on a different position in the church or maybe even leaving her church, no doubt a scary and disorienting experience. 

I don’t know what else to say about that at the moment, but I’m curious about others’ thoughts about this topic and am greatly enjoying the ‘conversations’ that fic writers are having with the canon currently! 

#abbott elementary #barbara howard #christianity #faith #barbara needs a hug #discourse

[uboat53]

"So here we are in 2023. The malcontents are still digging in – the only difference now is that there is a smaller governing majority. Actually, there really is no GOP governing majority at all, and the world will learn that soon enough."

Source

Fair warning, SHORT RANT (TM) ahead.

Source

INTRODUCTION

You remember how I told you that you should read smart conservatives? The above comes from Charlie Dent, a former Republican Congressman who left Congress in 2018 and has been writing about politics ever since.

The reason I bring this up is that he makes an extremely good point here, one we should all consider. You see, I was going to write about how the GOP majority is extremely shaky, but he made me realize they don't actually have a majority at all.

TWO PARTIES

One thing that has become abundantly clear over the course of the last week is that there is not a Republican Party anymore, there are two parties that share a label and campaign infrastructure. One the one side are the Establishment or Ideological Republicans (I'll call them E's for short). These are the Republicans who are committed to the old style conservative orthodoxy of military spending, small domestic programs, and general social conservatism. In other words, the Reagan "three-legged stool". These Republicans don't like what the Democrats want the government to do, but they still want the government to do things. Just different things.

On the other side, though, are the MAGA Republicans (I'll call them M's for short). These are the Republicans who want to destroy the government. But let's be clear, it's not due to any libertarian-style belief that institutions limit the freedom of the individual, it's because they want to empower other institutions such as militia groups and fundamentalist churches to control people instead.

THE SPLIT

At this point there about 150 or so Republicans that I would call E's, the standard type, and there are about 20-30 that I would call M's (the rest are somewhere in between). The problem is that the combined party can only spare 4 votes in their majority, meaning that even a minority of each group can completely grind their efforts to a halt.

The Hastert Rule (any bill must be able to pass with only Republican votes or it will not be brought to a vote at all) was an effort to call a truce between the two sides, but it has become more and more of a hinderance to accomplishing anything at all as their combined number have fallen lower and lower. We saw this in action during the vote for House Speaker when a small handful of M's were able to grind the process to a halt for days in order to try to wring further concessions from the E faction that had already conceded to them a great deal.

WHERE WE GO FROM HERE

The important thing to realize is that this isn't a new phenomenon. As I've previously written, this is the continuation of a split that began in the 1950s and 60s with the Southern Strategy. What we're seeing now is simply an escalation of a battle for party control between a majority and a minority that believes it should be at the helm.

They have the problem, however, in that they share both a voting base and a fundraising base. If they were to split, how many of each would go to which side? I don't know the answer to that, but both E's and M's have been too afraid to find out.

The biggest problem, though, is that they are fighting over diminishing returns. This last year should have been a banner election for Republicans; they controlled redistricting in more states and ran in a very positive economy (for an opposition party), yet they barely took a majority in only one house of Congress. Their voters are older and are dying off while young people are largely rejecting their ideas.

Finally, there's an increasing distance between the two parties. It used to be that you could find Democrats who were politically to the right of a good number of Republicans and vice-versa, but that doesn't happen anymore. Even Joe Manchin is to the left of almost every Republican by a good margin and most Democrats we would otherwise call "moderate" have more in common with AOC than with even someone like Adam Kinzinger. The same is true on the Republican side, so there's not really much room for a "unity caucus" even if the E's of the Republican side wanted to try.

As I see it, we're in a situation where the Establishment and MAGA Republicans are stuck with each other because there's no way for either of them to ever take power by themselves. It's an ugly marriage between two groups that actually hate each other but are staying together because a divorce would ruin their careers.

I'll be honest, I have no idea how long they can continue putting up with each other before one or the other decides to finally just do it.

#politics #us politics #the gop #gop #republicans #house republicans #speaker of the house election #maga #establishment republicans #maga republicans

[mivolasvivi]

(Preface: I am no longer Catholic and haven’t been Catholic for many years. I am fiercely pro-choice and support the rights of women to bodily autonomy. This is also a long post)

I feel like people who weren’t raised Catholic or around Catholics don’t really understand just how severe the anti-abortion conditioning is from an incredibly young age.

I went to Catholic school for 13 years and was a practicing Catholic until age 12 or so. Just about every year outside the church or school, there would be signs that say “pray to end abortion” on a somewhat regular basis. Abortion is described as a horrific act of murder that kills babies, from an incredibly young age.

What’s important to understand about this upbringing is that Catholics largely do not see this primarily as a uniquely Catholic religious issue- they see it in the same light as murder, which is of course illegal. This is really pounded into us from a young age, and being children of Catholic families (tend to be larger), just about everyone has a baby sibling, baby cousins, etc. They really do use that as a tool for anti-choice indoctrination.

What’s notable too is that homilies of the Catholic mass have become increasingly more political. For those unaware, the homily is the part of the mass where the priest gives a little talk about the gospel reading of the week. They’re typically the longest/most personal part of the mass, since the personality of the priest actually comes through as a unique speech, whereas every other part is the same every week.

Homilies SHOULD NOT be political due to the separation of church and state and the tax free status of churches, but I have vivid memories of my priest telling us NOT to vote for Obama, and abortion has been an increasingly relevant issue in homilies as well. The homilies are probably the most memorable part of the Catholic mass and have an impact on the church in question. The gradual erosion of the religious-state boundary of the church, especially apparent in the homily, has in my opinion, led Catholics to not see this boundary nearly as strongly or at all.

It’s also worth noting just how much Catholic schools push this. I once had a graded essay assignment where I had to describe why abortion was wrong and what I’d do to “advocate for life” in 8th grade. (I actually refused to write this).

Every year my schools would spend thousands of dollars to send students to the March for Life, free of charge to the students. My dioceses started sending people in 8th grade, but many others went younger. These children have no idea what they’re actually standing for and are just being used as props and pushed further into indoctrination. Also, the March is quite brutal- there are regularly gory pamphlets or photos of partially aborted fetuses shown, audio of crying, or videos of failed abortions or mothers/babies in pain. It is properly traumatic and it is deliberately so. Many schools in my area actually mandated attendance for this in some way, or at least highly encouraged it.

Every year we’d also have an anti Roe v Wade assembly, usually before the March. Sometimes they’d bring in lawyers to discuss how to legally take it down. Some odd fundraisers were built into this too, like various food items with tiny baby toys inside. (I think these were originally meant for baby showers?). It was not at all uncommon for “an end to abortion” to be a prayer intention in literally any prayer, whether that be in a mass or in a class prayer.

Abortion was probably at least mentioned every day (albeit maybe in a small way like prayer intentions), especially in high school. And even if you naturally didn’t feel too strong about it, just being in that culture for so long where it’s normalized is so damaging. It was for me personally. School has such an impact on the life of a child, and Catholic schools have become masters of indoctrination through both teaching religious doctrine outright but also the more subtle cultural means.

So two main things here:

1. Catholics are indoctrinated from an incredibly young age in the Catholic school system to be anti-abortion through extensive means.

2. Catholics indoctrinated in this way fully view abortion as murder and typically fail to see how it violates the separation of church and state, or if they do, choose not to care.

With the Supreme Court also recently supporting religious schools with public funds, I am extremely nervous for the future of this system and how it will be allowed to operate and further indoctrinate. As much as people often blame evangelicals for regressive policy, the Supreme Court is now a primarily Catholic body, and people outside of Catholicism don’t really understand how the Catholic ecosystem in America works. The pope (often criticized for being too liberal by modern JP2-idolizing Catholics) also recently supported the decision, so this is by no means just a fringe group of Catholics either.

I worry about what other aspects of cultural Catholicism will be legislated from the bench. I suspect funding of Catholic schools will be more of a point, since Catholic schools tend to demonize public schools.

Overall, I am worried about the future of American Catholicism and it’s effects on the Supreme Court

(Obligatory the above information may not be true for all Catholics, but reflects my own lived experiences)

#long post #my opinion #me

[sotiris-rp]

religion in leora;

This post will not be formatted as a university lecture normally would be, but will rather contain questions from the inbox as well as contextual solarpunk information from this post. Admin Grey is solely responsible for what is written here and hopes all conveyed ideas are appropriately respectful of the topics involved.

Are people in Sotiris allowed to practice their religious beliefs?

Yes. Collective citizens who have moved to Leora and more specifically Sotiris, are allowed to practice their religious beliefs. The only limitations placed by the council would involve religious beliefs that limit or infringe upon the rights of others. 

For example, refusing certain individuals service (like a Venpalan entrepreneur refusing to serve Humans) based on a religious belief would not be allowed. Similarly, Medical Doctors practicing on Sotiris would not be able to deny any service based on religious beliefs. Religious practices that involve illicit drugs or harming others would not be allowed, etc.

Are religious gatherings or holy days allowed?

Yes-ish. Religious institutions like churches, synagogues, mosques, temples or other buildings which are used solely for religious worship are not currently allowed on Leora. Private residences or larger rooms in the Meditation coves may be used for religious gatherings, but religious institutions are not allowed to have their own buildings nor accept money or donations of any kind. Imams, Monks,  Priests, Rabbis, etc. are similarly disallowed from accepting monetary or physical donations.

Given Leora’s history as a planet full of small far-left communities with sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideologies congruent with the socialist movement, charities and other fundraisers would be unnecessary. Off-planet communities in need of assistance cannot currently raise money on Leora due to issues with the fluctuating economy thanks to the sudden introduction of the Collective on the planet. In rp terms, its also just easier for me as its one less thing I need to keep track of.

Holy days and holidays may be observed and events for such days can be hosted so long as they are not being used to raise funds for the religious institution. Preaching in public areas is not allowed unless it is a speech given for a holiday event; but holy days, worships, and symbols or decorations would not be prohibited in any way.

The following blockquotes are excerpts from the linked post by creation-clare. Contextual information for sotiris-rp is outside of the blockquotes.

What is religious literacy?

Religious literacy is, at its most basic, an understanding that religion is an intersectional factor in both the public and private spheres. That means that religion affects culture, society, and politics. Religious literacy also means possessing a foundational understanding of various religious traditions’ history, texts (if applicable), beliefs, practices, and modern-day expressions. Learn more about religious literacy here.

You do not need to be religious yourself to be religiously literate! You do not need to be a religious studies scholar to be religiously literate!

Individuals at Sotiris-rp who choose to include religious aspects in their character biographies will not have those aspects overseen by the admins in any way. All members of sotiris-rp are expected to be accepting of all religions out-of-character, if not religiously literate. Writers who include religion in their character backstories are encouraged to use a religion they know well or create one of their own. The universe is a vast place and characters here can come from any corner of it, meaning there can be a wide variety of religions in Sotiris.

The only time I will step in is if I personally believe (or it is brought to my attention) that someone is mocking a religion.

Why is religious literacy important in activism?

The fact is, if you are going to be part of an activist movement, you are going to encounter religious people. This is simply the truth. It does not matter how you feel about religion yourself; you will be working alongside people all across the spectrum of religious traditions and religiosity. For a lot of these people, their religion will be the reason they are working for change. Thus, you can’t ignore religion.

But most importantly—in my opinion—is understanding, through religious literacy, that we all have bias about religion, and that we all need to work through that bias. Everyone grew up somewhere, and there is nowhere on this Earth that has not been touched by religion in some way. We all carry assumptions about what religion is, what a religious person looks or acts like, what [insert religion here] believes, etc etc. And frankly, a lot of those assumptions are very skewed, if not simply wrong.

Speaking broadly, Leorans have no religion and thus have no bias when it comes to monotheistic or polytheistic beliefs. Their culture is based largely on scientific advancement for the sake of being one with nature. Collective beings, again, are from all over the universe and writers may create their own backstories.

What does this have to do with solarpunk specifically?

Here are a few reasons religious literacy is important in solarpunk:

- Like I mentioned before, every solarpunk activist will encounter a fellow activist who is religious, and we all need to be prepared for conversations about religion that are respectful and open-minded. Knowing the basics about the major religions of the world and being open to learning more is essential for this.

- Solarpunk, as a movement that encourages hope and harmony with the Earth, has a lot of ideological overlap with major teachings in a ton of religious traditions. You will certainly encounter this in your activism, and you have to be prepared to understand the basics.

- Building a better future must include making room for people to be religious. This doesn’t just mean “to each their own” individualism, but it means imagining your solarpunk utopia complete with mosques, shrines, temples, churches, and other communal places of worship and veneration. It means planning ahead for disagreements between religious organizations (yes, “organized religion” will still exist) and thinking up solutions for those disagreements. It means allowing your comrades to express their religiosity free of judgement or exclusion.

Within the rp universe the admins have established, members of the Collective only started moving to Leora in March of 2022. Around seven months have passed, but the city of Sotiris is still predominantly populated by Leorans who had no need of places of worship. In the event exploring this aspect of the world we’re creating together interests our members, I would be happy to incorporate places of worship into the city of Sotiris. Given the nature of governmental work (even if its in a roleplay) I would estimate construction on such buildings would be completed and open for visitation starting in 2023.

Essentially, assume religious leaders are working with members of the Sotiris council to be allowed to build their places of worship, but that they are not currently available.

#university de sotiris; #long post #do not reblog

[the-firebird69]

You see that they're kind of interested in it and the sun says it you have face painting down there and you can slowly turn into clowns go back to your house get your bicycle pretty bike really done it up and go step by step at the church they have a name for it down there festivals and they have them occasionally it's a great idea you used to put on a lot of them and now it's slowed down but people really need to get back to it a little it's a great idea and people can face paint and come by and say stuff and then go get in there full clown gear and some people used to do this and our son says it's a good idea you would make the bike and it's a motorcycle you wouldn't put the lights on but you'd have the seat on there and some kind of fake tank maybe even to put a e-bike kit on it and you're riding around and people would see it stitched together and they think that they're going to be the one to make it but it's a homemade job and people might do that so who knows what will show up it's a great idea and we really like it and really quarter inches pretty thick you don't really need to use that particular steel would be a lot lighter he's thinking maybe start with a mini bike and it would be Davie's harlequin with a mini bike that's RTA and really really cheap this bike would be really cheap I mean the TS steel is so cheap somebody did that and it has no rear shot and no gears no lights at all but it's but it is sturdy and can hold 330 lb at 3 or 350 and really test out at about 700 lb and we can sell it for $500 with the motor included but that's disassembled and it's a little bit bigger it's the size of the Coleman and people want that so we're going to start making those yeah and we're going to name it Davies harlequin and it's their company name and it's going to be awesome I think it's awesome this is going to be a new bike and a new it's going to be a new style there'll be several seats or one of those like a wider seat like a sun had and it was on Marcus pueschel had one it's a seat we're talking about and the tank is like a kind of a fat Bob Harley tank it's not a barber it's a big it's a big fat tank and it looks kind of funny but it really works and you put that on the mini bike a big fat tank and a big seat and it can have like a big saddle seat they use those too I'll tell you what these things are great and they're comfortable to ride going to start off that way with the mini bike and it's not going to be too small and then you make it motorcycle so I'm going to find out a way to do this. You said you have your thing with the church and then you do like another one but you do it a lot more clown stuff then you have a clown race and you try and all make a Davies harlequin and you get out there and there's a dirt pit and it's legal to go there and you organize it for a church fundraiser and you have races and oh you know how that works with races you can you all pay a fee to enter it and then the proceeds go to the church and a little bit to the winter and you all have your homemade Davies harlequin we're going to make some ourselves our designs so we're hoping that they'll be people there

Thor Freya you can make it into a bicycle too or e-bike it says it's better it's true too A lot of these he bites kind of look like it but not really they're not they're not right on

Olympus what is close but it's a chopper not a cruiser

[sustainable-sian]

Barnsley Hospice

Our History

The idea to build a hospice in Barnsley was born in 1985, when a small group of pioneers met in St Peter’s Church Hall to look at ways of securing funding and support. As a result, a public meeting was held, a company was formed and charitable status was obtained.

An appeal was launched from our former Eldon Street shop, but progress was very slow at first as the miner’s strike and similar appeals in Pontefract and Wakefield affected fundraising. In 1993, however, the donation of a large legacy together with the support of the local Health Authority enabled Phase I of the development to commence.

1994 - the Day Hospice opened its doors providing specialist palliative care for 17 patients each weekday. That care continues today, and the service has been much developed over the years.

2001 - after receiving a grant of £862,000 from the National Lottery Charities Board, we were delighted to open Phase II - an eight-bedded Inpatient Unit to accompany our existing Day Hospice. This unit allows us to provide a complete service of specialist palliative and end of life care.

2005 - we opened Phase III of the hospice - the Apex Rooms, training and meeting rooms which were rented out.

2008 - Phase IV of the hospice development saw the Inpatient Unit extended to provide a ten-bedded unit. This was funded by a £609,000 Department of Health grant.

2010 - The Barnsley Hospice logo turned orange. A grant of £296,000 funded by Department of Health was given to the Hospice and enable phase V to start.

2011 - Phase V was completed. The Limes Support and Therapy Centre was refurbished and reconfigured, and a new garden was created. The Limes garden allows the patients to sit outside in a peaceful setting and watch the fish in the pond.

2013 - A grand of £469,779 from the Department of Health enabled the hospice to start Phase VI.

2014 - Phase VI was completed. The front of the hospice was extended to provide a family room, kitchen and dining area for the IPU patients and their visitors. The drug storage and preparation room was enlarged and 2 treatment rooms, a counselling room and a spiritual room were added with an extension to the patient gardens.

2016 - Work commenced on transforming the Inpatient Unit Garden from a large lawned area into a stunning area for patients and their family to relax and enjoy.

2018 - Work to refurbish the Inpatient Unit bedrooms began following the Comfort and Care Campaign. A £300,000 grant from the Morrisons Foundation, and a further £200,000 of public donations allowed us to upgrade the rooms and create a peaceful, homely environment for our patients and their families.

2022 - The former Day Hospice transitioned to become The Orangery, our support and wellbeing service. Based at the hospice, The Orangery gives our patients the opportunity to attend self-help groups and receive complementary therapies in a tranquil environment

Harvard Referencing:

BARNSLEYHOSPICE. (2023) Our History. [Online] Available from: https://www.barnsleyhospice.org/about/our-history/ [Accessed: 9th November 2023]

[isabelleforbarnsleyhospice]

Barnsley Hospice

How it began

The idea to build a hospice in Barnsley was born in 1985, when a small group of pioneers met in St Peter’s Church Hall to look at ways of securing funding and support. As a result, a public meeting was held, a company was formed and charitable status was obtained. An appeal was launched from our former Eldon Street shop, but progress was very slow at first as the miner’s strike and similar appeals in Pontefract and Wakefield affected fundraising. In 1993, however, the donation of a large legacy together with the support of the local Health Authority enabled Phase I of the development to commence.

1994 – the Day Hospice opened its doors providing specialist palliative care for 17 patients each weekday. That care continues today, and the service has been much developed over the years.

2001 – after receiving a grant of £862,000 from the National Lottery Charities Board, we were delighted to open Phase II – an eight-bedded Inpatient Unit to accompany our existing Day Hospice. This unit allows us to provide a complete service of specialist palliative and end of life care.

2005 – we opened Phase III of the hospice – the Apex Rooms, training and meeting rooms which were rented out.

2008 – Phase IV of the hospice development saw the Inpatient Unit extended to provide a ten-bedded unit. This was funded by a £609,000 Department of Health grant.

2010 – the Barnsley Hospice logo turned orange. A grant of £296,000 funded by Department of Health was given to the Hospice and enable phase V to start.

2011 – Phase V was completed. The Limes Support and Therapy Centre was refurbished and reconfigured, and a new garden was created. The Limes garden allows the patients to sit outside in a peaceful setting and watch the fish in the pond.

2013 – a grant of £469,779 from the Department of Health enabled the hospice to start Phase Vl.

2014 – Phase VI was completed. The front of the hospice was extended to provide a family room, kitchen and dining area for the IPU patients and their visitors. The drug storage and preparation room was enlarged and two treatment rooms, a counselling room and a spiritual room were added with an extension to the patient gardens.

2016 – Work commenced on transforming the Inpatient Unit garden from a large lawned area into a stunning area for patients and their family to relax and enjoy.

2018 – Work to refurbish the Inpatient Unit bedrooms began following the Comfort and Care Campaign. A £300,000 grant from the Morrisons Foundation, and a further £200,000 of public donations allowed us to upgrade the rooms and create a peaceful, homely environment for our patients and their families.

2022 – The former Day Hospice transitioned to become The Orangery, our support and wellbeing service. Based at the hospice, The Orangery gives our patients the opportunity to attend self-help groups and receive complementary therapies in a tranquil environment.

[scarlethunit5]

Barnsley Hospice in 2022

The idea to build a hospice in Barnsley was born in 1985, when a small group of pioneers met in St Peter’s Church Hall to look at ways of securing funding and support. As a result, a public meeting was held, a company was formed and charitable status was obtained.

An appeal was launched from our former Eldon Street shop, but progress was very slow at first as the miner’s strike and similar appeals in Pontefract and Wakefield affected fundraising. In 1993, however, the donation of a large legacy together with the support of the local Health Authority enabled Phase I of the development to commence.

1994 – the Day Hospice opened its doors providing specialist palliative care for 17 patients each weekday. That care continues today, and the service has been much developed over the years.

2001 – after receiving a grant of £862,000 from the National Lottery Charities Board, we were delighted to open Phase II – an eight-bedded Inpatient Unit to accompany our existing Day Hospice. This unit allows us to provide a complete service of specialist palliative and end of life care.

2005 – we opened Phase III of the hospice – the Apex Rooms, training and meeting rooms which were rented out.

2008 – Phase IV of the hospice development saw the Inpatient Unit extended to provide a ten-bedded unit. This was funded by a £609,000 Department of Health grant.

2010 – the Barnsley Hospice logo turned orange. A grant of £296,000 funded by Department of Health was given to the Hospice and enable phase V to start.

2011 – Phase V was completed. The Limes Support and Therapy Centre was refurbished and reconfigured, and a new garden was created. The Limes garden allows the patients to sit outside in a peaceful setting and watch the fish in the pond.

2013 – a grant of £469,779 from the Department of Health enabled the hospice to start Phase Vl.

2014 – Phase VI was completed. The front of the hospice was extended to provide a family room, kitchen and dining area for the IPU patients and their visitors. The drug storage and preparation room was enlarged and two treatment rooms, a counselling room and a spiritual room were added with an extension to the patient gardens.

2016 – Work commenced on transforming the Inpatient Unit garden from a large lawned area into a stunning area for patients and their family to relax and enjoy.

2018 – Work to refurbish the Inpatient Unit bedrooms began following the Comfort and Care Campaign. A £300,000 grant from the Morrisons Foundation, and a further £200,000 of public donations allowed us to upgrade the rooms and create a peaceful, homely environment for our patients and their families.

2022 – The former Day Hospice transitioned to become The Orangery, our support and wellbeing service. Based at the hospice, The Orangery gives our patients the opportunity to attend self-help groups and receive complementary therapies in a tranquil environment.

Barnsley Hospice. (n.d.). Our History. [online] Available at: https://www.barnsleyhospice.org/about/our-history/ [Accessed 6 Nov. 2023]. ‌

[nantumbwekasifa]

The topic of this week was how to bring about change, and the main idea was how one can participate in the great cause of bringing about change in society by addressing worldly issues.

This week, something that stood out to me was the statement that social entrepreneurs alone cannot change the world. They need artists, volunteers, development directors, communications specialists, donors, and advocates across all sectors to turn their ground-breaking ideas into reality. They need fundraisers, supporters who can change policies, and someone to create.' (Lara Glinsky, 2012). It made me try to think of how I can participate in addressing the issues of education at small levels. I later came up with a new idea for teaching teachers about the new teaching models that can be adopted in my country.

Not everyone can be a social entrepreneur to address the issues of the world, and neither can social entrepreneurs work alone. This means that in addressing the global issue, we need social entrepreneurs, social intrapreneurs or implementors, volunteers, and donors. This means that while others invent ideas, others can help implement them as paid workers, while others can support them through funding and volunteering.

Some people find it puzzling to find out how to contribute to social innovation. This is because they think their professional jobs leave no room for them to participate. But the point is, everybody can participate by leveraging their skills, knowledge, and abilities to contribute to social innovation.

The root cause of failing to identify where one can contribute arises from the five heresies highlighted by Jeffrey A. Thompson in his talk, ‘What is my calling' (2011).

Some people think one gets a call because they are lucky. This is not true. The Lord has invited everybody to do good deeds that can bring righteousness. (D&C: 58:27). From my personal experience, the prophets who lead the church have engaged in good causes and put up programs like Pathway Worldwide, which is blessing the lives of people the world over and tackling world issues like unemployment as well as teaching the restored gospel principles. Many people use their talents and skills to support this program, such as mentors, tutors, and instructors, among others.

Some think one has to have one true calling. This is also a myth. From the scriptures, God gives us many talents (D&C 46:11–12). It is up to us to choose which one to turn into a career and address the problems. It is a matter of discovering them, developing them, and putting them to use. In relation to social innovation, there is more than one talent and skill we can use to support social innovation.

Some think work will always be bliss. This is also a big lie. Not all the work we do is pleasant. Take the example of soldiers who defend the country. They find satisfaction when they are in uniform. However, when a war breaks out, they find themselves sacrificing their lives, leaving behind their families. Jesus Christ Himself left all the heavenly pleasures and came to the world to atone for mankind (1 Timothy 1:15). Even in social innovation, there are times when we need to sacrifice our time, energy, and resources to support the cause through volunteering and funding programs.

There are also people who think the world will take notice of what they are doing. Not everybody will applaud you for what you are doing. The scriptures say, when you are in the service of fellow men, you are in the service of God" (Mosiah 2:27). When you are participating in social innovation, do not expect anything in return. Working for pride violates the Lord’s true meaning of work.

Lastly, some people believe that work gives life meaning. This may be true, but the end results of our work should benefit not only ourselves but also society. The true meaning of life and satisfaction should come from services that benefit society. King Benjamin taught that when he stated, "I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God” (Mosiah 2:16). Like wise social innovators, they should aim for society's benefit but not individual benefit.

This week, something that stood out to me was the statement that social entrepreneurs alone cannot change the world. They need artists, volunteers, development directors, communications specialists, donors, and advocates across all sectors to turn their ground-breaking ideas into reality. They need fundraisers, supporters who can change policies, and someone to create.' (Lara Glinsky, 2012). It made me try to think of how I can participate in addressing the issues of education at small levels. I later came up with a new idea for teaching teachers about the new teaching models that can be adopted in my country.

[massivearcadeperson]

A Creative Fundraising Idea Is Craft Sale

If you want to raise funds easily then there are several different ways you can adopt to make this idea successful. A creative school fundraising idea like a craft fair fundraiser works well for small groups, community organizations, and churches. If you want to earn some extra bucks apart from the fair this is the easy and profitable way.

#school fundraising ideas #fundraising ideas #fundraiser #fundraising #midland #usa #ideas

[naturecoaster]

Duval-Metz House Open for Tours during Floral City Candles & Carols Event

“Candles, Carols ‘N’ Carriages” will feature food, music, horse-drawn wagon rides, and family fun on Friday, December 2, 2022, from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. Town Center Park and downtown Floral City come alive on this special evening! Enjoy lights, music, and decorated homes. The library, museum, and historic Duval-Metz House are all open for programs or tours. The Lions Club will sell fish-fry dinners and Mt. Carmel Church will sell their famous BBQ and sweet potato pie. Orange Avenue will be closed to motorized vehicles, lined with luminaria candles and open to horse-drawn wagon rides and pedestrians. Horse-drawn wagon rides are provided to guests at Floral City's Candles, Carols & Carriages event Dec. 2, 2022. Image courtesy of Floral City Heritage Council. Horse-drawn wagon rides are provided to guests on Friday night but be aware that they fill up fast, so it is a good idea to get there early and sign up for the time slot of your ride. Then stroll down the Avenue and enjoy music provided by talented community groups. All are welcome to participate in this small-town community event. A Frontier Christmas at the Historic Duval-Metz House in Floral City December 2-3 Citrus County’s oldest remaining residential building, The Historic Duval-Metz House, located at 7801 S. Old Floral City Road, will be open again on December 3 for a special fundraising Frontier Christmas celebration. The rehabilitation of the Historic Duval-Metz House is at the point of near-completion due to many monetary, material, and skilled labor contributions to its owner and caretaker, the Duval Preservation Trust, Inc.  An original sack bed is in the Duval-Metz house. Beneath the bed are two 'bedpans' - one for the adults and a smaller one for the children. Image by Diane Bedard. The Historic Duval-Metz House is in the heart of Floral City, across the street from the Heritage Hall Museum and Museum “Country” Store.  Many museum visitors ask if the historic house across the street is open for touring. Currently, it is not open on a scheduled basis. Now, guests may tour the house during Candles, Carols 'n' Carriages Friday, Dec. 2 from 5-9pm and return on Saturday for the Duval-Metz House Fundraiser Dec. 3 for free, although donations are greatly appreciated! Luminaries line Orange Avenue and historic homes light their eves to add to the old-fashioned Christmas event in Floral City Dec. 2, 2022. A view of the luminaries lining Orange Avenue in Floral City during Candles, Carols & Carriages event. Image courtesy of Floral City Heritage Council. Historic homes don Christmas decor and add to the magic of the luminaries along Orange Avenue. Image courtesy of Floral City Heritage Council. House Tours, Holiday Tastings, a Silent Auction and Music are part of the Dec. 3 Duval-Metz House Fundraiser The Trust is sponsoring a special event for Saturday, December 3, between 4 and 7 p.m., called “A Frontier Christmas at the historic Duval-Metz House,” which will feature a house tour, holiday tastings, a silent auction, and music.  The purpose of this event is to increase public awareness of the site’s history and how it may continue to contribute to the history of Citrus County. The Trust looks to the public to gain support for continued rehabilitation of the house and for the development of the grounds on which the house resides.  The vision of The Duval Preservation Trust, Inc. is to reflect the early history and pre-history of Floral City and the County on this two-acre site. Early History and Pre-History of the Floral City area The property stretches from Orange Avenue north to Magnolia Street south, and the southern half is wooded and undeveloped.  It is also located less than a block from the site of “Cho-illy-hadjo.”   Before 1765, Seminoles had come to this area and established a village here. They called it “Cho-illy-hadjo.”  An interpretation of that village could be recreated on this site. Seminole re-enactors show the colorful dress of the Seminole Indians who established a village near Floral City. Image courtesy of Friends of Fort Cooper State Park. Prior to the Seminoles, Hernando De Soto is recorded as having visited a native American village here in 1539. By 900 A.D., the Timucuan village of “Tocaste” was located on the southern shore of the Floral City pool of Lake Tsala Apopka and inhabited (at least seasonally) until the mid-1500s.  Relying on the illustrations of the Frenchman Jacques Le Moyne from his 1564 Florida visit, a recreation could be constructed of the Timucuan lifestyle. Join the Duval Preservation Trust, Inc. at its first-ever Fundraiser to help History Come Alive Dec. 3 from 4-7 pm in Floral City All the work on the Duval property thus far has been accomplished by donations from businesses, charities, and individuals, after an initial grant from the State Bureau of Historic Preservation, Florida Department of State, assisted by the Historic Preservation Council began the process.  Although the vision for the further development of an early homestead and recreation of Native-American villages is strong, the day-to day care and upkeep of a historic building may slow attainment of that vision. Marcia Beasley and Lynn Bassett decorating the table Marcia designed for the Duval-Metz house kitchen. Image by Diane Bedard. The Trust is grateful for all citizens who have played a role with their support. This will be the first fundraising event for the Historic Duval-Metz house on Saturday, December 3, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Historic House. Parking is available in the Floral City Town Center parking lot and off the pavement on Old Floral City Road.  Entry to the property will be at the sidewalk location on Old Floral City Road. There is no entry charge but participation in donation envelopes and the silent auction will be appreciated. A tour of the house, charcuterie board, and wine tickets will be provided to the first 200 reservations. Please call [phone], text [phone], or email [email protected] to reserve your time for a Frontier Christmas at the Duval-Metz House. Read the full article

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Cheap Places For Birthday Party That Are Free

Cheap Places For Birthday Party That Are Free Cheap Places For Birthday Party. Saving money by hosting birthday parties at home is great, but it also means that you have to host the event there. Thanks, but no. However, given the kinds of places that kids typically want to visit, it can be difficult to find kid birthday party venues that won't break the bank. But there are some great options that are inexpensive and entertaining for kids of all ages. Here are some locations for kids' birthday parties that are either free or inexpensive so you can stay within your budget and maintain your sanity. image of Cheap Places For Birthday Party 10 Free Locations for Children's Birthday Parties (Or Very Affordable) There are many benefits to hosting a party outside the home. First, there is less pressure to entertain because the kids usually have something to do. You can simplify the refreshments and use few decorations. Additionally, there won't be any mess in your home, there won't be any concern over children accessing forbidden areas, and the birthday child will feel like they are participating in something extra special. Additionally, not everyone has enough room or a yard for a large group of kids! However, that does not imply that you must reserve an expensive location or activity. There are many excellent locations for birthday parties that won't cost much more than hosting one at home. Here are 10 free or inexpensive locations for children's birthday parties. 1. Parks This is by far my favorite location for a free birthday party. Some locations even provide reservations for no cost or a small fee. Picnic tables, public restrooms, and shelters are typically available. Best of all, there is plenty to keep the kids busy! Hire some folding tables and provide basic fare. If allowed, you could also bring a portable grill to cook some hot dogs and hamburgers. 2. The Seaside A beach birthday party is always enjoyable if you live close to the water (including lakes). especially when trying to keep older kids entertained. Each person should bring a towel, along with the sand toys and a bottle of water. Additionally, you might want to hire more watchmen, particularly if there will be many children or if not all of them are strong swimmers. Some locations (especially in condo or apartment buildings) also have very affordable or even free pools that would be a great place for a kid's birthday party! 3. Veterinary Clinics Depending on where you live, this might be different, but where I live, the neighborhood animal shelter actually provides free online birthday parties. The prices I found for on-site parties at other SPCAs ranged from $50 to $200 and typically included everything but a cake. Before the party, birthday children may be urged to organize fundraisers; the proceeds are then given to the local animal shelter. Animal lovers and children who already have too much stuff will enjoy shelter parties. Gifts are rarely given; donations are! 4. Religious or community institutions Our community center can accommodate fairly sizable groups and only costs $50 to rent for a birthday party. There is no need to worry about tables and chairs, and frequently there are kitchens available for your use. Churches and community centers occasionally have kid-friendly areas or indoor play areas that are great for parties as well. 5. Walking Paths When coming up with ideas for kid's birthday parties, there is nothing wrong with thinking outside the box. Take the kids hiking instead of choosing a specific location or hosting a conventional party. If you manage to stop at a playground or arrive at a fun destination on your adventure, you will receive bonus points. For the trip, give kids their own bags of trail mix and Gatorade. When it comes time to celebrate the birthday itself, bring a picnic and serve cupcakes instead of cake. 6. Board Game Cafe You can stay and play games for as long as you want at these locations, which typically charge per person. I'd especially suggest this venue for birthday parties if you have older children, such as tweens and teens. However, be cautious because if you decide to order food while you're there, the cost could increase quickly. However, some locations offer reasonably priced birthday party packages. One near me charges $13.75 per person, which includes unlimited access to board games, fountain drinks, and ice cream. If your child invites 5 guests, the total cost of the party—including food—is less than $100. 7. At a restaurant Birthday parties are typically available at restaurants with play areas. Typically, they include all of your necessities, including kid-friendly meals for every visitor. You can either bring your own cake or, on occasion, they'll also sell them. When compared to the cost of party food, favors, decorations, and other items, they are typically quite affordable. 8. Zoos and museums These locations can occasionally be pricey, especially if you opt for one of their party packages. However, there are also numerous museums and zoos with affordable admission prices. Plan the celebration outside of mealtimes and arrange a nearby cupcake picnic. Or simply skip the cake and enjoy the setting! This could be a really cheap birthday idea if you and your guests are members. 9. Don't attend the party at all Older children or those with fewer close friends frequently favor a low-key celebration over a large birthday bash. You can typically take 2 or 3 kids out to dinner, to an arcade, to the movies, etc. for the same cost as a traditional birthday party and have a lot more fun. 10. Do It at Home The simplest and most affordable place to host a child's birthday party is, of course, your home. You can always host a birthday party at home if you can't find a suitable location or if the weather isn't ideal for an outdoor gathering. It's difficult to argue against the convenience of not having to lug anything to and from another location (especially if you have other kids). Avoiding overspending on catering and decorations is the key to keeping this venue on a tight budget. Be sure to plan for the space available while keeping the party activities enjoyable and simple. Plan a few standby games just in case, but don't let the party drag on for too long so that the kids get bored. Methods for Saving Money on a Kids' Birthday Party Saving money on children's birthday party venues is just the start. There are many other things you can do to throw a cheap party without coming off as stingy. Here are a few additional ways to cut costs on your child's birthday celebration. - Avoid serving food at mealtimes. Juice and small snacks are more affordable to serve than a full lunch or dinner. - Keep the guest list to a minimum; if at all possible, avoid inviting the entire class. Instead, limit your interactions to those with whom your kids typically play. - When choosing, take into account all of the costs. For example, you may find that paid venue parties are less expensive after accounting for the cost of food, party favors, and entertainment at home. - Instead of inviting friends, invite family You can ask your family for more than you can of other guests (such as a potluck-style dinner or to bring your own lawn chairs). Final Reflections Finding a place to host your child's birthday party without shelling out a small fortune may initially seem like a difficult task. However, picking a cheap or free location for a child's birthday party can be just as enjoyable as choosing a more expensive location. Kids won't remember how much money you spent on their birthday party, so keep that in mind. They only care about having a good time with their friends and cherishing the memories they create! FAQ Cheap Places For Birthday Party Where is the cheapest place to have a birthday party? A local park is the perfect set up for a free or cheap birthday party. There are usually picnic tables, grills, and unlimited entertainment and space to run around for the party guests. You can easily grab some hot dogs and chips on the cheap, and throw a fun park bash for a super low price! How can I celebrate my birthday in low budget? How to Throw a Birthday Party on a Budget Keep your guest list small. Make your own invitations. Use free printables to decorate. Pick a theme you already have decorations for. Have the party at your house. Don't party at meal time. Make or decorate your own cake. Use the dollar store for party supplies. What is the best place to make a birthday party? Good Places To Have A Birthday Party Escape Room. Escape rooms make fun, teamwork-building nights with friends or family. Restaurant. This birthday party idea is a classic for a reason. Bar or Cocktail Lounge. Spa. Cooking Class. Wine Cellar/Winery. Dine In Movie Theatre. Sports Game. How do you throw a cheap 21st birthday party? Low-Key 21st Birthday Party Ideas Go Camping. Camping is a fun and affordable way to get your friends together for a night or even a full weekend if you've got the time. Take a Day Cruise. Get Out of Town for a Road Trip. Throw a Low-Key House Party. Plan a Spa Day. Throw a Pool Party. Take a Painting Class. Where can I celebrate my 40th birthday in Los Angeles? 40th Birthday Party Venues for Rent in Los Angeles from $450. Lounge. The Bourbon Room. (4) from $56. Inside Space. Nostalgia Bar and Lounge. Santa Monica. from $3000. Patio. 100. Club Tee Gee. from $3000. Entire Venue. 120. The Airliner Bar. from $30. Bar. 150. from $111. Entire Venue. 300. from $1000. Pub. 1642 Bar. from $38. Event Room. What are good birthday ideas? Then, here are some great birthday ideas. Go For A Picnic. Picnics are very popular for a summer birthday, and it's a great way to celebrate someone's birthday. Go To An Amusement Park. Go Camping. Drive-in Movie Night. Go To The Beach. Go For A Drive. Go To The Zoo. What do adults do for their birthday? 15 Adult Birthday Party Ideas Let's Roam Scavenger Hunt. Pool Party. Slumber Party. Wine Tasting. Movie Night. Brunch. Bar Crawl. Murder Mystery. How much should I spend on birthday? In most cases, you can get away with spending $15 to $30 as most etiquette experts believe that's a reasonable sum. However, there are some cases where you may splurge and end up spending $100 or even over $100. How can I get free birthday gifts? 20 Stores & Websites That Give You Free Gifts on Your Birthday Starbucks. For the perfect start to your special day, head over to Starbucks for a free drink. Denny's. After you're all loaded up on coffee, take your birthday self over to Denny's for a free grand slam. CVS. Redbox. Sephora. IHOP. Dunkin' Donuts. Baskin Robbins. What should I do for my 10th birthday? Experience Party Ideas for a 10th Birthday Movie night. Rent out a movie theater for the evening to watch a new release or an old classic with your kid and their friends. Skating rink. Ice skating. Arcade. Bowling alley. Concert. Hotel sleepover. Escape room. What can I do for my birthday at home? 13 at-home birthday party ideas Host a video game night. You and all your friends can play video games together without being in the same state, let alone the same house. Host a board game night. DIY spa night. Bake your favorite dessert. Pick a theme. Plan a scavenger hunt. Host a trivia night. Paint party. What is 21st birthday called? The 21st birthday, often called 'coming of age', once had special significance. What can I do for my introvert birthday? Birthday Ideas for Introverts Host A small Gathering. Make It A movie Night. Skip The Surprise. Let The Introvert Help You plan. Consider Arranging a Weekend Getaway. Celebrate Without A Party. Put Party Money Into A Gift. Reconfigure The gift Table. What can I do for my daughters 21st birthday? 12 Spectacular 21st Birthday Ideas For Your Daughter Spa day. Source: Peerspace. Wine tasting birthday party. Source: Peerspace. You don't have to drink. Source: Peerspace. Parent-daughter photoshoot. Source: Peerspace. Vacation. Source: Peerspace. Take a cooking class together. Road trip. A day at the amusement park. Read the full article

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Baby birthday party planner near me

The last thing you want is to get them all excited when they're tired or you'll soon end up with a cranky baby. Discover the best places for childrens birthday parties in New York & throw a kids party to remember with this guide to kids birthday parties in NYC. The party itself doesn't have to be very long- an hour-and-a-half is probably plenty-but remember to schedule it around nap times. says, 'She organized my 40th birthday party out of town with a large group, as well as my baby shower. says, 'I hired these wonderful ladies to help me decorate my daughter's 16 Years of Slumber Party.' See more. Let them do all the work and provide the fun while you relax and enjoy your childs. Anyway, this is your baby's day to be the centre of attention! Every Event Should Be Perfect Its Your Party ATL is your 1 Leading party planner located in Atlanta Ga We specialize in Birthday parties, Baby Showers. Top 10 Party Planners near Wilmington, DE. Celebrate your kids birthday party in Oklahoma City at Artsy Rose Academy. You might want to invite one or two friends from your antenatal classes who can bring their own babies but I would suggest no more than one or two other babies, otherwise it could get too hectic. Cub Scout activities are centered around earning badges that are specific to each grade level. I recommend keeping numbers small so you don't overwhelm your little one, perhaps just family and a few close friends. Learn how your child will advance through Cub Scouts. So you can afford to keep things a lot more simple than most kids parties. Rivera Events provides Party & Event Services in Miami including Catering, Wait Staff, Entertainment & Rentals for Weddings, Corporate Events & Kid Parties. You're really throwing a party to give your family and friends an opportunity to get together and share such a special occasion. We have something for everyone including costume characters, clowns, magicians, popcorn, cotton candy. Party & Event Planning, Bartenders Melindas Childrens Parties Inc. 22 years of NJ party entertainment experience For the last 22 years, Parties for Peanuts has been the premier children's entertainment company in Northern NJ. Please contact us for bookings or with any questions and to find out when Virtual Adventures is coming to your area.Remember that planning a first birthday party for a baby is quite different to planning other kids birthday parties, in that a one year old isn't going to expect very much! Best kids party planner Near Me in New York, NY PrimeTime Hospitality. We currently service the DMV (DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia) area. Rental includes state of the art Virtual Reality Gaming equipment, system delivery, setup, and a technician for the duration of the event. Looking to plan the perfect party for your children No matter the concept, let the planners and organizers at LC Events, formally known as B. Perfect for birthdays, holidays, nightclubs, bar and bat mitzvahs. Book best birthday party organiser online for kids’ or adults’ birthday parties. If you are thinking to plan your baby’s 1st Birthday party, summer pool party, girls theme party, get-together party, and not only-but also another theme. Our experienced technicians will set up the equipment and help facilitate an exciting and enjoyable Virtual Reality experience for people of all ages. What does it take to host the birthday party of your childs dreams The Party Muse is an eight-year-old luxury event planning company specializing in. To begin with, our fantastic birthday party organizer team experts with our best birthday party ideas. Our established relationships with local vendors will help you assure quality and value. Services can include venue search, invitations, vendor selection, menu creation, decoration/floral, rental needs, entertainment, and even party favors. Perfect for birthdays, fundraisers, communions, graduations, summer camps, and church events. An Atlanta Event Planner will assist you throughout the planning process. Raise the bar and be the talk of the town by providing an exciting cutting-edge opportunity to family, friends, and party planners. To easily find a local Dominos Pizza restaurant or when searching for pizza near me, please visit our localized mapping website featuring nearby Dominos. Virtual Adventures is a virtual reality party rental company that offers the latest in VR entertainment technology to make any event, birthday or corporate gathering adventurous and unforgettable. Virtual Adventures… Experience Virtual Reality at it’s best!

#Baby birthday party planner near me