K-12 Christmas Program is Monday, Dec. 10

 

The annual music program of Kindergarten thru Grade 12 will be held in the Kensington High School Gym Monday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. It will feature all elementary grades, bands, and vocal groups. Please put this important date on your calendar. Kristi Reneberg assisted by Sara Nelson and elementary teachers will be in charge.
 

Barn Christmas on Dec. 15

 

The annual Barn Christmas Services sponsored by First St. John Lutheran Church of Kensington and First Lutheran Church of Phillipsburg will be on Saturday evening, Dec. 15, this year. The St. John Lutheran Handbell Choir will again be featured at both services at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Transportation will be furnished as there is no parking at the barn. Meet at First St. John Lutheran Church on Highway 36 1/2 hour before service time for a ride to the barn. Soup and condiments will be served beginning at 4:30 p.m. and continue throughout the evening. Freewill donations will be taken and given to missions.
 

Preschool to Be Held at First St. John Lutheran Next Year

 

First Saint John Lutheran Preschool will be open and serving the same ages in preschool next year as they have done for many years. There is a false rumor that the Preschool will be closing next year after the consolidation of the Kensington and Eastern Heights School Districts. Please disregard this rumor! 
 

Thanksgiving Dinner at Legion Hall

 

The Kensington Legion, Auxiliary and SAL's will be busy preparing for the annual community Thanksgiving noon dinner at the Legion Hall. If you receive your paper on Wednesday, it is not too late to plan to attend. No reservations are necessary. Each family is asked to bring a salad or dessert to compliment the meal. Freewill donations will be taken for the expense of the meal.
 

Students to Perform in Honor Band

 

Erin Ferguson, clarinet, a 4-year member of the District Honor Band at Ft. Hays State University, and Katie Larson, alto saxophone,  and Amanda Sarr, alternate tenor saxophone, will be performing with the District Honor Band in a concert at the Beach-Schmidt Performance Auditorium in Hays on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 4 p.m. They were chosen from auditions and will spend Saturday in rehearsal with other band members before the concert. Their local band teacher is Kristi Reneberg.
 

USD-238 School Calendar and Menus

 

Monday, Nov. 26--Classes resume

Thursday, Nov. 29--Jr. High basketball vs. Jewell @ Kensington, 4 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 30--HS Basketball vs. Alma @ Kensington, 4 p.m.

                        Junior Class soup supper in home ec room

Saturday, Dec. 1--High School Honor Band @ Hays, Concert, 4 p.m.

 

Menus

Monday, Nov. 26--Frito pie, tater tots, cinnamon rolls, diced peaches, milk

Tuesday, Nov. 27--Super nachos, oven fries, refried beans, 1/2 apple, milk

Wednesday, Nov. 28--BBQ rib patty on bun, broccoli, scalloped potatoes, 1/2 banana, chocolate pudding, milk

Thursday, Nov. 29--Spaghetti, bread sticks, lettuce salad, crackers, no-bake cookies, fruit cocktail, milk

Friday, Nov. 30--Chicken patty on bun, oven fries, a gratin cauliflower, mandarin oranges, milk
 

Notes from Senior Center

 

The Christmas party will be Saturday, Dec. 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. Watch for further details, but plan to attend. Pinochle will be played Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m.

 

The annual meeting of the Kensington Senior/Community Center, Incorporated, will be held Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008. Leonard Schultz and Darlene Miller are eligible for re-election. Other business will be discussed.  All interested persons are asked to put this date on their calendar.

 

Thirteen were out to play pitch Thursday, Nov. 8. The November birthday party on Thursday, Nov. 15, was attended by 25 persons. Those present who were celebrating birthdays were Evelyn Levin, Sharon Rust and Eleanora Ratliff. The program was on Medicare Part D.  

 

Menus

Monday, Nov. 26--Chicken & noodles, Cook's choice vegetable, stewed tomatoes, bread, peaches

Tuesday, Nov. 27--Tater tot casserole, spinach/cheese salad, apricots, bread, pudding

Wednesday, Nov. 28--Baked fish, green beans, fruit cup, bread, rice pilaf

Thursday, Nov. 29--Roast beef, mashed potatoes/gravy, corn, bread, cinnamon apple slices

Friday, Nov. 30--Baked spaghetti, seasoned carrots, tossed salad, bread sticks, pineapple cranberry crunch
 

Music Club Thanksgiving Praise Service Held

 

The Kensington Music Club hosted the annual Thanksgiving Praise Service at St. John Lutheran Church of Kensington Sunday evening. The theme was "Songs of Thanksgiving." Sherry Newbrey played the prelude music and Dennis Beckmann, chairman of St. John Lutheran Church, welcomed the large crowd attending.

Pastor Becky Saddler of the United Church of Kensington gave the invocation based on Phillipians 4:6 & 7. The scripture readings from Psalms were read by Sharon Bearley between the musical numbers.

 

The Kensington Music Club Chorus introduced the program with  a responsive reading led by Galen Larson interspersed with  familiar Thanksgiving hymns entitled "With a Song of Thanksgiving." Stacey McCoy of Heartland Worship Center sang "Where Does God Speak." Annette Riley of United Church of Kensington sang "Praise the King" and "Thank you God."

 

The A-men Trio (Dave Hutson, Wendell Bohm and Galen Larson) involved the congregation in a fun medley event which they entitled "Just a little bit Lutheran."

 

The St. John Lutheran Church Handbell Choir of Kensington performed two numbers using hand bells and chimes with Melissa Westbrook playing flute accompaniment on the latter number. The presentations were "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" and "Blessed Are They." They are directed by Carol Rahjes.

 

The program concluded with the Music Club Chorus singing "Alleluia to the King" and Pastor Becky Saddler giving the benediction.

 

Visiting with cookies and coffee were enjoyed in the fellowship hall following the program. Everyone enjoyed the inspiring program as well as getting out on a perfect, warm November evening. The freewill thank offering was designated to the Smith County Ministerial Alliance.
 

Births

 

A daughter, Molly Jolene, was born to Matt and Jackie (Sidman) Norman of Colby on Nov. 7, 2007. Molly weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz. Local grandparents are Betty Sidman and Ron Sidman and a great-grandmother, Ann Ferguson, all of Kensington.

 

Paul and Apryl Sweat of Thornton, Colo., became first time parent with the birth of their son, Martin Gregory, on Nov. 17, 2007. Martin weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. Grandparents are Denis and Wilma Sweat of Cedar and Cleve and Linda Rousser of Amarilla, Tex. Ruth Sweat of Smith Center is a great-grandmother.
 

Death of Vada Smith

 

Vada Smith, 96, died Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, at Prairie Haven. She and her husband, Ted, who preceded her in death in 1971 lived in Kensington since their marriage in 1943. They had no children. She is survived by five sisters, none of this area.

 

Local survivors include her sister-in-law, Irene Smith of Prairie Haven; a nephew, Terry Smith of Kensington; a great-niece, Crystal (Smith) Roberts of Ashland; and a great-nephew, Kelly Smith of Kensington.

 

The funeral was Thursday afternoon at the United Church of Kensington with Pastor Becky Saddler officiating. Burial was in the Olive Branch Cemetery, rural Kensington. A complete obituary will be found in another section of this issue.

Around the Community

 

Lucille Schoeni is a patient at the Smith County Hospital for observation and treatment.

 

It is reported that Diane Krogmann of Sabetha , daughter of Don and Doris Wiens, stepped on a glass broken candle and severed the Achilles tendon in her foot and will be in a cast, then a boot and the anticipated recovery time of three months. With two small children and an open house planned at their craft shop, this was not in Diane's plans.

 

Apologies to Melissa Westbrook for omitting her as a very important person at the Veterans' Day parade. She checked each entry as they approached the reviewing stand to assure that the right announcement was made by the M.C. Bob Westbrook.

 

Karen Pollock's beautiful Fairy Tale Dolls are currently on display in the Kensington Community/School Library. They are worth taking a look, and then check out a book for winter evening reading. .

 

Pastor Becky Saddler made this remark at the funeral of Vada Smith last Thursday, "She was a woman that had walked a million miles and never left Kensington." Vada was a very determined walker as long as her health permitted and could be seen every day, when the weather was reasonably good, on her daily walk around town. She was a remarkable lady.

 

The stomach flu seems to be making the rounds in the community. It cannot be attributed to Thanksgiving feasting at this time, but it is miserable nonetheless.

The Prairie Haven notes are not available today.

 

We hope everyone has a very blessed Thanksgiving. We have so many reasons to thank God with such a bountiful fall harvest, wonderful families, good friends and neighbors, and, hopefully, reasonable good health. Don't forget to report your family gatherings.