Isabella Malaga (center) pictured with her parents, Marc and Melissa.
Photo provided
By Tim Pallesen
Isabella Malaga was surprised when her parents and rabbi introduced her to the homeless children at Family Promise.
“I realized that they don’t look like they are homeless,” the 13-year-old said. “They’re just normal people who had some bad luck.”
Volunteers from churches and synagogues take turns to provide food and shelter at night for South County homeless families in the Family Promise interfaith network.
Families go to a former convent at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach during the day for counseling and lunch as the parents look for jobs and apartments.
Isabella volunteered to serve food and play with the children. Then she realized that the children didn’t have a playground.
So Isabella, whose family attends B’nai Torah in Boca Raton, chose a playground outside a Catholic church as her bat mitzvah project.
She decorated boxes as little houses that she asked friends and relatives to fill with coins, raising $2,000. She also persuaded the owner of the Hitching Post, a retailer west of Delray, to donate a play-set.
Family Promise children now can play as their families make the transition from homelessness to independence.
“Isabella is exceptionally kind,” her rabbi, David Steinhardt, said. “There’s a sweetness in her that’s obvious when you meet her.”
INSET BELOW: Tim Brumfield
Tim Brumfield, the new organist and music director at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton, had it all in New York City.
As organist at St. John the Divine, the largest Gothic cathedral in the city, Brumfield performed with pianist Dave Brubeck, saxophonist Paul Winter and folk singer Judy Collins. As his career took off, he also was music director in off-Broadway shows.
“But I felt I’d reached the pinnacle of what New York City could be for me,” Brumfield said.
So Brumfield searched for a location for what he calls his second act. St. Gregory’s popped up in his Internet search. He applied for a job opening and got hired.
He debuted here performing the organ for Phantom of the Opera as the classic 1925 silent film starring Lon Chaney played in the sanctuary on the Friday before Halloween. Brumfield knew the music because his annual Halloween Extravaganza and Procession of the Ghouls became a popular New York event at St. John the Divine.
A value to having Brumfield in South Florida might be the New York City friends he invites for performances this winter.
Gospel singer Theresa Thomason performs at St. Gregory’s on Jan. 18, followed by jazz trombonist Wycliffe Gordon on Feb. 1.
INSET BELOW: The Rev. Marcus Zillman
The new senior pastor at First Methodist Church in Boca Raton has his eye on the university in town.
The Rev. Marcus Zillman is impressed by his new congregation. “It’s evident to me that this church wants to share the love of Christ in this community,” Zillman said of First Methodist’s outreach efforts.
Zillman, 41, previously served a Hobe Sound church. He was a campus minister at the University of Miami for six years before that.
“I have a heart for college students and young adults,” he said. “I’m excited about extending First Methodist’s relationship with Florida Atlantic University.”
Andrew and Peter are portrayed as fishers of men
in the center element of the new stained-glass window
at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of Lake Worth.
Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
The new stained-glass window above the altar at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church tells the story of the Lake Worth congregation as it celebrates its 100th anniversary.
“We talked a lot about who we are,” said Christie Ragsdale, who chaired the committee that worked with McMow Art Glass to create the 5-foot-diameter window.
“They were an emotionally driven group,” McMow owner Shanon Materio said. “They had their heart in it.”
They designed the disciples Andrew and Peter in the middle as fishers of men. “The window represents our role in spreading the word of Christ,” Ragsdale said.
Eight symbols that surround the center of the window are a Bible, a pineapple for hospitality, a harp for music, a crown for the kingship of God, a dove for the Holy Spirit, white and grapes for bread and wine, bread and fish for feeding the hungry and a lantern.
The lantern takes the St. Andrew’s history back to before the worship service in 1914 when a mother and her three children walked seven miles for a Sunday night prayer service because the closest Episcopal church was in West Palm Beach.
The priest there gave the family a lantern for their walk home. Then he helped Lake Worth start a church of its own.
More than 400 people from 34 congregations, civic organizations and schools walked in the End Hunger Walk on Oct. 12.
The 20th annual event raised more than $35,000 for the Caring Kitchen in Delray Beach and six food pantries also operated by Christians Reaching Out to Society Ministries.
CROS Ministries also was one of food banks that received 18,000 pounds of food donated by members of the B’nai Israel congregation of Boca Raton in their 21st annual Fight Against Hunger.
The popular old-fashioned Christmas bazaar, presented by the ladies at First Presbyterian Church in Delray Beach, is set for Nov. 7-8.
The Holly Days Bazaar will be in the new Holly House, where the women have gathered twice a week all year to prepare their handicrafts.
“It’s a way of life,” co-chair Donna King said. “We go Tuesdays and Thursdays to create things and to support one another.”
Creations such as miniature Christmas trees, wreaths and ornaments sell as quickly as the mango chutney in the bakery sale. Proceeds benefit church improvements and missions.
The bazaar is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m for the Friday and Saturday opening, then 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays from Nov. 11 to Dec. 13.
St. Gregory’s Episcopal in Boca Raton also has its annual Christmas Emporium on Nov. 7-9. Church members have donated everything from champagne to dog treats for holiday gift baskets for sale.
Tim Pallesen writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Email him at tcpallesen@aol.com.
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