Retired pastor Dr. Ronald Siegenthaler of Delray Beach
led the nondenominational service in the Briny Breezes
auditorium on Jan. 22. Photo by Jerry Lower
By Tim Pallesen
Regis Philbin will be keynote speaker for the 10th Annual Prayer Breakfast to benefit the Young Men’s Christian Association of South Palm Beach County.
“I am delighted by this year’s legendary guest and know it will be a breakfast to remember,” event organizer Yvonne Boice said.
Philbin, 80, is a popular talk and game show host who rose to fame in 1985 with Live! With Regis and Kathy Lee.
The YMCA’s newest trustee, Marv Russell, got Philbin as speaker. “Without his help, we would not have been able to secure our spectacular speaker,” YMCA executive director Dick Pollack said.
Tickets are $75 for the 8:30 a.m. breakfast at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. Call (561) 237-0944 or see www.ymcaspbc.org for details.
The annual breakfast is the largest fundraiser for the YMCA, averaging 500 attendees each year. Past inspirational speakers have included football coaches and Tim Tebow’s parents.
“As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we can take pride in having developed a significant event that unites the community and attracts stellar nationally recognized speakers,” Boice said.
Sabrina Ginsberg with her grandmother Susan Marks. Photo provided
Sabrina Ginsberg’s flash mob dazzled her rabbi as an act of kindness for her mitzvah project.
The 12-year-old Boynton Beach girl recruited 60 friends to perform a surprise dance to honor her grandmother at a community Hanukkah celebration. Rabbi Anthony Fratello of Temple Shaarei Shalom had encouraged Sabrina to find a mitzvah project that spoke to her.
“I did a flash mob because my grandmother has Parkinson’s disease and loves to dance,” Sabrina said.
The mitzvah project raised $2,100 for the South Florida Parkinson’s Association.
“This is utterly unique in my rabbinic experience,” Rabbi Fratello said afterward.
Many temples teach teens that the Jewish ritual can be an important social action in becoming a responsible adult.
Sabrina’s friends donated to her cause when they gathered Dec. 17 at the Ross Jewish Community Center to rehearse their flash mob dance. Sabrina and her grandmother, Susan Marks, demonstrated the dance steps.
The 60 dancers then surprised the crowd of 1,000 the next day at the JCC’s annual community Hanukkah celebration at the Canyon Town Center Amphitheater in Boynton Beach.
As a nice interfaith twist, Sabrina’s idea attracted 10 students and teachers from St. Mark Catholic School to dance in the flash mob.
“What better way to come together than a random act of kindness?” St. Mark teacher Elizabeth Eubanks asked.
Worship at Briny Breezes Community Church — the south county’s only seasonal church — starts in November when the snowbirds arrive and ends when they leave after Easter.
“We’re for people who might not go to a regular church service but would go here because it’s convenient,” long-time member Betty Foland explained.
Mostly retirees live in the 485 trailer homes that compose this oceanfront hamlet.
“The church is here for the spiritual needs of the people,” Foland said. “Some come in wheelchairs and walkers.”
A rotation of part-time pastors take turns delivering the sermon.
One is the Rev. Ray Brower, who has preached the first and third Sundays in Briny Breezes since he retired as pastor of Boca Raton Community Church in 1992.
“I get them all pumped up on my Sunday and then say I’ll see you in two weeks,” laughed Brower, who also makes house calls and hospital visits.
Mike Bingham, manager for religious radio station WRMB in Boynton Beach, delivers the Easter sermon each year.
All are welcome at the 10:30 a.m. nondenominational service in the Briny Breezes auditorium.
“We discourage our pastors from talking denomination or doctrine,” Foland said. “We just want them to talk about Jesus.”
Brower said pastors are careful to do that. “Everyone can come and feel free to worship,” he said. “Nothing is going to offend them.”
Tim Pallesen writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Email him at tcpallesen@aol.com.
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