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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Cheney Methodist Will Aid Kids In Brazil

Nina Culver Correspondent

The Cheney United Methodist Church has started a mission project that benefits children in Brazil.

The church recently purchased craft items made in Rio de Janeiro by children who are part of the Hand Craft Center. As the goods are sold, half the sale price is given to the child, and half helps fund the Brazilian mission project.

The goal of the project, says the Rev. George Abrams, is to help the kids who are at risk of running away and living on the streets by helping them stay in school and providing them with a little income.

“The object is to keep them off the streets of Brazil,” says Abrams.

The children all live in favelas, communities of handmade homes on government land. Favelas are often considered to be the equivalent of slums, says Abrams, and seem to be controlled by the cocaine mafia.

“It’s a different socio-political system than we’re used to,” says Abrams.

Abrams learned of the mission project on a trip to the World Methodist Conference in Brazil last August. Members of his church expressed interest in helping the project, and the effort snowballed from there.

The church is still working on the details of the project and hasn’t yet figured out a good distribution system for the craft items, but the problems are expected to be worked out soon.

The church also recently started collecting foreign coins that will be used to provide food, medicine and shelter in foreign countries.

For more information on either of the new mission projects, call the church at 235-4600. The church is located at 204 Fourth St.

Free concert and tea next week

The Landscape Association will host its annual Spring Tea and Musical from 2 to 4 p.m. on May 16. A concert will be presented by the Ferris High School Canterbury Belles, followed by tea.

The Landscape Association was formed in the 1920s to oversee the landscaping and gardens of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and continues that mission today. The group members are women of many denominations.

The concert and tea are free and will be held in the cathedral, located at 127 E. 12th.

The cathedral will also host a concert presented by the Spokane British Brass Band and the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus. The concert will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and children under age 12. Tickets are available at all G&B Select-A-Seat outlets or by calling 325-SEAT.

Baroque festival Sunday

First Presbyterian Church, 318 S. Cedar, will host a festival of Baroque music Sunday at 4 p.m. The concert will feature Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and “Concerto for Two Trumpets” and Bach’s “Concerto in C Minor for Clavier and Strings.”

The music will be performed by the musicians of First Presbyterian. The public is invited to attend the free concert.

Donations will be accepted.