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Recent Fund-raising Projects
 A bowl of traditional Russian borscht Borscht Bash MVERN presented a “Borscht Bash” at St. George’s Episcopal Church on November 17, 2007, featuring a traditional Russian meal, including borscht, prepared by MVERN volunteers and served by the teenagers who were going on the 2008 exchange trip to Russia. Special guests included Fr. Nikolai Aksenov, rector of St. Nicholas Church in Sablino, Russia, Igor Tolochin from St. Petersburg, and the Rt. Rev. Kenneth Price, Suffragan Bishop of Southern Ohio. The Oakwood Accordion Band entertained 170 guests with traditional Russian folk music. Read More  Visitors admire the art of Russian childrenRussian Children's Art From September 2008 to May 2009 MVERN displayed a body of artwork that was created by Russian children, ages 5-17, from the Sablino Youth Center and other schools in the area. Most of the pieces were paintings with a few pastel drawings and collages. Educational materials were sent out prior to the exhibitions at MVERN churches.  St. Nicholas poses with children at St. Paul’s, Dayton St. Nicholas Advent Project The 4th century Bishop of Myra, better known as St. Nicholas, visited ten MVERN churches during Advent 2008. In the person of various parishioners, St. Nicholas preached about his life and teachings. Sunday School children at several parishes left their shoes before the service and excitedly returned to find that their shoes had been filled with packages of candy. No one received a lump of coal. It has been a long journey from the 4th century for the Bishop of Myra to our current image of St. Nicholas as a jolly, fat man dressed in a red, fur-trimmed suit. However, as a lover of the poor and patron saint of children, St. Nicholas put Christ at the center of his life, his ministry and his entire existence and was a model of how Christians are meant to live.  A selection of Russian craftsSale of Russian Crafts For several years MVERN sold Russian crafts at the Dayton International Festival and at the MVERN churches. These beautiful, hand-made crafts, imported directly from Russia, included the popular Matryoshka or nested dolls, intricately lacquered boxes, Nativity sets and Christmas ornaments, wooden Easter eggs, porcelain figurines, toys, lacquered plates, bowls and candlesticks, amber jewelry, leather and wooden boxes, and much more. Two MVERN Board members traveled to Russia several times to personally select these beautiful crafts, often purchasing directly from the artists. Proceeds from the sale of the crafts helped fund the annual youth exchanges between Episcopal and Russian youth.  Cover of MVERN’s 18 month calendar 2007-2008 Calendar MVERN invited friends to take a virtual tour of Russia in 2007 with an 18-month calendar, filled with full-color pictures of the places and people of Russia. Profits from the sale of this 11x17” wall calendar, starting with January 2007, benefitted the new Youth Center at St. Nicholas Church in Sablino. |