Seventh-day Adventist senior citizens enjoy ‘a very special holiday treat’

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AJA students gifted several ar...

HOLLY, Michigan – Adelphian Junior Academy students and staff hosted a dinner and program for senior citizens of the area Seventh-day Adventist churches on Thursday, Nov. 19 in the AJA gymnasium, 740 Academy Road.

“We sent out invitations the week before to seniors of the Holly, Fenton and Grand Blanc Adventist churches,” AJA principal Diane Barlow said. “We requested a reply and we were happy that 25 responded.”

Barlow welcomed all the guests before teacher Alan Meis offered the blessing.

With the tables decorated in a fall motif of baskets and leaves, the menu of mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetarian dinner roast, dressing, buttered corn, fresh cut green beans, relishes and cider was prepared by mothers of the Home and School Association under the direction of its leader, Tina Glenn of Holly. Pumpkin cake was served for dessert.

Following the meal, student choirs from various grade levels presented a program of holiday and patriotic songs. The primary choir was under the direction of teacher Gretchen Brown while the third- and fourth- grade choir was led by Barlow. The fifth- through eighth-grade choir was led by teacher Jill Simon, and the ninth and 10th by Meis. Piano accompaniment was offered by 10th-grader Emily Oliver and AJA parent Sonya Herford.

At the end of the program, Barlow thanked seniors for attending and asked the each guest take one of the basket decorations as a gift from the students. Each basket held a quart of applesauce, a pint of blueberry jelly, and a small loaf of bread.

Barlow said all AJA students had participated in picking the fruit, as well as making and canning the jelly and applesauce. Third- and fourth-grade students had baked the bread.

As guests were thanking their hosts as they left, many expressed the thought that the participation of the children in both the gifts and musical program made it all “a very special holiday treat.”