Three Cape County churches using dinner as fundraiser for Cuban church

Three area Presbyterian churches have stepped forward to make a difference in the lives of others. The Global Mission Committee, made up of representatives from First Presbyterian Church in Jackson and First Presbyterian and Westminster Presbyterian churches in Cape Girardeau, have held an authentic Cuban dinner for the last four years to raise funds for a sister church in Matanzas, Cuba.

Matilde Stone, a member of Westminster, is originally from Cuba and participates in preparing the meal.

The Global Mission Committee attempts to support and maintain contact with mission activities around the world.

"The Cuba project began about seven years ago with support for the interdenominational seminary in Matanzas, Cuba," Stone said. "As soon as they could find a church to partner with in Cuba, correspondence began between the mission committee and the church in Cuba."

The mission found the Good Shepherd Church of the Presbyterian Reformed Church of Cuba, in Union de Reyes in the province of Matanzas. The church had a young pastor who could use e-mail.

Peg Hirschburg of Cape Girardeau decorates at First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau for a Cuban lunch to help raise money for a church in Cuba.

The three Presbyterian churches in Cape Girardeau and Jackson have continued the annual Cuban meal to raise funds for repairs to the Union de Reyes church. The money raised by the dinners is sent to the Presbyterian Cuba Connection for delivery to the church in Cuba.

"Generally the financial support has been for repairs to the church buildings," Stone said. "They had not been repaired in nearly 50 years."

The money also helps support an intensive outreach evangelism program in the summers.

The church at Union de Reyes was formed 91 years ago. The Global Mission Committee has received pictures and reports from people who have visited the Union de Reyes Church of the Good Shepherd. The information has indicated that the roof has been fixed. The exterior stucco has also been repaired and painted, and windows and doors have been restored. The interior has been painted, and new lighting is in place, as well.

"It is also clear from photos received over the years that attendance at services and retreats has markedly increased," Stone said. "There are many young people participating in the programs. Choir and vacation Bible school are some of the programs."

Mati Stone of Cape Girardeau stirs the marinade for 48 pounds of chicken to be served at a Cuban lunch fundraiser at First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau.

Doris Ford is a member of Westminster Presbyterian and helps cook the meal, as well.

"I noticed a lot of children participating in the Christmas program, especially," she said.

Over the last three years, the three local Presbyterian churches and the Good Shepherd Church of Union de Reyes have coordinated worship services on the day of the fundraising dinner. The churches have read the same passages from the Old Testament and New Testament, sung the same hymns and received the same theme in their sermons.

This year, however, the Church of the Good Shepherd has no pastor so the mission committee lacks direct contact with it. Coordinating this Sunday's worship services with the ones in Cuba is impossible.

"However, we will be praying for our sister church in Cuba, the members of the church, and their mission and outreach," Stone said.

This year, for the second time, Westminster Presbyterian Church Choir will sing a hymn in Spanish during the dinner. There will also be a speaker reporting on the work and progress of the Good Shepherd Church.

The menu for the fundraising dinner will be a dish of chicken breast in tomatoes, potatoes and green and red peppers in a tomato sauce served over a bed of white rice. They will also serve tossed salad with avocado and Panepela, a soaked yellow cake.

"Cuban food is moderately spicy but not hot," Stone said.