WNZR’s Spotlight on Mount Vernon is back for December with Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr. Listen in for the latest updates on the city, projects, and more!
Topics include:
Listen to the full conversation below or by clicking HERE.
Today on The Morning Thing we shared the poignant moment from the classic cartoon special A Charlie Brown Christmas that many have missed throughout the years. Jason Soroski, Crosswalk.com, explains while small, this moment seems intentional.
“I was in the first grade back when they still performed Christmas pageants in schools (less than 50 years, but still a very long time ago), and our class performed a version of the Charlie Brown Christmas. Since I was kind of a bookworm and already had a blue blanket, I was chosen to play the part of Linus. As Linus, I memorized Luke 2:8-14, and that Scripture has been hidden in my heart ever since.
But while working so diligently to learn those lines, there is one important thing I didn’t notice then, and didn’t notice until now.
Right in the middle of speaking, Linus drops the blanket.
Charlie Brown is best known for his uniquely striped shirt, and Linus is most associated with his ever-present security blanket. Throughout the story of Peanuts, Lucy, Snoopy, Sally and others all work to no avail to separate Linus from his blanket. And even though his security blanket remains a major source of ridicule for the otherwise mature and thoughtful Linus, he simply refuses to give it up.
Until this moment. When he simply drops it.
In that climactic scene when Linus shares “what Christmas is all about,” he drops his security blanket, and I am now convinced that this is intentional. Most telling is the specific moment he drops it: when he utters the words, “fear not“
Looking at it now, it is pretty clear what Charles Schultz was saying, and it’s so simple it’s brilliant.
The birth of Jesus separates us from our fears.
The birth of Jesus frees us from the habits we are unable (or unwilling) to break ourselves.
The birth of Jesus allows us to simply drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly, and learn to trust and cling to Him instead.
This world can be a scary place, and most of us find ourselves grasping to something temporal for security, whatever that thing may be. Essentially, ours is a world in which it is very difficult for us to “fear not.”
But in the midst of fear and insecurity, this simple cartoon image from 1965 continues to live on as an inspiration for us to seek true peace and true security in the one place it has always been and can always still be found.”
What a poignant reminder of the TRUE meaning of Christmas! Read the full article from Crosswalk.com HERE. Merry Christmas from The Morning Thing and WNZR!
Jacob Doup with WRP CPAs joined us to share about his involvement over the years with Food For The Hungry.
He gives ways to donate, talks about how every gift counts, and why each dollar stays in the community it is raised in.
Jacob wraps up with sharing the goal for 2023 and the collection points, including how you can drop off a check at the Knox Memorial on Drive Day (12/8) or by visiting WRP CPAs. You can also call Jacob’s team to make a donation over the phone: 740-397-0779.
Listen to our full conversation below or by clicking HERE.
Olivia Stern, Food For The Hungry Digital Content and Marketing Director, and Lisa Mazzari, Executive Director, share all about Drive Day for Food For The Hungry 2023.
Olivia gives an overview on what events have already happened and some of the food and funds that have been raised so far.
Lisa shares the collection points for Drive Day and the details about the postal collection being done.
They both share more on the goal, how to give, where to give, how to get involved and stay up to date, and lots more!
Olivia and Lisa wrap up with sharing prayer requests and a thank you for those involved with this year’s project.
Listen to our full conversation below or by clicking HERE.
Joe Rinehart and Jayme McMillan spoke with WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart to preview the new Food For The Hungry broadcast format and more in this great conversation ahead of the drive day.
Joe and Jayme both shared their involvement with Food For The Hungry, their roles for the broadcast, the impact of Food For The Hungry and more.
They also talked about why it is important for students to be involved with this project and shared personal stories of how people have been impacted when they volunteer.
Joe and Jayme wrap up with sharing what the Food For The Hungry slogan means to them.
Listen to the full conversation below or by clicking HERE.
WNZR spoke with Interchurch Social Services Branch Managers as we build up toward drive day for Food For The Hungry. Interchurch Social Services is a grant recipient of the food and funds that are raised during the annual drive.
Sheryl O’Neil tells us all about her involvement with Interchurch Social Services in Centerburg and what the greatest needs are heading into the new year. Sheryl also gives us an idea on what she would like to see for the ministry heading into 2024.
Katie Frazier tells us about her involvement with Interchurch Social Services in Frederick Town and why she serves. She gives us a brief rundown of how the needs have grown this year and how people can help meet those needs.
Cindy Martin tells us about her involvement with Interchurch Social Services and how long she has been in the ministry. She gives us a rundown of the needs within her community and how they have grown and how people can help meet those needs. Cindy goes over her goals that she has for the ministry and what she would like to see heading into 2024. Listen in to hear how you can help and how you can pray for the needs within Knox County.
Listen to our full conversations with the Branch Managers below or by clicking HERE.
Carolyn Fergus, Executive Director of Interchurch Social Services in Knox County, joined WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart to talk about the impact of Food For The Hungry ahead of the annual broadcast.
Interchurch Social Services has seen an increase in households and individuals seeking assistance. Now more than ever it is important to help in the fight against food insecurity.
Carolyn shares stats for 2023 compared to 2022, the biggest needs that Interchurch has heading into the new year, and more.
For more information on how to give or how to get involved visit foodforthehungrycares.org
Listen to our full conversation with Carolyn below or by clicking HERE.
Kathy Brechler joined us to share all the details for this year’s Kenyon Snowflake Gala. She talked about the theme for this year’s gala being Swing Into The Holidays. There will be music, dining, and fundraising throughout the night.
Kathy also shared about the agenda for the night and more on the William A. Stroud Jr. Award that will be given out. The date for this year’s event is Dec. 8th at the Lowry Center at Kenyon College. It will begin at 6pm.
Deadline to get your tickets is Monday, Dec. 4th. You can get your tickets HERE.
Listen to our full conversation with Kathy below:
Lori Jones-Perkins joined us for Giving Tuesday to share more about the United Way of Knox County and their 2023 campaign. She gave us an update on where the campaign is currently with their goal of $1 million dollars.
Lori also gives the exciting news for Giving Day. The United Way of Knox County has received a matching grant of $10,000 from the Knox County Foundation. The first $10,000 coming in today will be matched, which means The United Way will receive $20,000! This money will be used for a tutoring program at one of the county schools.
All funds raised in Knox County, stay in Knox County. For more information or to donate click HERE.
Listen to our full conversation with Lori below:
WNZR’s Alyssa Sidle spoke with Ian Ernsberger (Director) and two cast members (Jeffrey Scott and Tony Montgomery) from It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. The show will be coming to the Knox Memorial Theater this weekend: November 24th – 26th.
They all shared their backgrounds in theatre, what it has been like working on a production that is presented as a live radio play, and lots more.
Listen to their full conversations below:
Rise and Shine 