Priscilla Circle to host PLAN luncheon at church

Priscilla Circle will host its next PLAN luncheon on Saturday, Feb. 9, at Canyon Lake Community Church. Anyone who falls into the category of living alone, or with a relative or roommate is invited to attend the free luncheon. The theme is “Love.” The speaker will be Myles Ross. His wife, Cynthia Ross of In His Presence Ministry, will provide the music. To reserve a spot, contact Joan Ellett at 951-941-0859 or Alice Gray at 951-244-4605.

Priscilla Circle is one of six circles at Canyon Lake Community Church. The main ministry of this group is PLAN, outreach to “People Living Alone Now.” Three times a year, the ladies of Priscilla Circle plan and provide a free luncheon for approximately 100 people, who may or may not be members of the church. All are welcome. The ladies sometimes cook the food and sometimes order it. There is always a theme, beautiful decorations, great food, pleasant conversation, music and a testimony or two.

Joan Ellett chairs the PLAN luncheons. Ideas are considered and rejected, but once a decision has been reached, then the core committee gets to work. On the Friday before the event, nearly everyone in Pricilla Circle shows up to set up fourteen tables, lay out the decorations and set up the door prizes.

The day of the luncheon, Priscilla Circle ladies dress for the theme. They bring their food items to the church, help set up the beverage and food tables and set up the name tags and games. This may seem like a list of chores, but nothing could be further from the truth. All the activities are filled with laughter, fun, affection and love. The room starts out as taupe colored walls with a gray carpet and ends up colored with all the colors of the rainbow and transformed into a place of cheerful promise.

After all the fun and games, speakers, music, prayers and door prizes, comes the take-down and clean up. A happy group of women slips into the kitchen to clean the plates, fill the dishwashers, replace the trays of clean glasses and silverware back in the cupboards, and finally lock up as they leave. The hall is back to normal but the whispers of happy chatter remain in the air.

Priscilla Circle was established in 2009 by four members. Two of the original members, Alice Gray and Sandra Fulmer, are still active. The name Priscilla Circle is dedicated to Priscilla Colwell, a devoted wife, mother and friend to so many ladies in the church. She has since gone home to meet the Lord but her spirit lives on.

The activities of Pricilla Circle, to love and support the lonely, do not end with the luncheons. The group has divided up over 200 contacts among the members in teams of two or more women. Throughout the year, PLAN members receive Christmas, Valentine, Easter, and Thanksgiving cards from their Priscilla Circle team.

Priscilla Circle teams send birthday cards, make several calls during the year as reminders of the next luncheon and follow up as friends. Priscilla Circle members believe that by easing the loneliness of those who are elderly, have lost a spouse or caregiver, or who need a healthy meal with a yummy dessert, they are doing the work they are called to do as followers of Jesus Christ.

Priscilla Circle encourages ladies to become involved with its ministry. The women meet for fellowship, friendship and outreach September through June on the first Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m. in Room 11 at Canyon Lake Community Church, 30515 Railroad Canyon Rd, Canyon Lake.