Teas give cancer patients respite
BY MICHELLE L. _START Florida Weekly Correspondent

A Fort Myers church is pampering women who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Four times a year, the Covenant Presbyterian Church on McGregor Boulevard hosts a Sterling Service Tea Ministry, which is complete with fine china, classical music, flowers, tea sandwiches and dessert.

"We do not discuss cancer in any way," said Karen Jalving, who learned about the ministry two years ago in a magazine. "It is for women who have been touched by cancer. Anyone touched is welcome to come. It is a celebration, an opportunity for them to retreat from chemotherapy and radiation."

The idea for The Sterling Silver Tea Ministry came from Trudy Wheeler, a member of Christ Church United Methodist in Louisville, Ky., in 2004 after attending a workshop on putting spiritual gifts into action. She saw the ministry as a way to bring those touched by cancer together to share and to support one another.

Invitations for the high teas are sent out a few weeks in advance. Space is limited, so only about 30 invitations are issued each time. Each is ornately designed.

For example, the one held in March had a large turquoise

dragonfly attached to the card

stock.

If a woman fails to attend three consecutive teas, she is taken off the invitation list, making room for someone

else.

"We have young mothers and ladies in their late

70s that come," said Jalving.

"It is not about cancer. It is

about getting away from the everyday world."

The high teas are held on a Sunday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in September, December, March and June. Door prizes are awarded at each and every woman goes home with a cookie, depicting a hand holding a heart.

Most of the services and foods are donated, but the women at the church also hold fundraisers to pay for additional costs. ¦

If you go

>>What: The Sterling Silver Tea Ministry >>When: The next tea is Sept. 23 >>Where: Covenant Presbyterian Church,

249 McGregor Blvd. >>Info: 239-334-8937

PHOTOS COURTESY KAREN JALVING Four times a year, the Covenant Presbyterian Church on McGregor Boulevard hosts a Sterling Service Tea Ministry, which is complete with fine china, classical music, flowers, tea sandwiches and dessert. The event pampers women who have been diagnosed with cancer.