Services provided by the Center for Pregnancy Choices were detailed by the facility’s executive director Beth Sharp during a presentation at the November meeting of the Collinsville Community Development Club.

To aid in her presentation, Sharp distributed several brochures, including one which described the Center as “an extension of the body of Christ by meeting the needs of individuals facing unplanned pregnancies by helping avoid the trauma of abortion. Our purpose is to empower individuals to choose life for the unborn, a life of purity and holiness, and eternal life by choosing to accept Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.”

The Center for Pregnancy Choices serves as CPC Services: 24-hour counseling available, free pregnancy tests, options counseling, parenting, adoption, and abortion risks. post-abortion counseling, resources for schools, referrals for adoption, medical assistance, employment and education.

Sharp explained to club members why she had become so enthusiastic about serving in the center. Having had an abortion at an early age, Sharp said she was prepared to have another abortion when she was 30 but decided against it.

Sharp said she felt a calling to counsel girls who were considering abortion and offers girls hope and encourages them. Individuals making a choice about abortion need one-on-one counseling.

Sharp said there are lots of teenage pregnancies in Meridian. She also talked about several billboards on display around the area and how they have touched those who view them.

There are many ways to help the Center for Pregnancy Choices. The Collinsville Community Club participated in the “Baby Bottle Boomerang” last May. The club also donated $100 to the Center.

Sharp distributed copies of “A Compassionate Call to Counter Culture in a World of Abortion” by David Platt. She also gave each club member a pen to wear of baby feet the exact size and shape of a 10-week unborn baby.

Club president Judy Harwell called the Nov. 20, 2017, meeting to order and led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Jack Cook presented a devotional that referenced Thanksgiving. Cook referred to Thanksgiving as “The Forgotten Holiday.”

“People seem to think of Thanksgiving as the day between Halloween and Christmas,” he said. “Thanksgiving is an action word: giving thanks.”

Cook also talked about the Pilgrims coming to America on the Mayflower.

“It took them three months to cross the ocean,” he said. “Many of the Pilgrims got sick and many of them died.

Cook also provided a brief history of the Pilgrims and Indians.

“The Indians showed the Pilgrims how to plant corn and how to hunt and fish,” he said. “The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in November. The Pilgrims held the day of thanks to thank God for their good harvest and for helping them survive through the hard winter. The Pilgrims invited the Indians to come to the feast. Ninety Indians came to the first Thanksgiving dinner and stayed three days. The children played games together.”

Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated the fourth Thursday in November. Cook read from Psalm 100.

The club’s project for November was to furnish groceries to a needy family for Thanksgiving.

The meeting adjourned and members and guests enjoyed a time of refreshments and fellowship. The serving committee included: Lisa Arendell, Linda Cook and Tina Dean.

The Dec. 18, 2017, meeting will be the club’s Christmas party.

• Report submitted by June Gibson.