Presbyterian Church hosts first Lenten Lunch of the season
Chuck Rinkes, principal at River View High School, was the guest speaker at the first Lenten Lunch of the season at the Presbyterian Church. BEACON PHOTO BY JOSIE SELLERS
COSHOCTON – Despite the cold wintry weather, the first Lenten Lunch of the season on Wednesday, Feb. 10 had a large turnout. Church Women United served up a warm meal of potato and vegetable soup to choose from. In addition to the soups, there were cheese plates at each table provided by an anonymous donor, rolls, vegetables, and desserts. Special music was provided by Linda Bookless.
Jeremy Roseberry, pastor at Park United Methodist Church and Canal Lewisville United Methodist Church, gave the opening prayer and introduced speaker Chuck Rinkes, who has been involved with the River View School District for 20 years and is now principal. Rinkes is also a member of Canal Lewisville United Methodist Church.
Rinkes spoke about having to consider separation of church and state each day in his workplace.
“I walk a fine line every day as a Christian and as a public school worker,” he said. “But fortunately, at the River View School District, that line is not insurmountable.”
He said he is fortunate to work with many teachers in the district who have spiritual backgrounds and who are not afraid to let their beliefs and values be heard.
“They’re beliefs resonate with their colleagues and their students each day,” he said.
Not only do a lot of teachers at River View have religious backgrounds, but many students attend churches and are involved with Christian-based activities in the community.
“Their beliefs and actions ring throughout the hallways each day influencing the students and teachers,” he said.
Rinkes considers the River View School District among the very few in the state of Ohio who have both a baccalaureate service for their seniors and who are actively engaged with their ministerial association.
“When I speak to other principals in the state, I ask them if they have a baccalaureate service for their seniors and if they are in contact with their ministerial association,” he said. “You would be surprised by the answers I get. I believe you can tell a lot about a community by those two things.”
Rinkes also spoke about an incident where he and his family volunteered at the mobile market at his church. Now, approximately 20 River View High School students also volunteer with the program.
“It’s an awesome sight to see my students interact with the people in our community,” he said. “That interaction would never have taken place without God in our schools.”
Throughout the school year, Rinkes has the opportunity to talk with each individual senior about their plans for the future and ask if they have any suggestions on how to improve River View School District. He also gives them the opportunity to ask questions, and many seniors ask him about his relationship with God.
“They see the value and ethics I bring to school each day and know that in God, we can trust anything,” he said.
The next Lenten Lunch will be Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 11:45 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church. The guest speaker will be Mickie Galajda of Central Christian Church. The speaker for the Feb. 24 Lenten Lunch will be D. Curtis Lee of Perry Chapel Baptist. A $4 donation is asked for the meal.
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