Mark your calendars — Grace United Methodist Church’s Child Development Center is bringing a little bit of magic to the Miss-Lou this Saturday with its Appreciation Day event. The CDC is holding this first-ever event to say thank you to the community for its support during the several years it’s been open and to raise public awareness about what has become one of the church’s most successful ministries.

The free event, which will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at the church for children ages 3 to 12 and their families, will feature a continental breakfast and a magic show by performers from nationally-known magic troupe Philip and Henry Productions. This group tours nationwide and has been featured on national TV, so getting to see them live and in person is sure to be a treat. And families don’t have to be affiliated with Grace or its CDC to attend.

The CDC is a nonprofit ministry of Grace United Methodist Church, located at Seargent S. Prentiss Drive and 2 Fatherland Road. In the more than 50 years since its inception, “the church on the hill” has been a fixture of the Miss-Lou, participating in a variety of outreach and charitable projects, from a longtime food bank project to our very own Christmas angel tree. Several years ago, we added our Child Development Center day care to the mix. Under the direction of Jan Huff, the center has often been at full capacity – 50 children in all — with ages 6 weeks to school age and after-school care for children up to 12 years of age. Now the CDC has 44 children under its care, because some of its former charges recently made the progression to “big school.” However, if history is any indicator, don’t expect those spaces to stay open for long.

And under the leadership of new pastor Darian Duckworth, expect more from Grace UMC in the near future — more ministries to help meet the Miss-Lou’s needs, from the oldest of us to the just-born.

For more information and to sign up to attend Saturday’s Appreciation Day, call Jan Huff 601-445-5190 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Nita McCann is a member of Grace United Methodist Church, a parent and board member of its CDC.