TLC (Formerly Young Couples) SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

In June 1970, Frank and Dianne Riley moved from Leon, Iowa, to Osceola and began attending the United Methodist Church. In talking to Rev. John McCallum they discussed beginning a couple's Sunday School Class, such as they had attended in Leon. He said that would be a good idea and mentioned that Fred and Linda Redfern had recently moved here, and he thought they might be interested as well.

Dianne went on to tell: We decided to go knocking on doors of Methodists that were similar in age and see if there was any interest. Five couples started with Sunday School and a monthly social get together. Sunday School was held in the kitchen of the church so we could easily have coffee and goodies with our lesson. No one felt capable of being the teacher so we decided that we would each share and take a turn. If it was your turn you would lead the lesson and bring the goodies and coffee. The five couples were: Keith and Sharon Ticknor, Dave and Carolyn Clark, Dale and Nell Wilson, Fred and Linda Redfern, and Frank and Dianne Riley. Within the next few years new couples joined, many being associated with the local school. We continued to meet in the kitchen and were often referred to as the Kitchen Class.

However, as the numbers grew, there was discussion about needing to move to a bigger room. Some of us really resisted the move. We wouldn't be able to have coffee; it wouldn't be the same if we moved. Change is hard and this class was never known for making a quick decision about anything. Carmen and Steve Moore were a part of our group at that time and took some of us kicking and screaming to the basement where we still meet. A coffee pot was brought down and kept there so we could still make coffee. Then we couldn't be called either the young couples or the kitchen class because we were no longer as young as we used to be and were not meeting in the kitchen. What an ordeal it was to find a new name. After all was said and done, with much help from members John and Carol Klein, we decided on TLC class which could stand for anything you wanted!

In their earlier years, the class made a Methodist float for the 4th of July parade. The members sponsored fund raising activities such as woodcutting. One of the projects was to install the shuffle board tiles in the fellowship hall floor. It was felt that both the Couples Class and the youth of the church could fellowship in this activity. For many years the TLC Class provided the refreshments after the annual Children's Christmas Program.

Over the years the class has added members and some have left or moved away or for whatever reason decided not to attend. Others have felt free to return. When we became rather large, a second class started from this original group. At one time the membership was about 25 couples. This class has been a "family" for the members, as all but one couple were Osceola transplants, away from their biological families. We have laughed and cried together, helped each other out of crises, prayed for each other, provided meals when needed for members, cleaned their house, celebrated and mourned, shared our innermost thoughts, discussed the problems of the world, and respected each other's opinion. We continue to take turns leading the group on Sunday morning, encouraging discussion and an open forum on current topics.

On many occasions the current minister's wife has been a part of this group. They are always invited to the social activities. The monthly social activities do not occur as often as they did when our children were younger. They were almost always family activities. The Progressive Supper in the beginning was four courses at four different homes: appetizers, salads, main course, and desserts. We still have a Progressive Supper in the spring and a holiday soup, sandwich and goodie get together. We elected or "railroaded" officers at that time and used to joke that in order to be the president you had to have a baby sometime during that year. Over the years many of us cooperated! The babies came to the Sunday School class until they were old enough to go to Sunday School themselves. We all had a hand in raising those babies. As we got older the president no longer could meet that expectation and we reduced the number of courses at our progressive supper. Last year we only had two courses. The two we like the best: appetizers and desserts! Oh, how times have changed! However food is still the best way to get people together, especially Methodists!

As you can tell our class is more than Sunday School for one hour on Sunday mornings. We have grown to be friends in Christ and depend on each other in so many ways. Some who no longer attend the class still depend on the love and support of the members.

Jim and Elaine Schipper mentioned in their story in Recipes for Living, Vol. II, some other unique characteristics as they spoke enthusiastically about their participation in the T.L.C. Sunday School class. "It is interesting that almost everyone is transplanted to Osceola. Bill and Sandye Kelso are about the only ones who are natives. The same transplanting is true of the denomination. We often have as many as 40 people, and practically no one was raised in the Methodist tradition. We rotate leadership and whoever leads on a particular Sunday is also responsible for refreshments. We presently are examining the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church, which sparks some interesting discussions. There are many differing opinions within the class, but we feel free to speak our minds and all leave the hour smiling."

A testimony about this class was given by Jeanne Chesnut in her story in Recipes for Living, Vol. III. Their attempts to have a family were tragic. They lost a baby in 1980, before Jack was born in 1982. When he was three, they lost another baby, before Joe was born with health complications in 1986. At three months of age, he had to have corrective surgery, and over the course of 17 weeks, he had to have another. At that time, Paul and Jeanne came to know the caring aspect of the community and the TLC class in particular. This is what Jeanne told: "The entire Methodist church was praying and the TLC Sunday School class did more for us than I even knew. They came and cleaned the house, sent cards and made phone calls, offered care for Jack, helped with transportation, and even filled the fridge and cupboards with groceries. Jack's 5th birthday came during this time. Even though we had a party in Iowa City with his Ronald McDonald House friend, I was particularly bummed out that he wouldn't be celebrating on his birthday. Not to fear!! The Seebergers had a party for him on the night of his birthday, complete with presents, a decorated cake and pictures for Mom. They obviously knew how to make it a great birthday for me."

Fred and Linda Redfern's complete story is in Recipes for Living Vol. IV . They moved to Osceola in 1970. Fred was meat-market manager of the newly opened Fareway store until he left in 1977, to establish Redfern Home Furnishings, at 141 South Main, in 1978. They closed the business in 1985, and Fred worked at Jimmy Dean's plant until he became ill and had colon cancer surgery in 1989. He died July 5, 1990.

With other newcomers, when Fred and Linda moved to Osceola, they became active participants of the TLC class. Over the course of years, some moved away, others moved in, the class continued and started a Supper Club, along with Helen and Don Barnett, Keith and Sharon Tickner, Frank and Dianne Riley, Bub and Joan Peterson, with additional members Bill and Sandye Kelso, Warren and Linda Bachman, and David and Joy Tokheim.

Linda told: "What is really unique about this class is that we all help one another through times of crisis. After his colon cancer was discovered, Fred had chemo treatments but he kept on working until he had to give in to the inevitable. He last worked on May 23, 1990.

"Fred was in Des Moines at the time of the 4th of July, but he wanted so badly to come home in order for the whole family to be together, that Frank and Dianne Riley went to Des Moines to get him. They brought him home in the van on Sunday.

"Through our entire ordeal, our Sunday School class went far beyond what could be expected. They had taken Fred for his chemo treatments and under the guidance of John Klein, both fellows and gals cut wood for our wood-burning stove. Keith and Sharon Tickner had been back to see Fred the weekend before he died and they, along with Frank and Dianne Riley, Bub and Joan Peterson, Sandye and Bill Kelso came and the men finished siding the porch. The women cleaned my house, scrubbed floors, cleaned the toilets...with friends like that how can you go wrong? Later that fall the whole, wonderful TLC class came and painted our house. Each couple has had their own difficulties in one way or another, and they reached out to me and my family when we needed them so much!"

Joy Tokheim wrote in Recipes for Living, Vol. IV: "Our family had a major event when Dave and Erin were putting sheet rock on the ceiling of the garage. The lift they were using to hold the panel in place broke and gave way. Dave had his hand in the wrong place at the wrong time and severed his thumb. Once at the hospital, the trauma continued when Jaime, Erin, and I had to go back to find Dave's thumb. We did, and were sent on to Des Moines, where a wonderful surgeon was able to reattach the thumb so successfully that if someone didn't know what had happened, they would be unable to tell. Dave has lost some use of it but for the most' part, he has adapted.

"We came to realize what wonderful friends and neighbors we have when they helped with chores; but particularly members of the TLC Sunday School class helped to do all kinds of things that needed to be done until Dave was able to work again. They unloaded and hung sheet rock, did wiring and so many things! It was such a true outpouring of generosity and caring that it is hard to fmd words to express how much it meant."

In the Seeburgers' story in Recipes for Living, Vol. III, is this account told by Beverly:

Ryan was born on April 17, 1982, and was in the neo-natal intensive care unit for 10 days. The cord was around his neck so tightly that it had cut off oxygen to his lungs and they had to do surgery to revive him. I stayed in the Ronald McDonald House. A special visitor was Rev. Dick Eis. Normally they don't allow ministers but they did in his case. I so much appreciated the members of the TLC class who brought in meals for several days. Jeanne Chesnut was one who saw how tired I was from all the stress and she took Ryan home for some hours one afternoon. This was particularly sensitive and generous considering that she was caring for Jack, who was just an infant at the time.

"It became necessary to terminate a pregnancy at 24 weeks for our son, Casey Joe. He was born but died immediately. Again the TLC class responded to our need. They provided a floral arrangement and refreshments following a service performed by Rev. Cliff Haider. The class helped us through the anxiety of Nathan's birth March 1, 1986, a normal boy, no complications."

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In 2009, the TLC class continues and in another year will reach forty years of existence. Membership has changed over the years. Class members still take turns having the lesson. We still have coffee but no treats unless it is a special occasion or folks bring something to enjoy with their coffee from the refreshment table in the narthex. The social get-to-gethers have become quarterly instead of monthly, at best. The purpose of the class remains steadfast; a time to spend with other Christian adults, discussing current happenings, tying those to Methodist beliefs, listening to our neighbors and respecting their opinions. There is always a good healthy discussion by members of this class. In addition we have grown up together, watching our families grow and sharing in the tears, joys and laughter that comes with loving your neighbor.

Return to main page for Recipes for Living 2009 by Fern Underwood

Last Revised December 9, 2014