Parishioners Bear Up for Charity : Donations: Congregants and teddys share pews at Encino Community Church. The fuzzy visitors who sit in on sermons are headed for children’s arms.
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The Rev. Margie Ann Nicola is packing them in this month at the non-denominational Encino Community Church--not only with Christmastime churchgoers but with teddy bears headed for Childrens Hospital and Optimist Club organizations.
Last Sunday, the pews held 156 people and 120 stuffed bears. This Sunday will be the last day to donate the toys, although Nicola may be reluctant to part with the quiet, eyes-straight-ahead parishioners.
“The bears are much more attentive than the congregants,” she quipped at a recent service.
The church, which despite its name is in Tarzana at 5955 Lindley Ave., will deliver the toys Monday.
A church representative said the pastor got the idea of filling the church with donated teddy bears when she saw just such a church scene recently at the Unity School of Christianity headquarters in Lee’s Summit, Mo. Nicola’s ministerial background is in that metaphysical philosophy, the representative said.
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