John Weitzel (left) and Peter Balling don aprons, ready to dish out spaghetti at Talent Show dinner. How much does it cost for 14 Long Island high school kids to build, repair, and clean homes in rural West Virginia? "In total we need $12,000, maybe a little bit more," explains Nathan Erb, Director of Christian Education at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection-Garden City. That's the target for the group's summer service trip.

The most recent fundraiser was Resurrection's annual Talent Show. The high school youth served a spaghetti dinner as members of the congregation displayed their diverse talents onstage. Erb said acts included singing, dancing, magic, and comedy, ending with a "terrific" musical performance by a band dubbing themselves Vice Versa.

Their hard work earned the students $700. This figure was matched by a donation from Thrivent Financial (a Lutheran financial organization). Though the night was deemed a success, Resurrection youth have a long way to go. Next on the docket: a car wash and a program they call "buy-a-mile," in which sponsors donate funds on a symbolic dollar-per-mile basis.

The reward for all of this service is a chance to, well, serve. They're certainly getting enough practice.

Resurrection-Garden City is a Christian community of faith, located at 420 Stewart Avenue. All are welcome to worship on Saturdays at 5:30 PM and Sundays at 8:30 and 11 AM, with Sunday School and Adult Education at 9:45 AM. Parking is available on Devereux and Emmet Place. For more information, please visit www.resurrectiongardencity.org or call 746.4426.