The preparations have been exhausting, but the result is clearly worth it. Many people have pitched in to accomplish a prodigious amount of work in the last week in preparation for this weekend at Community Wesleyan.
Makeover fever hits the sign garden
Cindy Center took on some of the outside gardening and asked Vicki Hilleges to help. Vicki in turn recruited her daughter Nicole and husband Doug to finish the complete redo of the landscaping surrounding our church sign. It looks awesome. Cindy and Vicki also resurrected the old planter between the pines, the first time it has been plated since I have been pastor here. Mike and Pat had lots of help in setting up for the dinner and it looks gorgeous with everything in purple and gold. Fran recruited help too and the Meet and Greet reception tables were a visual treat as well as being loaded with goodies. Here at the parsonage, JoAnne had help in preparing for the open house from Mikayla, Kim O. and Kathy Dunn.
Picture mother lode discovered
A picture treasure trove was discovered just this past Sunday. Suddenly the history drawer had more pictures and notebooks in it than it had in years. This required a huge amount of hustle to resort pictures for the slideshow, fill more photo albums, and prepare the rest for appropriate filing. JoAnne headed up this effort with help from many. To Amy LaForte fell the task of actually putting the mounds of pictures into photo albums. Judy Pazdzierski and JoAnne created the photo record for 50 4 50 Ministries. JoAnne supplied the pictures and write-ups and Judy did the scrap-booking. The third photo project has been the slide show. Anne Kipping and JoAnne were working hard on it but discovered they needed a PowerPoint expert to help bring their whole vision together. Josh Basile joined their effort and supplied the expertise and the finishing touches.
First evening of celebration is a big success
Nothing like hugs from friends — Many hugs at the parsonage open house this afternoon and at the meet and greet time at church afterward. Saw many I have not seen in years. Many are returning tomorrow. Founding pastor, Rev. Tom Boghosian and his wife and former pastor Rev. Ed Crandall and Lois were here. In addition to these, tomorrow we expect to see Rev and Mrs. Wolfe and our D.S., Rev. Wayne Wager and his wife. After the conversation time the concert/praise and testimony time was attended by more than one hundred people. It was a joyful time.
