Dear Friend in Christ,
It was a time of overwhelming
joy in the Spirit. The celebration of blessing and dedication of our new Friendship Hall held on Saturday night, 12 June 2010,
was an event that will live on in our memories with much joy.
On
behalf of our entire congregation, I wish to thank everyone who participated in any way. Many thanks to our donors, encouragers,
and prayer partners; thank you for your generosity in making Miracle Sunday the success that it was. The dinner and celebration
was our way of saying thank you to you for all the remarkable gifts you have given.
To Kaye Foster Cheek and her dedicated and skillful Celebration Team - Diane, Deb, Alba Lucia, Barbara and Sandra
- thank you for organizing this large event, and making it the great success that it was.
Sandra Barnes,
your dinner was outstanding! To you and your catering team at Fabulous Festivities, bravo and thank you for presenting a most
wonderful meal. Diane Ruddock, the invitations were so beautiful, and your organizational skills helped so much. Deb, your
organizing and recruiting skills brought our willing workers together to help with so much, and blessed our church's fellowship.
Alba Lucia and Stephen, your ministry with the children added greatly to the joy of the event. Mike Maloney, thank you for
your beautiful and encouraging words, and your heartfelt gifts.
Kaye, your gifts have indeed brought us hope and given wings to our project in such immeasurably important ways.
You have brought more light and hope to our hearts, and certainly to mine, than words can say. To you and your wonderful family,
I want to say: thank you so very much.
Barbara, your gifts of decorating skill,
countless hours of hard work, meeting with contractors and organizing helpers, and personal devotion and love for this project
were instrumental in bringing all the elements of Friendship Hall together. Thank you so very, very much!
Several recent donations also went such a long way in bringing Friendship Hall across
the "finish line". Alba Lucia and Stephen, thank you so much for the generous donation of the refrigerator for the
new coffee kitchen! Kaye and Marie, your gifts of the tables and chairs gave Friendship Hall its crowning touch. How kind
of you.
So many folks worked together in making our
project a success. Whether you helped in unpacking chairs or by vacuuming the carpet, ironed or set tables, gave of your prayers
or good words or treasure - on behalf of a grateful church and a grateful Pastor - I give you my heartfelt thanks. Thank you
to Mass and Sandra Barnes and their children, Diane and David Ruddock, Sue Fanok, Deb Ploe, Ann and Len Thompson, Rev. Dave
Housten, Marjorie Samuels, Marie Poelstra, Alba Lucia and Stephen Thomas and their children, Steve Coooper, Karen Lawrence,
Barbara Ewick, Jacqueline and Jessica O'Dell, Joy Carter, Dave and Joan Musante, Harley Swensson, Bob and Sandi Bjornesn,
Ernie Willson, Dwayne and Lisa Drift, Manal Barakat, Emily and Jacob, Gill Bougher, Jonathan DeHeus, Jill Prickitt, Cathy
and Mike Maloney, Dr. Bell, Stryker Schultz, Dylan Boger, Margie Mutchler and the Children's Choir, the wonderful women of
the Crawford House, and every other person who helped in any way with the launching of this extraordinary project.
May this lovely and elegant Friendship Hall be a blessing to the Lord's work for many
years - and happy events - to come!
Warmest regards,
Pastor Tony Godlefski
PS: Perhaps you have noticed the new "Blessing Tree" in the hallway behind our sanctuary. The leaves
of this tree will be inscribed with the names of our donors and their honorees - and more. Yes, there will be enough leaves
for some future dedications. More about this to come. PT
