Last Sunday was a glorious day! I want to thank Sue Anderson, her family and all who assisted them in having a tasty lunch available for us after the service. Thank you, Doug Owens, for leading the music and getting together the quartet for the special music. Thank you, Karen Keip and Tracy, and all who helped with the VBS presentation in the service. Thank you, Sue Crego, for all the work you did in putting our printed materials together. Thank you, Scott Anderson, for your creativity in designing the order of service. Wasn’t it remarkable that Pete DeWilde, son of two of the charter members, was here to open the box behind the cornerstone? Thank you, Pete. And a big thank you to everyone who helped to move items to our temporary location on a hot and humid afternoon!

Friday evening, a severe storm struck our city. Many of our members now are without power. Kathy and I happened to be driving down Lane Avenue during the storm and trees were down everywhere, even blocking two lanes on Lane Avenue. Saturday,

I stopped by the church to see what damage there might be and found to my delight that we had electricity! And Joe Hatfield and Arch DeBoard showed up to remove a tree that blocked one of the entrances to the church! God was good to us! We were able to have our worship service, while a good number of other churches had to cancel services.

It will be strange not to return to 1610 W. Lane Avenue for worship next Sunday. I know this is bittersweet for many. Cindy Peck’s testimony Sunday helped many of us put it all in perspective: sadness at leaving a location where there are so many precious memories, yet joy at what God has in store for us. Her words helped me remember that the church is at its core a body of people. We are the family of God. And all the factors that led those visionary founders to build a church in this location will remain our guiding values as we build elsewhere for the next generation!

Last week we had a wonderful VBS. My thanks to Tracy, Jan and Karen, together with all the teachers and workers, who made it so delightful. I hope we do another in that venue.

Next Sunday we will begin with our worship at 8:30 a.m., Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., and our second service at 10:45 a.m. We will be at 5000 Arlington Centre Blvd.

This is the season of Pentecost! It will reach all the way to Advent! Let us live and love and laugh in the Spirit!

I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

Your Pastor,

Wayne