"What I Did Over the Summer"

That is the quintessential theme for an essay when students return to school in the fall. As we begin a new program year, I'd like to share some of my reflections from the summer.

• Using name tags and a moment of greeting during worship in the parlor, we (hopefully) got to know each other a little better.

• Adults and children traveled back in time to a first-century Jerusalem marketplace and experienced life as Jesus did - games, crafts, food, synagogue school, and singing and dancing in our Vacation Bible School.

• The Tuesday morning Bible study continued its examination of the book of Revelation.

• We continued to provide a meal for Bread of Life's Feeding Ministry on the 3rd Friday of each month.

• We had the privilege of learning  about Betty Knight's mission trip to La Romana, the Dominican Republic.

• Guest preachers filled the pulpit on four Sundays while I was on vacation.

The summer seemed to fly by, as most summer do, but as you can see from the above list, we shared in several meaningful ministry opportunities.

On a personal note, I was reminded this summer how important family and friends are.  A few days before I left for vacation, I learned that my sister, Laura, had been diagnosed with metastatic cancer and had suffered a fractured hip.  Over the last six weeks she has undergone two partial hip replacement surgeries, as well as radiation and chemo treatments.

This week she was transferred to a rehab center to continue therapy.  I am thankful that my vacation was scheduled and that I was able to spend the majority of the time with my family in New York as we visited Laura and began dealing with this new component in our lives.

Thank you to all for your words and cards of support, and prayers for my sister and family over the last several weeks.

Pastor Martha Dominy