During the past 50 years she has had a quiet but profound influence on the history and development of our church which was actually founded just 63 years ago. Her first impact has been on the music. She had been the church pianist in Sunbury and since her move here she has faithfully played both the piano and organ - solos and accompaniment. She was actually our first organist. In addition, she has sung solos, in duets, trios, quartets and in the choir. And for about 25 years she arranged the music schedules for all of our weekly worship services. In addition, she has played for many, many weddings, funerals and other special events. Working with me, we planned and directed the Christmas Eve service for about 25 years.
She has been a teacher, teaching children for many years, and, in recent years, teaching Bible studies for women. She has worked for 32 years as cofounder and head secretary of our Awana program. She helped teach and lead the senior high program for many years as well as the junior department in Sunday School. She served as an officer in the former Women's Missionary Society and also as a member of several church committees. She helped start the Young Married Couples Group, the Middlers Fellowship Group, and the Primetimers Group. Unfortunately, none of these fellowship groups exist today in our church. She faithfully remembers the birthdays of many of our folks, including children, and many look forward to the cards she prepares annually.
For 25 years she served as custodian of our building in Lancaster. While she did receive some pay for this, she never had a paid vacation in 25 years. A few times family members had to fill in when she really couldn't be there. That also meant that there often were very late nights to complete the work before we could leave for something like Pinebrook. It meant cleaning after all big events, such as Bible School, weddings, funerals and special services. That often included trying to clean up rice after weddings, which is almost impossible, as well as scraping wax off the benches and ironing the carpet to clean up the wax after Candlelight services. Faithfully she served, behind the scenes, and few ever understood the time and energy that it took her to keep the church so nice and clean for services.
Now she has never wanted praise or recognition for her service and she will probably be upset about me drawing attention to her. She did receive a certificate from the church when she retired from cleaning. But she has quietly served the Lord and His people here for 50 years. She has been an example of a very faithful servant who has given her life to serving the Lord, often quietly, in the background. I am so proud of what she has done and while she may never be rewarded here on earth, I know the Lord has a crown for her in glory. And the things that I've mentioned here are just those done with our church. It doesn't include the 25 years of family ministry, the 40 years of ministry at Pinebrook, teaching community women's Bible studies, or serving on the board of Bible Visuals and Chrsitian Womens Committees.
Oh that more folks today would serve faithfully. Today most won't take the time to do so. They'd rather pay someone to do the work in church - look at how church staffs have grown. And things, such as possessions and vacations seem to be more important. Sports, the shore, and the mountains regularly draw people away from church and service today. The Lord often seems to get just what is left over. But in doing that, one misses the blessings that the Lord has for those servants who are faithful, and that is sad.
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