Thank you to so many of you for meeting with me in response to
my ‘Cancer Growing’ blog entry at the beginning of March. You have provided about 25 enjoyable
occasions.
Yesterday, our friends Barb and Jeff arranged for a lunch time
gathering of over 30 friends from when our family started attending Petersham
Baptist Church thirty years ago in October 1986. We all had a wonderful time together,
mingling and sharing memories. Many
people we had not seen for years, however, it was as though we had just seen
each other yesterday as the conversations flowed. People came from as far away as Perth, Dubbo,
Orange and Bathurst.
Thank you all for coming.
Barb and Jeff thanks for hosting; Barb thanks for all the arrangements;
Barb, Judith and Anna thanks for looking after us all throughout our three
hours together. Thank you all for bringing
food to share.
We were all very glad that John and Joy came. John was minister for thirteen years at
Petersham Baptist Church, finishing in 1989.
John led a short time of thanks at the end of our gathering adapted from
Ruth Burgess in The Book of a Thousand Prayers compiled by
Angela Ashwin.
Leader: All
our laughter, all our sadness,
People: Safe
in the hands of the Creator of all.
Leader: All
our anger, all our gladness,
People: Safe
in the hands of the Source of Love.
Leader: All
our stories, all our memories,
People: Safe
in the hands of the Spirit of Life.
Leader: Those
we remember, those we love
People: Safe
in God’s hands
Leader: We
ask for the love of God
People: And
the messages of angels.
Leader: The
laughter of Jesus
People: And
the stories of the saints.
Leader: The
power of the Spirit
People: and
the strong hands of friends.
Leader: To
bless us on life’s journey
People: And
lead us safely home. Amen
All of you whom I have seen over the last two months have
greatly blessed me – thank you for your love and friendship on life’s journey.
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| Harvey, Michelle and Laurie |
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| Deb and John |
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| Lorraine, Carolyn and Joy |
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| Sharynne, Mark and Janet |
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| Mary, Michelle, Lorraine and Gabriella |
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| Barbara and Kevin |
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| David blowing out the candles on the birthday cake made by Liz. The cake decoration included a map of Africa and flag placed where Uganda is |
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| Thanking people for a special time |
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| Jeff, Chris, Barbara and David cutting the cake |
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| A group photo |
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| Barb, Barbara, David, Jeff and Anna |
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| John leading our time of thanks |
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