John 15:9–17
As the Father has loved me, so I have
loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my
love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I
have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy
may be complete. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have
loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you
servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is
doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you
everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose
you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that
the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these
commands so that you may love one another.
***
Michelle
Lehman
As
many seniors go on to other things, they are quick to thank the community they
were raised in. Yes, I was very fortunate to live in a giving community;
however I was even more blessed by the church I grew up in. I was so fortunate
to be surrounded with constant happiness and love. Sunday mornings are always
full of smiles and warm hugs. I find so much joy in coming to church to be
surrounded by so many wonderful people, something that not too many teenagers
are given as greatly as I am.
This
congregation has given me so much I cant quite put the words together to thank
you enough. Sometimes it’s easy to forget to say thank you for the little
things that add up to the big picture. Thank you for the joy that you bring me
on Sunday mornings: the welcoming smiles and simple conversations. Thank you to
my youth group for making Wednesday nights a fun break from a busy week. Thank
you to many members of my church family for meeting with me to have coffee or
lunch. Thank you to the young ones for letting me read to them and spending
time playing games or participating in crafts with me. Thank you to our Sunday
school teachers for taking the time to prepare lessons that bring the word of
the Lord into our daily lives. Thank you to Pastor Katy for always being
supportive and encouraging and knowing the right things to say in any
situation. Thank you Luke for coming to every sporting event, preparing fun
activities for the youth, taking the time to meet us for coffee, and always
being a friend to each of us when needed the most. Thank you all for the
constant support to our mission trips, re-modeling of our youth room, our
sporting events and any school activity we participate in. Thank you for
showing me encouragement, generosity and demonstrating how to live in a
Christ-like manner. I have built countless relationships with many members
through youth group, mission work, Vacation
Bible School,
Confirmation class, being a youth representative for the Deacons, and coffee
hours. Thank you for these lifelong relationships and friendships that have
played a large roll in who I have become.
I
have always enjoyed Sunday school, Wednesday night dinners, coffee hours
visiting with the congregation, mission trips, Vacation Bible
School, and so much more.
I have grown to become more of a leader with a passion to help others with the
guidance of your wisdom and generosity. You have led a great example to me
through the mission work of our church: Open Door and the Back Pack Program,
and the ability to welcome all that come lovingly. Thank you for being a
supportive and loving church family as I grew from the shy little Michelle into
the Michelle that is better prepared for the outside world ahead.
Tanya O'Neil
Some of my earliest memories
from being in the United Sates have come from this church. I remember coming to Sunday school, going
down stairs and singing “Father Abraham had Many Sons” with the PYGs of the
time, and of course Betsy Ferns’ voice and hugs that always welcomed me.
Our youth group has been
handed off over the years by many great leaders. First there was Ginger and Sharon, and now
Luke and Annalea. Through dinner
theaters my acting skills have become Broadway ready. This youth group has taught me a lot over
the years. I’ve learned that after hour
16 during a 30 hour famine, the hunger fades away. It might have something to do with the lip
sinking done by Sam Hamilton and Pastor Katie. And finally the last thing I’ve learned
about this youth group is that this church would do any thing for us. You’ve helped pay for mission trips, watched
all of our corny performances, supported us in our extra curricular activities
and accepted us for who we are.
This past year I was taking
honors Anatomy and Physiology. This
class always seemed to have tests on Thursdays. This meant that Wednesday
nights during the PYG dinners I was always sitting at a table flipping through
flash cards trying to learn where certain muscles or bones were located or what
disease caused which symptoms. Each time
I wouldn't have flipped through my cards for more than 2 minuets before someone
from the congregation, who was helping prepare dinner, would come over and quiz
me. It was because of that helpful
quizzing that I could still enjoy the PYG dinner and still do well on the test
the next day.
Since I’ve become a PYG I
have begun speaking in front of the congregation. Every Youth Sunday or when I was worship
leader I would have a scripture to read.
Every time I would practice multiple times before going up to the podium
and every time I would stumble over words.
I would always look up after stumbling to see if anyone was looking
annoyed or was snickering, but I was met with smiles of acceptance and encouragement. When the services were done I was treated
with praise. Not once were my mistakes
mentioned. It was like they never even
happened and because of that I am truly grateful for this church, for not
judging me and accepting me, stumbles and all.
Talking to most seniors they
will tell you where they plan to go to school. Most will say that their going
to that particular school because a family member went there or that their school is ranked high in certain areas
of study or that the school is giving them a good scholarship. For me I chose Cottey College
with the help of Kate Rohner and Pat Fessel who have both talked to me about
their joyous experiences, and how Cottey is exactly right for me. Kate Rohner once went out of her way on a
trip to bring me a Cottey
College t-shirt when I
was in 5th grade. If I had any questions
about the school she was there to answer them.
I recently had the chance to have lunch with Pat Fessel and talk about
her experience. She told me about how
she had no clue what she was doing or what to expect from Cottey College
and that her parents just put her on a bus with another Cottey bound
student. Talking to Pat has eased my
fears of going off into the unknown.
Leaving the PYGs and this
church will be hard but I feel that all of you have helped prepare me to
conquer what ever lies ahead. While at
Cottey I plan to sneak away from my studies on Sunday and get involved in the
local Presbyterian church. I know the
church at Cottey, or any other church where ever I end up, will never be the
same as my first church family. This is
a family that opens their arms to everything and everyone and have taught me
the true meaning of God’s love.
Thank You.
