The Words of the Burton Family
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The Words of the Burton Family |
To All the Brothers and Sisters at New Hope Family Church,
Now that we've all had a chance to savor the turkey, it's time to give THANKS for the volunteer spirit that still flourishes in our community. It was there at the Thanksgiving Open House that drew at least 20 guests on a very COLD Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013.
But the Open House event was warm because of 50 volunteers. This year, for the first time, we had the full support of the City of Landover Hills, which advertised our event in its newsletter, let us hang our 10-foot banner on city land and lent many long tables. We had an energetic door-to-door witnessing campaign that pulled in 12 newcomers, thanks to Associate Pastor Jim Boothby, Pastor Miilhan Stephens, David Phelps and Matt Goldberg who gave out flyers. We had a gorgeous, big banner designed by Alie Koroma, and we had beautiful yard signs created by Gil Roschuni.
We could borrow 16 tables and transport them only because we had the help of Jim Parrish, Ben Henkin and Tom Lea. Thanks to Elder Brother Cooperrider who lent us tables from the Washington Times.
It may surprise some to know that our Japanese brothers and sisters led by Mrs. Hideko Aoyama were in place in the kitchen preparing sushi from 8:00 a.m. on Sunday; they did a fabulous job! Also putting in serious time there were Jim Parrish, Kentoku Aoyama, Rex and Emiko Butler, Matchiko Moran, Taeko Moffitt, Amy, Onka Herstein, and Toyoko Hunter. Teresa Haynes, Teti and Alie were hugely helpful setting up the dessert tables before the service.
Food donations were wonderful: we had food to spare this year thanks to turkey and ham donations from Irma Mas, Satomi Aubert, Mary Holden, Keiko Burton, Elisabeth Henkin, Leslie Coles, Annemarie Weinmann, Gregg and Kyoho Jones, Joanne Parrish, and Christoph Wilkening. Senior Patrol Leader Danny Awang brought a squad of scouts to carve turkeys, and Eric Roschuni brought his myriads of Sunday Schoolers to carve chickens so that all meats were ready to go at 11:00 a.m. There's a place in heaven for the volunteers to clean up, including Larry Moffitt, Danny Awang and Eva Ozaki.
Kaeleigh Moffitt and the Sunday Service team did another excellent job of setting up the room and taking down tables. Lianna Rodrigues was a bright greeter at the door. The Sunday Service Band was great, too. How about that classy music provided during lunch by Maestro Otmar and Cecille Caron on violin? We owe our thanks to the excellent ministry tables provided by Yoshimi Ozaki, the boy scouts, Paul Bulowe, Christoph Wilkening and Lorman Lykes. Ben Henkin organized the Super Smash video game tourney downstairs which was a big hit. Many thanks to the Sunday Service team that organized dodge ball in the gymnasium. Photographer Robert Abendroth was all over the building shooting like an AP camera man in a war zone.
As a result of everyone pitching in, we had half the congregation loading their food plates 15 minutes after service ended. Our guests could "smell the unity," and several promised to come back this Sunday. Let's pray for them and give them another big welcome when we see them again. Let's keep the spirit high now as we prepare for Christmas, Foundation Day and the Blessing in February.
Sincerely,
Doug and Keiko Burton, event coordinators