Heather Smiley

Ellie Repp

Connor Daily

Karin Cozzi

Dave Smiley

Joey Lepidi

Greg Zurakowski

Donald Ledbetter

Andrea Plemmons August 6

Mindy Widger

Kevin Rose

Analise Pike

Larry Lantz

Ed Kostaroff

Carole Scott

Michael Loudon

Tracy Alford

Lois Taylor

Todd McGowan

Aimee VanDenberghe

Andy Dixon

Joe Dixon

Larry Clemons

Mike Mans

Bud Iglehart

Zack Danyo

James O'Brien, Jr.

Patti Duffet

Ronnie Rose

Robert Briggs

Steve Benton

Alek Rose

August 23

Jeanne Kennedy

Geoffrey Trombley

Larry Simon

Steven Voydanoff

Kyla Jensen

Nancy Colina

Tom Kaul

Emily Kenyon

Chris Falster

  

  

  

  

  

  

Church Overflowing

  

To my GIPC Family,
   I wish to thank everyone who helped in the preparation of last Sunday's Worship,' Church Overflowing', at the Genter's home. As WS&M Commission considered a destination worship, we were not sure how it would be received and attended. We proceeded with the hope that, if we plan it, they will come. We were thrilled to have 160 of our church family present, with all ages represented. Phil did a  
remarkable job of reminding us that 'we' are the church and not the building. He also reminded us of how the early Christians met and worshiped in homes and shared a meal.   It was fun to see people arrive in various creative ways.  God blessed us with a beautiful day at a wonderful spot on Grosse Ile to worship Him. 
   I can't possibly thank everyone who played a part in making this happen. My commission worked and planned for months along with the help of the Property and Outreach Commissions. The Genter's gave freely of themselves to make this happen and share their home. I hope that by sharing some of the following comments that I have 
received about the day, each of you that worked on or attended the worship service will feel blessed to be part of such an inspirational worship service. It was truly a joint effort by our GIPC family and everyone's participation was necessary to make it complete.

  
    Mike Reynolds did a fabulous job of recording this worship service with lovely photos. Hopefully, we will come up with a way of sharing those with you soon. Thank you, Mike.
   Thank you and God bless each of you who served. You know who you are!

- Vicki Uday, Elder of WS&M  

York Connection

GIPC Library Update

  We are very fortunate for the many donations to our library which have broadened the scope of materials housed in our lovely Fireside Room.
   As with other modern libraries, our shelves are rapidly overfilling and finances prohibit proper space and storage of old materials that require a carefully-controlled-temperature-and-humidity environment to prevent mold and further deterioration. Since the Fireside Room is used as a class and meeting room, the temperature and humidity vary according to human preferences and, at other times, turned off completely.
   Please contact suashley@hotmail.com if you would like to make a donation. I will be happy to copy pertinent family information from old Bibles and possibly information from other old texts to store in acid-free containers in our paper files. If books or other items are left at the church without contact information, they may be recycled or sent elsewhere.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
-Sue Ashley  

My Friend Jeanne

  

   In September of 2012 my good friend Connie Fedel, owner and instructor of Taylor Yoga, in Taylor, Michigan told me about one of her students, the very lovely 39 year old Jeanne and her beautiful 72 year old  Mother, Linda. 
   Linda was in the late stages of Parkinson's Disease and was wheelchair bound. Her condition was degenerating.  Jeanne wondered if some type of Yoga exercise might help her. Connie told her she would do what she could and if doing what she could meant going to Linda's house for lessons then that is what she would do and that is what she did.
   I remembered a conversation I recently had with my brother, Wayne. He told me there is no greater feeling than to be able to give to something that you truly believe in.
As Connie was telling me about Linda's condition, I stopped her and told her that I would like to pay for Linda's lessons and I insisted on doing so. I gave Connie a check for $300.
The next day I told Connie to ask Jeanne to bring Linda to the studio on the next Wednesday, the 5th of September.  Since that was when my wife, Janet, and I were scheduled for our weekly session, she could join us.  I would love to meet her and when they found out what I had done, they wanted to meet me just as I did them. So it was scheduled for the 5th.
   We all arrived on time at noon on September 5th. We assisted Jeanne with helping Linda out of the car and into the wheelchair. I wheeled her into the studio. There was no question about her degenerated condition. She could not get out of that wheelchair without the assistance of at least two people.
   When I approached Linda her arms were reaching out to me. There was a beautiful smile on her face. I bent down and hugged her. She couldn't say a word but I could feel her appreciation. I wheeled her back to the car and once again out of the wheelchair and into the car.  They left but Linda's smile remained with me. When I returned home I Emailed Jeanne and told her if I was at all responsible for that lovely smile all my efforts were worthwhile.
   Linda died that evening. Jeanne Emailed me the arrangements. There was no way I could attend since I don't drive and Janet was working. I began to think that maybe that outing was just too much for her and I should have just stayed out of it.
  The next night I received an Email from Jeanne that would dispel all of my negative thoughts. She said she felt blessed to have met me and thanked me for whatever part I had in allowing her to spend all those hours with her Mother on her final day.
   Yes, Wayne, there is no greater feeling.

-David L. Dyer