2005 Highlights & Thanks

This year was a year of Celebration and Sorrow.
In January we celebrated—how can it be possible?—our Silver Wedding Anniversary, just the two of us! During April it was time to comemorate Volkhard‘s parents Golden Anniversary. During our stay in Germany, our Silver anniversary was „really“ celebrated, and in September we celebrated the Wedding of our oldest niece, Sara Schleifenbaum, to a nice young man. Now her last name is the more common German name: „Mueller“. WOW!
In between we had a visit from Marianne‘s youngest sister Eva. This worked out very well, because she could travel with the two of us coming here and going home. We had a great time together!
This years fall was marked as our most colorful ever. During the month of October we had opportunity to spend a few days with Volkhard‘s brother Diethelm and sister in law Martina in Vermont. As you know, Vermont is famous for its colorful foliage that time of the year. We had a great, relaxing time together although the weather left something to be desired, (it rained almost the whole time).
Another great piece of news is that a family in church had twins. After the death of her first husband, several miscarriages and a difficult pregnancy, Annette and Peter Lawrence welcomed two healthy little boys into their family. See them above in their special cradleboard.
We are filled with thanks and our hearts are comforted a little over the loss of our friends Joann, Bunky, Bill and Phillip
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

New Pastor for Nez Perce Presbyterian Churches

At the end of summer the pastor of the Nez Perce Churches resigned to continue his theological studies. That left the four congregations without a shepherd.

In October the elders met with the Presbytery and decided to call Volkhard and two other men who had already been active in service to these congregations to each take on a fourth of a full time pastor’s position, giving each responsibility for one specific church and sharing responsibility for another congregation which at present meets only once per month.