1/4/15 and Day #4 of 2015 was the first Sunday of the year. And Sundays mean Church. My Church Community is another place where connections abound. Old First Reformed UCC is a wonderful place where people from far and wide (I call it a destination location, not an intercept location, as a reference to my previous food service days....) come together in fellowship, song, scripture, and prayers. The morning started with a long-time friend from OFR finding me on Facebook, and then, at Church, I learned of the passing of another long-time friend. Eleanor Hopkin was the first person I ever met at OFR. She was greeting the first day Sarah, her parents, and I attended OFR (11/13/94). Her kind smile and welcoming voice were my first impression of OFR and the welcoming feeling I and others get there since are an extension of her extravagant welcome! I connected even more with Eleanor when she became the Treasurer (I was on the Finance Committee) and soon I became the Assistant Treasurer and, when she stepped down, I followed in her footsteps. And she helped me along the way, with every step. As I prepare, for the LAST time, the Annual Reports and prepare myself to step down as Treasurer after more than a decade, it is fitting that she is in my memories, thoughts and prayers. I miss speaking with Eleanor, I still will use the files she created, refer to the instructions that she wrote for me, use file folders with tabs she prepared, and I will feel connected to her for as long as I have the wonderful memories of her welcome on that first day, almost 20 years ago. THANK YOU ELEANOR, and I am grateful that the fates brought me to connect with her and my community at OFR.
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