Anniversary Milestones, May 2005

Anniversary Milestone Celebration:  Pictured left to right: Fred & Shirley Dieffenbach, Elda & Ralph Zeigler, Ruth & Glenn Lunger, Reba & Gene Jacobs, Eleanor & Kester Sobers. Not pictured: Ruth & Chuck Homan, Lillian & Randy Miller.

Many of our Milestone events have marked special days for our younger members.  Now we turn to some of our most senior members.  On Sunday May 1, 2005 St. Mark's recognized those seven couples who celebrated wedding anniversaries this year from 59 to 66 years!  Wow!  God has indeed granted many gifts of persistence, longevity, and love. At the 10:30 service, we gave thanks to God for:

• Glenn & Ruth Lunger for 66 years

• Kester & Eleanor Sobers for 65 years

• Ralph & Elda Zeigler for 63 years

• Randall & Lillian Miller for 62 years

• Eugene & Reba Jacobs for 61 years

• Charles & Ruth Homan for 60 years and

• Fred & Shirley Dieffenbach for 59 years of marriage.

After the final prayers of the service, the folks greeted everyone, posed for a photo, and then moved to Fellowship Hall for dinner with their families.

The Milestone Committee heading the festivities was led by Alice Alt, Sharon Comini, and Becky Miller Pryor, with assistance from a number of other congregation members.

Do take a moment to congratulate the honored couples, and to add your prayers to this one that we shared on May 1:

Blessed are you, Lord God our Father, who places the solitary in families, gives long years of marriage to some, and calls us into the fellowship of the Gospel through Holy Baptism. Thanks and praise be to you for your grace active in the lives of these seven couples.  Fill them with tenderness and patience, and give them love toward you, toward each other, and toward the world.

Be with them and their families, and the whole family of the church today and until that day when we celebrate the marriage feast of the Lamb which has no end; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.