Thank you for the beautiful, touching plaques which will hang on our wall.   Thank you for the memory books.   We are still looking at every little detail that went into them, reading every word you wrote, looking at every picture you included and thinking of the memories they brought back.   Thank you for the generous gift of the money basket.   Thank you for all those delicious cakes.   Thank you, Betty Roberts, for the way you honored us with the words you wrote.   Thank you all for your presence, your love, your encouragement.

          We thank God for letting us be a part of you, our Christian family at Netherwood, for twenty-six years - so far.   We pray that we will be with you on into the next century, the next millenium, and hopefully to and beyond the fiftieth anniversary of our congregation in 2002.   God has certainly blessed us richly through you.

          The memory books, one from the adults and one the young people themselves did for us, have reminded us of many people and events that have been a part of all of our lives and drawn us closer together.   You spoke to us of your own memories of times and experiences shared.   We thought sadly of brothers and sisters who have gone home before us.   We thought happily of times we taught you when you were children and now you have children of your own.   We laughed and cried together about joyful moments and sad ones.

          Thank you for inviting friends from other congregations.   Some came whom we have known since we were children.   Some came who have become friends because we are first brothers and sisters in Christ.   Some came from out of town to share those moments with us while others who could not come sent touching notes.

          One of the things we both appreciated most were the words, written or spoken, where you told us how much we had influenced your life and your relationship with our Father and His Son.   Nothing is more encouraging to a teacher or a preacher than to know that what we said made a difference in someone’s life.

          You encouraged us Sunday.   You uplifted us.   You showed us your love.   Please accept our sincere thanks and our gratitude for being a part of our life and allowing us to be a part of yours.   May we continue to serve our gracious Lord faithfully as long as He allows us to live.

-- Wayne and Mary Sharp