Wesley's 50^th Anniversary Celebration Update

(May 15, 2005)

Wesley's 50^th Anniversary Celebration committee met Sunday, May 15, 2005, to share planning that is being done for the September 23-25 event.  Please join us in working on the following projects.  If you would like to participate, just call the subcommittee chair.  Anne Scott is overall coordinator.

• A Wesley cookbook has been organized by the UMW and is now on sale.
• Names and addresses of former Wesley members are being collected so invitations to the celebration may be mailed out.   If you have the address of a former Wesley member, please give it to Terry Gonzales.  A postcard with the dates to save will go out this month; the formal invitation will be mailed in July.
• Invitations have been sent to the former pastors and their spouses and housing has been arranged.  This week Jerry Ludeke will send a follow-up letter to the pastors and spouses containing details about the weekend. 
• The picture directory pages will go to the printers next week.  If you haven't yet checked your family's listing on the narthex bulletin board, please do so this week and make corrections.
• Carolyn Ashlock is coordinating production of a Wesley celebration t-shirt designed by Anna Murillo, and orders will be taken prior to the event.  The shirts will be given out at the celebration.
• Heidi Mensink has been commissioned to write a hymn in commemoration of Wesley's 50^th anniversary.  It will be presented Sunday morning.  The commission is being funded through the Memorials Fund in memory of Frank Rosenlieb, longtime Wesley member.
• Memories and pictures are being collected to go into a memory book and to use in programs during the weekend.  Donnel Lester will assemble the memory book, and Jerry Ludeke and Nick Strobel will use the pictures during the Saturday night and Sunday morning programs.
• The art subcommittee has planned a variety of activities for the weekend.  Anna Murillo and Pastor Kimberly are developing new church banners that will be unveiled. The Vacation Church School children will take "I See God" photographs, and Rose Lester will use them to develop a montage for display.  An art show in Oglesby Hall is being planned by Anna and Rose.
• The committee wants to keep costs to attendees to a minimum.  A free will offering with a suggested $5 per person, $15 family maximum will be taken Friday night.  Saturday night's catered dinner cost is not yet known. All other events will be free.

Fri., Sept. 23:  Pizza and a variety show in the Gathering Place.  Wesley's music groups, puppets, line-dancing and an old-fashioned hymn sing may be featured.  Caroline Close will chair the dinner organization.   Margaret Grant and Carolyn Ashlock will organize the variety show.

Sat., Sept. 24:

Morning:  Pancake breakfast for Wesley members and neighbors.  The annual blanket/coat giveaway, the packing of UMCOR kits and other mission outreach activities will be done this morning.  Phil Maxwell will chair this activity, assisted by Missions/Social Concerns and UMW members.

Noon:  Pastor Kimberly will host a lunch at the parsonage for the former pastors and their spouses.  Laura Daillak and Stella Rous will organize the lunch.

Afternoon:  A reception for the artists displaying their art work will be held in Oglesby.

Evening:  A dinner and program with the former pastors talking about significant Wesley events of the past.  Each decade will be highlighted with pictures and music.  The dinner will be catered so everyone can enjoy the program.  Barbara Knowlton and Lillie Johnson will co-chair the dinner organization.  Jerry Ludeke and Margaret Grant will organize the program.

Sun., Sept. 25:

Morning:  Joint worship service.  The commissioned hymn will be presented.  Pastor Kimberly and the Worship Committee will plan the service.

Lunch:  Soup and sandwiches and a farewell program and burying of a time capsule.  The program will feature a power point presentation of Wesley pictures done by Nick Strobel.  Jerilyn Smith will organize the time capsule.

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