I was born in Elmira, NY…upstate from NYC by about 3 hours. Our house was a corner lot and up the hill, same street, was a BIG church. In my 3 yr. old eyes, it was BIG. I always heard music coming from there and one Sunday, I walked up to that church and a lady at the door took me inside and up front with a lot of other children. Everyone was singing and then they led all of us(the children) out. I cried and didn’t want to go but looking back, it was Sunday School time! When church was over, this same lady took me outside and the whole neighborhood was looking for me. From that day on, my mother made sure to take me, every Sunday, so I could hear the music.

Since I loved music so much, I started piano lessons at age 5 and have been playing ever since. AT the age of ten, my father became a Pontiac/Oldsmobile/GMC dealer and we moved 17 miles away to Sayre, PA.

I had a terrific teacher, graduate of Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and she was the organist at the large Episcopal church in Sayre. Other than my regular piano lessons, I also met her at the church, as she taught me how to play the organ. A four manual (4 keyboards), pipe organ. By age 12, I was playing at the early service, then ran across the street to my church and sang in the adult choir. As you can see, my whole life has been growing in my faith and following Jesus. There is so much more to my story, but that’s for another time. Now to this past year and a half! Our church had a rough start, after you came. So many factors but you came right after the UMC vote, then Hurricanes and so many leaving. Some left due to the vote , some having to relocate due to home loss and others left with unchristian attitudes.

Your calm, positive, kind personality shows us all that you live and strive , everyday, to be more like Jesus. That is how I grow, by following Jesus, reading scripture, over and over, and your teachings. Scripture such as: Colossians 3: 12 “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness & patience”. Micah 6: 8 “Walk Humbly with God”-this week's old testament lesson; Ephesians 4: 2 “Be humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love”.

Thank you for putting up with all of us at Wesley. God has filled you with patience and love for one another and it shows. You are a true blessing and pray you are with Wesley Memorial UMC for many years.

Jean Rowe, Director of Music