Upcoming Sunday Worship Services
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ELSIE GAUDETTE AWARD September 25, 2005 The Elsie Gaudette Award, begun in 1991, is this church's version of the unsung hero award. For those of you who perhaps did not know Elsie personally, she was a person who exemplified service and dedication. She unselfishly took care of the people here, the building and the church as a whole. She held offices, chaired committees, cooked, baked, ran events, visited the sick and nurtured us all for many, many years. For her service we chose to dedicate a plaque in her honor. In the 15 years since, we have honored others in the congregation who have unselfishly worked for the good of all, unasked and otherwise unrewarded for the things they have done. You know them still because they continue to do those things. The people on the plaque simply step in to handle a situation that needs attention, often anonymously. This year’s honoree has proved to be cut from the same cloth. He and his wife arrived at our doors about 8 years ago. She felt she was ready to join and signed the membership book sooner than he, but they were already working and doing things here. One of the first things he helped us do was get us some exposure on cable -- regularly. He not only had the ability, the drive and the vision to tape our services, edit them to the proper format for cable viewing, but to follow through and make it happen. His expertise is electronics and he has moved us solidly into the 21st century. The minister and the secretary are fully wired and wireless. Though not a MACman, he has learned to be for Valarie, our secretary. He gave a computer course for Chalice Thursdays called "Hardware is not Hard", lugging in 3 computers each week for the students to use. He has worked on members' computers and patiently explained the how-to's. If there is an event to be taped occurring in church, I've never known him to refuse to tape it and make copies for anyone who wants one. Sound system questions?...just ask. What else? I've only just begun. He cooks, he cleans, he repairs, he provides muscle, daycare, and much more. For the Ingathering Breakfast, he cooks and cleans up. At the Annual Yard Sale, he fixes things, puts things together, takes others apart, delivers, picks up and drops off. Even the Fall Clean Up would be more difficult without him. The May Plant Sale is another event of which he is an integral part. He and Maria and Mike Schroeder make this an annual fund raiser. There is a lot of work involved in picking up plants, setting up, cleaning up and doing the many things that he does behind the scene quietly. The Texas Hold'em Tournament is another new fun event he spearheaded a couple years ago. Sometimes it's a fund raiser and sometimes a fun raiser. Our honoree is a Parish Committee member, although like everyone else, he's really too busy. His business sense and skill in electronics have been so welcome. There are so many contributions made that only a few may even know about. When a need for something is known, he simply supplies it, Elsie-like...light bulbs, tapes or enough supplemental hymnals to fulfill our desire to have enough for everyone in the pews. He is even willing to surrender his dignity! Remember a dinner theater skit when he was a baby in diapers? He can be a showman, and has fun in most everything he does. So, there should be little doubt as to this year's recipient of the Elsie Gaudette Award now. Set the camera, and step out, and come accept the thanks of the entire congregation...J.R. Pucillo-Dunphy.
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