EYE SORE TO EYE TREASURE

(by June Long Smith)

       
The outside abandoned World of Wonder Day Care play center situated between the Church and the Fellowship Hall buildings has been transformed into a multi-purpose outdoor facility.  This former eyesore has been replaced by a 23’ X 40’ stained, patterned slate-appearing cement platform.  This platform is surrounded by new landscaping featuring trees, shrubbery, and flowers.  To increase privacy, an attractive white, no-maintenance fence has been installed to block the view of street traffic. This garden has been named The Good News Garden (Ephesians 1:13).  This Garden, the idea of David Clark, Chairperson of the Memorial Committee, was completed under the auspices of the Memorial Committee whose responsibilities include responsible stewardship of all its memorial funds.  Therefore, much of the funding came from individual memorial funds, plus about $1,200 donated especially for the garden in memory or in honor of loved ones.  A framed plaque listing the names from the memorial funds used plus the names of the additional memorials or honors given for the Garden will be displayed.

It is anticipated that this additional multi-purpose space will be used often for many purposes, such as, outdoor worship services, musical events, Sunday School, small group activities, weddings, barbecues, meditation, etc.  The Good News Garden has already been used for Vacation Bible School and is scheduled to be used in May, 2006 for a Christian music extravaganza.