Musical Partner in Ministry

For the last 3.5 years we have had the gift of working with Diane Wright as the Director for Traditional Worship at Community United Methodist Church. She was a gift of a person, a talent and a friend to work with. The day she took the job with us in October 2018, she was also diagnosed with breast cancer. She retired because of her health on May 12th and died on June 7th. Yesterday we laid her to rest in the morning at Bushnell National Cemetery with her family (she was a Navy wife) and then in the afternoon we held a memorial service for her in the sanctuary with 200 people in attendance and that includes 40 people singing in the choir. It was a sad day, but a lovely day of sharing memories and telling stories. Diane brought a lot of joy to a lot of people. 

Our Two From Galilee musical in December 2019

Easter 2021 

Christmas Concert 2021

Christmas Eve 2021 

 

One Last Day

Thursday was our last day at Community UMC. We spent part of it at lunch with most of the staff at the Rose Plantation. 

It was weird to pack up all the things and turn in keys and leave. 

I also threw away my desk chair in the dumpster when we left too - 

it's had a cover on it for the last few years. 

The close of one chapter. And in another five weeks or so the next chapter begins officially. 

Packing Time

 The cardboard Stonehenge is getting bigger and the shelves are getting emptier at church.....

Our last day in the office at Community is Thursday May 19th. 

Goodbye Celebrations at Community

Sunday was also Daryl's and my last Sunday in worship at Community. Although we don't move until June 21, we are taking several weeks off to get ready before this new stage of our life. The church loved on us well by singing our favorite songs in the 9Thirty and traditional worship services and by throwing us and CJ a lovely reception at the conclusion of all the worship services. 

The balloon bouquets around the room were done up in the favorite colors of one of the Hill kids or Allen kids alongside of an overflowing bowl of that child's favorite candies. 

 

People were very generous in their expressions of congratulations and thanksgiving and it was a beautiful sendoff, celebrating our seven years of ministry here. 

Celebrating Graduation at Church

Parker was recognized in worship at the 9Thirty service on Sunday for his upcoming high school graduation along with four other graduates that he was confirmed with and grew up with in youth group. 

Parker Allen, Bellamy Standifer, Desiree Proctor, Hannah Warren, Elizabeth Milam

Parker and Bellamy are both going to be camp counselors this summer at Warren Willis and are headed off to Florida Southern College in Lakeland in the fall. Also, Bellamy, Desiree and Elizabeth are all headed into nursing careers. 

Parker with his youth director, Amy Hill. 

 

When Uncle Daniel gets your camera for a few minutes you never know what will be on your camera roll! 

Field Trip to That Other Park

Our Disney loving family went to Universal Studios this weekend with the children and youth from the church (Daryl stayed home because his motion sickness doesn't allow him to ride the 3D simulators and roller coasters at this park - he had a nice quiet day at home). We had to miss the Rock the Universe Christian concert event in February this year, so this was our make-up trip. It was the first time we had been back to Universal since January 2020. It turned out to be a nice day for it. We had time to hit every ride and show that was currently operating in the park and it was nice - not Disney by any means - but nice. 

A Big Weekend - Part One

This weekend the Allen family has all the things. Literally. 

We started on Friday with Parker going to his last regular day of high school and his brothers going to middle school. Daryl and I headed to Epcot to meet up with the Hill family. 

Amy works for Disney and she got to bring two family/friends to the castmember preview of the new Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind Coaster in Epcot. She and her husband CJ invited me to join them; Daryl hung out with the Hills kids while we rode and took them on a couple of other rides. 

The ride was AMAZING! Our whole family is going back on MOnday night for the passholder preview. But it is definitely my favorite roller coaster on Disney property, edging out Expedition Everest and 

Rock N Roll Coaster. 

Then we headed back to Mexico for lunch - frozen lime margarita and guac with chips for me; frozen strawberry margarita and empanadas for Daryl. 

We hung out for a bit but it was SO hot. We left and headed home and got a nap in before heading out to church for the Broadway Variety Show. My ensemble, God's Echo, sang an entire choral suite with a ton of numbers from West Side Story. There were lots of other numbers from a wide variety - going all the way back to Showboat and as recent as The Greatest Showman. 

And Daryl provided all of the tech help for the night. 

It was a full fun first day of this super busy "weekend."