A Year To Remember

 

I am very excited to begin this new year with enthusiasm and well wishes. The new year always feels like a fresh start. We are wiping the slate clean and starting off with new hopes and dreams for the year ahead.

 

It is always an exciting time for me. A week prior to new years eve I open my journal and write about the new improved version of me I want to create. Maybe I will take off a few pounds, meet that special someone, travel to someplace new, or finish that book I’ve been working on over the past year. Epic changes for an epic life!

 

This past year I have had the honor and privilege to serve as Pebble’s council president. This is a job I do not take lightly. My first full year as council president was a learning experience like no other. While we accomplished a lot, my greatest joy has been getting to know so many of you personally. Pebble has become a family to me. I am grateful to have so many good friends and kindred spirits.

 

As we welcome a new year into our lives I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past year. If life is worth living it is worth remembering. Our life in a year is full of highs and lows, good times and bad, struggles and celebrations. Each moment has meaning for those who chose to live a meaningful life. And so as we enter into the new year I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past year at Pebble Hill Church.

 

January 4 – Moose begins her Painted Rocks project. Each week Moose gathered the artistic and the not so artistic in the lower Red Barn to paint smooth river stone rocks. Bright colors and interesting designs take on new meaning on the rounded stone rocks, and the painters enjoyed social connections with fellow artists. Today many of the rocks can be found around Pebble.

 

January 21 – Pebble celebrates the official 50th anniversary date. January 21st marks the date when Pebble Hill Church celebrated 50 years of service. Starting out in 1968 as an experimental outreach church of Christian denomination, Pebble was born in the age of anti-war protest and the civil rights movement. Pebble has a long and storied history, and today stands as one of the few truly independent churches in existence.

 

February – A new website – This past year Pebble got a digital makeover with Pebble 2.0. A responsive, modern design merged spirituality with originality in the digital age. Together with MailChimp email marketing, our Facebook page, and our Meetup group, Pebble is leveraging the digital landscape to connect with members and the greater community.

 

May 12 – The Barbara Weikamp Fundraising Concert “Fabulous Females Of Broadway” was a huge success. 100% of the proceeds raised were used to fund our 50th anniversary gala event. Our thanks to Barbara and her husband Nick for their talent and generosity. Barbara is just one of many talented members who have called Pebble home over the last 50 years.

 

July – A new parking lot and refinished floors in the yellow barn were two major renovations in 2018. It takes a lot to keep a church running, and thanks to the generosity of our members, we were fortunate enough to be able to keep our building and grounds in tip top shape.

 

August 13 – Pebble Camp is an annual tradition of the Pebble community. Every summer Pebble camp hosts a week of jam packed adventure and fun. Outdoor activities, theatrical shows, arts, music, workshops, and campfires, give campers of all ages memories to last a lifetime.

 

August 25 – Our 50th anniversary party was the event of the century. Pebble people from all over the country showed up for a day of celebration and connection. Starting off with a celebration in the Red Barn with our founding minister Gordon Dragt and our beloved minister of more than 20 years Gary Culp, put on a memorable celebration. Next up was a delicious banquet featuring foods from our very own Pebble community. Finally we closed out the event with an all star cast of Pebble talent in a show to remember. And for those who just couldn’t get enough celebrating, we had a campfire sing-along under the stars till the week hours of the night.

 

September 16 – School of Sacred Ministries class of 2020 begins. 2018 also marked the 20th year for the School of Sacred Ministries, Pebble’s chartered organization educating the next generation of interfaith ministers.

September 30 – Our new program, Emotions in Motion, was created to address the growing epidemic of mental health challenges in our community and around the world. Thank’s to the talent and commitment of Pebble members Janet Berkowitz and Gary Schoenberg, this new program has exceeded all expectations. The program has been drawing large groups each month, and is already having an significant impact on its participants.

 

October 5 – Our new program, Story and Poetry Hour, is another new program at Pebble aimed at building community. Each month a small but growing group of participants share stories and poems in a casual setting, complete with wine and snacks. This monthly program offers an opportunity for community members to connect and build relationships outside of the busy Sunday celebration time.

 

52 wonderful celebrations, 53 if you count Christmas Eve celebration, planned and performed by a dedicated staff on the celebration team. There is a lot of work that goes into each Sunday celebration, and Pebble’s dedicated team puts their heart and soul into every one. Thank You Celebration Team!

 

In closing I want to extend my gratitude for the many dedicated people who kept Pebble running all year long in 2018.

 

Thank you to… Rev. Larry Hall, Rev. Dave Perkins, Rev. Rosalind Cauffman, Norm Danis, Rev. Kalie Marino, Carolyn Penta, Alan Dench, Dave DePasquale, Jacqui Menkes, Pam Johnson, Kelly Davidson, Donna Fry, Deva Troy, Sarah Gray, Michael Sturgeon, Gretchen Altabef, Andy Wright, Bear Wagner, JoAnne Wolke, Gary Shoenberg, Bill Mettler, Rafael Soto-Gil, Wanda Canfield, and our new office manager Dennis Haggerty.

 

Of course there were many of you who pitched in when needed, going out of your way to give your time and energy.

 

 

Council President

Pebble Hill Church