Tom Jones offered this witness on October 16:
In the next few weeks you are going to hear about how you can become a piece of fabric for Central’s quilt. All of us are becoming pieces of fabric for the quilt. As each of us makes his or her financial commitment, you will see the pieces come together to make one big quilt.
I've been attending Central for about three and a half years, after having been away from church for about 20 years. I started attending Central largely because of two people: Eileene MacFalls and Nick Wilkerson, both of whom I knew before I started attending Central. I had heard stories of how Central celebrated God’s wildly inclusive love. Eileene had shared with me about the Wednesday lunch and the church’s mission to help feed the hungry. Nick had been a big supporter of many of the causes in the gay community that I’ve supported over the years.
On Easter Sunday in 2008, I attended Central for the first time. I loved the service from beginning to end! I began attending Central regularly, and it became part of the fabric of my life. I started supporting Central both financially and with my time. My past church history had taught me that churches need pledges for budgets to operate. Some people give 10 percent, some people give more, and some do what they can.
I made it my mission to get involved at Central, and this is how Central has remained a part of the fabric of my life! I asked myself, how can I become more involved with church? I started attending Sunday school, Lunch Bunch for Brunch, new members’ groups, and book studies. I helped decorate the church for Christmas. Then I was asked to be on the church nominating and worship committees, which led me to become a team leader for second Sunday greeters. I headed the church monthly birthday party for one year, and we had a blast!
All of these activities were a way for me to get to know you, but also they were a way for you to become more acquainted with me. After three and a half years, you all have become threads in my patch piece for the quilt. Hopefully I’ve become a thread in your patch piece.
Central has opened its doors and heart to me not only through our regular services and events, but also through Peace Education, Wednesday lunches, Buddy Dinners, Voices of Kentuckiana, Pandora, and others using our facilities. Those are just a few of the ways that Central helps celebrate God’s wildly inclusive love with others! Not only do Central members share with one another—we share with the community.
Will you join me in making a financial commitment to Central and become a piece of fabric that will help complete our big quilt in the weeks to come? Thank you in advance for your support!
