‘CHRISTOPHER TREE’ BLOSSOMS WITH HOPE!
Wilton Manors - May 3, 2008:
Volunteer Friendship’s Care Team Mentors and their Friends shared messages of hope during special prayer services held recently in Broward. Speaking of the legend of ‘Christopher’, a third century giant determined to serve only the best, Norman Embree, Volunteer Friendship’s Broward Coordinator, explained how Christopher was instructed to plant his old wooden staff into the soil only to witness it grow into a magnificent tree overnight. “Life can seem so unfair, so difficult, and even bleak at times… just like Christopher’s old wooden staff. Yet, when we firmly grasp on to hope, truly believing we can improve upon our lives, burdens become lessened and a fresh life – one filled with newness - takes root, grows and blossoms,” said Embree.
During both prayer services, participants wrote personal notes expressing their desires, wishes or feelings on the reverse side of a hand made leaf. Then, every participant approached a bare, lifeless tree and hung their ‘own leaves’ on a branch. By ceremonies end, the once life-less tree was transformed with ‘blossoms of newness, comfort and hope.’ The ‘Christopher Tree’ is now preserved in the offices of Catholic Charities Volunteer Friendship Broward and will be re-introduced at future events.
| A Great Day to Remember…
The weather was fantastic and the friendships enduring as some 45 volunteers and friends of the Broward Volunteer Friendship Program of Catholic Charities gathered Saturday, May 3rd for a day of prayer, barbeque and relaxation aboard Fort Lauderdale’s famous ‘Jungle Queen’. The day couldn’t have been more wonderful!
Pictured in our printed edition of our Newsletter are ‘Frisco’, Gloria, Val, Joyce and Ernetta - who appears to be ‘ducking’ the photographer’s camera! All are comfortably seated and ready for ‘cruising’ down the intra-coastal waterway and Fort Lauderdale’s own New River. First stop was a ‘stow-away’ island of critters, jungle birds, monkeys and ferocious American alligators!
WELCOME NEW VOLUNTEERS & FRIENDS
The Volunteer Friendship Program in Broward County continues to grow! We are pleased to welcome our newest members:
Vincent B.
Joseph C.
Michael C.
Anthony D.
Marina D.
Michael L.
Cynthia G.
Rose J.
Lisa M.
Edward O.
Julian P.
Luis P.
Zoraida P.
Joseph R.
Jeffrey W.
OUR ENTIRE FAMILY EXTENDS A VERY WARM WELCOME TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!!
|