Debbie was sick on Sunday so she missed the meeting. I thought I would write a brief update since important organizational changes happened.
Our Relief Society presidency and leaders were released today and a new Relief Society presidency was sustained and set apart. The outgoing leaders that were released are Kristen C, Margot N, Robin A, Amber Z, and Patricia M. In addition, Dale P was released as Employment Specialist, Dean T from the Fellowship Committee and as Activities Co-Chair, Thom Z from the Break-the-Fast Committee, and Lisa P as Employment Specialist and Ward Missionary. These people have all served faithfully and expertly. It was difficult to release them.
The new Relief Society presidency and leaders are: Donna H, president; Cindy H and Diane H, counselors; Lisa P, secretary; Visiting Teaching Coordinator, Amber Z. In addition, Barb L was called as the new Employment Specialist and Dean T was called to serve with LaRee A as a Ward Singles Representative (serving on the Irvine Stake Singles Committee).
Kristen and Donna bore their testimonies as outgoing and incoming Relief Society presidents. Tears were shed -- Kristen as she said good-bye to a calling that has been special and uplifting for her, Donna out of love to the sisters in her new calling (and, she claimed, out of fear!). Bishop Gardner (yes, that's me) told about the inspiration and feelings he felt in extending the release to Kristen, who has earned a very special place in his heart during her excellent service, and in his search to replace her with Donna. This calling for Donna was clearly inspired by the Lord. He clearly prepared her, made her available, and inspired the bishop to extend the call to someone he barely knows. Her choice of counselors and leaders was also inspired, as the bishop firmly testified, recounting the experience when he first saw the names she had chosen and felt the confirmation from the spirit.
The remainder of sacrament meeting focused around goals for the coming year, and a look back at the prior year. Br. Moon and Br. Pinto spoke and gave powerful advice and testimony of the ward, the things we accomplished the prior year, and the need to continue to press forward in love and faith. Bishop Gardner closed the meeting by accounting for our 2010 goals (we met most of them but fell short in a few areas) and presenting our 2011 goals. These goals can be seen online here:
Unfortunately, I missed Sunday School so that the new Relief Society leaders could be set apart. I have heard from many ward members that our Sunday School classes are among the best they have ever attended, so I regret not being able to be there. In the third hour we had a combined Priesthood/Relief Society lesson (since it's a 5th Sunday) where the ward missionaries presented the Ward Mission Plan and bore testimony of the work.
Also during the third hour the Family History committee presented award certificates to the many ward members who participated in the name indexing effort last year and helped us index four times more names than our goal. Thank you everyone!
Bishop Gardner
