I am going to follow Cathy Huey's message about people who inspired her from this church, and I am going to give you a little background on me first.

I started going to the catholic church when I was 5 years old and joined when I was 11 years old. I was also married in the catholic church, but later, after I was married, I finally stopped going.

I had a friend who went to First Christian Church, and she invited me to come to church, and I went. I finally joined the church and was there 30 years, but became uncomfortable and left. I was really unhappy there and thought I will not step in another church or join another church again.

I was taking guitar lessons at the time, and my guitar teacher, Tom Rasley, said, "Why don't you join me at the Salem Presbyterian Church? I think you will like it.”

He said they are good people there...so I said ok. The minute I walked through the front door, I felt a peace that I had never experienced in any church I had attended. Everyone was so kind and welcoming.

I kept coming, and I had not been there very long when I decided this church was for me. So...I joined and have never been more happy. Some of the people who inspired me are now gone, Alice McGinnis, Susie Lopp, and Jo Barnett, who moved away.

Those of you that are here now are Wilma and Lana Humphrey. They are the sweetest people I know. No matter where you see them, they are always the same: warm, loving, and kind.

De Davis is always doing something for the church...helping with the warming station or fixing a bad float in a toilet tank, she's handy at fixing things. She is such a special friend to me. Bud and Cathy Huey are so good to get our annual Thanksgiving dinner going...and taking on the responsibility to deliver food to the Warming Station as well as the Women's Shelter.

Bill and Donna LaFollette were always faithful coming to church and I am so glad Bill is able to attend church by phone.

Wendell Brown is our historian for our church and you can find him digging into the files on the history of the church and how it all started. He is also our representative for the Presbytery of the Ohio Valley and stepped in to take Norma Eisert's place after she passed away. He keeps us updated on everything that goes on and also speaks up for our church. Norma would be very proud you are doing this, Wendell.

Trina Brown wears many hats in this church...taking care of the technical sound part of the liturgy, selects songs for us to sing, keeps the church sparkling clean, and is my mentor for the specials we sing in church each Sunday. It is such a joy to be able to sing with her.

Pastor Richard has been so kind to visit my husband when he was in the hospital and anointed him with holy oil.

And finally, to our 3 new members, Julie, Alyssa, and Billy, I want to say you made the right move to join this church family. I really can't put into words all this church means to me. I am beyond grateful for each and every one of you. I am reminded of one of my favorite scriptures taken from Psalm 122, verse 1: “I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go to the house of the lord.’” I love all of you and God bless you.