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Dedication Service for
"Kristen's Garden" The Dedication Service for the Kristen Grote Memorial Prayer Garden was held on a Sunday afternoon at "Kristen's Garden" at New Hanover Presbyterian Church. The Garden is a symbol of love and a testimony of the caring spirit of the community. The Dedication Service included remarks and prayers by Billy Craig and Tommy Nance of New Hanover, as well as Larry Frakes of Cool Spring. The Responsive Reading was as follows: Leader: "I thank my God every time I remember you." (from Philippians 1:3) People: We thank God for Kristen Grote, her father and mother and her brothers. Leader: When God's people entered the Promised Land, the Lord said to Joshua: "Take 12 stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan and lay them down...so that these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever...When your children ask in time to come, 'what do those stones mean to you?' Then you shall tell them..." (from Joshua 4:3-7) People: May one generation be telling another generation for many generations to come that this is a place where children are loved and cherished. May we always be mindful that this is a place of encouragement and hope. May these fields and whatever buildings are built on these acres be places where Jesus Christ is seen and known; where disciples of Jesus lead others to become disciples. Leader: May "Kristen's Garden" be like a paradise of love between God and people and people and people for this community regardless of church or denomination. People: May "Kristen's Garden" be a place of joy and hope and peace and fun for boys and girls and their families and friends. May this be God's place where we all are reminded of Jesus' invitation: "Let the little children come unto me; and forbid them not; for it is to such as these that the children of God belongs." (from Luke 18:16) Leader: May this be a place where we all are reminded that "Jesus loves me!" And, may this simple gospel truth be sung in people's hearts in the place in such a way that we seem to sense the voice of a beautiful little angel singing with us. The Commitment Song, "Jesus Loves Me" was then sung by all those in attendance.
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