After the morning service we had a celebration for Rev. Tom Miles. After many years as our pastoral care minister Tom is retiring. The children of the congregation presented Tom with a coffee mug and plate that had been signed by all the kids.
Rev. Bob Shank reminisced about their time in Montreal where they had neighbouring churches and how they had met again in Richmond.
His daughter Susan and her three girls spoke movingly of growing up with Tom & Audrey.
Rev. Gary Paterson spoke of the wisdom & humour that Tom brought to the the life of the church and how he would be missed.
On behalf of the congregation, Jim MacLean Cruickshank presented Tom with a plaque making him our Minister Emeritus as well as a gift certificate for dinner and announced that donations to Richmond GeneralHospital in honour of Audrey totalling more than $2000 had been made (the total total reached $3500).
Tom expressed his thanks for the gifts and for party and spoke of his time with us. A standing ovation followed by refreshments ended the celebration.
