Matthew 25:23

Since last night at the Thread was meant to show appreciation to Tim and Julie for all their hard work and general amazingness I figured I would contribute something here.

(Oh, and Hello again after a long sabbatical called college finals and holidays.)

While I really wanted to grab that microphone last night and say something I was certain that my voice and eyes would not have allowed me to get past “Hello my name is Crystal and I am thankful for…” *tears*

So without further delay.

I am unbelievably blessed by Tim and Julie and the sacrifices that they made in order to shape and continue The Thread. If it were not for the Thread I don’t know that I would be friends with the people I am. And believe me, I’ve made some tremendous and life long friends through the Thread.

I moved to Allentown about a year and a half ago and I did not know a single person. Talk about jumping without a net, thankfully though the first Sunday I was in town I somehow found the Thread. I actually believe it was a Google search of “Sunday night church services in the Lehigh Valley” that pointed me there. I speak from experience when I say that going to church, especially a large church were you know no one is intimidating but the warmth and welcome I felt at the Thread was unmatched. Particularly because the second time I attended the Thread I was invited to a Labor Day dinner by someone I had only meet the previous week and whom I could barely remember their name. It was at that dinner that I started to make the friends that I still have today and these friendships I cherish. I am thankful that Tim and Julie have taken the time to make a service that fosters authentic relationships with people.

You would think that I got right in with the Thread and knew Tim and Julie from the start but that is not true. In all actuality I had heard of Tim and Julie but had never been introduced to them. Then some time passed and that line where you’ve seen someone at church a million times but still don’t know their name got crossed. I knew of Julie but I didn’t know her. Then one day I remember her walking up to a conversation I was having with someone and somehow a rather funny conversation happened. We both realized that we had been hearing a lot about each other but had never been introduced. We introduced ourselves, and one of us said “okay, well I think we should be friends now” and then I remember a hug because well if you know Julie you know that she’s a hugger. (And her hugs are wonderful!) I am thankful that Julie not only took the time make a home for the community that we now are but I am also indescribably thankful that she has taken the time to get to know me personally. She has shared in my joys, and my struggles, and has prayed with me multiple times and for these things I am eternally grateful. I know I can speak for all of her “adopted” daughters when I say her nurturing and love has touched each of us and has changed us irrevocably for the better.

No amount of words can adequately express how grateful I am, or how appreciative the Thread community is for Tim and Julie. There are no words to describe the spiritual changes that have happened in people while attending the Thread, and there are is no way to measure the spiritual growth that will continue on now without Tim and Julie but we can be thankful that because of their hard work, perseverance and dedication to God’s calling that the good work which God has started in the Thread will continue.

There is no better way to end then with this for Tim and Julie. “His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:23

I’m excited to see what God has in store for you!

Oh and Julie! You + Me = Dinner tonight.

I love you both!

-Crystal Williams