Senior Address by Kristine Leung:
What Redeemer Means To Me.
When I was four, my mom and I moved to America to a house in The Lakes of Sarasota, across the street from the Clegg’s, just down the street from the Clements family—who many of you will remember. The summer I was 5, Mrs. Clements asked if I would like to go to Vacation Bible School at the Church of the Redeemer. It sounded fun, so off I went. That week of VBS in 2002 changed my life.
There is nothing quite like VBS here at Redeemer. Light streaming in through the colorful windows in our beautiful nave, the loud upbeat music and bass guitar of Dan Cartlidge, the older kids who lead the little kids around, and the MANY adult volunteers all add to the fervor of the familiar song “Come and go with me to my Father’s House, It’s a Big, Big House with Lots and Lots of Room…” Who remembers that song? Well, I found a room and a church home that week. On Rally Sunday after that VBS, my mom says I took her hand and said, “Mama, I like it here, can we come to church here?”
Thank you to all my Sunday School teachers and Mrs. Boedecker who dedicate Sunday mornings in service to Christ. Thank you to Mrs. Grade for guiding me in the right direction while I was an acolyte. I must say a special thank you to my Second Grade Sunday School teacher and Confirmation Sponsor Mary Brown who has been a constant rock in my world. She knows my good, my bad, and my ugly.
Confirmation with Father Rick is a right of passage into the teenage years. Our class didn’t have to endure too many
war stories, but the final exam was a real battle. It was a great foundation and preparation for attending the St. Michael’s Conference.
For the past four years, St. Michael’s has been my favorite week of the entire year—and it is not just because I get to Square Dance with Father Fred (yes, I said Square Dance!), or make my confession to my Father Confessor, or sing in the choir directed by one of our country’s greatest choir directors. No, it is because St. Michael’s is a place that reflects the love and acceptance of Jesus Christ. I’ve made lifelong friends at St. Mike’s. I am especially blessed to have had Father Fred, Father Rick and my dear Chris Wood as examples of men of faith in my life. Actually, all the men of Redeemer give girls with or without a true father figure a good example of how a man of Christ behaves with honor, dignity, and faith to his family and his church. Without strong men, we don’t have a strong church.
And behind every strong man, is an even stronger woman! Thank you to all the women of our church who do so much to keep us all on track. Of course, to my favorite woman at Redeemer— Ann Stephenson-Moe. Mrs. Moe believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. She kissed my forehead on my first day in choir and has been watching out for me ever since. I give her major kudos in the many, many long hours of dedication to the music program here at Redeemer. Playing the organ is just a tiny talent contribution compared to how Mrs. Moe nurtures and guides the girls in the Canterbury Choir. She’s proof that
powerful good things come in small, petite dark-haired packages! I am forever grateful for everything Mrs. Moe has taught me and will always remember how much of an impact she has made in my life.
I’ve graduated early from Sarasota High School and am now working at Michael’s on East, in the catering section. I have chosen not to go away to school just yet, and instead, I will be staying in Sarasota as I work towards becoming a nurse practitioner specializing in pediatrics. I eventually plan on transferring to Florida State University to finish up my schooling there. I hope to be married here one day and to have my babies baptized here. Redeemer is my home. It’s a big, big house with lots and lots of rooms. As I go forth into the world, I thank my mom and grandmother, and all of the saints of Redeemer who accepted me as the cute little Chinese girl and helped me grow in my faith. I am ever grateful for your Christian love and kindness.
Amen.
Senior Address
Kristine Leung
The Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota, Florida
3 Easter
May 4 2014