New Castle United Methodist Church
New Castle, Delaware



September 8, 1999

Dear Ray,

Greetings!  I hope everything is going well as you begin your ministry at Ebenezer.  Our five years there were some of the best of our ministry.
Sunday, October 24 should be an exciting day for Ebenezer Church.  It will be an exciting day for New Castle Church as we celebrate Anniversary Sunday, the reception of new members and Charge Conference.  So, I think you will understand it when I say that I will not be able to attend all the festivities at Ebenezer.
In regards to the family information, here goes…
Our daughters…
Melanie, age 22 now attends St. Petersburg College in Florida.  She is enrolled in a veterinary technology program.  She has been on the dean's list.  In the fall of 2000 she will be transferring to Purdue University.
Megan, age 19 (attended the Ebenezer Pre-School) now attends the University of Vermont in Burlington.  She is a Business Administration major and also made the dean's list.
Wife and best friend…  Judy, age (I wouldn't dare) is now the appeals coordinator for Principal Health Care.  She enjoys reading, traveling and long walks along the Delaware River in New Castle.  Judy also played on the church volleyball team.
      Me...Tom, age 50 is in his third year at New Castle United Methodist Church.  He enjoys skiing (which he started at Ebenezer under the careful eye of the Week's family), volleyball, traveling, car racing (spectator only) and garden  ponding.
       Before the Donnachies came to New Castle they served at Peniel,

Ebenezer, St. Mark's (Easton), and Odessa.
       We considered our appointment to Ebenezer to have been a real blessing.  We will never for get the wonderful greeting we received and the difficult time of saying "good-bye."  I hope and pray that the people of Ebenezer received as much a blessing from us and we received from them.
       I hope that's enough information.  Again, I'm sorry that we cannot be with you.  May God bless you with a tremendous celebration!
                   Sincerely,
                      Tom
                 Rev. Dr. Tom Donnachie

associate at Elkton UMC in July 1981.  At that time Elkton and Providence were yoked, and I found great joy in being authorized to celebrate Holy Communion for the first time in those two congregations.  I became pastor of the then West Cecil Charge (Rosebank, Ebenezer, and Zion) in January 1984 and somehow managed to juggle full-time pastoring, part-time seminary study and caring for my family (I was a lot younger then!).  I came to Ebenezer as associate pastor in July 1989 and truly enjoyed my six years with you -- what a special congregation and staff.  I'll never forget how much you ministered to me when  my father died that first October; allowed me to share in your personal celebrations and struggles; worked with me on education, DISCIPLE, outreach, and Stephen Ministries; gave me the surprise birthday party of my life; fed, gifted and roasted me royally before I left in 1995.  Since then I have pastored Mt. Lebanon UMC but continue to remember you often and how much I was blessed by our mutual relationship of love and care.

My daughter, Melissa, has continued to live in Syracuse NY after completing her master's degree in speech pathology there.  She works with infants through three-year olds in home visits and in the St. Camillus Hospital, participates in community musical and dinner theater productions and active in her church.  My granddog, Gerianne, is a noisy but affectionate beagle.

I look forward to seeing you on October 24.
                 Blessings,
                     Mary Lou
      Rev. Mary Lou Green