Special anniversary? Milestone birthday? Graduation? Grateful appreciation? Loving memories? Consider marking the occasion by dedicating the altar flowers in commemoration.
Altar Flowers
In both the Chapel and the Main Sanctuary, Long Memorial has a small table next to the altar for an arrangement of flowers to adorn the worship space. Each Sunday the flowers are donated by a member of the congregation to the glory of God and in honor of, or in memory of, a loved one. One arrangement is used for both worship services. To facilitate this, a Flower Calendar is posted on the wall in the hall outside the Church Library on the 2nd floor. Simply find an available (vacant) Sunday on the calendar and sign up. Or you can call Church Secretary Peggy Wade at 336-599-1193 ext.1 and she will let you know what Sundays are available and sign you up. If you consider it really important to dedicate flowers on a particular Sunday that is already taken, you can have a second flower arrangement placed in the Narthex. In either case, contact Peggy, no later than the Thursday morning preceding, to let her know how you want the flower dedication stated in the Sunday service bulletin.
You can choose to order the flowers from whatever florist you wish. Village Gallery Florist (at 400 S. Madison Boulevard / 336-597-5300) and Four Seasons Florist (at 801 Durham Road / 336-597-2281) are frequently used by members of our congregation. The cost depends on the size of the arrangement and the type of flowers you order, but the basic cost begins at about $75. The florist will deliver the arrangement to Long Memorial on Saturday, and on Sunday a member of the congregation will place it in the Chapel for the early service and then move it to the Main Sanctuary. After the 11 a.m. Sunday service, you will be responsible for removing the arrangement. Many people take their arrangement to a shut-in or to someone in a nursing facility or hospital.
Rose Buds
One of the traditions at Long Memorial is to place a rose bud on the altar in celebration of the birth of a child or grandchild to a member of the congregation. If the child’s parents are members of Long Memorial, the United Women in Faith pay for it; otherwise, the person requesting it does. The current cost of a rose bud with vase is $11.50. After the 11 a.m. Sunday service, you are welcome to take it home. If you have a birth to celebrate, please contact Church Secretary Peggy Wade at 336-599-1193 ext. 1 or longmemorial@esinc.net and give her the child’s name, gender, parents’ and grandparents’ names and date of birth.
50th Anniversary Recognition
Another of Long Memorial’s traditions is for the United Methodist Women to recognize members celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. If you will be celebrating your 50th anniversary during the next calendar year, please contact UWF President Connee White at 336-504-2069 or conneew@gmail.com and let her know your full names and the date of your wedding. The UWF will provide and dedicate the altar flowers as close as possible to your anniversary. In addition, your names and wedding date will be added to the commemorative 50th Anniversary Plaque celebrating all the Long Memorial members who have achieved this milestone.
Easter Lilies
Each year Long Memorial has a special display of potted lilies at Easter, to adorn the Narthex and the worship space around the altar. Reminders and the cost per plant are advertised in Sunday bulletins in the weeks ahead of time. Members of the congregation sign up to give plants to the glory of God and in memory of, or in honor of, loved ones. Dedications are listed in a special bulletin insert on Easter. After the service you may take your plant(s) home or to a shut-in or to someone in a nursing facility or hospital.
Christmas Poinsettias
Each year Long Memorial has special displays of potted poinsettias to decorate the Narthex and the worship space around the altar at Christmas. The United Women in Faith purchase the poinsettias and deliver them to Long Memorial shut-ins after Christmas.
