LSF Honors 15 at Good

Samaritan Dinner in Orlando

27 February 2008 - TW

The second annual Good Samaritan Dinner in Orlando was held at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on Sun., Feb.  24.  At the dinner, Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) CEO and President Sam Sipes bestowed the Good Samaritan Award upon 15 individuals. 

The award is presented by LSF to exceptional volunteers whose faith is an extension beyond the usual and normal activities of their life and is an expression of the love of God through helping others.  Those honored by LSF at the dinner were:

• Angel and Margarita Alvelo of Principe de Paz Lutheran Church, Orlando

• Eva Buchanan of Hope Lutheran Church, Orlando

• Mary Gene Carr of Trinity Lutheran Church, Orlando

• Blake Culpepper of Holy Cross Lutheran Ministries, Lake Mary

• Corrine Graver of People of Faith Lutheran Church, Winter Garden

• Ron and Peg Henderson of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Orlando

• Dean Patrick of Ascension Lutheran Church, Casselberry

• Rebecca Puig of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Oviedo

• Ramon Quinones and Yolando Lavandero-Quinones of Cristo Rey Lutheran Church, Orlando

• Franklin (Lee) Sharpe of Reformation Lutheran Church, Orlando

• Karen Solberg of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Longwood

• Virginia Starke of Zion Lutheran Church, Groveland

The dinner was attended by 140 people representing a gathering of Lutherans from both the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in central Florida.  President Gerhard Michael, Jr of the Florida-Georgia District LCMS and Bishop Edward R. Benoway of the Florida-Bahamas Synod ELCA greeted those assembled and thanked the honorees.

Host Pastor Phillip Vance and Master of Ceremonies Pastor Johan Bergh highlighted the good deeds done by the honorees.  Dinner music was performed by Elaine Scott, harp and Stephanie Hamer, flute. The Prince of Peace Praise Team provided after dinner musical entertainment.  Pastor Adolfo Borges gave the Benediction, and the event ended with everyone singing the Doxology.

Many thanks to the Planning Committee for the Good Samaritan Dinner, who planned and coordinated the dinner, to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church for printing and donating the programs, to the Seminole and the Orange Chapters of Thrivent Financial for Lutheran who supported the event with a financial donation and to all those who participated in the recognition dinner.

Photo by Brian Hall of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Oviedo.  Click on the picture for a larger image.

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