Limestone and Habitat
In 1999-2000 Limestone Presbyterian Church
built a Habitat for Humanity home with funds and labor from church
members. Barbara Slavin, Ron Crick, Roger Jolly, Reid and Cathy
Conley, and Scott and Jan McKently were among the church members
who worked on the house that was the first one of fourteen that
Habitat built in a row of double houses. Avis Frasier is the
owner of the house that Limestone built. Her daughter Courtney
often attended Limestone’s VBS.
There are many ways to support Habitat beyond
construction work and financial donations. Jan Conley has served
on Habitat’s Family Selection Committee and on its Partner
Committee. She chaired the Partner Committee and now continues to
serve on it. Kate and Wes Wardell serve on Habitat’s Family
Selection Committee. Recognizing their outstanding contributions,
Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County named Jan Conley and Ron
Crick the “2003 Volunteers of the Year.”
Limestone’s pastors, Bruce and Carolyn
Gillette, decided to accept the call to serve the congregation in
part because of the church’s support of Habitat. Bruce was the
founder of the Sussex County (NJ) Habitat chapter. The Gillettes
provided office space at the First Presbyterian Church in Pitman,
NJ for the Gloucester County (NJ) Habitat chapter and supported
its work there for ten years. Carolyn is a hymn writer and wrote
a hymn for Habitat that has been used by many chapters and was
adapted for use at the 30th anniversary celebration of Habitat for
Humanity International.
In 2006, the Limestone Session made a
five-year commitment to have Habitat for Humanity in the church’s
budget with a motion made by Elder Katharine Olinchak, chairperson
of the Mission Committee. On April 25, 2007, Pastors Bruce and
Carolyn Gillette participated in the
ground-breaking of a new
row of Habitat homes in the Greenbridge neighborhood of
Wilmington that is partially funded by Limestone Presbyterians.
On July 14th, children of Limestone
Presbyterian Church provided lunches for the construction
volunteers working at Limestone’s latest Habitat home (see photos
below).
In October 2007 Limestone Presbyterians
will be helping with the construction of a Habitat home in the
Greenbridge neighborhood of Wilmington (1300
North Heald St., Wilmington, DE 19802). Our work dates are
October 4, 9, 18 & 23.
Please contact the Limestone Presbyterian Church by
email or by calling 302-994-5646, if you would like to
participate in this construction.
Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County needs many
volunteers beyond those who do construction work (office
volunteers and volunteers to assist on our Family Selection and
After Care Committees); please contact them if you are interested
in serving in this important ministry.
Limestone Children’s Support for Habitat
for Humanity
On July 13 & 14th, Limestone children and
friends had a
sleepover party at the church.
They made lunches for Habitat for Humanity volunteers, visited the
work site on July 14th and gave the lunches out. In this way,
even our youngest members supported our church’s work with Habitat
for Humanity, and had a fun time at church with their friends
working on a mission project together.
