Over Bruce’s decade-plus on the Hope Church staff, he filled a number of roles. Bruce moved through support to the kitchen, office, and facilities. The role moved from part-time (in theory) into a full-time role with custodial duties for the past several years. From setting up rooms, to ringing the bell, to making coffee, to the post-meeting instruction, “Just leave it there, I’ll take care of it,” Bruce made life easier for all who used this facility.
With the change to full-time, Bruce’s service has evolved the “custodial” role into what was designated in early 2025 as “Facility Hospitality Manager.” And it is with the “Hospitality” piece that Bruce has made his mark in his service to Hope Church. Bruce was Mr. Hospitality! In day-to-day church life, in interaction with Hope Church events and volunteers, in supporting the many community groups that meet at Hope Church, in engaging with the unhoused neighbors who are present at our facility, Bruce brought the spiritual gift of Hospitality to his role in meaningful ways. In the midst of all the responsibilities that Bruce needed to fulfill, he developed a spirit of hospitality that met all who he engaged with. Bruce also took on the new bus responsibility, not just maintaining the bus (and van), but connecting with riders and informing drivers about who is riding each Sunday.
As we express gratitude to Bruce for all that he has done to support the ministry of Hope Church, it is this value of hospitality that will be a legacy that is carried on as a grace that Hope Church realizes is essential for all who will fulfill this role.
We are grateful to God for Bruce and his enduring service to Hope Church, and bless him with God’s grace for the retirement season of life ahead. Receive the thanks from this congregation for a job well done and know, Bruce, that you are loved by all of us.