08/31/2026
A Thank‑You to a Parish
Indianola Community Church
How do we thank a parish we do not belong to—
a haven of faith whose doors opened wide,
whose kindness crossed every border
as effortlessly as sunlight crosses a morning sky?
How do we thank parishioners we have never met,
yet whose hearts walked beside ours
like quiet lanterns glowing along a shared road—
each carrying their own sorrows,
their own victories,
their own whispered prayers for healing?
You embraced our mission without knowing our names.
You stood with cancer patients from every corner of life—
different stories, different paths,
yet bound by one unchosen thread:
the long, uncertain, sacred cancer journey.
And though we cannot rewrite yesterday,
you reminded us of a truth that never fades—
that sometimes the greatest kindness
comes from those who owe us nothing,
yet choose to care anyway.
Here in Iowa, where we bear the heavy ache
of being second in the nation for cancer rates,
your compassion feels like rain on drought‑stricken soil—
a soft promise that hope can bloom
even where suffering has settled too long.
With humility and deep gratitude,
we thank you for choosing our cause,
for lifting us toward sustainability,
for offering generosity wrapped in love,
for giving our mission a steadier heartbeat.
Your support is a gift we will cherish—
a gentle wind at our backs
as we walk forward for families, for neighbors,
for a community longing for blue skies
and the healing wisdom of nature
to help us find meaning, courage,
and the strength to continue.
May your kindness return to you
in blessings that rise like dawn—
soft, golden,
and unstoppable.
May hope gather around you
the way petals gather around a bloom,
and may our shared compassion
become a bridge of light
for every soul facing cancer’s shadow.
You have given us more than help—
you have given us a reason
to believe in tomorrow again.