Mike and Genevieve McGiffert gave much in time and treasure to WUU in their lifetimes.
Charter members of WUU, they were deeply involved in the congregation’s early years, when we had no home of our own. Later, they were very much a part of the planning and completion of our present building.
Mike had many roles in the congregation throughout the years. Board member, choir member, participant in writing the WUU Covenant, are only a few of the many ways he served the congregation. The present WUU library was funded by the McGiffert’s.
Once we moved into our own space, Genevieve initiated a discussion resulting in the building of a raised platform at the front of the sanctuary--now the chancel area. She and Mike provided the first set of gray hymnals, which are still in use. The beautiful grand piano in the Sanctuary was a gift from Genevieve. As our first choir director, and because we had no building, Genevieve held rehearsals in an upstairs room of her own home for six of the seven years she held that position.
For several Christmases, she and Mike opened their home to the entire congregation for what became the annual Yule Sing. Genevieve would play while the whole WUU family, adults and children, joined in the singing.
Both Mike and Genevieve cared deeply about our children’s religious education program. It is fitting that the religious education/social justice area of the new construction be named, at Mike’s request, the “Genevieve McGiffert Wing.”
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