Storyline Fall 2018

students!
At Easter … well, Easter … This is Tamara’s favourite
time of all to use her artistic gifts for God’s glory.
Each year, the front of the Auditorium is resplendent
with extravagant yet elegant floral installations that
contribute to both the solemnity of Good Friday and
the bursting joy of Easter morning! And throughout
the year, she designs and creates floral bouquets
and displays for special events: private and corporate
parties, personal celebrations, funerals, on-site
outdoor arrangements, and, of course, weddings.
The work comes by word of mouth and she is
comfortable with whatever God sends her way. Her
faith is woven throughout every aspect of her life and
her business interactions. From intentionally showing
patience and grace to suppliers (not common in this
stress-filled industry) to giving her whole attention
and care to each detail envisioned by her clients,
Tamara is ever aware of His presence. Throughout
it all, she is consciously building relationships with
her clients. She works alone and treasures that
time to pray for them. As she expertly sorts and
lovingly arranges the bouquets that will make
their day special, she prays for the brides, that the
marriage will be blessed far beyond
the wedding day. Creating the
beautiful arrangements for Easter is
an especially spiritual experience of
worship for Tamara. She is humbled
and grateful to be able to serve in this way.
That she is paid to do what she loves is a blessing
that Tamara treasures. In her words, “I have a Godgiven
ability which I can market that provides me
a means to an end. The ‘end,’ in my case, is that it
gives me the opportunity to independently support
people or causes that God lays on my heart at the
time. I’m able to share financially, whether by giving
to a missions trip, paying toward someone’s financial
need, or providing product or services to support
other fundraising causes. When needed, I’ve provided
flowers to brides at my cost when finances are tight
for them. I hesitate to talk about this because it’s
something I am blessed with being able to do but
choose to keep between God and me … All in all, what
I do has brought great joy, challenge, and the feeling of
accomplishment. When God created, He sat back and
saw that it was good. I get the chance to do this, too,
each time I have the opportunity to create something
beautiful!” Written by Jill Hopkins
Matthew 6:28-30
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers
of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that
not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of
these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which
is here today and tomorrow, is thrown into the fire, will he not
much more clothe you—you of little faith?”
Song of Songs 2:12
“Flowers appear on the earth; the
season of singing has come, the
cooing of doves is heard in our
land. “