The Sixth Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church congregation thought they were celebrating the 10th anniversary of their pastor, Rev. Dr. Eugene M. Downing Jr. However, Rev. Downing had a surprise for them.

SURPRISE—Reverend Eugene Downing Jr. and Nichelle Downing.

On April 25, at the conclusion of the 10:45 a.m. service, Rev. Downing said since his family was there and his fiancée’s family were in the church for the anniversary celebration, “why don’t we get married?”

Women’s luncheon

MAY 21—Shabach Women’s Department will host their 4th Annual Women’s Luncheon at 12 p.m. at Hosanna House, 807 Wallace Ave., Wilkinsburg. The special guest will be Elder I. Elaine Mosley. There is a $10 donation. For more information, call Melonye Barham at 412-853-1775.

On Mother’s Day, May 9, members of Church Women United and Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church, located at 1000 Bryn Mawr Rd., presented the Valiant Woman Award to Mary Jane Mitchell Page.

VALIANT WOMAN—Ernestine Casson, president of Church Women United, and Valiant Women Award recipient, Mary Jane Mitchell Page.

The award is given to the woman with outstanding service for Church Women United and her local community for an extended period of time. Page, a devoted Christian and native of Swissvale, is a graduate of Duffs Iron City Business College. After college she worked as a switchboard operator and a secretary in the editorial department of the Pittsburgh Courier.

Isn’t it funny how life changes? What was important 10 or 20 years ago doesn’t mean a thing today.

During a recent conversation with a group of peers we talked about how our lives have changed. Many reflected on their days in college and what mattered to them then and what is important now. The whole conversation made me think of the many mantras that we live by and how these mantras have been made into art for our homes and offices.

You know the wall words and positive affirmations. I have placed several of them in my home and in my cube at work. Some of them remind me not to take life so seriously and others just give you the strength to get through another day.