While gathered for the 25th Sunday after Pentecost for worship service on November 14, members and guests of Newtown United Methodist Church also took time to celebrate a longtime staff member.

Pastor Lori Miller welcomed those attending in person and via livestream Sunday morning, saying she and others were “delighted to have such a crowd here this morning, largely in celebration of our deacon and music director, Reverend Sue Klein’s special birthday.” The comment drew a round of applause from those in the pews.

Klein celebrated her 90th birthday two days earlier, on November 12.

The November 14 service included some of her favorite hymns and a birthday tribute to the longstanding staff member.

Following Miller’s welcome and greeting, NUMC member Karan Goodhue led the in-service birthday celebration, noting “we all know and love Sue Klein. We know that she has lived a very full, and varied, and incredible life.”

Klein, Goodhue also said, “is a tireless, patient director” of NUMC’s choir, has performed at many NUMC member weddings and funerals, and “always puts everyone else first.”

To thank Klein for all of that, and so much more — “because how do you honor that? How do you tell Sue how much she means to us?” Goodhue said — it was announced Sunday morning that NUMC has launched The Reverend Sue Klein Honorarium. Funds donated to that account, Goodhue said, will be put toward “whatever Sue deems necessary.”

The church’s Memorials Committee will work with Klein, deciding where the money will go and what to do with it, “not just today but all year,” Goodhue also said.

Goodhue then told Klein that she and other church members “love you, and we appreciate you, and we don’t know how we would be here without your leadership and guidance.”

Stepping then to the front of the sanctuary, Goodhue joined the congregation and guests in serenading Klein with a round of “Happy Birthday.”

Friends and family continued the celebration following worship service over a luncheon — including birthday cake, of course — in the church hall.

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Associate Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.