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From
The Pastors Corner |
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July 27, 2006 Dear Editor: It has been reported recently that the Darien Police Department has made an arrest of the one they believe is responsible for the tainted grape juice incident that occurred during our Communion Worship Service on February 5, 2006. We believe that the police department is to be commended for doing a fine job of investigating this matter. The detective bureau interviewed everyone in our congregation that was present on that Sunday morning and their statements were written up. When it became clear that the crime was not committed by anyone in our congregation and another incident was reported to them by a Darien resident, the focus of the investigation turned to CVS and its employees. I believe that the employees were all interviewed and this may have been what led to the arrest of Mr. Wendell Woodroffe. I want to make it clear that we do not harbor any anger or bitterness toward Mr. Woodroffe if indeed he is the one responsible for the grape juice incident. We are a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ, whose sins have been forgiven because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. He says: “Let him that is without sin, cast the first stone.” Many of us have done things that are worthy of punishment but we have been forgiven and are therefore able to also offer forgiveness. We realize that when one has committed a crime there is a debt to be paid to society that is a part of the consequences of our actions. Some of us have been required to pay that debt in the past and we appreciate when justice is modified by mercy. If Mr. Woodroffe were convicted of this crime we would hope that the courts would show mercy since I understand that this is his first offense. Perhaps he could be given accelerated rehabilitation and given probation with community service. We would not want to see the life of this young man ruined because of a foolish act. We would hope that he would also seek God’s forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ and find the freedom that we have found. Sincerely, Anthony L. Gibson Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church Published in "The Darien Times" on July 27, 2006 |