Dear Friends and Supporters!

The year 2005 has already been very eventful for The Norwegian Seamen’s Church on 52nd Street in Manhattan. The Royal visit on February 27, was a highlight occasion hard to beat. It was a great experience with more than 300 people, and we managed to squeeze in a chair for everyone. The feedback from the King and Queen, the Royal Castle, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other participants has been tremendously positive. We want to express our gratitude to the 2005 Norwegian Commemoration Committee in New York and the young event coordinators for a job well done. We are grateful and happy that they felt it natural to host the event here at the Church. This confirms what we have repeated several times during the last year: Sjømannskirken – The Norwegian Church in New York is the cultural, social and spiritual Norwegian center in New York. This is something we also see through our work at the Trygve Lie Gallery, which has given us valuable growth, both in number of visitors and new activities.

Our work comes at a cost, and we have worked hard the last year to secure a financial foundation that makes it possible to be the ”Center for Norwegians in New York”. From a deficit in the beginning of 2004, we have managed to work our way to a necessary surplus at the beginning of 2005. This was possible due to reduced spending and, importantly, because so many of you responded to our appeal letter last year. We received 88 new Supporting members last year! In addition we also had various fundraising events such as the flea market, raffles, Christmas fair and generous corporate donations. Thanks to all our loyal supporters who donate both time and money!

Therefore we turn to you again, with this request for a gift. We hope you will join in by
contributing; whether large or small, each gift counts.

Those who give $50 or more will be registered as Sustaining Members of the New York Seamen’s Church
and will be invited for special gatherings – our way of showing our gratitude!

Your support can be given when visiting the Church, either in cash, by check or with a credit card, or you can mail your check in. In Norway, your gift can be deposited to our Norwegian account, number 6501.05.98367.

Thanks again for taking the time to consider our request and please accept our heartfelt thanks for participating!

Gratefully,
Svein Helge Rødahl, Senior Pastor/Administrator.