Getting to know...
If Naida Johnson had a penny for every crayon she has set out or put away for our Church kids, she would be a multimillionaire! Instead, she has enriched this congregation far beyond just dollars.
Joining The Community Church of Sebastopol in
1959, this young mother brought her three children to the old church in downtown
Sebastopol. She began teaching Sunday School in one of the attic rooms there in
1960 and has been involved with our youngsters ever since. 
When the transition to this campus was on the horizon, Naida became building fund treasurer. The present Fellowship Hall and Christian Education buildings we use now were both built for $75,000, most of which Naida helped receipt. The north end of Fellowship Hall had a stage where Naida continued teaching Sunday School – behind the curtain. Working with mostly third and fourth grade children, she led classes for an amazing 28 years, assisted by her telephone company colleague and friend, Diana Iverson.
Both Naida and Diana continue with their involvement with our youth. Naida provides art and craft leadership and support for Marianne Post each Sunday and Diane takes attendance, the Sunday School collection and trains our acolytes. This faithful duo unlocks and locks the classrooms each Sunday and offers their help as needed in between. You will see Diana each Sunday greeting visitors at the Visitor’s Table prior worship and then she heads over to the Sunday School classrooms to help with the youngsters.
Through the years Naida has had various titles. She is currently on the Board of Christian Education. No title can describe the love and devotion and labor she has given. Diana has faithfully
served at the Visitor’s Table each Sunday for years and is currently the co-president of the Women’s Fellowship.
In 1963 Naida followed her daughter into choir and has sung alto with the Chancel Choir ever since. Each Sunday Naida comes to church early, gets craft supplies out, dons her robe, sings through the anthem and then leaves to assist the Children’s Ministry program.
All of these activities Naida has shoehorned around raising three children (including Diane Krautner), helping with eleven grandchildren and putting in 45 years with the phone company! Naida started with the phone company in Guerneville in 1946 when it was necessary to hand ring each party line all from a magneto switchboard. After transferring to Santa Rosa, she continued working, now on the night shift to facilitate family life. At her retirement in 1991, Naida was handling international long distance calls at a completely computerized station.
An entire generation has benefited from Naida and Diane and their quiet, faithful service.
Elyse Mengle,
Moderator
