Thanks to Dr. Rondy Smith for preaching in both morning worship services on Sunday, January 18, 2009, at HCN. Although Rondy preached in a Kenyan church last summer and in a Trevecca Nazarene University Chapel last month, she had not preached in her local church since her ordination last July, 2008. Rondy is a master teacher with a bright mind and strong communication gifts. Thanks to Pastor Ken Jewett for teaching the Early Christian Sunday School Class at 8:00 AM last Sunday morning. He also taught the Emerge Class (College/University Students) at 9:00 AM. Thanks to Bryce and Beth Fox, Dorinda Biggs, and Paul Vann for leading congregational worship on Sunday and to Dorinda for directing the choir. Bill Stricklin reported for the congregation this morning via email. He told me who taught his Sunday School Class; who he met fixing the door so he could come in; who were the celebrities he had seen on television last week; who directed the choir; who sang the special; who directed the congregational singing; who preached and the scripture from which she preached. Then he told me what a gift from God she is. What a gift Bill is.
Pastor Shane Tarter led the Building One Senior High troop on their winter retreat to Gatlinburg last weekend, January 16-19, 2009. Retreaters included Allyssa Maphet, Jessica Dozier, Christi Fite, Amanda Steelman, Madeleine Moser, Whitney Gonyea, Anna-Laura Green, Cassie Hunt, Emily Wilson, Matt Follis, Andrew Kawczynski, Dalton Winfree, Taylor Steinmetz, Hunter Steinmetz, Brian Brinkman, Taylor Wallace, Christian Roberts, Cali Crosslin, Alex Hamer, Lauren Lavery, Matt Sedgwick, Graham Scott, Daniel Jones, Kyle Smith, Jeff Blankenship, Palmer Maphet, Matt Bastin, Ben Mabry, and Dylan Merritt. Chaperones and chauffeurs included Brady Plummer, Holly Steinmetz, Sandra Hunt, Bobby Smith, Kristi Dozier, and YP Shane.
Four years ago, on January 21, 2005, I ate lunch in the President’s Dining Room at Trevecca Nazarene University. The purpose of the meeting was the introduction of pastors and pastoral interns for the semester. Caleb Henry was the intern assigned to Hermitage Church. He was skinny and introverted and drove a truck that looked like it was on its last leg. Caleb was a Nazarene preacher’s kid just returned to school from a semester off while he worked in a factory to earn money for his education. He carried a full load of hours at Trevecca, worked 2:00 AM shifts loading trucks at UPS, and attend-ed every Sunday and Wednesday service scheduled at the church. Many of you will remember Caleb from leading responsive readings and The Lord’s Prayer in first service or filling in for me in teaching a class. I remember him because he was a rare young man responsible for himself early in life with no complaints. Not one whine. Caleb is now a senior at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Last September, Caleb asked his high school girlfriend to marry him and after she said yes, he asked if I would come to Lexington to do the honors. Last Saturday afternoon, Anna and I were two of ninety guests in a historic Presbyterian Church in Paris, Kentucky, witnessing the uniting of Caleb Henry and Ashley McCorkle in marriage. When we came to the conclusion of the very high church service and the groom and bride were pronounced husband and wife, I gave Caleb permission to kiss Ashley. It was the first time they have ever kissed on the mouth. In a world that lives with few values and morals, it was a good moment for everyone present. Some people walk to the beat of a different drum, but rarely so carefully. I am glad I went to lunch four years ago.
But I am not through with the story. The musician for the wedding and reception was Kendall Turnbough, a former student of Dr. Sam Green at Trevecca. Kendall was Caleb’s freshman roommate at Trevecca. He sat with us in the wedding socials and talked about HCN. He was in the spring choir which visited from Trevecca the year we hired Sam in the fall. Jared Henry served as a groomsman for his younger brother. Jared is the pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Greensburg, Kentucky. It is a congregation organized in 1985 with Mark and Jan Greathouse as charter members. Mark and Jan are now members of HCN. He sends his greetings to them.
There were other connections and blessings in the weekend. Gary, Laura, Garrison, Rachel, and Sam Hughes are members of HCN who now live in Lexington, Kentucky, due to Gary’s work. When the Hughes joined HCN in February 2003, we were already bonded. Sam is now four years old but one of Anna’s babies from his nursery days. Not only did the Hughes host us in their home but Gary sent and handed me details of every road we would need to travel for the wedding and rehearsal and reception. When we got lost one evening, he drove to where we were to make sure we arrived safely. He cooked crepes to order for breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning and checked on us when we drove home on Sunday in a snow storm. In the times, we were not with Caleb and Ashley, Kendall and Jared, we enjoyed the wonderful company of the Hughes family.
There is a small world phenomenon which proposes that everyone is connected by six degrees of separation. I actually think in Nazarene circles, it may be more like four degrees of separation. I am thinking about how thankful I am that the church has connected me to a wonderful world of people I would never know without her. My life is better because I know you.
I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard
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