Middle School Students and their parents sponsored a Breakfast for Dinner fundraiser last night with a simple request for donations. All monies support the Winter Retreat this weekend. Alexandra Whitehead served as head chef, assisted by Darlene Miranne, Carolyn Washing, Mark Washing, Amy Ruff, Marla Houser, and Sarah Paddon. I can personally testify that the delicious bacon was a topic of conversation in staff meeting. Thanks for supporting this good cause.
Children’s Ministries sponsored a Daddy/Daughter Date Night last Friday for girls from infancy through grade four. The Lobby of The Center was filled with round tables decorated in pink with music and indirect lighting. All of the girls were dressed beautifully. There were thirty-five dads who escorted their daughters. I like to think it was a marker in our culture for what we value.
Senator Mae Beavers had the Tennessee Senate to issue a proclamation of congratulations to the Church of the Nazarene on her 100th Anniversary on October 29, 2008. Mae has recently sent copies of the proclamation to every Nazarene Church in her district, including Hermitage. The letter and folder are regal and are posted in the glass bulletin board in The Center with a personal letter to us from Mae. Take a few minutes to read and to admire. Thanks to Senator Beavers.
Dr. Bryce Fox invited me to speak this afternoon to his Christian Education Class at Trevecca on the topic of administrating the local church. Bryce said he considered it one of my gifts. I found that comment generous and amusing because the truth is administra-tion is an acquired skill for me. Talented, gifted laymen in churches I have pastored have taught me how to administrate. I did not learn it in a class. I learned it in church council meetings and board meetings. The class was gracious and attentive. The students want to come and visit. Watch for new, young faces.
Bill Stricklin is a retired lawyer from west Tennessee who walks around loving on a lot of us on Sunday morning. His granddaughter, Reese, was in church with him on Sunday and for the first time, dared to go to Kid’s Church by herself. Bill wrote these things to me via email this morning. “I asked her what they did and her reply was, ‘Oh, we sang lots of good songs and had a Bible lesson.’ I asked what the songs were---her reply ‘I didn’t know them but they were good and there was one about ‘Power in the Blood.’’ I sang a bit of the old hymn. She said that was not it, that theirs was better. I have no doubt it was. When quizzed about the Bible lesson she said it was about Daniel. I asked if he was in a lion’s den. She said ‘no.’ Was he in a fiery furnace? ‘No.’ It was about a ‘hand’ not an arm or anything else ‘just a hand writing on the wall.’ What did it write? Her reply, ‘it is just too long to tell.’ Sounds like someone is doing their job. What a good church.” I asked Carol Waller and she said Reese was spot-on.
I have learned recently that our prayers take one of four forms: talking at God, talking to God, listening to God, being with God. If God reported on me, he would say I do the first two more often than the last two. I think the list relates to almost all of our com-munication. Could I take a few paragraphs to talk at you about serious turns just ahead of us?
We observe the sacrament of baptism this Sunday, February 22, 2009, in a 6:00 PM gathering in the sanctuary. The candidate list to date includes children, teens, and adults. Hermitage Church considers baptism as a time to announce the choice of faith, marked by water, identifying with Jesus. If you are a believer and have never been baptized, the time is now. Call the church office at 847-3335 so that we might prepare for you.
The Wednesday, February 25, 2009, Ash Wednesday Service meets in the sanctuary at 6:30 PM. Nurseries and pre-school classes will meet as usual but from elementary children through adults, we will meet as one. Ash Wednesday is the first day in the season of Lent. Count from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday and subtract all the Sundays as Sabbath rests, and you have forty days. The service will include thoughtful, reflective worship; marking ourselves with the sign of the cross with ashes from last Palm Sunday’s palm branches; beginning a journey of self-denial of something significant in our lives (giving up liver and brussel sprouts does not count). This is not a Catholic service. This is a Christian service. I want to participate in any service which brings me closer to Christ and helps to identify my life with his life. Be prayerful about what you give up this year.
Sunday, March 1, 2009, is the first Sunday in the season of Lent. Sundays are days of rest from the fast/self-denial. Some people choose to keep a strict fast and that is completely up to you. I like the rest because it makes me happier that it is Sunday and I already like Sundays. It makes you especially joyful when Easter Sunday comes and the fast is over. Easter Sunday is April 12, 2009.
Consider each of these events as opportunities to listen to and to be with God.
I look forward to worship with you this Sunday.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard
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