Welcome to the twenty-one new members who joined the church on Sunday, February 1, 2009, at the close of the 9:00 and 10:15 AM services: Randall and Janis Barrett, Dean and Melody Beach, John and Josie Boyter, Charles and Lucy Cline, Barbara Douthit, Joel Jones, Philip and Natalie Lutz, Rodney Neighbors, Donald and Gail Rollins, Evan and Cindy Spann, Webb and Maile Trojan, Paul and Patty West. They were born in Texas, Alabama, California, Wisconsin, and Tennessee. Their church backgrounds are Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Lutheran, Church of Christ, and Nazarene. The most important thing to know about them is they all confess Christ as their Savior and the Bible as the authoritative word of God. I met with them on Tuesday evening and Saturday morning and enjoyed the time. The bulk of the Saturday morning crew stayed an extra hour to ask questions. One person has attended the church for five years. One couple has attended the church for less than two months. I have known Rodney Neighbors since he was in junior high school. I met some of the people for the first time on Saturday. I look forward to the days ahead as we share our gifts, talents, abilities and discover what this local body of Christ looks like with a new class.
Welcome home to Sam and Keli Green who have invested the last two weeks of their lives in the Caribbean Nazarene College in Trinidad. It was nice to hear their voices in church yesterday.
Congratulations to Holly Baughman, who won 1st place in her 4-H Fourth Grade Class at Andrew Jackson Elementary. The win qualified Holly to go to the Davidson County 4-H Finals on January 31, 2009, where she won second place. Her speech was on the three branches of government.
Congratulations to Brandon Shepard on his selection as the Mt. Juliet Athlete of the Week last week. As a ninth grade student, Brandon plays on the Varsity Men’s Basket-ball Team at Mt. Juliet High School.
Congratulations to Palmer Maphet and Graham Scott who were elected two of four members of the 2009 Senior Class Coming Home Court at Mt. Juliet High School. The coronation of the king happened last Friday night. Their best friend was crowned.
Congratulations to Daniel Smith, Duke University fan extraordinaire, who jumped with the Crazzies at Cameron Indoor last Sunday afternoon. Duke’s men’s basketball program is ranked first in the nation. They beat Virginia.
You may not have had a dog in the hunt, however, the Super Bowl did have an exciting ending. Wonderful as Kurt Warner may be, Ben Roethlisberger threw the last touchdown and won. My favorite moment came as the first half expired. Steeler James Harrison returned an interception for a record 100 yards. He had to lay on the ground for several minutes before he could breathe again and then take oxygen when he returned to the bench. I can relate from the last time I tried to run.
Dr. Bob and Carol Broadbooks worshipped with us in second service yesterday. Bob is our former district superintendent, now director of the USA/Canada Mission for the denomination. Although their new home is in Kansas City, their hearts are in Tennessee with their grandson, Maxwell Mullins, and a new grandson about six weeks from delivery. Bob spoke appreciation for the service and confessed that he remains the worst member of Hermitage Church. He is absent most Sundays doing the work of the Lord in some other location.
Pneumonia weather has arrived in Tennessee. Last week’s weather included snow and ice which closed schools and mid-week church and then rebounded with balmy sunny days. I gripe but I like the variety.
Thanks to the choir for doing an encore of “God Is In This Place” at the close of second service. It was the perfect song. I hope you continue to hear the words of Jesus from Mark 1 speaking “be quiet, be gone” to any thing, any circumstance, any disease which may have consumed your personality lately. You are much more than that. Remember that our God is creative and caring, reconciling and redemptive. The powers of evil are crippling, alienating, distorting, destructive. Measure, discern the powers at work in your life and make sure the voice speaking is the voice of God.
I consider myself fortunate to know you and serve with you.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard
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