August 10, 2009

Sue Smith moved to Nashville, Tennessee, from Bellville, Georgia, in 2004, at the age of eighty-two. She sold her house; sold her car; gave up driving; transferred her church membership to HCN; and moved into Trevecca Towers. That was quite a shift for a girl who had lived her entire life in south Georgia. Last December, she accepted an invitation from a good friend at the Towers to play table games with herself, her boyfriend, and her boyfriend’s brother who was visiting from Indiana. It was love at first sight. The brother thought Sue had a halo and she was so smitten she was embarrassed to turn her head and look at him. When he left two days later, she cried. On Saturday, August 8, 2009, I presided over the marriage of Sue Rogers Smith to Darvin Allen Dobbins in The Center Lobby of HCN at 4:00 PM. Sue and Darvin are both eighty-seven years old. Her eighty year old sister, Ann Crapo, was her bridesmaid. Her two year old great-granddaughter, Kennedy Plummer, was her flower girl. Her eldest son, Stewart Smith, gave her away on behalf of himself and his sister, Anna Plummer, and his brother, Bobby Smith. Sue and Darvin are on an extended honeymoon to Indiana and Wisconsin to visit with family and to fish. Darvin has put his house up for sale and the new couple will officially reside at the Towers. Life can take a good turn when you step out on faith and take a risk; no matter how old you are. Congratulations to Darvin and Sue Dobbins.

Jill, Gabby, and Nick Satterlee are moving to Toms River, New Jersey, in several weeks. Jill’s family lives there and it seems a good time to be near them. We will miss the Satterlees for layered reasons. Jill currently serves as the church’s head housekeeper and chef. She caters most parties and receptions around HCN. She has one speed and that is full throttle. Gabby and Nick are friends and teammates to most of our children. All three are loved greatly. Take a moment and give them a squeeze over the next Sundays. They will be gone before you can blink.

Will Miranne is currently appearing as Lefou in the Nashville Dinner Theater’s “Beauty and the Beast.” HCN folks who attended a production on Sunday afternoon came home raving. I quote: “the boy can sing.” Will begins his junior year at DCA this week. The playbill includes a brief bio of Will. He recognizes HCN and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for guiding him through life.

Kurt Kile leaves for Virginia on Tuesday morning for specialized training and then on to a naval assignment on the USS George Washington stationed in Japan at the end of September. We prayed with Kurt and his family around open altars in second service on Sunday. Be safe.

Thanks to the Early Christian Sunday School Class for cooking the beans, potatoes, and bread for Sunday’s Poverty Dinner in The Center. Thanks for setting up and serving and cleaning up afterwards. $2,214 was given to the fund which feeds starving people in Kali, Kenya, and needy people in the HCN community.

I asked Senior High Pastor, Shane Tarter, if I could be a part of his Sunday Night Gatherings for a month and he let me. I witnessed a generation shift when the band and praise team took the stage. It was led by Ben Mabry, Dalton Winfree, Scott Primm, Anna-Laura Green, Cali Crosslin, and Hunter Steinmetz. Andrew Jones and Sophie Green ran the lights and screen. Dorinda Biggs led the vocals and Hayley Hill played keyboard. When we broke into small groups for prayer, I joined Toby Haydel, Jonathan Tigabu, Josh Cater, Daniel Jones, Hunter Steinmetz, and Brian Brinkman. Everybody shared prayer needs and then we prayed. I asked for three or four to pray. I wish I had asked everyone. They knew how to pray. Brian wrote me on Facebook this afternoon to ask about my prayer request. What a privilege to know these young people.

Tim Garrett works for the Visteon Nashville Glass Plant, an enterprise of Ford Motor Company. He handed me his personal card yesterday and said there are jobs available if someone does not mind working in manufacturing. Call the church office if you would like Tim’s number.

Several months ago, I introduced people in second service to a young family who found the church through the Mother’s Day Out program. The young man was facing a court appearance that week with the probability of going to prison. He had walked a lonely path to open altars that morning. Jamie is now incarcerated with a sentence of ten years, possibility of parole in 4 ½ years. Some of you have asked for his address to write and encourage him.

Jamie Stanfill (2A-410)

117 West Smith Street

Gallatin, TN 37066

If I have not told you lately, I love you and I am grateful that I get to be your pastor.

In Christ Jesus,

Pastor Howard