Congratulations to Jerrod Russell Waffird and Emily Christian Scholes who were joined in marriage on Saturday, March 6, 2010, at 5:00 PM in the Sanctuary of HCN. The place was packed and beautiful. Chuck Seay, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Sheffield, Alabama, presided at the ceremony. Jerrod is the son of Rusty and Brenda Waffird and the grandson of Dot Waffird. Flowers from the wedding decorated the communion tables in the Sanctuary and the Center for Sunday morning worship.
Will Miranne competed in a drama competition with his DCA troupe in Lexington, KY, last weekend. The competition included twenty schools, public and private, from ten states. Although DCA did not win the competition, Will was selected as a member of the All-Star Cast. I had the privilege to watch Will in a presentation of “Flowers for Algernon” last Wednesday morning which the team presented for the DCA Student Body. Will was stellar. He has an amazing gift. Watch for an article in The Tennessean featuring DCA Drama.
Congratulations to Dr. Rondy Smith who was appointed the new chair of the Women’s Clergy Council for the Church of the Nazarene for the next four years. Rondy is in Kansas City at the start of this week getting the council organized.
Congratulations to Gary Van Atta, Coach of the Lady Trojan Basketball Team at Trevecca Nazarene University who reached the milestone last week of a 400 victory career in coaching women’s basketball. The Lady Trojans are currently ranked 19th nationally in the NAIA and await their seeding in the national tournament. Tuesday, March 9, 2010, is Gary’s birthday.
Patrick Marlowe is a member of HCN and a resident of a federal prison in Louisiana.
Patrick is a young adult man, the same age of my son, and a friend of my son. Three to four years ago, Patrick was given a life sentence in a federal courtroom. Since then, his appeal to the Supreme Court was denied and recently an appeal to the same federal court which convicted him was denied. Last week, I sat with Patrick’s dad in a lawyer’s office to hear the next options for appeal. Patrick has personally asked that the church pray for him; for his sanity; for hope to be restored. His dad and mom and son are scheduled to visit him this weekend and the conditions at the prison are nearing shut-down, which would prevent the visit. Patrick asked that we pray that his family is able to visit him. Would you join me in prayer for Patrick?
Worship Pastor Sam Green is in the eleventh day of recovery from the bone marrow transplant he received at Centennial Medical Center. The pastoral staff team visited with Sam before lunch today and we had the privilege to hear the doctor tell Sam that he is doing well and on course for recovery.
Daylight Savings Time begins this Sunday, March 14, 2010, at 2:00 AM. Move your clocks forward one hour before retiring to bed on Saturday evening. Your body will recover in a week and you will recover the hour in the fall.
Valerie Marsh is a professional photographer who makes her living taking family and event pictures. Valerie is also a member of HCN. She and her husband, Ronnie, are members of the MissionAfrica’10 Team. When Valerie finished paying her own way to Africa, she began to find ways to help others go. She has met with the three senior high students who are members of MissionAfrica’10 and offered to help them with fundraising. On Saturday, March 27, 2010, Valerie will take picture packages with a real bunny and children from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Packages start at $25. For an appointment, email Valerie at valeriesphoto@comcast.net or call 553-2403. The three MA’10 teens will assist Valerie all day. All profits go to their mission account.
I ended last week’s letter with a paragraph on needing help to complete financial obligations for mission and ministry over the next three months. HCN needs to increase giving by $100,000 over March, April, and May 2010. I know that sounds like a great deal of money unless you realize how many there are of us to help meet that need. The solution is that we need more people to involve themselves in providing the financial needs of the church. We are not a church of fat cats who bankroll the church while the rest of us stroll. We are a community church who believes in a transformed life in Jesus Christ experienced in a community of believers who love and care for each other, the community, and the world. We believe that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and that he meets the needs of his work through the hands of the people who tend those cattle.
Would you begin to pray about how God would help you to contribute to this need? I acknowledge that some among us are struggling to keep their financial heads above water because they are out of work or live with reduced work hours. I also know those are frequently the people who are finding ways to give. Sometimes it is the most capable among us who have the most trouble giving. Our money is so consumed meeting our own wants and needs that it seems nothing is left over for God. Could I encourage us to consider the year of mercy from last week’s sermon in Luke 13:1-9? Do we need to humble ourselves this year? Do we need to change our giving habits? I continue to process the scripture in my own life. It is changing me. Whatever you are able to do, this is our thing together. I am excited to see how God will meet the need through his people.
I look forward to being with you on Sunday. I get to preach from my favorite parable.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard
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