Yesterday, the HCN Worship Choir and Center Band presented their annual fall concerts of gospel music at 9:00 and 10:30 AM. Singers included Renita Amity, Lisa Anderson, Jo Apple, Dorinda Biggs, Joyce Clevenger, Deborah Coppedge, Kristi Dozier, Keli Green, JoAnn Jackson, Tiffany Mathias, Pam McNeese, Janie Mullins, Tammy Tarter, Brenda Waffird, Carrie Wagner, Deborah Walter, Misty Webb, Liz Widmer, Marvin Heath, Ken Koon, Art Kurtz, Deena Wurth, Matt Wurth, Mike Jackson, Dalene Barnett, Julie Foster, Traci Hollandsworth, Denise Hostetler, Kelsey Kile, Sandra Kurtz, Carrie Lounsbury, Anna Plummer, Paul Vann, and Bobby Smith. Band members included Michael Waller, Donny Jackson, David Flint, Graham Scott, Paul Bolling, Eric Arhelger, Jay Barfield, Tom Baughman, and Kevin Terry.
Close to the middle of the first concert, Dr. Sam Green, pastor of worship at HCN, began to feel faint. He sat down on a stool and soon after lost consciousness. Keli, Sam’s wife moved quickly to support him and with the assistance of other capable adults, Sam was carried quickly to the staff office hallway and then transported by ambulance to Centennial Medical Center. The Staff Team visited with Sam this morning in his favorite room at Centennial, the place where he was treated for leukemia in the last twelve months with a bone marrow transplant. He slept well last night and is eating well. He will have a bone marrow biopsy in the morning (Tuesday), to determine that his transplant is going well. He is rehydrating and resting.
When Sam went down yesterday, the church did that amazing thing that it does so well: filled the gaps. Strange as it seems to write even now, the choir never quit singing and the band never quit playing. Tammy Tarter moved to the director’s lectern, the same place she stood in the months of Sam’s absence. When the choir finished the song, people began to spontaneously move to the altars to pray. Communion followed prayer. The offering followed communion. The choir and band then completed the concert. In staff meeting, Carol Waller confessed what we all knew. The service had potential to disintegrate when Sam went out but the Holy Spirit moved everyone to the right places at the right times and Christ was honored. By the time the second service was starting, Tammy and Dorinda Biggs had planned the changes. Tiffany Mathias stepped up and sang one of Keli’s solos, Dorinda sang the other. Tammy led again. The band played again.
There is a wonderful little story in the midst of all the big. When Tammy was leading the choir, there was a moment when she got lost in the shuffling of Sam’s director sheets. So, she did what you should do. She mouthed to the choir that she was lost. Deena Wurth talked back to her from the back row and told her the correct page numbers and she found her place again.
Paul Vann is that handsome guy who sang the solo pieces on three of the songs. He moves some when he sings. He breaks all the rules that say that Nazarenes have no rhythm. When Paul sang on Sunday, he did not back down. I think he put more in. As did Dorinda. As did Tiffany. As did the choir.
If I was a man of few words, I would tell you simply that I watched the church be great on Sunday when she could have fallen apart. I loved her more than I have ever loved her.
Congratulations to Anna-Laura Green on her coronation as the 2010 Homecoming Queen of Mt. Juliet High School on Friday, September 24, 2010. Anna-Laura was one of four young women who were senior class representatives. She was escorted by Eric Owens, Senior Class President. Jessica Long was also a senior class representative of the Homecoming Court, escorted by Ben Griffith. Dalton Stephens escorted the young woman who was the representative to the Homecoming Court from the marching band. Anna-Laura, Eric, Jessica, Ben, and Dalton are all great representatives of HCN youth.
Congratulations to Tammy Jones, Jonna Taylor, and Sarah Paddon who ran in a Women’s Running Half-Marathon on Saturday, September 25, 2010. It was Tammy’s first. Deena Wurth ran the Women’s Running 5k. This was Deena’s first 5k. She has already signed up to run a half-marathon.
Congratulations to Lawana Nelson on her safe return from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Her family picked her up at the Nashville Airport on Sunday morning. Welcome home, Lawana. We are proud of you. We have missed you.
Art Kurtz sent me an email this afternoon that I want to share with you. I hope Art does not mind. He is truly a man of few words. His sister, Rebecca, passed away this morning. “She was 97 and had been ill for some time. As in so many cases, it is a blessing that she finally got to see her Savior. Out of eight children, I am the youngest at 80. I have seen the passing of my mother, father, three brothers and three sisters. I have one sister left and she is 87. In the early years, there are many rewards for being the youngest. It is really hard to see them all pass away. I am headed to Indiana tomorrow to spend a few days with the family. I appreciate your prayers.”
I hope you are well. If you are going away during the Wilson County School break, I pray you are safe and come home rested. If you stay in-town, I hope to see you at worship.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard
Posts
