February 14, 2011

Congratulations to Kim Vann who was chosen as Teacher of the Year at Castle Heights in the Lebanon City Schools for the 2010-2011 school year. Kim teaches a self-contained comprehen-sive development class. It is her twelfth year of teaching special education. Kim loves her job and feels lucky to have a career where her students lead by example, encouraging her to do more with her own God-given abilities.

The Discovery and Twenty-Something Sunday School Classes combined their energy and efforts on Saturday, February 12, 2011, and hosted ten men from Room-in-the-Inn at HCN. Hosts included Gary and Mary Lou Heskje, Craig Pell, Jessie and Avie Joyce, Marilyn Jordan, Cassidy Nelson, Dena Muri, Rodney and Tammy Jones, Joel Jones, Teddy Joyce, Jonathan Paddon, Bill Jackson, Lisa Anderson, Paul and Pam Stonecipher, and Wayne McNeese. Their various tasks included providing transportation, serving a hot supper and breakfast, packing lunches to go, offering a place to shower and wash clothes, chaperoning overnight sleeping, being together in mutual respect as fellow human beings. All of these things are commended by Jesus as the very things we do to him when we do them for the most powerless. A special letter was sent to the church this week from Room-in-the-Inn thanking the congregation for providing food and shelter to the homeless during recent severe winter weather. It is our pleasure.

Dr. Greg and Amy Crofford visited at HCN last Sunday where Greg spoke in all three worship services. Greg and Amy serve as career missionaries through the Church of the Nazarene in the Africa East Region. Although they live in Nairobi, Kenya, they do not serve the Kenyan region as Kenya is entirely self-supporting with five distinct districts. Greg serves primarily as an educator and Amy serves as an administrator and writer. They serve in nine French-speaking countries in Africa. I am always nervous when someone I do not know comes to HCN to speak. I sat in first service on Sunday and submitted myself to the Holy Spirit. I asked that he speak through Greg and that he would calm my heart. I have received an email this morning from a mature man telling me how God dealt with his heart yesterday in services. I continue to learn that God is always at work doing something very good sometimes without my assistance.

The Church Board met for its regular monthly meeting on Sunday, February 13, 2011, at 4:30 PM to receive finance reports and to handle the following business items: 1) Third service will continue through May 1, 2011. More evaluation will come as college students go home for the summer. 2) Effective March 6, 2011 (the first Sunday of March), second service start time will move from 10:00 AM back to 10:15 AM. The change extends the close time for the Sunday School session. 3) Local ministerial licenses were renewed for Tes Tigabu, Daniel Smith, Jake Resor, Shane Tarter, and Webb Trojan. 4) Local ministerial licenses were issued for David Taylor, John Nelson, Jared Bouton.

When schools were released early last Wednesday, February 9, 2011, and reports on the internet Doppler said a snow storm was impending for the greater Nashville area, we struggled to know what to do regarding the cancellation of our services. It had not snowed yet. It was just very, very cold. Jill Satterlee had already prepped for the Wednesday night meal and it was on hold in the refrigerators. Teens came home from school and began to post pleas NOT to cancel church. Please, please, please, they said. Well, finally, we knew services had to be cancelled for safety reasons and when the snow came like a blizzard, it proved to be a wise decision. Most every family has a story of how long it took someone to get home last Wednesday. The point remains that lots of young people were sad. They wanted to be with their friends. That matters to me. Carrie Knox called me last week to say thanks for bragging on the Senior High Students during the message. She told me as a senior adult widow, she comes to church every week largely to watch those kids in worship. She believes in them. So, sorry that we had to cancel services last Wednesday. I hope it always makes you sad.

The Second Grade Sunday School Class made valentines on Sunday and I found a whole packet of them on my desk after the third service. I now have documented proof that I rock and that I am a BFF (best friend forever). Thank you. I needed that.

Sam Green missed attending Sunday worship for the first time in three weeks. However, it was for a very good reason. Sam was receiving platelets every other day until his doctors told him last Wednesday that he could wait for four days. The day for new platelets was Sunday. I asked Sam several weeks ago when he was going to sing the song he missed singing in last September’s fall concert. He told me he plans to sing it this Sunday, February 20, 2011. I hope I get to listen.

In Christ Jesus,

Pastor Howard

February 7, 2011

Welcome to the newest members of Hermitage Church of the Nazarene: Matthew Bastin, Jessica Long, Toby Haydel, Esther Owens, Matthew Owens, Stephanie Owens, Ed Joyce, Stacey Joyce, Jessie Joyce, Avie Joyce, Teddy Joyce, John Nelson, Cassidy Nelson, Jared Bouton, Sarah Jo Bouton, Hannah Garrett, and Olivia Garrett. The total of seventeen were received through-out the morning at the close of three services. They are natives of California, Florida, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Tennessee. Their ecclesial backgrounds are Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, Non-denominational, and Nazarene. Ten of the seventeen join by profession of faith. Four of the new members profess a call to ministry. Each member brings the gifts and graces of their spiritual life to the body of Christ at HCN. We celebrate our union.

Madi McNeese participated in a Dance Competition last weekend in Memphis and won first place in two events in the Petite Division. Congratulations, Madi.

Sam Green attended second service on Sunday, February 6, 2011. That is two Sundays in a row the boy was strong enough not only to be present but to smile and to participate. I am having conversations with Sam about when he might sing the song he prepared for the Fall Concert. It remains his to testify.

Some months ago, several men who are relatively new to the church told me how glad they are that HCN has groups for men. Men’s Fraternity is one of the groups, meeting on Sundays at 5:30 PM in Room 225. This week, on February 13, 2011, the group begins nine sessions focusing on Your Unique Design. The program identifies natural strengths and types of environments in which a man thrives. There is a $35 online inventory that will require two hours of time. The men who have already taken the inventory report that it was worth the effort even before processing the nine weeks of class.

When the Mission Africa Team traveled to Kenya in June of last year, we met twenty-six orphan girls who occupied the Suvia Children’s Home. One of the girls was Wanza Mutheu. Wanza confessed that she wanted to become a nurse and so my wife, Anna, took her under her wing and taught her how to dress sores and rashes on the other orphans. She was a pro. When we were asked to sponsor a particular girl, our decision was easy. We chose Wanza. There are multiple photos of and letters from Wanza on our refrigerator. Anna intended for her to come and visit in our home when she was old enough. Last Tuesday, February 1, 2011, I received an email from Ben Kikuvi, a beloved member of the World Servants Team in Kenya informing us of Wanza’s untimely death. Today, a phone call came from Rhoda Kisua, wife of Pastor Nicholas Kisua, telling us that Wanza died from a virus that had traveled to her brain. It is hard to comprehend how a bright, healthy young adolescent woman can slip so quickly from the earth to heaven. Her funeral is tomorrow (February 8). Twenty-five orphan girls will attend. I can see them and hear them. I bet they are singing.

Gail Foster asked me on Sunday to give more details about the six pieces of clothes challenge for Lent. I want to remind you that this is only one option to consider. It is one idea. I understand that not everyone finds this challenging or possible. My wife is one, however, I find it interesting that she is trying to tell me what colors to choose for my six pieces.

Six Items or Less…this is a challenge to select six pieces of outer clothing to wear over a specific period of time to teach principles of simplicity, a life with less.

The time frame begins on Ash Wednesday, March 9, 2011, and concludes on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011.

The rules are to select six pieces of top clothing (pants, shirts, etc.), and only six pieces which you will wear during this time frame. The exceptions to the six pieces are undergarments, shoes, socks, accessories, workout clothes, pajamas, outerwear, and work uniforms.

The idea is not original. It was tried first last year in an international experiment. People assumed that everyone would notice, and they didn’t. Not people at work, not even family members who did the laundry. We may think our clothes define us, but there really is so much more to who we are. College students in our congregation have attempted some variation of the experiment since October and they are trying it for one year.

It only has spiritual value if you want it to have spiritual value. It has the potential to be a rules game or to give you something to be falsely humble about; however, it also has the potential to break into habits of excess. One of the pieces of following Jesus is to “deny yourself.” This experiment could be a foot in the door.

It is snowing again.

In Christ Jesus,

Pastor Howard