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
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