Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Jim on: November 25, 2009
Be sure to join us this evening for our annual Thanksgiving Service, at 7.
Something New: Email Subscription
Posted by: Jim on: November 19, 2009
You’ll notice on the navigation bar WordPress’s latest widget- email subscription. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. Now, if you don’t want to bother with RSS and you don’t want to trouble yourself visiting to see if there’s something new, you can just subscribe to notifications and you’ll get an email when there’s an update.
An Essay A Friend Wrote
Posted by: Jim on: November 19, 2009
A Pastor friend of mine writes
I am sure that there are unmet pastoral needs that I don’t know about. Even when I do know about them, they are often beyond my ability to meet unless I am asked to do so. I can’t step into family crises unless asked. When a life change is proving to be a challenge, a health crisis or the loss of a loved one, from the outside, I cannot always figure out when the right time to visit is, or whether a visit is desired.
I have tried reading people’s minds before, but I am not that good at it. I depend on people like a, b, and c who let me know when they think someone who has not asked for a visit secretly hopes for one.
Speaking for myself, I secretly hope that my doctor will start making house calls, like doctors used to do. Furthermore, I want him to call me and make the arrangements, without a request on my part. I don’t want to call him.
But it’s not going to happen.
This is my advice: if you would like a visit, if you would like to share and pray for any reason, do what you would do if you wanted to see your doctor, dentist, or massage therapist (I don’t do massages).
Call the church and ask, “Can I set up an appointment to speak with Pastor? I want to tell him what a blankety-blank he is.” Or: “It’s about time he came over.” Or: “I have some homemade cookies I want to share with him.”
“Yes,” will be the answer, “when would you like that to happen?” “Yes,” will be the answer. Always.
Amen. And Amen. As I told him, frequently if you ‘cold call’, people don’t like it one little bit. So one really is in a fix. Visit uninvited and risk the label of ‘that guy keeps ruining my evening’ and visit too little and you’ll get ‘that lazy so-and-so never comes by my house’. The solution? Just call. Your Pastor will be there.
Do You Have A Daughter or Granddaughter in College?
Posted by: Jim on: November 18, 2009
If you do, encourage them to apply for a WMU Scholarship. You (and they) can find all the details here.
Another Announcement
Posted by: Jim on: November 17, 2009
Sunday Night (the 22nd) we will NOT be having our usual 4th Sunday Meal (since we’re eating Wednesday night).
Thanks!
Posted by: Jim on: November 16, 2009
The response for ‘Adopt A Soldier’ has been so overwhelming that we actually have plenty of everything. If you haven’t supplied anything and you still wish to help, helping with shipping would be very much appreciated. See Whitney if you can. And thanks so very much for such an amazing outpouring of support.
Here’s the young man you’re showing such kindness:
Announcements
Posted by: Jim on: November 15, 2009
Our Community Thanksgiving service is Wednesday the 25th at 7 pm. Make plans now to attend. We all have so much to be Thankful for.
And
The College Sunday School Class will meet at 11:30 Friday (the 27th) at the Oak Ridge IHOP. After lunch, we’ll see a movie. So come along, and bring a friend.
Fund-Raiser for Alex H.
Posted by: Jim on: November 12, 2009
Thursday through Saturday at the Community Center. Stop by and help out if you can.
Wedding Policy…
Posted by: Jim on: November 11, 2009
Here’s the Wedding Policy upon which we will vote for adoption (or not) at the November Business Meeting tonight.
What Do People Mean When They Say ‘I Support Our Troops’?
Posted by: Jim on: November 11, 2009
People say it all the time these days and, honestly, it’s time most admit that for them it’s just an empty phrase. What they mean by it is that they … what?
Do they support the troops by paying bills for them? By babysitting? By mowing their lawns while they are deployed? By paying taxes to pay troop’s salaries? Or is it just by having a warm feeling of appreciation unsupported by any meaningful and decisive actual deed?
It’s nice, and sweet sounding when everyone talks about how they ’support’ our troops. But when was the last time you, yes you, boxed up a box of goodies and sent it to one of our boys or girls overseas? Or helped their left behind family by some concrete act? Or written a letter of encouragement to someone on the front lines?
‘I support the troops’ are nothing but empty words until backed by true deeds. Or to borrow a New Testament concept, ‘faith without works is dead’ and in the same way, words without deeds are dead too. Dead, cold, empty, meaningless words.
This Veteran’s Day why not try something completely different, and actually support the troops?
