Shiloh Sharings

Youth Sunday Pictures

2009-05-17T14:08:00.001-04:00

Relay for Life 2009

2009-05-07T16:53:00.004-04:00

Shiloh UMC picture

2009-05-07T16:35:00.003-04:00

Easter Egg Hunt 2009

2009-04-17T08:33:00.002-04:00

Summit 09 Boone

2009-03-02T16:35:00.000-05:00

Summit 09

2009-03-02T16:33:00.003-05:00

Winter 09

2009-03-02T16:28:00.001-05:00

More Snow Pictures

2009-03-02T16:00:00.003-05:00

Southern Snow Storm 09

2009-03-02T15:48:00.003-05:00

Dancing Elf

2008-12-15T18:09:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Stewardship Video 2008

2008-11-01T16:27:00.000-04:00

Homecoming 2008

2008-09-26T14:12:00.004-04:00

Salisbury District UMW 2008 Meeting

2008-08-27T21:44:00.005-04:00

Be Sure to Click on the thumbnail picture to see a much bigger version of the picture!

VBS 2008 Beach Party

2008-08-09T07:53:00.005-04:00

Camp Tekoa Pictures

2008-07-27T22:08:00.004-04:00

Fire Dept. Visits Shiloh

2008-04-28T21:21:00.009-04:00

Click these thumbnail pictures to see the larger picture:

Recent Prayer Requests

2008-04-15T13:57:00.002-04:00

Jason Long, Alice Linn, Polly & Al McCracken, Barbara Cluaser, Duane Sampson, Tom Mullen, Dot Inscore, Martha Marie Smith (26 year old has a brain aneurism), Donna Pope, Angie Tidwell, David Benfield, Dale Davis, Wendy Hunsucker, Eric, Meredith & the new babies, Clint Overcash, Ruth Leazer, Andy Wilbourne, Harry Wilson, Kathy Stallings, Sara Sale, Bill & Dooie Doby, Fannie Gaither, Everette Phillips, Betty & other DSS children, Susan Safrit, Debbie Hughes & family, Hagerman family, Brian & Lisa Tadlock, Martha Ann Barringer, Everette Phillips, Ted Boykin & family, Kluttz family, Tim Dowell, Debbie Mathis & family, Halance Benfield, Voneva & Bill Brinkley, Pat & Walter Masters

2008 Easter Egg Hunt - click on picture to see larger version

2008-04-06T19:40:00.000-04:00

Prayer Concerns, March 23, 2008

2008-03-24T18:50:00.002-04:00

the family of Virginia Barton, Mary Tucker & family, Janet Weitbrock, Megan Campbell, Andy Wilbourne, Harry Wilson, Kathy Stallings, Bill & Dollie Doby, Fannie Gaither, Betty & other DSS children, Carter Chestnut, Collins family, Ann & Barry Powlas, Jim Benfield, The Morrison family, Ted Boykin & family, Kluttz fammily, Tom Mullen, Dorothy Inscore, Al & Polly McCracken

Prayer Concerns, Feb. 17, 2008

2008-02-18T16:03:00.002-05:00

Carol Collins, Becky Peeler, Margaret Lowder, Wallace Peeler, Al McCracken, Sarah Rex, Russ Sheffield, Patricia Jacobs, Andy Wilbourne, Harry Wilson, Kathy Stallings, Everette Phillips, Fannie Gaither, Betty & other DSS children, Hazel Hill, Bill & Dollie Doby, Kathy Alexander, Ted Boykin, Kluttz family, Viola Yates, Jana Yates,

Prayer Concerns Feb. 10, 2008

2008-02-11T08:05:00.000-05:00

Robert Lynch, Troy Kesler, Sandra & Nelson Earnhardt, Donna Pope, Toni Peeler, Cecil & Rachel Ritchie, Susan Safrit, Alice Linn, Matt Hagerman and his brother, Ted Boykin, Kluttz family, Tom Mullins, Dorothy Inscore, Barry Powlas, Jim Benfield, Barbara Clauser, Wallace Peeler, Margaret Lowder,
Russ Sheffield, the Miller familiy, Lisa Lentz Tadlock, Al McCracken, Pat Masters, Burton Hudson's family, Andy Wilbourne, Harry Wilson, Kathy Stallings, Everette Phillips, Fannie Gaither, Betty & other DSS children, Hazel Hill

Town Christmas Dinner

2008-01-29T22:37:00.001-05:00

Here is some video taken at the Town Christmas dinner in December of 2007. This event was for all employees and volunteers of Granite Quarry, NC. The East Rowan HS Jazz band is playing in the background.

Prayer Concerns, Dec. 30, 2007

2008-01-01T21:18:00.000-05:00

Jim Benfield, Barry Powlas, Cameron family, Alice Linn, Douglas Linn, Jacob Hughes, Ernest Plyler, Donna Pope, Janis Nelson, Daniel Spivey, Burton Hudson, Harry wilson, Kathy Stallings, Everette Phillips, Fannie Gaither, Betty & other DSS children, Hazel Hill, Michael Sale, Jean Hoyle

Prayer Concerns, Dec. 16, 2007

2007-12-19T13:31:00.000-05:00

Tom Mullen, Pearlene Coleman, Ross family, Kluttz familiy, Barry Powlas, Jim Benfield, Butch Mabry, the Cameron family, Alice Linn, Jacob Hughes, Daisy long, Krista James, voneva Brinkley, Brian & Lisa Tadlock, Jean Cauble, Erin & Ty & Dillon Miller, Rachel Marlowe, Martha Ann, Norma Hoyle, Burton Hudson, Don Stout, Harry Wilson, Kathy Stallings, Everette Phillips, Fannie Gaither, Hazel Hill, Betty & other DSS children, Clyde Richards, Judy Shell, Jessica Rowland, Janis Nelson, Dana Shue

Christmas Party '07

2007-12-17T17:09:00.001-05:00

Prayer concerns, Sept. 23, 2007

2007-09-24T15:45:00.000-04:00

Andy & Candance Clement, Everette Phillips, Buster Brown, Patricia Jacobs, Joyce Kneip & family, John & Kay Peeler, Jean Cauble, Brian & Lisa Tadlock, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Margaret Jones, Kluttz family, Troy Kesler, Burton Hudson, Don Stout, Harry Wilson, Kathy Stallings, Fannie Gaither, Terry Cameron, Krista James, Alice Linn, Elizabeth White, Cecil & Rachel Ritchie, A. B. Dennis, Becky Peeler, Miriam Caldwell, Barry Powlas, Jim Benfield

Granite Quarry Elem Movie Day

2007-09-20T16:04:00.000-04:00

Homecoming 2007

2007-09-20T15:55:00.001-04:00

Junaluska Youth Week 2007

2007-07-31T15:04:00.000-04:00

Click on the picture for a bigger version.

Prayer concerns, July 22, 2007

2007-07-22T21:19:00.001-04:00

Jim Benfield, Barry Powlas, Cameron family, Debbie Hughes and family, Krista James, Sue Crowell, Ethel Foster, Joyce Kneip & her family, Jiim, Kim Beeker, Burton Hudson, Don Stout, Harry Wilson, Kathy Stallings, Marlene Anthony, Janis Nelson, Jean Cauble, Mary Allen

Prayer concerns, July 1, 2007

2007-07-02T09:29:00.000-04:00

Joyce Kneip, Jim Benfield, Barry Powlas, Krista james, the Cameron family as they travel home from vacation, Janis Nelson, Troy Kesler, Randy Burrows, Ruth Laffon, Julie & Alan Daniels, Burton Hudson, Don Stout, Harry Wilson, Kathy Stallings, Phyllis collins, Marlene Anthony, Charlie and Kim Beeker

VBS 2007, pictures 1

2007-06-23T09:54:00.000-04:00

Baby Pictures - Sarah May

2007-05-31T16:57:00.001-04:00

Prayer Concerns, May 13, 2007

2007-05-14T17:38:00.000-04:00

Coleton Boone, Stephanie Strobel, Troy Kesler, Krista James, Mrs. Larson, The Cameron family, Joyce Kneip, Annie Marie Seaford & John, Harold Deal & family, Pearl Campbell, all mothers, Martha Marlowe, Ernest Plyler, Everette Phillips, Nancy Hamrick, Jim Benfield, Barry Powlas, The Harwood family, Robert Pulliam, Marlene Anthony, Ruth Leazer, The Vera Sellers family

Relay for Life Pictures, May 4-5, 2007

2007-05-09T23:18:00.000-04:00

May 2007 Newsletter

2007-05-09T21:01:00.000-04:00

SHILOH SHARINGS
MAY 2007

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
This year's Vacation Bible School is from June 18 –22 from 5:15 until 8:00. This year Joanne Porter is our coordinator for VBS, with help from Terry Cameron. The theme is "Lift Off - Soaring to New Heights with God" . We hope those with children will go ahead and mark your calendars.
Children are encouraged to invite their friends to attend. There will be a light meal for both children and adults and classes for all. Members of the UMYF will be helping with the story time.
There will be a registration forms in next month's newsletter- if you need additional copies, we will have them in June's bulletins or you may pick one up at the church office.

Budget Business
(budget)
3-4 .. 6104
3-11 . 1149
3-18 . 2391
3-25 ..1892
total…11536

Building Fund:
3-4 .. 3752
3-11 . 1089
3-18 .. 406
3-25 .. 847
total. 6094

Flowers
May 6th - Michael and Joanne Porter
May 13th_ Bill and Linda Braswell
May 20th-Norma Hoyle
May 27th-Denise McNeely
Judy Shell and Lou Honeycutt

Meetings
May 6th_ 7:30- UM Men Breakfast
May 7th_ 7:00 Executive meeting
UMW 7:30 Regular meting UMW
May 8th_ 7:30- Trustees
May 20th - East Rowan honors chorus -covered dish meal afterwards

OUR HANDS ARE GOD'S HANDS

Nurture News

The East Rowan Honors Chorus will be worshipping with us on May 20th• This is always special for the congregation. Our own Adam Yoe is a member of this fine group of men and women. This year the nurture committee would like for the congregation to bring, covered dishes to have a meal afterwards with the members of the choir and their families. They are so faithful to their music ministry in the East Rowan community. We should all be proud to sponsor a lunch for this special group. Remember May 20th at the 11 :00 service. We will need volunteers to help with setting up the hall and cleaning up afterwards (hopefully not the same people).
The bridal shower for Laura Yoe was well attended by the church. Thanks to everyone who came and participated in this special time for Laura. It was such fun.
On June 3rd, from 3-5, there will be a baby shower for Debbie Hughes. Her bundle of joy is a little girl and is expected to arrive the middle of June. We hope everyone will come and enjoy and share this special time for Debbie, Mike, Courtney and Jacob. We are all excited for them. We will have a new sister in Christ
The world is in such a mess, celebrating exciting events through the church helps each of us cope with the bad in the world. We have such a loving, supportive church family. Being brothers and sisters in Christ, we have each other to lean on in bad times. Come celebrate being a part-of Shiloh by being involved in the events happening at the church. You will be blessed!

Shalom,
Shelia and Jeanna

Dates for your calendars:
May 20th-East Rowan Chorus
June 3rd - Shower for Debbie Hughes
Bible School- June 18-22 - Joanne Porter -director

SUNDAY SCHOOL
(The importance of Sunday School)
**Consider the important facts when deciding about Sunday School**
· 75% of all church members come from Sunday School
· 85% of all church workers come from Sunday School
· 95% of all pastors come from Sunday School
** BUT **
· 60% of all grade school children do not attend Sunday School
· 85% of all high school young people do not attend Sunday School
· 90% of all college young people do not attend Sunday School
** What a golden opportunity with a mission field right at our own back door! Don't be a
part of the second set of statistics. * * Oak Hills Church- Butler Pa

The Intersection of Science and Religion
Jonathan’s Journals
As I was riding in my car today, I turned on the radio to the local NPR station and listened to an interview with Dr. John Polkinghorne. He is an interesting man. He is a particle physicist at Cambridge University in England. After years of studying and teaching physics, he also became a priest in the Church of England. He is in Charlotte this week at Queens College speaking on the topic of “Can a Scientist Pray?” (His answer is obviously “yes!” but I’d love to hear him speak more about it!)

Dr. Polkinghorne’s main point in the interview that I heard was that all truth comes from God. Science and Christian theology reveal different dimensions of God’s truth, and they are not in conflict with one another. This was a refreshing perspective to hear. How many times have we been told that we must choose between belief in the Bible and acceptance of modern science? Dr. Polkinghorne’s journey to Christian faith, not despite science, but through science, reveals to us that too often the discussion of between Christians and scientists is skewed, and the conflict does not need to happen.

The interviewer asked, “Scientists really know for sure what they are studying, but religions persons can’t really know, they only believe, right?” Dr. Polkinghorne responded, “It depends on what you mean by ‘know.’ We can’t really know a person the same way we know about physics. When we say we know a person, there is always an element of mystery to it. Our knowledge of God is more like knowing a person; it’s a very personal knowledge, but it is knowledge nonetheless.”

Many times there is a supposed conflict between faith and science when the creation of the world is discussed. As a theologian, one of the things that Dr. Polkinghorne pointed out was that the Bible is a library of different books and a collection of many different genres of literature. We do not need read poetry the same way that we read prose, neither do we read the first chapter of Genesis the same way we read the first chapter of Luke, for example. If a poet says, “My love is a red, red rose,” we do not think that his wife has green leaves and prickly thorns. That would be missing the point of the poem. In the same way, we do not have to take the first chapter of Genesis as a blow-by-blow account of exactly the way the world was created. We can accept the discoveries of science without it conflicting with our faith claims. The first chapter of Genesis teaches us that God created the world in which we live as a good world, that God blessed it, and God gave human kind responsibility to take care of it. Nothing that science teaches us is in conflict with these theological convictions.

There is, however, one Biblical teaching that is not poetic or metaphorical: the resurrection. It is quite literally true that Jesus rose from the dead on Easter morning. It cannot be explained by science, but neither can it be disproved by science. It is the basis of Christian faith. The resurrection now becomes our starting point for how we understand all other spheres of reality. Even physicists are discovering things about the nature of particles and waves that they previously thought impossible. God is full of surprises, for all of us: scientists, theologians, and the rest of us plain simple folks. I expect there is much more God has to teach us about our scientific world and about our faith. The good news is that because of Easter, we have no reason to fear either one.

Peace,
Jonathan

Outreach Committee News
May 4th & 5th is Relay for Life, please come out to the fair grounds and join us!
John Hunter from Rowan County Department of Social Services (DSS) presented a program on the Rowan County One Church, One Child Program. One Church, One Child program is a mission/outreach program between DSS and local churches that is designed to make a difference in the lives of children and families lives by:
Identifying and supporting families in congregations who are or may be interested in becoming a foster and/or adoptive parent.
Enlightening worshippers about the needs of Rowan County children and families who need assistance and support.
The Shiloh Outreach Committee would like to support the One Church, One Child program. The committee will be looking for a church coordinator for this program and would like the church to sponsor one or more programs during the year. The coordinator will develop and keep updated a resource center regarding foster care/adoption and keep the needs of children and families before the congregation throughout the year.
The Outreach Committee is also researching the idea of Shiloh having a Preschool and/or Mother's Morning Out Program to support the community.
Shiloh sponsors the Soup Kitchen every other month on the 4th Saturday. We are hoping the following groups can help on the dates listed below for 2007:

April 28th James Mathis/Choir
June 23rd Youth Group
August 25th Methodist Women
October 27th Methodist Men
December 22nd The Gaither Family

Please let Tracy Kluttz or Debbie Mathis know if these dates are not good for your group.
The Outreach Committee will meet again on Monday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m.

Blankets for Missions:

These ladies meet the second and fourth Mondays of each month. You are welcome to come and chat if you don't knit . Afterwards, they are go somewhere for lunch so it's a good time to just relax and visit.

United Methodist Men

The men will be meeting and eating on Sunday, May 6th, at 8:00. All men are invited to come and fellowship with us. We eat promptly at 8:00 so come early for coffee and stories and then after breakfast, we have a short devotion and get home around 8:45.

United Methodist Youth

This month is UM Youth month at Shiloh and the UMYF will be ushering for the Sundays in May. They will have as their guest the honors chorus from East Rowan High School under the leadership of Dean Orbison . There will be a covered dish meal afterwards for everyone.
We are also going to be camping out at Rowan Fairgrounds for the Relay for Life. If you· have not yet made a donation for Relay for Life, please see Tracy Kluttz or a team member.

2007 Laity Award Recipient

This year the Laity Award Committee selected as this year's selection the Shiloh Choir under the direction of Mrs. Lynn Reeder.
This award not only recognizes this year’s choir but pays respect to all people who have sang in the choir for Shiloh.
They bring more that music to our church as many of these members are not only involved with practicing an hour a week and showing up more regularly on Sundays than most members but they are involved with many other committees -Nurture, Witness, Outreach-Sunday School, Trustees-UM Women and Men- There is not a committee in the church that does not have at least one choir member as part of it.

Confirmation class

This year's confirmation class is one of the biggest groups in recent years. Among the youth who are in the confirmation class are Colin Brown, Hunter Kluttz, Elizabeth Marlowe, Jared Mathis, Kristen Mathis, Katie Peeler, Mandy Peeler and Sarah Rex. These young people and their mentors along with Pastor Jonathan and Angela have worked hard into getting· prepared for this time in their lives. Confirmation Sunday is May 29th at the 11 :00 service.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY
May 2007

KIDS FOR CHRIST

The Easter Egg Hunt was a huge success. Everyone seemed to have fun even hunting for eggs in our winter coats. Thank you to all who helped plan and to those who participated. Special thanks goes to the Porter Family for hosting the egg hunt.

Kids for Christ
next meeting:
Sunday May 6
5:00 pm
We will meet in the fellowship hall.

Vacation Bible School – June 18-22
Don’t forget to sign up.

CONFIRMATION

May Schedule

Saturday April 28 – Worship at Sacred Heart Catholic Church
We will leave Shiloh UMC at 5:00 pm. Parents are invited to come as well.

Sunday April 29 - 6:00 pm – note time change

Sunday May 6 – 6:30 pm

Sunday May 20 – 6:30 pm

Saturday May 26 – 5:30 pm Dinner at the church with confirmands, families and mentors to celebrate.

Sunday May 27 - Confirmation Sunday during worship.

YOUTH

CAR WASH UPDATE
Thank you for all of your hard work at the car wash. It was a great success and we raised over $500 for Relay for Life. Special thanks goes to all of the adults who helped and to those who provided hot dogs. We had a wonderful day.

Summer Opportunities
Vacation Bible School – June 18-22
Camp Tekoa – July 8-14.
Youth week at Lake Junaluska – July 22-26

Plans for the spring

May 2 – Hot Dog and Hamburger Dinner sponsored by the Youth. 80% of the proceeds from this dinner will go to these summer youth projects and 20% will go to the building fund.

May 4-5 – Relay For Life. Let Robert, Tracy or Angela know if you are planning to spend the night.

Wednesday May 16 – 6:00 – 7:00 pm. Practice for Youth Sunday.

Tuesday May 29 - 5:30 pm – Pizza dinner at Mr. Gatti’s. We will gather for an evening of fun and fellowship over pizza.

VBS – The youth will be leading the Bible story time. Watch for email about practice times. All youth are welcome to help.

May Birthdays

2 - Dick Barringer
3 - David Brown
Ann Porter
Justin McNeely
6 Lauren McNeely
7 - John Spidell
Cody Hemmings
11 - Anna Braswell
12 - Marsden Kitley Michael Holton
13 - Marisa Rabon Hayley Boltz
15 - Peggy Wood
Gene Seaford
16 - Kim Barringer
Dan Herlocker
17 - Mike Brinkley
Eleanor Eller
Louise Herlocker
18 - Ed Dupree
Vernon Overcash
19 - Davey Benfield
23 - Fran Mabry
Deborah Bernhardt
25 - Allison Culp
27 - Myra Dean
29 - Crystal Fortner

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

8 - Steve and Denise McNeely
11 - Steven and Tammy Bowers
12 - Doug and Terry Cameron
13 - Bill and Linda Braswell
James and Sarah Brown
15 - James and Nancy Jones
22 - Jonathan and Angela Marlowe
Ty and Erin Miller
23 - Chris and Robin Earnhardt
24 - Bill and Shirley Walker
31 - Jim and Jean Brown

MAY HELPERS

The UMYF will be ushering for the month of May. Keeping the nursery will be Francine Middleton and Angie Overcash.

Acolytes for May:

6th-Sarah Rex and Kelby Porter
13th-Katie Peeler and Jacob Hughes
20th -Elizabeth Marlowe and Hunter Kluttz
27th -Kelby Porter and Rachel Marlowe

James Mathis Can Fund

This is an on going project of the James Mathis Sunday School Class and everyone can help. Simply bring your aluminum cans to the home of Mary Ida Mathis on Frick S10 in Granite Quarry. Class has made donations to American Cancer Society, Jimmy Carter Fund, Habitat for Humanity , and Duke Share the Warmth program along with others.

Rowan Helping Ministries

There is a basket located in the breezeway for members to bring can food on Sundays. We hope that more of us will start contributing to this mission. We will still have our pack-a-sack in August but thanks to Doris Kluttz who provided the basket and is transporting food.

2007 Graduates

Graduating from East Rowan High School this year are Lauren File, Larren Kluttz and Adam Yoe. Laura Yoe was a December graduate from. Cabbarus College of Nursing. We will honor graduates on June 5th.

Fellowship Hall Policy

2007-05-09T19:18:00.000-04:00

Click here to see the Fellowship Hall policy for Shiloh. It was approved at our December 2006 Church Council meeting. If for some strange reason, it does not appear the first time you click the link, hit "refresh" and it should come up then. I have no idea why it does that.

Prrayer Concerns

2007-05-06T17:37:00.000-04:00

Ernest Plyler, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Nancy Hamrick, Laura & Darrell Troutman, Joyce Kneip & family, Patricia Jacobs, Norma Hoyle, Martha Ann Barringer, Mary Seaford, Jim Benfield, Barry Powlas, the Hunter family, Doris Fouts, Mary Romano & family, Troy Kesler, Lewis Jacobs, James Jones, Kluttz family, Mrs. Larson, people with cancer and cancer survivors, Amanda Miller, Marlene Anthony, Bobbie & David Finney, Ruth Leazer, Burton Hudson, Don Stout, Harry Wilson, Kathy Stallings, Phyllis Collins, Debbi Joines

Confirmation Class

2007-05-01T15:21:00.000-04:00

At Junaluska, in the Snow!

Vacation Bible School photo

2007-05-01T15:19:00.000-04:00

Prayer Concerns, April 29, 2007

2007-05-01T15:17:00.000-04:00

Jim Benfield, Barry Powlas, Mary Romano & family, Krista James, the Cameron family, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Nancy Hamrick, Ernest Plyler, Ethel Foster, Burton Hudson, Don Stout, Harry Wilson, Kathy Stallings, Phyllis Collins, Debbi Jones, Joyce Kneip & family, Pearl Campbell, John & Kay Peeler, Mary Seaford, Courtney Hughes, Betsye Harriell, Marlene Anthony, Chris Eller, Ruth Leazer, Janis Nelson, Angela Moore & family, Mitzi Naylor, Tori Royal

Prayer concerns, April 22, 2007

2007-04-26T16:42:00.000-04:00

Janis Nelson, Jim Benfield, family of Melissa Greer, Joyce Kneip & family, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Pearl Campbell, Kay & John Peeler, Patricia Jacobs, Nancy Hamrick, Lee Lynch, the Cameron family, Mary Romano & family, Nancy Hamrick, Mary Seaford, Everette Phillips, Essie Brown, Troy Kesler, Burton Hudson, Don Stout, Harry Wilson, Kathy Stallings, Phyllis Collins, Debbie Joines, Martha Ann Barringer, Lou Honeycutt, Norm Hoyle, Harold & Frances Overcash, Guy Byrd, Nancy & James Jones, Ruth Leazer, Marlene Anthony, Linda Atwell, Virginia Tech students and faculty

A Tale of Two Conversions (Acts 9:1-20)

2007-04-22T21:26:00.000-04:00

Just two weeks after Easter, this week we were reminded of the painful realities of death. We have been touched and deeply saddened by the shootings that took place on Monday at Virginia Tech. Our hearts go out the families of the victims; we cannot imagine their sorrow, and so we pray for God’s comfort on their behalf.

Yet in the midst of death, we keep on celebrating Easter. While acknowledging the sting of death, we also proclaim the victory of resurrection. As a matter of fact, it is only when we have done one that we can properly do the other.

The early Christians who proclaimed the resurrection of Christ never once denied the tragedy of death. My friend Marvin Lindsay who is the pastor of John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Salisbury observed that when they put Jesus body into the tomb, it was full of holes. And when Jesus rose triumphant on Easter morning, he still bore the nail prints in his hands, and the wounds were still visible in his side. The risen Christ still bears the marks of crucifixion. And those who weep this week at Virginia Tech are not far from the tomb of Christ. As Marvin also said, when we go to places like Virginia Tech, we find a God who has shed the tears we shed. We join Christ in his weeping for this violent, self-destructive world of ours.

The book of Acts also knows something about celebrating Easter faith in the midst of death. Not long after the apostles proclaimed the resurrection in the streets of Jerusalem, there was a Jewish leader who was determined to stamp out and violently oppose the early Christian movement. This man, named Saul (after the first Jewish king in the Old Testament) approved of the killing of Stephen, who was one of the earliest followers of Jesus. The book of Acts tells us that Stephen was the first deacon - one who was set aside by the apostles for the purpose of looking after the widows and orphans in the early church. Stephen gave testimony to Jesus and the power of his resurrection. The Jewish Sanhedrin had Stephen stoned because of his this testimony. And the book of Acts says that a young man named Saul approved of their killing of Stephen.

When Saul had overseen the killing of Stephen, it seems to have whet his appetite to kill even more Christians. He headed off to Damascus to find even more Christians, and carry them bound back to Jerusalem, where they would experience the same fate as Stephen. Here was a young man who was on a murderous rampage, determined to stop at nothing to fulfill his evil mission - he was so delusional that he even thought he was carrying out the will of God.
I don’t know what caused Saul to go on his murderous rampage. Just like I don’t know what caused Cho to go on his. There is something about young men that age, they sometimes store up so much anger that they don’t know how to deal with, and so they unleash it in a way that is so destructive. It is so very heart-breaking, heart-breaking for families of victims at Va Tech, heart-breaking for the family and friends of Stephen in the Book of Acts.

But Saul is on his way to Damascus to find more Christians, and do to them what was done to Stephen, when something dramatic happens: the glorious and risen Lord appears to Saul on the way, and knocks him to the ground. Saul doesn’t understand what’s going on, so he says, “Who are you Lord.” And the Lord says, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Imagine what a shock that must have been to Saul’s system. He thinks he is doing God’s will by killing Christians, and it turns out that the very Lord he thinks he is serving is none other than Jesus himself.

But there’s another shocking element to this story. Jesus says, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute ME ? Now, Saul had been persecuting Christians. Yet here Jesus says, when you persecute my people, you persecute me. When my people suffer, I suffer. Jesus so completely identifies with his people that he is one with them. What happens to Jesus’ people happens to Jesus. Again, I think that that’s a powerful lesson for our friends at Virginia Tech. The risen Christ stands in solidarity with them, and says, I share your sufferings with you.

And can’t we all take comfort from that? Christ knows our pain, our shame, our disillusionment. Christ knows our disappointment, our brokenness, our loneliness, our sorrow. The risen Christ does not remain aloof from our sufferings. He has not forgotten the pain of his crucifixion, nor has he forgotten our grief and pain. No matter what problem in life you might be facing, the risen Christ knows about it and cares for you.

Saul is taken aback by all of this. It is almost too much for him to bear. It strikes him blind, and he has to be led back to Jerusalem, by the hand, like he is a little child. One day Saul is in control, big, powerful, carrying out what he thinks is God’s will. The next, he’s being led around by the hand like he’s in preschool. It must have been very humbling. Sort of like starting life all over again, sometimes we call it being ‘born again.’

Imagine Saul’s sense of shame and embarrassment when he finally came to his senses and realized what he had done. Here finally he had the desire to serve Christ, but nobody trusted him. Acts tells us that the disciples of Jesus were suspicious of Saul, and I don’t blame them. Jesus told Ananais to go see Saul, but Ananais resisted at first. Lord, I don’t want to go see that Saul, he’s a murderer!

So Saul is suffering not only blindness, but social alienation. No one wants to be around him.
I was saddened to hear this week that on some Korean radio stations here in the United States that they were encouraging Korean-Americans not to send their children to school, for fear of what they might be subjected to. Korean businesses were told not to open. They feared reprisals. People might take out the anger they feel towards Cho on other Korean Americans, so they are hunkering down, taking a defensive posture. You know what would be a nice gesture of the Christian community this week? If you know of any Korean Americans at work or at school or in the community, do something nice for them. Find a way to encourage them, and let them know they are still your friend; extend a hand of friendship to them.

That’s what Ananias eventually did for Saul. We talk about this story in terms of the conversion of Saul, and it certainly was, one of the greatest conversion stories ever told. But there was another conversion that happened. I’m talking about the conversion in attitude that happened in Ananias’ heart. He was understandably concerned for his own safety, not wanting to approach a known murderer like Saul. But Jesus worked a change in his heart too.

Jesus said to Ananais, go to Saul, I will show him how he will suffer for my name; he is my instrument to take my name before Israel, and the gentiles, and Kings. He said, in effect, you’re going to have to forgive him for his past sins, as heinous as they are. And so Ananias did have a change of heart and went to Saul and extended the right hand of fellowship and greeted him with the words, “Brother Saul....”

Brother Saul. no sweeter words could have been spoken to this poor miserable man. He was ashamed of what he had done, here the followers of Jesus did not trust him, did not want to have anything to do with him, and a Christian comes up to him and says, “you are my brother.” These are the words of reconciliation, forgiveness, and fellowship. They might be the most important words Ananais ever spoke, Brother Saul.

I was reading some about the childhood of Cho this week. I want to make absolutely clear that no one is responsible for this week’s terribly evil events except Cho himself. He alone carries the responsibility for what he did, and no one else. Let me say that again: he alone carries the responsibility for what he did, and no one else, period. But if you look at his early childhood and teenage years, you can see how the seeds of anger and resentment must have built up over time. As a Korean-American, he was picked on when he was little. He was made fun of. He didn’t speak English well, other children laughed and mocked him because he looked different and he was different. Let me repeat, this is no excuse for the evil things he did. But I wonder if there was even an Ananais who ever came to him with a hand of friendship and said, brother Saul, brother Cho.

Ananais came up to this known murderer (I think we sometimes forget the scandal of this) and said, brother Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me to you. and if you want to have the kind of conversion this week that Ananais had, try that with someone you don’t like. Try that with someone you’ve had an argument with. Try that with someone who has harmed you, “brother Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me here today for something good.” And you may never be able to measure how much good you might do.

It’s too late to do that now for Cho, but I hope someone is doing that now for his family. I hope someone goes to them, in all of their shame, and grief and embarrassment, in all of their unspeakable grief and says, “brother, sister….” You may remember that in Pennsylvania about six months ago, that’s what the Amish family did when a madman burst into their Amish schoolroom. The Amish, much like Ananias did in this story, went to the family of the perpetrator, and said, “we love you, we care about you, we know that you’re a victim in all of this too. We know that this tragedy leaves your children fatherless, we want to help care for them too.” Those Amish, in their incredible display of Christian love, were doing basically the same thing Ananias did, saying, “you’re my brother, you’re my sister; we’re part of the same family, God’s family.”

There’s no telling how much good Ananais did when he went to Saul that day. Saul went on to become the greatest missionary for the gospel of Jesus that the world has ever known. For two thousand years, Christians have receiving inspiration from the letters he wrote. He established churches in Asia Minor, in Greece, in Rome, in Palestine, in Antioch. He preached the gospel to Gentiles (like you and me) people previously thought unclean because we were not Jewish. He said, you know the gospel of Jesus is such good news, that it’s not just for Jewish people; it’s for us gentiles too. We will never be able to measure the good that came because Ananias had a conversion of heart, and went to someone who was a known murderer, and said, “You are my brother.”

Imagine what could have happened if Ananias had been disobedient to his heavenly vision. If he had persisted in his resistance to going to see Saul. If Ananias had not gone to see Saul, the other disciples might not have wanted to see Saul either.

Saul may have thought, well these Christians don’t want to have anything to do with me. I’ll just forget about them. If they don’t want to have anything to do with me; I won’t have anything to do with them either. I’ll just sit here in my blindness, and become bitter. That Damascus road thing must have just been my imagination anyway. I probably looked too long at the sun, and that’s why I became blind, and I don’t need this Jesus fellow anyway.

But thank God, that’s not the way the story ended. Saul and Ananias both got converted. And there is the need for both kinds of conversions in our world today. Some people are clearly going down the wrong path. They need to get knocked off their horses, struck blind, born again. And we need to stress that radical conversion. If you’re here today and you’re on the wrong path, the path that leads to death and destruction and hell, I plead with you, get converted today. Let God do a number on you. This message goes out to people like Saul, murders, criminals, thieves. Christ loves all criminals, and would love to enter your hearts and turn your world upside down. This message also goes out to more common people, those who are not common criminals, but who are sinners just the same. We all need a Damascus road St. Paul-like conversion. Come to Christ and be changed, saved, washed from the inside out. For some of us that happens suddenly and dramatically, for others more slowly and gradually over time, but it’s just as real. We all need that kind of conversion.

But then there’s another conversion that needs to happen to the rest of us. To the folks that are already Christians; we too need conversion, a change of heart. Are we willing to go to the Sauls of this world in the name of brotherhood? How about it? Do we risk going beyond our comfort zone to associate with THOSE kind of people. Do we just hang out with the people we already know, the people who are already in church, or do we take the good news of Christ to others? Do we take the good news of Christ with us to people we don’t particularly like, or to those who have harmed us? Do we dare to imagine a day when we might call someone who is radically different from us (someone we thought unclean, someone we thought an outsider) a brother or a sister? When we can really do that, we really have been, converted.

Prayer Concerns

2007-04-15T21:46:00.000-04:00

Lee Lynch, Terry Cameron, Aaron Cameron, Doug Cameron, William Collins, Debbie Hughes, Burton Hudson, Don Stout, Harry Wilson, Kathy Stallings, Claude & Viola Yates, Bill & Shriley Walker, Phyllis Collins, Debbi Joines, Walt & Pat Masters, Philip & Essie Brown, Bill & Mary Williams, Marlene Anthony, JoyceMannuel & family, Nancy Hamrick, Joyce Kneip & family, Annie Marie & John, Kay & John Peeler, Tadlock family, Pearl Campbell, Mary Seaford, Norma Hoyle, Robert Leach, Emma Myers,

Egg Hunt 2007

2007-04-15T19:02:00.000-04:00

Prayer Concerns March 25, 2007

2007-03-29T09:02:00.000-04:00

Betty & Ernest Plyler, Everette Phillips, thankful for the safe arrival of Christian Clement, Jiim Benfield, Barry Powlas, Junior Lyerly, Martha Ann B. Norma H., Joyce Mannuel & family, Jean & Robert Pulliam, Karen Hicks, Dr. Lester Brown, Emma Myers, Burton Hudson, Don Stout, Harry Wilson, Kathy Stallings, Pat & Walt Masters, Phillip & Essie Brown, Phyllis Collins, Debbi Joines, Kristen Barger, Dallas Brown, Martha Kluttz, Troy Kesler, Lydia Hatley, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Joyce Kneip & family, Pearl Campbell, Mrs. Larson, praise report for Cole Raynor and family

March 2007 Newsletter

2007-03-11T20:27:00.000-04:00

page 3

March Newsletter calendar

2007-03-11T20:14:00.000-04:00

calendar

Recent Prayer Concerns

2007-03-10T12:56:00.000-05:00

Prayer Concerns, Feb. 25, 2007 and March 4

Denise Miller, Martha Ann, Shelia Lentz, Becky Peeler, Cole Raynor, Troy Kesler, Mrs. Larson, Norma Hoyle, Suzie Romano, Priscilla Perkins, Annie Marie and John Seaford, Everette Phillips, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Joyce Kneip, Tadlock family, Lydia Hatley, Jim Benfield, Mary Brentham, Vila Yates, Debbie Hirst, Burton Hudson, Don Stout, Harry Wilson, Kathy Stallings, Vernon Overcash, John Gottula’s family, Sandy & Steve Morgan, Clyde Richards, Katherine Hooper, Harry Wilson, Joyce Manuel, Joel Hiatt, James Jones, Kluttz family, Linda Atwell, Stephen Meriweather

Jasmine McCrae & her family, children in Enterprise AL, Junior Lyerly, Robert & Jean Pulliam, Pearl Campbell, Priscilla Perkins, Betty & Ernest Plyler, our youth at Junaluska, Barry Powlas, Linda Atwell, Brian & Catherine Gilbert, Troy Kesler, Belle Elkin, Brianna & Cole Raynor, the Bennett family, David Long, Harold Overcash, Sandy & Steve Morgan

Wide angle picture of Church - click picture to see expanded version

2007-03-10T09:15:00.000-05:00

Recent Prayer Concerns

2007-02-18T14:21:00.000-05:00

Feb. 18: Jim Benfield, Barry Powlas, Melissa Greer, Joyce Kneip, Junior Lyerly, Jessica Schenk, Annie Marie Seaford, family of John Gottula, Lentz familyi, Peeler familiiy, Al & Shirley Grimes, Laurie McCallum Pathenroth's family, Kay Gottula, Burton Hudson, Don Stout, Viola Yates, Riley Gobble, Jr., Harry Wilson, Jerry Parker's family, Cole Raynor, Troy Kesler, Suzie Romano, Ethel Foster

Feb. 11: Payton Rogers, Troy Kesler, Norma Hoyle, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Pastor Kay & family, Harry Wilson, Essie Brown, Tadlock family, Martha Ann, Dane Cook, Junior Lyerly, Walt Masters, Sandy & Steve Morgan, Clyde Richards, Heather & Jesse Redding, Martha & Buddy Kluttx, Mrs. Larson, family & friends of Brooklyn Jones

Prayer Concerns, January 28, 2007

2007-01-29T12:06:00.000-05:00

Roy Trexler, Barry Myers, Mrs. Larson, Jamie Jones, Joel Hiatt, Norma Hoyle, Ethel Foster, Troy Kesler, Cole Raynor and family, Jonathan Marlowe and family, Katy Stallings having cancer surgery in the morning, Katy Stallings, Burton Hudson, Laure McCallum, Andrea Stallings, James Jones, Rebecca Walz, Carl Doby, Jim Benfield, Barry Powlas, Melissa Greer, Pricilla Perkins, Betty Plyler, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Everette Phillips, Joyce Kneip & family, Pearl Campbell, Barringer family, Tadock family

Prayer Concerns, Jan. 7, 2007

2007-01-09T21:32:00.000-05:00

Butch Mabry, Jim Benfield, Barry Powlas, Joyce Kneip & family, Tadlock family, Ruth Gulledge, Pearl Campbell, Harry Wilson, Annie Marie & John, Everette Phillips, Betty & Ernest Plyler, Suzie Romano & family, Cole Raynor, Shelia Lentz, Miss Larson, Linda Atwell, Grace Waters, Tadlock family, Martha Kluttz, Larren Kluttz, Amy Shue, Harry Wilson, Sandra Morgan, Clyde Richards, Nathan Cameron, Robert & Ruby Lynch, Burton Hudson (Annie Marie Seaford’s brother)

Other recent prayer concerns:

John Gottula – surgery Monday, Jan. 8 at Baptist
Priscilla Perkins (Betty Plyler’s kniece)
Jean Brown
Elgie Moore
Pearl Campbell
Bobbie & David Finney
Bruce Eller
Martha Ann
Jeannette Houston
Robert Pulliam
Ryan Shaver
Norma Hoyle
Margaret Jones
Mildred Livesy
June Trexler
Mr & Mrs. Fred Ijames, recently lost two month old grandchild
Bill Miller and family
Ethel PaxonTroy Kesler
Laurie McCallum
Gene Brigman, mary Wyatt
Marci Mitchel

2006-12-22T09:06:00.000-05:00

2006-12-22T09:01:00.000-05:00

Christmas party

2006-12-22T08:59:00.001-05:00

Santa at Shiloh

2006-12-22T08:57:00.001-05:00

pictures, dec. 10, 2006

2006-12-22T08:55:00.001-05:00

Dec. 10 performance

2006-12-22T08:50:00.001-05:00

2006-12-22T07:57:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Allison Culp for these pictures from the Dec. 10 performance . Click on the thumbnail to see a larger picture:

Prayer Concerns, Dec. 17, 2006

2006-12-18T09:48:00.000-05:00

Annie Marie Seaford & John, Martha Ann Barringer, viola yates, Everette Phillips, Butch Mabry, Joyce Kneip & familiy, Frank Tadlock, Pearl Campbell, Harry Wilson, Leah Bowers, Bill Walker, Ben Kluttz, Mrs. Larson, family of Tom Boyd, Bruce & Gail Eller, Norma Hoyle, Dana Shue, Ethel Foster, Clyde Richards, Sandy Morgan, Michael Shue, Ruth Leazer, John York, Belle Sarvis, Thank you, Jim Benfield, barry Powlas, Karen Whicker, Natalie Barringer, Margaret Jones, Kluttz family, Phillip Brown, Barbara Goeken

Prayer Concerns, Dec. 10, 2006

2006-12-10T23:09:00.000-05:00

Fannie Gaither, Everette Phillips, Payton Rogers (a 3rd grader at Koontz Elem. diagnosed with a brain tumor), Norma Hoyle, Dana Shue, Robert Pulliam, Robert Lynch, Bill Sarvis, Clyde Richards, Sandy Morgan, Ed & Mary Brentham, Brandon Joines, Gene Brigman, Harry Wilson, Mary Wyatt, Alyssa Jones, Jim Jones, Betty & Ernest Plyer, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Children & youth of the church, Jim Benfield, Barry Powlas, Butch Mabry, Frank Tadlock, Joyce Kneip & family, Pat & Walt Masters,

Rowan Helping Ministries, Oct. 22, 2006

2006-11-09T20:49:00.001-05:00

Fall Festival Photos

2006-11-09T20:36:00.001-05:00

Click on these pictures to see larger images:

Fall Festival, Oct. 29, 2006

2006-11-09T20:05:00.000-05:00

Fall Festival, 2006

2006-11-09T19:59:00.001-05:00

Prayer Concerns October 29, 2006

2006-10-30T14:32:00.000-05:00

Joyce Kneip & family, Pat Masters, Frank Tadlock, Pearl Campbell, Annie Marie Seaford, Everette Phillips, Bobbie & David Finney, family of Lance Cpl Nathan Elrod, Jim Brady, Norma Hoyle, Barry Powlas, Jim Benfield, family of Dewey Barnes, John Short, the Fouts family, Charlotte Owens & family, Kluttz family, Nancy Jones & family, Martha Marlowe (knee surgery)

Prayer Concerns Oct. 22, 2006

2006-10-25T15:57:00.000-04:00

Hi folks,

Sorry I have been negligent lately about posting the prayer requests from each Sunday. Here is the list from this past Sunday, Oct. 22, and some others:

Barry Powlas, Jim Benfield, Joyce Kneip & family, Annie Marie Seaford, Everette Phillips, Pearl Campbell, Frank Tadlock Betty & Ernest Plyler, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Charlotte Own & family, Jacobs family, Kluttz family, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Lorraine Lentz, Norma Hoyle, Robert Pulliam, Elgie Moore, Lisa & Brian Tadlock, John Hughes, Fannie Gaither, Naomi Kirk, Hunter Carlton, Jim & Sue Eller, Al McCracken, Harry Rowland, Bobbi & David Finney, Cole Raynor, Marci Mitchell, Matt Darnell, Junior Lyerly, Sunday School, John Short,

Prayer Concerns, Sept. 24

2006-09-25T13:36:00.000-04:00

Robert Pulliam, Everette Phillips, Becky Peeler, Elgie Moore, Ruth Gulledge, Norma Hoyle, Al McCracken, Annie Marie Seaford, Al McCracken, Jo Overcash, Philip Brown, Fannie Gaither, Lingle family, Judy Crowell family, the Fouts family, Barry Powlas, Jim Benfield, Shannon Myers, Norma Hoyle, Karen Whicker, Joyce Kneip & family, Pearl Campbell, Frank Tadlock

Prayers: August 20, 27, Sept. 3

2006-09-06T16:30:00.000-04:00

Becky Peeler, Dwight & Margaret Lowder, Claudine Drye (knee replacement surgery), Dot Eller, Amy Shue, Jr. Lyerly, Shelia Lentz, Everette Phillips, Joyce Kneip, Gertie Pope, Norma Hoyle, Johnny & Ethel Foster, Jim Benfield, Barry Powlas, Dick Cronic, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Betty & Ernest Plyler, Al McCracken, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Marion Smith, Frank Tadlock, Pearl Campbell, Harry Wilson, Bill & Shirley Walker, Alexis Rabon, Martha Caldwell, Stanley Fouts, Judy Miller, Ann Bringle, Shut ins, Elgie Moore, Wendy Condrey, Dave John, Buddy Kluttz, Bobbi & David Finney, Annette Rendleman, Ann Pendry, All teachers who spend the hours of each day with our children, Tony Washington, Carl Smith,

Prayers, August 13, 2006

2006-08-15T16:23:00.000-04:00

Junior Lyerly, Barry Powlas, Wendy Condrey & Dave John, Amanda Rowland, Barry Powlas, Jim Benfield, Shirley & Bill Walker, Bobbi & David Finney, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Betty & Ernest Plyler, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Frank Tadlock, Joyce Kneip & family, Harry Wilson, Pearl Campbell,

Prayers, August 6, 2006

2006-08-09T14:08:00.000-04:00

Mary Hoffman, Wendy Condrey, Dave John, Bobbi & David Finney, Bill & Shirley Walker, Ruth Gulledge, Joyce Kneip & family, Pearl Campbell, Jean Brown, Harry Wilson, the children, Fannie Gaither, Junior Gaither (who is in China), Sadie Morgan family, Fred Thompson, Stanly Fouts, Deen Lanning & family, Prayer of thanksgiving that Mrs. Okula is in remission, Amy Shue, Harry Rowland

VBS '06

2006-08-04T15:00:00.001-04:00

Prayers, July 30, 2006

2006-08-04T14:57:00.000-04:00

Wendy Condrey, Dave John, Ernest & Betty Plyler, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Pearl Campbell, Shelia Lentz, Annie Marie Seaford, Patricia Jacobs, Lewis Jacobs, Joyce Kniep, Ryan Beacham, Jacobs family, Kluttz family, Jamie Jones, Norma Hoyle, Harry Wilson, Frank Tadlock, Thanksgiving that Mrs. Okula is in remission!, Junior Gaither (who is in China) Fannie Gaither

Prayer Concerns

2006-07-23T21:30:00.000-04:00

Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Betty & Ernest Plyler, Annie Marie Seaford, Nelson & Sandra Earnhardt, Joyce Kneip & family, Frank Tadlock, Pearl Campbell, Ruth Gulledge, Walt Masters, Norma Hoyle, Walt Masters, Junior Lyerly, Amy Shue, Ruby Lynch, Miss Okula, Pansy Kanode & family, Mr and Mrs. Hugh Childers, Harry Rowland, Junior Gaither & his mission trip to China.

Prayer Concerns July 9, 2006

2006-07-10T13:05:00.000-04:00

Family of Joyce Bradley, Amy Shue, Griffin family, Bobbie & David Finney, Jacobs family, Kluttz family, Inez Park & family, Mrs. Okula (who has cancer), Lillian Pope, Stanley Fouts, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Louise Herlocker, Betty & Ernest Plyler, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Joyce Kneip & family, Norma Hoyle, Ruth Gulledge, Frank Tadlock, Pearl Campbell, Wendy Condrey, & Dave John, Jim Benfield, Ann & Barry Powlas

Prayer Concerns July 2, 2006

2006-07-06T13:52:00.000-04:00

Amy Shue, Joyce Kneip, Annie Marie and John Seaford, Patricia Jacobs, Norma Hoyle, David & Bobbie Finney, Pearl Campbell, Lewis Jacobs, Ruby Lynch, Wendy Hunsucker, Laurie McCallum, Mary Seaford, Mary Hoffman, Amy Leazer, Judy Greene, Mullis family in the death of daughter Pat, Margaret & Dwight Lowder, Harry Rowland, Jacobs family, Kluttz family, Ryan Beacham, Bonnie Sechler, Carolyn Okula, Richard Rollins, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Ernest & Betty Plyler, Ruth Gulledge, Frank Tadlock, Stanley Fouts, Misty Cofer, Jim Benfield, Ann & Barry Powlas, Wendy Condrey, Dave John, Michael and Judy Shell's daughter Julie

Youth Week at Junaluska 2006

2006-07-04T20:14:00.000-04:00

click on the picture to see a larger version.

Prayer Concerns June 18, 2006

2006-06-19T22:32:00.000-04:00

Gentry family, Annie Marie Seaford, Joyce Kneip, Patricia Jacobs, Mrs. Okula (who has cancer), Nelson Earnhardt, Norma Hoyle, Jim Miller, Brad Hudson, Maddie Brigman, Connor Stout, Laurie McCallum, Joyce Kneip, Margaret & Dwight Lowder, Kittie Eller, Kelby Porter, Mary Seaford

Prayer Concerns June 4 & 11, 2006

2006-06-11T18:35:00.000-04:00

June 4:

Jim Benfield, Barry Powlas, Mrs. Duckworth (a nursing home resident), Joyce Kneip & family, Norma Hoyle, Pat & Walt Masters, Lydia Hatley, Patricia Jacobs, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Pearl Campbell, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Betty & Ernest Plyler, Wendy Condrey, Dave John, Keith Freeze, Buna Lingle & family, Fannie Gaither, Mrs. Carolyn Okula, Norma Hoyle & family, Harry Rowland, Robert Pulliam, Amy Shue, Jim Miller, Hadan Rabon, Jimmie Andrew, Carter Chestnut, Bill Chestnut, Collins family, Stephanie & jerry Tucker (has lung cancer), Andy Eury in Iraq,

June 11:

Jim Benfield, Barry Powlas, for rain, Mary Elizabeth Williams, Al McCracken, Harry Rowland, Jimmie Andrew, Ruby Rabon, Haden Rabon, Joyce Kneip & family, Tadlock family, Walt & Pat Masters, Annie Marie Seaford, Jacobs family, Pearl Campbell

Prayer Concerns May 21 and 28, 2006

2006-06-05T21:33:00.000-04:00

Betty & Ernest Plyler, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Stanley Fouts, Jiim Benfield, family of Ann White, Barry Powlas, Durham family, Lydia Hatley, Pearl Campbell, Pat & Walt Masters, Wendy Condrey, Mrs. Carolyn Okula (who has cancer), Christina Karl in the death of her 6 week old daughter, Kelli Jean Karl), Norma Hoyle and her family, Junior Lyerly, Joyce Kneip, Kelly Honeycutt, Laurie McCallum, Lewis & Betty & Patricia Jacobs, Wendy Sifford, Amy Shue, Bernhardt family, Jimmie Andrew, Nancy Troutman, Annie Lou Bringle, Patrick Benfield, Scott Benfield & family, Linda Braswell & family.

Prayer Concerns May 14, 2006

2006-05-17T19:43:00.000-04:00

Martha Ann & Chuck, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Betty & Ernest Plyler, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Joyce Kneip & family, Lydia Hatley, Pat & Walt Masters, Bill & Norma Hoyle, Pearl Campbell, Stanley Fouts, Mary Legg, Harry Rowland, family of Linda Braswell, Pat & Walt Masters, Ryan Beacham, Jacobs family, Charltte Sparks, Kluttz family, Mrs. Okula (who has cancer).

New Fellowship Hall picture

2006-05-17T14:09:00.001-04:00

Click on the picture below to see a bigger picture:

May 2006 Newsletter

2006-05-12T11:22:00.000-04:00

Strong Medicine, The Gospel of Judas, and The Da Vinci Code
Jonathan’s Journals

The gospel of Jesus Christ is not an easy message to hear. It is not like sweet-tasting medicine. It requires us to look squarely and plainly at reality, which in a world of fantasy and illusion, can be painful. The gospel requires us to look at ourselves as we truly are: as the good creation of God who have turned inward on ourselves and thus distorted the image of God which we were originally created to bear. In other words: we are broken sinners- in need of God’s redemption. In order for sinners like you and me to be redeemed, we need to acknowledge our sin, repent (that is, turn our lives around), and throw ourselves on the mercy of God, trusting Christ to deliver us. It’s pretty strong medicine, but unlike some medicines, it is free, available to all, and it really works.

So, I’m not too surprised that this gospel should prove itself to be too strong a medicine for all of us to stomach. From the very beginning of the church, there have been those who have wanted to replace this gospel with something a little easier to handle. One such alternative gospel was called gnosticism, and it has resurfaced lately in the form of the so-called “gospel of Judas.” Gnosticism, of which the gospel of Judas is merely one example, is based on the belief that we are saved not by grace through faith, but by “gnosis,” which is translated as “knowledge.” And it is not a knowledge available to all, it is a secret knowledge available only to a select few: thus the opening line in the gospel of Judas: "The secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot."

In the world of gnosticism, the physical world is bad, and only the spiritual world is good. Jesus “saves us” by giving us the secret knowledge to know how to escape this bad physical world, and enter a spiritual world. (In contrast to this, orthodox Christianity has always taught that the physical world is God’s good creation, as we confess in the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth”). So, Judas does Jesus a favor by turning him over to the Romans, so that he can die (be delivered from the physical body) and enter a spiritual realm with no body. In contrast to this, orthodox Christianity insisted that our bodies are good, and so Jesus’ bodily resurrection is essential, as is a belief in a general resurrection for all of us some day.

In the world of gnosticism, there is no sin, and thus no need for repentance. There is only ignorance, and the need for secret knowledge. If you can just find out the ‘secret,’ about how to escape the bad physical world and enter the good spiritual world, everything will be ok. In this way, the gospel of Judas has a lot in common with The Da Vinci Code, even though the gospel of Judas dates from the 2nd Century, and The Da Vinci Code is a modern invention. What they have in common is the belief that Jesus kept lots of secrets, and the church has been trying to ‘cover up’ these secrets for centuries. In particular, The Da Vinci code speculates that there were secrets associated with Mary Magdalene. We know from the New Testament gospels that Mary Magdalene was very important, that she was the first Christian preacher, the first Apostle sent by Jesus to bear witness to the resurrection. As such, she is a hugely important figure in the entire New Testament and in the church. The Da Vinci Code diminishes the role of Mary Magdalene by saying that she is important only because she is Jesus’ secret girlfriend, that she doesn’t have any meaningful identity apart from that. In contrast, the New Testament elevates Mary Magdalene to the place of Apostle to the Apostles, as someone who is commissioned by Jesus to keep no secrets, but to tell everyone about the glorious resurrection of his body.

Of course, the media is currently saturated with stories about the Gospel of Judas and The Da Vinci Code. I don’t blame the media, they are only giving the public what it wants: theological candy. But for those who want to be cured, or at least healed, there is no avoiding the strong medicine of the gospel. It may not be as sweet as candy, but it gives life.

Peace,
Jonathan

ps: I plan to see the Da Vinci Code movie. It’s supposed to be pretty good as far as entertainment goes. And it may be a bridge for us to talk with people about Jesus.

Prayer Concerns May 7, 2006

2006-05-08T15:21:00.000-04:00

Carolyn Okula, Andy Eury in Iraq, Buddy Kluttz, Charlotte Sparks, Ryan Beacham, Lewis & Patricia Jacobs, Kluttz family, Chris Cook and Lauren Bernhardt, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Betty & Ernest Plyler, Praise to God for Peggy's good report, Lydia Hatley, Joyce Kneip & family, Bill & Norma Hoyle, Pearl Campbell, Walt & Pat Masters, Ann White, Barry Powlas, Jim Benfield, Wendy Condrey, Harry Rowland, Jr. Lyerly, Becky Peeler, our youth, Laurie McCallum, Cathy Kirchin, Tom Meredith, Annie Marie & John Seaford

Prayer Concerns, April 16 & 23, 2006

2006-04-28T14:42:00.000-04:00

April 23:

Stanley & Doris Fouts, Joyce Kneip & family, Bill & Norma Hoyle, The Tadlocks, Lydia Hatley, Pearl Campbell, Pat & Walt Masters, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Betty & Ernest Plyler, Peggy McCracken, Ann White, family of Pam Bass, Buddy Kluttz, Dottie Winkler, Heather Redding, Sandy Morgan, Fred Thomopson, Brentley Culp family, Bruce Sims, Tammy Nader & Aaron, Junior Lyerly, John & Annie Marie Seaford

April 16:

Joyce Kneip & her family, those in the military & families, Stanley & Dianne Fouts, Andy Hoffman, Pearl Campbell, Carolyn Okula, Keitha Roden, Eveleny Kiser, Buna Lingle and family, Ryan Beacham, Charlotte Sparks, Patricia Jacobs, Kenneth Todd, Bill & Norma Hoyle, Shelia Lentz, Barry & Ann Powlass, Lori McCallum & Shirley Walker, Cathy Kerchen & Jacobs family, John & Annie Marie Seaford, Bobbbi Benfield, Cathy Eubanks, Pat Masters, Gunnter, Deven Murveen, Wendy Condrey, Nora Kneip, Butch Mabry, Lydia Hatley, Tadlock family, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Betty & Ernest Plyleer, Peggy McCracken, Fannie Gaither.

Holy Week

2006-04-15T13:30:00.000-04:00

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

Thanks to my friend Jonathon Norman for this video. You can click on it to see and hear a beautiful collection of sacred music, photography, and art that tells the story of Holy Week. You may have to wait several moments (depending on the speed of your computer and your connection) before the video starts. Let me know if you can view it! If this works for at least some of you, we may be able to put addtional videos from our church on line for viewing.

Prayer Concerns April 9, 2006

2006-04-12T12:50:00.000-04:00

family of Ruby Clement, R. E. Hoffman, Joyce Kneip, Stephany Melton, Laurie McCallum, Judy Russell, Dottie Winkler, Bill & Norma Hoyle, Junior & Kathy Lyerly, Doris Kluttz, Granny Pope, Carolyn Okula, Patricia Jacobs, Annie Marie & John Seaford, Ryan Beachum, Charlotte Sparks, Lydia Hatley, The Tadlocks, Pearl Campbell, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Betty & Ernest Plyler, Wendy Condrey, Ann White, Barry & Ann Powlas, Jimmy Benfield, Mark Wilhelm, Halance Benfield, Annie Bringle, Tammy Naylor

Jonathan's Journals - April 2006

2006-04-11T21:29:00.000-04:00

Easter !!!
Well, Christmas has come and gone. Remember Christmas? That’s the holiday of Christ’ Mass. It’s the holiday we are supposed to remember Jesus’ birth. Only problem was that about 50 years ago, we started associating it with Santa Claus and Rudolph instead. We Christians allowed ourselves to let Christmas have some vague, sentimental meaning about good will and happiness. Terrible theology. But it sold well. Christmas became a big boost for sales, and then we couldn’t get enough of it. It was marketed, packaged, and served up with eggnog and chestnuts roasting by an open fire.

We became a victim of our own success. No longer was Christmas a distinctive celebration of the incarnation of the second person of the Trinity; it was just a nice bland holiday, clearly not offensive to anyone. But then Christians noticed something. We were taking Christmas for granted. People weren’t saying “Merry Christmas” any more. They were saying, “Happy Holidays.” That made some Christians mad. They wanted us to remember Jesus as we walked into the department stores to indulge ourselves and spoil our children. People started objecting, holding demonstrations to “save Christmas.” I even remember this past December one man demonstrating in front of a department store. He was holding a sign that said, “Remember the reason for the season.” But this man was dressed up as Santa Claus. How confused can you get?

Well, now it’s Easter. We still have a chance with Easter. We haven’t messed it up yet. It’s hard to market a man being tortured to death and then God raising him from the dead, unless your name is Mel Gibson. But for most of us Easter is still weird. Let’s keep it that way.

Let’s not cozy up to Easter. It’s strange, frightening, earth-shattering, world-changing. Let’s not turn it into “Here comes Peter Cotton tail, hopping down the bunny trail.” Let’s remember: this is about God.

I don’t think Christmas is redeemable, from the standpoint of the general American public. We’ve allowed it to be so sentimentalized that people will never be scandalized by it again. But Easter’s a different story.

At Easter, we remember how distinctively Jewish Jesus was. We remember how he came to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and was hailed as the Son of David, the Messiah (a term meaning “one who is anointed to rule.”) We remember how he observed Passover with his disciples, and shocked them by announcing that one of them would betray him. Judas kissed him, and the Romans arrested him. Caesar’s representative, Pontius Pilate, had him sentenced to death. The disciples fled. Even Peter denied him three times. The Romans crucified him, because they believed in law, order, and swift justice (capital punishment).

The world came to a screeching halt. Darkness in the middle of the day. Earthquakes, rocks splitting, temple veils being torn from the top down, dead people getting up out of their graves (Matthew 27:52). Confusion. Chaos. The disciples, huddling together in fear, wondering when the Romans would come after them too. Judas committed suicide. Peter wept bitterly. How could things get any worse?

Then, suddenly…… Easter! The world is made new. The first fruits of God’s new creation. The promise of resurrection come true. God wins. Jesus appears to the disciples who had betrayed him, offering them forgiveness, new life, hope, a brand new start. Jesus commissions them to turn the world upside down. Or rather, Jesus commissions them to tell the world that He has turned it upside-down, or right-side up. What a story! What a Savior! What a God! Don’t trade it all in for chocolate bunnies.

Remember the lesson we learned from Christmas. Who knows? If we restore the original sense of adventure associated with Easter, we may also re-discover what an extraordinary and shocking miracle Christmas is as well!

Don’t like it when Christmas is secularized? Come to church on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Comments by Walt and Sermon by Jonathan

2006-04-02T22:54:00.000-04:00

Click here to listen to excerpts from this morning's worship service. These excerpts both relate to the recent mission trip to Pascagoula.

Prayer Concerns April 2, 2006

2006-04-02T22:37:00.000-04:00

Mrs. Okula at GQ Elementary, Ryan Beacham, Charlotte Sparks, Patricia Jacobs, Betty and Ernest Plyler, family of Willard Fisher, Sue and Mike Kosmides, Robert Pulliam, Boots Smith, Andy Eury in Iraq, Stephany Melton, Ann & Barry Powlas, Ann White, Jimmy Benfield, Sharon Kluttz and family, Stanley Fouts, Dianne Foust, Jeannie Russel, Bill & Norma Hoyle, Tadlock family, Reuben and Martha Marlowe, Annie Marie and John Seaford

Pascagoula Pictures

2006-04-02T15:38:00.001-04:00

working in the bathroom

The group with Candy, whose floor we replaced in her bedroom.

The group with our new friends Una and Bebe (Walt Masters is cut off - that's the right half of his body!

Una and Bebe's house

Al McCracken on the job.

Pascagoula day 3

2006-03-29T21:43:00.000-05:00

Wednesday got off to a surprising start. When we got to Lois’ house, she told us not to do anything- that her son-in-law was going to do the work. So, we went back to Lowe’s and returned some of our stuff, then went to Candy’s house. Her roof had leaked in the hurricane, and the sub-flooring was rotted. So, we went to work and replaced some of the sub-flooring and made the railing along her steps more secure. We plan to finish her house in the morning.

For dinner tonight, we went to the church (Safe Harbor UMC) where Euna and her UMW circle had prepared dinner for about 70 volunteers. Then we had prayer meeting in the sanctuary, where they asked me to give the opening prayer. They had some special music, and then Pastor John Tucker did the Bible study/ sermon on Revelation 4. Another wonderful day!

Pascagoula day 2

2006-03-29T08:14:00.000-05:00

Tuesday was a great day. We started out by caulking and doing some puttying in Euna and Bebe’s house. Then after lunch, we went to Lois’ house. Lois had six children, and two of them are still living. She has a daughter who lives near-by. Her house had been 6 inches under when the hurricane came. Lois said her son-in-law had done some work, but what we needed to do was put some plywood on the floor of one room. We went to Lowe’s to get the plywood, and Lois’ dauther (who has a pick-up truck) is going to pick them up this morning (Wed. morning).

Tuesday afternoon, we went to Biloxi and then Gulf Port. It was incredible to see the destruction along the coast. We took lots of pictures, and we’ll show them to you later (they’ll be on the blog). Tuesday night, we got back to Euna and Bebe’s house in time for supper. Euna (who had also fixed us breakfast) had prepared a shrimp dinner for us. (Since I don’t eat seafood, Euna fixed me chicken!) It rained a little on Wed. morning, but seems to be ok. Check back with you later.

Pascagoula day 1

2006-03-28T10:55:00.000-05:00

We arrived here in Pascagoula Monday evening about 7:30 p.m. (which would be about 8:30 eastern time). We found Safe Harbor United Methodist Church, and the pastor John Tucker. There were about 50 college-age young people staying at the church. We were fortunate that John took us to the home of Bebe and Euna, who are our hosts for the week. Their house was ruined in the hurricane, with water 4 feet high. They had evacuated to Dothan, Alabama. Anyway, we spent last night in the FEMA trailer in their yard. Euna and Bebe are now fixing us breakfast, and it smells good. Today, I think we are going to be doing some caulking here at Euna and Bebe’s house. The group from Milford Hills has been here twice and stayed here with Euna and Bebe.

Prayer Concerns

2006-03-26T20:46:00.000-05:00

Ryan Beacham, Charlotte Sparks, Kluttz family, Stanley Fouts & Dianne Fouts, Walt Masters, Gene Seaford, Al McCracken and Jonathan Marlowe as they go to Mississippi this week; Bill & Norma Hoyle, Joyce Kneip & family, David Frayley, Ann & Barry Powlas, Ann White, Jimmy Benfield, Bob Pendergrass, Alexis Rabon, Wendy Condrey, Pam Shepherd, Tadlock family, Lydia Hatley, Pearl Campbell, Walt & Pat Masters, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Betty & Ernest Plyler, Sharon Kluttz, Willard Fisher, Annie Marie Seaford.

Construction Pictures March 2006

2006-03-23T16:10:00.001-05:00

Prayer Concerns March 19, 2006

2006-03-20T08:36:00.000-05:00

Wendy Condrey, Bill & Norma Hoyle, Pam Shepherd, Alexis Rabon, Lydia Hatley, Tadlock family, Joyce Kneip & family, Barry Powlas, Pat & Walt, Pearl Campbell, Andy Clement, Reuben & Martha Marlowe, Betty & Ernest Plyler, Jacobs family, Ryan Beacham, Charlotte Sparks, Kluttz family, Trish Jacobs, Annie Marie Seaford & John, Jane Jacobs, Becky Peeler, Mary Corriher, Harry Rowland, Annie Bringle, the family of Ann Riddle Simmerson

Prayer Concerns March 12, 2006

2006-03-13T07:38:00.000-05:00

Alexis Rabon, Angela Zunk, Bill & Norma Hoyle, Joyce Kneip, Betty Barringer, Shelia Lentz, Amy Shue, Carl Smith, Steve Smale, Boots Simmerson, Harry Rowland, Barry Powlas, Ann White, Joyce Kneip, Ryan Beacham, Jacobs Kluttz, Klutt family, Benny Allen, Larry Williams, Grant, Ashley & Caroline Hunsucker (Caroline was born at 3:00 a.m.), Keitha Rodden, Carolyn Okula, Jay Phillips (home from Iraq :) ), Willard Fisher, Dan Herlocker, Wendy Condrey, family of Margie Shaver, Annie Marie Seaford, Lydia Hatley, Walt & Pat

Prayer Concerns March 5, 2006

2006-03-06T08:50:00.000-05:00

Alexis Rabon who is in the hospital in Virginia Beach with a broken leg and infection, David Brown, Stanley Fouts, Ann White, Barry Powlas, Lydia Hatley, Walt & Pat Masters, Bill & Norma Hoyle, Pearl Campbell, Kluttz family, Betty & Ernest Plyler, Ian Brinkley in Iraq, Reuben and Martha Marlowe, Wendy Condrey, Jed Spain who is going back to Iraq forhis 4th tour of duty, Doris Kluttz, Ben Kluttz (fractured bone in foot), Willard Fisher, Shannon Sale, Jonathan Lowe, Harry Rowland, The Shaver family, Annie Marie and John Seaford