Monday, May 24, 2010

Pentecost Sunday

This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, the Birthday of the church.
At each church we had streamers for everyone to wave during the hymns, representing the tongues of fire that fell above the heads of the disciples on that first Pentecost.
The reason I only got pics of the folks from Providence UMC waving the streamers is that I got so into waving my streamer that I forgot to take pictures.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHURCH!!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Well, It's Official

Every year United Methodist pastors come up for possible reappointment, that is they either stay where are or are moved to serve at a new church. The closest thing I can compare it to is being in the military. You never know when you'll get new orders or where you might be sent. You serve at the need and discretion of the organization. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with it. I was aware of how it worked when I signed on, both when I was in the Air Force and now with the United Methodist Church.

Well, it is official. I have been reappointed to serve the Mount Airy Charge for another year. It looks like I'll be going in the doors of Republican Grove UMC, Providence UMC, and St. Andrews UMC for at least another year and I couldn't be happier.

Republican Grove UMC
Providence UMC
St. Andrews UMC
Now I can breath easy for another year.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Mother's Day on the Mount Airy Charge

Last Sunday was Mother's Day. Joanne had prepared gifts for all the ladies at our three churches.
It was a craft she found online. It was two flowers that you had to cut out, lay on on top of the other, and finally insert a candy pop in the middle.
Joanne said that the directions called for a small candy sucker to be used. She said the only small ones she could find were called "Dum-Dums". I told her that we shouldn't use "Dum-Dums" on Mother's Day, someone may interpret it as an editorial statement. So we substituted larger Tootsie Roll Pops.
We had decided, starting with our first Mother's Day on the Mount Airy Charge, that we would recognize all the ladies on Mother's Day. We have felt that Mother's day was more about the mothering role than just about having given birth. There are mothers in the faith who have never given birth, but have mentored others in the mothering way. We have young single women who teach school and teenagers who have worked at camps where they served as a surrogate mothers to the campers. So we want all our ladies to feel special on Mother's Day.
Happy Mother's Day!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Fields of Blue

Last week we had fields of crimson clover, this week we have fields of blue. The photos are from Tammy Daniels of Providence UMC. 
 It is like watching The Master Artist applying brush strokes to the countryside.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Happy Mother's Day

My Grandmother Johnson, my father's mother
My Grandmother Hamilton, my mother's mother
My Mother
Joanne's Grandmother Wright, Joanne's father's mother
Joanne's Grandmother StClair, Joanne's mother's mother
Joanne's Mother
Joanne, a new mother
Three generations of mothers, Granny Wright, Joanne, and Courtney with Taisie
Happy Mother's Day


Monday, May 3, 2010

Fields of Crimson

My daughter had a post on her blog http://splashinggrace.blogspot.com/ with a quote from A.A. Milne, "Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them." I thought about that yesterday as I went to my churches and saw how the fields were given a red tint by the Crimsom Clover.
I had to go walking in the fields after church to get some pictures of the clover. I was afraid it might be gone soon and I didn't want to miss it. Turns out it may be around to enjoy for a while.
Rather than being a weed, Crimson Clover is a cultivated forage. It is used as a ground cover for soil conservation, a source of pollen and nectar for bees, as a food source for livestock, and for land beautification. I'm not too knowledgable about the first 3 uses, but I can vouch for the last one.
I couldn't believe I hadn't seen this in the last three years. The reason I hadn't seen it was that tobacco had been planted in these fields before.
I could have sat there for hours watching the clover blow in the wind. I looked like waves of living flames. I truly felt sorry for pastors with city churches, who don't get to see these wonders week after week.