Shiloh UMC and the Power Outage

On the last Friday in June, we had a storm come through that knocked out power to 10's of thousands of people in Lynchburg and surrounding counties. Trees were snapped off and had fallen on power lines, homes and cars. The word was that power would not be completely restored to homes and businesses for over a week.  The problem of the loss of electricity and AC was compounded by the daytime temperatures reaching over the 100 degree point.

Shiloh UMC was one of the churches fortunate enough to keep its power and air conditioning. So the folks who made it to church on Sunday decided to get cold cuts, cheese, lettuce, tomato, bread and have sandwiches together in the fellowship hall after the morning service.

The lunch worked so well that we decided to come back for dinner. No one really wanted to sit out the afternoon and evening with the heat in the homes. So, Charlene Gallaher worked through the afternoon making several pans of lasagna, trays of garlic bread, and bowls of salad.

During the afternoon, people came in and out of the church to cool down. Some brought their dogs in to let them chill from the heat. Everyone was well behaved, people and pets.

We had quite a few people joining us for diner, even some non-members. It was a good place to come, relax, cool down, enjoy a meal that you couldn't prepare at home, and have a good time.

After dinner we went up into the sanctuary and watched a movie, Ratatouille. It was about 9:30 Sunday night before we finally left the church. The outside temperature had cooled down to the mid 80's.

Thoughout the coming week, people would continue to use the church as a resource and cooling station. Some slept at the church, some got ice from the ice machine for themselves and others, some cooled their pets, and a week later some still are.

Shiloh UMC Ministers at Parkview Mission

Again Shiloh UMC was minstering at Parkview Mission. Charlene Gallaher played piano, while Glen Garrison, Rev. Phil Showers, the pastor at Parkview Mission, Harry Spruce, and Fran Keeler led folks in a Gospel sing-a-long. 

The food is prepared and everyone is waiting in the kitchen to start serving after the devotions and prayer.

Fianally, time to start serving, the best part of the evening. I take my usual place serving deviled eggs. We had a very big croud for dinner. Dinner was served, seconds were provided, and take home boxes were supplied. There was not a morsel left.

This is ministry.

Family Father's Day

 For lunch on Father's Day, Mom and Dad, Karen, Jeremiah and Kate with baby Jeremiah, Joanne and I went to Sundae Grill for lunch. They had a special that all fathers could eat for free. I have never seen any other restaraunt do that before. I had thought that, with free food, the line would be out the door, but we only had a 30 minute wait for seats. Even with that short of a wait, the owner kept apologizing for the delay. The food and service were great, but what really got me was how the owner told us how much he appreciated our coming to his restaraunt. He was blessing fathers and he appreciated us. Oh, we'll be back.

Another thing special about Sundae Grill, if you come to eat on a Sunday or Wednesday, and if you bring a copy of your church bulletin, they will send a check to your church equal to 10% of what you paid for your meal. Now think about that for a minute, a restaraunt is tithing what you paid back to your church. I love this place.

Jeremiah Luther Johnson, with his father Jeremiah Levi Johnson, with his father Charlie Johnson Jr., with his father Charlie Johnson Sr. A Very Happy Father Day, indeed.

Last Sunday Lunch at St Andrews UMC

Our last Sunday serving the Mount Airy Charge, St. Andrews UMC gave us a Going Away lunch. If you have been reading this blog for long you'll have noticed that at these three churches we eat well and often. That I didn't leave weighing well over 300 pounds was definitely not due to my will power.

The drive back to Lynchburg from the three churches in Pittsylvania and Halifax Counties that last Sunday was the longest drive home in 4 years. This appointment had been perfect for Joanne and me, we are forver indebted to all 3 churches for the blessing they have been to us. Thank you Republican Grove UMC, Providence UMC, and St. Andrews UMC.

Going Away Luncheon at Providence UMC

One thing you could always say about the 3 churches on the mount Airy Charge was that they knew how to eat well. Before our last Sunday, Providence UMC had a Going Away luncheon for us.

There was enough food to feed a church very much larger and no one ever leaves hungry.

The BBQ was excellent, to be truthful everything was and trust me I tried most of it, knowing I wouldn't get it any more for at least a year, until Homecoming Sunday 2012.

Now, I want you to notice something, Do you see the two pies and two cakes? That's almost a half a cake or pie per person. They have come to know my weak spots so well.

St Andrews UMC Cookout

We had a June cookout at St. Andrews UMC. Its always a good time of hanging out together after service and having some good food.

You've heard of open flame cooked, will Bill Wyatt is very skilled at that. Of course he's missing his eyebrows right now, but they say they'll grow back soon.

I even had to take my turn over the sweltering cooker. Oops, got caught!!

Good food, good friends...what else do you need?

St Andrews UMC Yard Sale

St. Andrews UMC had a yard sale. It served two purposes; to raise some finances for the church and to make the church visible to the community.

We sold hot dogs and drinks, along with baked goods. A.J. Nuckols cooked the hotdogs. We had folks leaving with more hot dogs than yard sale items.

We had everything from tools to toys.

We had homemade cakes and homemade jewelry.

It's always a good day of fellowship, when you're with good friends.

2010 Advent on the Mt Airy Charge

Visiting Disney Epcot in December

When Joanne and I arrived at Epcot the first and foremost place we had planned to head to was where you get your pictures taken with the characters.

Joanne had to get her very own, up close, by herself, personal picture with Mickey. But, I was standing close by to make sure she behaved.

You might notice that I didn't get my very own,up close, personal, by myself photo with Minnie. I was told that people were waiting in line behind us and there wasn't time for that. Aha, I think I see a problem here.

This was the "Finding Nemo" Ride at the The Sea exhibit. I call this picture "Joanne on a Half Shell".

This is the Italy Pavillion in Epcot.

We had dinner Tutto Italia Ristorante in the Italy Pavilion . It was the first time we had eaten there and it was excellent. The food and service are great, the old world atmosphere is great if you're looking to slow down a bit and catch your breath.

The real highlght of the day way going to the Candlelight Processional at the American Gardens Theatre.
The event retells the story of Christmas with a special celebrity narrator, Jodi Benson was the narrator that night, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and a mass choir.

Joanne and I had finished eating dinner and were just walking by as it was getting ready to begin and decided to try and get a seat. They escorted us to the front row, right in front of the sign language interpretor. They may not have been the best seats for seeing the entire choir and orchestra, but we were pleased. The sign language interpretor on our side of the stage was a show in herself and I mean that in as good of a way as can be inmagined. She didn't just use her her hands; she had the facial expressions and body movements all incorporated. I could imagine someone not being able to hear the music, watching her, and thinking, "That's what it sounds like."

There was a family seated next to us and when the narrator was reading, the mother and the children would be whispering. At first it was annoying, but I realized it was a different language. After the program, I spoke to the mother and asked her what she was doing. She told me that they were from Brazil and that her children didn't speak a word of English. So as the narrator was telling the story of the first Christmas in English, this mother was retelling the story to her children in Portugese. I was reminded of how we, as Christians, are to retell the story of Jesus.

Joanne was trying to sneak in the side door of the English Tea Shop. But, why? To get in line to have a picture with Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, too.

Father Christmas came out to the Tea Garden and told us of the Christmas traditions in the United Kingdom. That is a ball of mistletoe atop his walking stick. When we got our picture taken with him, we had an opportunity to make use of it.

This was Brunhilda, who related the Christams traditions of Germany.

Another wonderful day at Walt Disney World.