Republican Grove UMC Homecoming 2009

Yesterday, Sunday the 27th of October, Republican Grove UMC had their annual Homecoming Sunday. It had rained all day on Saturday and it wasn't looking too favorable on Sunday morning. But, by the time we were going to start the service the sun started peaking out and it turned out to be a beautiful day. It was nice, having been here 3 years, to recognize the folks that I only see at Homecoming or for special occasions, because they live too far away or attend a different church.

The other two churches of the Mount Airy Charge, Providence UMC and Saint Andrews UMC, joined Republican Grove in celebrating their Homecoming Sunday. It is something special to see all three of the churches coming together to fellowship and worship.
This year for Homecoming Sunday I was asked to speak. I told them that I was unaccustomed to being in the pulpit at Republican Grove. Usually, everyone sits on the piano side of the church and I use a podium on the floor level. It feels less like preaching and more like having a Bible study. I used the Book of Ruth for my scripture passage (no I didn't read the entire book), family photos I've been scanning (parents and grandparents when they were younger), an excerpt from the movie "Field of Dreams", and lyrics from a song by 70's rock group Blind Faith in the sermon. Somehow, to my surprise and the congregation's, it all came together. Isn't God amazing?
Brian Daniels, from Providence UMC, sang "You Lift Me Up" for us. The members of Republican Grove asked specifically for Brian to sing for their Homecoming after hearing him sing when they had joined Providence UMC for their Homecoming two weeks earlier. Brian has an excellent singing voice and I think that in the future Providence will be having to share Brian's talents more often.

After the service concluded everyone went out front of the church to enjoy the warm sun, while the final preparations were made for lunch. It was well worth the short wait.

As always, the food was abundant and delicious. I would try and give you a run down of all the food that was there, but I'd still probably forget half of it. No one had to leave still hungry. Homecoming meals are an excellent case for fasting the next day or two.Everyone enjoyed the meal and the fellowship. It was a good time for remembering, catching up on each others lives, and renewing friendships.

Looks at all these desserts! It is a diabetic's nightmare or, if you're a sugar junky like me, a really sweet dream. I made sure that the first thing on my plate was Doots Abbott's peach cobbler and there was still room for just a tiny bit of everything else.

It always seems that when I sit down with a full plate of desserts, someone comes around the corner with a camera. It never happens if I have a plate of salad. I tried to slide the plate out of view with my little finger, but I wasn't fast enough.

It was a great day. Thanks to all who worked to make it that way. Food, Family, Friends, and Fellowship; it doesn't get much better. See you all next year!

Brian's Play

Brian's play was "All American" by Mel Brooks. It centers around an immigrant professor who uses football to teach students engineering and gets caught up in the fame and popularity until he realizes being a coach is interfering with his true goal of being a good teacher. The play ends with him gaining American citizenship, winning the hand of the Dean in marriage and returning to the classroom. Brian played one of the football players and sang the solo "It's Fun to Think". One of his lines made reference to the fact he was not the missing link, thus the picture of the cave man.




Brian has been in several productions and continues to be a blessing to us at Providence UMC with his reading and singing. Keep it up Brian!

Pulpit Swap

Our District Superintendent, Rev. Larry Davies, has been covering the preaching duties at Court Street UMC. It is an over 100 year old church in downtown Lynchburg. The problem was that his duties there kept him from visiting all the other churches in the Lynchburg District. So, he started swapping pulpits with the district pastors. He would preach at the pastor's congregations on a particular Sunday and they would preach at Court Street. Yesterday was my Sunday.

Court Street UMC has a beautiful sanctuary. For a person like me who loves the look of wood, I went into overload. They have an incredible pipe organ that vibrates the floor. When we were singing the Doxology, I could feel the vibrations from my feet all the way up through the pulpit. Joanne said I had a big grin on my face while we were singing. When we sang the hymns all I could hear was the organ. I caught myself several times not singing and just listening to the organ music. The organist, George Clark, is excellent and I told him so several times.

I had several guests that came to hear me. I was really happy that my parents joined us and that my mother was able to make it. We also were happy to see friends from our Fairview UMC days, Alyce Blanks and Amy Rice. Court Street UMC gives all their guests a coffee mug and we all left with one. Except Joanne, she was so busy making sure I got my Bibles, notebook, and robe before we left that she left her mug sitting there. (She made me go back on Monday to get it)

It felt very strange to be at only one church on Sunday. The people at Court Street UMC were wonderful. They made us feel welcome and set me at ease, being at a different church. C. Doug Pillow, the retired former pastor of the church, sat down with me and talked me through their order of service. I noticed in the bulletin that they had a children's message, so I asked to make sure someone would be available to do that. It turned out that the person wasn't there, so I got to do the children's message. It was all fun.

Joanne and I had a wonderful morning visiting and ministering with Court Street UMC. I trust Larry had as much fun as we did as he visited our three churches on the Mount Airy Charge.

The Columbia Restaraunt in Tampa

While Joanne and I were in Tampa for the CLMA Convention we had the opportunity to have dinner at the oldest restaurant in Tampa. The Columbia Restaurant has been a fixture in Ybor City since 1905. It is undoubtedly an experience to be enjoyed.

The restaurant features Spanish/Cuban classics. It is not only Tampa's oldest, but also Florida's oldest and the world's largest Spanish restaurant. The food was excellent and worth the cab fare to get there.

They feature flamenco dance performances nightly. The show lasts for almost a full hour.

If you ever get to Tampa, check out the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City.

He Knows My Name

On Sunday we went to church and heard Dave preach. That is always a treat. I try to get cassette or CD copies of Dave preaching and listen to them in the car. They have done a lot of work at the church since we visited last year.

Another Sunday treat was getting to hear Taisie practice a song she will be singing on a future Sunday. The title of the song is "He Knows My Name". Taisie has a pretty voice, but at times is very timid with it. She did have a couple of quality coaches.

She told me that she will video herself when she sings at the church and email it to me. Its times like that that makes me love technology. Not as good as being there, but it'll do for now.