2010 Thanksgiving Service at Republic Grove UMC

This past Sunday we had our comunity Thanksgiving service at Republican Grove UMC with Republican Grove Baptist Church joining us. When the Thanksginving service is held at the Baptist church, the Methodist pastor has the joy of delivering the Thanksgiving message and vice versa. So this year we at the Methodist church hosted of brethren from across the road.

We had two excellent singers for the service, from Republican Grove baptist Church we had Cecil and from Providence UMC we had Brian Daniels. Cecil sang a Martina McBride song, "I've been Blessed" and Brian sang "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart".

Rev. Shelton Miles, the pastor at Republican Grove Baptist Church, gave an excellent message from titled "I am Blessed". I have always enjoyed listening to Shelton. Among my many blessing here on the Mount Airy Charge, I count Shelton among the best.

Shelton was trying to explain to Joanne why she should not be taking his picture, but she wasn't listening.

A Happy Thanksgiving to you All!

Thanks for the Thorns

I found this story in my email today. Happy Thanksgiving, in all things give thanks.

THE BLESSING OF THORNS


Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole her ease.

During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose annual holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come.

What's worse, Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. "She has no idea what I'm feeling," thought Sandra with a shudder.

"Thanksgiving? Thankful for what?" she wondered aloud. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child?

"Good afternoon, can I help you?" The shop clerk's approach startled her.

"I...I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra, "for Thanksgiving?"

"Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the Thanksgiving Special?" asked the shop clerk. "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys gratitude this Thanksgiving?

"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. " Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the shop clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."

Then the door's small bell rang, and the shop clerk said, "Hi Barbara...let me get your order." She politely excused herself and walked toward a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses. Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped...there were no flowers.

"Want this in a box?" asked the clerk.

Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers!?! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed.

"Yes, please." Barbara replied with an appreciative smile.

"You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said as she gently tapped her chest.

"Uh," stammered Sandra, "that lady just left with, uh... she just left with no flowers!"

"Right...I cut off the flowers. That's the Special... I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet.

"Oh, come on, you can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that?" exclaimed Sandra.

"Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling very much like you feel today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery."

"That same year I had lost my husband, "continued the clerk," and for the first time in my life, I had to spend the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel.

"So what did you do?" asked Sandra. "I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for good things in life and never thought to ask Him why those good things happened to me, but when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask! It took time for me to learn that dark times are important. I always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life, but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."

Just then someone else walked in the shop.

"Hey, Phil!" shouted the clerk to the balding, rotund man.

"My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving arrangement... twelve thorny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator.

"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind me asking why she wants something that looks like that?

"No...I'm glad you asked," Phil replied. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we slogged through problem after problem. He rescued our marriage. Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she learned from "thorny" times, and that was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks to Him for what that problem taught us."

As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"

"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said to the clerk. "It's all too... fresh."

"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.

"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute."

"Thank you. What do I owe you?" asked Sandra.

"Nothing." said the clerk. "Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you'd like to read it first."

It read: "Dear God, I have never thanked you for my thorns. I have thanked you a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to you along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of your rainbow look much more brilliant."

Buddy and his split personality

Buddy is Courtney and Dave's family dog and he came along when they visited us for Thanksgiving. You really couldn't ask for a better dog for a family with kids. Thomas will lay on the floor using Buddy for a pillow or Lila will follow Buddy around with a tight hold on his nubby tail and the dog does nothing. It's like its all part of being in the family.

 

Now I don't know about you, but I was always taught and passed it on to my children, that you never bother a dog when it is eating or chewing on a bone. Buddy is the exception to the rule. Our 13 year old dog, Millie, growls if you come near her bowl when she's eating or even if you walk close when she's chewing a rawhide bone. Buddy could care less, he just likes having family around. 

 

Buddy's calm demeanor ends when the family leaves. Buddy the calm and mellow morphs into Buddy the wacko. We went out one evening and left Buddy and Millie at the house. When we returns we found that Buddy had popped a pane out of the window and shredded the curtains while jumping up to the window to see when the family returned. We thought it was just a aberration and put some cover on the window until the weekend. So when we went out another evening we thought all would be fine. Well, when we got in we found another pane out. So we covered that one until the weekend.

The next day went fine so we put it out of our mind. On Saturday, we all went to my parents for dinner, thinking that we had taken all the proper precautions to protect the window. When we got home and pulled up in front of the house, there was Buddy hanging out the second floor living room window. He had pushed the repairs out of the windows and squeezed through the space left by the now absent glass. He ripped through the screen window to finally have almost half his body hanging there in midair. My first thought was to jump from the car to run to the house and save the poor dog. By the time I got to the front door, unlocked and opened it; Buddy was at the door and bolted outside to greet his family. When I got inside, there was Millie laying on her bed looking up at me, as if to say, "I'm just too old for this kind of foolishness."

Needless to say, Buddy didn't stay home alone anymore. Dave and I replaced the panes of glass in the window and all is well.

 

I could make a boat load of spiritual analogies. You know, like God loving us that much or us loving God that much, but I'll let you work that one out for yourself. Buddy is still a great dog for my grandchildren.

Family Thanksgiving

We had a really nice Thanksgiving. Courtney and Dave, along with Thomas, Taisie, Levi and Lila, drove down from Albany, New York to be with us. Jeremiah, Kate, and Leah came over for dinner. We filled up the dining room table and had to set up another table for the kids. We went out to the storage shed and pulled out two highchairs for Lila and Leah. Joanne worked very hard on the Thanksgiving meal, too hard but you can't tell her I said so. Actually, I simply tried to stay out of the way in the kitchen and watched football with Dave.

We had an abundance of food and had to leave some things on the counter for retrieval. But when we were done, there was not an abundance of leftovers. Everyone was full, contented, and ready for a nap; though it was closer to bed time for some of us. It was nice having all the kids together in one place. It doesn't happen often enough.

Courtney, Dave, and the kids, along with our nephew, Bailey, came down to the parsonage to spend the night on Saturday. The kids and Joanne all camped out in the living room for the night. They got up early Sunday morning and went to all three church services with Joanne and me. Of course, after listening to your grandfather give one sermon, the next time is a bit redundant, so you find something else to do. Levi and Lila decided to hide in the pews and draw. 

 

My brother, Aaron, joined us and his son, Bailey, for the service at Providence UMC. Our guests almost doubled the congregation at Providence. It was nice to have so many there. I love it when I get to have family join us.

 

Aaron couldn't join us at the last service, but Bailey stuck it out. At St. Andrews UMC we had the Hanging of the Greens service. The service explains the significance and meaning of the various greenery in the sanctuary. All the decorations on the tree, Chrismons, have biblical meanings and tell the Christmas story.  I was later told that the kids got a very nice compliment. Someone that they sat near them said that they were the best behaved children that they had ever seen in church. Apparently that is one thing I can't claim they inherited from their grandfather.

 

It was a long morning for the kids, but they did great. I know its not the style service that they're accustomed to, but again they did great. The kids weren't shy about talking to the congregations after each service. It was fun watching my church people interacting with them, telling them that they had seen their pictures on the blog. But, for me, the best part of the day was that I got to show off my family, that I talk about almost every Sunday, to all my churches.

Community Thanksgiving Services

Something I have come to look forward to each year and very much enjoy are the Community Thanksgiving services. Our first is on the Sunday evening before Thanksgiving. Republican Grove UMC and Republican Grove Baptist get together for singing, a Thanksgiving message, and fellowship. This year we met at Republican Grove Baptist and when we meet at the baptist church the Methodist pastor is the guest speaker. When they come to our church the choir from the Baptist sings, we don't have a choir but we do have Joanne. Joanne sang and played the piano, singing songs with a Thanksgiving theme. At the end of the evening there was no doubt where the talent was in our family.

Our second Community Thanksgiving service is the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving and has St. Andrews UMC joining together with three area baptist churches; Piney Grove, Straightstone, and Edge Hill. This year we met at Piney Grove Baptist and the pastor from Straightstone Baptist was the guest speaker. The choir from each church has an opportunity to sing. I may be a tad biased, but I thought the St. Andrews choir shined. Even if they did have me as a handicap. Joanne played piano for the choir and once again the true family talent was displayed.

What I really enjoy is that everyone seems to know each other, no matter which church they attend. They've been neighbors, gone to school together, and worked together for years; getting together like this is simply an extension of their lives in community.

Another Hoop Jumped

I got this email yesterday. A bit of explanation first. I was ordained in a non-denominational church back in 1994. While the UMC recognizes my ordination, they do not accept it in their denomination. So I have been going through the process for the UMC. I am presently serving as a Lay Supply Pastor with the Mount Airy Charge. Upon completion of the requirements I will be a Local Pastor with the UMC and that should all finalize in early June. That's probably as clear as mud, but it'll have to do for now.

Charlie -

The Lynchburg District Committee on Ordained Ministry met yesterday and approved you as a certified candidate for ministry, approved you to attend local pastor licensing school, and approved for appointment as a part-time local pastor. Please contact the Lynchburg District Office immediately for the application and book list for licensing school.

If you have any questions about the requirements, please contact our district registrar.

Grace & Peace,

Rick Ecklund, Pastor

Centenary United Methodist Church

Thanksgiving Services

We had two Community Thanksgiving Services on the Charge. Republican Grove UMC joined with Republican Grove Baptist Church and had an evening service on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. We met at the Baptist church this year and next year will be at the Mthodist church. When they meet at the Baptist church the Methodist pastor delivers the message. So, my first year I was the speaker.

St. Andrews UMC gets together with 3 Baptist churches for their Thanksgiving service; Piney Grove Baptist Church, Straightstone Baptist Church, and Eastbrook Baptist Church. Each of the church's choirs sang two numbers during the service. The music was varied and enthusiastic. The message was delivered by Rev. Sam Caldwell, representing Eastbrook Baptist, since they are currently without a pastor. After services there were refreshments.

They have been having these community services for over 40 years. It was wonderful watching folks arrive and greet each other. Everyone knew everybody. There were no church rivalries or denominational feuding. It was simply believers getting together to celebrate their thankfulness to God and to fellowship with one another. It wasn't about theology, it went beyond that. It was an incredible thing to behold.