St. Andrews Spaghetti Supper

Saturday evening we a spaghetti supper at St. Andrews. What made this one interesting was the the men did the cooking. (There were many in prayer during the preparation) A.J. Nuchols made the salad and cooked the noodles. We had enough spaghetti to feed 40.
David Adams and Bill Wyatt made an abundance of spaghetti sauce. We had 3 crockpots full of sauce and there wasn't much left over. I had the important, difficult, and life threatening job of slicing the bread, buttering it, and placing the trays in the oven. Man, did I work up an appetite.
We had 32 folks join us for dinner. They brought drinks, salad dressing, chips & dip, and desserts. I had to grab a chocolate chip cookie before the meal started, just to be sure I got one.
It was a great couple of hours of fellowship for the entire church. For you folks in larger urban/suburban churches, imagine a fellowship meal where you know everyone there. We always talk about the United Methodist Church is a connectional church. Well folks, this is connectional and its great.

Please Stop...I Want to Pray with You pt.2

Saturday the 19th was another overcast, rainy day for the Pray With You project. The weather didn't change to desire to be there to pray.
Donna Adams, Brian and Tammy Daniels from Providence were some of the folks who came to pray with anyone who stopped.

Saturday the 26th of April was our last day of our project at St. Andrews UMC. We have seen a great time of fellowship during our times of sitting and waiting for folks to stop for prayer. Stacey Wyatt is from St. Andrews and Heidi Dawson is from Republican Grove.
It has been fun getting together with folks we don't get to see each Sunday. Fred and Theresa Reiger are from Providence. You see, with the size of our congregations, no one congregation is able to cover the hours on their own. The cooperation has been wonderful to watch. It is not a a church thing, it is a Charge thing.
Next week we move our project at Republican Grove UMC and it will be there for the next two weeks. We continue to look forward to what God is doing through us and in us. http://www.praywithyou.org/

Psyche Evaluation Interview

I went to Richmond yesterday for my Psychological Evaluation Interview for the licensing process with the United Methodist Church. The letter had told me to plan on an hour and a half to two hours for the interview. Joanne and I arrived about ten minutes early for the appointment. Joanne brought a book and crossword puzzles to occupy her while I went in for the eval. They called me back at 1:00.

The interview went fine. First we talked about the information on my bio sheet. I had to confess that I was now 56 rather than 55. Then we went over my answers and results from my written psyche evaluation. He said that I appeared to be an exacting, detail watching, perfectionist (he probably said it nicer than that). I told him that if he had worked in the medical lab field for 35 years that he'd be that way too. All in all, the results were positive. Even the stuff that seemed negative, I had to admit was right. I was finished at 1:45.

A two hour drive, both ways, for a 45 minute interview. The Methodist Church needs to think of a better way to do this. Joanne was afraid that my "Grumpy" shirt had me written off before I went in, but I don't think so. I just hope that after all this they get the results back fast. I would like to get a copy though, just in case I ever need an insanity defense.

Please Stop...I Want To Pray With You!

On April 12th the Mount Airy Charge started the "Pray With You" project. The idea is real simple. You put up a banner asking folks to stop for prayer, put out some chairs, then sit and wait for people to stop for prayer as they drive by. Its a ministry being done by churches of the Lynchburg District of the UMC. Well actually, there are over 90 churches in the district and only 20 are doing this. We are 3 of the 20 and I am immensely pleased with response of our 3 congregations. There is a web site that lets folks who didn't stop to contact the church by email for prayer. Check it out at http://www.prayforyou.org/
We started the project at St. Andrews UMC. We will be doing the Saturdays, from 9:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the evening, in the month of April here and then moving to the Republican Grove UMC and Providence UMC for the month of May.
Our first day was cool and overcast, we got some rain (with a touch of thunder and lightning) for a few hours in the morning. It all seemed to start when Betty Jo and Heidi arrived and it tapered off when they left. You can draw your own conclusions.
The afternoon dried out and cooled down, but the wind was blowing hard enough to lift the canopy up off the ground. Emma Jean and Judy could have done some nice kite flying. It was in the afternoon that we had our only person to stop for prayer. She said she had driven by and then turned around and came back.
It may be that we were there all day simply for that one person to stop and ask for prayer. We may never know. We may find that each Saturday will be like this one, with more waves from passersby than people stopping. But folks now know that there is a church that believes in prayer on Route 40 and that church walks in what they believe. By the end of May they will also know there are churches on Java Road and Leda-Grove Road that believe the same.

The Dash

In July 2006, a short 3-minute movie was launched on the Internet called The Dash. Since then, over 40 million people from around the world have watched it; and over 20,000 a day continue to watch it as a result of people passing it along.

The movie has been more successful than anyone could have ever imagined. More importantly, however, it has inspired many, many people to reflect on their lives and ask that all important question, 'Are my priorities where they should be? I hope you enjoy this movie and share it with those who are close to you.

Click This Link to View: <www.dashpoemmovie.com>

Old Trees

I've always loved old trees. I remember climbing the big oak tree in front of our house in New Hampshire. I'd climb to the highest point I could and sway back and forth on the limb, kind of nature's amusement park. Old trees just seem to have character. I really got a new appreciation for them after I read "The Lord of the Rings". I loved the part about the Ents, Tree Herders, Shepherds of the Forest. I remember when Treebeard said, upon seeing the destruction of his forest, "Some of these I knew since they were nuts or acorns. Some of them had voices of their own."

Anyway, last Sunday as we were driving home from the churches Joanne saw this tree. She made me stop, turn around, go back, park, and take a picture. It may not be what you would call beautiful, but it was to us. It had character, you could see the age and wear in its limbs.

So don't be surprised if you see an occasional tree on the page. Wouldn't it be something if they could talk and could tell all they have seen change before them. I would love to hear a church's history from a tree's perspective.

Visit with the Grandkids

We went up tp visit Courtney, dave, and the grandkids. Where did the little kids go? Look at Thomas, he's half a head shorter than me and he's not 11 until July. Taisie is shooting up, too. She's been toting Lila around on her hip and Lila is no small package to carry. Levi can put away a load of food, as you can see.

They have their house on the market. They can have visitors 7 days a week from 10:00 to 7:00. Needless to say that can make everyone a little crazy.

Mt. Airy Charge Easter 2008

March 23rd 2008, Easter Sunday and my birthday. The last time Easter was on March 23rd was in 1913 and the next time it happens will be in 2160. I wasn't around for the last time and I won't be around for the next. So, today is a day of firsts. My first Easter Sunday / Birthday combination. My first Easter as a pastor. My first Maunday Thursday, Good Friday, and Sunrise services as a pastor. So it was a special day for me on top of being a special day in itself.

Our Easter Sunrise Service was at St. Andrews at 7:00. Joanne and I had to make it out of the house by 6 to get there on time and we barely made it. Well we actually left at 6:15 and I had to really hustle, (God was merciful that there were no State Police, Sheriffs, or deer out) but we made it. There were folks walking in the church laughing and saying, "Well we can't be too late we got here before the preacher!"
I was glad to see folks from the other churches there. It was a blessing to see members from all 3 churches attending the Maunday Thursday, Good Friday, and Sunrise Services during this week.
Joane wanted to get a shot of the preacher his first Easter Sunday on the job. The fact is I was sweating bullets and the outside temp was around 40. I think that it being Easter made me want to get it right. If I can ever stop trying to get it right, I may just get it right.

Folks got a kick that Jo and I were both wearing pink. We hadn't planned it, but it did make us look rather coordinated. We were actually lucky to be wearing matching socks and shoes.
After the Sunrise Service there was a big breakfast for those willing to get up this early. We had eggs, sausage and ham biscuits, muffins, fruit, and lots of orange juice and coffee. We were enjoying the food and fellowship so much we almost forget that we had to be at Republican Grove at 9:00. But, we made it there on time.

At Providence UMC after service we had an Easter Egg Hunt. Fred and Theresa Reiger's grandchildren were with us. Providence was the only church where I got to use my Easter Children's message. We had packed two candy packs and realized we needed four. So, Joanne ran back to the car and packed two more, while I stalled the service for a few minutes.

They hid the eggs in plain view at the ends of the pews. I was hilarious watching the kids look in all the harder places to hide stuff and walk right by the ones out in the open. I guess when you expect something to be difficult and hidden, you don't recognize it when it easy to get and so obvious. Ooh, that'll preach!

It had been a very busy week. Last Sunday, after the morning services and having lunch and a nice visit with the Reigers, we went to visitation for a member of Republican Grove who had died Friday night. Monday was the funeral in Brookneal, with the burial at the church cemetery. This was my second funeral in two weeks. Thursday night we had Maunday Thursday Service at Republican Grove. Friday night we were at Providence for Good Friday Tenebrae Service. The Sunday we had Sunrise Service at St. Andrews and Easter Services at Republican Grove and Providence at there regular times.

After Monday I needed the Thursday, Friday, and early Sunday. There is an old song by Carmen that says, "It may feel like Friday night, but Sunday is on the way!" Monday was the Friday night for me, the rest of the week with all the services drew me back to Sunday. That was where I should of been all the time.

Starry, Starry Night

You know something I really like about going out in the country? They got real stars! In the city if you look up in the sky and think you're seeing the stars, you're not. Mostly what you see are satellites and planes. You think you're looking at a star, only to notice its blinking and moving across the sky. The lights of the city keep you from seeing the incredible display of the heavens. Ever tried to see the Big Dipper with satellites? I really like looking at real stars.

First Funeral

This past Tuesday, March 4, I performed my first funeral as pastor of the Mount Airy Charge. It has been something I expectedto eventually have to do, but have been dreading since I was first assigned. A member of St. Andrews UMC died late Saturday night. I had been to visit him numerous times since last July; in the hospital, at the rehab facility, and at home. While he had been through a lot and was very ill, when you would walk in the room you wouldn't get the impression that he was sick. He was the healthiest looking sick person I had ever seen.

When he died I didn't feel totally comfortable with the possibility of giving the eulogy. I sincerely prayed that God would get me through this somehow. I had gotten to know him somewhat, but didn't feel I was right one to do it. Fortunately they asked a former pastor of St. Andrews UMC to do that duty. That pastor had known him for over 40 years; they were friends and had hunted together many times. They had a history, that I lacked. He was just who was needed. A prayer answered. We also had the pastor of his son to take a part in the service. So we had a retired Methodist pastor, a Baptist pastor, and me doing various parts of the service. Oh, I had best not forget the pianist; Joanne played the piano.

The church was full. It is a good measure of a person when so many come to pay their respects. The Renan Volunteer Fire Department was there. He had been a member of the volunteer fire department for 40 years. After the funeral we went to the cemetery. The big red fire truck led the way with lights flashing. The Sheriff's Department met us at every intersection, led us through Altavista and out onto Route 29. They did a excellent job. We were concerned that it might start to rain, but it held off until after we were all done.

My concern was that I would get it right my first time for the family. When it was over I felt like I could breathe again. Everything went off as it should. No one dragged on too long or messed up their part. I really don't relish the opportunity to do another one any time soon, but I know God will get me through, just like He always does.