Providence UMC Homecoming 2009

Providence UMC had their annual Homecoming last Sunday, September 13th. The three churches of the Mount Airy Charge decided that this year that all three churches would come together for each other's Homecoming Sunday. So, the members from Republican Grove UMC and Saint Andrews UMC came to Providence UMC to fellowship and worship together.

Our guest speaker for Homecoming was Rev. Roger Wilburn. He had been the pastor of the Mount Airy Charge some 10 years ago. It was nice having all three churches there to see him again. Mark Adams was our guest pianist. Joanne accompanied Brian Daniels on one song and played and sang with him on another.

As always the food was abundant and delicious. There was turkey, ham, BBQ, chicken, and roast beef just to name a few of the meats. I can't list everything on the table, but there was no way to try it all. Though a good effort could be made.

There were enough desserts to send a diabetic into shock. But, there were quite a few prepared for those who couldn't have the sugar. I tried several of them (just as a research comparison of course) and I couldn't tell any difference.

Rev. Roger Wilburn

It was a nice time of fellowship, while we enjoyed the meal. It was good to see the folks from the different churches talking and laughing. One gentleman came up to tell me that my idea to have all three churches together was brilliant. He said he and his wife had been talking to someone they didn't know. It turned out that they had gone to the same school. He said it was like a class reunion. I had to explain to him that it wasn't my idea though. The churches had had the idea and they had chosen to do it. But, I did agree with him, it was brilliant.

It was an excellent day. A bright, sunny day, but not too hot. A good word from the pulpit, good music and singing, and a full house. An abundance of food to be shared and enjoyed. Fine fellowship with old and new friends. Why would you want to be anywhere else?

Starting the Course of Study at Duke University

Last weekend I started my Course of Study for the United Methodist Church. The Course of Study is required for all local pastors and is essentially to make sure we're all trained as proper United Methodists.The classes are held at Duke University. There is a total of twelve classes, each requiring three weekends at Duke. The weekends are in September, November, January, and March. The class time is Friday night and Saturday morning. So, if you haven't done the math, if you go straight through with no breaks, you can finish in three years. But, it seems that they give you twelve years to finish, so I could take one class a year and retire before I finish.


The class I'm taking in September is titled "The Pastor as Bible Interpreter". The Professor is Mickey Efird, who has apparently written more books about the Bible than I've ever read. I like the class, it reminds me of some of my undergrad classes. But, it sure is a lot of info in eight hours each weekend. I think I had better get my hands on a digital voice recorder. I can't write as fast as I did years ago.


There are five of us in this first class from our Licensing School class. A few got a jump and started last year. I have to admit that it was a relief to find known friendly faces in the class.


Duke is a nice campus, seems well laid out, but I got lost anyway. When we got out on Saturday I started walking back to my car and realized that I didn't have a clue where I was or where I was going. I wandered around for about 45 minutes before I found the parking lot and then I had to find where my car was in the lot. I think next week I'll leave a trail of bread crumbs to find my way back.

9-11 Eight Years Later

This morning I've been watching the memorial services from New York, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon. I am remembering, shuddering as images of that day are shown again. Eight years later and the tears still come. They say we must not forget, I can't.

I saw the finest in our nation and in our friends around the globe after that day. My prayer is that we not only remember the events of that day, but also how we came together as a nation. There were no races, no political parties, no diverse nationalities or religions. We were all Americans. American flags flew from houses, cars, businesses, trees. We had a bond that solidified us. What was meant for evil, had an unforeseen result. We need to remember just how incredible that felt.

2009 Pastor's Retreat at Blackstone

Again in 2009, the Lynchburg District pastors of the United Methodist Church met for a retreat at Blackstone, the Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center.

Larry Davies, our District Superintendent, opened the retreat and Janet Hawkins led worship.

There isn't much more amusing than a bunch of pastors getting together and being led in some children's songs, complete with hand gestures and body movements. Its pretty cool to see fellow pastors relaxed and loosening up.

The authors of the book "Does Your Church Have A Prayer"; Marc Brown, Kathey Merry, and John Briggs; were our speakers.

There was quite a bit of good information shared, but so much seemed applicable to larger churches. What I have to do is glean from what was presented and find what was there that can be a blessing to my churches. I had to get past so much that seemed like information that I had heard at medical laboratory conferences, business applications. That's what I'm weeding through. I pray that God helps me find what my churches need and what will bless them.

Now, click on this to enlarge it. Now, Larry is always moving fast, but he's in two places at once!

At our last meeting together, Larry had asked us to wear Hawaiian shirts to accessorize the surf theme of the closing message. All us really spiritual folks sat all the way in the back of the room.

The big problem with retreats is that they end up being more workshop than retreat. I would like to go to one that emphasized prayer, worship, and being still. It has been way too long.

The Corn Roast

At Dave's church in Albany, New York, they have an annual event they call "Corn Roast Sunday". Now, instead of roastind they boil the corn, but it amounts to the same thing, edible fresh corn.

On Saturday, there was a Men's Breakfast. After the breakfast the men went into the gymnasium where several large bags of corn were delivered, fresh picked that morning. We all pulled up chairs and shucked the corn. We then took it into the kitchen where the ladies washed it and put in the refrigerator for Sunday.

On Saturday there had been a lot of rain, so we had lunch in the gymnasium. The gym is a great facility, but has been neglected for too many years before Dave came as pastor to the church. It has a huge potential, but needs a lot of work. I talked to one man from the church who has been there for many years. He told me that they had an inter-church basketball league and a youth league years ago. I think that is what Dave would like to see happen again. It will take some time and could be expensive, but if the church gets behind it , it can be an excellent ministry.

"Corn Roast Sunday" was a good day. A missionary from Mexico shared during the morning service. The lunch was very tasty and the time of fellowship was,as always, a blessing to see. Kids and adults played basketball and hit some softball out in the field. All in all, a very good Sunday.

A Day at the Museum

We visited the Children's Museum on Saturday. Right inside the door they had this bell that Lila, along with every other child that came near to it, enjoyed whacking with a mallet. It was enough to make a mother proud.

I can only assume that Mommy loves our little bell ringer. By the look of Lila's eyes it appears that she is waiting to be told "enough" banging the bell.

They had a display about the Hudson River with fish and turtles.

The kids loved the trick mirrors and the two-way mirror display.

There was a room with snakes and lizards. Each one of us that walked in asked the person there if there were any spiders, so we could warn Joanne before she came face to face with it.

"Back off Marmee, there's a hairy one down in the corner!"

Joanne and Thomas checked out the constellation chart to see if the could find ones they knew.

There was a presentation about the various turtles in the Hudson River areas. All the kids wanted to touch the different turtles. Well, almost all of them. Thomas wasn't really inspired to do the "touchy-feely" with the turtles.

Levi tried a little step back in time with the dugout canoe.

Our last thing was to go into a big domed room to watch a video about the size of the universe. They had these pads on the floor so you could lay back and watch the show all over the dome. The program was interesting, but not to everyone. Lila found it to be a perfect time to take an overdue nap.

Visiting Courtney, Dave, and the Grandchildren

"Hi Marmee and Grumpy", our greeting written by Levi on the driveway.

This Buddy, the family's new dog. He has an great combination of high energy and a laid back disposition. He loves to be near the family. If everyone is in the kitchen, he comes in lays down on the floor. If they move to the living room, so does he. Check Courtney's blog about buddy: http://splashinggrace.blogspot.com/2009/09/his-name-is-buddy.html

One of the things we enjoy is "huggling" with the grandchildren. Lila is the only one who doesn't jump up to avoid getting her picture taken curled up with their grandparent.

"Read me a book" Lila asks.

Levi celebrates having bested Thomas and Marmee on the Wii.

Taisie likes her new T-shirt.

Thomas plays his DS with a feather (he lost the stylus).

Okay, everyone smile.

Buddy has his ball and you'd have to pry it out.

Grumpy and Marmee have a good visit with Thomas, Taisie, Levi, and Lila. Good use of a long weekend if you ask me. What's a 10 hour drive if you get to hang out with the kids.

VBS 2009 at Shiloh UMC

Joanne helped her cousin, Sharlene, with Vacation Bible School at Shiloh UMC. Shiloh is the church Joanne grew up attending and where we were married,

They taught the songs to the different age groups in the sanctuary. They had special guests attending from Heart Havens. http://www.hearthavens.org/

They had a closing cookout at their picnic pavillion. The kids sang for the parents and friends attending.

VBS is done and now its time for some relaxation.