Children's Science Museum with the Grandchildren

Over Memorial Day weekend, Joanne and I went to New York State to be with the grandchildren while Courtney and Dave went to New York City to celebrate their 18th anniversary. The family are members of the area Children's Science Museum. We took and afternoon for a visit. We had an excellent demonstration of area water turtles. The kids did a green screen weather program. The storm would play on the screen behind and you could watch it on a monitor after it was done. Lila did a puppet weather demo.

We visited the reptile room and the kids got to touch a Banana King Snake. Levi and Lila played with the distorted mirrors.

We all got on some of the computer station programs they had there and played for a good while.

Wedding Shower at St. Andrews UMC

Josh Dalton and Katie Nuckols had a wedding showe at St. Andrews UMC.

There was a good group from the churches and family members.

Everyone had a good time and Josh and Katie got some very nice gifts.

Pentecost Sunday

This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, the Birthday of the church.

At each church we had streamers for everyone to wave during the hymns, representing the tongues of fire that fell above the heads of the disciples on that first Pentecost.

The reason I only got pics of the folks from Providence UMC waving the streamers is that I got so into waving my streamer that I forgot to take pictures.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHURCH!!

Well, It's Official

Every year United Methodist pastors come up for possible reappointment, that is they either stay where are or are moved to serve at a new church. The closest thing I can compare it to is being in the military. You never know when you'll get new orders or where you might be sent. You serve at the need and discretion of the organization. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with it. I was aware of how it worked when I signed on, both when I was in the Air Force and now with the United Methodist Church.

Well, it is official. I have been reappointed to serve the Mount Airy Charge for another year. It looks like I'll be going in the doors of Republican Grove UMC, Providence UMC, and St. Andrews UMC for at least another year and I couldn't be happier.

Republican Grove UMC

Providence UMC

St. Andrews UMC

Now I can breath easy for another year.

Mother's Day on the Mount Airy Charge

Last Sunday was Mother's Day. Joanne had prepared gifts for all the ladies at our three churches.

It was a craft she found online. It was two flowers that you had to cut out, lay on on top of the other, and finally insert a candy pop in the middle.

Joanne said that the directions called for a small candy sucker to be used. She said the only small ones she could find were called "Dum-Dums". I told her that we shouldn't use "Dum-Dums" on Mother's Day, someone may interpret it as an editorial statement. So we substituted larger Tootsie Roll Pops.

We had decided, starting with our first Mother's Day on the Mount Airy Charge, that we would recognize all the ladies on Mother's Day. We have felt that Mother's day was more about the mothering role than just about having given birth. There are mothers in the faith who have never given birth, but have mentored others in the mothering way. We have young single women who teach school and teenagers who have worked at camps where they served as a surrogate mothers to the campers. So we want all our ladies to feel special on Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day!

Fields of Blue

Last week we had fields of crimson clover, this week we have fields of blue. The photos are from Tammy Daniels of Providence UMC. 

 It is like watching The Master Artist applying brush strokes to the countryside.

Happy Mother's Day

My Grandmother Johnson, my father's mother

My Grandmother Hamilton, my mother's mother

My Mother

Joanne's Grandmother Wright, Joanne's father's mother

Joanne's Grandmother StClair, Joanne's mother's mother

Joanne's Mother

Joanne, a new mother

Three generations of mothers, Granny Wright, Joanne, and Courtney with Taisie

Happy Mother's Day

Fields of Crimson

My daughter had a post on her blog http://splashinggrace.blogspot.com/ with a quote from A.A. Milne, "Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them." I thought about that yesterday as I went to my churches and saw how the fields were given a red tint by the Crimsom Clover.

I had to go walking in the fields after church to get some pictures of the clover. I was afraid it might be gone soon and I didn't want to miss it. Turns out it may be around to enjoy for a while.

Rather than being a weed, Crimson Clover is a cultivated forage. It is used as a ground cover for soil conservation, a source of pollen and nectar for bees, as a food source for livestock, and for land beautification. I'm not too knowledgable about the first 3 uses, but I can vouch for the last one.

I couldn't believe I hadn't seen this in the last three years. The reason I hadn't seen it was that tobacco had been planted in these fields before.

I could have sat there for hours watching the clover blow in the wind. I looked like waves of living flames. I truly felt sorry for pastors with city churches, who don't get to see these wonders week after week.

Proms on the Mount Airy Charge

Brian Daniels and Kayla going to the Galileo Magnet High School Prom. Brian and Kayla were members of the Senior Prom Court.

Kelsey Adams and Zac going to the Gretna High School Prom.

Dan Nuckols and Rachel going to the Gretna High School Prom.

These are some pictures of some of our teenagers from the Mount Airy Charge going to their 2010 Prom. I honestly do not know why I never thought of doing this in previous years, really wish I had.

A Poem for Haiti

An old friend of mine, Tom Surber, wote a poem about Haiti that I would like to share with you. I first met him when we were in the third grade together. Lost touch for a lot of years. Glad to be back in touch with a long time friend.

The photos show stark devastation,
Where there was little now there is less.
But the look in the eyes of my brothers and sisters
shows a strength there I might not possess.
They are scared, they are injured and angry,
yet so many are clinging to hope.
Is it because they have no more left to lose
or is it a faith they refuse not to use.
Such faith amid so much destruction,
I only hope that our faith is just
As strong as our brothers and sisters,
when our God begins to test us.
That God is testing us now I am certain.
A lesser, but a test none-the-less.
There is such faith in the eyes of our brothers and sisters,
We need to answer their faith without rest.