04/29/04 Dear Friends, This is my last “official” news from the pews – a name and idea that I developed and am pleased to say has served all of us well! Ken will be doing a lot of the news from the pews. I will probably do some occasional “ghost writing” – or give him some of the newsy notes that I often throw in. My bookshelves were empty and dusted and now they are being filled in with Ken’s books. I still have some of my desk to clear out and a four-drawer filing cabinet – most of which will go in the garbage. I heartily recommend cleaning out every ten years! Ken says it’s liberating and I say it just makes you feel cleaner! Ken will be establishing himself in the “window” office. Terry will eventually move into the “non-window” office. We’re not sure where the kids will now “hang-out”. My guess is Terry’s office! My celebration on Sunday was wonderful. Thank you to all of you who put in so much time and energy. I was truly touched and overwhelmed by the whole thing. The gifts were thoughtful and the money will be fun to spend – I think we may be getting a new kitchen floor! But the most important part was the outpouring of love and friendship that I experienced and to know that I touched so many lives is a very humbling thing! So, thank you, thank you, thank you! Today Jeannie and Carol made a special lunch for me and invited some of our regular office volunteers to join us. Jeannie even brought in her good china and the library table was set with sterling silver and a tablecloth! They gave me a very special gift – a new Barbie lunch box to take with me to work. I was telling them that I wasn’t sure there would be as much fellowship around lunch as we have here (while we still answer the phone, sign for UPS boxes, and manage copier crises). I also told them the story about taking my Barbie lunch box to school in the 5th grade with my bologna and cheese sandwiches. So, they very cleverly got me a new Barbie lunch box – a little different from the 1966 model! Folks are doing well around here. There is no one in the hospital at this time. Bob Penick is up and around after some surgery and possible heart problem brought on by the surgery. He’s doing fine now, however, and just needs a little more recovery time. For those of you that don’t know Bob very well, he is the youngest of 7 children (I think) and when I first came to Beulah his sister who was near 80 was helping to care for their mother who was almost 100. Dorothy Penick died in 96 or 97 after she turned 100. Please keep Jill McLaughlin in your prayers. Jill is recovering from a very extensive colon surgery. She is one of our preschool teachers. Bren Bishop wrote this week and asked that we keep all of his chaplains as well as Bren in our prayers. They are in Iraq, trying to minister to over 2,400 troops! Pray mightily for these men and women who do this good work. Last week I did celebrate communion with Micki Evans, Bonnie Nunn, and Blanche LeMon. I can’t encourage you enough to remember our shut-ins and nursing home folks. You will be blessed enormously by their visits with you and it means the world to them! Some of you may be wondering what’s happening with the church grounds. The Stewardship Commission took several new bids this year and they have signed a contract to begin work with a new company effective May 1. They asked Kenny to stay on through April 30th – but the grounds have not been cut since Easter! Don’t give up hope, however. We’ll be looking spiffy again real soon. Well, beloved in Christ, this concludes my official News from the Pews. Pray without ceasing; love God; love one another. May you know from this day until the last the steadfast love and faithfulness of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I’ll see you in the pews! Blessings, Judy
PS: My e-mail address at home is judyhockenberry@bellsouth.net. After
today, Ken is setting up my Judy@beulahpresbyterian.com address to forward to
the home address.
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