06/02/04

Dear Ones –

Don’t quote me, but perhaps tonight we can all enjoy an evening at home, perhaps outside in the warm weather, rather than huddling in our basements or in an interior room, watching the Doppler Radar readouts on TV, with the voices of John Belski or Jay Cardosi telling us to find shelter somewhere. What a time we have had these past days with out weather. One of you commented to me, “Ken, maybe the end is coming!”

We do have a number of families in Glenmary, where a tornado did touch down. I called most everybody on the phone on Sunday afternoon and got reports of, “We’re OK.” John Greene said the house damaged was just about a block from his house, and everywhere we’ve seen numerous trees uprooted. Thank the Lord - as far as I know, all of our member families are safe and sound from this difficult weather.

What a Sunday we had here on Pentecost! Yes, it was the Memorial Day Weekend so a lot of you were out of town traveling here and about. But we had a good number here in worship – about 150 or so. Many wore red. We celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the early church, and upon the church here and now, and into the future. The full choir was in great voice, and the Spirit moved Doug to have the choir sing – on the spur of the minute – an accapella benediction, “Over My Head, I Hear Music in the Air” – it was great. Some cash slipped out of the offering plates as they were brought forward – God’s blessings just overflow! We also prayed our thanksgivings for those who have fought in the various wars, for those who made the ultimate sacrifice to help preserve our freedoms, for our soldiers today in harm’s way – and our closing hymn was # 386, and remember when you sing you pray twice:

“O for a world where everyone respects each other’s ways,

Where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise. . .

“O for a world preparing for God’s glorious reign of peace,

Where time and tears shall be no more, and all but love will cease.

On the pastoral care list for this week:

Bob Denney is scheduled to have some additional work on his pacemaker on Thursday. It seems one of the lead wires is not where it is supposed to be, so it needa some repositioning. Shelly Leach will be assisting in this procedure, and we pray the wires will stay where they belong and Bob will have the benefit of this technology. Please keep Bob and Nancy in your prayers.
Martha Stepro is scheduled for some outpatient knee surgery on Friday, and she will be out of circulation for a couple of weeks as her knee heals. Please keep her in your prayers.
Deb Sexton continues her recovery from hand surgery at home – and we are praying that the removal of this scar tissue will help her regain more strength and mobility in her hand.
Here in the office we have missed Jeannie Koerber, our Financial Secretary. Jeannie pulled something somehow and has had some painful back troubles. Please keep her in your prayers.
Our sympathies as a congregation are extended to Mary and Jim Gish on the death of Mary’s mother Madalyn Bryant. She lived to 107 years, living to see her children’s children’s children’s children (she was a great – great – grandmother). The funeral was yesterday, June 1.
In other News from the Pews:

Remember that Vacation Bible School begins this Sunday. VBS is geared for children K – 5th, and a class for our middle school youth, 6-7th grade. We can use high school youth and adults for helpers. We begin with supper at 5:00, and we have only a few reservations. So if you are planning to come and eat, please email the church right away with your reservation. The Beulahtin has all the menus: Send a word to office@beulahpresbyterian.com
Repair Affair is coming up on June 12. We will meet at the church early, at 7:00 – head out to breakfast with other work teams, and then travel to our assigned house – just off Dixie Highway. We will be putting up gutters, working on a porch roof, porch steps, and building a ramp. We need lots of help, so please sign up in the Lobby or right here – send to me at ken@beulahpresbyterian.com
This Sunday the High School Youth Group will lead the sermon and other parts of the worship service, interpreting their Spring Break Mission Trip to St. Louis. For four days our youth, with your financial and prayer support, worked in a food distribution center, did home cleanup, knocked down basement walls, and served meals in a shelter. The scripture lessons will be those the youth studied during their evening devotional time, and we have pictures on the screen of much of their work – some pictures from a photography class final project designed by Clay Ryan. You will not want to miss worship this Sunday at 10:00 – and come for Sunday School at 9:00 and be lead by a guest but not really a guest teacher – Judy Hockenberry!
This Sunday afternoon we have a full schedule of meetings – Personnel Committee at 2:00, Coordinating Council at 3:00 and all Commissions at 4:00 – then VBS supper at 5:00 and VBS begins at 6:00.
Peace and safety be yours this week, and I hope to learn and worship with you this Sunday!

Pastor Ken H.

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