07/12/04 Dear Ones, A Happy Monday afternoon to you and yours! What a great day in worship here yesterday at Beulah! We had a full house and full pews – about 197 were here, which is great for Sunday in July. The Summer Choir (which rehearses the hour before the service, again on July 18 and Aug 8 – come and try it) sang a rousing offering of music. Bob and Pat Metzger were here with a full pew of children and grandchildren as part of the celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary – congratulations to Bob and Pat! And Lee Allen Priest was in worship - compete with a wrist brace. For the first time in a long time I tried to preach from the chancel platform rather than the pulpit, and it seemed to go well. When I saw this at Montreat, and also at General Assembly, I got inspired to try this again. For those able to be in worship yesterday, please send along any suggestions or comments on this: I hope to try it for some weeks to come - but it does take more work! In worship we were also able to give a personal word of support and some hugs to Carol Treese as she grieves the death of her mother, Lib Taylor, who died on July 4th. This morning we give thanks to God for the birth of Juliet Naomi Leach, newborn baby daughter of Mark and April Leach – who was born at 9:52 this morning, 6 pounds, 7 ounces, 19.5 inches long (Apgar score of 8.5, for those who want all the details). Juliet is the third granddaughter for “Nana” Nancy Leach. The Leach family was, for two generations, filled with boys. Now the upcoming generation is filled with girls! Like all newborns and new parents, Mark and April will face some special challenges, so keep Juliet, and Mark and April, in your prayers. Please remember the Church Picnic is this Sunday, July 18 at Cedar Ridge. We will have worship here at Beulah for those who would rather not come to a picnic; that service will be as usual, at 10:00. Then the Worship Service and Picnic at Cedar Ridge will begin at 11:30 (worship time), with our Picnic to follow. Remember to bring a dish to pass per the announcement in the bulletin: families with last names beginning with A-D, please bring entrees (meat and cassorles); E- H bring desserts; I-S bring salads, and T-Z bring vegetables. We will gather at the picnic pavilion at “lakeside” for our worship service and picnic. We will also have use of the pool following our meal, so bring your bathing suit; Cedar Ridge staff member – and Beulah member Danny Clements will be our certified lifeguard. There is a volley ball net, lots of open spaces, trails, horseshoes – come and enjoy a nice picnic at our Presbytery camp. There will be no Sunday School for this day, though some Adult classes may be meeting – check with your teacher. The intergeneration class led by Terry Hargrave will not be meeting. Also remember this Friday here at Beulah we are hosting a summer benefit concert for the Fern Creek / Highview Untied Ministries - here Friday at 7:00 PM. Featured is the Gloryland Gospel Gang and others as well, and an offering will be taken to support the FCHUM. Please come out to this benefit concert, enjoy some great gospel singing, and support our area ministries. Which reminds me, remember to bring your pennies for the Three Cents A Meal this Sunday or Sunday, July 25. That’s the news for a Monday afternoon – more to follow later in the week! Blessings on your day and week. I remain, Yours in Christ, Pastor
Ken H.
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