07/23/04 Dear Ones – I just typed today’s date – July 23, 2004. Can somebody please tell me where the month of July has gone? An update for our Friday morning. We’ve heard several times from Terry Hargrave and the high school youth at Triennium, meeting in Purdue University in Indiana – all is well. Some of the youth from “other” churches within the Presbytery thought they could sleep through morning worship, but not with Terry around! Terry has trained our youth so very well – they know what is expected of them, and they respond appropriately. Yeah to Terry! Triennium (it happens every 3 years, hence the name) is the largest gathering of any sort within the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. – over 6,000 youth and adults (and that’s mostly youth) are there to worship God and grow in their faith. Jane Flanigan is also there as an adult advisor, and we have 55 total from our Presbytery of Mid-Kentucky. They all return Sunday afternoon. We’ve also heard from the middle school group that is now at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC for the 2004 Middle School Retreat - sponsored by the Montreat Conference Center but held at Presbyterian College. Judy Hockenberry, and Jim and Terry Watson are the adult advisors. Judy said some of the Beulah kids were jealous of the Harvey Browne kids, because they were in a newer dorm! Oh well – outside of that minor complaint all is well. No problems with the buses – any of them! This group also returns Sunday, probably in the early evening – 8:00ish or so. The schedule at these events is pretty full – breakfast at 7:30, then Energizers and Keynote address (using all kinds of media), then small groups, lunch, back to small groups, recreation time, supper, then evening worship, more recreation time, then “back home” groups at 11:00 – a very full day, and perhaps a bit harder on the adults than the kids. Please keep both groups in your prayers, for a growing faith experience that they can bring back home with them, and for safe travels. Some news of our faith community for our awareness and prayers - Prayers of thanksgiving for the birth of Alysa Riley Smith,
a newborn baby born in Guatemala City, who is in process of being adopted by Melinda
and Bill Smith (Mom and Step Dad to Ryan, Matt, and Kelsey Blake). They hope to
have Alysa in hand by Christmas! Bob Tackett did have a biopsy on
Tuesday, and results are forthcoming. Dwayne Rutledge is a bit sore,
but recovering from outpatient surgery. He did go back to work way too early!
Charlie Stirsman had some good news from some test results, much to
his and Jean’s relief – and he is still facing some knee surgery next
week – a new “bushing” for his “after market” knee. Don Pierce will have some surgery a week from today. Cliff
Stout is having some good days and some not to good days. The word is Cliff did
suffer from a stroke, relatively minor. He has been moved to the Rehab Unit, and
is itching to come home. Jeannie Koerber is still struggling with
her back, and she will not be having surgery anytime soon. Her heart is improving,
and she is having some better days now. Jim Rittenhouse continues
to ask for our prayers for his nephew Gordon Jankard who was injured in Iraq,
and is now in a hospital in Texas. “Nana” Nancy Leach stopped
by a minute ago to say that all is well with Juliet Naomi Leach, the newest Leach
granddaughter; Nana is caring for Juliet tonight as Mom April and Dad Mark go
out on a real date – the first one since Juliet was born. We
did get a disappointing word from Jill Zoll and Claudia Zoll; Jill’s boyfriend
James was in the Olympic Trials in Sacramento for track and field – discus
thrower, and Jill and Claudia were there as well. During his 6th warm up throw
he pulled a muscle. Jill is sure he would have made the team, but the injury meant
he could not throw up to his peak. He is disappointed, but Jill and Claudia are
so very proud. Jill says “to know someone who has such lofty goals and goes
after them with gusto is beyond the experience of most of us.” How true.
Good for you, James! Jill says, wait for Beijing in 2008 – and besides, they
like Chinese food better than Greek food anyway. Planning has begun
for Beulah to create a labyrinth – either in the lawn or in the parking lot.
This will be a temporary one, with hopes toward moving to a permanent one in the
future. The plan is to have it ready for Sunday, August 15 – when the youth
will be leading the worship service based on their summer retreat experiences
at Montreat, Clinton, and Triennium. I had a nice visit with Geneva
“Neva” Poole this week – she is doing very well given her recent
hospitalization. She is a great person to go and visit with, and I would encourage
you to do so sometime. Neva is Mom to Spence Poole (M-I-L to Jane) and grandma
to Isaac and William Poole. I would ask you to say a prayer for my
Dad Arley “Huck” – he had to put his dog down this week. “Trouble”
had cancer and was suffering with tumors, pain in walking, and the like. He was
about 13 or 14 years old – good age, but Dad is understandably sad and depressed
about this. All of you who have lost a pet, or had to make that kind of decision,
can relate. Grace and peace to all of you this day and this weekend (a cooler one I hear). I remain, Yours in Christ, Ken H. |