08/12/04
Dear Ones –
God is good!
All the time!
All the time!
God is good!
Peace to all of you and yours on this absolutely beautiful
Thursday morning here in Louisville. How ‘bout this weather!
The news
these days, on the whole, is very good! Prayers have been answered as so many
had hoped, and still in some areas we struggle on into the future, not knowing
what the future may hold for us, but always knowing “Who” holds the
future.
Blessings and Congratulations to Kristen and Todd Mischel on the
birth of their daughter Mackenzie Linnea Mischel, born on Monday, August 9, 2004,
7 lbs., 15 oz., 21 inches long – all are well. Kristen is the daughter of
Carla and Bob Wood, sister to Carrie Wood Rutledge. Baptism TBA - And Iucky me
(and always a blessing) - I got to hold little Mackenzie when she was only 5 hours
old!
Cliff Stout has returned home from his stay at Baptist East hospital
and then later at the Rehab Center, and he is doing well, with some additional
help at home.
Bob Tackett received uplifting news from his doctors; initial
treatment for his cancer (sarcoma) will consist of oral chemotherapy medicine
to shrink the tumors, rather than surgery. What a word of good news for Jane and
Bob and the entire Tackett family.
Please include in your prayers a former
member Elizabeth Blankenship, aunt to Jane Flanigan and the extended family. Elizabeth
is recovering from a major fall and surgery to stop internal bleeding in her brain.
At 84 years old, she is a trooper. We had a great visit yesterday morning, and
she had already been up and about with physical therapy (at Frazier Rehab Center),
and wants to get home ASAP. She now lives near Cincinnati, closer to her two daughters.
We extend our sympathy to Tyler Yates and his family on the death of his grandmother
Katie Yates, who was blessed with 94 years of life – “For all the saints,
who from their labors rest.”
Jeannie Koerber continues to improve but
remains out of work. The Session did take action to extend her salary and benefits
beyond her accumulated sick leave and vacation time, through the month of August.
Bettie Banks (wife to Bill Banks) is suffering with a broken foot, which is
painful and limiting. With the broken foot in a cast she took a fall in the house,
resulting in some more bruises. So please keep Bettie in your prayers.
As
far as I know (and can write about here) the rest of the Beulah saints are well.
Please do remember to say a prayer for those folks among us who are struggling
in some major areas of life, but who do so privately, sharing their struggles
with me and with just a few others.
Remember to include in your prayers everyone
who is now preparing for the start up of school here in Jefferson County –
teachers and staff and students and bus drivers and all the rest. First day of
school – Tuesday, August 17, 2004.
Van Fowler, one of our high school
youth, won an All Districts Basketball award. Van plays in the J-town league –
so congratulation to Van – and to Mom, Amy Flowers, and grandparents, Bill
and Bettie Banks.
On a personal note – thanks for a week of vacation!
Jenny’s room is all painted, including some beautiful large flower art work
hand painted by our own Claudia Zoll. The laundry was all caught up (Bill Boston,
please take note), and basement and garage cleaned out, the yard work done, and
a few mornings were spent at Starbucks with coffee and a good book! And one more
family news note, former pastor and still Beulah family member Judy H. has a birthday
this Saturday on August 14 – the big 48 (but she looks so much younger, doesn’t
she?).
This Sunday everyone is in for a moving worship experience – the
middle and high school youth will be leading our worship service. The liturgy
is taken from the three youth conferences that many of our youth were privileged
to attend, thanks to their hard work in fundraising, the support of their parents,
and the financial support from all of you: the Middle School Youth Conference,
sponsored by Montreat, but held off-site at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC,
the 2004 Montreat Youth Conference held at Montreat, NC, and the 2004 Presbyterian
Youth Triennium held every 3 years, at Perdue University in Lafayette, IN. We
will have one “energizer” – and everyone is welcome to participate
in the energizer itself or to participate by watching! The youth have worked hard
to put the entire worship service together (meeting last Sunday, Wednesday afternoon,
and again early this Sunday), including the power point presentation (yes, we
will be using the screen this Sunday), the various parts of the liturgy, and the
sermon – presentations. Please come to worship and continue your support
of our youth.
And give a big hug to Terry Hargrave, who coordinates all
of these events for our youth as our Director of Christian Education and Youth
Ministries.
Following the service, everyone is invited to come to the Ramsey
Building for Coffee hour in the Fireside Room, and then to the Gym which is being
converted to a Spirituality Center – with a prayer wall to post prayer concerns,
and a Labyrinth for us all to walk (socked feet only, no shoes allowed). Come
and check it out!
Hoping to worship with you this Sunday here in Beulah
Land, I remain,
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Ken H.
