12/02/04
I
realize it has been some time since everyone has received a “News from the
Pews.” No, we did not lose your email address, and no, your computer does
not have a virus that deletes all things Beulah.
No – as a former
co-pastor of your acquaintance would say, “Your pastor is a slacker!
Well,
that’s not entirely true, but life has been busy with some family travel
for Thanksgiving, a family wedding back in October, an annual Stated Clerks meeting
in Sacramento, CA – and our busy and bustling parish here at Beulah. So I
am more than a little behind in my News from the Pews emails. So with apologies,
here goes.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to all those who have made
their pledge estimate of giving for 2005. As of last Sunday, Jeannie (who is now
back part time, two days a week) tells me that actual pledges are now at $322,092.
Based on her estimate of those who typically pledge and those who regularly give,
she estimates we should have about $358,000 in giving next year! This is tremendous!
This Sunday the Session will be acting on a “balanced” budget –
something we have not had in the last two years. Praise God!
A Special
Hanging of the Greens with Chrismons service will be held this Sunday at both
the 8:30 and 10:40 worship services. Basically we will have an extended Time with
Young Disciples when our children and all of us will learn about 8 of our chrismons
and place these on the tree while we watch on the large screen and sing a hymn
of Advent or a Christmas carol. Also the Advent Celebration is this Sunday at
5:00, for the whole family.
(For church leadership, Personnel and the
Iraq Resolution Work Group meets at 1:00, and Session meets at 2:00 this Sunday).
The Christmas Dinner is coming up on Dec 12 – sign up in the Lobby,
along with the now traditional Cookie Walk to benefit a mission project selected
by the Presbyterian Women.
A Christmas Tapestry musical evening by
our various choirs is set for December 19th at 7:00 – and the schedule for
Christmas Eve is the same as last year, services at 5:00 and 10:00 PM.
Worship
on December 26 and January 2 is at 10:40 only; Sunday School will not meet on
these two Sundays.
On our Prayer list. Please keep these people and
situations in your prayers:
Jim Williams is having surgery on his lung
tomorrow (Friday, 12/3) to remove a tumor; he is confident and hopeful that all
will go well. Pray hard!
I visited with Cliff Stout earlier this week; he
continues in physical therapy but still is somewhat confused.
What a delightful
visit I had with Ruth Parrish earlier this week; Ruth is enrolled with Hospice,
but she is able to be up and about, and continues to have her wit for all things
political and current. Her son Tom lives with her and sees to her care.
Pray
for Carol Daugherty, particularly her daughter-in-law Jennifer, on the loss of
her dad, Mr. Fred Kollenberg, who died on Tuesday. He has been fighting cancer,
fighting hard, and this is a loss to the family, to her son Scott and their children.
Mary Rittenhouse continues to need our prayers; there are days of recognition
and calm, and days of struggle – keep Jim in your prayers as well as he sees
to Mary’s care.
Judy and I saw our friend Burt Kingsley while in Chicago
last week; he looks very good, and he continues with cancer treatment.
Karen
Bizzell, Marlene and Bob LeBlond’s daughter is doing much better these days.
Jim Barbour was back to work yesterday, and he has good days and some not
so good – but he is improving.
Susan Rock continues to struggle with
on and off bouts of MS, and continues under a doctor’s care.
Jimmy Fox
had a brief trip to the VA about two weeks ago, but is back home and is coming
along well.
Bonnie Nunn is having some struggle, and would love some visits
from folks at Beulah.
Last week I received a Bible from Bren Bishop, who
is currently serving in Iraq. The Bible was carried by a soldier in the field,
and Bren sent it with “gratitude for faithfulness and care” that he
and others know from our prayers here at Beulah and throughout our Presbytery
of Mid-Kentucky. Please continue to pray for Bren, for Corey Wood (Bob Wood’s
nephew) and Rachel Berry (Claudia Zoll’s niece) and Chaplains Gladys Lenier,
Emil Denemark, William Bassett, and CH Maxwell – all serving in Iraq in these
days. May they, and all of us, know the peace that Christ gives, and the peace
that Christ wants for all the earth.
Blessings on you and yours in
this holy season, with all the joys and struggles that come with this time of
the year – and with hopes of worshiping with you here at Beulah, or in spirit
in this season, I remain,
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Ken Hockenberry
