01/28/05
Dear Beulah Members and Friends –
Grace and Peace to you all on this Friday, the last one in January (where
did the month go).
Much has been happening within the Beulah faith community in these days, so
here are some people and situations in need of our prayers and some general
announcements:
Betty Adams, Diane Adam’s mom, died on Thursday (yesterday) afternoon.
Betty had been failing some these past weeks and months. Her death was very
peaceful. Diane had stopped by to visit with her earlier that same
afternoon, and her mom was sleeping peacefully. When Diane got back home to
Fern Creek, the folks at the Episcopal Home called and told her they Betty
had just died – peaceful, no struggle – and Diane was just there with her
mom. There will be a Memorial Service here at Beulah this Sunday at 6:30
PM – Judy will be leading the service. Youth group runs from 5 to 6:30, and
so we hope youth and families can come to this Memorial Service; there will
be some light refreshments provided by friends and the service circle, here
in the Library. Diane feels both sadness and a measure of relief, as does
Michael, and Diane’s brother from Michigan, who will be coming into town
tonight or tomorrow morning. Keep them all in your prayers, even as we give
thanks to God for the life and ministry of one of God’s saints, Betty Adams.
We continue to pray for Becky McCaulley Hutchison and her husband Stacey on
the loss of their baby, who died 30 weeks into Becky’s pregnancy. David and
Edie (parents to Becky) and sister Heather McCaulley Mohn and David
McCaulley all did travel to Roanoke, VA to be with Becky and Stacey; the
funeral was last Saturday. They named the child Boon McCaulley Hutchison.
Cliff Stout remains at Hurstbourne Rehab, and continues to struggle with
memory loss and mobility struggles resulting from the stroke some months
back now.
Dorothy Howell is home and is recovering very well from heart value repair
surgery – what a trooper she is. Keep her and husband James in your
prayers.
Cindy Bunnell is recovering from some surgery, and is soon back to work.
Mom Phyllis had a water pipe leak in the pipe up in the ceiling of her
kitchen – and it leaked for hours, and Phyllis has to relocate temporarily!
She is feeling overwhelmed and, in her words, is “having a time of it.”
Insurance is being checked out – but her kitchen and living room ceilings
and walls, and carpeting is all ruined. Her clothes in her closet were
undamaged. Say a prayer for God’s strength for her!
Ray Shirley is having some breathing troubles these days, even though his
surgery went well. He and Iris are still in Florida. Keep them in your
prayers too!
Mildred and Jim Jones continue to deal with some issues of older age and
some memory difficulties. Mildred’s sister Virginia, is up for a visit,
and may be staying to see to their care. Their son-in-law across the street
is also helping with some care with meals, but this is limited. Jim very
much wants to stay in their home, but this is becoming an increasingly
difficult situation.
I talked with Jim Williams yesterday, and his voice is good and strong! Jim
continues with radiation treatments 5 days a week – and though he feels a
bit weak, overall he is doing well through this time of treatment. If the
weather is warmer on Sunday, he hopes to be here for worship. Keep Jim and
Verna in your prayers.
Virginia Holloman Robertson passed away earlier this week. Virginia was
married to Dennis Robertson (a second marriage for both of them; Dennis
passed away a few years back now). Dennis and Dorothy Robertson are mom
and dad to Dorissa Falk. For the past year or two Virginia was living with
her son, Tom Hollomon. There will be a Memorial Service for Virginia on
Saturday, in Henderson, Kentucky – where Virginia grew up, and where her
first husband is buried.
Our youth are at a lock in tonight at Walnut Street Baptist Church – this
Presbytery wide event was rescheduled from the January event that did not
work out. Terry and Steve Hargrave will be chaperoning over 40 of our kids,
along with some friends of our youth! Oh my! And parents like me and Judy
have to pick them up at 7:00 tomorrow morning (so say a “boo-hoo” for us!).
Remember this Sunday, following the second service, we have our annual
meeting. We will be remembering before God those saints who have gone
before us in this past year, reviewing the mission and ministry of our
church this past year, reviewing the 2005 budget, and voting on terms of
call for yours truly for this new year – so please come (and vote yes for me
too!).
Terry and Judy will be away next week for the Association of Presbyterian
Christian Educators (APCE) conference in Vancouver, BC, Monday through
Saturday. Many of you know Judy is not the most comfortable with long
flights – though I keep telling her it is much safer than driving to
downtown Louisville every day – but I know some of you can relate to this
fear. We pray safe travels and a good learning and networking experience
for them both.
Thirteen people and concerns – not an unlucky number at all for us – but a
list of concerns and events that I ask for your consideration and prayers
and words of concern and help for those in need.
Hope to see you all Sunday in worship if you are in town and are able to be
here. The sermon title (for the sermon not yet done) is one I want to tell
you – it’s funny – and I stole it from a friend – oh well, OK, here it is:
“The Weird of the Lord.” Two folks have already asked if this was a typo!
Take care – and be careful on the roads tonight and early tomorrow – ice is
coming!
Pastor Ken H.
