07/22/05

Dear Friends –

How nice to greet you this Friday morning on a somewhat less humid day.   

  1. Yesterday my good friend, and our sponsored Mission Co-Worker, John McCall, arrived safely from his home in Montreat (I was able to visit with him when the senior high group was at Montreat back in June).  John will be preaching for us this Sunday, July 24 at the 10:00 worship service.
  1. This Sunday there is also a Missionary Breakfast at church, in the Ramsey building, at 8:30.  After we eat, John will give a power point presentation of his recent work in Taiwan and share with us his current experiences.  Please come out at 8:30, have some pancakes and sausage breakfast – cooked by Ron Vaughn and yours truly – and listen as John shares his faith and mission work with us. 
  1. Tomorrow, on Saturday, July 23, 9 – 12, the Stewardship Commission is planning a Work Day.   Please bring work gloves for weeding. Lots of help is needed so please come on out.
  1. Rose Lukat, member and mom to Linda “Sue” Denny is in Baptist East, and hopes to come home today.  Please keep her in your prayers.  I visited with Rose, and Deacon of the Week,  Marlene LeBlond, saw her this week and said they had a great visit and that Rose is improving. 
  1. We extend our sympathy to Jan and Joe McMillan, on the death of Joe’s mother, Peggy McMillan.  Peggy was a member of Hopewell, and Jan is the daughter of Doris Farmer. Last November I officiated at the wedding service for Jan and Joe's daughter, Lisa McMillan & Chad Pinkston.  Please keep them in your prayers.
  1. Cindy Gardner (married to Glenn, children Jillian and Mitch) is recovering from surgery at home and is doing quite well.  She is another of our cancer survivors, and as of now, no follow up treatments are needed.
  1. Deb Sexton will have another hand surgery, another of the long list of surgeries on her hand, on August 11.
  1. We continue in our prayers of sympathy for Walter Franck, whose wife Yvonne died earlier this month.  Yvonne was only 49 years old, and struggled with cancer.  She pushed it back several years ago, but this time it was very aggressive.  Keep Walter in your prayers.
  1. The Watson Family continues in their time of loss and grief, as do many others who knew the son Ben Watson, who died tragically on July 10, at age 19.  I understanding the Watsons are taking a short family vacation in these days.  Please remember the grief goes on for this family, so remember to pray for them, send a card or note, and give them a hug when you see them.  And again, my great and heart-felt thanks to you all for your support and care, as a community of faith, that you have and will continue to express to this hurting family.
  1. Two of our young people, Ally and Sami Taylor, lost their grandmother last week, Ruth Taylor.  Ally is home this week and Sami is on the Middle School Youth Conference.  
  1. Please pray for Mary Johnson upon the death of her father, Billy Green.  Mary is very active here in our choir.
  1. Jill McLaughlin, one of our preschool teachers, is doing well after her surgery. 
  1. Continue to pray for our Middle School Youth during their youth conference retreat at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina – that they grow in their faith and commitment to Christ, enjoy this time away on retreat – along with many hundreds of other youth the same age, and that they have a safe journey home on Sunday.  If any parents want to be in touch with Terry Hargrave, please call me on my cell phone (419-4964) and I’ll pass on Terry’s cell phone number to you.  At last report (yesterday) all was well! 
  1. Jodi Yates called and told me she has several tickets for a Point of Grace Concert – part of the River Blast V event, taking place tomorrow, July 23, from 3 to 8 (doors open at 1:00) on the lawn at Buffalo Crossing Ranch near Shelbyville.  If you want any of these “free” tickets, please call Jodi at 267-0953.

Lots of mission and ministry continues here at your church in these summer months.  I hope to see you at Work Day on Saturday, at breakfast and worship on Sunday, and at other opportunities in the days and weeks ahead.  And as always, I remain,

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Ken Hockenberry.