Issue #24 - April 2008
Minister's Message
One of my favorite parts of the day is checking the mail at the Post Office. I have no idea why. Usually, my box is full of junk and bills. Regardless, I joyfully trod across the street as a welcome break to my day.
Occasionally, I receive a true, genuine piece of mail. Such a day popped up last month. The post-mark read, "New Columbia, PA." I immediately knew who this letter was from: some very dear friends in Pennsylvania.
After my first year of seminary, I was required to do a ministry internship. However, I had already been working in a church part-time. I wanted to do something different. As I considered my opportunities, I came across the Park Chaplaincy program in Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. This program tries to place one Chaplain in every State Park in Pennsylvania. I could not think of anything better than getting to do ministry in an outdoor setting.
So, at the end of May in 2001, I packed my car about as full as it could get. As I was driving through Maryland, I had an epiphany: I did not know a single person in Pennsylvania. My first week there proved that I had indeed been short-sighted in this matter. To put it another way, I was lonely. Really lonely.
I could have kicked myself for the decision that I had made to travel out of my known realm. However, in the midst of my frustration, something amazing happened. One day, I was walking through the park visiting the campers and I walked up to a couple that could have been mistaken for anyone's grandparents. I soon learned that they were they camp hosts.
Bob and Joanna. They turned my summer around. I did not do anything special to endear myself to them. All the same, they went out of their way to show me hospitality. To be honest, they put us Southerners to shame.
I now have a wonderful summer full of memories because of them. I remember riding around to antique stores with Bob because he knew I was fascinated by them. I also remember eating a 5 scoop ice cream cone because he knew I loved ice cream (boy, did I pay for that later).
I don't know for sure, but I have to think that Bob and Joanna's Christian faith had a lot to do with the kindness that they showed some young kid who stumbled across their camper.
They impacted my life tremendously. What is odd is that while their impact was so big, they did not do anything extraordinary or out-of-the-way. They simply invited me into their lives, laughed with me, shared my frustrations, and treated me like I was a child of God.
I am convinced that hospitality is a Christian virtue, not a Southern or Northern thing. Christ's ministry centered around hospitality and love. I hope that our church will remember this. Louisa Christian Church has the opportunity every Sunday to welcome some weary stranger in and do exactly what Bob and Joanna did for me. May God give us the wisdom and compassion to do exactly that!
- Matthew
Disciples Men in Virginia
Greetings my friends!
Hope all of you are well! Some of us know one another through the Navajo Work Camp, others through our collective church families or in the case of most of you our shared fellowship and work through Disciples Men here in the VA region.
Recently, I was hired by our Disciples regional office to take on the responsibility of leading this years Disciples Men region retreat in Wakefield (Apr 11-13). Stepping into Jesse Kearns' shoes, who did a magnificent job over the years in leading us, is a tall order indeed, but I'm pretty excited about this opportunity and hope that you are too! I want to share this experience with you. This retreat promises to be a great time of fellowship and excitement. I want to take the excitement, growth, energy and enthusiasm I worked toward as Director of District 7 Disciples Men in the Richmond area from 2002 to 2007 and now apply it to our entire region, but I'll need your support, help and commitment to make Disciples Men of Virginia a beacon for all other Disciples Men groups around the nation to emulate.
We've got a great speaker! Carl Zerweck is coming to share his experiences in what it means to be a Disciples volunteer bringing hope and compassion to those staring in the face of devastation and destruction. So he'll be talking about the importance of volunteer mission.
We'll talk too about Craig Springs and how things are progressing there as well as a review of the Navajo Work Camp...which the wife and I will be leading a group back to New Mexico in summer 2009...find out how you can be a part of that!
We've got great accommodations! The Airfield 4H Conference Center in Wakefield has now served as our retreat location for 4 yrs. It's a great facility...there's tennis courts a gym to play basketball in, a fantastic lake to fish or canoe in or just sit on the porch, horseshoe pit for our annual tourney or just take in nature as you doze in and out of a nap if you like while rocking on the porch. It's a retreat! A time to get away...a time to relax, reflect and recharge. The rooms are great and comfy and the food is great!
I hope those of you who are already registered will encourage a friend to attend with you. I've been going now since 2002 and it's better each year! As the new Interim Associate Minister for Disciples for your VA region I would really like for us to work to have 100 men attend this years retreat. Registration forms can be accessed at our newly revamped regional mens webpage: www.disciplesmenva.org
Spread the word and I look forward to seeing you there!
Peace,
Ray Gryder, II
What's In a Name?
For a couple of years now, the church newsletter has run under the title "LCC News & Views." That was a good title, but not properly fitting considering what God is doing in our church.
So, it is time for a change. From this point forward, this newsletter will be published as "The Harbinger." Why? First, it is a good Disciples name for a newsletter. Alexander Campbell, one of our denomination's founders, edited a journal called "The Millennial Harbinger." So, we have an opportunity here to keep a denominational tradition alive. Second, there is more meaning and depth to this title. According to Merriam-Webster, a harbinger is a: one that pioneers in or initiates a major change : precursor b: one that presages or foreshadows what is to come.
As God's church and people, that is what we are called to do: initiate change. Much like the Israelites, we have fallen away from God as a whole. We need to be the pioneers of this change. May this newsletter and its title be a monthly reminder to us of that obligation. Also, our church should foreshadow the love and justice that is to come from God.
We hope this new name changes the significance of the newsletter for you.
Relay for Life
Relay for Life has been a huge success in Louisa. This success is a product of teams like the one at our church. For the last two years our church has had a Relay for Life team. We have raised a lot of money and we have had a lot of fun along the way.
We hope that everyone will come out and be supportive of our team in 2008. If you are a team member, here are a few reminders:
- Don't forget to fill out your registration forms and turn them in with $10.
- Turn your money in your Relay for Life envelope at each team meeting (see the schedule below). Please, don't seal the envelope until the meeting.
Team meeting schedule (meetings are held right after worship):
- Mar 16
- Apr 20
- May 11
- Jun 8
Board News
Recent board news:- Matthew and Denny will be attending the Virginia Regional Assembly in June. Any church member is invited to attend, as well. See them if you are interested.
- A letter will be written for Matthew to be bonded in order to perform marriages in Virginia.
- Estimates were received for lawn care. Turf Groomers will be maintaining the church lawns for the upcoming grass season.
- A fellowship dinner will be held on April 13.
- Steve Comer will be resigning as church musician after Easter due to an impending move. The church will purchase accompaniment music and Ruby Anne will help by playing for Sunday worship until a new musician is found.
- The Building and Grounds Committee will meet to assess what repairs need to be made at Denny's parsonage.
Good News
Lisa and I would like to tell everyone that we are happily expecting a baby in October or November. We would appreciate all of the support and prayers that you can offer.
Thanks so much!
- Matthew and Lisa
Schedules
Acolytes
April: Kris D. and Linda D.
May: Abbey S. and Corey S.
June: John P. and Sam P.
July: Katelyn P. and Jack P.
August: Abbey S. and Corey S.
September: Andrew P. and Meagan C.
October: Kris D. and Linda D.
November: Amber W. and Ginny B.
December: Katelyn P. and Jack P.
Nursery
April 6 ... David Canning
April 13 ... Debra Hoyt
April 20 ... Steff Throckmorton
April 27 ... Deanna Canning
May 4 ... David Canning
May 11 ... Steff Throckmorton
May 18 ... Deanna Canning
May 25 ...
Thanks to all of our nursery volunteers!
Comic Relief
"A cheerful heart is good medicine." (Prov. 17:22)
Lectionary
April 6, 2008
Third Sunday of Easter (White or Gold)
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
1 Peter 1:17-23
Luke 24:13-35
April 13, 2008
Fourth Sunday of Easter (White or Gold)
Acts 2:42-47
Psalm 23
1 Peter 2:19-25
John 10:1-10
April 20, 2008
Fifth Sunday of Easter (White or Gold)
Acts 7:55-60
Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
1 Peter 2:2-10
John 14:1-14
April 27, 2008
Sixth Sunday of Easter (White or Gold)
Acts 17:22-31
Psalm 66:8-20
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21
Take a moment and read these scriptures each week!
Volunteer Opportunities
- Come help with our Community Youth Night every Wednesday from 5:00 - 6:15 PM by driving, cooking, or just hanging around.
Upcoming Youth Activities
4/7 ... (Monday) ... Dinner at a Richmond restaurant and a Taize Prayer Service at Richmond Hill in Richmond 7:30 PM. Bring dinner money. Open to everyone. Leave the church at 5:15 PM.
4/13 ... No activities
4/20 ... Youth-Family Breakfast at 9 AM
4/27 ... No activities
5/4 ... No activities
5/11 ... No activities
5/18 ... No activities
5/24 (Saturday) ... Parents' Night Out 6 PM - 10 PM
Birthdays
Eula D. Baker 5/21
Gregory T. Barney 5/20
William G. Collins 5/10
Brandon Corbi 5/29
Kaleb Corle 5/18
Joan H. Custalow 5/9
Sherry B. Davenport 5/15
Arthur L. Davis 5/16
Selina I. Deal 5/4
John T. Eubank 5/14
Christina Fisher 5/14
Robert W. Fleshman 5/9
Gerald M. Lumsden 5/16
Ralph W. Martin 5/6
Robert W. Martin 5/30
Rita Cole McDonald 5/21
E. Wilson Perkins 5/2
Jack T. Purcell 5/22
Frank H. Southall 5/17
Sheri Ann Southall 5/16
Troy Sutorka 5/24
Joseph F. Woolfolk 5/28
If we missed a birthday, let us know.
Worship
Sunday School every Sunday at 10 AM
Worship Service following at 11 AM
Prayer Service each Wednesday at noon
Every Wednesday we offer a Bible Study at 10:30 AM and 6:30 PM
Community Youth Night every Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:15 PM
Louisa Christian Church
P.O. Box 1344
104 Elm Avenue
Louisa, VA 23093
Rev. Burnette: 540-967-4884
Email
Rev. Ricks: 540-748-4188
Email