Vol. 2 # 10, Oct. 18, 2003

Shepson Bill's Uncle Is A Century Old Today

Charlotte and I have a nice occasion upcoming. My uncle turns 100 on Saturday, October 18th, and we are going to Falls Church to celebrate. He is still so sharp that we stand amazed, especially at his memory. Except for brief stays in Florida, he has lived his entire life in Fairfax County.

Bill

How much will Shepson Bill remember in seventy-one years?

A Message from the Board of Missions Chairman to SSBSC Missionary Bill

The Board of Missions spent some time on Sunday discussing your proposal for next year (from emails this summer). We plan on going to the SS classes on the second Sunday in Nov. to talk about various projects and to begin planning a 2004 calendar. Under our Outreach committee, we plan to add two subs: Adult and Youth to focus on both of these areas. The plan for adult classes is to see what they want to do, perhaps be able to provide a specialized project (i.e., adopt a family for the year that we get from Terry), and also ask if they can be the sponsor of one project a year. BOM would continue to advertise the project, but that SS class would be responsible for the delivery of the goods to ISH or whomever was the recipient (and someone would have to be able to convert 500 pencils into a line that stretched from ..........) Still forming the plan, but would be glad to discuss with you. Would want to continue our relationship with ISH, but would also look to other agencies/groups who could expand our missions emphasis.

Still would like to meet and talk about how BOM can shoulder more of the project load that you and Charlotte have so ably carried all these years. We would want to use your knowledge to assist through the transition so that our mission focus continues to grow. We are deeply indebted to all that you have done to assist others and to increase awareness and participation by our church in helping the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

David Gulick

The SSBSC has been involved in the following ISH mission projects in 2003:

January - duffel bags

March/April - Easter baskets

May - diapers and Wal-Mart emergency certificates

July/August - School supplies

October - warm winter coats and jackets

Shepson Kathy Wade Will Return to Oklahoma

Shepson Kathy has been a wonderful member of our class. She has served on the Board of Missions, been a member of the Chancel Choir and a member of the WMU. She recently wrote the following to PH:

Wish you could have been at the WMU meeting Tuesday night at the Dibbles. Kevin Morley, staff photographer at the Times-Dispatch, did a wonderful presentation of photos--including some he took 10 years ago for The Commission. He went on a very dangerous assignment for us to Rwanda. Everyone loved the photo presentation. Kevin is also an adjunct teacher at the Univ. of Richmond in the journalism department. Tuesday's was one of the longest meetings we've had in a long time but no one complained.

Kathy

PH: After many years of employment at the International Mission Board Kathy was terminated a few months ago by a corporate minded mission organization. Our loss is Oklahoma's gain. Kathy will remain on the PHA E-mail list and hopefully she will share some of her new experiences in Oklahoma with us.

Beth Wilson Briefly Worried About Recall

Shepson Beth wrote PH the following:

Dear PH:
You gave me a scare! I just finished reading about EBWMMA, and then I read that we have the right of recall. I was afraid that EBW might suffer the fate of California's Gov. Davis. Thank goodness, you were referring to Bob's recalling, not my recall.
A relieved EBW

Actually PH could understand if Henrico County Public Schools might attempt to recall Beth as a teacher, but hopefully that will not be necessary.

Gordon Thomson's Message of Last Sunday Is Worth a Second Reading

Last Sunday Gordon spoke the following words:

I want to thank the Stewardship Committee for inviting me to speak to you about "A Gift from the Heart." I am honored.

On September 10, 2001, around 11:45 p.m., I commanded my copilot to raise the landing gear of the Boeing 737-300 and complete the After Takeoff Checklist. We were en route from Richmond to Norfolk, Virginia. The jet touched down at 12:30 in the morning of September 11. Our scheduled layover was for less than 12 hours.

I awoke around 7:30 a. m., showered, and dressed. I then walked across the shopping center parking lot to Denny's restaurant for breakfast. Returning to the hotel I distinctly remember stopping in the near emptiness of the parking lot. I felt the strong breeze from the North- Northeast sweep across my body while gazing at the clear, blue, cloudless sky. The sun drenched me in its warmth. I thought how tremendous a day God had created and how I would like to be on the Mobjack Bay cruising on a sailboat.

Unknown to almost everyone, gruesome terror plans were unfolding. Two airliners smashed into the New York City World Trade Towers, one careened out of control and disintegrated into the countryside of Pennsylvania (I did know the captain of that jet), and another obliterated the Navy section of the Pentagon.

The air pirates that commandeered those aircraft had attacked my country, the innocent, my fellow crewmembers, and my company. Also, over a dozen of my fellow alumni from the Naval Academy perished. Fortunately, my passengers, crew, and aircraft were not part of their plans.

Nevertheless, like many people, I was shaken deeply to my core. Additionally, my profession and my family life were placed suddenly into danger. The airline industry, the travel industry, and countless related businesses immediately dove into a tailspin of which many have not recovered, and may not. The challenges before my family were numerous, formidable, and difficult.

Priorities were reexamined. Often times we asked ourselves: What is and is not important? Were we being smart and prudent with our resources?

Another critical question we asked: Should we retreat from our stewardship pledge and capital campaign commitment? Each time we said no. The thought of notifying the church to modify our commitments was unacceptable.

Why? It's because our faith in God and Jesus Christ is the first priority. God provides us with his full faith and credit-which we call Grace. Grace is always available and there are no stipulations or requirements to enjoy such a phenomenal gift. We only need to capture it, embrace it, and incorporate it into ourselves. The gift of God's grace deserves no less than a full and faithful effort on our part regardless of circumstances.

Because God is always there for us, Audrey and I decided we would remain faithful to our church commitments. Our children, Bailey and Nathan, who pledge separately from us, fulfilled their pledges and capital campaign commitments.

River Road Church is a significant part of our life. We have our own family, but River Road Church is our other family. I hope you place equal or greater value on this place of worship and community.

To kick off this year's stewardship campaign Audrey and I are giving today a Gift from the Heart of $5000 toward our 2004 pledge.

Stewardship is about renewing one's faith!

God Bless!

PH: Gordon Thomson sent PH a brief message yesterday morning regarding the one day delay of the publishing of this PHA.

Gordon wrote: "PH Sleeps?"

Apparently Gordon has noticed that PHA is often sent out over the Internet in the early AM. PH is not a vampire but many years of serious nocturnal study has resulted in this pattern. PH is sharper in the early AM than in the late AM. Yes, PH does sleep.

Shepson Kitty Davis Reports that Philip, Shanna and Lucy Davis Are Back

Philip, Shanna, and Lucy have returned safely from their preliminary trip to Prague in preparation for their church planting next year. Many thanks for keeping them in your thoughts and prayers. The trip was very successful in that several couples have decided to accompany them next year after seeing Prague and learning of the need for an English-speaking congregation. Also, several people who had no plan to go are considering the move at this point. Lucy at 10 months was a real trouper and slept wherever and in whatever was available. Her vocabulary has not increased beyond MaMa and DaDa but since she's so exceptional, I'm sure she'll pick up the Czech language soon. Kitty

Prayer Rounds

Julia Shepherd is slowly improving and will soon be in Rehab. Julia's Tuesday Night Club continues to meet in her absence at the Shoney's on Stables Mill Road near Glenside. New members are welcome. We start eating and talking at 6 PM.

The Memorial service for Woody Hasty will be on Saturday, November 1 at 11 AM in the sanctuary.

PH has learned that Peggy Pruden's mother is seriously ill.

Please remember in your prayers Julia Shepherd, the Family of Woody Hasty, Peggy Pruden's mother, Dot and Cecil Sherman, John Oliver, Nancy Werner's nephew Doug Baumgardner, Dick Harwood, young Davis Summers, Nancy Gayle Smith, the Church Staff, the Pastor's Search Committee and those only known to you.

Has the Pastor's Search Committee Finished Searching?

At Wednesday night's called business meeting, the proposed budget for 2004 was approved. Included in this proposed budget was an appropriation for a salary for the new pastor. Since Board of Administration chairman Fred Bagwell is also on the PSC one would naturally wonder if something is in the post Isabel air. PH wonders if a fresh breeze may be stirring.

Curt Linderman Will Be Twenty-nine on Next Tuesday

Does the Denominational Affairs Committee Exist?

Several Shepsons have written letters to Board chairpersons in an effort to get the Denominational Affairs Committee to meet and consider the pros and cons of RRCB's continued membership in the Southern Baptist Convention. This writer has perceived a reaction of inaction by this silent committee. RRCB does not boast of its membership in the SBC. We sent only two messengers to the last SBC meeting and thus one could feel there is "association without full representation." Our church's website does not list the SBC among our church affiliations. Our affiliations are listed as the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the CBF of Virginia, the Baptist General Association of Virginia and the Richmond Baptist Association. However we are still associated with an organization that opposes the ordination of women, judges the sins of a homosexual person more severely than a heterosexual person and has tampered with the separation of church and state. In the October 16 issue of the Religious Herald a news article reported that former IMB missionary Ida Mae Hays will become the pastor of a North Carolina church. What happened to Rev Hays while an IMB missionary? She was summoned by the IMB in July 2001 and asked to rescind her ordination by a Brazil Baptist Church. The Herald further reported: "Two months later, the IMB trustees adopted a statement saying the IMB does not recognize Hays' ordination or pastor emeritus title, said Bob Shoemake, an associate vice president with the IMB." Hays' response to all of this was, "I informed them that I had neither the power or authority to rescind."
·
Last Sunday during the Evensong Service, some of the congregation recited the Apostles' Creed (while seated). PH assumes that this recitation was an "ecumenical in spirit" gesture. This ancient creed dates back about 1500 years. Maybe it would serve us well to examine this creed and decide for ourselves what parts we each find affirming and the parts that are hard sayings. PH has attempted this and came up with the following:

I believe in God.
I believe in Jesus Christ.
His conception was a mystery.
His mother was an ordinary young woman.
Pontius Pilate unjustly found him guilty.
He was crucified, died and was buried.
Witnesses claim that he rose from the grave following his burial.
Later, some recorded his teachings,
which are a guide for my life.
I believe in the forgiveness of sins

PH

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