Vol. III, # 15, Nov. 19, 2004

Pastor Mike Accepted the Charge

Last Sunday afternoon Pastor Mike Clingenpeel accepted the charge as the fifth pastor of RRCB. The charge to our new minister was given by Pastor Emeritus James Slatton. Mike willingly accepted. Earlier on last Sunday Pastor Mike preached another thoughtful sermon. An excerpt from his sermon reads:

"One of the most interesting debates in theology today is over a matter called open theism. It’s a debate over the extent to which God knows what will happen in your life, in my life, and in the events of history; the role God plays in shaping individual events. The traditional Christian position is that God is omniscient. God knows all things in advance; what you and I will do and say and what will happen in the course of history. Open theists argue instead that God may not know every detail of the future in advance. The future is shaped by the decisions of human beings; God has granted free will as a gift to human beings. God is like the master chess player – we make a move and God makes a move – we make another move and God makes another move. But the outcome of the game is not in doubt. Ultimately, whichever position you take, we believe in a sovereign God; a God who stands not only before and after and above and beyond the events of this world, but a God who at the cross became the victor over all the forces of evil in human history. So we do not need to be fearful of the days in which we live."

Bell Ringers Are Ready to Fill the Kettle

Shepson Sheila again has Shepsons ringing bells at the Village Shopping Center on Saturday, December 4. Here is the schedule for the bell ringing:

9 AM - 10 AM - Emily King
10 AM - 12 PM - Don Thomson
12 PM-1PM - Donna and Rob
1PM-2 PM - Sue and Beth
2PM - 3PM - Teacher Bob
3PM - 4PM - Mary and Julian
4PM - 5 PM- Charlotte and Bill
5PM - 6PM - Anne and Rob
6 PM - 7 PM- Sheila and Terry
7 PM - 7:30 PM - Jerry Falwell (just wanted to see if you read this far)

It would be great if we could get a helper and/or alternate for Bob Shepherd, some to do the short stint at the end, and perhaps add a helper for Emily and Don.

Bell Ringing allows us to raise $600-$800 in a single day for one of the most efficient and effective charities for the poor. The good work of the Salvation Army includes these key programs: Emergency food, shelter and social services for homeless people; an excellent 60-bed adult rehabilitation facility for men seeking to overcome substance abuse; the angel tree, which provides Christmas for thousands of children every year.

Administrator George Has An Answer

In the PHA of two weeks ago, PH asked the following question.:

PH: For those into mathematical problems, how many days will 1,784 diapers last for four toddlers?

Only George ventured to provide an answer. His answer reads:

"Regarding your mathematical problem, from what I've observed with my 22-month old granddaughter, 1784 diapers will last 4 toddlers about 2 days!"
George

Prayer Rounds

Church Secretary Laurie Ursiny sent PH the following message:

Dr. Holland,

Please thank everyone for their prayers for Retta Gray and her grandson Alex Sherman. Alex has had the surgery to create a stomach and had open-heart surgery. He has done well and come through several set-backs (including an infection around the heart). He is at home and continues to improve and be fed through a feeding tube.

I also have two other requests:

Peggy Harris and I went to high school together and were college roommates. She had breast cancer that was detected early and treated and she was in remission. The cancer came back about a year and a half ago in her uterus, she had a hysterectomy and went on hormone therapy, but unfortunately the cancer has spread throughout her body and into her bones. There is now nothing more they can do, it is just a "matter of time." Peggy has two young children and a wonderful outlook on life, but the reality is just "sinking in" to her husband.

Kim Williams is a friend of mine from church. She suffered a stroke this past Tuesday evening. While in the emergency room, they discovered "spots" on her lungs and liver and her brain. She has no damage from the stroke, but the cancer is very advanced and they have said her life span could be anywhere from 3-18 months. She had no recognizable symptoms before the stroke. She is undergoing 10 radiation treatments. The doctors are very puzzled as to why she is not currently in any pain, because of how advanced the cancer is. Kim is only 42. She has 2 wonderful children Kayeley (14) and Zachary (10). She and her husband Herb are still in shock over everything that has happened.

Thank you for reading my lengthy email and thank you for your prayers.

Laurie Ursiny
Secretary
River Road Church, Baptist

Remember in your prayers Peggy Harris and her family, Kim Williams and her family, Bob Tyler's grandson Carter, Sue Hodder, Rick and Linda Mears, Donald and Barbara Deer, Audrey Thomson's sister Sharon Ruben and Sharon's family, Jared Oliver, Julia Tyler and her parents, Mary and Julian Pentecost, Kay and Bob Culpepper, John and Margaret Oliver, the Church clergy and staff, our military and civilians in harm's way, and those only known to you.

Every week since March 19, 2003, when the War in Iraq began PH has included on our prayer list "our military and civilians in harm's way." In the PHA of March 21, 2003, PH made the following statement.

A Poor Henry Statement
"This edition of PHA will not make any attempt at humor out of respect for the men and woman in uniform and for the civilians in Iraq, all of whom are in peril."

Attached to this PHA is the names of all the (mostly young) men and women who have lost their lives on the field of honor in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Every one of them had a family that loved them and all were voluntary members of the armed forces. They followed orders and one can only hope that their reward is greater than we can imagine.

Angel Beth's Plush Animals for Children in Iraq Project Is Growing

There have been fourteen animals collected and delivered as of yesterday afternoon. The deadline to receive the beanie babies and plush animals is Tuesday, November 30. Shepsons usually rise to the occasion. Can we do it again?

Dorcas Fowler Reaches Twenty-nine

Former Missionary Dorcas Fowler will be twenty-nine on Sunday. In addition Betsy and Chris Foster will celebrate thirty-one years of marriage on Sunday.

Samuel Anoints Saul

Have you ever been anointed? We did everything but anoint Pastor Mike last Sunday. This Sunday we will probably hear about Saul's anointing by Samuel, the seer. Come to class on Sunday and bring your favorite oil and who knows how many might be anointed. Do you remember when we had our former classroom under the chapel blessed with incense in order to eliminate those evil liberal influences that might have still been lingering from the many years that the Discussion Class had met there? If we can have incense, then bring the oils.

The SSBSC Christmas Social Is Set

Reserve the evening of Saturday, December 11 for the annual SSBSC Christmas Social. This event will be catered and will be held in the facilities of the University Club on the campus of the University of Richmond. More details to come later.

General Robert E Lee on War

Many of you may know that Robert E. Lee was a Virginian, graduated from West Point and served in the United States Army for over thirty years. He resigned from the U. S. Army in 1861 and served in the Confederate States Army for four long years. If there was anything positive about the Confederacy, it might have been the heart and soul of General Lee. After the war Lee was the president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, until his death five years later and while in Lexingrton he never spoke of the war again or wore a uniform. Lee wrote the following:

"What a cruel thing war is. To separate and destroy families and friends and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world. To fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world." (letter to his wife, April 19, 1863)

"I know of no fitter resting-place for a soldier than the field on which he has nobly laid down his life." (from 1866 regarding a proposal to remove the remains of the Confederate dead from Gettysburg. Many of those dead now lie silently in Hollywood Cemetery.)

PH

Poor Henry's Archives

November 12, 2004
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