Vol. III, # 31, March 11, 2005

The CrossOver Challenge Is Next Month

PH is writing on behalf of the Board of Missions to make you aware of the current status of opening a free medical clinic in western Henrico County. CrossOver Ministries operates the largest free clinics in Virginia. Plans are underway to open a CrossOver West Clinic in western Henrico by this summer. The proposed site would be in an existing medical building near Regency Mall. Over one-half of the necessary funding has already been raised to open this clinic. CrossOver Ministries operates free medical clinics for those without any type of health insurance and with a family income below $36,000 per year. In the Richmond area about one-third of the current patients at the Cowardin Avenue CrossOver clinic are Hispanic. Many volunteers will be needed to help with the proposed CrossOver West Clinic. If this effort is successful dental care and pharmacy services will be added in time.

A major determiner of whether this effort will receive adequate funding is occurring on Saturday, April 23. This event is called the CrossOver Challenge. This fun and fund raising event will be on the soccer/track complex at the University of Richmond from 9 AM to 2 PM. The main events are a competitive 5 K run and a family friendly 3 K walk. To sponsor a runner or a walker a fee of $15 is required if registration is made before April 9. After April 9 or on the day of the event, the fee is $20. Each participant will receive a T - shirt. There will be other fun filled events such as a golf putting challenge, jump rope events, soccer kicking, basketball free throws and events designed for children ages three to seven. Tickets for these events can be purchased on the premises on the day of the event.

The youth of the church and hopefully many adult church members will be participating in this event. Participants, sponsors and volunteers are needed. Registration forms can be found in our classroom. For more information or to volunteer, contact Charlotte Flowers at 262-8535, ext. 107 or you can visit the CrossOver website at http://www.crossoverministry.org/. Twenty churches in west Richmond and western Henrico are involved in this project. Please consider doing your part to help make this event successful. If any Shepsons are able to run the 5 K, perhaps other Shepsons can sponsor them. Most Shepsons can probably do the 3 K walk and can seek sponsors for this fun walk.

On behalf of the Board of Missions PH invites all Shepsons to participate in one way or another.

Teacher Bob Will Continue with Saul's Insecurity or Paranoia

Last week we completed the nineteenth chapter of First Samuel. We concluded that chapter with Saul joining a shouting musical frenzy and lying around naked for twenty-four hours. Does chapter twenty get any better? Will David and Jonathan kiss? Will Saul throw a spear at his son Jonathan? Will Jonathan be loyal to his father Saul or to his friend (or would one venture, lover)! David? Come to Sunday School this Sunday and hear Teacher Bob's version.

Donald Deer Reads PHA

After last week's PHA Californian Donald Deer wrote PH and reported that there are multiple accounts of these stories in First Samuel. Donald wrote:

FYI: There are multiple accounts of the same event(s):

Jonathan intervenes twice on behalf of David
¶ 1 Samuel 19.1-7
1 Samuel 20.1-43

Henry Preserved Smith, The Books of Samuel (International Critical
Commentary), ad 1 Samuel 19.1-7:
"The paragraph . . . appears to be another version of the story
contained in 20:1-39."

George B. Caird, "I Samuel," Interpreter's Bible, ad 1 Samuel 19.1-10:
"This passage is assigned to the late source, but it may be a doublet
of ch. 20, added at a much later date, and introduced at this point to
explain why, in spite of Saul's attack, David still remained at court.
It is incompatible with ch. 20, where Jonathan is unaware of his
father's enmity toward David."

5 accounts of David's flight from Saul
¶ 1 Samuel 19.1-8
1 Samuel 19.9-10
1 Samuel 19.11-17
1 Samuel 19.18-24
1 Samuel 20.1-42

See George B. Caird, "The First and Second Books of Samuel", IB, II,
p. 856.

Cordially,

Donald S. Deer

Dorothy Becker, Polio Survivor Dies

Because of Donald Deer and the Internet PH became aware of Dorothy Becker and her husband Russell Becker. Donald Deer wrote the following to PH last Saturday:

Dear Henry:

You will remember that we have had here at Pilgrim Place a woman—Dorothy Becker—who knew of you because of her PPS (Post-Polio Syndrome). After considerable difficulty with breathing, and hospitalization because of pneumonia, she went into a coma this morning, and died this afternoon. She kept a binder with various of your writings, which she showed me once. Her husband, Russ, who survives her, is in excellent health.

They moved here in 1988, so had 17 years together in this retirement community. Russ was a pastor and seminary professor, in the United Church of Christ (ex-Congregational) denomination, and did his first theological degree at the same seminary I did, Colgate Rochester Divinity School. Every time we sat together with them at a meal, we talked about you.

Donald S. Deer

PH sent Russell Becker an E-mail of sympathy and received this response:

Henry:

I did not take the time before to read your "Grief" article. But I have just finished it. Your steady outpouring of thoughts in organized forms amazes me. What struck me most was your data about the early death of so many PPS-ers. In this regard my Dorothy was an exception. She contracted polio in 1952 at the age of 29 -- almost 30. When you add 53 years to that, you arrive at 82. So she actually had a good span of years. And the cause of death was an independent problem -- pulmonary fibrosis which was first seen medically as a problem in 1995, but which was present in x-rays five years earlier when reviewed by a pulmonologist. It so happens she died at exactly the same age that her mother died.

What struck me in regard to her PPS was her specific response to my question when did you first notice PPS? "In 1981," was her reply. We didn't even learn about PPS until 1986. When her lung power was proven to be only 30% in November of 2003, the pulmonologist gave her only three years to live and she made only half of that. What she did know was that the disease was progressive and irreversible. So she had time to make all sorts of arrangements and plans with regard to her affairs which suited her take-charge spirit admirably. Again, I remain indebted to you for your help to us in the onset of high persistent pain two years ago.

Russell

PH publishes this memory of Dorothy Becker because she was an exemplary and brave person. PH never met her nor did any of you, but the Internet made communication possible.

Prayer Rounds

Remember in your prayers: the family of Dorothy Becker, Mary Pentecost and the family of D. M. Holbrook, Tom Hicks, the family of Kim Williams, John and Margaret Oliver, Donald and Barbara Deer, IMB missionary John Seale, Diane and Don Retzer, the VCU BSU, Cecil and Dot Sherman, Peggy Harris and her family, Rick and Linda Mears, Audrey Thomson's sister Sharon Ruben and Sharon's family, Jared Oliver, Julia Tyler and her parents, Kay and Bob Culpeper, the Church clergy and staff. Prayers should also be offered for our military and civilians in harm's way and for those only known to you.

Carole Royall Is Safely Back

Shepson International Missionary Carole Royall is safely back to RRCB after doing hard, but wonderful work in Brazil. Ask her about her experiences in Brazil.

Shepson and Artist Bob Carter Is Twenty-nine Today

The SSBSC is fortunate to have two excellent and successful watercolor artists as members. Bob Carter is one of them and he has been painting all of those twenty-nine years. Just before Christmas we learned of the birth of his great-grandson Robert Joshua Carter. Many happy birthday greetings to Bob Carter of the Great Generation.

Easter Baskets and Easter Lilies

Remember that the ISH Easter Basket Campaign will continue until March 20 and if you wish to dedicate an Easter Lily for Easter Sunday, be sure to complete the special envelope by March 20.

For the Family

Help us to look back on the long way that Thou
hast brought us, on the long days in which we
have been served not according to our deserts but our
desires; on the pit and miry clay, the blackness of
despair, the horror of misconduct, from which our feet
have been plucked out.

For our sins forgiven or prevented, for our shame
unpublished, we bless and thank Thee, O God. Help us
yet again and ever. So order events, so strengthen our
frailty, as that day by day we shall come before Thee
with this song of gratitude, and in the end we be dismissed
with honour. In their weakness and fear, the vessels
of thy handiwork so pray to Thee, so praise Thee.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 - 1894)

Crossing the Bar

Sunset and evening star
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no mourning of the bar
When I put out to sea.

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho' from our borne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809 - 1892)

PH

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