"Come in dearhearts!"

A few summers ago Katherine and 'B' were both recovering from various health issues at The Laurels in Charlottesville. One afternoon I stopped by for a visit and found Katherine first, and since she was always up for fun we hatched a plan to surprise 'B' in the hair salon.

We wheeled down the hallway and found 'B' caped up and ready for a color and rinse. 'B' laughed when she saw us. "Come in dearhearts!"

We had the best time talking, praying, and laughing. Can you tell?

Thanks be to God for Katherine and 'B' who have joined countless others in the great cloud of witnesses. What a privilege to have been your pastor.

A Letter to the Church at Scottsville

In Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, he begins with gratitude for those with whom he shares ministry: "I thank my God every time I remember you..." (1:3)  Paul loved the churches he served, and I echo his words of thanks to the church I serve:  Thank you Scottsville Baptist Church.  

Thank you for the fifth anniversary party.  Thank you for your words and cards. Thank you for your prayers, songs, artwork, slide show, flowers, and gifts. Thank you for the meal (everyone knows the finest of restaurants can't touch a Baptist potluck).  

Thank you for spelling out your love in icing.  You know how I love cake.

I love celebrating anything for any reason with cake.

Thank you Scottsville Baptist Church.  There are many things I love about you.  Here are a few:

I love how you take your faith seriously.  I also love that you have fun.

I love your commitment to worship and your willingness to stretch.

One of the privileges of the pastorate is sharing communion with you.

I love how often I bump in to you in hospital hallways visiting our seniors.

I love your willingness to give rides to the doctor, to youth and children's activities, to the grocery, and to the bank.  

I love how you humbly go about serving anyone and everyone.  I love how you don't want or seek applause.

I love how you learn our children's interests and engage them in conversation.

The children each painted me a canvas and prayed with me.
Pass the Kleenex, please.

I love that you share the table with each other and with me.  Thank you for inviting me to family dinners and birthday parties and fish fries and graduation cookouts and Lumpkin's lunches and "Sunday drives" to the farm, festival, orchard, and ballgames.  Thank you for welcoming me to your home on Christmas Eve and taking me four-wheeling to meet your cows (even when I show up in a dress).

I love how you love the church, and I even love how competitive you are at Bible Jeopardy.

Thank you, church.  I look forward to the future!

The lovely hand-painted prayer the church gifted me.