# 20, December 12, 2002

Drink Out of the Same Cup!

This Sunday Teacher Bob will begin chapter 4 of John's Gospel. He will likely deal with verse 9 this Sunday or next. That verse reads: The woman answered, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan - so how can you ask me for a drink?" (Jews will not use the same cup and bowls that Samaritans use.) [from the DDGN Bible.]

The above words were spoken two thousand years ago, but prejudice has lived a long life. For any of us who grew up in Virginia or points south, legal racial segregation and overt prejudice were part of our experience. PH did not have an African American classmate until he entered medical school at MCV. At that time (1962) there was one African American male medical student in PH's class. The State of Virginia could not legally segregate him because there was no state supported African American medical school, but there was a state supported African American nursing school named for St. Philip. When a well known OB - GYN doctor would not allow this African American student to scrub in to assist in a baby delivery, his Caucasian classmates refused to assist this doctor. Higher officials within the medical school became involved and this example of prejudice was corrected.

How does Jesus relate to this insignificant Samaritan woman? Teacher Bob will cover all of the violated boundaries and interpersonal dynamics with water to drink and food to harvest.

The Caduceus Symbol and Moses' Bronze Snake on a Pole (John 3:14)

Two weeks ago there was some discussion as to whether the bronze snake on a pole that Moses raised was a forerunner of the Caduceus, the symbol of medicine. Historian Emily suggested that the real origin of the Caduceus was Greek mythology. When PH went to the Internet, one thing led to another:

The caduceus was adopted as a symbol of physicians because of its similarity to the staff of Asclepius. Asclepius was the Greco - Roman god of medicine. He was the son of Apollo and the nymph Coronis. He learned the art of healing from the Centaur Chiron. Fearful that Asclepius would make humans immortal, Zeus slew him with a thunderbolt. His cult originated in Thessaly and spread throughout Greece. Because he was said to cure the sick in dreams, the practice of sleeping in his temples became common. Asclepius was often represented by a staff with a serpent coiled around it.

That serpent does get around and Emily was correct.

Did Jesus See Smallpox?

Jesus encountered many folks with "dreaded skin diseases." Ordinary smallpox involves a rash, pustules, and scabs. This would likely be a "dreaded skin disease." Smallpox has probably been around since the time of Noah because smallpox is a virus that depends on a human host for a natural survival. Shepson pathologist Dr. Carolyn explained all about the smallpox vaccination and the risks involved in last Sunday's TD (Op/Ed section, page E-3). The article is posted on the bulletin board in the EBWMMA just below the EBWMMA framed document. Take time to read it as this once eradicated disease is a potential weapon of bioterror.

Some other diseases that must have been on Noah's vessel were measles, leprosy, typhus, typhoid fever, pneumococcal pneumonia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and poliomyelitis. PH wishes that Brother Noah had done more screening.

Professor Dick Is in the News

In the Richmond TD of December 4, 2002, Professor Dick is mentioned in a column by Randy Fitzgerald. The article indicates that Dick is "learning finger picking guitar Merle Travis style." Could it be possible in the not too distant future that Dick will be able to pick and play:
"Get Up John, ………………….…………………………..John the Baptist?"
And do this for the SSBSC spring or summer social? What talent may be hidden in this class? If the SSBSC Dixie Chicks harmonized along with Dick, Doug and Miller, the next step could be a CD (Picking and Singing Shepsons)

Prayer Rounds

Kathy Wade is awaiting the results of some meaningful laboratory tests. Kathy has been treated for breast cancer. Julian Pentecost is dealing with increased limitations in his life. Terry Marsh's mother is holding her own. Remember Kathy, Julian, Terry's mother and others only known to you in your prayers.

Bell Ringing and Yuletide Social Will Occur This Saturday

Salvation Army bell ringing is set for Saturday at the K-Mart at Parham Plaza, which is across from Regency Mall. This K-Mart is on the west side of Parham opposite Saxon's Shoes. PH wonders if St. Stephen's or Trinity churches were able to snatch the Ukrop's location on Three Chopt Road. Did that "Baptist" word after the comma send us to K-Mart? PH would speculate that there are more Samaritan women at K-Mart than Ukrop's. Ringers can relax about a dress code. Any Shepsons are welcome to come and help.

The Christmas Social will begin at 6 PM at the Thomas' Home. Small pox vaccinations will not be required for entrance, but a memory verse may be required. PH reserves "Jesus wept." Directions are below:

Directions from Huguenot and River Road:

From the River Road Shopping Center (and Dr. Donna's Virginia Eye Center) cross the Huguenot Bridge and go 0.4 miles from the south end of the bridge, past Spring Creek Drive and turn right onto Cherokee Road. There is no traffic light here, but it is the first cross street after the bridge. Follow Cherokee 3.2 miles until you reach a stop sign at Old Gun Road, East. Turn right on Old Gun and continue to follow 1.2 miles along the river and then in a sharp left turn away from the river and up hill. You are now on Old Gun Road West. Turn right onto Iron Forge Drive and into the subdivision (Clarke's Forge). The entrance is well marked with a stone and a stucco sign. The Thomas home is the third house on the left (12211 Iron Forge Drive). Driving time is 10 - 15 minutes, depending on bikers, joggers, deer, and Native Americans

Directions from Huguenot Road and Robious Road

Go west on Robious Road. At the second light turn right onto Old Gun Road West. Go about 1.7 miles and turn left onto Iron Forge Drive (the first public road on the left). The Thomas home is the third house on the left (12211 Iron Forge Drive). Driving time is about 5 minutes.

Directions from Huguenot and Chippenham:

Dealer's Choice (or take the road less traveled): Either go north and turn left onto Cherokee and follow directions from Cherokee or go south and follow directions from Robious. Carolyn and George usually take Cherokee.

If you have a cell phone and are lost or your car is stuck in the river, the Thomas' phone number 267-1774 (a local call)

Vonda's Emergency Numbers

How many of you know that Vonda Thomson is the current president of the Scottish Rite Woman's Club? Well, she is! Vonda gave PH a copy of this club's directory. There are 217 members of this organization and twenty-nine year old Vonda is probably the youngest president in the club's history. On the last page of the directory are listed some emergency numbers. They are:

If you get a busy signal or a message that God is out to lunch, try calling Vonda at 282-5230. She will make you smile.

More from Barbara Brown Taylor, Episcopal Priest

Are you sometimes annoyed by all of the talking heads on radio and TV? On many talk shows, those that are the loudest and least courteous often get the upper hand. Does anyone listen any more? Does anyone make homemade bread? Barbara Brown Taylor wrote about the talking preachers in her book When God Is Silent. She writes:

"When people come at us with words, we would like them to hold their hands out first where we can see them, to check for weapons. We would like them to keep their distance until we have a chance to sniff the air for explosives. Our listeners are no different, and they do not grow new ears when they walk into church. They are on the defensive, most of them. They reserve the right to decide for themselves.whether or not what we say is true, they will base that decision only partly on the content of our speech. For more important than that is their reading of our congruity. Does what we say match up with how we are saying it? Do we look as if we live in the same world they do? Are we going to tell the truth about that world or are we going to pretend?

From the moment we open our mouths to speak, people collect data about our reliability from our faces, our bodies, our voices, our clothes. These are all parts of the language we speak, and we will not gain a full hearing until our listeners have learned enough from them to decide whether or not we are trustworthy. This may be as good a reason to preach a long sermon or a short one, but in a time of famine I am more interested than ever in the art of homily. Again, this is a famine typified not by too little but too much. There are mountains of junk food around, sealed in foil packages with expired dates stamped on them. What are scarce are sources of real nourishment - fresh brown rolls with no wrappers at all."

Poor Henry's Archives

All of the PHA's can be accessed at the PH archives.