# 25, January 16, 2003

PH's Weather Flash: PH's Snow Prediction: 6.66 inches (Revelation 13:18)

Pastor Jim and Lee Are Honored by the Class

With record numbers in attendance (54) and promptly on time at 9:45 AM last Sunday morning, the class presented a certificate of honorary membership in the SSBSC to Jim and Lee Slatton. In addition two gift certificates to two bookstores were presented to Jim. The occasion marked a special moment in the life of the SSBSC. A photo of Jim receiving the gifts is attached to this PHA. The spontaneous generosity of this class is limitless.

The Simpson Grandchildren Are Moving to Richmond

Dear Everyone, Catherine and Crew are moving back to Richmond on Tuesday, January 21st. Their new address is:

1415 Myradare Drive
Richmond, VA 23229-4809

No telephone number yet. The address is south of Three Chopt Road between Forest Avenue and Douglas Southall Freeman High School.

Love,

Charlotte and Bill

PH realizes that this address is near Freeman High School and really close for grandparent baby-sitting.

Really Big Service Set for This Sunday

All of you who can recall the old Ed Sullivan TV show may remember that Sullivan would often announce at the beginning of his Sunday night variety show that "we will have a 'really big show' tonight." Well, there is scheduled to be a really big service this Sunday in honor of Pastor Jim's retirement. There will be countless Reverend Doctors and other holy folks. There will be an academic procession that may extend out to the University of Richmond practice football field. A rumor has spread that so many invited guests will be present that only three rows will be available for the congregation. PH is not worried as PH has a rolling seat and will run over anyone who blocks his view except Jesus himself. If you think about it, Jesus will be there along with Niebuhr, Tillich, Nouwen, Bonhoeffer, Williams, Bunyan, Luther, Augustine, Paul, Moses, and O'Connor. Another rumor is that bagpipes may be heard and that Paul and Jane Jacobsen will be here. PH's fantasy can even include the whole congregation singing a verse of "Alice's Restaurant." This is a service that you should not miss unless you are somewhere doing unto the least among us.

Doris Curtis Wants Pastor Jim to Change His Mind

Shepson (and part time Phoenix-Fellowship teacher) Doris Curtis shares a birthday with Pastor Jim. She was twenty-nine on January 15 while Jim celebrated three score and ten years. Doris wrote PH concerning her shared birthday with Jim. She wrote:

"Yes, Jim is 70 today, but still seems as vital as ever. I wish he would have stayed at River Road Church so he could become the first 100-year-old pastor of a very healthy church. But, alas . . "

What can any of us say, "but alas" and thanks be to God for Dr. James Slatton?

Prayer Rounds

Dr. Franklin Fowler wrote PH in gratitude for the class's prayer concerns for his daughter Lindon. Franklin and Dorcas' daughter Lindon has completed chemotherapy and plastic surgery and now must wait for an official cure in five years. Terry Marsh's mother remains improved. PH is not aware of any new prayer concerns. Continue to remember Lindon, Rick Mears, Chester's father,
Catherine and Ross and their children, the Manor Bible Study Class, the Pulpit Committee, and those known only to you in your prayers.

Twenty-nine Candles and Holding

Ten Shepsons have January birthdays. Only the month of June exceeds this number. Doris Curtis, Nancy Werner, and Gene Cox are happy to be twenty-nine on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday respectively this week. It will snow on Gene's birthday. PH wonders if he will be the anchor on channel 12 news that night? Next Tuesday Julia Tyler will be twenty-nine. PH wonders if her Lee Davis High School students realize this? Carole (Gertrude) Royall will be twenty-nine next Wednesday. Did you know that Carole is connected to General Turner Ashby? For you trivia lovers, Martin Luther King's designated holiday on January 20 is sandwiched in between Robert E. Lee's birthday on January 19 and Stonewall Jackson's birthday on January 21. All three were followers of Jesus.

Pastor James Whitmore

As promised PH will share another "lunch with Jim" story. Some years ago, Pastor Jim and PH met for lunch at a trendy restaurant on Broad Street. The restaurant was fairly popular and when we arrived there was no available sitting. An attractive hostess walked up and addressed Pastor Jim with the usual: "Sir, how many are in your party and what is your name?" Jim said, "Just two and the name is Whitmore." PH was both stunned and ready to burst out laughing. PH looked at Jim and wondered what was going on. Jim said something like, "Oh, I just wanted to do that for the fun of it." So we waited a few minutes and the attractive hostess soon walked up and said, "Mr. Whitmore, your table is ready." We sat down and had an enjoyable lunch. PH remembers this situation so well because PH learned early on that Pastor Jim has a wonderful sense of humor. And he is not reluctant to tell a story in which he is the focus of the humor. Readers may recall a story that Jim shared in a sermon. He was visiting a church member in the hospital and the patient in the next bed heard that Jim was Dr. Slatton. Of course this patient assumed that Jim was a medical doctor and asked him for the bedpan. At least that is the gist of the story if not exactly correct.

In recent weeks the question has been raised whether Pastor Jim's sermons are better than ever. Is this true because recent sermons really are better or because members are concentrating and listening? PH believes that Pastor Jim has been delivering excellent sermons the entire thirty-one years. Now that his tenure is coming to a glorious end, naturally everyone is listening with greater interest.

The photo mentioned above is attached.

Poor Henry's Archives

January 9, 2003
January 2, 2003
December 26, 2002
December 19, 2002
December 12, 2002
December 5, 2002