# 31, February 27, 2003

Who Will Be the New Pastor?

Nobody knows the answer to this question, but we all can have some input to the Pastor's Search Committee (PSC) on Sunday, March 16 during the Sunday school hour. PSC members David Gulick and B. J. Seymour will have our undivided attention on that Sunday and seek answers to the following questions:

• WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE TO BE THE STRENGTHS OF OUR CHURCH?
• WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE TO BE THE CHALLENGES OF OUR CHURCH?
• WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR OUR CHURCH?
• WHAT SUGGESTIONS OR WORDS OF ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THE PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE?

The observations and suggestions you are willing to share this very month with the Pastor Search Committee could profoundly influence the ministry of our church for the next 20-25 years.

Editor Emeritus Julian Pentecost to Be Honored by the SSBSC

Julian Pentecost is currently the Editor Emeritus of the Religious Herald. On behalf of the class Poor Henry is pleased to announce that the SSBSC has raised one thousand dollars, which has been donated to the Religious Herald Endowment Fund in honor of Julian. This donation is included as part of the Herald's 175th anniversary celebration. Julian was the editor for twenty-two years and during that time the theological climate in the Southern Baptist Convention changed significantly. Throughout this difficult time Julian maintained his own integrity and remained committed to the principles of fairness, freedom of the press, and our Virginia Baptist heritage. Shepsons can feel some personal pride because Julian and Mary have been members of our class for many years. Also some donations came from outside the class and literally originated from across the USA. If Julian and Mary are present on Sunday morning, take time to congratulate Julian on this honor.

Get Me to the Church on Time

Shepson missionary Bill Simpson is eager to get everyone to Sunday school on time in order to provide an adequate quantity of time for Teacher Bob's quality lessons. If we all arrive by 9:45 AM, we will have enough time for Bill to ring the bell and for the class to sing a hymn, have a prayer, and get the lesson started by 9:50 AM. Then we can enjoy, learn, cogitate, and even ruminate on the lesson until 10:30 AM. The choir members can leave in proper formation at 10:30 AM and Brother Bill can bring us up to date on class news before we adjourn in order to get PH to church on time. To quote Missionary Bill, "The goal: is for Bob to begin teaching at 9:50 on the dot, or, before the dot."

Reverend Barbara Will Try Again to Preach "A Defining Presence," God Willing

Reverend Barbara Massey's sermon that was put on ice on February 16th will be thawed out on Saturday night and preached on this Sunday morning. If you would like to prepare yourself for this sermon, her texts will be Jeremiah 18:1-6 and II Corinthians 4:5-11.

The Spire (that other somewhat conservative publication) has announced the preachers for the rest of March. They are the Reverend Dr. Dan Bagby, the Reverend Dr. Charles Bugg, and Miss Katie Chandler (for Youth Sunday). However PH would advise you to read PHA weekly, as nothing is definite when dealing with the winter of 2003.

Teacher Bob Needs a Sign or a Miracle to Complete Chapter Six by Spring

Teacher Bob will begin at verse 22 in chapter six of John's gospel on this Sunday. There are 71 verses in chapter six. Teacher Bob essentially has two Sundays (March 2 and March 9) to complete chapter six. He would have to cover twenty-five verses each Sunday in order to complete chapter six by spring. Such a leap of faith would not be in keeping with the best tradition of the SSBSC. Thus, PH feels confident that chapter six will not be completed until April unless a "sign" pops up.

Prayer Rounds

Kathy Wade has requested prayers. Her letter to PH is self-explanatory:

" just wanted to express a prayer request. My stepmother, Mrs. Wanda Wade, died Sunday night in an Oklahoma City hospital. Wanda received a kidney transplant just weeks after Dad died in '94 and the kidney lasted much longer than we expected it to. My oldest sister, Barbara, had her hospitalized on Valentine's Day (her birthday) but she had a massive stroke--never regaining consciousness.

She was able to take some trips last year and we were thrilled for her to be able to do that.

She was 85. I'd ask the class to please remember my two sisters, Gennie and Barbara, who are taking care of all the details. I won't be able to attend the funeral Wednesday in Oklahoma for health reasons but they understand.

On the good news side, my oncologist called me today and confirmed that I no longer have to/or need to take Tamoxifen (cancer drug)."

PH sent an inquiry to Mel Torstrick about how he is doing. Mel's reply was short but encouraging:

"Some better. Thanks for asking."

Brenda Holland's Aunt Helen Falls was approaching a discharge status from Henrico Doctors' Parham when she developed a blot clot in her leg. She is doing well, but will not return to the Manor for a few days. Dr. Helen Falls is a retired Professor of Missions at the New Orleans Baptist Seminary. She is one of the few Baptist women professors in SBC history. Among her students were Reverend Dr. Bob Dibble and Paige Patterson. Aunt Helen's comments on Rev. Patterson will remain with PH.

Remember in your prayers Kathy Wade's family, the Mears Family, Brenda's Aunt Helen, Mel Torstrick, the Manor Bible Study Class, the Pastor's Search Committee, the church staff and those known only to you.

Drs. Donna and Rob Will Celebrate Twenty-one Years of Bliss

Donna and Rob Brown married on March 6, 1981, when they both said, "I do." PH wonders, "Did good Baptist girl Donna dance at her own wedding?" Pam Proffitt will be twenty-nine years old on March 1.

Poor Henry Tips Over

PH has been using a power scooter since April 1991. The first scooter served well until December 1999 when a newer scooter replaced it. In almost twelve years of scooter riding PH's scooter had never tipped over. Well, this all changed on Saturday, February 22. On that Saturday afternoon PH and Brenda went to a small social event for some Polio survivors and their spouses. The event was held in a high-rise condo building, which had covered parking. There was rain last Saturday. As PH and Brenda were leaving this event Brenda went to get our van and PH headed for an open area where loading would be simpler. The lighting was not good. PH approached what he thought was a small or shallow drop off of a curb to get to an open area for loading his scooter in the van. As the left rear wheel dropped off of this curb, which was higher than expected, PH was caught off guard and the scooter tipped to the left and PH, the scooter, the ventilator and battery all came crashing down on wet asphalt. PH's head hit a glancing blow against a parked car's fender on the way down. Brenda heard this crash and came running to this scene of calamity. Fortunately for PH there was no apparent injury and the vent was still functioning. Brenda immediately recruited help from several able-bodied polio spouses. Somehow PH was untangled from the scooter, vent, and battery. PH was lifted to his feet, got in the van and went home. PH realized that he had been blessed to have Brenda and good friends close at hand. PH did not break a bone and was in the SSBSC the next morning. PH thought about the prayer list. Just thinking about the loving care and prayers of the SSBSC lifted PH's spirit on that Sunday and every Sunday. PH also thought of the faith that Paul expressed when confronted with adversity. Just before the shipwreck (described in Acts 27) Paul states in verses 22-24: "But now I beg you, take courage! Not one of you will lose your life; only the ship will be lost. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship came to me and said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul!' " While lying helplessly on the asphalt PH did not see or hear an angel of the Lord, but PH did feel the presence of loving souls, in essence saying, "Don't be afraid, Henry."

Brenda Holland Is Shepherd of the Month

In recognition of the above and for countless other occasions in which Brenda has been PH's loving and supportive wife, PH takes this occasion to proclaim Brenda as Shepherd of the Month. Brenda is a native Richmonder. Her grandfather Falls was a Baptist preacher who was greatly influenced by William Hatcher. Her parents were both active lay leaders at First Baptist Church. Brenda graduated from Douglas Freeman High School, attended Furman University for one year, transferred to Westhampton College and graduated there. She later earned a Master's degree in special education. She has taught school, raised three children, is grandmother to six, experienced the trials and tribulations of being married to a shrink, sold books, and has been and continues to be a good friend to so many. She is an avid reader of good novels, enjoys gardening, and loves animals. She has been an alto in the Chancel Choir for thirty years and a charter member of the adult bell choir. Brenda has saved PH's life on more than one occasion. Brenda has always "done this for one of the least important" among us. Thanks be to God for Shepson Brenda, the SSBSC Shepherd of the Month.

PHA # 31 Addendum

The news statement below appeared in the most recent PHA # 31. PH confesses to an error. Drs. Donna and Rob will celebrate twenty-one years of wedded bliss on March 6, but they were married on March 6, 1982, not 1981. PH is confident that Shepson Dick Morris would have corrected this complex math error.

Drs. Donna and Rob Will Celebrate Twenty-one Years of Bliss

Donna and Rob Brown married on March 6, 1981 (should be 1982), when they both said, "I do." PH wonders, "Did good Baptist girl Donna dance at her own wedding?"

Ash Wednesday

PH forgot about Ash Wednesday. Do most Baptists forget about Ash Wednesday? This service will be at 7 PM in the Sanctuary following the Wednesday night dinner. Reverend Dr. Bob Dibble will be the preacher for this service. This service marks the beginning of Lent and we are instructed to be penitent. What will PH give up for Lent? PH plans to give up hot fudge cake at Julia's Tuesday Night Club. Well, maybe not the whole cake, just half and Brenda can eat the other half.

Poor Henry's Archives

February 20, 2003
February 13, 2003
February 6, 2003
January 30, 2003
January 23, 2003
January 16, 2003
January 9, 2003
January 2, 2003
December 26, 2002
December 19, 2002
December 12, 2002
December 5, 2002