# 32, March 6, 2003

Cecil Sherman Begins as Interim Pastor on March 30

Member of RRCB and Reverend Doctor Cecil Sherman will be our interim pastor (IP) and will preach his first sermon on March 30, 2003. The Board of Deacons made this announcement last Monday night. IP Cecil has been a member of RRCB for many years. Cecil earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor University and his Bachelor of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned a Master of Theology from Princeton University and a Doctorate in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Cecil was the first coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Previously he had pastored the Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas and for twenty years he was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Asheville, North Carolina. He was a member of the so called Peace Committee during the Southern Baptist takeover, but resigned in protest when peace was not really the goal of this committee (PH's opinion). He is a visiting professor of pastoral ministry at BTSR and teaches Baptist Heritage.

Julian Is Very Grateful and Writes:

"Dear Shepherd-Simpson Bible Study Class Members,

I have asked for a few moments of class time to explain my appreciation to you for raising a thousand dollars for the Religious Herald 175 Fund and doing it in my honor. Some of you know it was my privilege to be editor and business manager of the Herald from 1979 to 1992.

I strongly believe in and support the ministry of the Herald to Baptist work in Virginia and the fact that you as a class have chosen to show your support in this way means a great deal to me. So I want you to know how grateful I am.

Virginia Baptists need the Religious Herald and the Herald needs Virginia Baptists. We are fortunate to have Michael Clingenpeel as the present editor and he and his staff are doing an excellent job.

Thank you again for your interest and support."
With Gratitude,
Julian Pentecost

Are You Thinking About the Questions?

This Sunday our attention will be focused on a discussion regarding our preparation for the visit from two members of the Pastor's Search Committee on March 16. The questions to be addressed include:

• 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?

A Timely Start (On the Dot)

Last Sunday most Shepsons were in their places at 9:45 AM in time to sing a hymn and have an opening prayer. Teacher Bob was able to start promptly at 9:50 AM. Actually Teacher Bob barely had to time to catch his breath before beginning his lesson on John. This Sunday Charlotte Simpson will offer a prayer after we sing two verses of the hymn "This Is My Father's World" (assuming it is in the hymn book). On Sunday, March 30 Teacher Bob will resume our study of John at approximately chapter 6:43. On Sunday, March 16, B. J. Seymour and David Gulick from the Pastor's Search Committee will join us. On Sunday, March 23, young people will teach our class as a part of Youth Sunday. The preaching schedule for March is as follows:

March 9—Dan Bagby
March 16—Charles Bugg
March 23—Katie Chandler, youth minister
March 30—Cecil Sherman

Treasurer Dick's Report

Treasurer Dick Morris did not question PH's math in regard to Rob and Donna's wedding anniversary. Dick wrote PH:

Henry,
"I would never question your math. I just assumed that Donna and Rob were so in love that the first year flew by at the speed of light. It was so fast that they didn't count it. Thus, married in 1981 but only 21 years."

Dick has been handling the money of the SSBSC. His report is below and PH could not detect any "signs" of embezzlement. The SSBSC has no off shore accounts.

Treasurer's Report of SSBSC:

Prayer Rounds

Linda Mears sent PH an E-mail, which reads:

"Dear Henry, We are waiting for a call from the vascular surgeon with a date for the surgery to fix the aneurysm in his carotid artery. I will let you know as soon as we hear."

Brenda's Aunt Helen has been discharged from the hospital and is now in healthcare at the Manor. She is doing well.

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

Is the Spire Patriarchal?

For those of you who read the Spire carefully, you will notice on page 9 that Dave Holland is recognized for his honor of being named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference swim coach of the year. The Spire correctly states that Dave is the son of PH. However the Spire neglects to mention Dave's mother. Dave was not left at PH's doorstep. His mother is Shepson Brenda. PH was a witness to his birth and can confirm that his mother is Brenda. DNA testing is not necessary. This type of omission would not have been allowed in the red tent.

Harold H. Wilke Dies

Harold H. Wilke, 88; Armless Minister and Advocate for Disabled Dies in California. Donald Deer knew Dr. Wilke and sent PH an article from the Los Angeles Times regarding Dr. Wilke's life. His was a remarkable life. Thanks to Donald Deer for providing PH with a copy of the entire article.

A Defining Presence

Last Sunday Barbara Massey delivered a fine sermon to complete the trilogy of sermons by Chester and Bob. PH was particularly impressed with the words from II Corinthians, which were part of the scriptural basis of her sermon. The words are eloquent and humbling.

"Yet we who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us. We are troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed. At all times we carry in our mortal bodies the death of Jesus, so that his life also may be seen in our bodies. Throughout our lives we are always in danger of death for Jesus' sake, in order that his life may be seen in this mortal body of ours. This means that death is at work in us, but life is at work in you."

Poor Henry's Archives

February 27, 2003
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