Dead Sea Scrolls Visit

Thirteen members of First Presbyterian Church of Henderson traveled in our own pilgrimage caravan of cars from Henderson to Raleigh to take in the exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the North Carolina Museum of Science. The exhibit gives us all a rare look not only at the fragments of the Scrolls themselves--fragments from Genesis, Isaiah, Deuteronomy, and the rules of the Essenes community--but of the very Essenes community that lived in Qumran on the northern shore of the Dead Sea in Israel. We both considered the recent journeys of the Scrolls since its discovery in the 1940s, but the story of this religious community itself and how it lived and thrived in its Dead Sea area. The exhibit showed how they found water and brought it up to their community, the pottery collection, and the scrolls themselves.

What was important for us to consider not only how the Scrolls were found today, but to ask the question: what is the Bible, the historic and sacred texts to not only Christians but Jews as well? Is there "the Bible" that is real, and everything else is a variation of a theme? How doe we understand the creation of this sacred texts from the oral tradition from which it was born?

We all left amazed and wondering!

Peace,

Pastor Brett

SOME and Dabney Dr. Restaurant!

We are a church that likes to eat, whether we are serving up the food or enjoying it at a nearby restaurant! On Sunday, the youth of the church served some of the people in the area who are not able to able to provide food on their own tables. The number of those coming to SOME has risen to around 45 people this past Sunday. Economic times are hard throughout this land, let alone Henderson and Vance County. We are providing a much needed resource in our community.

Likewise, a good time was had by all at Dabney Dr. Restaurant on Sunday after worship. Kathy and I were able to share with those who gathered together many of the exciting projects going on around the church, including updating websites and newsletters, Thursday's new "Shout Out" to those who use computers, in which we inform the congregation of all that is going on in our church in the upcoming days. These lunch times with the pastor and staff will continue throughout the rest of my tenure at the church, so come and join us.

In reading the past blogs and newsletter, I find myself writing a great deal about food. This is O.K.! After all, we see Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding feast, we see a few loaves of bread and some fish become enough to feed 5,000 men, and an equal number of women and children, Jesus was made known to the two disciples running to Emmaus when he simply broke bread with his friends, and we have Passover and the Last Supper as a reminder of the presence of the Christ in our lives today, and the life to come!

Eat up! Christ is with us!

Peace,

Pastor Brett

Lunch with Pastor Brett!

A good time was had by all who came to Dabney Dr. Restaurant after worship to talk with me. A good time was had by all as we sat around the Dabney Dr. Restaurant chatting with each other about our lives and the life of the Church.

I look forward to more good times like this with the Church!

Peace, Brett

Session, Stewardship, and Supper on Sunday!

A full weekend was had by many of us this past weekend at Church. On Sat., the Session members of FPC-H met from 10-2:30, discussing the past, the present, and the future of the Church. We met in the Henderson library board room, and from our vantage point we saw the Church in the near distance, giving us a great perspective to look outside the church but nearby, having a little perspective that we wouldn't have were we meeting in the Church building itself. The retreat gave us space and time to reflect upon our collective past, consider the present joys and struggles, and consider carefully where we are being led by God.

On Sunday, worship was made memorable because of the celebration of All Saints' Day and those who have already departed from us yet still are present as part of that cloud of unknowing witness.

Right after worship, we feasted on food cooked by Fred Lemmond as our Stewardship Kick-off Luncheon called us all together to enjoy good food and great company. Our new t-shirts ($10!) and window decals give us new ways to evangelize in the community, along with our nifty new book marks.

Then on Sunday night, the youth group sponsored a Fall Festival, with plenty of games, food, and fun for people of all ages!

It is Monday morning...phew! Hope everyone has a great day and week!

And don't forget to vote tomorrow, Nov. 4th!

Peace,

Pastor Brett