I write this blog entry from my desk at St. Benedict's Monastery. I've been reflecting upon the good and right action of the Church in welcoming the space that was formerly known as the Boy Scouts' room into the emergency men's shelter of Vance County. The room is currently a mess from not being used, and will be easy to clean up. It is prime for this new service project and outreach of the Church: providing shelter for the strangers who will come our way, looking for a room in the "inn," this time the "inn" being the Church.
It was said at one of the community meetings with ministers and town-leaders that we are always sending our youth "out" to do mission projects. Henderson has, itself, enough possible projects going on that we should be welcoming others to help us in being Christ in the world in providing food, shelter, and clothes.
There is more in the way of empty, unused rooms in the Church, and there are more needs of the people of Henderson and Vance County.
May our work in being Christ in the world lead us to do more from the bounty that God has given us.
Following Christ with you, the People of First Presby. Church...
Pastor Brett
Monday, August 24, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Emergency Men's Shelter and FPC! A New Outreach Ministry
FPC, along with the Ministers Community Partnership and the town of Henderson, are officially set to open up an emergency men's shelter in the old Boy Scouts' room at FPC on November 1, 2009. Session gave its approval during our last Session meeting on Monday, August 17, 2009, to open the shelter to the wider community. The vote had a considerable amount of enthusiasm as well, because people understood how much this new ministerial outreach would be meeting the needs of others in the Henderson-Vance-Granville community.
Now the real work begins. In the coming weeks and months, people from all the surrounding churches will be asked to provide volunteer help in working overnight at the shelter, provide financial means for the shelter's operation, provide food daily, and meet other requests. The shelter will be in operation for 180 days of the year, usually during the coldest period of the year.
We praise God for this opportunity to meet the needs of others. For it is in meeting the needs of the stranger among us that we meet and serve Christ.
Peace!
Pastor Brett
Now the real work begins. In the coming weeks and months, people from all the surrounding churches will be asked to provide volunteer help in working overnight at the shelter, provide financial means for the shelter's operation, provide food daily, and meet other requests. The shelter will be in operation for 180 days of the year, usually during the coldest period of the year.
We praise God for this opportunity to meet the needs of others. For it is in meeting the needs of the stranger among us that we meet and serve Christ.
Peace!
Pastor Brett
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Elder Phil Hanny, the Rev. Paul Baxley, Joel Rice on WIZS Radio Show Today
Phil Hanny was on WIZS's "Town Talk" today, talking about hunger, homelessness, and especially the need of an emergency men's shelter in the area.
The Session of the FPC-H gave its o.k. in exploring the possibility of the shelter and the community is considering the placement of the emergency men's shelter underneath Fellowship Hall of our church, but supported by the community of Henderson and Vance County.
Go to www.wizs.com by clicking here. Then go to "town talk," and go onto the "town talk audio 08-06-09"
The work of Christ goes onward!
Peace,
Pastor Brett
The Session of the FPC-H gave its o.k. in exploring the possibility of the shelter and the community is considering the placement of the emergency men's shelter underneath Fellowship Hall of our church, but supported by the community of Henderson and Vance County.
Go to www.wizs.com by clicking here. Then go to "town talk," and go onto the "town talk audio 08-06-09"
The work of Christ goes onward!
Peace,
Pastor Brett
A Prayer for Peace: Hiroshima, 64 Years Later
A few years ago I had the opportunity to be in Japan on this date: August 6th, 1945. Sixty four years ago we, the USA, dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
We followed this bomb with a nuclear bomb on Nagasaki, Japan on Aug. 9th.
Countless lives were loss at the initial bombing, followed by years of people dying from sickness related to the after-effects of the bombing.
The world changed as well.
What Einstein thought was a marvel to producing energy was--and he was well aware of it--a possible source of horrors.
Let us lift up prayers for those whose lives were lost, for the lives of those effected, and pray that a nuclear bomb will never be detonated again.
Peace,
Pastor Brett
We followed this bomb with a nuclear bomb on Nagasaki, Japan on Aug. 9th.
Countless lives were loss at the initial bombing, followed by years of people dying from sickness related to the after-effects of the bombing.
The world changed as well.
What Einstein thought was a marvel to producing energy was--and he was well aware of it--a possible source of horrors.
Let us lift up prayers for those whose lives were lost, for the lives of those effected, and pray that a nuclear bomb will never be detonated again.
Peace,
Pastor Brett
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Moving Congregation
We are a congregation on the move at FPC-H...literally!
A week ago, before we began singing the Gloria Patri, I asked the congregation to move down front since most of the congregation gathered on the upper left hand corner (stage left) of the sanctuary. Reluctantly people moved.
Imagine my surprise and joy and humor when I walked into church before worship, and as I strode forward before stopping at the Lord's Supper table to give thanks to God for the opportunity to worship, the congregation had ALL moved to the left side (stage left) of the sanctuary. I laughed outwardly and inwardly.
A church that moves together stays together...yes?
Peace!
Pastor Brett
A week ago, before we began singing the Gloria Patri, I asked the congregation to move down front since most of the congregation gathered on the upper left hand corner (stage left) of the sanctuary. Reluctantly people moved.
Imagine my surprise and joy and humor when I walked into church before worship, and as I strode forward before stopping at the Lord's Supper table to give thanks to God for the opportunity to worship, the congregation had ALL moved to the left side (stage left) of the sanctuary. I laughed outwardly and inwardly.
A church that moves together stays together...yes?
Peace!
Pastor Brett
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Holy Communion
It was a busy week at FPC-H, especially with our work in figuring out how to open an emergency men's shelter, providing for the community.
In the middle of the business of the Church came the celebration of Holy Communion. This is what was fun today: celebrating Holy Communion both at FPC, and then at Cotton Memorial Presbyterian Church.
What was instructive was this: we are both reliant upon the bread of life for our work, for our lives. We share Christ in common, and so much more.
Thanks be to God!
Peace,
Pastor Brett
In the middle of the business of the Church came the celebration of Holy Communion. This is what was fun today: celebrating Holy Communion both at FPC, and then at Cotton Memorial Presbyterian Church.
What was instructive was this: we are both reliant upon the bread of life for our work, for our lives. We share Christ in common, and so much more.
Thanks be to God!
Peace,
Pastor Brett
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