|
|
|
|
|
Pastor’s Pen - May 2019
My son, Nicholas, will be baptized at Shady Grove on Sunday, May 26! I’m not going to officiate the sacrament, and neither is my wife, Sara. We have always been on the same page in that regard. We want to be parents, not pastors, when we celebrate that day. To that end, Rev. Margaret Burnett, Associate Pastor at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, will join us in worship that day and for that sacrament.
In thinking about Nicholas’ baptism, I have found myself remembering all the other baptisms of which I have been a part. Baptizing the very old and the very young; the infant and the believer. Baptisms with screaming babies and sleeping babies, and one baby with a suddenly full diaper. Above all, I remember and picture the pastor of my youth, a very tall, thin man with a wing span of a condor, standing at the altar or the font, arms spread wide, charging the congregation to, “Remember your baptism and rejoice!” I never saw my pastor so incredibly happy as he was when giving that charge or when baptizing a child into the community of faith, and being able to say “Remember your baptism and rejoice.”
Some of us who actively chose to be baptized can literally remember the baptism. Others must rely on the memory of those who were there, those who sponsored, those who witnessed, and those who administered. Either way, our baptisms are major life events, and that’s why the stories of our baptism are so important. If we can remember them, they are a first hand account of being marked as God’s own forever. If we can’t remember them, they are stories given to us about our entry into the household of faith. Either way, they help us know and remember the event, and us who we are and whose we are.
The foundation of all of our baptismal stories is that we participated in a sacrament that “enacts and seals what the word proclaims: God’s redeeming grace offered to all people. Baptism is at once God’s gift of grace, God’s means of grace, and God’s call to respond to that grace. The baptism of believers witnesses to the truth that God’s gift of grace calls for our grateful response. The baptism of our young children witnesses to the truth that God claims people in love even before they are able to respond in faith. These two forms of witness are one and the same sacrament.”
I’m incredibly joyful to add another baptismal story to my family, my church family, and the Church universal. I won’t touch the water or offer the prayer or welcome the newly baptized with the ‘walk and talk’. I will be there to be a part of another story, though, and I hope you will too.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Rev. Will
|
|
|
Community
Sunday School
Adult Sunday school meets every Sunday, at 9:30am.
Children's and Youth's Sunday school meets every Sunday during worship.
Bible Study
The first of a five week study on the books of Ruth and Esther begins this Thursday evening, May 2, and will be held each Thursday during May. This week's class and the final class (May 30) will meet at the church in room 13 from 7-8 p.m. The classes on May 9, 16, and 23 will meet at Pyros restaurant in the Park Place Centre on the corner of Ridgeway and Park, where we will gather around 6-6:30 to eat and fellowship together before the study.
While the study will draw on the two pertinent sections of Dr. Robert Williamson's book The Forgotten Books of The Bible: Recovering the Five Scrolls For Today, it is not necessary for the study to purchase and/ or read the text. However, if you are interested in reading the sections on Ruth and Esther, two copies of Williamson's book are available in the church library. If you have any questions concerning this study, please contact Sarah Strong at 299-3279 or Sarah.Strong@hotmail.com.
Join a Team
Team meetings are Sunday, May 5th after church. Please consider getting involved!
Session Meeting
Will meet Monday, May 6, at 6pm here at the church.
PW Day & Night Circles
The Day and Night Circles will meet Tuesday, May 7, at the home of Seiko Igarashi located at 4546 Sequoia Rd. at 6pm. Please bring a covered dish and carpooling is encouraged.
Birthday Luncheon
The birthday lunch will be on May 8, noon, at Owen Brennan's. Honorees are Nancy Howell, Mary Jo Mayton, and Joyce Wood.
Wednesday Night Dinner
Please join us for dinner at 6pm in the Fellowship Hall on May 8th and 22th. There is a sign up sheet in the narthex or feel free to email the office.
Ghost River Kayaking/Canoe Trip
We will be meeting Saturday, May 11th, at 9AM at the take out spot of the Wolf River in Moscow, TN. The Ghost River Outfitter will meet us at the parking lot and shuttle us in vans to the put in of the Wolf River. This is an 8.5 mile stretch that I would plan on lasting 6 hours. No experience is necessary. I highly recommend renting single kayaks but canoes and standup paddleboards are also available. The fee for renting is $40 per kayak, $50 per canoe, and $50 per SUP. Rentals include boat, paddle, vest and a shuttle. If you have your own boat the shuttle fee is $10. A reservation is made in advance and payment is due in cash on the day of the trip. Please contact Amanda Noe with any questions, 901-517-6460. There is a sign up sheet in the narthex.
MICAH
The monthly meeting is Tuesday, May 14, at 7pm, at Shady Grove Presbyterian Church.
All Task Force Meetings will be Tuesday, May 28, at 6pm, at Shady Grove Presbyterian.
UKirk Memphis (Campus Ministry) Fundraiser
Baily and Wyly Bigger with Megan Carolan will perform at Railgarten (2166 Central Ave)
Thursday, May 16th, 6pm. Tickets are $10 online and $12 at the door
(All proceeds benefit UKirk Memphis)
Online ticket link: https://railgarten.eventive.org
Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1564950246941102/
Saturday Supper
On Saturday, May 18th, come serve at St. Luke's United Methodist Church on Highland @ Mynders. Plan to stay from about 3:00 pm to about 5:30 pm. Call Susan Baldwin with
questions 605-7704.
Sausage Biscuits
The Formation Team will be offering sausage biscuits (and plain biscuits) for sale to raise funds for the annual St. Luke's Christmas Dinner. They will be offered Sunday, May 21st and will cost $3.00. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Book and Movie Group
We will meet on May 23, at 7, to discuss The Auschwitz Escape, by Joel C. Rosenberg. Happily Pat Patterson will be with us to lead the discussion. Maxine will be there, too! If you haven't read it, there's plenty of time.
Knitting Group
Will not meet in May and will resume in September. Happy Summer Break!
Tai Chi for Health
Every Monday at 6pm, in the fellowship hall. Free, open to the community. Suitable for all levels and can be done seated. Call Cynthia Mealer for questions at 833-1746.
Singers and choristers, now hear this!
Come and experience the hippest choir around, and hang with some excessively groovy people!! Join us every Wednesday, at 7:30pm, in the sanctuary.
SuperLo & Kroger Cards
Please see Shelley Gray after worship each Sunday to sign up for the Rewards programs.
Mustard Seed
Don't forget to stop by the store after worship. Lots of new merchandise just arrived!
Food Pantry
Cans of main dish items with meat and evaporated milk are needed.
Calling All Artists!
Please consider submitting your original artwork for the cover art on Sundays bulletins. There is a schedule in the narthex for the specific dates needed.
Church Directory
We are in the process of creating on online directory, as well as a print version for those who prefer a hard copy. The software we are using is Realm and in the near future you will receive an email to create an account. Once you have an account, you will be able to update your personal information and change your profile photo. You will also have the option to view your year to date giving. You can access the app for your phone by downloading Realm Connect.
Please remember Shady Grove in your will.
|
|
|
Prayers for Healing and Wholeness
Barry Gilmore (King Family friend)
Phil Smith
Jessica Keith
Colleen Whirley
Gloria Zotkiewicz
Carol Bizot
Claudia Rutkauskas
Sandra and Ned Smith
Laura Flippin
Teresa Robinson
Steve Alsobrook
Janet Baldwin (Susan Baldwin’s mother)
Chuck Cambell (Friend of Sonny)
Anges Sanders (Avalon’s sister)
Jane Sohm (Sarah Strong’s mother)
George and Darlene Gray (Nancy Gray)
Sandy Smith (Ned and Sandra Smith)
Polly Heimburg
Lynn Douglas (Shelley Gray)
DeAnn Pace (Ann Miller)
Rosalind Walker (Ann Miller)
Amy Waddell (Ann Miller)
Marie Johnson
Gaye Hazel (Angie Wagner's aunt)
Darrell Willis (Carolyn King's friend)
Prayers for Peace and Comfort
Meredith Walsh and Kyle Tingley
The Baker Family
The Myers Family
Prayers for the Human Condition
All affected by gun violence
Immigrant communities and families seeking asylum
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
