Surely C. S. Lewis is special! It has been almost a half century since his death in 1963, but he seems better known and appreciated now than when he was alive and active in his teaching and writing. His books continue to sell well; movies made from his children's stories have caused thousands of young people to know his name, although they were born well after his death; and critical studies of his theology continue to appear in bookstores. And it is striking to note that much of this interest comes from our side of the Atlantic; indeed, the major archival resources for the study of Lewis are in the United States, not in England.

I say all this to introduce one more book about C. S. Lewis. Its title is Words to Live By: A Guide for the Merely Christian. Lewis is acknowledged as the author, as he really is, but this little volume is a collection of passages from his writings that the editor, Paul Ford, has put together. Imagine that you were to read the full corpus of Lewis's writings, the theological works, shorter essays, novels, letters, and so on, and were to clip those passages that seemed especially poignant to you. When you had a basketful of them, you would take them out and sort the clippings by category: love, forgiveness, patience, church, life after death, and so on. That is essentially what Ford has done, and in many more than a hundred categories.

For example, in the category of "Self-Understanding," we have Lewis commenting, "I sometimes pray not for self-knowledge in general but for just so much self-knowledge at the moment as I can bear and use at the moment; the little daily dose." On "Marriage," Lewis suggests that "Domesticity is no passport to heaven on earth but an arduous vocation - a sea full of hidden rocks and perilous ice shores only to be navigated by one who uses a celestial chart." As to the Lord's Prayer, Lewis says, "I do not mean that the words, 'Thy will be done' are merely a submission. They should, and if we make progress they will increasingly be, the voice of joyful desire, free of hunger and thirst, and I argue very heartily that to treat them simply as a clause of submission or renunciation greatly impoverishes the prayer." Some of his clippings are brief, as in these examples; others take up a few pages; all are pearls of wisdom.

This is the kind of book that should be read slowly and with meditation, much as one might read the Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament (which you will have been reading if you are following our schedule for reading through the Bible this year). A few passages are enough for one session, and one does not have to proceed from the front cover to the back. You can be selective or simply open the book at random. Fortunately the editor has given full citations for each quotation, if you wish to look them up, and the book also contains a complete bibliography of all the writings of C. S. Lewis. Check this book out, and let Lewis speak refreshingly to you!

Music Participants: March 13: Sanctuary Choir.

Sunday's Music: The Sanctuary Choir anthem, "These Forty Days," composed by Zollene Reissner, is built around selected verses from the hymn "Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days." Interspersed between these stanzas are both the Latin and English texts of the "Lord, Have Mercy." Reissner has created a work that reminds us of the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus that will lead to the celebration of an "Easter of unending joy."

Musical Responses: It has been the church's practice to give up "alleluias" during the season of Lent, as we remember the sacrifice Christ made for us. With that in mind, the response to the Assurance of Pardon at the 11:00 service will change for Lent.

Cherub Choir Reminder: Parents, don't forget! This Sunday, March 13, the Cherub Choir will not meet, because Mrs. Fey will be attending the women's retreat. Kids' Kirk will be offered at both services.

Programs of Note: Be sure and come to hear the Catawba Singers tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary! This fine group is gradually working its way home after having been selected to sing for the national convention of the American Choral Director's Association in Chicago, and we are pleased to be hosting them. Thanks to all the host families for your willingness to house members of this choir.

Also not to be missed is the Brahms German Requiem, performed by the Symphony of the Mountains with a massed choir of nearly 200 singers, including Voices of the Mountains, the Civic Chorale, and regional college choirs. This concert will take place Saturday, March 19, at 8:00 p.m., in the Toy F. Reid Auditorium of the Eastman Employee Center in Kingsport. - Vicki & Steve Fey

In Our Prayers

Mary Connor

Lynne Testerman

Bob Wright

An extensive list of prayer concerns, "Pray for One Another," is available for pickup at the church each week.

Condolences

Our love and sympathy are with Linda and Bill Darnell in the death of Linda's mother, Carrie Ruth Dedo Williams, on March 5 in Bristol.

Congratulations

We rejoice with parents Hunter and Raegan Solomon in the birth of a son, Griffin Hunter Solomon, born March 4. Griffin's proud grandmother is Susan Solomon, and his glad great-grandmother is Nancy King.

Birthday Prayer Fellowship

March 13    Adam Borsch, Will Hankins Jr., Tere Land, Bob Nicar, Bob O'Dell

March 14    Leigh Blevins, Jenny Harkleroad, Don Moneyhun, David Sangid Sr., Alec Turnbull

March 15    Blakesley Bassett, Michael Bryant, Merry Simmons

March 16    Kevin Crutchfield, Julianna Guldseth, Tony Raccioppo

March 17    Karen Bennett, Taylor Connolly, Helen Grindstaff, Bob Vann

March 18    Brenda Rogers

March 19    Tammy Connolly, Mary Hallum, Reveley McGrady, Angelica Poteat