We are engaged in a discussion of stewardship in our Wednesday night adult program. Christian stewardship is about more than the money we drop into the collection plate; stewardship is everything we do after we say we believe. Next Wednesday, September 21, Dave Welch will present part two of a four-part video series that invites us to think critically and biblically about areas of responsibility and inspires conversation about our ideas.

Worldwide Communion is Sunday, October 2. Reflecting upon this "deep and wide" celebration, I remember a poignant benediction I received one day after worship. I want to share that experience, a sacramental vignette, with you.

After our worship service one day, I walked down the front steps of the sanctuary and waited on the sidewalk for our worshippers to descend. I spotted directly across the street two women, one older and one younger, sitting in their front-porch chairs and looking in my direction. I waved cheerfully and they returned the neighborly gesture.

After our folks dispersed, I walked across the street. The two women sprang from their chairs, quickly walked down their porch steps, and greeted me in tandem. I smiled, reached out my hand, and spoke. It became obvious that I did not understand their language, and they did not understand mine. Next something happened that moved me significantly.

The older woman simply inquired, "Padre?" I nodded. Instantly, effervescent warmth and sincerity radiated from her whole person. She curtseyed, bowed her head, grasped both of my hands with both of her hands, and kissed them. I was stunned. Then she looked up at me, said "Blessing," and buried her head again. I gently placed my hand on her head and prayed. She gazed upward with shining face and thanked me repeatedly. I smiled and shook my head, wanting to reflect back her beaming countenance.

We parted with connectedness, with mutual, spiritual meaning and welled-up feelings. I returned to the other side of the street. God used these gracious women to bless me profoundly. What gentle power and powerful gentleness!

In Christian love,

Stuart

The autumnal equinox falls on September 22, but it might as well be August. If the grass has managed to grow by next week in this dry heat, Jim White will know what to do about it. JB Madison will do the rounds on the church lawn at the end of the month.

We welcome volunteers to sign up for our mowing team at any time of the year. If you're not familiar with Scag mowers, Randy Cook will be happy to give you a quick lesson on ours. We welcome adults and teens, men and women for what we hope will be regular duty. If you can help us for even a single morning or afternoon, please email Randy at npolecook@aol.com or call his cell at 423-956-1541. Thank you! 

We are happy to inform our readers that after a lengthy sabbatical Bill Wade will resume his column of book reviews for our weekly Windows. Here we hope you will find good reading for your spiritual enlightenment. Some selections will be new books hot off the press, and some will be older books, classics that never go out of style. And from time to time we may suggest a challenging book, one that encourages you to think about the Gospel story with a fresh insight. All in all, we hope they will be constructive reading and beneficial to your spiritual health.

And for our first offering today we have a treat for you. The Book of Bibles is a simply marvelous collection of pages from a great many medieval manuscript Bibles, complete with all of the coloring and illumination that was applied when they were written. Accompanying text identifies each Bible with the specific scriptural references. This is a book that you would want to show to your children, explaining how some of these Biblical stories were understood in former centuries. This is without question one of the most marvelous collections of Biblical pages that I have ever seen, and in viewing them one cannot but help recognize the care and dedication that went into each of these handwritten manuscripts.

We are indebted to the Taschen Company of Austria, which published this volume. And we also express our deepest appreciation to Davis and Dottie Whitesides, who presented this volume to our church library. For a long time it will help focus our attention upon the place that the scriptures have had in Christianity. You will find it on the round display table in the library.

Sunday's music participants: Sanctuary Choir; Mary Ellis Rice, soloist.

Sunday's music: The Sanctuary Choir anthem, "Jesus! Name of Wondrous Love," sets a hymn text written in 1854 by William Walsham How (1823-1897). How is best known for

	Wilbur Held

his text "For All the Saints," although there are three hymns of his creation in our hymnal, all of which we regularly sing. How held positions in a number of English congregations, published several books, and eventually became a bishop in the Church of England. This text reflects on the power of Jesus's name, from its appointment by the angel Gabriel to the fact that "pleading only this, we flee, helpless, O our God, to Thee." The text is set to the tune LOUEZ DIEU, which first appeared in 1562 paired with Psalm 136 in Calvin's Genevan Psalter. The editor of that collection was Claude Goudimel (1510-1572), and he is likely the composer. The musical arrangement is by Wilbur Held (1914-2015). Held, a native of Illinois, had a distinguished career as an organist, teacher, and composer, and served on the faculty of Ohio State University for many years. Held has set the hymn as a series of variations, each of which allows the text to carry through and gain illumination.

Music ensembles: All the music ensembles of the church are now in full swing! All ages are invited to participate, from age 4 to adults. If you have any questions, contact the Feys.

 

8:30 a.m.       Worship, Fellowship Hall

9:00 a.m.       Cherub Choir

9:45 a.m.        Sunday School

10:20 a.m.     New Member Session, Chapel

11:00 a.m.     Worship, Sanctuary

5:00 p.m.       Stewardship Task Force, Room 117

5:15 p.m.       Jubilate Youth Choir

6:00 p.m.       Student Fellowship

4:45 p.m.       Administrative Committee, Room 117

5:30 p.m.       Sanctuary Handbells

9:00 a.m.       Staff Meeting, Room 123

10:00 a.m.     Morning Prayer Group, Conference Room

7:00 p.m.       Boy Scout Troop 3, Scout Wing

9:30 a.m.        Heart to Heart DVD Bible Study, Coffee Klatch Classroom

4:15 p.m.       Children's Handbells

4:45 p.m.       Savior's Singers Children's Choir

4:45 p.m.       Youth Handbells

5:15 p.m.       Baby & Toddler Care, Nursery

5:30 p.m.       Fellowship Dinner, Fellowship Hall

6:00 p.m.       Wednesday Night Kids

6:00 p.m.       Student Small Groups

7:15 p.m.       Sanctuary Choir

7:30 p.m.       8:30 Worship Team Rehearsal, Fellowship Hall

7:00 a.m.       Men's Bible Study, Parlor

12:00 p.m.     Noon Bible Study, Room 117