Notes from the Pastors

May 15, 2014

Almost a month has passed since Easter Sunday. Pastor Gayle and I invite us all to continue to "live into the resurrection." We invite you to look more closely to see God‘s goodness, not only in your lives, but in the lives of those with whom you come into contact. Living into the resurrection will enable us all to appreciate God‘s goodness for us better and strengthen us to carry His kindness with us where ever we may go.

It seems like the coming of warmer weather has not lessened the need for us all to be concerned for folks in our congregation and in the community. We have been making trips to the hospital and checking on folks who have experienced illness. On one trip to the hospital this past month, we visited with five folks who had been admitted. It is good to report that all five have since been released and are doing well. We are thankful to our church family for letting us know when someone is sick or in need of a visit.

Food was distributed to 144 plus families on Saturday, April 26th. There is another distribution scheduled for May 24th. Starting in June, food will be delivered every other month. Robert Srodulski, who oversees the delivery of food to Buckhorn, tells us that God‘s Pantry would like to reach households in other areas where they have not delivered in the past. Moving to a bi-monthly program here in Buckhorn will enable them to do so.

Communion was observed this past month during our Easter worship service on April 20th and again during our regular Sunday morning worship service on May 4th. Our next Communion is scheduled for Sunday, June 1st.

The spring meeting of Transylvania Presbytery occurred Friday, May 9th, and Saturday, May 10th, at Camp Burnamwood and at Natural Bridge. Pastor Tom attended the Saturday meeting. The two biggest highlights were the commissioning of our presbytery delegates for the General Assembly meeting that will be held in Detroit, Michigan, in June. Later during the meeting members broke into groups to discuss ways that the presbytery might better serve churches in the our presbytery. A task force commissioned by the presbytery has been working for over a year on this project and their report should be completed by the end of this year. The next presbytery meeting will be held at the end of October and will be a Saturday and Sunday event.

Gayle and I would like to thank Joy and James Stamper for their help in meeting us at the Georgetown Presbyterian Church a couple weeks ago to deliver to Buckhorn items given by Georgetown church members to our mission store.

Respectfully submitted,    

Tom & Gayle