Annie Dillard, who won a Pulitzer Prize in literature at age 30, has written explicitly about her Christian faith.  As a teen, however, she once decided to quit the church because of the hypocrisy of those who came on Sunday mornings mainly to show off their clothes.  Indignant, she marched into the assistant minister’s office.  “He was an experienced, calm man in a three-piece suit,” Dillard recalls. “He heard me out and then said, ‘You’re right, honey, there is a lot of hypocrisy.’  She felt her arguments dissolve.  Then the minister loaded her down with books by C.S. Lewis, suggesting she might find them useful for a senior class paper.  “This is rather early of you to be quitting the church,” he remarked as they shook hands in parting.  “I suppose you’ll be back soon.”  To Dillard’s consternation, he was right. After plowing through four of the Lewis volumes, she fell right back into the arms of the church.  Her rebellion had lasted one month.

In Luke 15 (the parable of the prodigal son or waiting father!), the younger son approaches the father and asks for his share of the estate.  It would have been impossible to hear this younger son’s question in the Middle Eastern context.  When this rebellious, demanding son asks his father to give him his share of the estate, he is wishing for his father to drop dead!  What an astounding request!

It is one thing for the son to make this request (for his share of the estate); it is an altogether different thing for the son to turn around and sell that share.  This son wanted more than just the division of property; he wanted to have access to the funds immediately.  He wanted full disposition of the property’s value.

In the Middle Eastern context, the father could have divided the estate, but the father still had the right to live off that portion of the estate as long as he lived.  In this cultural context, the father would have been expected to explode and strictly discipline this son for his cruel intentions.  But as we read this parable, the father grants this astounding request, thus showing incredible love, so much love that the father grants freedom for the son to reject him.  This request would have been the worst possible rejection from a son in the Middle East.

Did you ever reject your parents?  Have you had children who have rejected you?  There could not be a more severe rejection than that of this younger son in the parable.  This Father’s Day, as we reflect on the astounding requests we have made and our rebellion, may we envision the loving arms of the heavenly Father beckoning us to come to a party?  And, may we choose to repent of our sins and acknowledge our need for a loving Father.

Worship

Our guest preacher this Sunday is Rev. Eddie Randolph.  Rev. Randolph was ordained as a minister of the Gospel at Shiloh Baptist Church, and Pastor Glen served on the ordination panel.  Rev. Randolph’s “most desirous thing to do is to live by the Word, speak the Word, and teach the Word.”  His sermon this Sunday is “A Father’s Passion,” based on Luke 15:11-24.  Please read this text in preparation for worship!

Sunday Morning Bible Study Class

Our Adult Bible Study class will meet this Sunday at 9:15 a.m. in the large Sunday school room. Please join Janet Coiner and others for a wonderful time around God’s Word!!  We will focus on Galatians 5: “Gospel of Freedom.”  Please bring your Bible.

Tithes & Offerings

An offering box is available as you enter or exit the sanctuary.  Additionally, Online Giving

Session Highlights

Our Session met on Thursday, May 7th at 5:00 p.m.  The following are some of the highlights:

  • We gathered around God’s Word and corporate prayer.  Ruling Elder Bob Simmons led a study of Ephesians 3:14-21.
  • Session met with Susan and John Guthrie (leaders for our Care and Compassion ministry). A meaningful discussion included inviting John and Susan to assist in planning actions to take, given a huge increase in pleas for assistance from those in the community.
  • The Pastor’s Report, the Clerk’s Report, and the Financial Review were presented and discussed, with no action being necessary.
  • Elder Bob Simmons, representing the Pastor Search Committee, brought Session up to date in general terms regarding the potential candidate the committee wishes to secure, but the candidate is not immediately available. Session further discussed the status of arranging for a “Transitional Pastor” through the EPC’s Rev. Bill Rasch and reaffirmed our desire to accelerate that approach.
  • The new website vendor is awaiting Hope’s action by the church committee to make the wish a working product, coming soon after the Alpha Course concludes.
  • Session is pressing forward for replacing the two retiring Elders and adding a third (to total six Ruling Elders) along with expanding the Diaconate from four Deacons to six for multiple reasons, through the nominations process.
  • Session was updated on the reciprocity of parking with Willis Family Dentistry (after Session’s meeting, Dr. Willis agreed to “gift the costs of the bridge and pathway to Hope Community Church per contractor estimates”; work started and completed the week of May 20th.)
  • The results of the air quality testing/inspection were received with pleasure, as no issues of health concerns have been detected.
  • Agreed to table discussion of a small footbridge “across a ditch” from Valley Pediatrics parking lot to Hope’s lot until we see if that lot has use on Sundays.
  • Approved the disposal of a couple of surplus items to Love INC
  • Agreed to enter a period of quiet time and worship preparation as the prelude is started. Cliff Scott will help facilitate getting that started when the Pastor is away.
  • Candi Brown requested that the Outreach Team support a “Dinner at the Prayer Room.” The request was approved with advertising encouraged.
  • Our next Exploring Hope class will be on Sunday, May 25, immediately following worship, with a light lunch provided.

Budget Update

Total Tithes/Offerings for May:   $27,499.55    YTD: $157,348.07

Total Expenses for May:             $16,632.05    YTD:  $100,115.52

Golden Oldies

Golden Oldies, a group for those 70 or older, meets the second Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the Panera Bread Community Room (unless otherwise noted) on the following dates:
July 9th – Bingo at Panera Bread (10:30 a.m.). Each person should bring a $10 gift, so all will be winners and have a gift to take home.
If you or your mate is 70 or older, please come and join us!
August 20-21, Golden Oldies will travel to Lancaster, PA, to see “Noah” and “Then Sings My Soul.”  Note to PA fun travelers: Please make your check out to Shenandoah Tours and deliver to Janet or Harold Coiner by June 1st.  Thank you, and we are looking forward to a memorable trip!
September 10 – Gary P. Critzer, Director of the Department of Emergency Management and EMS of the City of Waynesboro, will be our speaker.

Mission Corner

The Prayer Room is an outreach ministry in downtown Waynesboro that cares for people practically and shares the good news of Jesus Christ! We are collecting personal hygiene products and wrapped food items to support this ministry. Donations can be brought to the church and given to the Prayer Room.

Love INC

We are collecting household cleaning products (laundry detergent, dish soap, all-purpose cleaners) from April through June for Love INC.

The Missions Team actively keeps in touch with our missionaries and other ministries.  Please keep updated!  You can visit our website and go to the Mission Page

June Birthdays

Kim Holman (6/17); Paige Holder (6/24); Phyllis Plyler (6/25); Brenda Daniels (6/30)

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