Dear Caldwell,
The picture above is Nineveh, the capital of Assyria and the world’s greatest city at the turn of the 8th century BC. Pretty impressive place, huh? “Get up and go to Nineveh, that great city,” God told Jonah. Instead, Jonah went the other way, at least at first. I wonder why Jonah didn’t want to go – just to see the big city? Still, we all must admit we’ve got some Jonah in us. We want to do what WE want to do, not what God tells us to do. On Sunday, we will consider what we do “when God calls” (as the spiritual goes) from the perspective of the city of Nineveh. Perhaps there is something there that can guide us as a city that hears God’s call but, sometimes at least, goes the other way.
Also, Sunday, we will celebrate God’s call to four new elders who will be ordained and installed. These elders-elect have worked hard already to study church polity and learn the role of elders in our tradition, to say nothing of the ins and outs of how the session works, the church budget and what their new committee assignments will involve. We’re blessed that God has called Ruth Curtis, Molly Griffin, Sharon Harmon, Maggie Jordan and Craig Rhodes to serve as servant-officers.
Adult Sunday school begins at 9:45 a.m., preceded by Caldwell House breakfast at 8:30 (prep starts at 7 if you want to help).
We have a number of pastoral concerns to keep in prayer:
The sister of Yvette Wilson is fighting meningitis and Yvette is with her in California. Michelle Nance, daughter of Nancy, continues to improve after the episode with her heart in preparation for surgery. Rose Greenfield’s health continues to improve. Kim Bohannan, friend of Ginger Dickerson and Caldwell, is recovering from back surgery in Connecticut. Zoraida Stewart request prayers for her brother’s convicted killer and for her family’s ability to cope with the loss of her brother. Ray Owens’ daughter, Sidney Elizabeth Owens, died in a skiing accident recently. We are praying for this family in their bereavement. Elizabeth Hyland’s mother, Peggy Hyland, continues her chemotherapy.
May the Lord bless these, our sisters and brothers in Christ, as well as you and yours.
In Christ,
John