From the Christian Witness Committee
More CDs Being Produced to Support Ministries
Lend a Helping Hand
Welcome, New Members!
Directories are in at last, one for each family who had their pictures taken for it. If you have not gotten yours yet, be sure to pick one up!
The following will serve as our Ushers for the next few months:
September and November
William Rogers
Ilya Boardman
Larry McCutcheon
October and December
Jim Darden
Trey Morgan
David Shelton
Charles Couch
Head Usher Bill Edwards will serve as an Alternate, along with John Ford and Donald Smith.
Bakers and Porch Visitors List: Bakers are Sue Brown, Edith Scarberry, Monet Boardman, Hazel Jackson and Joyce McCutcheon. Porch Visitors are Larry & Joyce McCutcheon, Wanda Creasy & Sue Bouldin, Sue Brown & Monet Boardman, Retha Tibbs & Carolyn Shelton, and June Thompson & Sue Brown.
Reverend Drew Brewer
Parsonage: (931)796-1212
“For you must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger…” (James 1:19)
How well do you listen? Are you a good listener? The story is told of a little girl on her first train trip. Her mother put her to bed in the upper berth: “Goodnight, dear. God will watch over you.” A few minutes later, when everything was quiet, the little girl called out: “Mommy, are you there?” “Yes, dear, I’m here.” Again it was quiet. A few moments later: “Daddy, are you there?” “Yes, I’m here. Go to sleep now!” After this had happened a few more times, a nearby passenger became irritated, and said, “We’re all here, little girl – your father, your mother, your brothers, sisters…everybody! Now go to sleep and leave me alone!” There was silence for a moment – then, with a trembling voice, the little girl asked: “Mommy, was that God?”
The Book of James reminds us to be “quick to listen and slow to speak.” Have you ever wondered why the Bible says so much about listening? The word “listen” is used 185 times…the word “hear” 450 times…other forms of these words, 600 times. Maybe people then didn’t listen any better than we do today!
Listening is one of the supreme acts of love. When we listen to each other, we give ourselves. Where there is no listening, there is no relationship. Listening is an act of love. Any pastor will tell you that the major issue in counseling families is attempting to teach persons to listen to each other. Still, good listening is one of the most difficult things in the world to do.
You have to be vulnerable to listen. You have to give up control to listen. There is no higher honor one person can pay to another than to listen, to try to understand. Listening says to another person: “You are real; you are valued; you are important to me!” Not listening sends the opposite message. It is no wonder that people who talk all the time, and never listen, wonder why they have few friends. To be a friend means to listen.
The little girl in the story listened for her parents and wondered if she was hearing God. She was listening – intently! Are we listening to those around us? To the God we worship? Or have we allowed the sound of our own voices to cut us off from all that is precious? Jesus, himself, said: “if you have ears, then listen!” (Matthew 11:15)
We have in our hands the world’s highest award – waiting to be given to someone who really needs it. The honor of being heard and understood. To whom will we give it?
~Reverend Brewer
Soon you will notice some additions to our Sunday School rooms and our narthex.
A small group of Tripsters recently took a trip to Nashville and toured the Bethlehem Center. This wonderful organization offers child care, tutoring and senior citizen assistance among numerous other services to the greater Nashville community.
Bethlehem Center is a non-profit center and relies solely on donations, accepting no money whatsoever from the government. In order to support the center, donation boxes have been set up in our Sunday School classrooms. Each month, there will be a wish list attached. Items will be matched to each classroom's age group. For instance, the children's programs will collect for the children at Bethlehem Center and the adult classes will collect for the senior citizens.
In addition, permanent wish lists will also be attached in case you have items you couldn't dispose of during Oktoberfest.
Additionally, we are still collecting men's clothing and shoes for the Nashville Rescue Mission. Please deposit these items in the church narthex.
Questions or comments? Contact Debby Campbell at church or by calling 796-2626.
And remember the Food Bank Donations! For September, we are collecting rice, beans, dishwashing soap, hand soap and laundry detergent. Please make sure your food donations have not gone past their expiration dates.
We are so blessed to have two new families join the church recently: Darrell and Deloras Lanagan, and Tom and Jessica Wright and their four children.
I know all of you will extend the hand of Christian friendship to these two families and make them feel at home with their new church family.
200 South Court Street Hohenwald, TN 38462
(931)796-2681
Christopher Boardman’s music group, Te Deum Laudamus, continues its work of producing monthly CD albums to support ministries.
"I would like to give thanks for all the support I am receiving in producing these albums. Jennifer Bowen sponsored August, and Susie Cullinan, Rita Grow, and Kenny and Cindy Graves sponsored September,” Mr. Boardman said. “Deborah Baker and Jim and Joyce Darden are sponsoring October; and George Drish is sponsoring November.”
The albums are available for sale in the church office for $5.00 each, and the proceeds go to support church Youth programs. The CDs are also
available at the Strand, the Lewis County Public Library, the nursing home,
and First Baptist Church, but when purchased at those locations, the
proceeds go to support ministries and activities at those locations.
Te Deum Laudamus has the music material and the artwork already lined up for more monthly-themed CD albums, and all proceeds would sponsor our church and local ministries. If you are interested in sponsoring an album, please contact Kathryn Kozlinski or Christopher Boardman.
Children and Youth News
Even though the skies had dark clouds, our Youth rallied and washed cars, raising over $400 for youth programs. Good Job!
Children meet on most Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the basement. The general rule is they will not meet whenever school is closed. When school is closed for Fall Break, October 7-11, we will not meet that Wednesday. For example, if school closes due to bad weather (floods or snow) we will cancel our Wednesday night activities on those days.
Heartfelt Thanks
Our church exemplified exceptional support, love and generosity during Ben’s extended illness. Having such a wonderful Christian group surrounding and upholding us helped so much during this difficult time. Thank you for each expression of kindness you provided and continue to provide.
- The family of Ben Anderson
From the Prayer Shawl Ministry
The Prayer Shawl Ministry continues its good works. Here is a list of some of the recipients of Prayer Shawls made by the committee members:
Recipient Location
Marie Skelton home
Peggy Anderson home
Rosemary Hinson home
Suzi Brown Miller home
John Dixon home
Nadine Cothran Lewis County Manor
Katie Sue Johnston home
Charlotte Morgan hospital
Jeanette Boesel home
Bob Boesel home
Jane Rodgers home
Lanette Durham’s sister California
Wilma’s brother Ohio
Wilma Jones home
Mae McLemore Lewis County Manor
Anne Ferguson Virginia
Lillian Keaton home
Betty Brewer home, Jackson, TN
Bernice Clay home
Joan Cothran home
Carla Darden home
Helen Dudley Lewis County Manor
Robbie Couch family member
Donna Hood hospital
Nancy Johnson home
Ruth Newton Lewis County Manor
Betty Turnbow-Ray hospital
Clara Tennison home
Geraldine Crowell home
Please note: If you know of recipients who are omitted from this list or see names that need to be corrected, please contact a member of the Prayer Shawl Committee.
Bible Study Starts in September
Sunday, September 22 marks the start of a new Bible Study course. Bible Study begins at 5 p.m. We will be using the book Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and Politics, by Adam Hamilton.
Here is the Publisher’s Description of the book: “Everyone agrees that America is polarized, with ever-hardening positions held by people less and less willing to listen to one another. No one agrees on what to do about it. One solution that hasn’t yet been tried, says Adam Hamilton, is for thinking persons of faith to model for the rest of the country a richer, more thoughtful conversation on the political, moral, and religious issues that divide us. Hamilton rejects the easy assumptions and sloppy analysis of black and white thinking, seeking instead the truth that resides on all sides of the issues, and offering a faithful and compassionate way forward.”
The church office has 25 copies of the book for $13 each, and scholarships are available.