February 19, 2023 (Divine Interruptions)

 

Asbury Memorial has never experienced a Valentine's night like we had this past Tuesday. In fact, very few churches in the world have had an experience like last Tuesday as ALL married couples were invited into the church sanctuary to renew their marriage vows. I believe it was Bernie Colclasure who told me after the ceremony, "This is a great night to celebrate. We have worked hard for many years so we could have a night like tonight."

I want to thank Randy Canady for setting up the sanctuary for us. Randy struck the first three rows of chairs so we would have space for all of our couples to exchange their vows and to dance with each other. Ray Ellis supplied our music. J.J. Collins serenaded us with a love song. Barri Marshall live streamed the event so couples who could not attend in person could participate. Candace Jenkins helped host us and had a wonderful reception for us in Holliday Hall after the ceremony. And John Mason and Randy took pictures of the ceremony in the sanctuary and of the couples at the reception. Thank you to all who helped with this event. 

Last but not least, I want to thank my wife, Cheri, for helping me officiate the ceremony and for having the guts to renew her vows with me again! What courage!

WJCL covered the event and had a nice segment on their 11 0'clock News on February 14th. That segment can be seen here: 

This annual event has the opportunity to continue developing. Not only is it unique for a church to offer a Renewal of Vows Ceremony, but it's especially unique to offer it for all couples. Spread the news about how special this is. Next year, we will need to remove more than three rows of chairs. I'm hoping we'll need to remove about seven or eight rows. I think this will continue to grow and grow and grow. 

Every year I am asked by some of the couples to send them the special vows we used for the ceremony. So I thought I would include them in this email:

I thank God for you, _________.
You are God’s wonderful gift to me.
Your presence in my life has been a blessing,
And I am a more complete person because of you.
I accept the challenges that our relationship involves,
And I appreciate the growth that comes with each difficulty.
I will celebrate our times of joy,
And work through the times of struggle with love and patience.
I will listen to you.
I will empathize with you.
I will appreciate and affirm you.
I will laugh with you.
I renew my promise to be your partner
In sickness and in health,
In prosperity and in need,
In joy and in sorrow
As long as we both shall live.

The liturgical name given to this coming Sunday is called, "Transfiguration Sunday." It signals the last Sunday in Epiphanytide and is the last Sunday before the Season of Lent begins. The signature story for Transfiguration Sunday is a strange one (Matthew 17:1-9). Jesus takes three disciples up a mountain. When they get to their destination, Jesus starts glowing. Then suddenly, Elijah and Moses show up and start conversing with Jesus. (By the way, if anyone ever tells you that life after death started with Jesus, you may want to remind them of this story. Elijah and Moses had been dead for hundreds of years.) 

When I first started in ministry, I avoided this text like the plague. I rarely talked about Transfiguration Sunday. It was just too strange.

To my surprise, this story has become one of my favorite texts in the Bible...and Transfiguration has become one of my favorite Sundays. So I'm really looking forward to this Sunday when I preach about Divine Interruptions. Rev. Bob Chvatal will be leading us in prayer and the choir will be singing a cool song called, Whirlwind Spirit. 

I will be sending a special email to you on Sunday night about the season of Lent. Here is an outline of events we're offering this year. Please take special notice of the events starting this week...the Shrove Pancake Supper on Tuesday and the Ash Wednesday Services at both Asbury Memorial and Wesley Oak. Also, please read about these events in our monthly newsletter on our website. In my email to you on Sunday night, I will be mentioning some of the resources I will be using during Lent that you may want to consider using.

12:00 Noon at Asbury Memorial
6:00 pm at Wesley Oak
6:30 pm at Asbury Memorial

Zoom Lenten Study - Book, I Pray in Poems; Facilitator, Anne Greene 

Every Wednesday for 7 weeks starting Feb. 22nd from 12:00-1:00 pm
Space is limited; Please call the church office to register.
The book, I Pray in Poems, is available on Amazon.

Every Wednesday from 6:00 pm to 6:25 pm during Lent starting March 1st

Please make reservations on or by each Monday.

Some of the best advice I ever got was from Rabbi Arnold Belzer, former rabbi of Temple Mickve Israel. When I first moved back to Savannah in the 1990s, he said, "It is essential to learn about the author of a book you are reading." I cannot stress enough how important this is...as many people tend to believe something just because it is published and is in print.

Naturally I read a lot of articles and books by other ministers. Recently I found myself disagreeing with an article I was reading. I did a little research on the minister who wrote the article and discovered that he attended a seminary that is known to be very conservative and rigid in thought. It explained why he wrote what he wrote.

On the other hand, I have a close friend who is progressive and attended that very same seminary. But I knew that my friend went on to have other academic experiences, life experiences, and church experiences that broadened his perspectives. It helps to know a person's history - especially an author's.

In my Sunday night email, I will be suggesting books you may want to read during Lent. You may even discover resources on your own that you would like to use to enrich your Lenten experience. Good for you! Do it! But don't forget Rabbi Belzer's advice, "Know your author and his/her/their history."

We have New Member Orientation Classes three times a year. If you're looking for a church home, we'd love to have you on the journey with us. If you are interested in participating or if you simply want more information, contact Candace Jenkins at the church office. Candace is our Connection's Coordinator and would be glad to assist you.

Just a reminder that if there is a Sunday that you can't worship with us at 11:15 a.m., our Thunderbolt campus (Wesley Oak Church) offers a 9:30 a.m. service. Wesley Oak will also be hosting an Ash Wednesday Service at 6:00 p.m. on the 22nd.

The Newsletter is always on our website, but you can also go to it right at the bottom of this page. Please note that there is a newsletter from Wesley Oak that is included. So, check out both newsletters.

Blessings to everyone...
looking forward to worshipping with you on Sunday!

Love,
Billy