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Hospitality |
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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 5/7/2009 9:53 AM | Greetings on this day that can’t make up its mind: will it storm or not?
It was great to take a break and go to New England for a week. We were able to see pretty much all of Carol’s family, some old friends from Boston, Carol’s oldest college friends and BCC member Brian Lovering. We covered Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine pretty well during the week, from woods, to the ocean shore to big cities. A nice time all the way around.
One of the really nice things that happened to us may seem quite simple, but it is was a simple act of kindness and hospitality that we don’t see very often. On Tuesday we went to get Carol’s dad, Ernie, who lives in a care facility in Carol’s hometown of Warwick. In fact, the house she grew up in is a mere couple hundred yards from the facility. We wanted to take Ernie to the shore for lunch and he said that he would like to go to the house. He just wanted to walk by and see what it looked like these days, and so we did. Increasingly, he has short term memory problems, but his recall of days long gone by is sharp. As we stood on the sidewalk looking at the house and reminisced, I heard someone say “Can I help you?” through an open window. I walked closer to let them know that Ernie and Carol had once lived there and they were just remembering those times. The front door came open, a woman motioned us close and invited us in!
For the next 30 or 40 minutes they gave us a guided tour of Carol’s childhood home, the only home Ernie ever owned. The family asked Carol and Ernie questions about when they lived there, showed what they had changed and laughed about what had not changed at all. Even when Ernie was a little confused about things they graciously listened and spoke with him at length. The family, it turns out, are strong Christians and both the parents had worked for years as youth leaders at their church. The husband, an artist, asked me if Ernie could hang things on his wall in his room and I said, “Sure.” He disappeared into the basement and came back with a beautifully framed painted time piece. He had overheard us say that we were going to Conimicut Point for lunch and the picture was a painting of the light house there!
Ernie was thrilled, and Carol and I were extremely moved and thankful to these wonderful people. Before we left, they told Ernie to come back any time, and you know, I believe that they meant it.
It was nothing much, but it made his day. No earth shattering lesson here, just that we had the good fortune to run into some really wonderful, hospitable people. I hope I can be just as welcoming to strangers that I meet. Having been on the receiving end, I can tell you that it is a good feeling.
For an updated prayer list and upcoming events, please go to www.brookhavenchristian.org
For your prayers:
Please keep Peter and Melissa Mowrey in your prayers as they await the birth of their first son, who is due to join them on May 15th.
Please keep all those who are dealing with the swine flu in your prayer, as well as the medical professionals working to stem the tide.
Announcements:
The Garden Club Yard Sale will be held this Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Let your friends and neighbors know that all manner of treasures will be found at the sale: beautiful furniture, TV’s, lawn equipment, and even a stroller for triplets! Also, refreshments will be available. We can still use some help at the sale, especially near the end of the day on Friday to store things indoors for the night, and the end of the day on Saturday to take whatever is left over back to the basement…although I am confident it will all be sold! If you have questions, contact Daonne Caldwell at daonne@bellsouth.net All proceeds from this sale will go to continue the incredible work of the Garden Club in beautifying the church grounds.
Even though the CDC and other health organizations have loosened up some of their suggestions concerning closing schools and the like, be assured that BCC is working hard to minimize any risk that might be present. We will be instituting handling procedures for communion preparation, as well as having hand sanitizer available around the church. We ask that if you are feeling like you have the flu…stay home! This is one of the strong recommendations of the CDC and while we would miss you, your health and the health of others in the congregation is paramount. But don’t worry, if you must miss, let us know and we can produce a CD for you of the morning service. Sermons are also available on-line at www.brookhavenchristian.org
We are being told over and over, the best thing you can do to lessen the spread of any flu is:
1. Cover Your Cough with tissue or by coughing into the crook of your elbow rather than your hand.
2. Wash you hands often and well with soap and water. When soap and water is unavailable, use hand sanitizer.
I hope you can make it to worship this Sunday as we celebrate the 5th Sunday of Eastertide. The sermon begins a three part sermon series called “The Power of God.” This week’s sermon is entitled “Recognizing the Power of God” and the scripture is John 15:1-8. Have a great rest of the week!
Be peaceful,
Brad
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