We had a touching Celebration of Life for Penny Huizinga’s homecoming on Saturday.  Here are Maureen’s words about her daughter.

“It seems reasonable to start at the beginning of Pen’s story.  Before she was our daughter, she was God’s gift to another couple in another country.  Her mom and I both waddled our ways into December of 2000, full of baby belly and dreams for our little girls.  Would she arrive before Christmas?  Who would she look like?  Would her name fit her?  Who would she grow to be?  A thousand dreams and prayers were probably had.  While I would continue to waddle along right through the holidays, Pen’s first mother brought her baby girl into the world on the 20th day of December and exited it herself the same day.  It was likely apparent that the tragedy that took her mother didn’t spare Pen, and her father placed her into the care of the state who promised to meet all of her needs.  Nearly 13 years went by.  Her orphanage provided less than even the absolute bare minimum, but defying the evil of this world, our girl survived.  Hidden away, nothing should have changed, ever, until her tiny body caved to the intolerable conditions.  But God.  In a series of events that only He could orchestrate, our hidden treasure and so many others were discovered and covered by prayers, found families who would cross an ocean to bring them home and shower them with love.  We knew, collectively and individually, that we’d never love that place away nor could we fully undo the harm that was done.  But we were resolved to love our girl without placing expectations on her.  Only the confidence that He who began a good work in her would faithfully continue it.  So, with prayer and arguably a certain amount of blissful ignorance on board, we brought a 20 lb. virtual twin daughter home, and began the hardest, most beautiful journey.  Our journey as a family was as inexplicable by earthly standard as those first 13 hidden years.  We watched a tiny girl bloom into a curious little girl, then a sassy teen, and into a tender young lady who loved her pets, her music, babies, and her family with a devotion I could only dream of having.  We watched her develop communication skills and charm every nurse, tech, physician, and therapist she ever met.  She fought back against multiple conditions that threatened her life and inspired others to support the care and hospital that helped her live WELL.  Most of all, she radiated the light of Christ, beautiful, grace-filled, and miraculous.  A good work completed indeed.  And then, God in His perfect way, called our baby girl home. Our beautiful girl’s life was never without challenges, and even with the miracles we saw manifested, her body bore the brunt of Cerebral Palsy, epilepsy, and chronic lung damage.  Numbered days are the truth of all our lives, but no amount of knowledge, right doctrine, nor understanding keeps your heart from shattering when you must say goodbye.  Her greatest day, entering into glory, to praise the Lord whole and healed, was the hardest day of my life.  Praise God-the God who understands the pain of saying goodbye to His child, for His peace.  There isn’t a neat & pretty ending I have to offer.  The loss of a child is beyond comprehension.  Grief floods in and over you like a tidal wave.  Existing hurts.  Explaining hurts.  Beating back against the enemy’s whispers that if I had done more, done it better, prayed more, or tried harder this wouldn’t have happened exhausts you-body, mind, and soul.  God’s goodness doesn’t negate the pain of her absence, the soul crushing grief of seeing the empty space where her bed was, where her chair should be, where SHE should be.  The pain is real; the mercy of Christ is in the hope; the ability to withstand this knowing that I will see her again.  The hope is real, and it is what I cling to.  Trust.  Believe.  And what I pray for you.  Trust the Savior who will make all things new.  Then love–love with unfiltered joy.  Pet kittens.  Get puppy kisses and play the music louder than you should.  Cross oceans and take big risks that don’t make sense to the world.  It won’t be safe; it will probably break your heart.  But remember:”

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.   But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.. James 1:2-4

Please be in prayer for Paul Rodgers, son of Richard and Dimetra, as he is having hernia surgery Tuesday morning.

Cathy and I will be heading up to Canton this weekend for the Leadership Development Team meetings.  Thank you for your prayers & we’ll be praying for you.

In Sunday’s sermon, I mentioned the belief system of many American teenagers.  I’d say it’s not just that age group, but many Americans of all ages.  Read that quote again to make sure you haven’t slipped into that kind of thinking.

Researchers with the National Study of Youth and Religion at the University of North Carolina interviewed more than 3,000 teenagers about their religious beliefs and have released findings in a new book.  The social scientists concluded that American teenagers believe:

– A god exists who created the world and watches over human life.

– God wants people to be nice to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions.

– The central goal of life is to be happy and feel good about oneself.

– God does not need to be involved in one’s life except when needed to resolve a problem.

– Good people go to heaven when they die.

Commenting on the research, Gene Edward Veith writes, “Even these secular researchers recognized that this creed is a far cry from Christianity, with no place for sin, judgment, salvation, or Christ.  Instead, most teenagers believe in a combination of works righteousness, religion as a psychological well-being, and a distant, non-interfering god.  Or, to use a technical term, ‘Moralistic Therapeutic Deism.’”

Men and older children, you’re welcome to come to the shoot/eat/fish event this Saturday from 10-5 at David Vaughan’s house, 2198 Old Church Road in Old Church.  If you’d like to go from the church, meet there by 9:45.  Bring some cash to donate for lunch & ammo costs.

I wanted to give you three of the quotes that I used in yesterday’s sermon in case you wanted them.

C.S. Lewis: “To love at all is to be vulnerable.  Love anything & your heart will certainly be wrung out and possibly broken.  If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal.  Wrap it carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries, avoid all entanglements, lock it up safe in the casket of your selfishness.  But in the casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change.  It will not be broken, it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.  The only place outside heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is hell.”

Albert Sweitzer – “Whatever you have received more than others – in health, talents, abilities, success, a pleasant childhood, harmonious conditions of home life – all this you must not take yourself as a matter of course.  In gratitude we live forever thru giving.”

Teddy Roosevelt: “It is not the critic who counts, but the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, who knows the cause, who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; & who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold & timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Two talent person is praised by God the same as the five talent person.  The reward is more work.  Not a siesta!  The reward is more opportunities.  A player works extra hard in practice so he can work extra hard in the game.  Extra work is the reward.

There will be a Day of Reckoning at Christ’s Second Coming.  The faithful servants will be rewarded.  Look at (Mt. 25:31-36).  Jesus gives us examples of 5 & 2 talent work. (Heb. 6:10) – “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.”

Pastor Ed

I really enjoyed the Float Trip that John Schmutte put together last week!  You’re in a gorgeous location – the Shenandoah River, fishing and catching smallmouth bass, eating like a King and getting to know great guys better.  What’s not to like?  I encourage you to go next year.  Talk to John for more details.

If you haven’t heard yet, the Hanover County’s Board of Supervisors approved Stein Investment’s purchase of 6 acres of land from us.  The closing is next!  We’ll keep you informed.

We really enjoyed our time at the EFCER Pastors Conference in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  I recommend it as a family friendly vacation destination.

We enjoy walking around the little town of Gatlinburg and the nearby nature trails.  We rode our bikes on the Gatlinburg Trail.

The speakers we heard were great.  Executive Director, Tom Crawford, reminisced on his 50 years of ministry by telling stories of miracles that he experienced.  “Believe God and get out of the way!”  Multiplication Team Leader, Rusty Savage, spoke on the life of missionary William Carey who went to India.  He shared how Carey called himself a “plodder.”  Just be faithful and God will use you.  Malone University’s incoming President, Dr. Greg Miller, preached a rich sermon on looking at life through Christ’s soon coming.  Students, have you considered Malone as a possible college?

The Keynote Speaker was Dr. John Bryan Smith, a Friends college professor and author.  His specialty is spiritual formation, how we grow as Christians.  He had a sweet spirit!  Here are 3 quotes he shared:

The Wisdom of Dallas Willard for pastors (in Australia):

“You don’t have to make it happen.”

• That you would have a rich life of joy and power
• That in your work you would see supernatural results
• That your work be uniquely fitted to you
• That you would live with a constant clear vision of never-ending life in God’s world before you
• That you would understand the everlasting significance of your work each day
• That you would live a radiant life, and one day cross over to glory in a radiant death

Self-Narratives:

“I am a rotten sinner”

“I am ugly”

“I am not enough”

“I don’t matter”

“I am a divinely designed, deeply loved, fully forgiven, fully alive, sacred person with a sacred story of grace and a sacred body.  I was perfectly designed before the foundation of this world to do great works that give glory to God.  I am an unceasing spiritual being with an eternal destiny in God’s great universe.  I am one in whom Christ dwells and delights, and I live forever in the strong and unshakeable Kingdom of God” (James Bryan Smith, The Good and Beautiful you)

I quoted Francis McNutt on ministering to others.  Here it is again.

“It is necessary that the minister be free of the need to prove anything, that he be free of any personal desire for achieving results.  To be cast down when his prayers have failed to effect a cure means it is time to examine his motives to see how much of his own fear of failure is mixed into his ministry.  I may think I am defending the honor of God by demanding faith; but perhaps what I am really defending is my own self-image as a minister of healing.  I must call to mind over and over again that the gift of healing is a manifestation of God’s Spirit working through me.  It is not “a thing” I have in my possession, which I can turn on or off at will, but a transient grace, a passing movement of God’s Spirit working through me to help someone else.  In most healings three persons are involved:  God, the sick person, and the minister of healing.  My part, as the minister of healing, is to pray the prayer of faith and then to move out of the way.  In fact, the sick person is capable of asking for God’s help himself without anyone else being with him at all.  The key persons are God, who is Love, and the sick person, whose sickness elicits God’s loving compassion.  I am simply the human channel of God’s love, and I should be humble about that.  I feel very uncomfortable when someone calls me a healer. The connotation is much like putting on a label of certification, a kind of rank – a something which one possesses permanently and over which he has control.  But that is not true.  Sometimes God uses my prayers and touch in order to heal; at other times, he does not.  Why this is, I do not know.  What I do know is that this inability to control keeps me humble; it helps me realize where the healing power comes from.  So, the minister is simply to pray as best he can and, above all, to love all the sick who come to him.”

Also, in observance of The National Day of Prayer, the Sanctuary will be open on Thursday, May 5, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Pastor Ed

I am basking in the afterglow of the wonderful times of fellowship together we had this past week.  Maundy Thursday had the somberness of Christ’s illegal trial, scourging, and crucifixion and sharing communion together.  Casey & Jeff put together an excellent egg hunt.  Thanks to all who helped them!  I love our sunrise service and the breakfast (thanks Jodi & Laura)!  It was great to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection yesterday in worship.  Let’s live each day in Christ’s resurrection power!  (Eph. 1:19-20).

Cathy’s mom fell early morning Sunday and broke her hip.  Would you please pray that she will have a successful rehab from surgery, which was just finished moments ago, and she said she feels better!

It’s Holy Week!  There is so much to ponder this week:  Jesus’ last supper with His disciples, His arrest & trial.  His crucifixion, and of course His resurrection!  I trust you will make time to read those texts and meditate on their realities.

Come worship together for the Maundy Thursday service at 6:30.  We will take communion.  Nursery care is available.

The sanctuary will be open from 9-2 on Good Friday if you want to pray there.

Easter Sunday worship begins at 6:30 a.m. with a sunrise service, hopefully outside, weather permitting.  Join us for a continental breakfast at 7:15.  Please let us know if you are coming to that.  The rest of the morning is our regular schedule:  Prayer group at 8:30, Sunday School at 9:15 and worship at 10:30.  I am looking forward to these worship times with you.  I also encourage you to invite a neighbor or friend.

“The angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.”  Matthew 28:5-6

I have really enjoyed the 2 revival meetings so far!  I hope you have, too.  Join us tonight and tomorrow night at 6:30.

Men, remember to sign up for the shoot & fish outing on Saturday, April 2^nd from 10-3 p.m. at David Vaughan’s, 2198 Old Church Road, Mechanicsville.  We’ll have brats for lunch.  The cost is a donation for lunch & pay the cost of whatever ammo you may use from another shooter.

You’re probably aware the ACLU is suing the Hanover County School Board over the transgender issue.  I have included parts of 2 emails from a member of the Family Foundation for your information, prayer support and action.

Pastor Ed

“Hello Friends!  Thought I would throw everyone on the same email so we’re looped in on efforts to have a strong showing for Parental Rights at the HC Board of Supervisors meeting this coming Wednesday night. I spoke with Bill and Kim today and most others were at the SUH meeting last night.”

  CURRENT FOCUS:

  NEED OUR SUPPORTERS AT THIS MEETING.  We’re asking as many of our Hanover supporters (and beyond) as we can to attend and visibly show their support for Parental Rights at this meeting, as represented by the HC School Board in recent months, around the Transgender Policy issue.   It is confirmed that LGBTQ activists are planning to send a large contingent to this meeting with new shirts and signs to demand that HC Supervisors pressure their appointed School Board members to go along with their agenda.  Not sure how early people should arrive but 4:30 sounds like a solid bet, given the crowd expected.  Meeting starts at 6pm, 3/23, at the Hanover County Courthouse.

NATIONAL STAGE.  Hanover is one of the most conservative counties in VA, but is in close proximity to Richmond.  All eyes in the state are on Hanover County, to see how the School Board, representing a very conservative Parental base, handles this pressure.  If they do not stand strong against this minority view in their community, albeit intimidating opposition, it is believed that other VA school boards will follow and not fight.  Hanover County even made FOX NEWS yesterday, regarding this issue and the ACLU’s lawsuit.  Our own Kim Thurston was cited in the article, showing her support for HCSB’s engagement of Alliance Defending Freedom.  Read the article here:  https://www.foxnews.com/us/virginia-aclu-uses-splc-hate-group-claim-to-condemn-school-board-investigation-on-transgender-policy.  The BOS meeting is expected to get media time across the state and nationally, and we need our side to be strongly visible on the TV screen with our signs. We need our Supervisors to see and feel our strong support.

As info, a couple of us listened in to a public zoom call held by LGBTQ activists this past Wednesday evening and took notes on their current initiatives.  164 participants called in representing Hanover County and others outside the county that are watching to see what Hanover does.  Their supporters are well organized, angry at HC School Board’s decision to engage ADF, and ready to full-court-press both the Board of Supervisors and School Board members (as they are linked by appointment).  They want to know who, specifically, engaged the ADF and have submitted a FOIA request to understand how this was established. They are committed to pushing LGBTQ acceptance on the community at large by scheduling events, education, training, to “normalize” it.  They are pushing their own petition to get school board members elected and not appointed in HC (by hoping to have this item added to the ballot). They want universal support with policy change from the top of the education system down.

Also, wanted to share a great resource on why Parental Rights matter, for your reference, linked here:  https://www.familyfoundation.org/blog/conversationtips-parentalrights

Finally, please keep the Supervisors and School Board Members in your steadfast prayers.  They are in the center of a spiritual battle and need our prayers and encouragement to stand strong.  We give all the glory to God for the great things He hath done and will do, for His Truths, with our faithful service.  Please be encouraged by the scripture shared by Candi in her email below and remember that this battle is the Lord’s!

We need your help!  

If you are a current Hanover County resident, please join us by signing the petition linked below TODAY!  A majority of Hanoverians stand behind the Hanover County School Board and its November vote against adopting the most concerning portions of the state’s model transgender policies.  Sadly, in response, the ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the HCSB.  We cannot allow outside groups to threaten local communities with legal action just because they don’t agree with the local decision made!

We know Hanover support is strong on this position and we want to quantify it for our local and state leaders as soon as possible.  Please stand with us by taking the following two actions TODAY:

1. Click the link below and sign the petition, showing your steadfast support for Hanover’s decision on this very important issue!
2. Share this petition with others you know that also support HCSB’s November vote!

Please sign the petition here:  https://familyfoundation.salsalabs.org/protectlocalcontrol-hanover/index.html 

We are stronger when we speak together.  Thank you!

I’m excited as we approach this coming weekend.  Are you in the Word daily?  Use the Lenten readings in your bulletin if not.

I’m also excited for the Leadership Training event on Saturday from 2:30-5:30.  If you’re coming and haven’t signed up, call the church today.

Sunday begins the revival!  You’ll love Dave Mercandante!  He’s energetic and is a solid Evangelical believer.  Invite a friend next Sunday a.m. & Sunday – Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.

• HERE is the link to this week’s chat.

• Speak-Up Hanover will be meeting tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. here at church.  Please make every effort to attend this meeting.  There are time-sensitive updates on recent efforts by the ACLU & Equality Virginia to pressure the Hanover County School Board to comply with extreme transgender-issue policies and punish it for listening to the parents.  (see this latest news coverage: https://richmond.com/aclu-of-virginia-threatens-hanover-school-board-with-federal-lawsuit/article_50a61b93-7d02-51ba-ae7f-1843e6c7cc86.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR3deEjd-8v-KKdxVv4vISdn89dQhpw9y-2VrnXeja3gKjx2FJND86wjxqA ). Please come for time sensitive updates on how the team can support the board and how we can all support George Sutton. Please see the attached agenda on this and other key items we’ll be covering as a team.

• A fellow EFCER pastor, Dan Cale could use some help today around 6:00 p.m.  Dan pastors a Friends Church in PA and is the son-in-law of George & Pat Sutton.  His father lived in Mechanicsville and just recently died.  He needs to move a couple of pieces of furniture into a trailer.  If you can help, would you let the church office know, (804) 730-9512, before 3 p.m.  Report directly to 6626 Cold Harbor Road near Creighton Rd.

Pastor Ed