I'll Fly Away

THIS SUNDAY
Bruce Davis: THE HARROWING OF HELL
Last Sunday, Nancy preached on The Rapture. The Harrowing Of Hell is sort of The Rapture In Reverse. Nancy ascended; this Sunday, we’ll descend.
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We saw the first of three WE’RE ON A MISSION videos yesterday. It was incredibly well done. All these are Mark Van K./Craig S. productions. Netta P. developed the children’s script, but while she wrote the questions, the kids themselves came up with their own answers. How great is that!
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The NATALIE GRANT concert seems to be a GO! Our date is Thursday evening, November 8, 7:00. This is a free concert. We’ve got a short lead-time, so we’ll be counting on you to help us spread the word. I invite you to visit the Natalie Grant web site and listen to her music. She is a highly acclaimed Christian artist with crossover appeal on the country charts. This is very exciting.
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We had a sweet wedding here over the weekend, as PERRY E. & KIM W. were joined together in Holy Matrimony. I had the honor of officiating.
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Speaking of honors, Dr. Fred Ohles, President of Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, was with us in the 8:00 service yesterday. Two weeks before that, our District Superintendent, Randy Sailors was here. I note that both chose Sundays Nancy was preaching.
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After a strong summer financially—at least compared to the year before—the October offering plate has been on the disappointing side. We’ll hope for a strong fourth Sunday.
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Also this past weekend, St. Andrew’s was host to an ADVANCED LAY SPEAKER SEMINAR. Mike R. had a lot to do with putting it together. Nancy led the event. Lay Speakers are trained to fill United Methodist pulpits; some even serve as leaders of smaller congregations.
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A couple of my favorite people expressed bemusement Sunday that after Nancy’s reluctance to embrace Rapture Theory, she had us singing “I’ll Fly Away” at the end of the service. But consider the lyric: “Some glad morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away… When I die, hallelujah, by and by, I’ll fly away.” There’s a great passage in Acts 1. The Christ has ascended into heaven. The apostles are gawking toward the sky. Angels tell them to quit looking upward and get to work Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The song affirms what Nancy was saying: When our life is over, when our work on earth is done, THEN we’ll fly away—as in ascend to heaven with God.
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Tabulator-In-Chief Alan B. reports that the survey has been officially “closed.” We count 461 responses, which indicates a lot of interest.
An overview of the survey results will be offered at the Charge Conference, November 13, 7:00. Each and every reader of this epistle is invited to attend.
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I might add that Alan & his wife Nancy are big Cleveland Indians fans. With apologies to them, I do think the Red Sox/Rockies shape up as a potentially very interesting World Series.
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Speaking of sports. No one said a thing yesterday about the Huskers. I wonder if fans have just become resigned to the situation. Did you know Steve and Nancy M.’s son, Ryan, was a leader on this year’s Homecoming Committee at the University of Missouri in Columbia? They actually have two offspring attending Mizzou. There are days when I wonder if this is all my fault. Mizzou hasn’t won a Conference Championship since I was a sophomore there in 1969. After all those years of awful teams, now I move to Nebraska, whereupon the Huskers tank and the Tigers are ascendant.
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Pam F. writes: Will you put in the A-mail another reminder about the Christmas Intergenerational Choir will start this Wednesday, Oct. 24th from 6:30-7:00 p.m. We will meet in the lower level music rehearsal room. This choir is for all youth (grades 6-12) and adults of all ages. This annual choir will present "Child of Peace" on Sunday, December 9th. If you have questions, please contact Pam.
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A Passage of Ascension, featuring the prophets Elijah and Elisha: II Kings 2:11-12, AS THEY CONTINUED WALKING AND TALKING, A CHARIOT OF FIRE AND HORSES OF FIRE SEPARATED THE TWO OF THEM, AND ELIJAH ASCENDED IN A WHILWIND INTO HEAVEN. ELISHA KEP WATCHING AND CRYING OUT, “FATHER, FATHER! THE CHARIOTS OF ISRAEL AND ITS HORSEMEN!” BUT WHEN HE COULD NO LONGER SEE HIM, HE GRASPED HIS OWN CLOTHES AND TORE THEM INTO PIECES.
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BRD