Dear Church Family,

What a week it is has been.  The Wannamaker’s experienced a bad car accident on Sunday with Leroy still in the hospital awaiting surgery on Monday to repair the C1 & C2 vertebrae.  Carol Haney suffered a heart attack and had a couple of stints put in but is thankfully back home and resting.  Alexis Spillman is at Children’s in Knoxville and had to have part of her intestines removed due to serious complications.  She seems to be feeling better and I understand may have the ventilator removed today.  Jesse Felan is at Franklin Woods after suffering weakness and weight loss.  And I got word yesterday that Elizabeth Odum finally has a diagnosis after months and months of testing and visits to Vanderbilt.  Elizabeth has Lupus and the good news is that even though it has gotten so bad that it even hurts to eat, she has been told that after some time on her medications, she should be able to regain much of her strength and even drive again.

Yes, it has been a week filled with challenges for many in our church but we can rejoice that we serve a God who cares!  These words are a good reminder to those suffering right now:

Poor, trembling soul, rest in the promises of God. In so doing, the enemy’s fetters will be broken, his suggestions will be powerless. Heed not the whisperings of the enemy. Go free, oppressed soul. Be of good courage. Say to your poor, desponding heart: “Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” I know that God loves you. Put your trust in Him. Think not of those things which bring sadness and distress; turn from every disagreeable thought and think of precious Jesus. Dwell upon His power to save, His undying, matchless love for you, even you. I know that the Lord loves you. If you cannot rely upon your own faith, rely upon the faith of others. We believe and hope for you. God accepts our faith in your behalf.   2 T 319

In the news:

1. This Sabbath we will continue our “Long Journey Home” series with a look at reverence.
2. There will be a fellowship lunch tomorrow with the Cross team hosting.
3. AYA will feature our Pathfinders and Adventurer’s and their investiture program.  The program begins at 6 p.m.  This service will recognize our children and
   how God is growing them for the kingdom. 
4. This coming Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. we will have another gardening class with Mike Carlton presenting. The topic will be on companion gardening and learning what plants grow best together.
5. We will also have a Sabbath School council meeting this Monday night at 6 p.m.
6. The CSC will have the Yard Sale Room open this Tuesday evening from 5-7 p.m.
7. The Fishers of Men Discipleship class is nearly halfway through its 5 week series on how to share the Good News with others. Evan Fox is leading out each Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the church.
8. Remember the Daniel class is each Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.  All are invited.
9. The church mission trip to Peru is scheduled for next month. Our team met this week at the church and participated in a video conference with It Is Written.  We have 21 people from our church going as well as some other volunteers including a member from the Newport church.  The overall team will consist of 28.  From our church, we have 8 speakers scheduled to speak at 8 different sites.  We have a large team of volunteers prepared to do medical work at various locations.  Please keep this effort in your prayers.  We are set to leave June 9.  Your help would be appreciated in collecting items for use at the clinic. We could use gloves, diabetic supplies, tape, gauze, ace wraps, emesis basins, bath basins, creams, blood pressure machines, alcohol wipes, ear thermometers, betadine, hydrogen peroxide, and hand sanitizer. There is a basket with a Peru flag on it in the foyer of the church where you can leave the materials. 
10. Our conference president shared the following book review with all the pastors in our conference.   The book being reviewed is a book entitled, “God’s Character and the Last Generation.”   I thought the review was very well done and wanted to share it with you. The book review was put together by one of the pastors in our conference.  Last Generation Theology is a term that is being thrown around a lot and I fear is often misunderstood.  As a friend of mine puts it, don’t judge a doctrine by its abuse.
11. Pastor Alex & Suranny along with our family spent some quality time together in a little retreat in the mountains. We backpacked together up around Roan Mountain along the Appalachian Trail. We are grateful for the opportunity to minister with Pastor Alex & Suranny and for their friendship.  We appreciated hiking, cooking, and fellowshipping in the quiet serenity of nature.  Here are a few pictures of our time together!

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Blessings as you prepare for the coming Sabbath!

In His Service,
Pastor Jeremy