, November 2016 Issue Wiffle Ball

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1 , November 2016 Issue Wiffle Ball Wiffle Ball is something my friends and I engaged in a lot when growing up. While there are "official rules", every yard, every game, every family had their own house rules often based on the shape of the yard, the amount of space available and the whims of the people playing. I won t go into the details of all of the house rules we had in my yard (and there were quite a lot of them) but one of them involved calling balls and strikes. Calling balls and strikes was a task which fell to me through self proclamation as determined by the ancient and long recognized right of birth order. I was the eldest and the eldest have always made the rules. I remember one of the more infamous games of Wiffle Ball that I played in my backyard on Balmoral Drive in the early 1960s. It was a bright early summer or late spring day and my brother Steve and I were playing a fierce game of wiffle ball. We didn t often play together; in fact we didn t do much together at all but that particular day we were bored and there wasn t anything left to do so we ended up playing a game of wiffle ball. I, of course, was calling balls and strikes. My brother was having some differences of opinion over my calls and after one loudly and firmly called Ball he had enough and he not only disagreed strongly with me but came rushing at me screaming "Who gave you the right to call balls and strikes?" I was beyond puzzled. I was incensed that anyone would question my right to both make the rules and to call balls and strikes and especially so given my absolute fair and unbiased opinion. I responded with equal vigor, I m the oldest, that s what gives me the right. At the moment it seemed absolutely incredulous to me that Steve would question the right of seniority, especially since I possessed it. (Maybe that s a bit like the discussion of White Privilege today which we whites don t easily get). Needless to say, Steve wasn t buying my seniority claim and he charged at both the batter and the ump (that would be me in my dual roles) and the inevitable scuffle ensued. After some pushing and shoving and maybe a thrown punch or two we got up off the ground and went back to playing, no one the worse off. I continued umpping and hitting until my three outs occurred and I went back to the pitcher / fielding position. Steve now thought that he should have the right to call balls and strikes since he saw it as a batter prerogative and not an older brother prerogative. I felt reasonable and magnanimous in granting him that concession not to mention that the three roles of Ump, Pitcher/Batter and Rules Maker was a lot to expect out of me even given my fair minded and unbiased fulfillment of those roles. Needless to say some of my best strikes were called BALL by the new umpire and I didn't concur with the way he saw things. Wiffle Ball, yes, I have many fond memories and house rules were always unique. I suspect the oldest brothers among us will concur with my inherited right to make the rules and the calls and the younger among us will scratch their heads and wonder. It s actually quite an insight about making the rules and white privilege I don't think I will push the discussion on that any further. Happily Beyond The Need And No Longer Making The Rules! Dr Chance

2 NEWS AMONG OUR CHURCH FAMILY PRAYER LIST Please let us know if you know of someone who is sick or is a shut-in. Thank you. Helen Nutt Nancy Crawford Sally Tomkinson Carol Knott Our Sympathy & Prayers are extended to Orlando Lastre & Family Orlando s father recently passed away. BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES 2 Linda & Kenneth Vincent 5 Blake Buckingham George Speidel 6 Nate Allen 7 Eric Long 10 Nancy Crawford Kelsey Lynn 15 Bob Force 17 Eleanor Pernia Connie Spoon 23 Will Rogers 25 Carol & Richard Knott 27 David Taylor Victoria Turay Gad A Bouts Meeting November 2 nd 10:30 A.M. Congregational Meeting November 27 th 12:30 P.M. Please join us!

3 \ OCTOBER BOARD Highlights. The Board met on October 12 in the Conference Room. The meeting with opened with a devotional from Dr. Chance Minutes were reviewed and approved. Reports were heard from each of the Ministry Chairs and the Financial Secretary & Treasurer. The EMC Program, Nominating Committee and Budget Process were all reviewed and approved. Mary Chance reported on the Fall Fruit Sale program. Everyone needs to help us with this fund raiser by selling fruit to their friends. It is an easy sell and the packets are very user friendly. Dr. Chance reported his activities and discussed the lower than usual attendance in September. Youth sports programs are playing an increasingly negative role in people's attendance as games and practices are now scheduled on Sundays on a regular basis. The Calendar was reviewed and changes discussed as needed. Average Sunday Morning Worship Attendance SEPTEMBER Year to date Everyone is called to help to grow the church by inviting friends, family, neighbors, co-workers. Help us grow the church together...we have so much to offer. We need YOU in church on a faithful and regular basis.

4 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TIME CHANGE.NOVEMBER 6 th (Don t forget to set your clocks back one hour!!) ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DINNER NOVEMBER 20 th 6:00 P.M.

5 NEWS FROM OUR MINISTRIES PROPERTY JEFF PRICE Greetings from the Property Department! The Leaves are beginning to fall and our work list for keeping the Church in top shape is growing. Carpenters Club is our ministry of support to the Church. Please consider joining us every 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. I would like to THANK Bob, Orlando, John Small and Joel for attending the September meeting. Furnace filters were cleaned, trees were trimmed, light fixtures were cleaned to mention a few of the items accomplished. If you are interested, please see me at Church or send me a note through Debbie in the Church office. OUTREACH GWEN MOTT As we gather together to ask GODS BLESSINGS during the season of Thanksgiving, we as a church are thankful for the opportunity to share with the less fortunate in our community. Our donation of food baskets will be given to Georgian Forest Elementary school families. A list of needed items is provided below. Please help us fill as many baskets as possible. Each family is asked to bring a completed box or join with someone else. Also donation of money can be placed in the Offering tray marked THANKSGIVING basket. NOVEMBER 6 TO 20 will be the collection dates. List of Items for Thanksgiving Baskets Canned green beans and corn Boxed or bagged stuffing mix 1-2 pounds of potatoes Canned sweet potatoes Loaf of bread or dinner rolls bag of dry black or red beans 2 pounds of white rice Gravy Cranberry sauce Corn muffin mix Apple or grape juice 1-2 pounds of oranges 1-2 pounds of apples onions $25 gift card for turkey disposable pan for cooking turkey Dessert

6 WORSHIP JANE SMALL Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. - 2 Corinthians 1:4-6 On Sunday November 6 we will celebrate All Saints Sunday where we prayerfully remember loved ones and friends who died during the past year. Please plan to join members and friends of Aspen Hill Christian Church as we share in this meaningful family celebration. Please join us for our Special worship services celebrating the seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas: - November 20: Thanksgiving Sunday - November 27, December 4, 11, and 18: Advent Nativity and Wreath Ceremonies - December 18: Christmas Pageant - December 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - December 25: Christmas on Sunday! STEWARDSHIP ARLYN SANCHEZ Our 2017 EMC Campaign is well underway. Have you pledged yet? Our Uncommon Generosity helps the many programs of our church, keeps the building maintained and lots of other things. WE NEED YOU. Please get your pledge in if you have not done so. To date members have pledged $150, toward our Budget of $250, Our next stewardship activity will be the Giving Tree. Please be on the lookout for the details during the Advent season. See you around the church EVANGELISM & MEMBERSHIP JOHN SMALL Immediately after the 11:00 am Worship Service on Sunday October 30, join us for a special time of fellowship where we ll celebrate together the abundant love and blessings that we share as members and friends of Aspen Hill Christian Church. Sign up in the Fellowship Hall to bring a Harvest Dish to share! Also bring your favorite apple variety for our apple judging contest. This is a great opportunity to invite family, friends or neighbors to our worship service and special event that follows! FELLOWSHIP AMY BUCKINGHAM Our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner is November 20 th. A sign up sheet is in the Fellowship Hall. Want to help? Let me know. We need people to: cook a turkey, set up hall, clean up hall and just help out. We ask that you bring two dishes to share so sign up early so we can plan. This is a GREAT TIME, GOOD FOOD & LOTS OF WONDERFUL FELLOWSHIP. Join us to celebrate this time of Thankfulness.

7 FRUIT SALE UNDERWAY!!!! Get your orders in now - - this is one of the church s BIG fundraisers for the year. Help us to make this a BIG SUCCESS. See Mary to pick up your packet. If everyone would sell a minimum of 10 boxes we would meet our goal of selling at least 350 boxes and not pay a drop charge. Fruit will arrive at church on Friday, Dec. 9 and we will deliver to our customers on Saturday, Dec 10. We will need hand trucks, help unloading the truck and sorting the orders on Friday evening and putting orders in people s cars on Saturday. FAMILY Devotional given at October St Paul s Breakfast by Connie Spoon My definition of family has evolved over my lifetime. When I was young, family consisted of my mother, father, and brother and at various times of the year, the extended family also included grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Of course, after I was married, my family then included my husband and, subsequently, our daughter. Over the years as my family members have left this world, the only original members are my daughter, grandchildren, and numerous cousins - some I have known and others I have never actually met. When you become the survivor of a small family, you begin to seek out friends who quickly become your family because they are important to you and are there for you in times of joy and sadness. My journey to this church and the dear people here who have become my church family started in May 2011 when my husband of 35 years died suddenly. Later that year, I went to a grief support group with nine other men and women who had also recently lost their spouse. From that tragic event, I met four wonderful women who have become my grief friends. More than ever, I am convinced that it was divine intervention bringing us all together in a time of unbearable sorrow. One of those friends brought me to my first church function a spaghetti dinner. Afterwards I started coming to church here on a regular basis. Aspen Hill Christian Church is such a welcoming and friendly church community that I felt right at home from the beginning and really have treasured the last four years. I have renewed faith in Jesus Christ and feel renewed spiritually. Thank you, my dear church family! May God bless each and every one of you!