Light From The Hill JANUARY, 2017 The Pastor s Corner Rev. Norman L. Ramsey, III

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1 Light From The Hill JANUARY, 2017 The Pastor s Corner Rev. Norman L. Ramsey, III Dear Laurel Hill: To quote a Chinese proverb: To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step, but we must keep on stepping. This is important to remember as we follow Jesus into this New Year. There are 365 days ahead in Nothing unusual about that. The question before us is, who shall we serve each of those days? How do we start each of those days? Does it begin with presenting ourselves to the Lord? Does it start with us blocking off a place and time to prioritize our day or spend some time at night to plan ahead under the leadership of the Holy Spirit? Are you taking a step to form this habit into your year? None of us have the willpower or the energy to wake up every morning and start a new practice of seeking the Lord. But, all of us have the willpower and energy to do what we ve always done. Jerry Seinfeld once said someone who asked him advice about becoming a better comedian: the key was to write jokes every day. And the way he figured out how to do that was to hang a huge annual calendar on the wall and then put a big red X across every day he worked on his craft. After a few days, you ll have a chain, Seinfeld said. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You ll like seeing the chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job is to not break the chain. Don t break the chain. (p. 170, The One Thing, Gary Keller with Gary Papasan, 2016) This is a good way of summarizing what our devotional time should look like. Don t neglect it. Certainly, don t ignore it. Don t get too busy for it. In other words, build the chain then, don t break it. Why is this so important? Will Rogers said, Even if you re on the right track, you ll get run over if you just sit there. So, as a Christian we must realize the days of having a sitting faith are over if they ever existed. It is time to exercise an engaged and walking faith, even a marching faith, daily obedient and responsive to the Lord s leading. Love you very much, Norman Ramsey Norman and Karen are on vacation this month and the Rev. Ed Johnson is standing in for Norman. If a need arises, please call him as well as the church office. Call (434) cell or (804) Thank you, Ed. BIRTHDAYS IN JANUARY- Sandy Alexander, Lindsey Miller, Charles Clay, Ivia Jennette, Henry Horne, Douglas Singlemann, Chris Corley, William Walker, Patrice and Carl Moore, Jean Miller, Ronnie Fisher and Larry Harvey

2 8:45am Praise & Worship 9:45am Sunday School 11:00am Traditional Worship January 1, 2017: Be of Good Courage (Joshua 24: 15) (Men s Breakfast at 8:00 AM & Luncheon after 11:00 AM Service) January 8, 2017: New Year s Hope (Psalm 136 & Romans 8: 18) (Rev. Ed Johnson, 8:45 AM, Theresa Duke, 11:00 AM) (District Conference & Leadership Training, 1:30 PM, Reveille UMC) January 15, 2017: Feeding a Crowd (John 6: 1 15) January 17, 2017: Administrative Council, 7:00 PM January 18 20, 2017: The Summit of the National Association of United Methodist Evangelists, (NAUME), Nashville, TN January 22, 2017: The Good Shepherd (Psalm 23 & John 10: 11 18) January 29, 2017: If It Had Not Been (Psalm 124 & Matthew 28: 18 20) (January 31, Homeless Feeding, leave church at 10:00 am)

3 LAY MINISTERS FOR JANUARY, 2017 Praise & Worship: 8:45 A.M.-Sunday School: 9:45 A.M.-Worship: 11:00 A.M. OUR USHERS January 1 Kirby Miller, Joe Corley, Randy Welch January 8 Stuart Walton, Raymond Stevenson, Buddy Whitlow January 15 Bill Robinson, Gene Russell, George Kaloski January 22 Craig Pollard, Phil Deane, Ray Alexander January 29 Peggy and Doug Singlemann, Raymond Stevenson and Agnes Knowles CHILDREN S CHURCH January 1 & 8 Sheree Gostel January 15 & 22 Stuart and Tricia Walton January 29 Jeremy and Stephanie Rowan OUR ACOLYTES January 1 Eliana Horne & Nick Cox January 8 Nick Cox January 15 Eliana Horne January 22 Nick Cox January 29 Eliana Horne OUR GREETERS January 1 Kirby and Lois Miller January 8 Frank and Muriel Jenness January 15 Tom and Joyce Handy January 22 Craig and Kristen Pollard January 29 Gary, Theresa and Elizabeth Hughes CHILDREN S MESSAGE January-Pam and Ed Johnson COMMUNION January-Judy and Billy Walker SOUND TECHNICIANS January 1-Doug Singlemann January 8 & 15-Bill Robinson January 22 & 29-David Duke TELLERS January 1 Jenny Nelson & Billy and Judy Walker January 8 Randy Welch and Phil Deane January 15 Linda Kinsey and Chris Ragland January 22 Jeremy Rowan and Peggy Singlemann January 29 Lois Miller and Pam Wilson

4 Our Calendar Marks Our Calling from Christ and our Care and Compassion for Others Standard Meetings Every Thursday: 6PM Early AM Practice, 7PM, Bell Choir, 7:45PM Choir Every Thursday Morning: Knitting Group Every Other Thursday: Girl Scouts Every Other Friday: Cub Scouts Every 1 st Sunday: Men s Breakfast, 8:00 AM and Luncheon Every 1 st & 3 rd Wednesday: Prayer Meeting Every 1 st Thursday: Staff Meeting at 5:30 PM Every 2 nd Sunday: Friendship Class sings Every 2 nd Tuesday: Ladies of Laurel Hill Every 2 nd Saturday: Women s Bible the Parsonage Every 3 rd Monday: Varina Woman s Club (not in June) FOR YOUR INFORMATION FEEDING THE HOMELESS, On November 29th we fed the homeless at Greater Mount Moriah Baptist Church. We feed about 135 people and there were 9 members of the church participating. We do this every fifth Tuesday of the year. The dates for 2017 are Jan. 31, May 30, Aug 29, and Oct. 31. Make plans now to come and join us this coming year. GENESIS SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS, January 8th we will be starting a new study entitled Christianity's Family Tree What Other Christians Believe and Why by Adam Hamilton. Everyone is welcome to come join us for this study. If you are new to this class call Theresa Duke at or at duke2116@comcast.net by Jan. 2nd so books can be ordered. BELLS AND CHOIR, We are in need of people to play hand bells for the spring, January through May. You do not have read music in order to play. We meet on Thursday evenings from 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM. If you are interested please come and join us. We are also in need of choir members for the spring also. We meet on Thursday evenings from 7:45 PM to 8:30 or 9:00 PM. If you like to sing please come and join us. We have a really good time.

5 January 01 Men s Breakfast, 8:00 AM, Bells Playing, Holy Communion, 1 st Sunday Luncheon 8 Rev. Ed Johnson, Preaching and Serving while Pastor Norman is on vacation; Theresa Duke, speaking during 11:00 AM service 15 Rev. Ed Johnson, Preaching and Serving while Pastor Norman is on vacation 16 Finance Committee, 7:00 PM 17 Administrative Council National Association of United Methodist Evangelists, Nashville 22 Rev. Ed Johnson, Preaching and Serving while Pastor Norman is on vacation 29 Heart Havens speaker sharing during services, Pastor Ramsey leading service 31 Homeless Feeding February (Heart Havens Month) 4 UM Day at General Assembly 5 Men s Breakfast, Holy Communion, Lunch 12 Scout Sunday, Friendship Class 19 Heart Havens speaker, March (Partnership Month with VCU Pediatric Emergency Room) 01 Ash Wednesday, 7:00 PM Laurel Hill hosting 5 Men s Breakfast, Holy Communion 11 Missions and Ministries Dinner and Auction

6 12 Girl Scout Sunday, Kean University Choir and Luncheon 19 One Great Hour of Sharing 20 Finance Committee, 7:00 PM 22 Administrative Council, 7:00 PM 26 Virginia Choristers, singing in Worship and Concert at 1:30 PM. We will move our 1 st Sunday Luncheon from April 2 nd to today. 31 April 2 Lay Servant Academy, Ferrum College, Ferrum, VA April 01 - Bishop s Convocation on Prayer, 9:30 AM 3:30 PM, Trinity UMC 02 Men s Breakfast, Holy Communion 8 Children s Easter Celebration & Outreach, 11:00 AM 1:00 PM 9 - Palm Sunday Holy Week (Special Services, TBA) 16 Easter Sunday: 6:30 PM Sunrise, 7:15 Breakfast, 8:45 Early, 11:00 Traditional April Weekend Mission to the Mountains 24 - Parsonage Review & Committee Meeting, 7:00 PM 30 Special Music, TBA May 4 National Day of Prayer 7 Men s Breakfast, Holy Communion, Luncheon 14 Mother s Day

7 20 Missions & Ministries Yard Sale, 6:30 AM 1:00 PM (Tentative) 23 Administrative Council, 7:00 PM 28 Memorial Observance 30 Homeless Feeding June 3 Varina Dorey Park Outreach 4 Graduation Sunday*, Lunch 5 Staff Parish Relations Committee (Mid-year Evaluations), 7:00 PM Annual Conference, Hampton, VA 18 Father s Day Week of Vacation Bible School with Four Mile Creek Baptist 29 July 2 Aldersgate Renewal Conference, Lexington, KY