WESLEY HEIRS SPRING 2018

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1 WESLEY HEIRS SPRING 2018 God is Not Done with You! If you are still breathing, God is not done with you! This profound truth has blessed me my entire life. When I failed often as a young man, the Inner Voice said, Walter, I am not done with you. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Get up and I will help you take the next step on this journey I have planned for you. Those words gave me the courage to believe that the Living God would not give up on me until the final curtain is drawn. Whatever your age or situation, I dare you to believe that God is not done with you! Run from self-pity and self-despising. Laugh at your troubles and see in the midst of life s storms that your heavenly Father is still working on you! Clear the runway and give the God who loves you a chance to make you what he wants you to be! Keep on yielding to the Potter who is able to shape you into the beautiful person he CLIP & MAIL REGISTRATION SPRING, 2018 See Meeting Registration REGISTRATION FORM FOR News PROGRAMS ANNOUNCEMENTS EXECUTIVE BOARD DECEASED Along the way my strength has declined Right now you may be miserable, disillusioned, depressed, angry or ready to give up. I have been there. All those feelings have been mine. But as I struggled with life s hard issues I became conscious that God was still working on me. That became a profound insight: God was not done with me. That I was still alive was God s will. I began to see that in all my circumstances, God was using my problems to sand off my rough edges. I was like clay in the hands of a potter. I was a miserable, broken pot but he had not thrown me away in disgust. So if God had hope for me, I could have some hope for myself. That small hope began to grow as I felt his hands shaping me. As our boys grew up the pressures of parenting and pastoral ministry created more stress than I could handle. Flat on my back in a hospital, diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer and 45 years old, I was one miserable human being. I was a wreck. One minute I was scared I was going to die; the next minute I wanted to die. My life was over. I was a failure as a father and as a pastor. Once again I felt his hands upon me, molding me into a vessel he could use. One more time my sense of unworthiness was overcome by the reality that God was still working on me. To my miserable, broken spirit God whispered, I am not done with you. As I slowly regained my health, I found new confidence in my gifts for ministry. Then I hit the wall again. Accepted and well received in most of the churches I served, I was appointed to one that was not a good fit. Conflict with the power brokers of the church led to my being reassigned to another church after only two years. This time, more than ever before, I struggled with self-despising, depression and self-pity but the Lord rescued me again. Despite my mistakes and poor judgment, God had mercy on me. Joy in ministry returned. Once again I was aware that God was not done with me! At age 70 the mandatory retirement age rule of the United Methodist Church made it necessary for me to retire. I was a basket case. My life was over. Miserable spiritually, I was also a wreck physically, so crippled in both knees that I could hardly walk. My orthopedic surgeon and dear friend Dr. Jim Whatley replaced both my knees. But before I could leave the hospital, blood clots developed and the good doctor said after several panic-stricken hours, We almost lost you. I did recover but a funny thing happened before I was discharged from the hospital. My. My friend Lester Spencer, then pastor of Saint James United Methodist Church in Montgomery, came to see me. In the hospital where two days before I had almost died from blood clots, Lester invited me to come on staff at Saint James. I laughed at his proposal but told him that if I could find a way to walk again, I would join his team and I did. God s kindness has afforded me 15 years of ministry with the Saint James church family. Deep, abiding friendships with many strong disciples of Christ have developed. I have had the honor of preaching the good news of Jesus almost every Sunday. I have shared the sorrow of those whose loved ones have run ahead of us to the Father s House. As expected in the aging process. Walking, which now requires a cane, is difficult. I think about death now much more than when I was young. At age 85 I realize I am around third base and getting ready to slide across home plate. I don t dread dying. I am not afraid to die. Pondering my death is not depressing. The fact that I am still alive reminds me that God is not done with me. That excites me. I know that God wants to make me more like Christ. And since that work is not done yet, I need to surrender more fully, daily, to his transforming power. To experience God s life-changing power we must make daily surrender a habit. God does not force his way into our lives. He waits for us to say, Jesus, I want you to make me what you want me to be. No matter what problems you have now, what mountains you are trying to climb, as long as you have breath, God is not done with you! He waits for you to become clay in his hands. I covert for you, until your last breath, the joyous awareness that God is not done with you! By Walter Albritton

2 Page 2 WESLEY HEIRS SPRING WESLEY HEIRS SPRING RE- TREAT CELEBRATELIFE, LOVE, AND LAUGHTER March 13th-14, 2018 Blue Lake Registration is at 10:00, then unpack, and session one at 11:00. ARRIVE EARLY! Check if Special Diet Required / Wheelchairs are available & furnished Note queen sized beds. REGISTRATIONS SHOULD BE IN 2 WEEKS BFORE OR BY Feb. 27th Nina Keenan s team will bring snacks for the snack table. There is always food for even dieters and those with diabetes. If interested in bringing your favorite goodies, contact Nina at or at: ninak@andycble.com. 2:00 Executive Committee meets upstairs Conference Room. Choir practice time is at 4:00. Door prizes to be given out by Myrt, but please remember to help her out by bringing at least one prize, wrapped or bagged for the drawings. Please, nothing over $ Wednesday. The offering will be for Sunshine Camp & Camp Discovery Scholarships.. Prior to breakfast on the 12th, Holy Communion will be observed with Rev. Mike McKight leading the service. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Tuesday afternoon will be open for games, refreshments, the Executive Committee meeting, and CHOIR PRACTICE. Singers Wanted! Women Singers Needed! No try outs required, only a joy in singing. Tuesday evening program will be a fun time of story telling by Norton Dill. YES SOME ARE COMING ON MONDAY AFTER- NOON! Come, join a group for an early dinner around 5:00 at the Gator Café in Baker FL. Make reservations for the night at Blue Lake Camp on your registration form. The Registrar (s) will notify Blue Lake to have your room ready Monday afternoon. Rooms on the second floor. Rooms on the second floor have a queen-size bed and a single bed. The cost of the rooms is the same: $31 per room single and $31.001per person for two in a room. Single Total Cost Double Total Cost $31.00 $ ,00gounds fee 4.00 grounds fee 6.75 breakfast breakfast Total $39.75 Grand Total $47.50 Grand REGISTRATION FORM Registration Deadline February 27, 2018 Name (s): Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: RATES: Double Occupancy: $45.00/person; $90.00/couple Single Occupancy: $60.00/person. Campers: $31.00 PLUS MEALS/person. In addition campsite charges paid directly to WESLEY HEIERS. Meals not eaten, deducted. Monday night rate:$31.00 plus $2.00 ground fee a person Register to assign same gender roommates if requested and IF AVAILABLE with double occupancy rate. ( ) Assign Same Gender Roommate. ( ) Single Occupancy Requested. ( ) Double Occupancy Requested. ( ) Camper Registration. ( ) Check if downstairs room required.* ( ) Check if upstairs room with queen bed preferred. *** ( ) Check if Wheelchair Required. ( ) Special Diet: DIABETIC YES [ ] NO [ ] Monday night stay, please pay WESLEY HEIRS. Please make Retreat checks payable to WESLEY HEIRS Send registration with payment to: Wesley Heirs Diane & Curtis Smith Post Office Box 400 Creola, Al cd1963@hughes.net ( ) Registering Scholarship Recipient Provide name and contact information above. Spouses of those being remembered are the welcomed guests of Wesley Heirs, but please register. Family members should register as well, but are expected to pay for lodging and meals. SEND REGISTRATION TODAY! PLEASE MAKE CHECKS FOR MONDAY NIGHT PAYABLE TO

3 SPRING, 2018 Page 3 TREASURER'S REPORT Balance as of December 31, 2017 was $2, with all outstanding bills paid to this date. A breakdown follows: Reservations for Spring meeting to Blue Lake was $250.00; Myrtice Carr for door prize s $104.5; Memorial to Blue Lake in memory of Carolyn Vickers (spouse of Marvin K. Vickers); Alabama West Florida Conference for postage for mailing newsletters for those without access to notifications; Blue Lake for room & board during fall meeting $2,23.75; and paid to Anne Calhoun for postage to mail cards. Received an offering for Fall meet was $ 1, Trust Fund Market Value through the 3rd Quarter was $21, OUR PROGRAM INCLUDES Mike McKnight, who will lead the early morning devotional and serve communion on Wednesday and continues to work on the staff at St. James in Montgomery, although retired. Dr. George Mathison, retired from Auburn Church, will be preaching the memorial service. Even though retired he continues to preach at camp meetings. He continues to reside in Auburn, not but seven miles from where he and John Ed grew up while their father, Si, served Opelika First Church. Norton Dill will be our storyteller on Tuesday night. Norton is the son of Lawrence Dill and brother of Larry Dill, both North ALA- BAMA UM preachers. He was director of drama ministries at Vestavia Hills UMC for several years where he founded the Parable Players. Norton wrote "Galloping Garrison, play preformed at the South Eastern Jurisdiction Conference. He founded Dill Productions that made many commercials including Yellow Wood series. He also produced the film on Kathryn Tucker Windham,Storyteller. You probably know him and some of the plays he has written including musicals, such as Sand Mountain Saturday Night," "Wedding on Sand Mountain" and "Christmas on Sand Mountain." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * OTHER ACTIVITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN If you know of someone unable to attend the meeting due to illness or infirmity, please bring stamped, appropriate cards so we may each sign them to let our fellow Wesley Heirs know that our love and thoughts are with them. Ann Calhoun will have these cards on a table in the recreation room so each person may sign them, then she will mail them. It would help if you place a stamp on the ones you bring. If you like to make a joyful noise by singing in the shower, you have a gift to give to others. The choir Director, Mark Stewart welcomes everyone who wish to just enjoy singing and somehow, he gets a fair presentation for the Memorial Service out of those volunteers. Female voices are in short supply, likely because all males who volunteer are preachers who always wanted to sing in the choir. Now they can and in doing so, honor their fellow preachers who have passed. Spring offering will go toward paying scholarships for attendees at Sunshine Camp and Camp Discovery (inner city children). You are invited to give as you feel able. JOYS, CARES AND CONCERNS Unfortunately, no one notified this writer of any concerns, cares or joys, however, Bill Hust is still struggling and keep him and Judy in you prayers. Judy is our loyal pianist and comes to help out even when Bill does not feel up to the trip and being in the meeting. We appreciate her giving of her talents and thank Bill for sharing her. NOMINATIONS FOR NEW OFFICERS TO BE ANNOUNCED At the 11:00 Business Meeting, Wesley Heirs will elect new officers, who will serve for two years. These nominees are Mark Stewart, President, Monette Walker, Vice President, in charge of programs, and Paula Bonner, Secretary. The invitation will be extended for nominations from the floor before the vote is called. For current officers and Executive Board members, check the last page of this newsletter. If you have any questions, call one of these members. Then there are the game lovers who are able to stay with it way into the night. No gossiping in that room as concentration is too great to allow much talking. s Check them out to see the games they play. Do you know any of these young men and where this picture was taken? Two were mentioned in In this newsletter.

4 Phone: Fax: LET US HEAR YOUR ADVENTURE STORIES OR CONCERNS Send them to Myrtice Carr, Editor. 454 Eaton Road Birmingham, Al EXECUTIVE BOARD 2017 Servant Leadership Roster Co-Presidents.: Bobbie & Jim Dannelly: Co-Presidents: Dean & Walter Albritton Vice President: Mark Stewart: Secretary: Paula Bonner Treasurer: Ed and Betty Britton Registrars: Diane & Curtis Smith Sunshine Camp: Betty Blackwell Newsletter Editor: Myrtice Carr Music Director: Mark Stewart Accompanist, Judy Hust Past Presidents: Betty and Ed Sells Call one of the Executive Board Members nearest to you if you require help in obtaining transportation to Wesley Heirs meetings. TO BE REMEMBERED Rev. Floyd Enfinger September 3, 2017 Rev. Langdon Garrison September 19, 2017 Rev. Joe Hensel October 10, 2017 Rev. Charles Langford October 23,2017 Rev. Roy Gambin November 4, 2017 Rev. Charles Rothy December 8, 2017 Rev. Ennis Sellers December 28,2017 Rev. John Dickinson December 29, 2017 Rev. Charles Rothy December 8, 2017 Rev. Ed Chandler January 19, 2018 These dear ones will be remembered during the memorial service at the Springl meeting of Wesley Heirs. There may be others added if passed away after January 24,2018 and before March 5th. Our prayers go with all spouses and loved ones of each great soul listed above. We hope to see you in person at the Memorial service in March at Blue Lake.

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