Westminster Window The Suitcase (An Inspirational Story) 1520 Rickwood Rd. Florence, AL 35630 256) 766-3841 A man died.when he realized it, he saw God coming closer with a suitcase in his hand. God said: Alright son its time to go. Surprised the man responded: Now? So soon? I had a lot of plans I m sorry but It s time to go. What do you have in that suitcase? the man asked. God answered: Your belongings. My belongings? You mean my things, my clothes, my money? God answered: Those things were not yours they belonged to the earth. Is it my memories? the man asked. God answered: those never belonged to you they belonged to Time. Is it my talents? God answered: those were never yours they belonged to the circumstances. Is it my friends and family? God answered: I m sorry they were never yours, they belonged to the path. Is it my wife and son? God answered: They were never yours, they belonged to your heart. Is it my body? God answered: that was never yours it belonged to the dust. Is it my soul? God answered: No that is mine. Full of fear, the man took the suitcase from God and opened it just to find out the suitcase was empty. With a tear coming down his cheek the man said: I never had anything??? God answered: that is correct, every moment you lived were only yours. Life is just a moment; a moment that belongs to you. For this reason, enjoy this time while you have it. Don t let anything that you think you own stop you from doing so. Love God, Live Now, Be Kind, Forgive Often and Be happy! Material things and everything else that you fought for stay here. YOU CAN T TAKE ANYTHING! October 2018 OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS Cale Eckl 2 Brandon Blaylock 9 Catherine Shea 9 Bill Valentine 11 Lacy Offutt 19 Kyndall Crosslin 26 Jessica Bailey 31
PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH I will give you Pastors according to mine own heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15 INSIDE STORY HEADLINE JOHN MCKELL 2 Thank you for 20 years of sermons, communion, baptisms, marriages, funerals, visitations, and friendships at Westminster Presbyterian! Sept 1998-Sept 2018
Peace and Global Witness Offering The Peace and Global Witness Offering will be received on Sunday, October 7. This offering promotes peace, love, and understanding around the world. 25% of this offering stays locally. The Outreach Committee, with Session approval, has designated this to support the Community Soup Kitchen. This is one of the ways Westminster strives to bring peace and love to those in our community that struggle daily. Every minute someone leaves this world behind. Age has nothing to do with it. We are all in this the line without realizing it. We never know how many people are before us. We cannot move to the back of the line. We cannot step out of the line. We cannot avoid the line. So while we wait in line - Make moments count. Keith & Devonia Mimbs Robbie & Audra Heinitz CONGRATULATIONS! Make a difference. Make the call. Make priorities. Make the time. Make your gifts known. Make a nobody feel like a somebody. Make your voice heard. Make the small things big. Make someone smile. Make the change. Make yourself a priority. Make your love known. Make up. Make peace. Make sure to have no regrets. Make sure you are ready! 3
SO WE CAN KNOW AND SHOW OUR CARE: Immediate Needs: Kate Hicks, Peggy Lewis, Charles & Hilda Anderson, Jean Paxton, Ben Barnes, Jean Blair, Kim Eckl, Frances Moody & an unnamed prayer request. Nancy Diamond s new address: 2151 Green Oaks Rd. Apt. 4603 Ft. Worth, TX 76116 Phone: 817) 945-9798 At Home: Darwin Mitchell Mitchell Hollingsworth: Sue McClure-Rm 236 Kate Hicks Rm 425 Our sympathy is extended to the family of Nancy Valentine in the recent loss of her brother Jessie Phillips Visitation with Darwin Mitchell! 4
October Fellowship Luncheon Where: Umi Japanese Steakhouse Time: 11:15am When: Tuesday October 23rd When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! All my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing...never made a face nor uttered a word about it! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said, "Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then." Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Mom put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides--a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!" As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times. Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults and choosing to celebrate each other s differences is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship. And that's my prayer for you today that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them aside. We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship! "Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket--keep it in your own." So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine. Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. 5
\ Above: While fellowshipping at LongHorn Steakhouse, Lynda Hicks surprised Kenny with a birthday cake! Left/bottom left: Kyndall Crosslin is pictured with other youth from North Alabama Presbytery while attending a canoe trip on Factory Creek in Iron City TN. 6
Bella was glad Nick & Sue brought her along! 7
Bessie Salter enjoyed her trophy large mouth bass! Arzetta Mimb s grandaughter, Rebecca Hall was recently inducted into the National Honor Society! Congratulations! 8 Nick & Sue Winn enjoyed a long bike ride while their children were in town recently!
Brad & Bob Moody cheering on Auburn Tigers! Audra & Ayla says Roll Tide! Kyndall & dad, Phillip cheering on Auburn Tigers! Kyndall running through some water during a recent cross country meet! MQ & Sally are fans of their granddaughter's volleyball team!
I would like to invite everyone to my upcoming recital at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Florence on Sunday, November 4 at 4PM. I will present a program called "Songs I Love to Play," a selection of my favorite organ pieces from the past thirty years. There is no admission charge but a basket will be available for gifts to the choir scholarship fund. Randy Hymn Sing Last Sunday of the Month!!! 10
Ayla is excited to announce that she will soon be a Big Sister! Audra & Robbie Heinitz are expecting a little boy! WHEN: Oct 14, 10-10:30 WHERE: Session Rm, down hall from Parlor Want you join us? WHEN: April 27, 2019 WHERE: WPC Fellowship Hall WHY: To raise money for church renovations, such as kitchen updates! CONTACT: Please see Paula O. or Devonia M. for info. of donating items.
LOOKING THROUGH THE BACK WINDOW... Bob & Janet Downie attending an Ice Cream Social with Una & Leo in attendance! Youth Group: Lorrie Dawson, Billy Dawson, Andrew Bishop, Tony Dawson, Lisa Dawson, Lacy Offutt, Ryan Kindahl, Mollie Kindahl & Audra Hamilton Caring Place has a new location at 216 South Marengo St., Ste 1, Florence, AL. You can keep up with the progress at: www.facebook.com/caringplaceshoals. Please consider helping with the building renovation by going to: www.gofundme.com/caringplace-the-shoals Comments/articles: Thank you for your continued prayers for Westminster s Caring Place! Alondacr@gmail.com 256) 710-8662