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EERE TE
4 November 24, 2004
MEDITATION
Relationships,
not things,
matter most
Y REV. JEFF HENSLEY
SR Lis
* Several years ago I was an intern chaplain at a VA
Hospital. During our orientation to the hospital each intern
was given an opportunity to choose which ward he or she
would work in. I chose the one that no one wanted: the ter-
minally ill ward. The patients located there were often
quiet, sometimes introspective, and reg-
ularly treated for pain of many kinds.
, At the end of each day’s work the
chief of chaplains would lead us through
a de-briefing period, which provided us
the chance to explore what we were
learning and to reflect theologically on
to one of my comments, he made a
remark that I have never forgotten. “All
Jeff Hensley
Meditation
said, “and we who minister receive a
special gift when people allow us to be
included in those relationships.”
- As I write these words, I have just come from the local
hospital, and I am grateful to God for a precious family I
met there. Together with many supportive friends, this fam-
ily was waiting, embracing, and sharing hope for a very
special family member. The warmth and love I saw among
these good folks reminded me of a little Jewish folktale
about two loving brothers.
These two brothers, so the story goes, farmed together.
They shared equally in all of the work and split the profits
exactly. Each had his own granary. One of the brothers was
married and had a large family; the other brother was sin-
gle.
One day the single brother thought to himself, “It’s not
fair that we divide the grain evenly. My brother has many
mouths to feed, while I have but one. I know what I'll do, I
will take a sack of grain from my granary each evening and
put it in my brother’s granary.” So, each night after dark, he
carefully carried a sack of grain and placed it in his broth-
er’s barn.
Meanwhile, the married brother thought to himself, “It’s
not fair that we divide the grain evenly. I have many chil-
dren to care for me in my old age, and my brother has
none. [ know what I'll do, I will take a sack of grain from
my granary each evening and put it in my brother’s grana-
ry.” And he did.
- Each morning the two brothers were amazed to discover
that though they had removed a sack of grain the night
before, they had just as many. One night the two brothers
met each other halfway between their barns, each carrying
a sack of grain. Then they understood the mystery. And
they embraced, and loved each other deeply.
This being the season of “Thanksgiving,” we would all
do well to embrace those special people whom God has
given to us, including our family members and our friends
because, regardless of what we have, that which matters
most to all of us is not our collection of things but our col-
lection of relationships.
Rev. Jeff Hensley is pastor at Kings Mountain Baptist
Church.
The Kings Mountain Herald
Free concert set
at First Presbyterian
Kings Mountain native
Miles Mauney and his wife
“Dorothy will be in recital
Friday, November 26 at 7
p-m. at First Presbyterian
Church, 111 East King Street,
Kings Mountain.
The recital will feature
classical music favorites for
violin and piano. The pro-
gram includes works by
Mozart, Rachmaninoff and
Kreisler.
The Mauneys are accom-
plished performers. Miles
Mauney toured extensively
with his twin brother,
Ernest, and taught many
years at the prestigious
Oberlin Conservatory.
The concert will be in the
church sanctuary, which is
accessible by wheelchair.
Hearing assistance is also
available.
There will be a reception
after the concert.
For more information call
739-2883.
Community service
tonight at First Baptist
Rev. Doug Allen of
Penley’s Chapel Church will
deliver the sermon during
the Kings Mountain
Ministerial Associations
annual Thanksgiving serv-
ice.
First Baptist Church will
host the service which
begins at 7 p.m. on
Wednesday night. The offer-
ing will be donated to the
Kings Mountain Crisis
Ministry.
Thanksgiving
service at Dixon
Victory Baptist and Dixon
Presbyterian churches will
hold their annual joint
Thanksgiving service
Wednesday at 7 p.m. at
Dixon Presbyterian Church,
602 Dixon School Road,
Kings Mountain.
Rev. Dennis Wells, pastor
of Victory Baptist, will deliv-
er the message.
Refreshments will be
served after the service.
The public is invited.
Thanksgiving meal
at Central Methodist
The community kitchen at
Central United Methodist
Church will serve a free
Thanksgiving dinner
Thursday from 4 to 5:30
CHURCH BRIEFS
Miles and Dorothy
Mauney to perform Friday
at First Presbyterian
Church
p-m. The church is locat-
ed on Piedmont Avenue.
Ministerial Assn.
to meet Wednesday
The Kings Mountain
Ministerial Association will
meet Wednesday, Dec. 1 at
11:45 a.m. at Summit Place.
The program will be
“New Child Safety Seat Belt
Laws.”
Fund raisers
at Central UMC
Youth of Central United
Methodist Church, 113 S.
Piedmont Avenue, Kings
Mountain, will sponsor fund
raisers on November 26 and
27.
A baby sitting service for
Christmas shoppers will be
held on November 26 from 8
a.m.-5 p.m.
A gift wrapping service
will be held November 27
from 12-5 p.m.
Proceeds will benefit the
youth's mission trip to
Mexico.
For more information call
739-2471.
Matthews to sitlg
at Shelby church
Kyle Matthews will per-
form a free concert at First
Gastonia, NC
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Baptist in Shelby Nov. 30 at
7 p.m.
Matthews has written or
co-written “I Cannot Turn
Away,” “If You Want To
Lead Me Jesus,” “My Heart
Goes Out,” and
“Inconvenient Christmas”
which garnered him a Dove
Award nomination.
He was raised in Waco,
Texas and Greenville, S.C.
Matthews and his wife
Susan live in Nashville with
their children Emily and
Christopher.
The free concert requires
tickets which are available at
First Baptist in Shelby,
Aldersgate United
Methodist, Central United
Methodist in Shelby, Shelby
Presbyterian, Go Fish
Christian Book Store,
Education Station, Greater
Cleveland Baptist
Association, Dover YMCA,
Kings Mountain YMCA and
Boiling Springs YMCA.
For more information, call
704-482-3467 or visit
www.fbcshelby.org.
Christmas musical
at Eastside Baptist
Eastside Baptist Church,
308 York Road, Kings
Mountain, will present the
Christmas musical “I Have
Seen the Light” Friday and
Saturday, Dec. 3-4 at 7 p.m.,
and Sunday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.
The public is invited.
Providence to sing
at Eastside Baptist
Providence will be in con-
cert Sunday, Nov. 28 at 6
p.m. at Eastside Baptist
Church, 308 York Road,
Kings Mountain.
The public is invited.
' Poinsettia sale
at Boyce Memorial
The youth group of Boyce
Memorial ARP Church,
Edgemont Drive, Kings
Mountain, will sponsor a
poinsettia patch sale
Saturday, Nov. 27 from 10
Cleveland Regional Medical Center
Tuesday, December 7 — 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
T.R. Harris Center — Cleveland Regional Medical Center
Dessert will be served.
Please register by calling, 704-487-3066.
SDEAKER
Lynn Sullens
Chief Clinical Dietician
Join Lynn as she discusses
some quick and healthy ideas
for holiday meals.
&
S
Cleveland Regional Medical Center
Carolinas HealthCare System
www.clevelandregional.org
2
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anne”
Page 7B
a.m.-2 p.m.
Persons can pick out their
own Christmas poinsettia in
deep red or bright snowy
white color. All plants come
in 6 1/2 inch pot wrapped
and adorned with a bow.
Ruppes to sing
at Bethel Baptist
The Ruppes will be in
concert Sunday, December 5
at 6 p.m. at Bethel Baptist
Church, 606 S. Dekalb Street,
Shelby.
For more information call
the church office at 482-8922.
Blessed Nations
to honor pastor
Blessed Nations Church,
820 South Post Road, Shelby,
will hold its second pastor
appreciation service honor-
ing Pastor Noah Joseph
Gingles December 2-5.
On Thursday, Bishop
Nathan Anderson of
Warriors Armed and Ready
Fellowship in Charlotte will
speak at 7 p.m.
On Friday, Bishop
Donagrant McCluney of
Westside Praise & Worship
Center of Shelby will speak
at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, “I'm Still
Standing” fellowship will be
held at 4 p.m.
On Sunday, Bishop Randy
Borders of Faith Harvest
Church of Shelby will speak
‘at 7 p.m.
For more information call
487-7571 or 481-0737.
Thanksgiving hams,
turkeys to be sold
' Macedonia Baptist Church
Brotherhood and Activities
Ministry is taking orders for
slow-cooked turkeys and
hams for Thanksgiving.
The cost is $25 for ham
and $20 for turkey. Orders
may be picked up on
Thanksgiving morning from
8-10 a.m.
For more information or
to place an order call the
church at 739-6811.