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December 2, 2004
i MEDITATION
The Kings Mountain Herald
CHURCH BRIEFS
Page 7B
Parent's love can
only be passed on
BY REV. JEFF HENSLEY
As the holidays are arriving, our community is being pre-
pared for a joyful season. With lights in the trees, decora-
tions in shop windows, and large ornaments attached to
power poles, Kings Mountain is more festive with each
passing day. It’s a wonderful time of year.
It’s also a time to observe certain cus-
toms. Almost every family I know has thei
own way of celebrating the holidays. Most
of them weave their rituals together using
their own heritage, religious faith and per-
sonal style. Some of their customs have
emerged out of a long, and often forgotten,
history, while others came into being as a
result of some simple need.
There's something powerful about these
customs, because when they are absent we Jeff Hensley
feel something missing. But it’s not really Meditation
the customs themselves that are so important; 1t s rea
what they represent — a loving, supportive atmosphere in
which to grow up safe and secure. We all need that kind of
atmosphere, and we need to pass it on.
Let me illustrate the point by sharing with you a little
story about a childless couple that raised their orphaned
nephew, whose name was David. This story depicts an
exchange that took place at a railroad station. David was
ready to go off to college and his aunt and uncle were wait-
ing to say good-bye to him as he left home.
While they were waiting, David looked at his aunt and
uncle and took note of some features to which he had rarely
paid attention. His aunt had hands that were cupped and
hard from selling fruit and vegetables outdoors in all kinds
of weather. Her face was ruddy and round and invariably
smiling, and her heavy body was more accustomed to a
half dozen sweaters at one time than a single coat. The hair
on her head, once black as the night sky, was the color of
moonlight now, but her dark eyes were still shiny and
bright.
His uncle was a short man with a wiry body. He, too, was
strong but bent from the many years of lifting too many
fruit and vegetable crates. His skin was wind-burned and
he had a swarthy face that featured a wry mouth. And
though his aunt and uncle had reared David since he was
seven years of age, they refused to be called Mama and
Papa for fear that he would forget his real parents.
Before he boarded the train, David took the rough hands
of his aunt and uncle into his own smooth hands. “How
can I ever repay you two for what you have done for me,”
he said. Speaking gently, his uncle replied, “David, there’s
an old saying, ‘The love of parents goes to their children.”
“But that’s not so,” protested David, “I'll always be try-
ing to...” His aunt then interrupted. “David,” she said
calmly, “what your uncle means is that a parent’s love isn’t
to be paid back. It can only be passed on.”
Rev. Jeff Hensley is pastor of Kings Mountain Baptist
Church.
Comfort and Joy
at First Wesleyan
The choir of First
Wesleyan Church, 505 North
Piedmont Avenue, Kings
Mountain, will present its
Christmas cantata “Comfort
and Joy” Sunday, December
5 at 6 p.m.
The program is directed
by Rob Bazzle.
The public is invited.
The cantata will be repeat-
ed on Sunday, Dec. 12 at
10:30 a.m.
East Gold Wesleyan
breakfast is Sunday
The young adults of East,
Gold Street Wesleyan ~~
Church, 701 E. Gold St.,
+ Kings Mountain, will host a
breakfast Sunday, Dec. 5
from 8:15-9:15 in the Family
Life Center.
Plates are $ for adults.
Proceeds will be used to
provide Christmas presents
for a needy family.
At 11 a.m. the Children’s
Choir will present “Three
Wise Men and a Star.”
Call 739-3215 for more
information. :
Gospel singing set
at Cherokee Baptist
The Melody Trio will be in
concert Saturday, Dec. 4 at 7
p.m. at Cherokee Street
Baptist Church, 423
Cherokee Street, Kings
Mountain.
The public is invited.
Emmanuel Baptist
Christmas program
Emmanuel Baptist Church
of Kings Mountain will have
its Christmas musical and
drama “From Christmas to
Calvary” Saturday and
Sunday, Dec. 11-12, at 6 p.m.
Emmanual Baptist is
located behind The Herald
and across from the new
Senior Center at the east end
of Business 74.
The public is invited. For
Eastside Baptist Church, Kings Mountain, will present the Christmas musical “I Have
Seen the Light” December 3 and 4 at 7 p.m. and December 5 at 6 p.m. Some of the choir
members participating are, left to right, Larry Rayfield, Joyce Goble, Randy Echols,
Juanita Rhea and Jack Rhea.
WACHOVIA
he David Belk Cannon Foundation
Eastside Baptist Church, Kings Mountain, will present the Christmas musical “I Have
Seen the Light” December 3 and 4 at 7 p.m. and December 5 at 6 p.m. Some of the choir
members participating are, left to right, Robin Gantt, Todd Starnes, Amber Lawson, Dink
Starnes and Don Starnes.
more information call 739-
9339.
Children’s choir
to present musical
The children’s choir of
First Wesleyan Church, 505
N. Piedmont Avenue, Kings
Mountain, will present the
Christmas musical drama
“Sing a Song of Christmas”
Sunday, Dec. 19 at 10:30 am.
The program will be
directed by Donna Deaton.
At 6 p.m., the church will
gather for a service of
“Christmas Memories.”
The public is invited.
Ham, turkey sell
at Macedonia Baptist
The Brotherhood of
Macedonia Baptist Church,
1101 S. Battleground
Avenue, Kings Mountain,
- will sell ham anid turkey for
Christmas.
A slow cooked ham (din-
ner ham or shoulder) is $30
Se.
%.
Dessert will be served.
Please register by calling, 704-487-3066.
and a turkey is $20.
Order by December 19.
Orders may be picked up on
Christmas Eve between 8-10
a.m.
For more information or
to place an order call the
church at 739-6811.
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 7 — 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
T.R. Harris Center — Cleveland Regional Medical Center
SPEAKER
Lynn Sullens
Chief Clinical Dietician
Join Lynn as she discusses
some quick and healthy ideas
for holiday meals.
Cleveland Regional Medical Center
Carolinas HealthCare System
www.clevelandregional.org
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
at7 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 -
at7 p.m. :
For more information call :
487-7571 or 481-0737.
Church news deadline is
noon Monday. Bring itto
the Herald, phone 739-7496
or fax 739-0611.