The Church Mouse
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November 2009
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PASTOR’S PONDERINGS
Friends in Christ,
Morning light was breaking as a mid-thirty degree fifteen mile per hour wind pushed
its way through the aspen and birch trees.
The sounds of the water as it rushed through the narrow river at some six miles per hour
echoed off the rocks of the cliffs in front of me. The seventeen-foot boat, anchored
along the shore, weaved back and forth ever so slightly. Off in the distance I heard
a grouse drumming his wings. The air was thick with the smell of fish. “Ah, this is the
place,” I thought.
I took off my heavy coat, tossed it in the bottom of the boat, put on my light jacket
and stepped up onto the stern platform. The guide handed me an eleven-foot fly rod. I
smiled. Then, as I stood there, a thought walked through my mind, “Boy, I hope I
don’t embarrass my pop today.”
With the second cast of the morning something
hit my fly. It began to tear off line and so I employed the butt of my hand against
the reel, spinning out of control. As I raised the tip of the rod applying ever more tension
to the line, suddenly it was set free.
Upon reeling in, I found the six-pound line tippet to be broken and the two quarterinch
flies, one egg and one grub, were gone. “I pulled too hard.” “What?” “I pulled
too hard. That … won’t … happen again,”
I said. The guide looked at me as if to say, “Yea right, you guys always say that.”
After retying a new tippet and flies, I returned to fishing. Not more than ten casts later, as the pencil sinker bounced over the
stony bottom, something significantly bigger hit.
It was powerful! I kept repeating in my head, “Don’t break the line. Don’t break the
line. Don’t break the line!” My rod was bent in a sharp C. As I raised its tip high to keep
the fish’s head up the guide, Brian, scoopnetted
the fish. A thirty-pound king salmon. I glanced back at Pop. He was smiling. After
pictures and shoulder pats, we released the
fish, much to my chagrin. “Catch and release … Oh brother!” I thought.
Not much time passed and I hooked a second fish. It had a different type of fight. It
wanted to run deep and in the current.
When it was finally coaxed to the boat it was discovered to be a fourteen-pound
brown trout. “Nice fish Jeff,” Brian said. The
cameras were again pulled out, more back slapping ensued and the fish was released.
“Another dinner back into the stream. Oh Brother!”
Slipping along from honey hole to honey
hole we went as the morning sun was burning off the patches of fog rising from the
Manistee River. The third fish of the day was what they called a “skippy.” They are
small steal head trout which follow the spawning king salmon to eat their eggs.
Steal head were what we had traveled nine hundred miles to northern Michigan to
catch. These fish are crazy. They bite like a bluegill, sort of tap, tap, tap, on the line.
But once they figure out they are hooked up, they go nuts! You can’t imagine the gyrations.
They walk on the water, shaking their heads, flipping, shaking, rolling, jumping,
and did I mention shaking. It just doesn’t end, all the way into the net.
Even then, relieving them of the hook is a chore as they
simply will not hold still. They’re nuts!
So, with the next cast I felt that familiar tap, tap, tap and knew right away what it was.
But I had no idea what I was in for. As I set the hook, the fish rocked out of the water
into the air and began to dance across the water. “Holy Cow!”
Then it began to burn line off at an alarming rate. I was frightened to apply much
pressure to the spool as I worried its violent tirades would stress the line too much and it
would break. Just when I began to feel somewhat at ease about handling that, the
fish turned toward the boat. It swam so fast, if I had not had an eleven-foot rod, I never
would have been able to keep any pressure on the line and would have lost the
fish. When the fish got a glimpse of the boat and the man with a net in his hand, it
turned and began to burn line off again; all the time shacking, jerking and dancing like
it was on crack-cocaine or something.
Then it turned and headed for shore where there were several downed trees in the water.
“Just great,” I thought. “How am I supposed
to keep him out of that and not break the line?” Brian was having a fit. “Pull. Pull.”
“I can’t or I’ll break the line again!” Finally,
I got him to the boat, away from the prop and into the net. Smiling Brian said, “An
eighteen-pound steal-head trout. You’ve
now caught the largest king, brown and steal-head, I ever guided for. What a fish,
Jeff! What a fish!” Pop just smiled.
We continued up and down the river fishing hard all day, stopping only for lunch. Brian
set up a table and cooker. We had salsa and chips, chili and bratwursts, trail mix and
chocolate chip cookies. What a lunch.
As the day was coming to a close, with eleven fish under my belt, I began to speak
of seeking the twelfth. Pop said, “Now you’re just being greedy Son. I think you’ve
been cheating today anyway. I think Saint
Peter’s been helping you. You know, he was a fisherman. Or, maybe, God is trying to
get me to buy into your faith.” I just smiled.
The most fish caught on Brian’s boat this year, wonderful … The largest of three
species fish ever caught by those guided by Brian, outstanding … Both were great. But,
Pop’s thoughts … best of all. Remember, Thanksgiving … is about God.
Shalom,
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Parish Nurse Notice
Let me talk with you about hand-washing and
covering sneezes/coughs.
This is the cold and flu season. They are rampant
in our schools, so prevention is the best
measure we can all take to avoid spreading
and acquiring colds and the flu.
Wash your hands with soap and water for
10-20 seconds, rinse, dry and turn off the tap
with a paper towel. If you don’t have running
water, use hand sanitizer.
Cover your sneezes and coughs with the bend
of your elbow or with a tissue. Clean your
hands after blowing your nose or assisting a
child with blowing their nose.
Teach your children to clean their hands after
use of the bathroom, before eating, and after
handling meats or eggs.
When you have a fever or feel ill, stay home
and rest, don’t share. Pass the peace along
but not your germs.
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Building Now For An Eternity
From Your Building Committee:
Notice will be posted in local papers, October 23 and October 30, announcing
the November 10, 2009, public hearing by the Round Hill Planning
Commission. Comments on our application to expand our church facilities at our
current location will be heard.
This represents achievement of one of many major milestones in our efforts to gain approval
of this project. Persons are being designated to speak for specific ministry areas
of our church. The Building Committee requests that the congregation attend the meeting
in support of this project.
Copies of the Special Exception application and SPEX Plat may be reviewed in the Round
Hill Town Office between the hours of 8:00 am to noon, Monday through Friday.
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Environmental Stewardship
With the environment being such a hot topic
today it is no wonder we at Round Hill have
been in discussion about it for some time.
Some questions raised by this subject are:
- What are the real issues?
- What are possible solutions??
- What are their ramifications??
- How should the Church act/react??
It is clear this is not an easy topic and as
Christians, we need to seek God’s guidance
and others council.
Come, join the discussion and fellowship.
The Halls will be hosting in their home a
new study entitled, Environmental Stewardship.
We meet Friday evenings, 7:00 pm. The
gathering begins with a time of fellowship
and light hors d’oeuvres (finger foods).
So come with an appetite, a smile, an open
mind, an opinion and a pleasant disposition.
Let us explore the issues together. Let us
seek God’s will, some possible individual
and corporate actions.
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Preschool Openings
Being a part of a connection system means
we need to support our sister churches. Let
us consider where and with whom we entrust
our children …
Harmony United Methodist Church Preschool
in Hamilton is now enrolling for ages 30
months to five years.
For more information, call or email Sherry.
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Guide to Baptism
RHUMC will hold a series of 3 one-hour sessions on Sunday mornings to prepare candidates for baptism.
For adults seeking baptism for themselves and for parents wishing to have their infants baptized. Sessions will be scheduled as needed.
Contact Pastor Witt or Reverend Joan at 540-338-1836 for more information.
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Monday Night Madness
Men’s Monday Night Madness, Golf at Stoneleigh Golf Club was a great success this Summer. It has been put on hold until next Spring, given the lack of evening light.
Dave Hall, thanks for your leadership in this adventure.
Jim, John, PW, and others, thanks for your weekly help in organizing the tee offs.
Tammy, the balls with the Round Hill logo were a great hit.
Pass the word Winter is short. In fact we are only two months away from the sun making its way back toward us. So, over the next several weeks talk to your buddies and let’s prep for a great 2010.
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Men’s Retreat
The 2009 Virginia Conference United Methodist Men Spiritual Retreat will take place at the United Methodist Assembly Center at Blackstone, Virginia, on November 6-8 with featured speaker Dr. Bryan D. Collier.
The registration deadline is September 30. For more information, go to our website: RoundHillUMC.org and click on the Virginia Conference link.
Please contact Chas Browning with further questions.
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Let the Baking Begin
On Monday, November 9, the Wholly Spirits plan to pack cookies for our college students and military personnel. Once again, we need help from all of RHUMC’s cookie bakers. Sign-up sheets will be passed around prior to worship services. We have a student with a nut allergy, so, if your cookies have nuts, please mark accordingly.
If you are free, join us for the cookie packing. We’ll begin about 9:30 a.m. The packers put about four cookies (depending on the size of the cookie) in a sandwich bag. It seems to help cushion the cookies. If bakers would like to bring them to Church packaged that way, that would be helpful.
Please have the cookies at the Church no later than 9 a.m. on November 9. They may be brought Sunday morning or the Church will be open from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Sunday evening and at 8:30 a.m. on Monday. If you need to bring your cookies at another time, call the number below to make arrangements.
REGARDING STUDENT ADDRESSES
— If parents haven’t been contacted to check addresses, please call the number below. We don’t want to miss anyone!
For more information, contact Sheila James.
P.S. Read the “Thank You Cards” by our recipients on the bulletin board in the Social Hall in mid-November. They are wonderful.
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Hola De Panama
Here is number 3!
Hi Folks!
Hola de Panama!
Redding and Taryn and I send our very best
to everyone there in beautiful Round Hill. I
imagine that by the time you are reading this,
the leaves will be changing on the lower
slopes of the Blue Ridge, the high school and
college football seasons will reaching their
climax, and the Redskins will have managed
to dash the hopes of even their most ardent
supporters…. Ahhh, the rites of autumn!
All is well here in Panama. Redding and
Taryn and I continue to explore our new ciudad
(city) and paiz (country) and to enjoy
every minute of it. Recently I visited Panama’s
border region with Costa Rica and later this
month Redding and I will be visiting the cities
of Colon and Portobello on Panama’s Caribbean
coast.
Last week Redding and Taryn and I visited St.
Luke’s Espiscopal Church, which is located in
the ‘Casco Viejo’ (old quarter) section of Panama
City. St. Luke’s congregation meets in a
restored 18th century (formerly Catholic) cathedral
bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the
West, Panama's Presidential Palace to the
South, the Panamanian Ministry of Government
and Justice (obviously, an institution often
at war with itself) to the North, and a plaza
featuring a statue of “Latin America’s George
Washington”, Simon Bolivar, to its East.., -- All
in all, not a bad neighborhood to be in.
However, St. Luke’s may not be the most venerable
cathedral in Casco Viejo; as it sits
within a few blocks of two cathedrals dating
back to the 1500’s, one of which boasts one
of the world's two (the other is in Colombia)
'golden altars' - literally altars made entirely
of gold - located within Catholic churches.
There is a story that the golden altar located
in Panama's Cathedral of San Jose was saved
from discovery by the pirate Henry Morgan
when he sacked Panama City in the 1600's by
quick thinking parishioners who had painted
the altar so as to make it appear as if it were
made of stone. (I guess it is fortunate for St.
Luke’s that its relatively young age, having
been built in ca 1750, has protected it from
both marauding pirates and golden altars…)
Today, St. Luke’s is served by two vicars: a
‘Right Reverend’ and a ‘Very Reverend’. I am
not altogether clear as to whether it is better
to be ‘Right’ or ‘Very’; but I imagine it is
probably better to be 'Right’, since it is certainly
possible to be ‘Very’ wrong… In any
event the folks at St. Luke’s were friendly and
no doubt proud of their church, but its long
distance from our home out in the old Canal
Zone probably means that we won't be visiting
too often. For now, we will continue attending
Crossroads Bible Church, and visiting
other churches here in our adopted country.
As a final note this month, let me invite you all
once again to send any questions, comments
or ideas for these little post-cards to me via
email. Redding and I would love to hear from
any and all who are interested. (Taryn, you
deserve to know, is probably indifferent.) ;-)
God Blessings to all in Round Hill and GO ’SKINS!,
Matt, Redding and Taryn Kessinger
(Please remember to pray for Matt, Redding
and Taryn. We miss them and wish the best
for them.)
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Trustees News!
The Trustees have been busy this year completing the maintenance required to upkeep the church and property. You may have noticed some of the projects that were competed this year, most notable are the large tree removal, new lights on the front of church, programmable thermostat in sanctuary and bathroom renovations in the parsonage to name a few. For safety and security a handrail in the fellowship hall, fire doors, and exit lights were installed.
As we move into fall, changes will be made to shift the units from cooling to heat. During this time if you have any questions on the operations of the heating or cooling system, please reach out to a Trustee and we will be able to assist you.
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Conservation Corner
The fall Equinox is a good time of year to start thinking about preparing your home
for winter, because as temperatures begin to dip, your home will require
maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape through the winter.
Autumn is invariably a prelude to falling winter temperatures, regardless of where you live. It might rain or snow Did you know there is only one state in the United States where the temperatures have never dipped below zero? Give up? It’s Hawaii.
Here are ten tips to help you prepare your home for winter:
- Furnace Inspection - remember the filters need to be changed monthly.
- Get the Fireplace Ready - have the chimneys professionally checked each year - store wood away from exterior of the house.
- Check Exterior Door and Windows - check for seals and weather stripping.
- Inspect Roof Gutters and Downspouts - remove leaves and debris from top and bottom of spouts.
- Service Weather Specific Equipment - stabilize gas in power equipment - tune up snow blower - check oil in generator.
- Check Foundations - rake debris from foundation and seal cracks to help stop small animals from getting in.
- Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors - install it if you do not have one and remember to change the batteries regularly if you do.
- Prevent Plumbing Freezes - locate water main shut off - drain hoses - insulate exposed plumbing.
- Prepare Landscaping and Outdoor Surfaces - keep vegetation trimmed from home and wires - cover needed surfaces.
- Prepare Emergency Kit - matches, lighter, candles, have one phone with out a needed A/C adapter - Medical kit - supply of medications, water, food, and an emergency plan that the whole family knows about.
Just a few things to think about with winter on the way. Must be the old Boy Scout in me. Be prepared.
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Youth Corner
Youth Group is back in full swing. We still
meet from 4:30 to 6:30 every Sunday at the
Alpha Omega house. New officers have been
chosen, and we started the new season with a
scavenger hunt throughout the town of Round
Hill. Our next meetings include: a Halloween
paint the youth room party, last week of Identity
Study and road trip to Pump It Up. We
are also starting our meal list for 2009-10, so
if anyone would like to provide a meal for our
Youth Group, please contact Sarah Wallace. All new members are welcome
to attend.
Please encourage your youth to attend the
youth gatherings. Once they join in the group
they usually enjoy it a great deal.
At our Charge Conference in October we
elected new leadership for our youth groups
to include Jr High and Sr High leadership. Dan
Whetsell will be the leader for the newly
forming Jr. High UMYF.
The Jr High Youth Group will be meeting twice
a month beginning at 4:30 for dinner and then
for its meeting.
The two groups will eat together and then
separate for their meetings.
Sr High will be 9-12 grades
Jr High will be 6-8 grades
Further information will be sent to the youth
and their parents of these ages. Pass the
word. This is very exciting.
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Children’s Corner
Gingerbread Night
Will be Saturday, the 5th December!
We will be meeting in the social hall for pizza
at 6:00 with house decoration beginning at
6:30! Cost will be $10.00 per person and
$5.00 for pizza and drinks!
RSVP by filling a confirmation slip (attached
to the bulletin board in the Social Hall) or by
emailing or calling Jennifer Imthurn.
Space is limited so reserve your fun soon!
A team will be putting houses together Friday
night, 4 December. If you would like to join,
please contact Jennifer Imthurn.
Worship and Your Child
Please remember to take your children to
Worship as well as Sunday School. We believe
in education strongly … But it is no substitute
for the experience of Worship.
Children’s Christmas Offering
Starry Night, Noisy Night will be at 1:30 on
Sunday, 20 December.
Please join us after 11 o’clock service for a
lite lunch prior to the performance.
Children’s Christmas Production Rehearsals
Will begin during 11:00 service (children’s
church time) on 25 October.
We will be assigning speaking, non-speaking
and musical parts. All ages welcome! Please
contact Jennifer Imthurn if you are interested
in helping with the performance.
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Pastor’s Report
Charge Conference 2009
Round Hill (Loudoun) Charge
October 8, 2009
“’The Pastor shall be asked by the District Superintendent of the Charge to report on their programs of continuing education (form provided) formation and spiritual growth for the past year and plans for the year to come.’ This report should include anything that the pastor would like to reflect on concerning his/her ministry in the charge/church in the past year.”
This has been a wonderful year. I have concentrated on three areas for my “continuing education, formation and spiritual growth.” They have included corporate and individual settings for “Study,” “Reflection” and “Meditation.”
It’s been an exciting year of “Study” and “Reflection.” Venues for these have included Friday Evening Dinner, Fellowship and Study Groups, where we considered a variety of books and subjects. Our newest study will begin this Friday entitled Environmental Stewardship in the Judeo-Christian Tradition. Others study and reflection opportunities have included, two simultaneous running classes of “Disciple 1 Bible Study” (an evening and a morning class), a weekly “6:00 a.m. Men’s Lectionary and Accountability Group,” a weekly afternoon and a “Western Loudoun United Methodist Pastor’s Lectionary Reflection and Accountability Group” (which is now disbanded). We just began a thirty week study of the Christian Believer. I look forward to the readings and discussions with the twenty participants. In addition to preparation for each of those, and in preparing to lead weekly worship, I have, reviewed several wonderful study resources (some of which have been implemented and completed, others are still in the pipeline), and read several wonderful books (some of which we have used as resources for other groups).
Last year we changed our Sunday morning schedule. We now have three worship opportunities each Sunday. We like to say, “Each has its own flavor.” The 8:00 a.m. has an interactive worshiping style. The 9:30 a.m. utilizes traditional United Methodist music, with a hymnal and our adult choir. The third maintains a United Methodist order of worship but employs our praise band and praise music. While enjoying each of these, I must admit, I miss teaching an adult weekly Sunday School class. It offered me special moments to hear where my people were theologically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. Yet, offering such a wide variety of worship opportunities has been very exciting.
This year, January 1, we were blessed to be able to add to our Ministry Team the Reverend Joan M. Rudisill, a Deacon in the Virginia Conference. Joan came to us from Harmony UMC in Hamilton. Since her arrival she has worked with members of our Ministry Team to refine their understanding of their callings and equip them for their ministries. She has been a great blessing. In addition to helping other team members, she has, also; become an additional resource for me to bounce ideas off of and has become a weekly study partner in preparation for weekly worship. These moments have offered me a variety of reflectional opportunities
The third area of my “formation and spiritual growth” focus this year has been “Meditation.” I have been intentional about spending quiet time in prayer and time simply being quiet. I, too, have spent time with others as Eckhart Tolle would say, “living in the moment.” Though I have not spent enough time on the water this year, I have “wet a few lines” and sought to beguile some of the creatures below the boat to join me for lunch. A few agreed and were most tasty
In an attempt to quiet the wilder voice from within my being, I rented a bike, a large engine motorcycle of course, and took off across local counties with a buddy for the afternoon. There is something very spiritual about the wind whipping across your face, offering up the crispest of fall smells, as you weave along a winding road. It recharged my spiritual batteries in a way I had not recently experienced. I look forward to the next bike jaunt. With the speed of the approaching winter, it will probably be next year before I am offered another day to ride. I am intending to take a week next year to ride and recharge. Where and with whom, is yet to be determined.
As I have always enjoyed golf, I was thrilled when we began our corporate golf outings. The Men’s Monday Night Madness at Stoneleigh Golf Course was for me a wonderful weekly respite. Being an extravert, I need moments of just being in the presence of others. What better way than to join other guys in the glory of God’s creation as you cathartically work a little white ball toward a hole on a beautifully manicured green? Can you say, Heaven?
Last year I set a goal of spending more time one-on-one with others and have had some extraordinary moments this year. I still need more of them but what I experienced was wonderful. In addition to these, I also sought moments to simply be quiet, where I listened for God. Those moments have aided in keeping me securely anchored and brought great stability to my Christian walk.
All in all, this has been a very satisfying year; one in which I have grown in Christ. I appreciate the opportunity to serve God in the capacities offered me this year. I look forward to further development of our Ministry Team in 2010. With the continuation of our “Practice in Ministry and Missions” Intern Wes Corber, our ordained Deacon, the Reverend Joan Rudisill, and our great Ministry Team members, this coming year is promising to be an exciting one. Next year I will continue my work toward completing my “Beeson Institute for Advanced Church for Leadership certificate, sponsored by Asbury Seminary. I look forward to the personal growth and the ministry opportunities to serve God in 2010.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jeffrey A. Witt
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