Remember that this Sunday we will celebrate communion as Brother Gary returns to the pulpit. The orchestra is scheduled to provide music for the service. I hope you will come and enjoy this special music.  VBS starts this Sunday night too so it will be a big day , and week,  at HBUMC.

Next Sunday, June 20th, we hope to be able to celebrate Father’s Day with service being held outside under the shelter.  Stay tuned for updated weather reports that will influence this decision. Our Music Minister Mark, has scheduled  special music for this Sunday and the next Sunday too as the Chancel Choir  enjoys the summer schedule.

So busy, busy, busy.

See you in church.

P.S. It’s only 197 days till Christmas!

Cathy

We are taking two vehicles, and we need this set of tools for each vehicle.  Your tools make our mission trips possible.  Thank you for your wonderful support!

*This cooler will not stay in your van all week.  You will turn drop it off in the evenings and pick it up in the mornings so the kitchen staff can fill it with your lunch.

Community Tool Shed Tools

The following is a list of tools needed for the COMMUNITY TOOL SHED

and made available as needed to all YRGs throughout the week.  They will be divided out to return with you at the end of the week.

Your response to our flood disaster has left us speechless and without the proper words to tell you how much it has meant to us.  Family and close friends had started the arduous task of removing the muddy, soggy contents of our downstairs when this capable, hard-working, energetic group arrived at our house, waded into the murky mess without hesitation or complaint and immediately made a difference. The youth group of Hickory Bend brought a much-needed aliveness of spirit, and hard work for five days.  We would never have accomplished so much without them.

Other folks came, worked hard, brought supplies and food, (we are reluctant to name names for fear of leaving someone out), others called to check on us, organized efforts and kept us in their thoughts and prayers. It seems that the person with the right skill and knowledge or the right supply, tool or vehicle always showed up at just the right time.  We never had to ask.

The response for a work day at our home was phenomenal.  The day’s efforts allowed us to step back and assess our next steps.  When you left, debris had been bagged and moved to the street for pick up, we had power working in all parts of the house, we had a water heater installed and working, our grass had been mowed, some of our collectibles had been cleaned and packed, general demolition and cleanup had been accomplished, the upstairs of our house had been cleaned, and we had meals for several days.  Our youngest volunteer (Trinity) worked as hard as anyone.

We are grateful for every form of support and encouragement we have received.

Our losses were significant and we still have much to do, but we also know we are more fortunate than many.  We also know how fortunate we are that, if this disaster had to happen, it happened while we were in the love and care of the Hickory Bend family.

Our love and gratitude to you,

Gary and Darla

Bea Goggins

I was glad to be in the parking lot to talk to people who were being evacuated from their apartments or from their parking lots. They were so relieved to find a safe place to park their cars, and they seemed so glad to find someone to talk to, as well.

That night, the girls and I placed bottles of water, energy bars, and a note on their windshields.  Click the “more” button if you want to read the note and the rest of the story.

Welcome to Hickory Bend United Methodist Church!

If you are parked here, you have probably been affected by this terrible flood. You may remember a news story from the summer of 2002. Nine miners were trapped together in a flooded Western Pennsylvania coal mine, awaiting rescue, not knowing if anyone even knew they were alive. Although injured and desperate, the men tied themselves together so that the stronger ones could sustain the weaker ones as they waited, standing in chest high cold water to be rescued. Journalists from across the nation reported the rescue effort, which took five long days. Everyone was amazed when all nine miners emerged safely from the mine.

On July 30, the people of the small mining community gathered for a worship service to thank God for saving the miners’ lives. At the ceremony, were ten miners’ lamps set up on the altar, even though there were only nine miners. According to the pastor who presided over the worship celebration, the tenth lamp represented God’s presence, which the miners claimed they could feel as they waited to be rescued. It was this “10th Man” they honored as they read Psalm 103: “Praise the Lord . . . Who redeems your life from the pit.” Welcome to this celebration of our “tenth man” the One who has rescued us from the pit.

We at Hickory Bend certainly stand with you as you recover from the floods of the Stone’s River, and the floods of the stresses of daily living.  We certainly welcome you to worship with us this Sunday and every Sunday.  Sunday School is at 10:00, and our worship service is at 11:00.  We are very informal, and the clothes you are wearing are fine with us.  We would love to meet you and find out what we might be able to do for you.  Our pastor’s house is underwater right now, and his phone is not working well.  If we can help you in some way, please call Emalie at 403-8455.  We have a good network for collecting clothes, shoes, food, and furniture.  We will do what we can.

We know this bottle of water will not keep you from being thirsty very long.  Remember what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus said that he wanted to give her “living water” (John 4:16).  All of us at Hickory Bend welcome you as we all search for the One whom the winds and the waters obey.  You are most welcome any time.  Ω

Wednesday afternoon I received a call from a father in Georgia, whose daughter lives in the apartments, but who was out of town on business.  He had remembered our church sign when he helped his daughter move into her apartment. He had her car towed to our parking lot, and he found my number on our website, where he was relieved to read that they were welcome to park cars in our lot.  He is a member of Copper Hill UMC in Georgia.  He was calling to make sure that her car was not in our way, and that it made it safely to the church.  I called Cathy who gladly checked on the car.  This caring father was so pleased to learn that all was well with his daughter’s car, and he is going to encourage her to visit us!  Who knows how many friends we might make just by opening our gates and our parking lot?

Mrs. Bobbie is cooking for Engine 28, the Donelson Fire Station crew.  She is taking food over there this evening.  Call her if you want to pitch in.  So far, I know she has ribs, baked beans, cornbread, cole slaw, and dessert.

Monday a young man called from the Stewarts Ferry apartments.  The water was rising, and they had to move their cars.  Some people were evacuated.  He was calling to ask permission to park in our parking lot.  I checked with David and Jim B. to make sure it wouldn’t be a problem.  They agreed that I should open the gravel parking lot.  I spoke with several people who were parking their cars.  They were very frazzelled, but very grateful for a safe place to park their cars above the flood.  Later that night, the girls and I put notes of encouragement (attached), bottles of water and energy bars on their windshields.

Meanwhile, Jeannie learned of a need to help the residents of Heartland who were evacuated Monday night to Donelson Church of Christ.  She discovered that they needed help making beds at Heartland.  A small contingent of the youth group met her there to make beds.  We helped her wash beds and nightstands and make beds for one floor when we found out Brother Gary was ready to empty his garage.  We hated to leave Heartland with so much still to do there, but we thought we were needed even more at Brother Gary and Darla’s house.  We were so glad to see Sissy arriving at Heartland as we were leaving.

Brother Gary’s house took a terrible toll.  Their garage and three more rooms downstairs were completely flooded almost up to the ceiling.  David and the youth group met there yesterday to clean out the garage and to start clearing out the first of the three rooms.  We may have saved a few books, but hundreds of books, keepsakes, musical instruments, and the collections of a lifetime are heaped on a pile of garbage.  It is truly heartbreaking. We made good progress, but there is still a lot to do.

Brother Gary is very concerned about Janet, Rose’s family, the Walls, Tillman, Judy, Gale, and so many others.  There is very little cell phone service in Bellevue, so he is not able to keep in touch with us as he wants to do. I think he is planning to be at church tonight, but that may not be realistic.

Brother Gary’s phone is not working consistently. If you need assistance, call Emalie.  403-8455