Prayer Breakfast

Gesina Llewellen update

Sina sent me a note yesterday. She says she is happier now that ever! She loves her new home. I am sure she would enjoy hearing from her church family. Her contact information:

Gesina Llewellen
Apt Tollgate Drive
Oxford, Ohio 45056-1103

Phone: 513-280-6223

Monday Prayer Breakfast

The Monday Prayer Breakfast group is praying for YOU! Each Monday at 8:00 a.m. many church friends meet at Carol's Cornerstone Cafe in Greenfield for breakfast, support and encouragement and prayer. In the picture are Wayne and Sally Beck, Roger Holder, Don and Sheila Ellis, Judy and Charles Merlau, Gail and John Hancock, and prayer leader, Mary Jo Shaw. Sheri Smith and Dwayne and Janet Wilson are also regulars any many others make periodic appearances. Everyone is welcome.

God's Love Reaches All Our Community

Well, first...to ease everyone's mind...Grant said he has returned all of Dale Graschelle's tools! Dale enjoyed hearing that! He also said for Grant to borrow whatever he needed. (But not to forget the sign out sheet!) This conversation with the both of them has been great fun. Dale is better and really wants to get back home to Carolyn and his shop. He told me Friday he was going home Saturday...but it hasn't happened unless it did today. Carolyn is doing OK but with her fibroid arthritis, she has good and bad days. They both are thankful for prayers and God's presence in their lives.

Since Johnny's funeral last week, Marge Barrett hasn't felt at all well. She was battling a cold for the last couple weeks and just had to have a restful letdown 'til today. She is feeling a little better and thinks she and Julie will be back to church Sunday. We had a wonderful visit and prayer together. She once again commented about her love for the fantastic church family she has!
Julie remains very diligent and attentive to her mother's needs and is right there for her. These long standing pillars of New Palestine are very special people!

Floyd Waters was really looking upset last week as he attended the funerals of his church friends. I visited with him today and he said he is thankful for the many wonderful years he had with his now departed church friends. I think that it really hits home hard when some of our "age group" friends begin to pass on. I encouraged him to trust in Jesus and also the Father as it says in John.

Dale and Ann Kitley press on but are glad to see Spring approaching too. I took them some of Anita's famous banana bread. Dale had to reciprocate with a quart of his home brew. No... tomato juice! It is...check that...was really good!

Thank goodness for some warmer weather and sunshine! All of us feel better when the sun shines on us and we recognize the glory of God's amazing Grace that shines on us daily! WE need the encouragement our Christian friends give us too!
Shalom!

March is here with Hope for Spring

God always brings hope to us if we are looking the right places! After the last couple of months, we all need to see the sunlight, feel its warmth and recognize the awesome power of our Lord. After recently saying good bye to Myla Hash, John Kitley and John Barrett, we need to remember the hope Jesus gave us in John 14..."Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in my Father and believe also in Me." And if we believe in Him, we can handle all things that jump up in front of us in our daily lives. As Spring approaches and I see new growth and the re-awakening of nature, I hope I can recognize the renewal Jesus give us...if we simply open the door to Him.

Another Sad, Sad Day for us

Today was another sad day for NPUMC and it was a very tough day for me personally. This morning about 11:00a.m. God called John Barrett home. Marge and Julie have been by his side almost constantly since his earlier heart and lung surgeries. When I saw him earlier this week he seemed to be doing so well. I figure God needs someone to plant some trees on the golf courses in Heaven. Nothing would make Johnny happier than to be on the golf course or planting a tree! I sat with Marge and Julie as the "arrangements" were made. I lost a good golf buddy. God gained another angel.

After that I did see Dale Graschelle. That man is amazing! Even last week, I wondered if he was going to make it out of the hospital. He told me this morning his workshop "needed to see him again." Also, he said he couldn't "go" yet...Grant hadn't returned all the tools he's borrowed. Dale is in Wildwood rehabilitating. It is on 16th street, east of Shadeland. His room number is 501. I am sure he'd love to hear from his church friends.

Later today, I visited with Marge Seaton and Donita Jones at Shirley Brothers Washington East. Marge's mother was there and it was nice to see so very many friends paying their respects.

Justine Handley's niece (David Mercer's daughter) had successful surgery on her leg today after a auto crash last week. They think she'll recover fine but has much pain.

As can be expected, all these families need our ongoing prayers.

A Sad Day

JT and I were at St. Francis Hospital today with Gloria Kitley when God recalled her beloved husband John. He went peacefully into God's arms about 1:00p.m. Arrangements are pending. Be sure to remember the Kitley family in your daily prayers.

Dinner for the McNeal Family

A part of the NPUMC ministry for a long time now has been church dinners for families of those who must say goodbye to a loved one. Monday, after Pastor JT delivered a wonderful and meaningful message celebrating the life of Matt McNeal, the family came back to fellowship hall for lunch. We are Methodists, after all, and sitting down together to share a meal is an important part of our heritage! We all had an excellent meal McNeals' were very appreciative. (This would have been a great opportunity for me to add a nice picture to this blog...but I thought of it while finishing doing dishes. TOO LATE)
Many thanks to Mary McCarty and all who either helped in the kitchen or contributed food for this gathering of God's children in Christian love.

Lucky me!

Some days the Lord just says, "Today's your day!" Monday afternoon, I was planning to go by and see John and Gloria Kitley...then head south to see John Barrett at Kindred Hospital and Glen and Myrna Beck at Franklin. I got a late start and knew I would be lucky to get home by 7:00p.m. Well, God knows my every move before I do it! As I pulled up into the Kitley's driveway, a red car pulled in also. It was Glen and Myrna Beck!!! This was not a coincidence. It was a "Godincidence!" We all had a good talk and laughter over past meetings and fun times together. John and Gloria are well but John's energy level isn't where he'd like. Gloria is a saint! She is just one of those loving, caring people one can't help but love. It is easy to see that God is present in their home. Glen and Myrna are doing well. They lean on one another for support and Glen jokingly states, "I'm in better shape than she is!" Then he, of course, gets "the look." Keep these wonderful members of our church family in your prayers as I do.

John Barrett was better than last week when I saw him. He was able to joke a little bit although he seems awfully weak. He was not on any IVs or oxygen or anything at that time. That meant improvement to me. Please keep he and Marge and that whole family in your thoughts and prayers also.

Fellowship dinner

The monthly fellowship dinner was held last Thursday. It was fun for all who attended. It was great to see Esther Lowe, Neil Jones, Jack Gilbert...and others. This dinner is an extension of "Meet, Eat and Visit" headed up by Barb Woods. It is held the last Thursday of each month at 6:00p.m. We were just meeting, eating together and visiting some of our members and friends who either were alone or couldn't get out much. Now the dinner is open to anyone who wants to come, eat and share God's love with friends. We have tried to have a variety of menus so every person could have his favorite sometime. If you want to bring a food item to the March dinner,or for more information, call Barb Woods, 861-5619 or me.
(About the time the dinner was over, I remembered it would be good to have pictures! Sorry, maybe next time