Charge Conference Season is Here

You know you are a United Methodist when you have duly attended a series of meetings in the fall to prepare for Charge Conference. That season is upon us here at Deerfield UMC. Rather than having a list of reports to turn in this year, we have been asked to report on where we have seen God at work in the life of the church in this past year. At Faith UMC last year in vacation Bible school, we called that "God sightings" and everyday we would celebrate where we had seen God. So that is what our charge conference report is for the coming year. In the transition from Faith UMC, I saw the best of the church is ushering our family out to be able to start over again at a new church in a place of strength. Faith UMC prayed for us, loved us, and cared for us through the transition. It was a top notch transition. They did all they could to set our family up for success, and in turn it was our hope to do the same for Faith UMC. A grace-filled exit was a beautiful God sighting. We left on a strong note of love and support. We are so grateful to have had their prayers through all of these huge life changes.
    Then we arrived with new folks here at Deerfield UMC in Boone. We hoped the people would be kind and receive our leadership. The parsonage needed some work, and they tackled the project in the heat of the summer with no air condition to re-do some floors, paint the whole house, just to get started. I lived with a family from the church for a few weeks during the time of the transition until the parsonage was ready. That was surely a God sighting. Can you imagine the preacher coming to your house for a visit and not leaving for weeks? That took a lot of faith! The folks at Faith had been so kind, I didn't see how anyone could be better to us. Then we came to Deerfield.  The way this church has loved my family, accepted us, taken us under their wing, cared for us through the death of my father, and now the death of his oldest sister Marie McAdams Parrish from Ft. Lauderdale Florida on Saturday, it is surely another God sighting. I came here to serve the people here, but the tables have been turned and I have really needed the love and support of the church, and they have truly been there for us. Thanks so much for your kindness. It blesses my heart so much to see the church be the church!  Thank the Lord for the God sightings of people living out the love of Christ during hard times, whether it be in the change of pastors, moving to a new town, or in the death of close family members, God has been with us through the hard times and I know I can feel and see the hand of God and we want to be steadfast in giving Him the praise. I don't know exactly what the church will report on their God sightings, but I know God is with us, and wow how richly are we blessed. Before I put my feet on the floor this morning, I called my father-in-law Cleo Lemons in Sandy Ridge to wish him a happy birthday and sing him the birthday song. It was a God sighting early this morning to celebrate God's good gift of life and health and strength for my husband's aging parents. Cleo turns 89 today, praise the Lord! I hope you look for God this day, and in His grace, you see Him.

Color on the Mountain

     You can imagine what it was like to be back at work on Monday morning after being out of the office for the last two weeks. This week was our church council deadline to get all of our reports in line for charge conference coming up soon. Praise the Lord for gifted lay people who have been willing to step up to the plate, call meetings, and get the work done that needs to be done for charge conference. I am so grateful for their hard work. I was a little worried about my endurance and being able to hold up, but God has given extra strength, and I give him the praise for that. I am enduring and grateful for the spiritual health and emotional strength to be able to be back at work.
     I also give the Lord praise for being in a connected United Methodist Church. We are connected by love in the best sense of the word. Our family has received cards this week from a lot of different churches where we have previously served. Through my dad's extended illness, I know you have been holding our family in prayer, and now in his death, we can't thank you enough for your love and prayers that you have extended our way. I sat down this morning to a large stack of sympathy cards that had come in the mail, from lots of different churches. The best of the United Methodist Church is that we continue to love one another even after a new pastor takes over the pastoral responsibilities, the love a pastor has for the flock, and the flock back towards the pastor is enduring and you have truly shown that to us. Love is eternal and that is a great gift of God. We are living out and receiving your witness that love stands over the test of time, and it has warmed our heart to know that so many people care about how much our Daddy meant to us, how much we loved him and how much we are going to miss him.
     As I write to you today, the color on the moutain in Boone is at it's peak. The wind is whistling like it is 20 degrees below, but it's not. It's warm outside, and our hearts are warm today because the love of God is with us. May that same warmth of the love of God be with you today too. Thanks so much for your prayers. We are being held up by them and we are so grateful for your love and kindness. Rev. Evelyn Lemons

For everything there is a season

Dear faithful onfire servants of Jesus Christ, It is with sadness mixed with joy that I write to you today. I have shared several personal stories of faith about my father over the last two years. His battle with Altzheimers came to an end on October1 when my dad died in the same home where he was born, 87 years ago. He was a life long member of Efland Presbyterian Church where he attended as long as he was able. He leaves behind a legacy of five children who really loved him. It was our honor to care for him at home with the help of Hospice. Last Monday morning, I got a call from Efland that he was not doing well, and made the trip home. Our family kept vigil with him until he died on Friday. I thank the Lord for the care of his pastor, Rev. Dawn Stoker and for my brother in law from Cullowhee UMC, Rev. David Reeves, for his care and help officiating at my dad's funeral service yesterday.
     In my line of work as a pastor, I have spent the last 18 years living on call to go be by the side of a family in a time spiritual crisis. This past week, when our family was really going through a hard time, we could feel your prayers and we did know that God was present with us. What a great gift of the church to us!  All the children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren had their time to spend with my father.  For my family members who have made huge sacrifices to take care of my dad at home, I honor them and respect them so much. My part in caring for my dad was really a small part compared to their labors for him. I feel so blessed to have a family that loved my father so much that they were willing to do all they could to honor his wish to live out his days at home.
     If you have wondered why my articles have not been regular like clock work, it has been because since I was appointed to Deerfield here in Boone, my life has not been regular like clockwork. I made the trip home to see my dad when I could, and each time I could see his decline. I grieved over how I would get to be with him more as he was getting worse. Now, that grief is no more. God already had a plan.
    Life on the farm goes on. My brother Howard is expecting 40,000 strawberry plants today that will need to go in the ground as soon as he can get them planted. That has been our way of life as long as I can remember. A time to reap and a time to sow. A time to laugh and a time to cry. For everything there is a season. My dad was the hardest working man I have ever met. He was a strong man in his heart with integrity, respect, honor and love, constantly at his command. He was strong but gentle, kind and humble. His faith was solid. I never doubted that my daddy trusted God with everything, the farm, his family, even his future when life was uncertain.
   Today remember, God is taking care of you. He will carry you through until you can be strong again on the other side of that valley. I said the 23rd Psalm over and over again in my heart as I sat by my dad's bed last week. As I looked out his bedroom window, he was surrounded by green pastures. The Lord gave him a chance to lie down in green pastures that we could actually see and be reminded that God was there to hold him, comfort him, and fill his cup to over flowing. Praise be to God for the hope we have in Christ. No matter how hard your day may be today, lift up your hearts because God is holding each of us in the palm of his hand. I feel his presence and from all of our family, we thank you for your prayers. God has been our constant supply of strength and comfort and for this, we as a family are so blessed. I am so glad that now, my daddy finally gets to rest from all of his work. To my dad, job well done.