Lunenburg United Methodist Charge

 

Antioch UMC                                                           Williams UMC

 

On our walk. . . . .                 

April 7, 2009

 

The Centurion

It wasn't one of those clean jobs, the kind we'd had so many times before.  This one was different.
Most of ‘em come in snarling and cussing or they're yellow bellied bully scum.  They had it coming. You had to hold them down: it would take 5 or 6 of us.  Some we'd tie to the tree, others we'd nail.  The worse ones got the nails.


We'd hoist them up for a few hours then finally break their legs to put an end to their screamin'.  But this one, this one was troublin'.  There was something dirty and not right about it.  They brought him to us all beaten up and bloody.  He had thorns in the shape of a crown in his hair.  He had welts on his back that looked like snakes.  He was a mess!


There were hecklers too.  I couldn't understand it.  They kept screaming at him and spitting at him. This guy didn't look like he'd hurt a fly much less deserve all this aggravation.  There were even some priests and politicians in the crowd that joined in the taunting!  They should've quieted the crowd but they were just as bad as the rest!  The eerie thing in all this is he didn't say nothing.


He just stood there taking it.


He was covered in blood and spit and all kinds of junk.  But he just stood there taking it.  I've never seen that before.  He sure wasn't like the regular ones.  He seemed better than most; must have been framed.  But deciding wasn't my job.


The crowds kept after this guy.  They wouldn't let up.  They were like a pack of hungry sharks circling, taking a nip here and a nip there. It was a pitiful sight! …..His reaction?  He seemed drowned in sadness.  The only thing I heard out of him was his breathing.  Deep down, heavy breathing like he was in a trance or was praying or something.


When we took his clothes he let us.  He didn't get embarrassed or fight us for them.  And they were good clothes!  We kept them- wash 'em up and they'll do fine!  We cast lots for 'em later.


Then we put him down.  He just laid down.  He almost stretched his own arms out for us!  He got the nails.  Didn't seem the type.  But I had my orders.  He just laid there seemed kind of worn out from all the ruckus.  As we nailed him down he didn't make a sound.  Just the normal convulsions.  No fighting, no pulling away; some we've gotta knock out to nail ‘em down.


Not this one.


He was tough.  He had guts.  He still had a silent kind of strength even after all the beating and blood. He took it.  No screams, no cursing, no crying.  He just took it.  He kind of heaved and moaned when we put up the cross.  But they all do that.  Sounded like a wounded animal, but not angry like an animal would be.  After we got the cross situated they gave us a sign to nail above his head.


It said; King of the Jews.  Boy the crowd went wild when we nailed that up.  They started hootin’ and hollering all over again spitting and cursing.  I wondered where this guys friends were.  I started to even feel sorry for him.  Even the worse one's have a friend or two standing there.  Or at least a priest stands there.  But even the priests were yelling and spitting at this one.  They just wouldn't let him alone.  Even while he hung there bleeding his life away.  It was a dirty business I'm here to tell you!

 

It was more like they should've been up there instead of him.  Then some women came closer to
him.  They didn't seem mad at him like the others.  You could tell they'd been crying.  Someone said that one of them was his mother; the others must have been his sisters or wife or something.  There was only one man.


No others


Anyway, He just hung there dying.  Every once in a while he'd say something like "I'm thirsty".  We tried to give him some old wine to cut down the pain.  But he wouldn't take it.  On each side of him were two who deserved it. They were howling and yowling the whole time. Cursing
everybody and their grandmother!  They screamed and cursed like all the rest until something weird happened.  One of them said something to him and he answered and that one stopped yelling.  Never seen that before.


Time passed; the heat got worse.  The other two got weaker; one of them was delirious talking about heaven or something.  But this one seemed to get stronger, more determined.  He said something about forgiving all these vultures, all these people who had screamed and cursed at him, probably, even forgiving me, the one who nailed him down.  That shook me.  I gotta tell ya.


Then late in the afternoon he pulled himself up and just died!........Just like that…….. Like he had controlled the whole thing!


He gave out a loud cry and then it was over, except for the burying part.  A rich guy showed up and offered to take him off our hands.  One less for me to dig a hole for!  The women were with this guy again.  His momma looked real upset.  The other criminals hung on like if they made it through the day we'd let them down.  But that ain't how it works.


Finally a centurian broke their legs to end the mess; it was getting late, we didn't want the Jews getting all riled up over having these dead guys hanging there after dark.  So we took them down, dug a shallow grave and threw them in.  I remember that when we took him down to give him to the rich man and the women his face looked different. Not twisted and agonized like the others
it was almost peaceful.  Serene even….. It sent chills up my spine.


Even through all the blood and bruises and thorns he still looked at peace.  He looked like he had accomplished something.  I don't know what you can accomplish by dying.  But he looked like he had done it. Whatever it was. That look on his face still comes back to me.  I see it
sometimes when I close my eyes.  It was a good face, better than anyone I'd ever nailed before, I can tell you that.  No complaint, No blame, No cries of injustice, just calm and peaceful even friendly.  It kind of scares me because he was different and I did the deed!  It makes me wonder who this, what was his name?  Oh yeah, Jesus.

 

Who was he really?

 

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!

 

Holy Week Services 2009

 

April 9 -- Maundy Thursday at Antioch at 7:00PM

     Join us as we reach into the past and watch Jesus during the      Passover.  It is a celebration of the first Lord’s Supper.  The      sanctuary will be draped in black at the end of service as we prepare      for the events of the coming night and day.

 

April 10 – Good Friday at Antioch at 7:00PM

     This will be a service of Tennebrae.  It will be the telling the story of      the Passion of Christ with candlelight and readings.  This is a very      moving service with a definite ending that will bring you to understand      the events of Good Friday.

 

April 12 – Sunrise Worship at Williams at 6:30AM

      The Resurrection told in the early morn as the sun rises on Easter        Sunday.  Breakfast will be provided immediately after services.

                

                   Regular Worship at Williams at 9:30AM

       The Resurrection will be celebrated with an original musical piece        written by our own Sam Armstrong and Ludwig Beethoven.  Join us     as the Williams Celebration Choir presents this piece honoring the      risen Christ.  Communion will be celebrated as part of this wonderful occasion.

 

                   Regular Worship at Antioch at 11:00AM

       The Resurrection will be celebrated with a special musical piece       presented by Dorothy Shields son-in-law, Lee Barnhill.  Join us as Lee presents this piece, “I Believe In a Hill Called Mt. Calvary” honoring the risen Christ. Communion will be celebrated as part of this wonderful occasion.

 

 

Sunday School is available each Sunday morning.  The importance of Sunday School is that, though you may think hearing the word will suffice for you, you really need to be in attendance at Sunday School to gather all the information that you can in an open discussion classroom.  Jesus’ word cannot be totally understood just by listening to a sermon.  You have to interact with it and with other Christians to learn what He was saying to us.  This is a life long study and you should take part.  There is a class for every age so please plan on joining us to learn more about our Lord, Jesus Christ.   Sunday School at Williams begins at 10:45 AM and at Antioch at 10:00 AM.

 

 

Congratulations Are In Order

On Saturday, April 4, 2009, Becky Sue Dawson and her best friend Adam Ray Joyner were joined in holy matrimony at Antioch UMC.  Our best wishes and congratulations to the bride and bridegroom.  May the Lord protect and love both of you.

 

Evening Bible Study   Evening Bible study will continue on April 21 at 7:00PM at Antioch.  We will be reviewing chapters 41-50 of Isaiah. We will discuss the events depicted in the book.  If you are looking for a study of God’s word join us not only for the study, but good fellowship.

 

Morning Bible Study. Morning Bible study will meet Tuesday April 22 @ 10:00 AM at Audrey Smith’s house when will be reviewing chapters 11-20 of Isaiah. If you are looking for a study of God’s word join us not only for the study, but good fellowship.

 

$.02 a Meal – Lunenburg Ministries

It was an honor to deliver to the services on Palm Sunday at Perseverance Christian Church the donation from Antioch UMC to the Lunenburg Ministries of $115.  Thanks to all who took part in the Lenten program as we continue to reach out to the least of our brothers and sisters in our community.

 

Men’s Breakfast Saturday, April 11 at 8:00AM

The Williams Men’s Group will meet for breakfast on Saturday. If you would like to join in on the festivities and fellowship join us at 8:00AM.

 

Picture of Events.

If you would like to see pictures of recent events at Antioch please go to antiochmethodistchurch.org. This is the address for our webpage and it is updated as information becomes available.  The video “One Pair of Hands”, from the Palm Sunday service is now available for viewing.

 

April 13 – 18   Pastor Ed on Vacation

I will be on vacation April 13 – 18. I will be available if needed. Please call me on my cell phone:  252-532-0952, or 252-537-5705.  I can also be reached via e-mail at revedumc@yahoo.com .

 

 

UMW Asks for Support of Madeline’s House

 

The Antioch UMW is asking for everybody’s support for Madeline’s House.  There will be boxes for donations of needed items to help Madeline’s House in there endeavor to supply a place for those who have suffered from domestic abuse.  These boxes will be in the church office along with information on the programs offered along with a list of the needs of Madeline’s House. Madeline’s House has been on the verge of closing during the past year and their situation both materially and financially is tenuous.  Please open your hearts to this important program.  A special offering will be taken up on for Madeline House on April 19.  Madeline's House is a home for the mentally and physically abused women and their children in south side Virginia.  Let us support this wonderful program with our giving both monetarily and materially.

 

                                                            

Prayer List 

Please keep the following families in your prayers:

Becky Eades & boys

Edna A. Bagley

Dee Welch

Harry & Margaret Smith

Edith Parham

Bernard Bottoms

Walter B. & Carolyn Moseley

Tommy Cage

Bertha Bottoms

Fred & Denise Harper

Grace DiStefano

Betty Reese

CV & Agnes Thompson

Gertrude Hite

 Betty Yerby

Nathan Hendricks

Leona Campbell

Bertha Arthur

Tommy Conner

Justin Mc Daniel

Allen Alcock

Sgt Christopher Thompson

Elizabeth Crowder

Irvin McKinney

SGT Laura Dutzman

Dorothy Daniel

Layton Powell

Elizabeth Biggerstaff 

Tommy Shell, Jr.

Alicia Clary

Rev. Robert Day

Ruthie Turner

 Ronnie Leistra

Frances Hawthorne

Sheila Cage

Hazel Taylor

SSGT Tom Fowler

Martha White

Jeff Hendricks

Kathy McReynolds

Danny Horne

Maria Kay

Linda Dunlow & Family

JoAnne Doty

Dennis Chumney

Kay Thompson & girls

Doris Fisher

Hilda Ozlin

Estelle McCrimmon

Fred Baskerville

Vince Callis

Earl "Chucky” Barnes

Dorothy Driscoll

Doug Winn

Bobby & Virginia Overby

David Jones

Betty Roegge

Mildred Cohines

Brenda Cave

Otha Wilkins

Gale Crabtree

Justine Mc Henry

Roger Reese

 
Prayer Gram.
Please, when putting somebody’s name on our prayer list, PRINT their names and addresses if you have them.  This will help us get the prayer grams out sooner and it will also make it easier to read during services.

 

A Final Word:       

REDNECK LENT
 
 Each Friday night after work, Bubba would fire up his outdoor grill and cook a venison steak.
 
 But, all of Bubba's neighbors were Catholic.   And since it was Lent, they were forbidden from eating meat on Friday.
 The delicious aroma from the grilled venison steaks was causing such a problem for the Catholic faithful that they finally talked to their priest.
 The Priest came to visit Bubba, and suggested that he become a Catholic.

 After several classes and much study, Bubba attended Mass...And as the priest sprinkled holy water over him, he said, 'You were born a Baptist, and raised a Baptist, but now you are a Catholic.
 Bubba's neighbors were greatly relieved, until Friday night arrived, and the wonderful aroma of grilled venison filled the neighborhood.
 The Priest was called immediately by the neighbors, and, as he rushed into Bubba's yard, clutching a rosary and prepared to scold him, he stopped and watched in amazement.
 There stood Bubba, clutching a small bottle of holy water which he carefully sprinkled over the grilling meat and chanted:
 You wuz born a deer, you wuz raised a deer, but now you is a catfish...

Have blessed week!!