Friday April 8, 2016

An eNote from Rodney

Dear Trinity Congregation,

Merle Haggard died on Wednesday. I would listen to Merle Haggard 8 track tapes while I was travelling around central Pennsylvania in a Volkswagon Beatle playing drums in a country & western/polka band. All week I would be in an academic university environment and then on the weekend I’d be playing at the Grassflat Moose Club or the Clearfield VFW. I consider it some form of blessing that I could feel at home in both environments. Haggard was a nice counterpoint to university life. My favorite Merle song was “The Farmer’s Daughter.” It was about a farmer who had raised his daughter alone and was hesitantly preparing to see her married to a fancy city boy.

            He could be the richest man in seven counties

            And not be good enough to take her hand.

            But he swears he really loves the farmer’s daughter

            And I know the farmer’s daughter loves the man.

Haggard eventually transcended the right/left divide and sang for a much larger working class culture, becoming an American icon in the Johnny Cash mode. Cash was Haggard’s inspiration when he was released from prison and started playing music. Haggard also played a decent fiddle.

On Sunday morning we will continue the Easter narrative by looking at Jesus’ appearance to the Disciples on the lakeshore and his encounter with Peter which restores the friendship between Jesus and Peter after Peter’s denial knowing Jesus. The scripture is John 21:119. Our opening hymn is # 79 in our hymnals, “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.” Give it a listen on YouTube if you have a chance.

There is going to be a workshop on John Wesley’s Understanding of Discipleship on Sunday April 24 at Christ UMC in Weaverville. The time is 2 to 5 pm. I am going to go so please let me know if you would like to attend this event. There is some new work being done on how Wesley developed disciples so this could be a good learning time.

There are a couple of other dates on our calendar. Our Spring Fling will be on Saturday April 23rd from 3 to 5 pm. There will be games for the children, a bake sale and barbeque. Andrew needs some help with setup, takedown and bake sale items and has signup sheets in the back hall for volunteers to sign up. This is a fundraiser for the youth but also a time for us to be together. The youth will be selling advanced tickets for Barbeque at the rear entrance to the sanctuary on Sunday morning.

On Sunday afternoon May 22 the church has reserved Camp Tekoa. We will be able to enjoy the campground and have a picnic. The church will be providing hamburgers/hotdogs and drinks. Bring a side, or a dessert and a friend.

New Website address. Our church has a new website address. It is www.trinityWAVL.org. Mark Locklear and the Membership Development Committee have worked on this and it is more streamlined and clearly shows us being in West Asheville. Try it out.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday morning.

Sincerely,

Rodney