Sunday, March 9
Bishop Pennel Preaches at Peakland
By Gerry Reed Burkholder
Sunday, March 9, Bishop Joe E. Pennel, Jr., Bishop of the Virginia Conference,
visits Peakland and Court Street churches in celebration of joint ministries of the two churches. Peakland’s family celebrates not only this combined ministry but also the construction of the new education/administrative wing by a “Blessing of the Beams” event.
Bishop Pennel preaches at the 8:45 a.m. Peakland service before traveling to Court Street to preach at their 11:00 a.m. service.
Bishop Pennel, a Tennessee native received his Doctor of Ministry from Vanderbilt Divinity School with an emphasis in Preaching and Worship.
In 1996, Bishop Pennel became Bishop of the Virginia Conference. Prior to that, he served several appointments in Tennessee.
In addition to being an author, our Bishop has been a delegate to the
Southeastern Jurisdictional and General Conferences. He serves on the Board of Trustees of several Virginia Colleges and Universities and is the Counsel of Bishops’ representative to the United Methodist Publishing House.
Bishop Pennel is also the President of Southeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops.
Hopefully, Peakland’s congregation will respond to this opportunity to hear the Bishop by attending the 8:45 a.m. service and participating in the “Blessing of the Beams.” There is much to celebrate, and we welcome Bishop Pennel as he leads us in worship and the celebration
of the emerging of God’s vision for Peakland!
Blessing of the Beams:
Dedication of the Emerging of God’s Vision
By Gerry Reed Burkholder
Watching the construction of our new education/administrative wing helps to bring to reality the exciting emergence of God’s vision for ministry at Peakland.
Plans call for our being able to participate in the building process by writing scripture verses on the beams as a way of visually and spiritually claiming the structure for sacred, committed ministry.
At the close of the 8:45 a.m. service on Sunday, March 9, those who wish will dismiss out to the construction site.
By using provided Sharpies, all those who wish may write appropriate, favorite scripture verses on the beams as a special way to bless this exciting building process.
After all wishing to participate have the opportunity to write out their scripture, Pastor Tim and Bishop Pennel will bless the beams.
Come to the 8:45 a.m. service ready to experience a service with Bishop Pennel and prepared to write a favorite scripture.
Lent: A Time for Personal Reflection
Ash Wednesday, March 5, marks the beginning of the Lenten season.
This special time in the life of the church points Christians towards a time of inward reflection. Peakland provides two opportunities for special Bible studies during this season.
During Sunday school, starting the week of March 9, those interested in a short term Lenten Bible study class should gather in room 203 (formerly the infant nursery). This group will study James A. Harnish’s Dying to Live: A Lenten Study for Adults. Harnish’s study focuses on the theme of atonement. The study addresses the question, “Why did Jesus die
on the cross?”
The seven sessions feature a Scripture reference, a personal reading, and questions for personal reflection or group discussion. A prayer and a focus for the coming week are also included. This class is open to all interested adults.
Pastor Tim will pull selected lessons from the lectionary-based offering by Philip Bence entitled The Risen Savior: Scriptures for the Church Season, Lent 2003 as part of the Wednesday night presentations, following the mission suppers.
Booklets for both studies are available for $4.50. Booklets will be available at the first session for each study.
The Prayer of Jabez
Jennifer Vestal Moore
Each year, our youth try to find a special service to share with the
congregation that expresses their talents and love for God.
This year, as part of the Youth Service, our youth will perform a musical based on The Prayer of Jabez. Many of us know this story, found in 1 Chronicles, Chapter 4. The story is about a man, named Jabez, who prays a special prayer to God:
Oh, that you would bless me indeed,
and enlarge my territory,
that your hand would be with me,
and that you would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain.
Throughout the musical, we learn that God has many blessings waiting for each one of us, but God wants us to ask for those blessings and wants us to increase our territory by ministering to others.
Please join us for worship on Sunday, March 16, at either the 8:45 a.m. or
11:00 a.m. service and be amazed at the talents of our youth and the story of Jabez. You too, will be richly blessed.
