Blizzard Aftermath

The blizzard of 2016 is still bringing challenges.  Our street is now passable but there is one narrow lane bolstered on either side by three foot drifts that run another eight to ten feet to the curb.  Warmer temperatures are helping thaw the snow and ice by day, but things are refreezing at night.  It will most likely be a few weeks before the mail person can slide our mail into the box from the safety of her mail truck.  Few of the routines of our lives are unaffected by such powerful storms.

 

Thanks to the hard work of several within our church family, sidewalks and parking lots at church are mostly clear.  It took several hours, many willing hands, and some sore backs to get the job done.  Working together, we accomplish many good things.  The same is true in our financial giving.  When we miss a Sunday, as we did last week because of the weather, it requires the faithfulness of all of us to quickly get caught up.  There are a number of ways you can do this.  You may use your offering envelope and put last week's offering in the plate this Sunday; you can go to our church website at www.westwood-baptist.org and click on the e-giving tab and make a donation; you can give by using your private bank's online system to send money directly from your checking account; you can drop a check in the mail.  Now, I know that I am telling many of you what you already know, but it is good to be reminded of the significant role each of us play in honoring the Lord through our financial gifts.  Thank you for your faithful and timely contributions to help meet continuing ministry expenses.

 

It will be good to gather again this Sunday for worship and Bible study.  This is a fifth Sunday which means that we will work together on a mission project immediately following worship.  This Mission 5th will benefit two special groups.  We will assemble nearly 100 bag lunches for The Lamb Center, a day shelter in Fairfax Circle where many of the men and women who spend evenings in our hypothermia shelters go during the day for counseling, meals, and to do laundry and take hot showers.  In light of our ongoing commitment to hypothermia, this is an appropriate mission partner for us to assist.  We will also be filling around 50 special kits for children involved in Leena Lavanya's ServeTrust ministry in India.  I will be taking these kits to the children personally when I travel there February 11-21.  All ages are invited to participate by going to Whitten Hall immediately after worship.  A few minutes of your time will make a difference in our community and world.  Thanks to our chair of Community Involvement, Kathy Freeman, for helping put this project together.

 

Please check the prayer list in this week's Express for prayer concerns.

 

The promise of spring is ever before us.  Remember that as you step around snow piles, slip on ice-covered sidewalks, and hit the washer fluid and windshield wipers again and again as you drive down the road. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday!

 

Jim Abernathy   

Shelter Thoughts...A Sunday Devotional

Since we cannot gather together this morning, I have prepared a brief devotional thought based on Psalm 57.  It is below.  As you read this great Psalm by yourself or with your family, may you be reminded of God's presence in the midst of the storm and of the opportunities we have to share his steadfast love, yes, even in the storm. 

 

I hope to see you soon, but until then, let us pray for one another and for our community, and let us be reflections of Christ's love, even in the storm.

 

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Shelter Thoughts

Psalm 57

January 24, 2016

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by. ² I cry to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. ³ He will send from heaven and save me, he will put to shame those who trample on me. God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness. ⁴ I lie down among lions that greedily devour human prey; their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongues sharp swords. ⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth. ⁶ They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my path, but they have fallen into it themselves. ⁷ My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make melody. ⁸Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn. ⁹ I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. ¹⁰ For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the clouds. ¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.

I sit in the warmth of my living room this evening, electricity powering the lights that illuminate the darkness and give life to my computer.  The gas furnace is keeping the room warm and the refrigerator is packed with enough food for days if not weeks.  I would not know there is a storm outside, except that I am sitting next to the door that looks out over the deck, and there I see what looks to be about three feet of drifted snow.  Amidst the still falling snow I look thoughtfully at the nearly submerged patio furniture and think of barbeques on warm summer nights.  It’s a remembrance that warms my heart in a cold, cold season.

“In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,” the Psalmist writes, “until the destroying storms pass by.”  His words are encouraging tonight amidst falling snow, biting winds, and an aching back from shoveling the driveway “one more time.”  The storm will pass by, the snow will melt, and somewhere in the next few months, spring will overtake winter and shovels and gloves will find their proper places in the corner of the garage and the bottom drawer of the dresser. 

Until then, however, there is more work to be done, snow to be cleared away, the storm and its remnants seen through to the end. The Psalmist’s words are faithful reminders in the midst of the storm; “I will give thanks to you, O Lord…for your steadfast love is as high as the heavens.”  Gratitude is a gift we offer God in the midst of the storm.  As I am grateful for the shelter of my home in this winter storm, I am more grateful for the shelter of God’s love, no matter the storm.

A final thought…not everyone can claim this blessing of shelter. Though God’s grace extends to all, some do not know of this love or choose to find other means of shelter in their life’s storms.  Sharing God’s love is a calling you and I are to embrace as followers of Jesus Christ.  The world about us most likely won’t see that love unless we reflect that love. Storms will come and go, but the steadfast love of God should be seen in you and me, regardless.  And those who literally seek shelter from the raging elements need to find it in the kindness and compassion of people like you and me. Many will not sit in the comfort of their homes, as I do tonight, and find refuge. They need to know someone cares for them.  You and I will have opportunity to do that in late February as we host hypothermia week at Westwood.  But what opportunity might we have between now and then to welcome, encourage, or otherwise bring blessing to someone in the name of the Lord?

Let us, in the words of the Psalmist, “awake the dawn,” and proclaim through our words and actions that God is love and God’s sheltering arms are open to all. May you know and share this great good news…even in the storm.

Jim Abernathy

Blizzard

Blizzard: 1. a severe snowstorm characterized by strong sustained winds of at least 35 mph and lasting for a prolonged period of time—typically three hours or more. 2. soft-serve ice cream mechanically blended with mix-in ingredients such as sundae toppings and/or pieces of cookies, brownies, or candy.

 

Given the option, I would choose definition 2. (French Silk Pie is my favorite.)  However, I don't think we will have the luxury of choice this weekend. Moments ago, I heard a meteorologist suggesting that he was about to up his projected totals from the 20-30 inches he posted earlier this morning.  Blizzard warnings are posted from 3 pm today through 6 a.m. Sunday morning.  Finding a shovel, bag of salt, or loaf of bread may be a challenge according to media reports, while state and local governments have declared states of emergency.  It would appear that this storm is the real thing!

 

That said, what decisions are to made for activities at Westwood this weekend?  The cancellation of services is never taken lightly.  Over the years we have canceled Sunday services a few times, always in the midst of or aftermath of a storm.  This storm, however, is different.  There seems to be little variance between weather services about the severity and timing of the storm.  While we have a contract for snow removal from our church parking lot and some great Westwood folks to work on the sidewalks, this storm may simply be too much to overcome in preparing for Sunday services.  A few inches would find us advising you to take precautions if you were making your way to church...a few feet, well it would seem the wiser choice is to remain indoors until side streets, main thoroughfares, parking lots and sidewalks can be cleared. 

 

So, with that in mind, and with the agreement of several leaders within our church, we will cancel all activities at Westwood for this Sunday.  Over these next few days, let us be wise in how we react to this storm, planning for the needs of our own families, but let us also be compassionate in reaching out to neighbors and friends around us who may need help and support.  Your act of worship and ministry this weekend may be to help a neighbor in need.  Already we have had a request from one of our elderly members who will need assistance in clearing her driveway after the storm, so if you would like to help with this need, let me know.  This storm is a reminder to us of the importance of shelter and the hypothermia program we participate in.  Remember in prayer those in our area who are seeking and offering shelter during this storm.

 

Over the weekend I will offer you some words to think about as you pause to honor the Lord right where you are Sunday morning.  Though we may not be together as a body, let us join in spirit to honor the Lord, encourage one another, and reach out to those around us in need.

 

Oh, and by the way, I guess you can choose both kinds of blizzards this weekend, but I recommend you act on the second kind before this afternoon!

 

Jim Abernathy

Love

Greetings on this Thursday morning from National Airport.  I am departing in a few minutes for Chattanooga, TN to celebrate my mother's 90th birthday.  This summer we had occasion to gather all the family for a grand celebration, knowing that all the grandchildren, great-grandchildren and spouses would most likely not be able to join her in January.  So, my three sisters and I will celebrate this wonderful woman's birthday on Saturday.  Her 90 years have blessed not only her family, but so many others. Her sweet smile and kind words have encouraged generations of folks along the way, and I am privileged to call her "mother."  Thanks to our CFN gathering last night for singing "Happy Birthday" to her by phone.  She truly appreciated it.

 

Our youth will be leaving on Saturday for a ski retreat in Bluefield.  Keep them and their chaperones in your prayers.  As always, check the Westwood Express you received yesterday for an updated prayer list.

 

Rev. Trisha Miller Manarin will be with us to preach this Sunday morning. Trisha is Coordinator of the Mid-Atlantic Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.  I am looking forward to hearing her speak and I know you will be blessed by her words.  Several of our folks will be traveling on this holiday weekend so keep your church family in your prayers.

 

Finally, Dr. King often used majestic words to communicate his message of love and reconciliation.  He spoke of going to the mountaintop and of dreams where relationships were less defined by color, race, or other human distinctions that so often divide.  These lofty words remind us of the high calling that is ours as followers of Jesus Christ to love others, regardless, and to embrace the work of reconciliation that we all share.  May these words, hopes, and dreams challenge us all anew to see each other through the eyes of Christ.

 

Jim Abernathy