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Evergreen Outreach-May 26, 2011

By Mary Woolsey
What a day! This was a day that started off sunny, was supposed to reach 80 degrees, but ended up 53 degrees as I drove home. It has been an erratic spring!
However, we had wonderful music. As we entered Evergreen Outreach, SoftFire was playing “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” and “Oh, What a Wonderful Day.”
Betty Stolte, who plays piano for the United Methodist Church in Brownstown, added her beautiful talent. She played a jazzy rendition of “Walking in Heaven’s Row,” and one of Beulah Brown’s and my favorites, “He Touched Me.” SoftFire and Betty teamed together and played several songs. “Oh, Victory in Jesus,” “New Name in Heaven” and “Whispering,” with David Pence playing the sax. Very outstanding music.
Cindy Hunter was our leader. She sat by the stage and was immediately surrounded by the Pences' well-behaved and beautiful border collies. The dogs know a friend when they see one. She introduced Rufas, the papa, Johnny, Gracie and Shechem Barnabas, the baby. Rufas showed how he could sit on a stool.
Cindy told a story she had heard somewhere. When the "rapture" comes and people are raptured into heaven, all pets will be left behind. Atheists will be given $135 dollars to take care of the pets left behind, and if the rapture doesn’t come when expected, the atheists could keep the money. Of course, that is an outlandish story. The "rapture" did not take place as expected last Friday, and no one will know when it will happen.  
Cindy introduced Mark Gebke, Paul Koeberlein, Ewald Steiner, Virginia Wolfe, Steve Longwell, Eleanor McNutt and Genell Hachat, who all had birthdays this month.
Betty played "Happy Birthday" for us to sing.
David Pence gave a drum roll, and the Rev. Roger Grimmett was introduced. He said that we were celebrating God’s children today. When he was a little boy, he enjoyed the song, “Jesus Loves the Little Children of the World."
"That’s you and me – God’s children," he said.
Grimmett asked if we played any sport when we were in school. The answers included softball, basketball, tennis, track, hockey, etc.
In all sports, there are rules to follow. If you do not follow the rules, you are out or you lose the prize. In many of the sports, like track, you compete against yourself.
The Christian life is like that, he said. The Apostle Paul likened the Christian faith to a race. In I Corinthians 9: 24-27, (Contemporary Language version), Paul wrote: "You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs, one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally."
I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition.
I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
Grimmett said it costs something to be a Christian. It cost God his son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our salvation.
Grimmett said that when his son was in college, he played baseball. He had to be in the weight room three hours a day, and train by running. The coach wanted him to be his best for a game.
In the Christian life, we have to be the best Christian we can. Put your best foot forward. Not that we can be perfect; but we can follow God’s voice.
“How do we hear God?” Grimmett asked. “By listening for an answer, and seeing if it agrees with scripture. Thanks be to God, who gave us Jesus.”
At the pinochle table, Rosamund Hobler and Peggy Lippold won two games to John Hunsley and Shirley Locke’s none.
A storm was heading toward Vandalia on Monday afternoon, and we had to dismiss early. SoftFire sang one more song – “Midnight Cry” – as some were leaving.  
Others of us were caught by the rain, and waited until there was a break in the rain. Even so, we had a very entertaining day.
There will be no Evergreen Outreach on May 30. On June 6, we will be back at First United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. See you after Memorial Day.

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