faith
WEST SIDE SHOPPER-NEWS • OCTOBER 24, 2011 • A-7
Marching with Martin
Don’t ‘Let it Be’
From page A-6
ment writers wrote in a nonscientific age; while we live in a scientific age.” Bill’s first book is titled “What’s Wrong with the Church.” He says, “There’s a desperate need for someone to say, you don’t have to believe that. Just believe the gospel. Jesus never said that.” While Bill’s lifestyle has mellowed, his idealism burns brightly and he’s a joy to know. One never knows who will turn up in Fountain City Park. The old preacher ends wistfully: “I wish Martin had lived to see what he talked about come true.”
in Chicago, and he rode in a limousine with Sen. George McGovern (Democratic nominee in 1972). Career: After the excitement of the ’60s, Bill settled in to preach, pastor and raise his family. His training is in counseling, which Lynn calls “creative listening.” Bill says a counselor must be objective, ask questions and get the patient to talk. “Most people know the answer without knowing the question.” He and Lynn have done couples counseling. “One of the nice things about the Christian faith is it’s adaptable. … New Testa-
WORSHIP NOTES Fall festivals
Oct. 28, at the Knoxville Convention Center. Tickets are $75 ($35 for children under 13). All proceeds benefit the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home. Info: 247-0314 or visit www.knoxvilleevents.org.
■ Beaver Ridge UMC, 7753 Oak Ridge Highway, will have pumpkins of all sizes for sale 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 30. Info: 690-1060 or www. beaverridgeumc.com.
Special services
■ Bethel UMC, 2004 Amherst Road, will have its annual fall bazaar 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5.
■ Grace Covenant Baptist Church, 9956 Dutchtown Road, will host a four-week sermon and curriculum series led by Dr. Alan Smith through Nov. 13 during the morning worship services and Wednesday evenings called, “It’s a New Day for Financial Freedom.”
■ Concord UMC, 11020 Roane Drive, will be hosting its annual Trunk-or-Treat 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30. The event is free. New this year is a chili cookoff benefitting Camp Wesley Woods in Walland. ■ Second Presbyterian Church’s fall festival will be Wednesday, Oct. 26. Dinner at 5:30 p.m.; festival 6-7 p.m. A private plane ride over Knoxville will be given away to one person. Wear your costume (but nothing too scary) for “Trunk or Treat.” Info: 523-2189 or www.2ndpres.org.
■ Fellowship Church, 8000 Middlebrook Pike, will host DivorceCare Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Registration: Laura, 470-9800.
Youth ■ Central Baptist Church of Bearden will have sign ups for Upward Basketball through Monday, Oct. 24, for anyone in grades k-6th. Cost is $68. Games run January through February. Info: Call 450-1000, ext. 142.
Fundraisers, sales ■ “Cherish the Child, Change the World” is 7 p.m. Friday,
Come by and register to
win
We also like to cherrypick our firmly held tenets of faith. I know lots of upstanding Methodists who want to quibble over certain of the Articles of Faith they claim to believe. For that matter, I know lots of upstanding members of many denominations who will say, when pushed, “Well, no, I don’t exactly agree with that one tenet of what my church says.” My point is this: it is OK to be not quite so concerned about every jot and tittle, and to pay way more attention to the overarching sweep of the story of God’s creation of, activity in and abiding love for the world. That is the story contained in The Book. It all counts; it all matters; it all brings its own witness to bear on the grand arc that is God’s love and concern and mercy showered upon Creation.
“let it be”! I hope that God will be right up in my business! Cross Currents So I considered what that (Psalm 14: 1a NRSV) hymn title would mean if a Lynn person were to chop off even Hutton Proof-texting is what peomore of it. “Take my life” ple do when they pick and means something else, too. choose what they read in the At least, that is how I pub- To take someone’s life means Bible. It is taking a particular lished the title in the bulletin. to kill them. You see, words phrase or verse out of context The United Methodist Hym- mean things. And that is why to make a point. nal titles it “Take My Life and I listed the title of the hymn For example, you can prove Let It Be.” as “Take My Life and Let It Be that the Bible says “There is I happen to object strenu- Consecrated.” no God.” See? It’s right there ously to that shortened Moreover, that train of in Psalm 14: 1 (quoted above). version of the title, for one thought let me to consider Of course, if you read the simple reason. I come from how we truncate our faith in entire verse, it actually says, a long line of Appalachian general. “Fools say in their hearts, pioneers, and where I come We have our favorite pas‘There is no God.’ ” from, “Let it be” means some- sages of the Bible that we love Totally different message. thing. To “let (something) be” to quote, but do we consider I started thinking about means to leave well enough the entirety of the message this the other day when I was alone. Don’t touch it, don’t contained in the whole book? working on the church bulle- mess with it, don’t bring it up Can you come up with a tin. One of the hymns for the again, don’t have anything to one-sentence synopsis of the upcoming Sunday was “Take do with it. “Let it be.” Bible? What is its message? My Life and Let It Be ConseWhen it comes to my life, I What, exactly, is God’s word crated.” dearly hope that God will not for us? Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
CONDOLENCES ■ Click Funeral Home (675-8765): Thomas McClellan Dail ■ Stevens Mortuary (524-0331): John Preston Smith William M. Thayer
REUNIONS ■ Howard’s Quarter School (Red Hill School) of Claiborne County will hold its annual reunion 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at the fire department building. Lunch served at 1:30 p.m. Bring a covered dish to share and drinks for your family, lawn chairs, and photos and memorabilia to share. All community members are invited. Info: J.D. and Mollie Waddell, 423-5873402; Margaret Seals Bull, 423-626-3075.
Knoxville square dance
Cherokee Mills hosts art show
The Jubilee Community Arts will present traditional Appalachian dance with Allison Williams at 7:30 p.m. each second Thursday at the Laurel Theater. Tickets are $7 ($5 for students and JCA members). Info: 523-7521.
The Knoxville Watercolor Society is having a fall showing of mixed media works by its members through Nov. 29 at Cherokee Mills, 2200 Sutherland Ave. Cherokee Mills is a campus style office complex with a large atrium where the KWS will exhibit its newest works. The building is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Info: Mary Ann Valvoda, 408-0737.
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