Loading...Dear Friends in Christ,
August was a very busy month for the Tazewell Cluster. Is started off August 1 with a visit of the youth from the diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dells, formerly the Diocese of Bradford. They spent three days with us working at the Bluefield Union Mission, visited the Exhibition Coal Mine and the CrabOrchardMuseum and PioneerPark as well as the Cluster parishes. A sad note was that this was our dioceses’ youth leader, Aimee Bostwick’s last event as the Director of Youth. Aimee did a tremendous job and we wish her well in her new endeavors in Texas.
On the 3rd day of August, members from St. Mary’s and Stras Memorial traveled to Grace House to prepare a meal for a group from Michigan and Wisconsin who were here to do mission work in the mountains of the Abingdon Convocation.
Bishop Mark has been visiting every vestry in the diocese to listen to them and to share his vision for the diocese. On August 13th, he visited the vestries of the cluster. At St. Mary’s, we shared a meal prepared by The Villa; afterwards we had a wonderful discussion with Bishop Mark. The next day, Bishop Mark joined Craig Hammond, Mike McClanahan and me on the RadioActive talk show. Then we traveled to Abingdon for a meeting with the Abingdon Convocation clergy.
On the 19th, I did my civic duty working as an Election Official at the Special Election for State Senator. This is part of giving back to the community.
Bishop Mark returned to Bluefield on the 24th for his official visit to St’ Mary’s. It was a wonderful program with beautiful music by the choir. The Rev. Deacon Preston Mitchell assisted the bishop. Visiting with us that day was the Canon for Administration, Alan Boyce.
Also during the month, we continued Confirmation classes. There will be eight people confirmed at Stras Memorial on October 5th.
September looks to be even busier for us. On September 7th, Belinda will be honored with a reception after services at Stras for her over 11 years as Cluster secretary. She retired as of August 31. She will be greatly missed.
On September 10th, the Cluster will begin serving their monthly barbecue meal at the Union Mission. If you can help, please come and join in. Some arrive at 3:30, some at 4:00, some a little later. There is a lot to do. We begin serving at 5:00 and finish by 5:20.
The Greater Bluefield Ministerial Association will once again sponsor a Prayer and Meditation on 9/11. It will be held at the Synagogue in Bluefield on Thursday, September 11 at 7:30 PM.
On September 12th, the first Corn Maze at the Museum will open. It is going to be fun.
The monthly parish dinners at St. Mary’s will return on September 17th followed by St. Mary’s vestry meeting.
The Abingdon Clericus will meet on September 25 at St. Thomas in Abingdon.
Bishop Mark will make his official visit to ChristChurch on September 28 and return to Stras Memorial on October 5th.
Doing God’s work takes time and energy. There are many excuses we can give for not serving God and His people. We are tired, we have children to take care of, and we have too many other things to do. I thank God for those who are not too tired or too busy to help me when I am down. I especially thank God for not being too busy to save me. The best way we can thank God for His sacrifice for us is to help others. There are a lot of opportunities.
May God Bless you always,
Father Russ
