FAREWELL COMMENTS / KIDS CAMP / SERMON RECAP

FAREWELL SERVICE

Join us on the last Sunday in August as we honor the ministry of Pastor Bud and Sally Reedy. As you may know, Pastor Bud has accepted a position as lead pastor at First Church of the Nazarene in Charlottesville, Virginia. You can view the official press release HERE. 

FAREWELL COMMENTS 

During the last 25+ years, Pastor Bud has touched many lives and we wanted to share some of these special memories with you....

"We were members of Stillmeadow about 15 years ago but were not there long. Never the less, Pastor Bud's messages have traveled with me all these years. In particular, we were blessed to be there when he did the Norman Adams series. Some of those messages still echo in my heart and mind." 

“Pastor Bud, I remember you coming to Burnham to hold revival services. How refreshing your messages were - and uplifting! I remember your encouragement to us as a family during this time. You spoke hope into this girl's heart. Thank you!! Courage to go on and continuing the journey that God had placed us on. God Bless You.”

"I was four years old when Pastor Bud moved to York and became my pastor back on Pine Street, 27 years ago. So yes, technically I do have seniority here over him, but thats neither here nor there... Over the years, he has developed an amazing relationship with me. As a kid, I remember he and Mrs. Sally taking my brother and I to Orioles vs. Yankees games. He coached me for many years in Church softball, where we would spend countless hours sharing really stupid jokes together (jokes so dry they made you physically thirsty). Several years ago he invited me to enter into a mentorship with him in his LIFT group, where we have shared many meals and lively discussions together.

But my all time favorite Pastor Bud story took place on June, 21st 2008 when he married my wife and I. It was a beautiful Summer day and my wife was looking absolutely stunning as her father walked her down the isle to give her away in the Holy sacrament of marriage. Behind us burned two beautiful candles representing our two lives as individuals, and a third sat waiting for Pastor Bud to give my bride and I the blessing to light. Bud began speaking of the symbolism of these two candles when all of a sudden someone's cell phone began ringing. You could tell Pastor Bud was a little agitated that someone would be so indecent as to not silence their cell phone before such a sacred occasion that he began speaking louder to help drown out the sound. It wasn't long before he recognized the ringtone as the, "Maryland Fight Song" which just so happened to be his ringtone when he very embarrassingly removed the phone from his pocket and silenced it. One of my groomsmen, Caleb Sechrist, cupped this hands around his mouth and shouted, "That better be Jesus Calling!" Pastor Bud then confessed that this was quite possibly the most embarrassing thing that ever has happened to him. We did forgive him after we stopped laughing, (after all forgiveness is the Christian thing to do). After all, my wife thought that I had arranged that as a prank, but in all actuality it was a simple mistake. But not only did my wife and I exchange sacred vows to each other that day, we also made a vow to never let him forget about it. Pastor Bud, and Sally you will be greatly missed!"

Want to share your memory about Pastor Bud and Sally? Click HERE. 

(Look for more Pastor Bud memories in next week's Friday Feature News)

KIDS CAMP JULY 31 - AUG. 4th

"Kids Camp is a fun week where 18 Stillmeadow KLZ kids get to build relationships with other kids from our district as well as their Children Ministry leaders. More importantly they get to deepen their relationship with God and hopefully will be able to bring that relationship home to share with others.

Please be in prayer for the kids as some of them have never been away from home this long before; pray for safety and comfort. Also pray that the kids and leaders will be open to God and will respond to His Words to them. This will be a life changing week that no one will forget!"

SERMON RECAP

Last Sunday Pastor Bud gave a fantastic sermon about Hospitality. He encouraged us to love others, and provide a welcoming atmosphere for strangers in our community. Next Sunday will be Pastor Bud's last sermon at Stillmeadow and just prior to the sermon, Journey House will be highlighted. 

Here are the fill-in words (in parentheses), devotion guide and reflective questions from last Sunday's Sermon. 

I. Old Testament (Scriptures).

1. Deuteronomy 10:17-19- He (defends) the cause of the (foreigner) living among you.
2. Exodus 23:9- Do not (oppress)
3. Zechariah 7:10- the (foreigner) or the poor
4. Psalm 146:9-The Lord (watches) over and (sustains)
5. “In the Hebrew scriptures, we find a (strong) challenge to (always) welcome the (stranger)”. 

Ron Rolheiser.

Want to read more about the Christian practice of welcoming the stranger? View the blog post Pastor Bud mentioned HERE.

II. Question: Has This Been (Neglected)?

1. Making Room: (Recovering) Hospitality as a Christian Tradition.
2. “Our mobile and self- oriented society is characterized by disturbing levels of (loneliness), alienation, and estrangement. Those who embrace hospitality will bear powerful (witness) to the gospel.

III. Illustration: Luke 15:11-32
1. Notice: The father’s hospitality toward the son.
2. Stillmeadow’s application

Devotions
1. Monday-Deuteronomy 10:17-19
2. Tuesday-Exodus 23:9
3. Wednesday-Zechariah 7:10
4. Thursday-Psalm 146-9
5. Friday-II Kings 4:8-37
6. Saturday-Luke 15:11-32

Reflection Questions

1. Think of recent experiences when you were a guest. Describe the settings and institutions involved.
2. When you think of welcoming the strangers where would that usually occur?
3. What would you do better to connect your church and home life to create space for welcoming strangers?
4. What makes home-based hospitality difficult or worrisome today? What makes it important?