​Dear Friends,

Dust off your dancing shoes!  The Whitetop Mountain Band is kicking off the Oak Grove Pavilion season this Sunday, June 3, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.   Come on out, bring a picnic and listen to one of the best old-time bluegrass bands in Virginia.  You'll want to dance...or at least tap your toes to the infectious beat.
A clean-up will take place on Saturday, June 2, from 10:00 am to noon to spruce up the Pavilion for the summer season.  Please come help if you can.

Vacation Bible School is approaching; it will be held June 18 to 22.  Once again, we'll partner with the Presbyterian Church of Floyd and Camp Peaks for a week-long time of fun learning about Jesus' love.  If you know of any children who might like to attend, please contact Marty Holliday for more information:  marty.holliday@gmail.com.
Ever let mercy outweigh all else in you. Let our compassion be a mirror where we may see in ourselves that likeness and that true image which belong to the Divine nature and Divine essence.
- Isaac of Syria c. 613 – c. 700


In Christ,
Pastor Linda

Dear Friends,

This past Sunday, we celebrated Pentecost, the day we commemorate Jesus giving the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church.  We experienced the Spirit in an outside worship service, in the wind blowing through the trees, in the delightful surprise of the Presbyterian church carillon bells ringing across town, in the scripture accounts of wind and fire and Jesus promising not to leave his disciples alone, in a great group art project depicting the Spirit's action of bringing us all together to be Christ's church (thanks, Marty for pulling that together for us!)  In the days since Sunday, I have pondered how the Spirit makes itself known in our lives, about the surprises it can bring and how it can take well-laid plans and blow them to bits when God has other ideas in mind for us.  This morning, I stopped at the post office on my way to the office.  As I walked across the parking lot toward my car, my cell phone began to ring in my purse.  I thought of not answering it, since my hands were full of mail, but when I saw the name on the screen, I did a little juggling act and managed get the phone to my ear before it stopped ringing.  It was an old friend, another pastor, whom I hadn't seen in many months.  He had brought his vehicle into town for service and found himself with a little time to spare.  "Would you like to join me for breakfast?" he asked.  To be honest, I had a long list of tasks to accomplish this morning and had little time to spare.  To my surprise, I found myself responding, "Sure, where should I meet you?"  What followed was a delightful conversation, as my friend and I caught up on one another's lives, talked a little theology and made plans to stay in touch.  As I got in my car to drive to the office, I realized that this unexpected time was exactly what I needed today.  What got me to the diner this busy morning for an unplanned connection with a friend?  I believe it was the Holy Spirit, who helped me remember to open myself to its presence and to follow its lead - especially when I would rather try to control its presence in my life.  The Spirit can hit us with gale force winds or tickle us with the softest of breezes - either way a reminder of who is really in charge of our lives.  Think of how you might open yourself to the Spirit's presence in your life this week.  Allow it to surprise you, as it knocks you off your feet or just gives you a little breezy nudge.

The Oak Grove Pavilion summer season kicks off in a little over a week!  On Sunday, June 3, Oak Grove welcomes our longtime friends, the Whitetop Mountain Band, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.  You are invited to help with a morning clean-up of the Pavilion area on June 2 from 10:00 to noon.

Here is the rest of this summer's schedule (all concerts are on Sundays from 4:00 to 6:00 pm):
June 24 -  Wag the Dog
July 8    -  Waiting to Exhale
July 22  -  Jam Sandwich
Aug. 5   -  Larry Sigmon and Martha Spencer
Aug. 19 -  Rob Neukirch/Bill Adams and Nii Anang and Land of Joy

*If you would like to sponsor a band for one of the concerts, please speak to one of the Pavilion committee members:  Rebbecca Jackson, Virginia Neukirch or Billy Motley.
The rustling of the olive trees speaks of the movement of the wind. The Greek work for spirit has the suggestion of breath or wind; the Hebrew word - Ruach - actually means the desert-wind, that powerful unseen force that sweeps across the face of the earth, none knows whence or whither. The wind - the Spirit - it bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest its voice, but thou knowest not whence it cometh and whither it goeth. But you can feel its breath on your face if, hearing it pass, you go out and stand in its course. So is everyone that is born of the Spirit. Don't ask for credentials. Don't wait till you know the source of the wind before you let it refresh you, or its destination before you spread sail to it. It offers what you need; trust yourself to it.
-William Temple 1881-1944


In Christ,
Pastor Linda

Dear Friends,


This coming Sunday, May 20, is Pentecost, the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit to the early Christians - and to us.  We will have a joint worship service at 10:30 am at the Motley home at 512 Oak Hill Dr. in Floyd.  Hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks will be provided.  If you are able, please bring a side dish or dessert and a lawn chair for seating. 

The Floyd High School Choir and Floyd Community Chorus invite you to their concert this Sunday, May 20, at 7:00 pm at Zion.  Brook Smith from St. Mark will be singing!


a prayer for going forth:

Lord
Take me where you want me to go,
Let me meet who you want me to meet
Tell me what you want me to say,
and keep me out of your way.

-The Rev. Mychal Judge O.F.M.
  d. 9/11/2001


In Christ,
Pastor Linda

Dear Friends,

The beginning of the 2018 Oak Grove Pavilion season is less than a month away!  The big news is that all the Oak Grove concerts will be held Sunday afternoons this year from 4 to 6 pm. Hoping this will be a better time for folks to attend.  People are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy under the oak trees.  As always, admission is free and donations will be welcomed for area non-profit organizations.


*Here's the concert schedule for the summer:
Sunday, June 3:   Whitetop Mountain Band - old time dance music
Sunday, June 24: Wag The Dog - 70's rock & roll dance music
Sunday, July 8:    Waiting To Exhale -  folk/rock listening music
Sunday, July 22:  Jam Sandwich - rock & roll dance music
Sunday, Aug. 5:   Larry Sigmon and Martha Spencer - old time dance music
Sunday, Aug. 19: Double Bill:  Rob Neukirch and Bill Adams - jazz/country/folk
                              and Nii Anang and Land of Joy - African-influenced music.


*All who are able are invited to a clean-up of the Oak Grove area on Saturday, June 2, from 10 am to 12 noon.

*The Oak Grove organizers are looking for sponsors to cover the cost of the bands.  If you would like to donate, please make your check out to "Oak Grove Pavilion."  Virginia Neukirch, Rebbecca Jackson or Billy Motley are happy to answer any questions and/or gratefully accept your check!
​
This is a tremor in the middle of the iceberg — from a stone that the builders rejected.   - Bob Moses


In Christ,
Pastor Linda

Dear Friends,

In this past Sunday's Gospel lesson from John, Jesus tells his disciples, "Abide in me as I abide in you."  Using the image of a vine and its branches, Jesus tells us that because he clings tightly to us through all that life brings, we are able to hang on to him and one another.  Another way to understand the concept of abiding is in the relationship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, which some church fathers called "the dance of the Trinity."  The extent to which the members of the Trinity share in one another's lives was explored by Bernard of Clairvaux, a 12th century French abbot who was instrumental in the development of Benedictine monasticism.  Bernard wrote, "If, as is properly understood, the Father is he who kisses, the Son he who is kissed, then it cannot be wrong to see in the kiss the Holy Spirit, for he is the imperturbable peace of the Father and the Son, their unshakable bond, their undivided love, their indivisible unity."  The powerful love that binds Father, Son and Spirit binds them to us, their beloved children.  Abiding love is the gift that keeps us connected to God in this life and the next as the kiss of God bears its imperturbable, unshakable, undivided, indivisible grace to us all.

On Pentecost Sunday, May 20, we will have a joint worship service at 10:30 am at the Motley home at 512 Oak Hill Drive in Floyd.  Grilled hot dogs and hamburgers (vegetarian, too!) and drinks will be provided; please bring a side dish or dessert if you are able and a lawn chair. 

​
We all long for heaven where God is,
but we have it in our power to be in heaven with Him at this very moment.
But being happy with Him now means:
Loving as He loves,
Helping as He helps,
Giving as He gives,
Serving as He serves,
Rescuing as He rescues,
Being with Him twenty-four hours,
Touching Him in his distressing disguise.
   -Mother Teresa of Calcutta 1910-1997

In Christ,
Pastor Linda