Like the chimes and sweetgrass

Mr. Bricklemeyer, old Brick, (“Mr. Brick” if you did not want to get in trouble) ran the swimming pool in my summers. No one liked him. He was mean and hairy and loud. I possess this unpleasant memory despite repeated purgings and repressions.

There are more pleasant possessions in my life, like sweetgrass baskets, a collection owned by my wife. Like me, she was reared on the northern edge of the South Carolina low country where Gullahs weave these treasures. These cherished baskets are reminders of a culture weaving a resourcefulness and resilience against harsh odds.

Sweetgrass is a perennial seagrass growing along the Carolina coast. The name is derived from the aroma one senses when the seagrass is freshly harvested. These baskets were first used as fanners to thrash rice, a process of tossing rice to allow the wind to separate the hull from the grain. We also possess a set of wind chimes, given by dear friends, as a Christmas gift. The giving in this gift is the delightful, surprising and rich resonance we hear when the wind blows. The sound provides cheerfulness amidst the mundane. The delight arises as the wind blows when it will and the chimes play their melody. A soul and a spirit dwell in these possessions along with that memory of mean old Mr. Bricklemeyer, who would throw us out of the swimming pool for no reason (wink).

Jesus said, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

There is an elusive, unexpected quality to this Spirit, surprising and evasive. It does not bend to my will or serve my pleasure. He appears suddenly, during the moments when I am mad, frustrated, agitated and irritated, stressing between fight or flight because someone treated me like “old Brick” did. And he also comes in the quiet, still moments when all seems as it should. I do not understand this Spirit. The wind greets me and where is my heart in the greeting? Do I greet this Spirit with Christ in my heart or is this greeting just another manipulation in my chase? If not Christ first now, when? I have seen the Spirit’s hand reach beyond long strands of human hindsight into a foresight I do not possess. He eludes my understanding but in receiving, I understand the inexplicable explanation. Renewed, I even discover some fondness in my memory of “Mr. Brick.” Our lives are not unlike the chimes and the sweetgrass waiting for the Spirit’s embrace, enlightening and pressing us toward purpose. If we listen, God’s spirit weaves its will through our lives expressing a meaning beyond our intent. The faithful life knows no other way to receive God’s mystery except through humility’s essence, the quiet submission to God’s loving spirit. Resisting, we wither and die.

Community Chapel Baptist Church, 3773 Black’s Bluff Road, will have a brotherhood breakfast Saturday at 8 a.m. The Rev. Randy Vines will preach. For more information contact Jerry Jacobs at 706238-9060.

First Christian Church, 209 E. Second Ave., will hold worship service (casual/business casual dress) at 11 a.m. Sunday. Sunday school will be at 10 a.m. with a series titled “Called to Community.” Morning coffee is each Thursday from 7-9 a.m. For more information contact the Rev. Craig McDonald or the church office at romedisciples@gmail.com.

Flatrock Baptist Church, 848 Cunningham Road, will celebrate its annual homecoming and Family and Friends Day on Sunday at 3 p.m. The Rev. Terrell Shields, pastor of Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church, will be the guest messenger. For additional information call 706-234-9976.

Garden Lakes Baptist Church, 2200 Redmond Circle, will observe homecoming Sunday for its 60th anniversary at 10:30 a.m. A covereddish lunch will follow worship.

Hill Crest Baptist Church, 2202 N. Broad St., will celebrate its 73rd homecoming Sunday at 10:30 a.m. One Touch Quartet of Cartersville will be the special guest. The Rev. Barry McCullough will speak. A covered-dish lunch will be served after the service.

Holsey Sinai CME Church, 1233 Martin Luther King Blvd., will celebrate its 51st anniversary on May 21 at 3 p.m. The Rev. Terrell M. Shields and the Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church will be the special

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 3000 Garden Lakes Blvd., offers services on Sundays beginning with Sunday School classes for all ages at 9:30 a.m. Worship services are a liturgical service with biblically based sermons beginning at 10:30 a.m. Communion services are observed on the first and third Sundays of the month. Call 706-232-7257 for more information.

Lovejoy Baptist Church, 434 Branham Ave., will host Summer Explosion 2017, fun, food and activities for all ages, in the Joy Life Center May 22 through July 27 from 8 a.m. to noon. The soup kitchen ministry will serve soup on May 21 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

McFall Baptist Church, 3011 Rockmart Highway, will have a benefit yard sale Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rain or shine. For more information, call 706-2350928.

Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, 4782 Alabama Highway, will have an indoor yard and bake sale Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sausage and biscuits will also be available. For more information call 706-2356159.

New Victory Ministries CME Church, 615 Cleveland Ave., will host the eighth Ethel B. Kinnebrew Memorial singing on May 28 at 3 p.m. The theme is Spirit Break Out, with Sister Elizabeth Kinnebrew of Holsey Sinai CME Church serving as mistress of ceremonies. Choirs, soloists, male and female choruses and praise dance teams are invited to join. Contact 678-901-7688 or 770749-9013

Northwood Baptist Church, 4076 Calhoun Road, will hold a car wash and yard sale on May 13 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pisgah Baptist Church, will host Vacation Bible School June 11 through June 15 for children age 3 through 12th grade. There will be a Bible study for teenagers and adults during the same week. Call 706-232-4431 for more information.

Pleasant Valley North Baptist Church, 735 Old Summerville Road, has started a new praise and worship service at 10:45 a.m. each Sunday in their new fellowship hall. The service is called Worship in the Hall, with music led by Ben Thornton and the praise band. The sermon will be simulcast live from the sanctuary.

Rome First United Methodist Church, 202 E. Third Ave., will have its regular schedule of worship Sunday morning. Contemporary worship is at 9 a.m. in the Wilder Center. Small groups and connect groups meet at 10 a.m. and traditional worship is at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary.

Sardis Presbyterian Church, past The Narrows on Alabama Highway, will hold homecoming services Sunday at 11 a.m. with a covered dish lunch immediately following. The Rev. Jim Bradshaw will bring the message. The Preservation Society will meet after lunch. For more information call 706-2321228.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 101 E. Fourth Ave., offers Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. in the chapel and 10 a.m. in the church each Sunday. Sunday school classes for all ages meet at 11:15 a.m. Adults may choose “Wired Word” or the Adult Forum featuring “The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People.” A service of Holy Eucharist in Spanish is offered Sundays at 5: p.m. in the chapel. Midweek Eucharist services are held on Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. and on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the chapel. Bible Study meets on Thursday at 10 a.m. For more information call 706-291-9111.

Transfiguration Episcopal Church, 304 Coker Drive, will hold Holy Eucharist service Sunday at 11 a.m. Tuesday Travelers will meet at Provino’s, 288 Shorter Ave., on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday, AlAnon will meet in the Parish Hall at noon and a public service of healing with Eucharist will be held at 6 p.m.

Way of the Cross Baptist Church, Darlington Drive, will have revival Sunday at 6 p.m. and Monday through May 12 at 7 p.m. nightly. The Rev. Donald Lindsey will be preaching, and there will be different singers each night.

West Rome United Methodist Church, 1003 Shorter Ave., will have Sunday service at 11 a.m. on May 7. The sermon text is Matthew 28:16-20.