Choose the one thing needful

“But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her,” Luke 10:42.

Our high school committee sat in the library listening to presentations from two companies pitching the benefits of their respective products and services. Our school was preparing for a major magazine sale fundraiser. We were tasked with choosing.

The difference in the two companies was apparent. One possessed all the trappings of an underfunded company. The rep, though sincere, eager and scrappy, came across as less professional. He wore a blazer but no tie. He had no supporting materials, just heart and the power of his words and underlying it all, his word.

The second company was simply the opposite, a thoroughly branded operation, smooth, stopping just shy of slick, ticking all the right boxes. Youthful, inexperienced, we chose the latter.

God’s image resides within us. God is love, and to this end, we are created. We fall and through God’s grace and a working Holy Spirit, we choose our way back to his desire in our creation, his will and intent. Our choice should be self-evident, what Moshe’ Feldenkrais calls the “elusive obvious.” Whether we succeed or not, grace remains.

Is God the object of our desire or is desire the objection? What is this one thing needful not to be taken away?

God gave me the inch. I chose the mile because desire expressed its wish to be the filter by which I saw, thought and acted. Did I not have a higher calling? A theologian once said, “Man’s actions are the result of pure choice: the thing he would, that he does and that only. Love is the health of the soul, the full exertion of all its powers, the perfection of all its faculties. Therefore, since love was the one end of our creation, the recovery of love is the one thing needful.”

The one thing I needed eluded me as I was placated by the many things I wanted. Confusing God’s purpose, the thoroughly branded operation ticked boxes no longer youthful. Desires, the days’ own troubles, became the log and splinters in my life, separating me from God. Desire itself was the objection God made me confront in our relationship.

Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven,” Matthew 5:16. As faith grew in me, I questioned in myriad forms, “Do I really want desire to be the basket under which my light is hidden?” My high calling answered, “No!”

The theologian continues, “The one thing needful is the one end of our abode here; for this alone are we placed on the earth; for this alone did Jesus pour out his blood; for this alone doth his Holy Spirit watch over us.” As fellow Christian Jeffrey Cranford says, “Shine on!”

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs in Salt Lake City, Utah, during a morning session of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ two-day General Conference.

Adairsville Church of God, 297 Old Dixie Highway, Adairsville, hosts Adairsville Church of God Kidz every Sunday morning at 11 a.m.

266 Prater Road, Kingston, will have Old Fashioned Day on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with special singing. Lunch will be served following service.

6648 Big Texas Valley Road, will have a yard sale on Saturday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. in the parking lot of the closed Armuchee Piggly Wiggly. Barbecue sandwiches, chips, soft drinks and barbecue by the pound will be available. For more information call the church office at 706-235-3169.

2972 Alabama Highway, will celebrate homecoming Sunday. The Rev. John Huggins, chaplain at Berry College, will deliver the message.

will have a booth at the Highway 411 Yard Sale today and Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. across the street from 10 Rome Road, Cave Spring.

3773 Black’s Bluff Road, will have brotherhood breakfast Saturday morning at 8 a.m. with the Rev. Dale Byars speaking. For more information contact Jerry Jacobs at 706-238-9060.

46 Dykes Creek Church Road, will celebrate homecoming Oct. 15 from 10:30 a.m.noon. Dr. Abel Robles will be preaching and Heirborn will lead praise and worship. A covered-dish meal will be served following service.

542 Branham Ave., will observe our annual Hat and Tie Day on Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. The guest speaker and church will be Bishop Norris Allen and New Hope Cathedral Church of God. Dinner will be served after the midday service. For more information call 706-9368722 or 706-676-0930.

209 E. Second Ave., will hold worship (casual/ business-casual dress) Sunday at 11 a.m. Sunday School is at 10 a.m. Morning coffee is each Thursday from 7-9 a.m. For more information contact the church office at romedisciples@gmail.com.

445 E. 14th St., will celebrate their 135th anniversary Sunday at 3 p.m. The Rev. Keith Lambert, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, Centre, Alabama, will be the guest preacher. Dinner will be served after the morning service. Fall revival has been rescheduled for Oct. 16-19 at 7 p.m. nightly. The Rev. Cedric Williams, pastor of Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Cedar Bluff, Alabama, will be the guest preacher for the week. For more information call 706-234-2091 or 706-2345047.

259 Herring Road, Armuchee, will celebrate Pastor Reginald McDaniel’s second year at the church with a preanniversary dinner musical gala on Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Lovejoy Baptist Church Joy Life Center, 426 Branham Ave. Tickets are $20. Call 706-290-3500 for tickets.

80 Salem Drive, will celebrate homecoming Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Steve Glosson will bring the message. A covered-dish lunch will follow. A nursery in provided. John Glosson will be in concert Sunday evening at 6 p.m. For more information call the church office at 706-235-2149.

436 Branham Ave., will celebrate its annual Friends Day on Sunday at 3 p.m. Pastor Ramon Arnold and Zion Hill Baptist Church of Rockmart will be the special guests.

105 Oak Hill Road, Lyerly, will celebrate the 100th birthday of church member Rose Jackson with a covered-dish dinner on Sunday following the 11 a.m. service at noon in our fellowship hall. Jackson served as a nurse in the Army during World War II in the European theater, was owner of Jackson’s Hardware and is a member of the United Methodist Women’s group. No gifts,

17 E. Pennington Ave., will host a free community health fair on breast cancer awareness and education on Oct. 28 from 9-11 a.m. For more information call 706234-6413.

4782 Alabama Highway, will celebrate homecoming on Sunday at 11 a.m. The Rev. Laurie Klingenberg will bring the message. A covered-dish lunch will follow. For more information call 706-2347458.

Excelsior St., will have Old Fashioned Day on Sunday at 10 a.m. Lunch will be served. The church will hold revival Sunday at 6 p.m. and Monday through Thursday at 7 p.m. nightly. Evangelist Sammy Burgess will be preaching, and there will be special singing nightly. The church will host Trunk or Treat with games, food and fun Oct. 28 from 1-3 p.m. For more information contact Carey Wright at 706-766-1152.

399 Moran Lake Road, will celebrate its 20th pastoral appreciation services for Pastor K.B. Woods and First Lady Pamela Woods on Oct. 15 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

1309 N. Broad St., will celebrate their 150th anniversary on Oct. 22 at 10:30 a.m. followed by a banquet at noon. Call 706295-2100 or email shanda_douglas@ bellsouth.net for more information.

30 Orchard Road, Adairsville, hosts Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered recovery program, every Monday night. Cross Talk Cafe at 6 p.m., large group worship at 7 p.m. and open share groups at 8 p.m. Visit www.northpointechurch.com or contact Kitty at 404-642-3605 for more information.

5603 Alabama Highway, holds prayer every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. The church will host Brotherhood Breakfast on Saturday at 8 a.m. Dan Bullard will be the speaker. The church will hold revival Oct. 15-18 at 7 p.m. nightly with Blake Dodd and Children of Promise providing music. Fall Festival is on Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. Call 706-232-4431 for more information.

735 Old Summerville Road, holds a praise & worship service Sundays at 10:45 a.m. in the fellowship hall with music by Ben Thornton and the Praise Band. A blended service is held at the same time in the sanctuary.

202 E. Third Ave., holds contemporary worship Sunday at 9 a.m. in the Garnett M. Wilder Center and traditional worship at 11 a.m. in the historic sanctuary. Sunday School and small groups for every age meet at 10 a.m. Visit www.romefirst.org for more information.

42 Ash St., will have a service of spoken Morning Prayer on Sunday in place of Holy Communion at 9:30 a.m. The annual Blessing of the Animals will be held at 4 p.m. on the parish lawn. All pets are invited. For more information call 706-5061241.

911 N. Broad St., offers Saturday vigil Masses at 5:30 p.m. in English and at 7 p.m. in Spanish; Sunday Masses are 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in English and at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. in Spanish. For additional information on any church activities or programs contact the church office at 706-290-9000 or at DeaconNeslin@smcrome.org.

106 E. Sixth Ave., will celebrate its 147th anniversary on Oct. 15 at 3 p.m. The Rev. Dr. Larry Hudson, a native of Rome and Presiding Elder of the Atlanta North Georgia Annual Conference, will be the speaker. Dinner will be served at 1:30 p.m. For more information call 706295-3557 or 770-910-3599. Rick Bowmer / The Associated Press of the Rev. Deshannon Davis and First Lady Judy Davis on Sunday at 11 a.m. with Minister Angiekita Sims. Pastor B.J. Sims Jr. and Friendship Baptist Church, Cedartown, will be the guests for the 3 p.m. service.

101 E. Fourth Ave., offers services of Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. in the chapel and 10 a.m. in the church each Sunday. 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. Nursery is offered during the 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist. Children’s Chapel is also available for children ages pre-K through third grade during the 10 a.m. service. Christian formation and Sunday School are offered for children, youth and adults at 11:15 a.m. on Sundays. For more information visit www. stpetersrome.org or call 706-291-9111.

6 Old Rockmart Road, Lindale, holds Sunday School at 10 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. The Rev. Camille Josey’s sermon title is “Wonder Bread.” The Old Testament Scripture passage is Exodus 16:1-18 and the New Testament passage is John 6:51. On Oct. 15, the church will celebrate its 142nd anniversary. Dinner will be served afterward. For more information contact Janet Farr at 706-346-7268.

36 Reeceburg Road, Silver Creek, will have a fundraiser cruise-in car show and picnic on Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Hamburger or hot dog plates with chips and drink will be available for $5 each. A rain date is set for Oct. 14. For more information call Tony Warren at 706235-5900.

113 Smith St., will host MJR Ministries’ annual community revival Oct. 18-20 at 7 p.m. nightly. Guest choirs and psalmists featured nightly. For more information call 706-295-7217.

935 Spider Webb Drive, will host a CD release celebration for The Sanctified Sons on Saturday at 5 p.m. Evangelist Julia Russell will emcee with music by The Sensationals, Prophetic Voices and Keonna Trufaye.

will give away free fall clothing to homeless and low income residents of Rome and Floyd County in the parking lot of Rome First United Methodist Church on Tuesday from 2-5 p.m. The parking lot is between Second Street and Third Street.

304 Coker Drive, will celebrate Holy Eucharist on Sunday at 11 a.m. The Blessing of the Animals will be held at 3 p.m. rain or shine. Tuesday Travelers will meet at Schroeder’s on Martha Berry, 3268 Martha Berry Highway, on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Al-Anon will meet in the parish hall at noon and there will be a public service of healing with Eucharist at 6 p.m. On Thursday, an Alcoholics Anonymous women’s meeting will be held at 6 p.m.

2261 Pleasant Valley Road, Silver Creek, will host Brotherhood & Sisterhood on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. Mike Southerland will be preaching and Wanda Kines of Doyle Road Baptist Church will be Lady Speaker. Supper will be served. The church will have Old Fashioned Day on Oct. 22. Dewey Atchley will be preaching. The church will hold fall revival Oct. 23-25 at 7 p.m. nightly. J. Clinton Green will be preaching. For more information call Betty at 706-844-8628.

756 Turner Chapel Road, will hold revival Monday through Wednesday at 7 p.m. nightly. The Rev. Clinton Green of Silver Creek will be the evangelist. Special singing nightly. For more information call Brother Coleman Wood at 706-246-0754.

1003 Shorter Ave., will hold services at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The sermon, “Full of Grace,” comes from John 1:1-18. For more information visit www. westromeumc.org, call 706-234-6214 or email wrumc@bellsouth.net.