Hope is a bright abyss; March forth!
Christian Wiman
Her name is August Ann. She could easily be named Grace because this is the joy I felt at her arrival. It’s as though God tossed a pebble in the pond, curious to see the splash and the ripples, how far they might travel and who and what she will touch. She is my first grandchild, born on March 4, the only day of the year that is also a sentence. March forth! Thresholds — life’s means for moving and marking time — enlighten us to our minuscule importance. We are but time’s servant, the moment’s caretaker. I passed this March 4 untethered and free falling. Every man’s question dawned in my soul on that day — how did I believe I had any power at all? And August Ann, in all her grace, removing all doubt, answered my question. I possessed none.
Beliefs are crossroads harboring a directional quality, and for some are a place of rest. I’m told belief requires evidence, an experience of the seen. Imposed on that experience is the death of all those un-serving beliefs we thought were true and the birth of new ones yet to die from experience. Beliefs demand choice, not rest. Abandoned at our crossroads are nothing but the consolations of our decision between resolve and resignation.
Faith is not consolation. Our atheist friends have it wrong. The confusion is understandable. A reasoned mind longs for the tangible and the provable, the feel and touch that makes belief real. After all, what is measured is managed. But we believe wrongly. Faith is never what God does for us, though I agree he does much. We come to God because of what he does in us, the turning of our heart, mind and soul to his immanent presence within.
I side with St. Augustine when he said, “If you think you have understood God, it is not God.” To be God, he cannot be so easily attainable. But to be God, he cannot be unreachable. What God does for us is in us if we are listening at the edge of what we know. Who, standing on this precipice, would peer into the unknown and believe life is consolation? Is faith the same?
A faith with meaning cannot rely on belief. Though entropy surrounds me I come to my knees not in despair but in overwhelming joy. August Ann convinces me — as did my own children’s birth — that entropy reverses. Hope exists in a life and a God who, though unseen, is knowable and reachable.
Hope is a bright abyss. I march forth. August Ann is my hope and my bright abyss into which all my longing will go.
Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 1818 Kingston Highway, is offering a free, 11-week Bible study for women using Beth Moore’s “A Woman’s Heart,” on Fridays at 10 a.m. For more information contact Judy Angle at 770-8411566.
3773 Blacks Bluff Road, will host Brotherhood Breakfast Saturday at 8 a.m. Director of the Floyd County Baptist Association the Rev. Jim Reynolds will be the guest speaker. For more information call Jerry Jacobs at 706-238-9060.
1645 Cartersville Highway, will host their monthly Sunday at 9 a.m. Sunday School will be held at 10 a.m. Dr. Walter Turner will lead a traditional worship service at 11 a.m.
46 Dykes Creek Road, will hold revival on April 8 with Evangelist George Fridlender and Pastor Christ Hearne, April 15 with the Rev. Scooter Allison and Pastor Ken Hagler, April 22 with Dr. Abel Robles and April 29 Dr. Ed Rhodes. Services on April 8, 15 and 22 will be held at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Service on April 29 will be at 10:30 a.m. only.
314 Burnett Ferry Road, will host the Daraja Ugandan Children’s Choir April 18 at 6 p.m. For more information call the church office at 706-234-9416 or email ahyde@ fellowshiprome.com.
101 E. Third Ave., will host Vacation Bible School June 25-29 from 9 a.m.-noon daily for 3-year-olds through sixth grade. No children with diapers. Call the church office at 706-291-6033 for more information.
445 E. 14th St., will have Spring Revival April 9-12 at 7 p.m. nightly. The Rev. James K. Baker, pastor of New Beginning Baptist Church, Macon, will be preaching. For more information call 706234-2091 or 706-234-5047.
3000 Garden Lakes Blvd., offers free, interactive Positive Parenting workshops on the first and second Tuesday of each month from 7-8:30 p.m. in the community room. Advance registration is requested if you require childcare. For more information call 706-346-7205 or register at www. BuildingPositiveFamilies.org.
436 Branham Ave., will celebrate their annual Senior’s Day on April 22 at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Scott McClure and Flatrock Baptist Church as guests.
105 Oak Hill Road, Lyerly, holds Sunday School for ages 2 and up at 10 a.m. The church is handicapped accessible. For more information call Pastor Marshall Bryan at 706-409-0329. The church is seeking vendors for their 10th annual car & truck show and craft festival on Aug. 11 from 8 a.m.- 3 p.m., rain or shine, at Dowdy Park, Summerville. Booth rental is $20 for a 15’x15’ area. Vendors provide their own tent, tables and chairs. For an application or more information call Judy Motes at 706857-6008 and leave a message or email Marie Hanna at mariehanna@windstream. net with your questions.
259 Herring Road, Armuchee will have celebrate the anniversary of their adult choir on Sunday at 2 p.m.
399 Moran Lake Road, will hold revival April 11-13 at 7 p.m. nightly. The church will celebrate their 56th anniversary on April 15 at 3 p.m. with dinner served at 2 p.m. Pastor H. Keith Lambert and Macedonia Baptist Church, Centre, Alabama, will be the guests.
will hold First Saturday Fellowship with Pastor DeShannon Davis and St. Paul Baptist Church, 428 Pleasant Valley Road, Lindale, on Saturday at 9:45 a.m.
75 N. Floyd Park Road, will host a First Impression reunion concert with original members Phil Wade, Danny Wade, Kirk Ayers and Bruce Durrance on Sunday at 6 p.m. For more information call the church office at 706233-9896 or visit www.NorthsideChurch.tv.
5604 Alabama Highway, holds Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. and morning service at 10:50 a.m. Sunday evening services are at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday morning prayer service is held every week at 8:30 a.m. Bible study is held Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. The church will host Brotherhood Breakfast on Saturday at 8 a.m. For more information call 706-235-4119 or 706-292-0462.
500 Division St., will be hosting a youth tent revival through April 20 Monday-Friday from 6-8 p.m. nightly. For more information call youth director Brittany Barton at 706728-1475 or trustee David Day at 706-7282226. The church has a food pantry every Monday and Wednesday from 5-6 p.m.
735 Old Summerville Road, holds a casual dress praise & worship service led by Ben Thornton & Praise Band at 10:45 a.m. each Sunday in the fellowship hall. A blended worship service is held at the same time in the sanctuary.
will distribute free clothing to those in need on Saturday and April 10 in the parking lot of Rome First United Methodist Church located between Second Street and Third Street from noon4 p.m.
will host the Rome Area Prayer Breakfast on May 3 at the Forum River Center, 301 Tribune St. Doors open at 6 a.m. and the program begins at 7 a.m. Pastor Wally Magdangal will deliver testimony of God’s protection during his imprisonment in Saudi Arabia and William Flannagan will be awarded the Hugh Burnes Christian Service Award. Admission is free but a reservation is required. Call Donna Chadwick at 706-295-1409 or email romeprayerbreakfast@gmail.com for more details. Complimentary tickets are available until April 26 at Bert Brooks Tire, Chickfil-A Dwarf House, Christian Counseling and Education Ministries, Dogwood Books, Doug’s Deli Downtown, Duffy’s Deli, sweetFrog premium frozen yogurt and Winslette Pharmacy.
202 E. Third Ave., offers contemporary worship service in the Garnett M. Wilder Center at 9 a.m. and traditional worship in the historic sanctuary at 11 a.m. Sunday School and small groups for all ages meet at 10 a.m.
42 Ash St., meets for Holy Communion Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Childcare is provided. Christian education classes for all ages will resume this week. For more information call 706-506-1241.
911 N. Broad St., holds weekend Masses on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in English and 7 p.m. in Spanish. Masses on Sunday are at 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. A bilingual Divine Mercy Sunday Holy Hour will be held Sunday at 3:30 p.m. in the church followed by the Rosary in English. For additional information on any church activities or programs contact
6 Old Rockmart Road, Lindale, holds Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. The Rev. Camille Josey will deliver the sermon “Seeds of Faith.” This week’s Old Testament scripture is Psalm 145 and the New Testament Scripture passage is John 20:1931. The church’s monthly midday Bible study will meet April 9th at 1:30 p.m. in the pastor’s study. For more information contact Janet Farr at 706-346-7268, visit the church’s Facebook page or webpage at silvercreekpcusa.org.
will distribute free clothing to those in need on April 7 from noon-4 p.m.in the parking lot of Rome First United Methodist Church, located between Second and Third St.
304 Coker Drive, will have Holy Eucharist Sunday at 11 a.m. Al-Anon will meet at noon on April 11 and there will be a healing service with Eucharist at 6 p.m. Priest-inCharge is the Rev. Linda Pineo. For more information call 706-234-0197.
1941 Shorter Ave., holds church school for all ages at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The Rev. Greg Lund will preach a sermon titled “Tangible Truth.” A nursery is available.
914 Shorter Ave., will have a yard sale today from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m.-noon. Items for sale include clothing, toys, house wares, furniture and electronics. Proceeds benefit the church’s mission work locally and internationally.
1003 Shorter Ave., holds Sunday morning services at 11 a.m. The sermon “Is Doubt a Sin?” will come from John 20:19-31. The church will have Bible study with Barbara Davis on April 12 at 11 a.m. For more information call 706-234-6214, email wrumc@bellsouth.net or visit www. westromeumc.org.
323 Wilkerson Road, holds Sunday School at 10 a.m. and worship services at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sundays. Wednesday night Bible study is at 7 p.m. For more information call 706-767-1664.
1649 Cartersville Highway, will host “Mark’s Gospel Live,” a telling of the entire Gospel of St. Mark by the Rev. Joseph Morris, on April 20 at 7 p.m. A free-will offering is asked for admission. Visit facebook. com/woodlawnbaptistchurch or www. gospelofmark.us for more information.