On my way to Iconium

“But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 13: 51,52)

Spring is peeking from under winter’s blanket, attempting to wake and greet its season. Sometimes it reminds me of me. It just doesn’t want to get out of bed. But as my clock moves, my feet hit the floor and the day begins. Spring will do the same. The azaleas always demand their moment and my day never waits. Despite my desire the earth rotates.

There is a rhythm to this movement, a perpetual motion of routine keeping time with a metronome of intent. But in my daily walk, life is indifferent to the tempo by which I wish to dance. Life follows its own maestro. I’ve heard the preacher talk about a daily walk with Christ. I’m not sure what it means. The idea suggests a posture I cannot define. The obvious occurs to me — pray daily, read the Bible, contemplate the day’s verse — and the toughest one — love thy neighbor when thy neighbor is unlovable because they’re making noise as I’m trying to sleep before an early tomorrow. These make me think walking with Christ is a matter of convenience, an undisturbed view of verdant pastures. Life and Christ suggest otherwise.

I wish the idea to be concrete, but walking with Christ is more elusive, vague and problematic. I’ve lived long enough to distinguish the difference between “Umbrella” days (sheltered and shaded) and “Salmon” days (always swimming upstream). But more than those days, the problem is me. Knowing too well my imperfection, walking with Christ educes my ineptness. I am unworthy to will myself to walk with him.

Carlo Carretto in his book “In Search of the Beyond,” says “Jesus is also our brother, and as such he takes his place beside us, to teach us the path we must follow to reach the invisible. And to make sure that we understand, he translates into visible terms the invisible things he has seen — as man he acts as God would act; he introduces the ways of the family of God on to the earth and into the family of man.”

Repeated failure opens my mind to invisibility. It is not so much that I walk with Christ, but that Christ walks with me even when I am absent He walks with me even when the skies brood, when the world leans against me, when my neighbor elicits a terse response, when winter hangs on and Spring comes in its own time, not mine. Christ is there to remind me and disturb me to his perspective. His walk with me has a set of rules in which I have no part in the negotiation. Mine is to listen.

Like Paul and Barnabas, I must learn to shake off life’s dust and march forth to Iconium with Christ walking at my side.

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.

108 Callhan St., will host Vacation Bible School June 4-9 from 6-8 p.m. nightly. The theme will be “Noah’s Ark Adventure.”

1645 Cartersville Highway, will hold adult Sunday School class at 10 a.m. The class will discuss predestination and free will. Traditional worship service led by Walter Turner will be at 11 a.m. followed by the church’s monthly covered dish luncheon. For further church information email covenantpresbyterianchurch.epc@ gmail.com or visit the church Facebook page.

46 Dykes Creek Road, will hold revival on April 29 with Dr. Ed Rhodes at 10:30 a.m.

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.

Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 445 E. 14th St., will have Vacation Bible School June 4-8 from 6-8 p.m. nightly. Classes for preschool through adults available. The theme will be “Follow the Leader.” Transportation will be provided. For more information call 706234-2091 or 706-234-5047.

2202 N. Broad St., will celebrate their 74th annual homecoming with special singers on May 6 at 10:30 a.m. Sunday School will be at 9:45 a.m. The Rev. Barry McCullough will be preaching. Lunch will be served following. The church will have Vacation Bible School June 10-14 from 6-8:30 p.m. nightly.

1233 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., will celebrate their 52nd church anniversary on May 10 at 3 p.m. The Rev. Curtis L. Russell, pastor of Holsey Sinai C.M.E. Church, Macon, will deliver the message. A souvenir booklet with memorials and advertisements will be created for the event. For more information contact event chairperson Martha Davis at 706-295-4768 or email marthadavis323@ comcast.net.

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.

80 Salem Drive, will have a fifth Sunday night singing this Sunday at 6 p.m. featuring worship pastor Jody Payne and the church praise band. For more information call the church office at 706-235-2149.

436 Branham Ave., will celebrate Women’s Day on May 13 at 11 a.m. Award winning journalist Secily Wilson, who has appeared on the Soul Train Music Awards, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, BET and Centric TV, will be the guest speaker.

105 Oak Hill Road, Lyerly, holds Sunday School for ages 2 and up at 10 a.m. The church is handicapped accessible. For further information call Pastor Marshall Bryan at 706-409-0329. The church is seeking vendors for their tenth 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. The church’s 2017 Feeding the Flock cookbook can be purchased from any church member or by sending $13 to Lyerly United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Lyerly, GA 30730. For more information call JoAnn Mitchell at 706-895-2636. The church will have an inside yard sale to benefit the Chattooga

is seeking 4-person teams and individuals to join the Church Bowling League spring session. The league meets on Thursday evenings at Classic Bowling Center, 75 Huffaker Road. All team earnings benefit your church or favorite charity. For more information call Allen Shropshire at 706-802-1659 or Classic Bowling Center at 706-234-3323.

4053 Kingston Highway, will celebrate homecoming on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. Gil Watson speaking. There will be special music and lunch following service.

615 Cleveland Ave., will celebrate their mortgage burning May 6 at 3 p.m. Bishop Kenneth Wayne Carter of the Sixth Episcopal District of the C.M.E. Church will be the guest speaker. For more information contact the Rev. Derrick McDaniel at 706204-8825. Refreshments will be served after the program. The church will join with Holsey Sinai C.M.E. Church and the Kinnebrew Family to host the ninth annual Ethel B. Kinnebrew Memorial Singing on May 27 at 3 p.m. The Rev. Kenneth Brown and First Lady Crystal Brown of Galilee Baptist Church, Cedartown, will serve as worship leaders. Choirs, soloists, male and female choruses and praise dancers are requested to join. For more information call 706-204-8825.

will hold First Saturday Fellowship Service on May 5 at 9:45 a.m. with Pastor Khyri Rogers and St. Luke Baptist Church, 1111 Friendship Road, Cedartown.

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 May 5 at 8 a.m. For more information call 706-235-4119 or 706-292-0462.

Pleasant Valley North Baptist Church, 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. Blended worship services are held in the sanctuary at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. The church will host a Priscilla Shirer simulcast for women on Saturday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Cost is $20 and includes lunch. All ladies are invited to preregister online at pleasantvalleynorth.com. Registration will be available at the door from 8:15-8:45 a.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 706-2951409 or email romeprayerbreakfast@gmail. com for more details.

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.

1225 Rush Chapel Road, holds Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m. and worship services with Pastor Nick Georgian at 10:55 a.m. For more information on additional activities or programs contact the church office at 706-291-7986 or email nick.georgian@ngumc.net.

42 Ash St., meets for Holy Communion Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Childcare is provided. For more information call 706-506-1241.

911 N. Broad St., has 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. The Legion of Mary meets each Saturday at 9 a.m. in the church conference room. The Rosary is prayed each Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m. in the church. For additional information on any church activities or programs contact the church office at 706290-9000 or at DeaconNeslin@smcrome. org.

101 E. Fourth Ave., offers Sunday services of Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. in the chapel and at 10 a.m. in the church. A service of Holy Eucharist in Spanish is offered Sundays at 1 p.m. in the chapel. Midweek Eucharist services are Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the chapel. Sunday School is available on Sundays at 11:15 a.m. for all ages. Nursery is offered during the 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist on Sunday. Children’s Chapel is offered for children ages pre-k through third grade during the 10 a.m. Sunday service. A Vacation Bible School titled “Dare to Be Different” will be offered June 8-12 from 9 a.m. to noon daily. For more information call 706-291-9111 or visit the church website at www.stpetersrome.org.

6 Old Rockmart Road, Lindale, holds Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. The Rev. Camille Josey’s sermon this week is “Known and Unknown.” The New Testament Scripture passages are Acts 17:16-31 and John 1:16-18. The church will have their monthly fellowship luncheon following worship this Sunday. The congregation supports and participates in local mission outreach at the Bill Davies Homeless Shelter, the Community Kitchen’s clothes closet, laundry and personal care facility and Hospitality House. For more information contact Janet Farr at 706-3467268 or visit the church’s Facebook page or webpage at silvercreekpcusa.org.

36 Reeceburg Road, Silver Creek, will hold their monthly free community lunch on Saturday from noon-2 p.m. Spaghetti and salad will be served for eat-in or carryout.

2636 Chulio Road, will hold their sixth annual 5K Road Race on Saturday. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and costs $25 for each registrant. Proceeds benefit the church’s youth programs.

8536 Blacks Bluff Road, Cave Spring, will have Decoration Day at State Line Cemetery throughout the day starting at 9 a.m. on May 5. Donations to the cemetery fund may be mailed to State Line Baptist Church, attn: Cemetery Fund, 8536 Black Bluff Road, Cave Spring, GA 30124, or to United Community Bank, 15 Cedartown St., Cave Spring, GA 30124.

304 Coker Drive, will have Holy Eucharist Sunday at 11 a.m. Al-Anon will meet at noon on May 2. There will be no healing service this week. Priest-in-Charge is the Rev. Linda Pineo. For more information call 706-234-0197.

606 Turner McCall Blvd., holds Sunday School classes for children, youth and adults from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Nursery is offered during the Sunday School hour and the 11 a.m. Sunday service. Sunday evening services are at 6:30 p.m. The church is currently having a series titled “One: A Season of Unity and Love.” For more information visit trinityrome.com or call the church office at 706-291-0033.

1941 Shorter Ave., holds church school for all ages at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. on Sundays. The Rev. Greg Lund will preach a sermon titled “Gains in Losses.” A nursery is available.

1003 Shorter Ave., holds Sunday morning services at 11 a.m. The sermon “Perfect Love” will come from 1 John 4:7-21. The church will have a yard sale and bake sale on May 12 from 8 a.m.-noon. Proceeds benefit the church food pantry. 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.