The shadow of grace

I live in the shadowed remembrances of my past, the persistent guideposts and framers of the person I was, who I became and still to be.

These shadows have names like Daniel, Mom, Dad, Buck, the “Elite,“Pat Majors and Jack Willis. There are places, too — a house on Rockmont Road, a bend in the river Edisto, E. Montclair Avenue, Ninovan and Orangeburg. Not lost in my thought, I am mindful shadows can signal a coming storm or offer respite.

These people and places formed my perspective along with the words expressing the beliefs I learned from them. They were the ghostwriters defining my life’s boundaries, markers toward my destination, antecedents to grace.

How else did I arrive here? Growing up my thinking took me beyond obedience and humility. Willfulness offered a more immediate salve to the seeming victories I saw in my future. Victory for me meant freedom from encumbrance. Pride is an easy path to destruction and success — a narcotic too easily swallowed. Life, God I think, yearned to teach me that pride and success are unfulfilling myth building desires. Always present, unnoticed, my shadows were the means of grace.

A seeker’s victory is in the eternal truth he glimpses in this life. I came to know this when I came to know Jesus, not just believe in him. Purged by grace, pride was just another form of indignation and selfrighteousness. I chose the long, prodigal detour to this truth. It’s a hard learning to live by faith.

Each day, I know Jesus a little more. “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death of the cross“(Philippians 2:8). It dawns on me, of all the men born on earth, Jesus did not choose pride.

Moshe Feldenkrais, the Israeli physicist, said, “All the world is desperate for change, but on one condition: they don’t want anything to be different.” I would qualify his statement — “especially in themselves.”

I have often wondered about those times in the Gospels when Jesus is clearly being harsh. I now know it’s a clear warning to the prideful. The real prodigal son, the one who stayed at home, clung to his pride, too.

A word is a weak offering for experience. Spoken, it becomes true or not, and at best incomplete in its suggestion. A word always seeks expression in form or life or experience but never fully describes them. It simply depends on where one is standing. And who can live another’s word, words such as pride and faith and grace and love and shadow?

I live in my shadows and experiences, the storms and respites with names and places and words that accompanied me to grace.

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.

The Church, 8180 Alabama Highway, will hold revival May 7-9 at 7 p.m. nightly. Brother Rob miller will be preaching and Brother Junior Proctor will be leading singing. For more information call Pastor Buddy Floyd at 706-331-2620.

Callahan Street Church of Christ, 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.”

Covenant Presbyterian Church (EPC), 1645 Cartersville Highway, holds adult Sunday School class at 10 a.m. The class will discuss predestination versus free will. Worship service led by Dr. Walter Turner will be at 11 a.m. Communion will be served. For further information email covenantpresbyterianchurch.epc@gmail. com or visit the church’s Facebook page.

542 Branham Ave., will celebrate their 42nd church anniversary on Sunday at 11:15 a.m. Elder Kaery Price, Greater Mount Olive Overcoming Church of God, Douglasville, will be speaking in the morning service and Elder Barbara Thompson, St. Peter’s Overcoming Church of God, Rockmart, will be speaking in the 3 p.m. service. Dinner will be served at 2 p.m. For more information call 706-676-0930.

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.

848 Cunningham Road, will celebrate their annual homecoming and Family & Friends Day on Sunday at 3 p.m. The Rev. Charles Tyes, pastor of Edgefield Baptist Church, will be the guest messenger. For additional information call 706-234-9976.

537 W. 12th St., will hold their sixth annual Women’s Day on May 20 at 4 p.m. Recording artist Lady Glenda Adams will be the messenger. The theme this year is “When the Lord Speaks, He Makes a Way.”

445 E. 14th St., will have a yard sale and fish fry on June 2 at 2112 Maple St. at 8 a.m. Fish plates include fish, coleslaw, baked beans and a slice of cake for $7. Whole, homemade pound cakes will also be for sell. The church 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.

259 Herring Road, Armuchee, will host the Rev. Frank Jones of Lovejoy Baptist Church as guest messenger on Sunday 11 a.m.

2202 N. Broad St., will celebrate their 74th annual homecoming with special singers on Sunday 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 for ages 3-10 June 10-14 from 6-8:30 p.m. nightly.

1233 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., will celebrate their 52nd church anniversary on May 20 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.

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 County Shriners on Saturday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. rain or shine in the church fellowship hall. For more information contact Butch Gardner at 706-895-4573.

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.

Excelsior St., has Sunday School at 10 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. Evening services are at 6 p.m. on Sundays and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information call Carey Wright at 706-766-1152.

615 Cleveland Ave., will celebrate their mortgage burning Sunday 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 Saturday 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.

997 Brownlee Mountain Road, Adairsville, will have a singing Sunday at 6 p.m. Going Higher, Gainesville, will be the special singers.

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. There will be a Baptism class on Sunday at 11 a.m. in the church conference room for those parents desiring baptism of their children in the near future. The Cinco de Mayo celebration featuring Latino meals, folkloric dancing and music hosted by the church’s Hispanic community will be this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the John Paul II Center behind 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.

7104 Alabama Highway, will celebrate homecoming on Sunday at 11 a.m. A covered dish lunch will follow service and the Sardis Preservation Society will be meeting. For more information call 706232-1228.

2526 Cedartown Highway, will host a free plant-based dish tasting on Sunday at 1 p.m.

6 Old Rockmart Road, Lindale, will have First Sunday Fellowship Breakfast Sunday at 9 a.m. Sunday School begins at 9:45 a.m. The Rev. Camille Josey’s sermon this week is “Partners in the Gospel.” The New Testament Scripture passages are Luke 9:46-48 and Philippians 1:1-18. The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated in the worship service. The congregation is active in supporting and participating 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 706-346-7268, visit the church Facebook page or webpage at silvercreekpcusa.org/.

8536 Black’s Bluff Road, Cave Spring, will have Decoration Day at State Line Cemetery throughout the day starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday. 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.

will distribute free clothing to those in need from noon-2 p.m. on Saturday in the parking lot of Rome First United Methodist Church located between Second St. and Third St.

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 deliver a sermon titled “When the Spirit Arrives.” A nursery is available.

1003 Shorter Ave., will observe the sixth Sunday of Easter this Sunday at 11 a.m. The Rev. Chuck, of Café 1040, will be speaking on “Adventures in Reaching the Unreached.” 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 706-2346214, 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.