Friends and Members:
I live just 100 yards east of Route 11. Route 11 is to the eastern states as Route 66 is to the midwest, southwest and western states. It runs from the Canadian Border where Vermont and New York State come together for 1677 miles to a point near but not in New Orleans. It has been called America’s Highway and also the French Connection. It winds through at least 10 states and right down the center of the Shenandoah Valley and of course right in front of Bethlehem Church. During the War Between the States, this road was the main way troops from the north and south traveled as they battled each other. It only has heavy traffic now when there is blockage on the interstates. Driving along Route 11, here in the valley, you pass a number of remnants of this roads historic past: small abandoned two pump gas stations, empty restaurant buildings, old motels with the small cabins, small villages and towns with empty stores which once thrived with the local and tourist business and of course the little villages with a couple churches and many old but beautiful houses. Now it is mostly a main street in a small town or a two lane road wending through hills and valleys, over rivers and through pasture land, past ice cream stands and places to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. There are many local businesses but not like there used to be. O yes, it goes through some large communities like Harrisonburg or Staunton but for the most part it is a country road reminding us of what once was along the route. It connects the past and all of those joys and sorrows of yesteryear and all of our challenges of life today.. How great it would be if we could have a gathering of all those who still remember those days of travel on Route 11 before the interstate system took over. On a map it is a wandering line but it is also paved with great and glorious and sometimes tragic memories. Like traveling this highway so many people also have memories of their journey through Sunday School and wish it could return to that today but unfortunately today’s church families are not unlike our interstate highways. They are moving fast from one project to another and from one activity to another and they no longer slow down enough to pause for a refueling of their faith. The interstate highways have made our small highways less populated and in many places abandoned. Will today’s journeys of faith on the fast moving highways of life also leave us with the emptiness of faith as we all face the unknowns of tomorrow?
OPPORTUNITIES
Sunday, February 27th— 10:30 am Sunday Worship
Scriptures: Exodus 34:29-35 and Luke 9:28-36
Sermon: “Life Changes”
Wednesday, March 2nd—11:00 am—Bible Study – Book of Joshua
Wednesday, March 2nd –Lent begins
Sunday, March 13th –11:30 AM Church Council
Sunday, April 17th—Easter
Saturday, May 21st—Spring Bazaar
Proverb for the Week: “I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw”
Proverbs 24:32
Bob Edwards, Minister
I live just 100 yards east of Route 11. Route 11 is to the eastern states as Route 66 is to the midwest, southwest and western states. It runs from the Canadian Border where Vermont and New York State come together for 1677 miles to a point near but not in New Orleans. It has been called America’s Highway and also the French Connection. It winds through at least 10 states and right down the center of the Shenandoah Valley and of course right in front of Bethlehem Church. During the War Between the States, this road was the main way troops from the north and south traveled as they battled each other. It only has heavy traffic now when there is blockage on the interstates. Driving along Route 11, here in the valley, you pass a number of remnants of this roads historic past: small abandoned two pump gas stations, empty restaurant buildings, old motels with the small cabins, small villages and towns with empty stores which once thrived with the local and tourist business and of course the little villages with a couple churches and many old but beautiful houses. Now it is mostly a main street in a small town or a two lane road wending through hills and valleys, over rivers and through pasture land, past ice cream stands and places to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. There are many local businesses but not like there used to be. O yes, it goes through some large communities like Harrisonburg or Staunton but for the most part it is a country road reminding us of what once was along the route. It connects the past and all of those joys and sorrows of yesteryear and all of our challenges of life today.. How great it would be if we could have a gathering of all those who still remember those days of travel on Route 11 before the interstate system took over. On a map it is a wandering line but it is also paved with great and glorious and sometimes tragic memories. Like traveling this highway so many people also have memories of their journey through Sunday School and wish it could return to that today but unfortunately today’s church families are not unlike our interstate highways. They are moving fast from one project to another and from one activity to another and they no longer slow down enough to pause for a refueling of their faith. The interstate highways have made our small highways less populated and in many places abandoned. Will today’s journeys of faith on the fast moving highways of life also leave us with the emptiness of faith as we all face the unknowns of tomorrow?
OPPORTUNITIES
Sunday, February 27th— 10:30 am Sunday Worship
Scriptures: Exodus 34:29-35 and Luke 9:28-36
Sermon: “Life Changes”
Wednesday, March 2nd—11:00 am—Bible Study – Book of Joshua
Wednesday, March 2nd –Lent begins
Sunday, March 13th –11:30 AM Church Council
Sunday, April 17th—Easter
Saturday, May 21st—Spring Bazaar
Proverb for the Week: “I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw”
Proverbs 24:32
Bob Edwards, Minister