This is a blog sent to me from Scott Powell. He is currently leading our Sunday School class based on reading the book Amish Grace. Please Join Us on Sunday. Also, please let me know your ideas on a social event for our class I would like to do something in October if posssible.

Yours in Christ,

Kevin Thornton


October 7, 2009


While visiting my parents over the Labor Day weekend, I casually mentioned Limestone College Chaplain Rev. Ron Singleton had organized a fall speaker series called "Toward the Darkness: Toward the Light."
Singleton was the pastor at Clemson University Methodist Church in the mid-1990s where my parents go to church and my older brother Greg and I were baptized, confirmed and attended church our entire lives until we left Clemson after graduating from college.

My parents lent me the book "Amish Grace" by Donald Kraybill, which I finished during my three day visit in Clemson. This inspired me to turn this book into a series of Sunday School lessons.

Donald Kraybill will be speaking on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at Fullerton Auditorium at Limestone College.His book "Amish Grace" has been the subject of a monthlong study in the Y'All Sunday School Class.

The book explores the roots and habits of forgiveness which have allowed the Amish to reach out beyond their community in the wake of family and community tragedy.

While I have used some material from the "Amish Grace" book, my hope is this has generated discussion in the church about the need to practice forgiveness in our everyday lives. I have used examples from Amish culture on being able to move forward in our relationships while not harboring grudges.

In my daily devotions, one concept which has really struck a chord with me is Jesus teaching about loving our neighbors as well as our enemies.

It is easy to love our neighbor. Loving our neighbors is much harder, especially when our community or families have been touched by evil.

Forgiveness is very close to the ministry of Jesus who preached Love.

God loves us no matter what. He expects us to do so the same.

We will base much of Sunday's lesson on the nature of God's grace and reflecting on the meaning behind Jesus question to Peter in John 21.
Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me? Feed my sheep. If you love me, forgive my lambs."

Everyone struggles to live up to this tough standard of love and forgiveness while we are working, driving and in our daily relationships with our family.

I find daily comfort in my devotional time through studying Bible scripture such as Ephesians 4:32: "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you."
My own Christian faith has been enhanced greatly in the months since I returned from a Via de Cristo retreat weekend held in Western North Carolina.

This 3-day weekend offers an opportunity to learn in a community environment about God's grace and what it means to live a grace filled life.

Lectures, small group discussions and chapel services are held in a highly structured program designed to bring each retreat participant towards a greater understanding about the Christian faith.

The Via de Cristo retreats are held as men's, women's and mixed weekends at Lutheridge outside Asheville.

The 2010 weekend dates are:

      March 4-7          Mixed       29
      April 22-25        Men's       64
      May 13-16          Women's     64
      September 16-19    Men's       65
      September 23-26    Women's     65
      November 4-7       Mixed       30

I hope you will prayerfully consider whether the Via de Cristo retreat experience is something which might benefit you in your spiritual walk with the Lord. You are welcome to speak with me further if you desire additional information about the retreat. I hope to see you in Sunday School.


In His Service,

Scott Powell

Hey guys & gals,
We had the Fire Proof movie night. It went really well, I would like to thank Ed and Pam Cazel for hosting the event. We got things ready for the Fire Proof Sunday School Series this Sunday. We are combining material from the book Fire Proof Your Life with the Fire Proof Your Marriage Participants guide for small groups. A lot of the material overlaps because it is based on living by Christ's example. Doing that will help all of your relationships (Friendship,Marriage,School,Work...).This class is for couples and singles. Sunday School starts at 9:30 A.M. We will begin the series this coming Sunday. We hope to see you there.

Yours in Christ,
Kevin

Hey Guys & Gals,
The Yall Group is planning a movie night to view Fire Proof. This will be the kickoff of our next Sunday School bible study series. The movie night will be Saturday March 28. Ed & Pam Cazel will be hosting at their house. We will be having 2-3 apps,variety salads,Lasagna,desert for supper. We will also be having a kids menu. You are welcome to bring kids in PJ's, we will be providing sitters for the kids with their own activities.We have extended the RSVP date until March 20.Please respond with number of adults & kids(with ages)that will be attending. We are planning on beginning socializing & final prep of food at 5:30. We tentativly plan on starting the meal around 6:30-7:00 with Movie after supper. As always at St. Pauls we have an open door policy, Friends are always welcome & Everyone is always a friend. Please send RSVP's to thorntonhome@charter.net or call 488-3078.

Yours in Christ,
Kevin

Hey Guys & Gals,
Ed Cazel will be leading our Sunday School class for the next few weeks based on the book UNCHRISTIAN. He has been filling us in on tidbits about the book at the begining of class during our time to catch up on the happenings of the week. This sounds like an interesting thought producing study. We hope you come and participate. We are also starting to plan our next Social event. We are planning a pot luck dinner with a veiwing of the movie FIRE PROOF. We have found a couple of DVD bible studies based on this movie. They are Fire Proof Your Life and Fire Proof Your Marriage. We are going to follow Ed's program with Fire Proof Your Life. We will be finalizing the plans for the social in the next couple of weeks so keep checking in. If you would like more information about our group or if you would like to be notified of new up and comming events we are planning please contact me at thorntonhome@charter.net or give me a call at 488-3078.

Yours in Christ,
Kevin Thornton

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