The Circle of Life

The year 2012 has already been one of ups and downs, extreme happiness and overwhelming sorrow.  Our oldest son and his new bride moved over 900 miles away, and our youngest son has become an assistant manager at his job. We are so proud of both of them and the direction their lives are taking.

We have had a slew of new babies born in recent months, filling our church with precious sounds and the knowledge that we will continue into the next generation.  New families, new babies, new members joining our body...God is blessing us. 

We're not without other issues - no church is - but we pray for those who may be affected by some not so pleasant and sometimes hurtful actions of others...God will handle this.

We have also suffered much loss in this same time period. 

Robin Skipper Harned



Annie Ruth Jacobsen



Marilyn Kelley

These three ladies were special...to their family and friends and to our church body.  Robin struggled with multiple bouts of cancer and she was so in love with her husband, daughters and precious grandchildren to be taken so young.  She had not been an active part of this church for many years, but God knew her heart and life.

Annie Ruth was an integral part of this church family "forever" it seems.  She was a spunky, 93 year old matriarch, 4 ft. something in heels, mother of 8 children and countless grandchildren, great grandchildren and hosts of other family members and great friends.  She was a servant, a giver, a friend, a mentor, and a precious child of God, always ready to give advice and encouragement to anyone she came in contact with.  We will miss her greatly...but she also had her family promise to carry on her legacy of giving and encouraging.

Marilyn Kelley passed away only yesterday, February 20.  Mrs. Marilyn was a classy, quiet lady, always ready with a smile and hug.  She was a mother of four, grandmother, aunt and friend.  Mrs. Marilyn's husband, Max, was taken much too early, over 30 years ago, and I don't think she ever truly got over this loss.  She is now with Max again, but her family and friends will miss her everyday presence.

Another friend of our church also passed away on Saturday (Feb. 18)...Don Kemp was a big presence - in size, in voice, in humor and in his love of God, Jesus and His church.  He and his wife, Rita, served in churches all over the South and he was a true soul-winner, a believer in spreading the Gospel.  He will be missed by all who loved and knew him.

The Circle of Life...we're born, we live, we die.  Sounds rather blunt, but that is all part of God's plan.  It's what we do in the living that determines the rest.  May we all live to serve God and others and to be a friend to those around us.  We never know when the end of this circle will come...

Continue to keep these families in your prayers...everyone grieves in their own way and time.  We must be there with love and support, and share in the memories.