Thursday MorningClick here to listen to Karen Greenwaldt's Thursday morning Bible study. Following the Bible study, Bishop Kammerer announced that the water had been turned into wine and that an estimated $103,000 had been raised the previous evening for Nothing But Net. Denise Honeycutt, director of mission, addressed the gathering about the Nothing But Nets campaign. She told the story about a church that only had a 5- and 9-year old in the children's class. They wanted to raise money to buy a $10 net for Nothing But Nets. They baked cookies and at the end of that day they had $250. She asked God's blessings on these gifts. The Committee on the Episcopacy has requested that Bishop Kammerer be reappointed to Virginia in the next quadrennium. Darlene Amon asked for the endorsement of the conference. It was received with a rousing, standing ovation. Tim Tate and Regina Anderson-Cloud, in a moment of personal privilege, asked for a commitment of one thing -- to respond to what the spirit has done here. Dennis Sheer presented the Report of the Treasurer. $27.7 million was received in 2006. Apportionments stood at 93 percent. The Roanoke District paid 100 percent. 83 percent of the churches in the conference paid 100 percent. J.D. Berlin presented the report of the Council on Finance and Administration (CFA). Sections I, II, III and VIII were approved. It was reported that the Youth Service Fund offering taken early this morning totaled $7,538.36. A Service of the Word and Fixing of Appointments was held at 11:15 a.m. Trevor Hudson thanked the conference for having him at the conference. He said he's really been challenged again to visit the Scriptures at a new level. He thanked the bishop for "taking the risk" at having him here. His sermonwas based on the Scripture John 21:4-19 titled "Rehearsing Our Calling." The Scripture is the story of the disciples trying to fish and Jesus appears to them again and Jesus tells them to feed my sheep and follow me. Click here to listen to Trevor Hudson's sermon
In 1979, he invited Desmond Tutu to speak to his little, white congregation. He traveled there for 6 weeks. He taught Genesis 1, 2, and 3. "He laughed the truth into us with a twinkle in his eye," he said. "The Bible is a powerful book." In John, the disciples had gone back to fishing. "Can you believe it?" he asked. "I can. They've gone back to what they know best. I think they are puzzled and they are battling inwardly. How do you integrate a resurrection into your world view." They fish all night and catch nothing. In verse 4 (the first ine we need to rehearse) John artfully introduces to us what the Gospel is alla bout. He does with a picture. Early in the morning Jesus came and stood on the shore. That's the the gospel. It's dark, you're on the lake and you've caught nothing. Suddenly you see, gray on the shore, becoming clearer. Can you see it?" He continued, "With Jesus, the sun rises and a new day dawns." Jesus rose again not only so we could have a personal and private relationship. It's more than that. With Jesus, there is new creation -- that's the Gospel -- rehearse the line. It's about becoming alive again to ourselves and other people." Jesus tells them to fish and they catch and they come to the shore. Jesus prepared breakfast for them. There's fish and bread. These disciples are invited to participate in a new celebration. "Jesus is always having meals, hanging out at parties. The only time he runs into trouble is when he goes to church! Most of the teaching happens at parties." At the end of the sermon, he rehearsed the lines with the congregation: New Creation |
