The Village Chapel of Bald Head Island

September 11, 2011

As we reflect on the happenings in our world, we are encouraged by the reminder that there is hope for our country and our island. This morning during the Chapel’s worship service, we reflected on America’s wonderful history as the Cardinal Singers, led by Elizabeth Beam, inspired our hearts as they sang “America the Beautiful.”

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

(Words by Katharine Lee Bates; melody by Samuel Ward)

The Cardinal Singers were part of Rev. Robert Lewis’ thought-provoking worship service.

Bob and Jan Lewis

What is our response to living through a dramatic event such as September 11, 2001? The words and feelings we considered were: being under attack, sobering, chastened, sad and determined. We were reminded that the evening of the attack, President George W. Bush read The Twenty-Third Psalm during his Oval Office address to the nation. He emphasized that we “fear no evil” because there is good news in the face of tragedy. The “good news” is GOD IS WITH US. In all trials, as we call on God, we know that His light will vanquish the darkness.

Rev. Lewis reminded us that life is a precious gift, citing these two examples. The services held in churches across the country after the attacks focused on the symbols of the eagle and the cross. First, the eagle is the only bird that can rise above a storm. Our country rose above the storm of the attack of September 11, and we were encouraged to do the same in our own lives. Second, the cross tells us that Christ endured the worst and was victorious. This is also true for all of us. Why? Because God’s love is stronger than the evil or hate that exists in the world. We are called upon to walk in His love. How can we anchor in this? Psalms 139:7-12 tells us that there is no place we can go where God is not present. In Romans 8:35-39, we are reminded that there is NOTHING that can ever separate us from that love.

Rev. Lewis presented a challenge to each of us in the story of the 1911 theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” from the Louvre. It was documented that during the two years the painting was missing, more people came to stare at the blank space on the wall than had come to see the masterpiece in the prior twelve years that it had been on exhibit. In other words, we can have beauty in front of us and not realize it until it is gone. Then we stare at the blank walls of our life, amazed that something we took for granted is gone. Rev. Lewis ended his sermon by giving us thoughts to ponder: What are we taking for granted? Are we celebrating the blessings, the freedom, and the faith that is in front of us? Are we anchoring in the fact that God’s presence and love is “hanging before us”? Perhaps we can do much more to enjoy “His work.”

Deep Peace of Christ to You!

The Worship Service on August 28, 2011, after a week of watching Hurricane Irene, was a joyful experience. Rev. Garrett Albertson blessed us by proclaiming the power of Love from I Corinthians 13 and the choir, led by Cindy Sellers, created joyfulness by singing about the Peace God brings in Storms. Thirty One persons were in attendance and the Usher came for the cancelled 10:00 Service. We were all so happy to be able to be in Chapel and missed all of our friends.

The Village Chapel after Hurricane Irene

Ready to Worship

Brenda and Dana Quanstrom

Lee and Thad Wester

Fran and Win Stevens

Carol and Roy Johnert

Pat and Larry Lammert

Pat and Ken Miller

Jane and Brian Johnson

Bill and Rene Zarnoch & Friend

Love is the Most Excellent Way to Live Life!

I Only Love When I am Christ Like.

Love is the Best Therapy and I Don’t Have To Agree With Someone to Love Them.

Pat and Dick Johnston

Property Owner

Klaus Bachmann

Barbara McQuaide

Stanley Burton:  If people were Absorbed by Love, People Wouldn’t Need Psychiatrists.

Hatred Exerts A High Price.

When You tell a Person to Go to Hell, They take a Piece of You With Them.

Karl Menninger capped the term TLC (Tender Loving Care) and had it written on the charts of each patient.

Chapel Choir: Jane Johnston, Brenda Quanstrom
Bob Porter, Scott Starks, Cindy Sellers & Garrett Albertson

Organist: Cindy Sellers

We are all Inadequate at Perfect Love, but God is calling Us to Be  Healed and to Be a Healer.

Minister: Rev. Garrett Albertson

Gaelic Blessing with Storm Debris

Lovelessness is the Greatest Sin             If You Would Be Loved – Love.

                                        And the Greatest of These is LOVE!

Unidentified Congregants

Alan Purdie – Ready to Usher 10:00 Service

** Notes in Purple are from the Sermon

By:  Pat Miller

Planning A New Year Bald Head Island Chapel God Encounter

As the New Year gets under way, I reminisce about all the God-related activity going on in our Chapel.  Even though we come from different Judeo-Christian backgrounds, we are growing as a Faith Family.  We are learning to find beauty and meaning in sharing with each other our beliefs, knowledge and traditions.  For me, I am learning to make the message of I Corinthians 13 more relevant in my own life.  To quote the words of The Message - somewhat paraphrased:  “Speaking with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy, speaking God’s Word with power, even revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, having faith to move mountains – even to the point of saying ‘Mountain, jump in the Ocean’ – and glory be, it happening -  or giving everything we own to the poor or even being burned at the stake as a martyr, can be good, BUT that isn’t what it is all about.  Without LOVE all of this amounts to ‘creaking rusty gates; being nothing; and going nowhere!’  Bottom line, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I am bankrupt without love.”

What impact do these words have on my life?  I am thankful for the people of Bald Head Island, thankful for the ministries of the Chapel and thankful for the privilege of being here.   Most of all, though, I am focused on being a “lover,” so God will say:  "Yes, now you’re up to something BIG."   The refrain of a familiar song plays over and over in my mind:  “. . . And they’ll know we are Christians by our Love, by our Love.  Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our LOVE.”

I am focused now on having more God Encounters on Bald Head Island.  How?  By LOVING people first and then letting the disciplines of my faith follow.