Lunenburg United Methodist Charge
Antioch UMC Williams UMC
On our walk. . . . .
April 7, 2009
The Centurion
It wasn't one of those clean jobs, the kind we'd had so many times before. This one was different. Most of ‘em come in snarling and cussing or they're yellow bellied bully scum. They had it coming. You had to hold them down: it would take 5 or 6 of us. Some we'd tie to the tree, others we'd nail. The worse ones got the nails.
We'd hoist them up for a few hours then finally break their legs to put an end to their screamin'. But this one, this one was troublin'. There was something dirty and not right about it. They brought him to us all beaten up and bloody. He had thorns in the shape of a crown in his hair. He had welts on his back that looked like snakes. He was a mess!
There were hecklers too. I couldn't understand it. They kept screaming at him and spitting at him. This guy didn't look like he'd hurt a fly much less deserve all this aggravation. There were even some priests and politicians in the crowd that joined in the taunting! They should've quieted the crowd but they were just as bad as the rest! The eerie thing in all this is he didn't say nothing.
He just stood there taking it.
He was covered in blood and spit and all kinds of junk. But he just stood there taking it. I've never seen that before. He sure wasn't like the regular ones. He seemed better than most; must have been framed. But deciding wasn't my job.
The crowds kept after this guy. They wouldn't let up. They were like a pack of hungry sharks circling, taking a nip here and a nip there. It was a pitiful sight! …..His reaction? He seemed drowned in sadness. The only thing I heard out of him was his breathing. Deep down, heavy breathing like he was in a trance or was praying or something.
When we took his clothes he let us. He didn't get embarrassed or fight us for them. And they were good clothes! We kept them- wash 'em up and they'll do fine! We cast lots for 'em later.
Then we put him down. He just laid down. He almost stretched his own arms out for us! He got the nails. Didn't seem the type. But I had my orders. He just laid there seemed kind of worn out from all the ruckus. As we nailed him down he didn't make a sound. Just the normal convulsions. No fighting, no pulling away; some we've gotta knock out to nail ‘em down.
Not this one.
He was tough. He had guts. He still had a silent kind of strength even after all the beating and blood. He took it. No screams, no cursing, no crying. He just took it. He kind of heaved and moaned when we put up the cross. But they all do that. Sounded like a wounded animal, but not angry like an animal would be. After we got the cross situated they gave us a sign to nail above his head.
It said; King of the Jews. Boy the crowd went wild when we nailed that up. They started hootin’ and hollering all over again spitting and cursing. I wondered where this guys friends were. I started to even feel sorry for him. Even the worse one's have a friend or two standing there. Or at least a priest stands there. But even the priests were yelling and spitting at this one. They just wouldn't let him alone. Even while he hung there bleeding his life away. It was a dirty business I'm here to tell you!
It was more like they should've been up there instead of him. Then some women came closer to him. They didn't seem mad at him like the others. You could tell they'd been crying. Someone said that one of them was his mother; the others must have been his sisters or wife or something. There was only one man.
No others
Anyway, He just hung there dying. Every once in a while he'd say something like "I'm thirsty". We tried to give him some old wine to cut down the pain. But he wouldn't take it. On each side of him were two who deserved it. They were howling and yowling the whole time. Cursing everybody and their grandmother! They screamed and cursed like all the rest until something weird happened. One of them said something to him and he answered and that one stopped yelling. Never seen that before.
Time passed; the heat got worse. The other two got weaker; one of them was delirious talking about heaven or something. But this one seemed to get stronger, more determined. He said something about forgiving all these vultures, all these people who had screamed and cursed at him, probably, even forgiving me, the one who nailed him down. That shook me. I gotta tell ya.
Then late in the afternoon he pulled himself up and just died!........Just like that…….. Like he had controlled the whole thing!
He gave out a loud cry and then it was over, except for the burying part. A rich guy showed up and offered to take him off our hands. One less for me to dig a hole for! The women were with this guy again. His momma looked real upset. The other criminals hung on like if they made it through the day we'd let them down. But that ain't how it works.
Finally a centurian broke their legs to end the mess; it was getting late, we didn't want the Jews getting all riled up over having these dead guys hanging there after dark. So we took them down, dug a shallow grave and threw them in. I remember that when we took him down to give him to the rich man and the women his face looked different. Not twisted and agonized like the others it was almost peaceful. Serene even….. It sent chills up my spine.
Even through all the blood and bruises and thorns he still looked at peace. He looked like he had accomplished something. I don't know what you can accomplish by dying. But he looked like he had done it. Whatever it was. That look on his face still comes back to me. I see it sometimes when I close my eyes. It was a good face, better than anyone I'd ever nailed before, I can tell you that. No complaint, No blame, No cries of injustice, just calm and peaceful even friendly. It kind of scares me because he was different and I did the deed! It makes me wonder who this, what was his name? Oh yeah, Jesus.
Who was he really?
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!
Holy Week Services 2009
April 9 -- Maundy Thursday at Antioch at 7:00PM
Join us as we reach into the past and watch Jesus during the Passover. It is a celebration of the first Lord’s Supper. The sanctuary will be draped in black at the end of service as we prepare for the events of the coming night and day.
April 10 – Good Friday at Antioch at 7:00PM
This will be a service of Tennebrae. It will be the telling the story of the Passion of Christ with candlelight and readings. This is a very moving service with a definite ending that will bring you to understand the events of Good Friday.
April 12 – Sunrise Worship at Williams at 6:30AM
The Resurrection told in the early morn as the sun rises on Easter Sunday. Breakfast will be provided immediately after services.
Regular Worship at Williams at 9:30AM
The Resurrection will be celebrated with an original musical piece written by our own Sam Armstrong and Ludwig Beethoven. Join us as the Williams Celebration Choir presents this piece honoring the risen Christ. Communion will be celebrated as part of this wonderful occasion.
Regular Worship at Antioch at 11:00AM
The Resurrection will be celebrated with a special musical piece presented by Dorothy Shields son-in-law, Lee Barnhill. Join us as Lee presents this piece, “I Believe In a Hill Called Mt. Calvary” honoring the risen Christ. Communion will be celebrated as part of this wonderful occasion.
Sunday School is available each Sunday morning. The importance of Sunday School is that, though you may think hearing the word will suffice for you, you really need to be in attendance at Sunday School to gather all the information that you can in an open discussion classroom. Jesus’ word cannot be totally understood just by listening to a sermon. You have to interact with it and with other Christians to learn what He was saying to us. This is a life long study and you should take part. There is a class for every age so please plan on joining us to learn more about our Lord, Jesus Christ. Sunday School at Williams begins at 10:45 AM and at Antioch at 10:00 AM.
Congratulations Are In Order
On Saturday, April 4, 2009, Becky Sue Dawson and her best friend Adam Ray Joyner were joined in holy matrimony at Antioch UMC. Our best wishes and congratulations to the bride and bridegroom. May the Lord protect and love both of you.
Evening Bible Study Evening Bible study will continue on April 21 at 7:00PM at Antioch. We will be reviewing chapters 41-50 of Isaiah. We will discuss the events depicted in the book. If you are looking for a study of God’s word join us not only for the study, but good fellowship.
Morning Bible Study. Morning Bible study will meet Tuesday April 22 @ 10:00 AM at Audrey Smith’s house when will be reviewing chapters 11-20 of Isaiah. If you are looking for a study of God’s word join us not only for the study, but good fellowship.
$.02 a Meal – Lunenburg Ministries
It was an honor to deliver to the services on Palm Sunday at Perseverance Christian Church the donation from Antioch UMC to the Lunenburg Ministries of $115. Thanks to all who took part in the Lenten program as we continue to reach out to the least of our brothers and sisters in our community.
Men’s Breakfast Saturday, April 11 at 8:00AM
The Williams Men’s Group will meet for breakfast on Saturday. If you would like to join in on the festivities and fellowship join us at 8:00AM.
Picture of Events.
If you would like to see pictures of recent events at Antioch please go to antiochmethodistchurch.org. This is the address for our webpage and it is updated as information becomes available. The video “One Pair of Hands”, from the Palm Sunday service is now available for viewing.
April 13 – 18 Pastor Ed on Vacation
I will be on vacation April 13 – 18. I will be available if needed. Please call me on my cell phone: 252-532-0952, or 252-537-5705. I can also be reached via e-mail at revedumc@yahoo.com .
UMW Asks for Support of Madeline’s House
The Antioch UMW is asking for everybody’s support for Madeline’s House. There will be boxes for donations of needed items to help Madeline’s House in there endeavor to supply a place for those who have suffered from domestic abuse. These boxes will be in the church office along with information on the programs offered along with a list of the needs of Madeline’s House. Madeline’s House has been on the verge of closing during the past year and their situation both materially and financially is tenuous. Please open your hearts to this important program. A special offering will be taken up on for Madeline House on April 19. Madeline's House is a home for the mentally and physically abused women and their children in south side Virginia. Let us support this wonderful program with our giving both monetarily and materially.
Prayer List
Please keep the following families in your prayers:
Becky Eades & boys
Edna A. Bagley
Dee Welch
Harry & Margaret Smith
Edith Parham
Bernard Bottoms
Walter B. & Carolyn Moseley
Tommy Cage
Bertha Bottoms
Fred & Denise Harper
Grace DiStefano
Betty Reese
CV & Agnes Thompson
Gertrude Hite
Betty Yerby
Nathan Hendricks
Leona Campbell
Bertha Arthur
Tommy Conner
Justin Mc Daniel
Allen Alcock
Sgt Christopher Thompson
Elizabeth Crowder
Irvin McKinney
SGT Laura Dutzman
Dorothy Daniel
Layton Powell
Elizabeth Biggerstaff
Tommy Shell, Jr.
Alicia Clary
Rev. Robert Day
Ruthie Turner
Ronnie Leistra
Frances Hawthorne
Sheila Cage
Hazel Taylor
SSGT Tom Fowler
Martha White
Jeff Hendricks
Kathy McReynolds
Danny Horne
Maria Kay
Linda Dunlow & Family
JoAnne Doty
Dennis Chumney
Kay Thompson & girls
Doris Fisher
Hilda Ozlin
Estelle McCrimmon
Fred Baskerville
Vince Callis
Earl "Chucky” Barnes
Dorothy Driscoll
Doug Winn
Bobby & Virginia Overby
David Jones
Betty Roegge
Mildred Cohines
Brenda Cave
Otha Wilkins
Gale Crabtree
Justine Mc Henry
Roger Reese
Prayer Gram.
Please, when putting somebody’s name on our prayer list, PRINT their names and addresses if you have them. This will help us get the prayer grams out sooner and it will also make it easier to read during services.
A Final Word:
REDNECK LENT Each Friday night after work, Bubba would fire up his outdoor grill and cook a venison steak. But, all of Bubba's neighbors were Catholic. And since it was Lent, they were forbidden from eating meat on Friday. The delicious aroma from the grilled venison steaks was causing such a problem for the Catholic faithful that they finally talked to their priest. The Priest came to visit Bubba, and suggested that he become a Catholic.
Have blessed week!!
