Webster Word

Pastor’s Message

Dear Webster Family,

I am so happy to see the sun shining and the lilacs blooming next to the parsonage. The tulips are almost gone, but the azaleas are in beautiful full bloom. I hope you take some time to enjoy the warmer weather, take walks in your neighborhood and greet your neighbors. If you come across some folks who may not have a church, I hope you will mention Webster to them and encourage them to visit our website. Hopefully they will come in person and check us out. The Lord said, “We are to make disciples of all nations,” and with all the problems in the world today, I believe people are longing for a loving and welcoming community in which to worship, and I hope the “Word” will get out to them and invite them in.

The month of May is a busy time for us at Webster. We have the yard sale on May 3 rd, baptisms and communion on the 4 th, the Mother’s Day Banquet on the 10 th. Gary Lyttle and I serve on the Church and Ministry Commission and we will be going down to Catonsville on May 1 st for a meeting, and then again on May 16 and 17 th for “Boundary Training,” also in Catonsville. We plan a pulpit exchange between Rev. Jim Bell and myself on May 18 th, where I will lead worship at Christ Church in Baltimore, and Jim will lead worship here at Webster. On May 19, I will go to Minneapolis, Minnesota for a week-long preaching conference, and I will return on May 23 rd. I hope to bring some new ideas to the pulpit on May 25 th following the continuing education week.

I have recently completed a study on heart disease, specifically high cholesterol levels, and I was asked to pass along to you some of the things I learned. Many of us take statins for cholesterol control. Since I have had a reaction to medications for high cholesterol, I am testing out a combination of natural substances, which have proven to be very effective in the treatment of high cholesterol. They are Rice Yeast Rice, Pantethine, and sustained release Niacin. My cardiologist has placed me on a 90-day study, which will be completed by the middle of July. The information comes from “The Diet-Heart Newsletter,” published by Robert E. Kowalski, the author of “The New 8-Week Cholesterol Cure” and “The Blood Pressure Cure.” Clinical trials show that when taking these supplements together, they are effective and safe, with very low side effects. I will keep you updated on my progress, and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this therapy.

Very good news! I will be working at Citizen’s Care Center as an R.N. for about 8 to 12 hours per week, in order to keep my license current and to refresh my skills. I will be working during my personal time off with flexible hours during the day or evenings as my schedule permits. Citizen’s Care Center is expanding to include more rehab beds, as Harford Memorial Hospital will discontinue their TCU (Transitional Care Unit) to accommodate more acute care beds in the hospital.

I am hoping that this new part time position will be a good transition toward my retirement plans for next year. As some of you know, I am planning to retire on June 30, 2009. I wanted to give you a lot of notice so that we could celebrate this last year of ministry. Since Miss Green served Webster for 10 years during the 50’s, there hasn’t been a pastor who served more than 5 or 6 years at a time. If we can take this year to write a new church profile, select a search committee and begin the process with enthusiasm, I know the Lord will send us a pastor who will love the church and take us into the future. I am planning on signing a “Retirement Covenant” so that once the new pastor gets settled in, I can come back and worship with you once again. I will be learning more about the retirement process with help from the Chesapeake Association and the Church and Ministry Commission. We have over a year to make this a positive experience, so let’s work closely together to accomplish this very important goal. I will be sharing more with you about my plans in a sermon at the end of May. Meanwhile, let’s keep on loving and caring for one another, as we have been doing for many, many years.

May God bless you and keep you in his care,

Pastor Lonna