Tinney Chapel Today

Tinney Talk: Reflections on The Fourth of July

2009-06-23T10:03:00.002-05:00

Washington Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Tinney Talk: Reflections on The Fourth of July

Observations by Joe Dan Boyd

Not until my seven-year sojourn in Philadelphia, during the turbulent 1960s, did I completely come to terms with the deeper meaning of a day that had previously been known to me as “The Fourth”.

It’s true that certain events occasionally prompted me to call it “The Fourth Of July,” but none of those events were steeped in history or puffed with patriotism.

We hoped, maybe even prayed, that our East Texas corn crop would be knee-high by the Fourth Of July, for instance, and our most ambitious fishing trip of the year was traditionally reserved for that Special Day. But, in the East Texas of my youth, on the Fourth of July, we did absolutely none of the following: shoot firecrackers, march in parades or bask in patriotic oratory.

We knew it was the birthday of Our Country, and we observed it in the manner that was then common to our time and place: We rested from our labors, and thanked The Good Lord for our blessings--the same way we observed a Sunday Sabbath.

As Texans, we may have considered General Sam Houston a tad more heroic than General Washington, and tales of The Alamo may have stirred our souls to greater heights than did strains of Yankee Doodle. We learned in school that Texas had been annexed as a sovereign republic, and that the Lone Star State flag could be legally hoisted beside Old Glory at exactly the same level.

Our current Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, much younger than I, recently gained a few minutes of TV coverage when he spoke of similar attitudes, possibly gained from his own rural Texas background. Having done several interviews with Rick Perry, I know that he and I also share an abiding national patriotism: We have each served four years as Texas Aggie Cadets, have each served in the military and we have each shed unashamed tears at the Vietnam Memorial Wall.

But it is to a unique work experience that I am indebted for the growth of my historical perspective, and for a sense of personal devotion to those who risked, and in some cases, sacrificed life, fortune and sacred honor to assure the birth and beneficence of our Good Ole USA.

Working, just out of the Army, at the National Future Farmer in Alexandria, Virginia, the FFA building was located on land that had once belonged to the Father Of Our Country. George Washington’s gristmill was still there, and at that time, was still operated by the FFA, which milled, packaged and sold small bags of flour to visitors. An elderly Comanche Chief, William Sawpitty, visiting from Oklahoma during the late 1950s, once insisted that I photograph him near a tree said to have been planted by George Washington.

Later, upon joining Farm Journal, I was interviewed by Wheeler McMillen, who introduced me in the July 1960 issue, telling readers that each of us—-Wheeler and I--considered George Washington the greatest American who ever lived and, by far, our greatest president. To illustrate that column, Wheeler had a photographer picture us in front of Independence Hall, only a two-block walk from the Farm Journal building on Washington Square in Philadelphia.

Independence Hall was a place I visited many times during my seven-year tenure at Farm Journal’s Philadelphia office, but the first visit was truly memorable. Upon entering, an overwhelming sight commanded full attention: It was the Liberty Bell, then on permanent display there, and protected only by a single strand of rope, perhaps three feet from the historic bell. One could literally touch the Liberty Bell with a slight stretch of the arm, although a security guard discouraged the practice.

Suddenly, without preamble, a recorded voice broke the respectful silence of an awed group of visitors standing near the protective rope: “This is the Liberty Bell.” It was the voice of Edward R. Murrow, then so deeply distinctive, so instantly recognizable, that no introduction was necessary as the legendary broadcaster described the background of this priceless piece of history.

Both the Liberty Bell and I were later transferred to new locations, and the Farm Journal office was itself moved from Washington Square, which served as hallowed ground, a mass grave for unknown soldiers of the Revolutionary War. I walked to work across that hallowed ground every day for those seven years, sometimes stopping to meditate, pray or salute.

Located at the north end of Washington Square, appearing almost as a headstone for that mass grave of long-ago soldiers, stood a massive bronze statue of George Washington, fronting a marble wall, on which were inscribed words that stir my soul to this very day:

“Freedom is a light for which many men have died in darkness.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_the_Unknown_Revolutionary_War_Soldier

Memorial Day 2009 Reflections at Tinney Chapel

2009-05-25T19:47:00.006-05:00

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Tinney Talk, Observations by Joe Dan Boyd

FIVE VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II were members of Tinney Chapel UMC on Memorial Day, 2009.

CARL GRIFFIN WAS 18 when he entered U.S. Marine Boot Camp at San Diego, California, before shipping out to the South Pacific, where he spent World War II at faraway places with strange-sounding names: New Caledonia, Banika, Guadalcanal, Vella Lavella, Eniwetak, Peruata, Bougainville, Guam. After the War, Carl attended SMU on the GI Bill, married Zonnie in 1947, earned a commercial pilot license and retired in 1989 after 37 years as a mechanical engineer.

GLEN WOOD WAS A FARM BOY in Collin County, Texas, when he joined the U.S. Navy, and was assigned to the USS Maryland before shipping out to the South Pacific. Later, Glen reported to Bremerton, Washington, for assignment to CVE-92 Windham Bay, a light Aircraft carrier, and still later to Fleet Airwing 14 in San Diego, where he remained until his discharge in 1945. He & Fanella moved to Winnsboro in 1984.

HAROLD LENIUS WAS 23 & MORE THAN 3 YEARS MARRIED when he kissed Janette goodbye, completed Navy Boot Camp in Idaho and boarded a troop ship bound for Brisbane, Australia. Later, Harold served in the Admiralty Islands and the Philippines, eventually retiring to Winnsboro, where his beloved Janette passed from this life on January 9, 2004.

WOODRUFF F. (WOODY) WILKERSON was 21 when he entered basic training at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, before serving the US Army and US Army Air Force in England, Ireland, Africa, Sicily, Italy and Algeria. His decorations include the Parachute Badge, Combat Badge, Bronze Star, 2 Purple Hearts & Presidential Citation. Woody, discharged as a Corporal, still has his lifetime pilot license, says his wife, Lou.

TRAVIS J. BREWER entered WWII as a Private, and was discharged as a Sergeant after earning a Purple Heart and surviving the Battle of the Bulge. Travis also earned a Bronze Star for “superior leadership, coolness under fire, devotion to duty and skillful supervision as a gun commander” with the 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, 30th Infantry Division, during late 1944, in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. His wife, Frankie, is the Wise Ones Sunday School Teacher at Tinney Chapel UMC.

Tinney Chapel Worship 05-24-09

2009-05-24T14:15:00.001-05:00

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Christian Believer Has Returned To Tinney Chapel

2009-04-29T21:18:00.007-05:00

Tinney Talk, May, 2009

CHRISTIAN BELIEVER BIBLE STUDY came to Tinney Chapel UMC again on April 29, 2009, as Pastor Sue’s choice for an enhanced 30 weeks of Wednesday evening Bible Study, meeting from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. This is a compromise, since Wednesday evening Bible Study has traditionally met for an hour, while Christian Believer Classes meet for two hours.

KNOWING GOD WITH HEART & MIND is the subtitle of this unique study class, appropriately named Christian Believer, now underway for the second time at Tinney Chapel. It’s a memorable journey of discovery and self-discovery for anyone who seeks to understand the faith they already have, and make personal connections between believing and living.

THAT GOD REVEALS HIMSELF TO US in acts of divine self-disclosure is one of the church’s most important doctrines: It’s a doctrine called revelation, and the Bible cites numerous examples. One of the earliest was a burning bush, which caught the attention of a reluctant Moses. Belief that God’s ultimate revelation is in Jesus Christ underpins the faith of every Christian Believer.

THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVER STUDY MANUAL assumes that most of us want to know where we get our ideas about God and other teachings of the church. It is by intent that this Class uses the word doctrine, rather than theology. Doctrine is what the Church has affirmed—-and agreed to teach, so Christian Believer integrates doctrine and Scripture.

COMMITTEED TINNEY CHAPEL SEEKERS will, for the next seven months, be steeped in classical doctrines of the faith, while also pondering the relationship of worship, belief and daily life: Frankie Brewer, Imogene Myers, Gailya Gearner, Josephine Garrett, Harold Lenius, Betty Asbill, Pat & Derrell Hollingsworth, David & Mollie Stanton, Joe Dan Boyd & Cheryl Newton.

DURING ITS FIRST INCARNATION AT TINNEY CHAPEL, seven years ago, Christian Believer students included Elaine Graham, Wanda Hardin, Angela Wylie, Joe Dan Boyd, David & Mollie Stanton, Jim & Betty Asbill, Dick & Carolyn Beavers, Tommy Boyd, Sherri Brewer, Donna Futral, George & Sadie Jordan, Danny Lake, Imogene Myers, Bettye Parker, Larry Pendergrass, Ruth Shelton and Nan Williams.

The Blossoming Of The Lenten Cross At Tinney Chapel

2009-04-12T17:38:00.002-05:00

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The Tinney Chapel Easter Egg Hunt

2009-04-12T16:26:00.003-05:00

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Passion Of The Christ Service on Good Friday at Tinney Chapel

2009-04-10T13:42:00.005-05:00

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The service of worship today, Good Friday, is taken from an early Christian service called Tenebrae, which is a Latin word for darkness or shadows. One of the prominent features of this service is the gradual extinguishing of candles until only a single light, considered a symbol of our Lord, remains. As it gets darker and darker, participants can reflect on the great emotional and physical pain that was very real for Jesus that evening.

This service, conducted by Pastor Sue Gross, concluded with the congregation singing, "The Old Rugged Cross."

Lay Readers for the service: Joe Dan Boyd, Cheryl Ann Newton, Peggy Boyd, Mary Marrs, Gailya Gearner,

The sword, leaning against the Cross, was on loan from Doris Miller, and was a prized possession (from the War Between The States) of the late Rev. Gene Miller, former Associate Pastor of Tinney Chapel.

The sword is in this service to commemorate the memorable account of Peter severing the ear of Malchus during the initial confrontation preceding the arrest of Jesus (John 18:10-11). Elsewhere, in Luke 22:49-52, Jesus quickly ends the confrontation and heals the ear. Some explanation for the presence of a sword among the Disciples is presented in Luke 22:35-39, which suggests that it fulfills prophecy: "That He was reckoned among the transgressors" (Luke 22:37).

Andrea Abbott, Mt. Vernon Lay Speaker and singer, puts new life in The Vine today

2009-04-08T21:29:00.005-05:00

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"Abide In The Vine"
A Sermon on John 15:5

A sustained focus on the message of one of Jesus' best-known I AM statements, "I am the True Vine," coupled with studied emphasis on His Commandment to love each other "as I have loved you," combined to put Andrea Abbott's message in the memorable category today.

"These were His parting thoughts, His deathbed conversation," declared Abbott, a Lay Speaker from First UMC, Mt. Vernon. "Before, Israel had been pictured as the Vine of God, and now Jesus declares Himself the True Vine."

Abbott's powerful message made it clear that we are to do more than abide in the Vine. We are also to bring others to Jesus, thus becoming fruitful vines. Meanwhile, she emphasized that all the while we are subject to pruning by God the Father, our Master Gardener, whose pruning also conditions us to bear fruit.

A surprise ending proved to be the highlight of Abbott's pulpit performance today. Displaying a beautiful musical voice, she closed by singing "Down The Via Dolorosa," a song which commemorates the Stations of the Cross along the pathway that Jesus walked to His sacrificial act of singular Atonement at Calvary.

In her closing prayer, Lay Speaker Abbott called upon the Lord to equip and send us all to our joint calling in Christ as His ambassadors.

Bishop Earl Bledsoe Preached and Served Holy Communion in Paris-Sulphur Springs District Today

2009-04-05T16:05:00.005-05:00

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The Bishop's sermon, "When The Stones Cry Out," was delivered at First UMC in Sulphur Springs. Bishop Bledsoe today winds down his itineration of our District, during which he interacted, in some fashion, with about two-thirds of our churches--100% of which are considered rural. He visited Tinney Chapel UMC, the quintessential country church, yesterday, Saturday, April 4.

Bishop Earl Bledsoe Comes To Tinney Chapel

2009-04-04T23:56:00.002-05:00

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All Three Tinney Chapel Lay Speakers Are Recertified Today

2009-04-04T18:03:00.003-05:00

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Tinney Chapel UMC Lay Speakers recognized today include Angela Wylie, far left on first row, Roger Schneider, far left on third row and Joe Dan Boyd, second from right on third row. All three have been Certified Lay Speakers for several years, and completed an Advanced Lay Speaker Class, "Go Preach," during the past two Saturdays as part of the requirements for retaining certification. During this class, each student was required to research, write and deliver a new sermon. Melba Harris, fourth from left on first row, is the District Director of Lay Speaking Ministries. District Superintendent Keith Boone is third from left on the first row. North Texas Conference Bishop Earl Bledsoe is at far right on the first row. Mrs. Bledsoe, herself a Lay Speaker, is second from right on the first row.

Brother Henry Suche is Guest Preacher at Tinney Chapel Lenten Service 04-01-09

2009-04-01T22:15:00.008-05:00

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A sermon by Rev. Henry Suche, better known locally as Brother Henry, the preacher who never uses notes and always preaches Jesus Christ crucified, buried and resurrected, in the ancient tradition of the Apostle Paul. On this occasion, Brother Henry preached a Lenten Sermon based on John 14:6, “I Am The Way, the Truth & the Life.”

"I Am The Resurrection & The Life," a Lenten Service at Tinney Chapel

2009-03-25T20:36:00.006-05:00

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Georgia needs help Friday, March 27, 9 am to 5 pm, at the Family Life Center Kitchen

2009-03-23T21:51:00.002-05:00

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Tinney Chapel Men to host fish fry Saturday, March 28, 5 pm to 7 pm

2009-03-23T21:07:00.001-05:00

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"Cows, Sheep & Other Stupid Critters," a sermon

2009-03-18T19:46:00.005-05:00

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Winnsboro Police Chief addresses Tinney Chapel OASIS meeting

2009-03-17T14:08:00.005-05:00

Joe Dan Boyd meets Joe Dan Reed, 03-15-09

2009-03-15T22:03:00.004-05:00

Tinney Talk: Observations by Joe Dan Boyd

WE MET AS TEENAGERS at the Texas State FFA Convention, held during July at the Texas Hotel in Fort Worth. As State President of the Texas FFA Association, I was presiding officer at the organization’s premier event of that year: 1953. Among other things, it was my duty to host and be hospitable to a visiting officer from the National FFA Association who would be our keynote speaker.

FRED REED WAS THAT NATIONAL OFFICER, and he hailed from an FFA Chapter near Hindsville, Arkansas, which sounded as if it might have been no larger than my own hometown FFA Chapter of Winnsboro, Texas. Fred and I bonded immediately.

BOTH OF US HAD DEFERRED COLLEGE for a year to serve FFA, an acronym which then identified the nation’s largest rural youth organization: Future Farmers of America. Most national officers made that commitment as an election requirement to meet demands of the office: Heavy travel, lots of public speaking and constant public relations.

STATE FFA OFFICERS FACED NO SUCH REQUIREMENT, but I had pledged to do just that a year earlier during my campaign speech to become Texas State President. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was setting a precedent for future Texas FFA Presidents, most of whom later became, as was I, full time ambassadors for the Texas FFA Association. Something else I didn’t know: That year would change my life!

FRED REED WAS UNLIKE ANY YOUNG MAN I HAD EVER MET. He spoke without notes, just as I did at the time, and he was incredibly low key, again a lot like the teen-aged Joe Dan Boyd. Fred gave no hint that his election to national FFA office had increased his evaluation of himself: He was a level-headed, feet-on-the-ground young man, surprisingly mature for his age.

WHEN HE ASKED TO PRAY WITH ME I understood why the perks of high office had not turned Fred to become full of himself. He was already filled with the Holy Spirit! As we knelt in prayer at the Texas Hotel, we were each transformed in ways that I would not understand until years later when he named his son, Joe Dan Reed, in honor of our friendship. On March 15, 2009, Joe Dan Reed and Joe Dan Boyd met for the first time: Two Methodists at table fellowship here in Winnsboro.

Abounding Grace at Tinney Chapel UMC 01-25-09

2009-01-25T14:50:00.002-06:00

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Remembrance Of Baptism at Tinney Chapel

2009-01-11T14:34:00.003-06:00

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The Baptism of Chris Allen Hamlin at Tinney Chapel UMC

2008-12-28T14:04:00.002-06:00

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Christmas Eve Candlelight & Communion Worship at Tinney Chapel

2008-12-24T20:41:00.006-06:00

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Congratulations to our new "Master" at Tinney Chapel

2008-12-22T13:35:00.001-06:00

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Marcella Salter, former Chair of the Tinney Chapel UMC Administrative Council, is a teacher in the Harmony Independent School District.

Meet Today's Newest Members of Tinney Chapel UMC

2008-12-14T15:19:00.002-06:00

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Miracle On Market Street features Tinney Chapel Nativity Stable

2008-12-13T02:46:00.005-06:00

Photos by Peggy Boyd.
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Members and friends of Tinney Chapel UMC will recognize the Nativity Stable and
its accompanying Bethlehem City Limit sign as the carpentry work of several
Tinney Chapel folks who built it last year for our Christmas Program in the Family
Life Center.

This year, it was loaned out to Trails Country Center For The Arts (TCCA) just for

this two-day special event, December To Remember, or--as seems especially
appropriate for the collage above--Miracle On Market Street. The event runs Friday
and Saturday, December 12 and 13.

The TCCA volunteer who made the Nativity Scene drama happen was Sarah Doke, whose
husband Joe was last year's lead carpenter who crafted this one-of-a-kind Stable.

After getting permission to use the Nativity Stable from Rev. Sue Gross, Pastor at Tinney
Chapel UMC, Sarah rounded up other volunteers to take various roles in the Nativity
Scene drama, among them some of her own children: Jacob, Ally and Allisah.

Others included Emma Ramsey as Mary and Tinney Chapel member Joe Dan Boyd as one of the shepherds.

Sarah also made most of the costumes for the Nativity participants, and coaxed husband
Joe to bring his portable heater which kept us warm when night temperatures dropped.

It was, indeed, a night--and a December--to remember!