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ThE WEsT ViRGinia UniTED METhODisT • www.wvumc.org REEL TALK By Mary Mayes


In his first letter to Timothy, Paul tells us that the goal is not to stray from Jesus’ teachings of love, which comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. This Christmas Reel Talk is all about Him, the light of the world.


THE MIRACLES OF JESUS


As the healer of diseases, master of nature, and conqueror of demons and death; Jesus preached the kingdom of God, and dem- onstrated it in power through his miracu- lous deeds. This unique in-depth look at the miracles of Jesus will open your eyes to the lives he touched, what they reveal about God’s heart, and the significance for us today. Jarrett Stevens hosts six profes- sor’s specialized areas of knowledge, in presenting from Israel, and filming in di- verse locations. It’s an engaging close look at the biblical text and its meaning. YA – A, 6 sessions


THE PARABLES OF JESUS


Jesus communicates deep spiritual truth through simple, vivid, and engaging stories. Woven from the stuff of everyday life, the parables of Jesus made the kingdom of God


Prayer was the backbone of Jesus’ ministry. From his baptism to his crucifixion, the Gospels portray Jesus as a man of prayer who knew and deeply valued intimate com- munication with his heavenly Father. We can learn much from what he prayed. This unique in-depth look at the prayers of


Jesus, will give you new insight into prayer, the character of God, and how to deepen your relationship with him. There are six fascinating sessions, each taught by a dif- ferent instructor. May God bless you, your family, your


church, and all God’s children this holiday season with his everlasting love. Lead us into the New Year with heart-warming joy and great anticipation. “God is good all the time, all the time God is good.”


Mary Mayes is the Conference audio Visual Librarian. Call her at 1-800-788-3746 ext. 21 to borrow avail- able resources for your ministry.


understandable and accessible to his listen- ers. These sessions will help you gain new in-


sight into his parables and their meanings and to appreciate more fully, their relevance for your own life. Six sessions taught and discussed by doctors of theology.


THE PRAYERS OF JESUS


DECEMBER 2010 EAGLE EYES


PhOTO By aDaM CUnninGhaM


The United Methodist Men (UMM) tee off their annual gathering with a round of golf. The UMM meet every September at Jackson’s Mill near Weston, W. Va.


New book is a touching, inspiring read


Susan Belcher


W


hen 39-year-old Roland “Beau” Chewning died in 1991, his mother picked


up her pen and started writing. T e result is a series of letters from Gloria Chewning to God and to Beau that follow her journey through the pro- cess of grieving for an amazing indi- vidual who touched many lives during his short life. Beau had cerebral palsy and a major


heart defect that was considered inop- erable at the time he was born. “T e hospital told me to take him home to die,” recalls Gloria. Little did they realize that this 22-year-old mother from McDowell County had enough faith, courage and determination to not only keep her baby alive, but help


him become a productive and inspir- ing member of society. “I decided if he was going to make it, I had to treat him like everyone else.” Her at- titude prompted Beau to focus on his abilities rather than his disabilities. When he was a teenager, Beau under- went heart surgery and could no lon- ger manage the steps at Welch High School. T e Chewnings enrolled their son in a private school at Leesburg, Va., where tests showed that he had an IQ of 124. He blossomed under the curriculum there, eventually moving into his own home in Princeton and working for the Department of High- ways. His favorite pastimes included watching baseball games and playing Trivial Pursuit, which he usually won. Her son inspired Gloria to learn as


much as she could about special edu- cation. She enrolled in college classes and embarked on a career that led from the McDowell Crippled Chil- dren’s Society to the West Virginia


University Affi liated Center for the Developmentally Disabled. Her eff orts resulted in numerous awards, includ- ing West Virginia’s Citizen of the Year in 1978. “I won the awards because of Beau,” says Gloria. “My whole life was changed when he was born.” His death also brought changes. Glo-


ria’s strong faith was put to the test like never before. In a letter to God writ- ten on her fi rst Christmas without Beau, she wrote, “I just can’t handle it. I can’t send cards, I can’t go to church and sing carols, I can’t decorate. . . When will the joy return?” But as time passed, the tone of the letters gradu- ally changed. T e last one in the col- lection is written to Beau on the fi ſt h anniversary of his death. “I went to the cemetery and sat beside your grave amid the beautiful fall foliage. In my mind’s eye, I saw you walking straight, free of pain and a twinkle in your eyes. Somehow, I knew that I had met a new milestone, that I could face all of my


tomorrows with happy memories and my grief would no longer dominate my life.” Gloria’s letters along with touching


pieces written about Beau by other family members have been compiled into a book which she titled “Grief, My Daily Bread.” Printed with almost every piece is a Bible verse or words from a hymn that sustained Gloria during that particular stage in her grief journey. Now a resident at Glen- Wood Park Retirement Village, Gloria says she still gets requests for the book, which begins with a message from the author: “I pray that its pages will in some small way touch the hearts of all who read it and give them the strength to follow the path that leads us to un- derstanding God’s amazing grace.”


susan Belcher coordinates marketing and gift-planning for GlenWood Park Retirement Village. Contact her at susangwp@inetone.net.


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