By Lois Harper

Good morning to you March 10, and hope the change in time didn’t get you all confused. It made me scramble getting ready for Sunday school on time yesterday. Man may change the hours but God has set His clock and it never changes.
Speaking of clocks I wonder if anybody told the roosters they’d have to crow on time, as nature’s alarm. It would be so delightful to hear one crow again. I hear the Shepherd’s cows bawling some time bringing back farm memories so pleasant and unhurried times.
Sometimes riding the senior center van we see a few chickens walking around in somebody’s yard. This is a reminder of our 52 hens and two roosters sold when moving to Rutledge leaving the chicken snake that swallowed a lot of eggs. That I don’t miss.
There once was a rooster that crowed every morning, standing on a fence post until another one started crowing there. The hens asked the old rooster why he didn’t crow anymore? He said, I want to sleep late and Junior doing a good job, don’t need to.
Town Topic
The annual yard sale in the park April 5 is the beginning of a busy place during the summer with entertainment at home.
Easter Sunday, March 23; Sunrise services at the bandstand will be held. All churches invited and everyone else wishing to attend.
The exert from Mayor Knight’s words in the Rutledge Rooster to residents, if you expect the city’s sewer lines to flow do not pour grease down the drain. Grease caused a sewer spill on East Main Street recently.
Neighborhood Notes
Kaye Evans is at home having been a patient in Newton County recently.
Philip Messer is back at work now, recovered from a foot injury.
Tony Hensler is a patient in Athens Regional undergoing tests.
Cindy Latty and sons were the guests of Richard and Linda Turk for the weekend.
Condolences go out to Mary Sauls in the death of a relative during the weekend.
Carl Sims is recuperating at home gaining his strength from a recent hospital stay.
It was good seeing Kiki Neal in the grocery store last week.
Cameron Hampton and sister Lisa Pepe have recently returned from Charleston, South Carolina on an art tour.
Jerry Hampton will undergo surgery on his foot. From reports they are very busy in their new shop in Greensboro.
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Randy and Teresa of Rutledge and all the other grandparents in the birth of little George Randall Watkins II.
Happy birthday wishes go out to Lee Nelms, Lena Alford and Michael Beal this week and Judy Murray.
Faye Payne and I visited Eunice Sims and Bonnie Moss in Madison Rehab last week. This afternoon a group of the ladies ministry will have a birthday party there with singing from our church.
Baptist Church Notes
Our choir was in excellent voice and the congregation enjoyed singing the old beloved hymns. The choir has been rehearsing for their cantata on the 23. Maybe by then the new choir loft will be finished and new chairs placed. We are looking forward to the new renovation as more people can sing there with more seating area.
We had good attendance and Wayne’s powerful sermon was taken from John 19 verse 16 continuing on with his sermon on the cross and Jesus sacrifice there. Jesus took on every sin in the world in these dark hours, although He was sinless, loving us even in suffering. Before His death a high priest in the temple burned the blood of innocent lambs for people’s sin being forgiven. The blood Jesus shed on the cross was for our sin debt. It became personal then; we believe, accept in repentance or reject Him.
In Sunday evening service his sermon was taken from 2nd Chron. 34 on the worth of the Word of God and the Bible.
Emphasis was put on these points. One, when reading the Bible or praying some say they just can’t pray in public; practice just talking to God; two, people need to be fed the Word of God- three, we are temples of God and need to purge ourselves of anything that comes between us and God. This emphasis was given in reference to Hezikia, a righteous King, tearing down all the idols people worshipped advising them to trust in God. Do we tell people to do that?
Announcements are March 23 our cantata in the morning service and will not have services Easter Sunday night.
Thought for closing – If you cannot love others, what will you do in Heaven?