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Menno Notes |
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Table of Contents For All Newsletters |
May-June 2006 Volume 9, Issue 3 |
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Articles The Critcher Family
Keeping In Touch... Paul & Bertha Swarr
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The Critcher
Family
“The
Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord. Job
1:21
One of the joys and sadnesses we have in our fellowship is the
Lord’s sending of servants our way and then the removal of those
servants in His timing. Such
is certainly the case with Jerry, Patty and Jeremy Critcher.
They came to us in 1998 “so that Jeremy could be in Sunday
school.” When they came,
they realized that the reason for being here was far broader than a
Sunday school experience for Jeremy.
As Jerry put it, “We came for our son, but we met the Lord.”
In the fellowship they began to realize they were religious but
not walking in a personal relationship with Jesus.
Soon they were baptized, affirming publicly their newfound faith
and relationship.
Jerry is a big man! A
good-looking man with the glint of purpose in his eye, he soon was
offering to help in the fellowship.
He worked on the church building and grounds, and for the last
two years he has served as a church trustee, exercising his considerable
abilities in that area. Several
years ago, he saw an opportunity to teach Vacation Bible School and was
willing to jump in, even though he had no idea he was a teacher. For
three summers, Jerry took a week of vacation to be a part of VBS and
teach the junior high class. Students
and staff alike appreciated his presence and work.
He led morning devotionals and was willing to help out wherever
he was needed. He has also
taught the men’s Sunday School class.
Soon his musical abilities and strong voice were recognized among
us, and Jerry provided special music for more than one occasion in the
fellowship. Jerry
worked as a machinist with Philip Morris and retired at age forty-eight
on April 1 this year. With
his retirement Jerry and Patti began working on a long-held dream to buy
some land in “The Valley.” They
have now found the piece of land they were looking for in Weyer’s Cave
and plan to move “sometime this summer.”
(Plug: They will be having a yard sale on June 10.
Hook up your trailers and come on over!) “Behind
every good man is a good woman.” Patti
is not so much behind as she is alongside, offering to serve in
inconspicuous ways--in the kitchen, at special funeral meals, and
wherever she is needed. She
has also tutored once a week at Precious Blessing Academy.
Perhaps Patti’s most meaningful ministry grew out of her love
for Susan Mast. She often
visited Susan at Mountain View and encouraged other women to join her. As
the Critchers prepare for their move, Patti is trying to find a
residence for her Dad in the Weyer’s Cave area and to prepare her home
and her mother’s home for sale. Jerry
is facing a move away from his childhood home and his father.
The Critchers’ faith is steadfast, and they ask for our prayers
during their transition. Jeremy,
who is finishing the ninth grade this year, has also contributed much to
our life together. He thinks
deeply in spiritual matters, and his baptism was the highlight of his
fellowship life. In Sunday
school class he can always be counted on to make cogent remarks, often
with a spark of humor. In
his Sunday school journal he has included not only his thoughts on the
purpose-driven life but also his great “doodles,” an example of
which is shown below. He has
a real flair for illustration, and the time may well come when we will
say, “Yeah, I know Jeremy – he’s really well known for his
drawings!” When Jeremy was
asked if he had any comment he wanted to make about his time among us,
he said, “Yeah. Tim
rocks!” Blessings
to you, Jerry, Patti, and Jeremy! Some
church in Weyer’s Cave is going to be blessed by your service, and may
you find the Lord’s blessing in your work and retirement! By Pres Nowlin
Artwork
by Jeremy Critcher |
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