Southwood Presbyterian Church

Here We Come A Caroling…

Wednesday December 16th at 5:15
Come gather at the Lodge at 5:15pm for a fun night of caroling in our community. Groups will be formed to sing for our shut-ins, those who are in nursing homes and retirement villages, as well as our surrounding neighbors. Group leaders will have lyric cards so bring a flashlight. A beautiful voice is… [more] December 1, 2009 | Melissa Patterson

Just Like Scrooge

When I was a kid, Christmas was always exciting.  I imagined all the things I would ask for and what I might get under the tree.  It was almost too much for me to take.  That whole “visions of sugarplums” thing can be overwhelming at times (what is a sugarplum anyway?)  I’d get so filled with anticipation that… [more] December 1, 2009 | James Parker

Lincoln Village Updates

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY:  Even though the school is one of many in the Huntsville City School system to be closed the school still continues to draw national attention. It has been asked to apply again for the Panasonic National School Change Award and the Blue Ribbon School Award. Volunteers from NASA have visited the school (including the new administrator,… [more] December 1, 2009 | Dale Bowen

Thanksgiving Turkey Visit

I thought I had seen how the poor lived and understood how I could help them. I thought I knew enough to make a difference in others lives who were less fortunate than me and my family.  This all changed last week.  I had an experience that opened my eyes to see the disadvantaged through the eyes of Christ.

Mark Stearns, director… [more] December 1, 2009 | Karen Crippen

The Blessing of Need

When I was sixteen my parents moved us from Chicago to Michigan. They said at the time it was for a job opportunity but I know it was to get me away from my boyfriend. It was the greatest gift they ever gave me. We ended up in an inner-city church plant of the Christian Reformed Church. We had a young white assistant pastor fresh out of seminary… [more] December 1, 2009 | Susan Ross

Pastor’s Note

BeHOLD the Date!
Behold the Lamb of God — December 13th, at 7pm
It’s about to get really crazy and you know it. We are entering the holiday season, and you know your life will be a blur until sometime after the first week in January. I have a love-hate relationship with this time of year. On the one hand, personal… [more] November 1, 2009 | Bill Nash

Serving: Advancing God’s Kingdom in the World

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” These are the words of Jesus to the apostles in Acts 1:8 just before His ascension.  Southwood’s Vision is “To advance the Kingdom of God in our lives,… [more] November 1, 2009 | Ken Stuart

give a ticket

What first attracted you to Christianity? This is a very important question for us to answer. Think back to when you first realized that Jesus loves you, and gave his life as a ransom for yours. What was that process like for you? All of us would tell different stories I’m sure. But there would be a common theme running throughout all of our… [more] November 1, 2009 | James Parker

the birth of ‘behold the lamb’

It was an unforgettable evening in April 2000 when Andrew Peterson stood with his guitar on the Ryman Auditorium’s historic stage, a long velvet curtain behind him and a humble regard for this sacred ground. With the ghosts of yesteryears’s Grand Ole Opry dwelling among the rafters, Peterson performed what was then his top ten single,… [more] November 1, 2009 | James Parker

Operation Christmas Child

Take a box. Fill it. Bring it back. Deadline November 15th
Serving through giving and the power of a simple gift; that is what Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Project is all about. If you are not familiar with it, this is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, a ministry organization led by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Samaritan’s… [more] November 1, 2009 | Ken Stuart

guest preacher: dr. bryan chapell

Dr. Bryan Chapell will preach on November 22 in both services.
Dr. Bryan Chapell is president and professor of practical theology at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. His insightful Bible teaching can be heard daily via the Internet on Living Christ 360.

Raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Chapell was a pastor… [more] October 31, 2009 |

Pastor’s Note

How big is your world? No, I’m not talking about the global statistical markers of population (6,790,062,216 July 2009 est.) or space (510.072 million sq. km). I’m talking about how our engagement with the world lines up with the church’s marching orders from Jesus found in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples… [more] October 1, 2009 | Ken Stuart

Harvest HeyDay

Sunday, October 25th from 3:00-5:30
Though Southwood is a relatively young church, several great traditions have already been established in our church’s short history. One of the greatest of these traditions is the annual fall festival, now known as Harvest HeyDay. What is Harvest HeyDay you ask? Take all of the good things that… [more] October 1, 2009 | Laura Burger

how i found my soul sister

“I have nothing in common with her” …was my first thought leaving our introductory lunch—a blind pairing for youth ministry by a church staff member. “The generation gap,” I thought, “is just the first barrier.”

The differences, at least to me, were significant. Her “covenant” childhood… [more] October 1, 2009 | Diane Brown

pastor search ‘small group’

The Pastor Search Committee continues to meet together for weekly prayer, discussion, and frequent networking and interaction with candidates. Since first convening in February, the Committee has grown in their faith in Christ and as a team, in love and respect for each other; we consider this Committee as our Southwood Small Group. We are expectantly… [more] October 1, 2009 | Bob Greenman

serving in the village

Serving in the Lincoln Village ministry encompasses a wide & diverse set of options. It can be undertaken as an individual, as a family, or as a small group. It can be a one-time service; or as part of a rotation of services provided; or as an on-going part of the work. Below are a few of the options that are available over the next few months.

Women’s Roadtrip

Find your soul sister in the mountains of Mentone during the Women’s Roadtrip coming up October 23-25.  Not only will you find your soul sister, but you’ll gain Biblical insight into a deeper relationship with Christ from our speaker, Lisa Peck.  Lisa and her husband, Carl, are professional counselors in Huntsville and share… [more] September 22, 2009 | Suzi Bolton

Pastor’s Note

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,… [more] September 1, 2009 | Ken Leggett

This Fall at High-Life

I was a 9 year old boy in the Panhandle of Texas playing with G.I Joe’s when saints of Southwood were drawing a line in the sand for the youth of Huntsville. The Lodge was a dream no one had envisioned yet, the program was simple and hospitable, and on the other side of the country, I was in the woods with my make shift M-16, putting it all… [more] September 1, 2009 | Jake Patton

Ordination, Hardly Ordinary

Ken Stuart is almost as excited about his ordination as he is St. Patrick’s Day! September 6 will celebrate the culmination of long hours of study, tests, and oral examinations in preparation to be ordained into gospel ministry as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), our denomination. His ordination service will be… [more] September 1, 2009 | Nanette Respess

The Call of the Crayon

In the past few weeks at Southwood, we have heard and seen a lot about “growing small.” As a large church, one of our challenges is to make sure that we as members are engaged in our church in a significant way and that as we grow small together as a body of believers, we take what we have learned and are learning out into the world and… [more] September 1, 2009 | Amy Gandy

Putting Ourselves Out There

People have said to me, at one time or another, that they aren’t sure if they could ever stand up in front of a room full of people and sing. Usually they say how nervous they would feel. It’s easy to picture in your mind all of the American Idol contestants who get an ear full from Simon Cowell. NOT a fun situation to find yourself in!… [more] September 1, 2009 | James Parker

Meet Our New Youth Interns

Do you know the new people across the street? This fall we have two great new interns who will be working with the youth at the Lodge. Their names are Jeremy McNeill and Aaron Shaffer! As you see these two new additions to our Southwood family, introduce yourself and invite them to dinner! Youth interns love free food!

Jeremy came to us this… [more] September 1, 2009 | Amy Gandy

Pastor’s Note

Jesus tells us in John 15 that we are to abide in Him like branches that are connected to a vine. Apart from Him, He says, we will bear no fruit; we will not be able to do anything! Apparently, being connected to Jesus is absolutely crucial to our day-to-day lives, even though we have a tendency to forget this. Now there are many ways to strengthen… [more] August 2, 2009 | Will Spink

When life gives you lemons…

In today’s modern world, few parents have to face the bitter pain of losing a child they love. But Nancy Guthrie has faced such pain twice, burying two of her children who lived only six months. Those who have watched her and her husband,  David, walk through such loss, as well as the millions who have read their story worldwide in TIME… [more] August 2, 2009 | Sally McFadden

Next Wave: Small Groups

Every vision is a solution to a problem. A problem we have at Southwood is that although people visit and worship with us, they struggle to relationally connect. And if they can’t connect to people, whether they are spiritually seeking or seasoned followers of Jesus, their spiritual growth is tragically limited at best, and nonexistent at worst.… [more] August 1, 2009 | Bill Nash

the many faces of bill harritt

Bill Harritt is widely known across the church as Director of Junior High Ministry. Bill began his tenure at Southwood in May 2005 and quickly found his place among our seventh and eighth graders. Bill is leaving Southwood and moving to St. Louis, MO mid-August to begin his studies towards a Masters of Divinity at Covenant Theological Seminary. Bill’s… [more] August 1, 2009 | Leah Treen

Pastor’s Note

My church history professor said, “The church, properly speaking, is a missionary community; serving its neighbor and proclaiming the gospel.” The church is not a Christian country club nor is it a holy huddle. The church is not the building, the vision statements nor the mission statements. The church is the people inside the building.… [more] July 1, 2009 | Alex Shipman

Laundry and Ministry

After working at Southwood for over four years, I have come to know something about myself. I like a finished product and I like doing my laundry. I enjoy doing labor that makes me look back at something that is unfinished and help bring it to completion. I, however, work with people and I think we all know and understand that as people we are all… [more] July 1, 2009 | Bill Harritt

Youth Missions Report

Mission trips are part of the summer landscape for our high school students. Two different groups boarded planes and flew south to live and work in Peru. A third group boarded SUVs and minivans and drove northeast to live and work in Lincoln Village for a week. The Junior High Project Sweat group will board a bus on July 16 and drive east to minister… [more] July 1, 2009 | Jake Patton and Jimmy Cook

Hope is All Around

In late 2008, Dale Bowen approached me about a friend of his who is a producer in Nashville.  He said this friend grew up here in Huntsville and that the Lord had put on his heart a desire to contribute of his talents to help with the revitalization of Lincoln Village.  This friend of his is Monroe Jones.  Monroe is well known to many… [more] July 1, 2009 | James Parker

Lincoln Elementary, National Award Finalist

Lincoln Elementary is one of 24 finalists for the National Panasonic School Change Award. It is a one of a kind award given annually to only six schools across America that are recognized for having “significantly changed” for the better. Responding to 16 specific criteria such as: a measurable change of attitude, beliefs, and values;… [more] July 1, 2009 | Karen Taylor and Dale Bowen

Thor’s Story, from Iceland to Lincoln Village

Thor begins his story with his testimony of how he “gave his life to Christ on March 14th, 2002 at 11:35 p.m.” It’s a story that ultimately brings him from Iceland to live in Lincoln Village…

Bjarni Erlingsson, aka “Thor”, arrived in Huntsville in January 2002 to visit a longtime friend from Iceland who… [more] July 1, 2009 | Karen Taylor

A Week in the Life of the Village

Many of you hear about Lincoln Village and the physical needs that come along requiring your help. As we meet physical needs, we pray to be the people who carry the cup of Living Water to the thirsty. The stories included are real. They are stories of people whose lives have been changed as they have encountered volunteers and people who come to… [more] July 1, 2009 | Butch Taylor

On Track

The history of Lincoln Village begins by the railroad tracks. In 2002, I started walking the streets in Lincoln, taking in the sounds and sights—everything. What I saw and heard caused an indescribable hurt. Jeremiah said, “What is before my eyes brings pain to my soul.” After leaving Lincoln Village I could hear the whistle of… [more] July 1, 2009 | Mark Stearns

Sowing with Tears

Harvest Ministries, a program where we grow food for low-income families, started in 1992. I didn’t know anything about farming but that was okay because I liked being in a position where I had to rely on God to see him work. Zechariah 4:6 states, “’not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” … [more] July 1, 2009 | Perspectives from Mark Stearns, by Karen Taylor

Small Group leaders re:Group!

This past Sunday Southwood Small Groups took a big step as we continue the transition from a church with small groups to a church of small groups.
Leaders from five different types of small groups - children, youth, men’s, women’s and mixed – met together for a time of refreshment, laughter, and training. The highlight was… [more] June 16, 2009 | Bill Nash

Penn Jillette: A Gift of a Bible

The link for the video by magician Penn, of Penn and Teller, was used as a sermon illustration in worship this past Sunday. If you did not get to view it, please do. In light of Sunday’s sermon, I have included some quotes I used for discussion starters after watching the video with those who you work with, share a neighborhood with, travel… [more] June 8, 2009 | Ken Leggett

Changing Seasons

“So don’t get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgments before all the evidence is in. When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of – inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the “well done!”… [more] June 1, 2009 | Heather Morris

The Village in the Summer

Spring 2008 has been a blur of activity in Lincoln Village and summer has arrived. After completing a great school year which included Lincoln Elementary and The LINC, our after-school program, preparing our students for the April assessments, we look to see how our students improved on their already outstanding performances. Spring also brought… [more] June 1, 2009 | Karen Taylor

Pastor’s Note

I started leading a small group just over 9 weeks ago—good idea since I am the Small Groups Pastor! It was about that time that our personal life hit some extremely rough patches. We had to face the difficult challenge many parents with autistic children have to face of finding placement outside the home when our Billy turned violent. If that… [more] June 1, 2009 | Bill Nash

Deacons Demonstrate

Deacons. A layperson who assists the minister in various functions. Service given. Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan writes, “How does the Lord of glory set forth in a world of sin standards that utterly contradict its life-style, begun in Adam and continued to this day? He does it by demonstration. He ‘deacons.’… [more] May 1, 2009 | Amy Gandy

Jump on In! VBS Needs Your Help

Vacation Bible School is a collaboration of people and gifts that come together to create a glorious symphony of the spoken word, the read Word, the sung word, the acted word and the created word. VBS is a community of helping hands from snacks carried in the ‘bayou’ to recreation filled with energetic kids to the story tellers to the… [more] May 1, 2009 | Nanette Respess

The Harvest

For the last several weeks I’ve been attending the morning Harvest Service at the Village Church. I’ve become very fond of doing so. My Tuesday mornings have become very different. Every tuesday morning Jeff Komara and Mark Stearns have been holding this service as a time of worship for those involved with Harvest Ministries and many… [more] May 1, 2009 | James Parker

Work Weeks in the Village

March is always a wonderful month in Lincoln Village. For the last three years, we have had the privilege of hosting a group from Vanderbilt University as part of their Alternative Spring Break program. This year was no different. We were excited to have 12 students come & participate with us in the work. The students were involved in the school… [more] April 1, 2009 | Dale Bowen

Meet the Nashes

Many of you know Bill Nash from leading worship on Sundays, through his sermons, or in his new work as Associate Pastor of Small Groups. Over the past few months, Bill has transitioned out of singles and college ministry to working on creating and leading our flock into a vibrant small group ministry. His passion for small groups and how best they… [more] March 22, 2009 | Nanette Respess

Valentine’s Day With A Twist

The world sets our expectations that Valentine’s Day should be flowers, candy or a candlelit dinner for two with that special someone. For those who are alone, this yearly reminder of what you do not have—or what you have lost may leave one sad. Southwood’s twenty-somethings singles group teamed up with Jen and Tim Kauffman to host… [more] March 1, 2009 | Katherine Spearing and Emily Park

Pastor’s Note

We all recognize how difficult it can be to love someone well or work with them well when we don’t really know them. We have experienced this reality in our relationships with our family members, friends, co-workers, and even God. Sports teams, businesses, families, and many others have also seen the benefits of committed teamwork for growing individuals… [more] March 1, 2009 | Will Spink

Big Impact: Small Groups

Small groups, an adjective and a noun working together to define an assemblage of people in a limited number; people who are growing in the Word, digging into life together, belonging with others, and caring for each other, ultimately giving connection to the larger group called Southwood Presbyterian Church. Southwood, a big church family, grows… [more] March 1, 2009 | Bill Nash

Mission with a Vision of Care

Friday morning on January 9 came early for five of our members. At 6:30AM Ken Leggett, Jonathan Barnette, Max Caramanian, Karen Parks and Pam Mayes boarded a plane for Monterrey, Mexico. This groups was headed south to check out five church plants and a seminary supported by Mission to the World (MTW), our denomination’s foreign missions wing. … [more] February 28, 2009 | Pam Mayes

Patrick-His Life and Mission

As many of you know, St. Patrick’s Day is March 17th.  If you are not Irish, this may not even hit your radar.  But that’s OK.  Anyone can be Irish for a day!  It seems that most everyone “knows” St. Patrick, but not many of us really know much about his life or mission.  On Sunday, March 15, our 1st… [more] February 18, 2009 | Ken Stuart

Painting a Legacy

The canvas of Mike Honeycutt’s ministry is filled with images painted by broad and narrow strokes from a palette that represents varied facets of life at Southwood and in Huntsville. When asking various people what they have appreciated or will correlate to Mike’s nine year presence in and among us, the answers reflect the pastor, the… [more] February 2, 2009 | Nanette Respess

Judy Honeycutt: More Than a Pastor’s Wife

The search committee which brought the Honeycutts to Southwood made it clear to Judy and Mike when they came to Huntsville that the church’s expectations for Judy were first and foremost to take care of her husband and family, knowing ministry and pastoring is exhausting. Judy’s main job was to be family. Whatever she chose to be involved… [more] February 1, 2009 | Nanette Respess

Lincoln Village Focus

In the last few weeks, we have heard a lot about FOCUS. What is and what should be the focus of our church as we move forward? To many the idea of ‘focus’ seems like a new idea. However, if you look back a few years, you will see that one of the great gifts Mike Honeycutt will be leaving Southwood and the Huntsville community is the focus… [more] February 1, 2009 | Amy Gandy

Pastor’s Note

Sometimes God brings us in contact with special people whom He uses in unforgettable ways to advance his kingdom in our lives. For many of us and for the Southwood family as a whole, the Honeycutts have been some of those special people.

In this issue of Branches, we want to take some time to celebrate what God has done and what God will… [more] February 1, 2009 | Will Spink

Service Worship

Here’s something I’ve always struggled with. I’ve been a Christian for many years, and I’ve been a part of many churches and para-church organizations. It goes without saying that I’ve often found myself engaged in a corporate worship experience that was encouraging and transformative. So what happens next? For many… [more] January 14, 2009 | James Parker

Pastor’s Note

WHY? WHAT? And WHERE? Those are the questions we want to focus on as a congregation as we seek to continue in the direction God has been moving us for some time.

I. WHY DOES THE CHURCH EXIST? To advance the kingdom of God in our lives, homes, community, and world.

This has been Southwood’s vision statement for several years.… [more] January 14, 2009 | Mike Honeycutt

Meet Southwood’s Graphic Designers

Did you know the average postcard you receive in the mail from a Southwood ministry requires 4-5 man hours of design, printing, and production. The average Branches takes 40-50 hours from the first written word on the page to delivery at the post office. The High-Life retreat books take 60-70 hours a week for two full weeks with youth staff writing… [more] January 11, 2009 | Nanette Respess

Our PreK & Kindergarteners Impacting Others Abroad

What can PreK and Kindergarteners do to impact those in other countries for Christ?  Buy them baby chicks of course!  And that is exactly what our Kids Worship PreK and K kids did this December.  Through Samaritan’s Purse, our children were able to purchase baby chicks for a family in a poverty stricken country for egg production… [more] January 2, 2009 | Ken Stuart

Operation Christmas Child Hits New High With Southwood!

For years, Southwood has participated in Samaritan’s Purses’ Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Project but 2008 marked an all time high for Southwood’s involvement!  It is an easy thing to fill a shoe box (or shoe box size plastic container) with goodies such as hard candy, a flash light, socks, coloring book, small toys,… [more] January 2, 2009 | Ken Stuart

Leading the Flock: The New and Renewed

We have ordained three men as teaching elders in the Presbyterian Church in America (our denomination) this past month. Southwood’s teaching elders, known as pastors to us, are busy. Mike Honeycutt continues to preach, oversee worship and love this large flock while Ken Leggett and Jake Patton pastor their flock of youth and families. Here… [more] December 1, 2008 | Nanette Respess

Pastor’s Note

It’s official…almost. Several Sundays ago, when I announced my transition, I was only able to tell you that I hoped to teach. Now I can tell you where—Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. Covenant, the seminary of the Presbyterian Church in America, is where I trained for ministry and where, Lord willing, I will now help… [more] December 1, 2008 | Mike Honeycutt

Gather ‘Round Ye Children

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who love Christmas music, and those who can’t stand it. Those tendencies in us always present themselves when one of our favorite radio stations goes “all holiday music” from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. I am a fan of Christmas music and my enjoyment of it increases with… [more] December 1, 2008 | James Parker

They are Marshall

Verne and Alina Marshall serve with Mission to the World (MTW) in Santiago, Chile. They were in the U.S. for the wedding of their son, Naphtali, to a missionary kid from Ecuador, Alyssa Fowler. The wedding was held in Bangor, Maine where Alyssa’s father pastors a Community Church. Verne and Alina decided to extend their stay in the US to Jan.… [more] November 1, 2008 | Pam Mayes

Operation Christmas Child: Boxes of Hope

It was mid-November and the front of the sanctuary was filled with clear plastic shoe boxes brimming with small items. Last year, our families went beyond their usual generosity and filled shoe boxes with necessities and toys for a child they would never meet. This child may live in an area that we would be hard-pressed to find anything hopeful about… [more] November 1, 2008 | Nina Banta

Pastor’s Note

Less is more! Those three words are in the Bible — just not in that order. The concept is there for sure. For example, when Jesus summarizes the 10 Commandments with two in Matthew 22 (Love God, Love others) He was simplifying for clarity and power.

Another example of simplifying is found in John 13 when Jesus says here’s a summarizing… [more] November 1, 2008 | Bill Nash

Pray First

The book of Acts chronicles the history of the early church. It lives out Christ’s words to the apostles prior to his ascension into heaven when he says, “But you will receive power when the holy spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Now when… [more] November 1, 2008 | Amy Gandy

Charles Amicy: MTW Missionary

Southwood missionary, Charles Amicy is a national Haitian ministering with Mission to the World (MTW). He and his wife, Antonine, have four children ages 9-17. In 1997, Charles began Presbyterian Missions in Haiti, one of the most under-developed countries in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world. Haiti is often called the “Black… [more] October 1, 2008 | Pam Mayes

A Heart for Student Athletes

Ralph Keel’s office changed from inside to outside when his ministry transitioned from Southwood to Fellowship of Christian Athletes in April. His love for sports and students has been met through his new place of ministry. Ralph’s ministry to students began through Young Life and continued while he ministered at Southwood. He continued… [more] October 1, 2008 | Nanette Respess

Meet the Petchers

Sunday mornings are Dee Petcher’s busiest hours. Her mornings run the gamut whether it is figuring out why a child is upset, scrambling to find a volunteer when someone failed to arrive for their duty, or working with a parent who has a concern. She oversees our nursery filled with infants and children through three years old.
Her passion… [more] October 1, 2008 | Nanette Respess

Fanaticism and the Kingdom of God

The crisp fall days have arrived, the leaves are turning and the skies are bluer after the lifting of summer’s haze. Football, soccer, and other sports abound. Auburn or Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina or Clemson football captures our attention in the ‘beaches’ of a stadium or family room. We check in for two and one-half… [more] October 1, 2008 | Nanette Respess

Kids Across America

Camp… going away from home for the first time, getting to know a counselor, swimming, hiking, playing capture the flag, sleeping in a cabin in your new sleeping bag. Do you remember your first camp experience? For 26 kids and 4 adults from Lincoln Village, this past June was the trip of a life-time. As one little girl told one of the chaperones… [more] October 1, 2008 | Amy Gandy

Pastor’s Note

What kind of sports fan are you? Are you the kind of person that doesn’t care at all about sports? That’s kind of hard to believe here in the heart of SEC football! Or maybe you’re the kind of person who lives and breathes their favorite sports team? It’s most likely that you are somewhere on the spectrum in between, and that… [more] October 1, 2008 | Bill Nash

Teaching the Wee Ones

Do you remember the first time you experienced the Word of God? Picture eight one or two year olds gathered around a table, legs trying to reach the floor but not making it, listening with rapt or divided attention, hearing about God. The Word is planted early in our little ones’ hearts on Sundays. From the time they enter the nursery, our… [more] September 1, 2008 | Nanette Respess

The Lord’s Day: Sundays at Southwood

It is 5:30-6:00AM and the parking lot is empty as Mike Honeycutt arrives to begin his Sunday morning. In the quiet of these early hours, he prepares for worship through prayer and reviewing his sermon and the elements of worship. A truck pulls in around 7:00AM as James Parker arrives to put all the musical elements together. Bob and Viven Scrip come… [more] September 1, 2008 | Nanette Respess

Churches Working Together

The dictionary defines cooperation as “an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit; joint action.” It’s defined as a noun, but really it is an action. If you’ve been watching the Olympics, you’ve seen a great example of cooperation in the swimming relays. Every member of the four… [more] September 1, 2008 | Amy Gandy

Steve and Rita WIlliams: New Zealand Missionaries

Steve and Rita Williams’ vision for taking care of missionaries and Christian workers through counseling and pastoral care has taken them from Europe to the South Pacific. They are missionaries in Tauranga, New Zealand with Mission to the World and consider Southwood one of their home churches. Steve is from Huntsville. The Williams, along with… [more] September 1, 2008 | Pam Mayes

Pastor’s Note

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” –Mark 2:27

These words of Christ have been taken in all kinds of ways. Some have abused them—taking the Sabbath (or “Lord’s Day” for us) “gift” and doing whatever they want, obliterating the fourth of the ten commandments: “Remember… [more] September 1, 2008 | Mike Honeycutt

God’s “Will” for Southwood

Will and Christy Spink arrived Saturday, August 23 with boxes, furniture and hearts ready to minister at Southwood. Will has already heard the puns that go with his name—“God’s ‘Will’ for Southwood” —and has taken them with a wry grin and great humor as he begins his ministry as Director of Pastoral Care… [more] September 1, 2008 | Nanette Respess

Pastor’s Note

I am pretty sure it’s not God’s will that I write the opening pastoral note to this issue of Branches devoted to God’s will. I mean, it’s too complicated a subject to cover in a short note. Besides, it’s topics like that which make me glad I’m not the senior pastor – I’m totally fine that Mike has to do all the heavy lifting and gets… [more] August 15, 2008 | Bill Nash

Where are We Going?

Being decisive has never been a strong suit of mine. I’ve always been worried about making a wrong choice and ending up in a sticky situation. At times it has been quite a crippling fear. In my youth I can remember stressing over even the simplest decisions. I never truly had a sense of direction. I just drifted aimlessly, waiting on the ‘cosmic… [more] August 15, 2008 | James Parker

Here to There: Discourse on Biblical Guidance

If you have been in worship for the past four weeks, you are well-aware of Mike Honeycutt’s sermon series on God’s will. “How do I discern God’s will?�? is often asked of pastors and church leaders. Mike has spent the past weeks explaining the views of guidance from God, defining the guardrails of God’s moral law, and how God speaks to… [more] August 15, 2008 | John White

Women’s Bible Study

For years, Debbie Jones has been accustomed to the preparation required weeks before her first graders entered her classroom for the first time. Though Debbie has been retired from teaching after a twenty-five year career, she continues to use her talents to administer our Morning and Evening Edition Bible studies.

Debbie’s new ‘class’… [more] August 15, 2008 | Teri McQuinn

Gary and Linda Johnson: MTW Missionaries

Gary and Linda Johnson, along with their 9 children, live in Tranas, Sweden where Gary serves with Mission to the World (MTW). Gary’s philosophy of ministry, “Find faithful men, who will be able to teach others also,�? comes from 2 Timothy 2:2. A good portion of his time goes toward locating, recruiting, training and sending young men into… [more] August 15, 2008 | Pam Mayes

Meet the Sneeds

If you have ever had the opportunity to visit in Bill and JoAnn Sneed’s home, you immediately feel a sense of welcome and belonging. Their Southern manners and delight in people put a stranger at ease immediately whether at home, church or Lincoln Village. The Sneeds can be found serving at the Information Desk many a Sunday morning and in the… [more] August 15, 2008 | Nanette Respess

But Where is the Lamb for the Burnt Offering?

So often I contend with God. There always seems to be something of which I refuse to relinquish control. I don’t fully trust Jesus with my whole heart and my whole life. And of late, I seem to be reminded of this fact quite often. How can God expect me to follow Him when I have no clue where He’s leading me? And how can I trust Him if… [more] July 15, 2008 | James Parker

Meet the Dentons

Keith Denton’s job takes him all over the world. He has traveled to twenty-six countries on five continents. He counts Russian and Kuala Lampur, Malaysia as his most unusual places to have visited. Traveling is part of his family’s life, too. Keith, Michele, and their boys Philip (15), Stephen (17) and Matthew (19) have covered fifteen… [more] July 15, 2008 | Nanette Respess

The Pervis Mission

Bulgaria has been home to Georgia natives David and Erin Pervis for almost ten years. They both developed a heart for foreign missions before marrying in 1996. David grew up in Georgia and placed his faith in Christ as a child. While working as a chemical engineer after graduating from Auburn University, he participated in evangelism teams in Eastern… [more] July 15, 2008 | Pam Mayes

Polly’s Peruvian Pilgramages

Many people ask me, “Why do you keep going back to Peru?” It is a great priviledge to have gone these 12 times to Peru. There are several reasons why I go, but first of all, I have to say it’s mainly because He sends me. For whatever reason He sees, He keeps me going back.
Next to that, the main reason I go is because I am… [more] July 15, 2008 | Polly Ricks

Pastor’s Note

You are the most traveling group of Believers that I’ve ever known. Considering any given week that Richard’s in Geneva, Mike’s in Africa, Blair’s in Spain, Brock’s in LA, Angie’s at the Lake, William’s working in South Carolina, Dave’s in Portland, and Polly’s somewhere in Peru, we know our people… [more] July 15, 2008 | Ken Leggett

Johnny Long, Pastor to Pastors

Some of you will remember Johnny and Becky Long’s time with us teaching Sonship at spring conference a few years ago. Johnny and Becky Long are serving pastors through a church revitalization ministry, World Harvest Mission. Johnny’s focus is to pastor pastors. He mentors pastors in the art of preaching and teaching the Gospel as the means of… [more] July 1, 2008 | Pam Mayes

Keeping Count: Meet the Sullins

Chip Sullins is not your ordinary church treasurer. When he assumed this role in April, he already had a full plate. What was on his plate? Home improvement. Specifically, kitchen renovation. While Chip usually has a home project going, he has also has been serving those in need of financial counsel through the Diaconate ministry for the past several… [more] July 1, 2008 | Nanette Respess

Making it Through Tough Times

Times seems to be tough and look to be getting tougher. Your SUV that has been a wonderful tool for transporting children is now a tool for making a significant dent in your debit/credit card account. Your trip to the grocery store has put a crater in your checking account and all those extra foods that were normal may now be a luxury. And then there… [more] July 1, 2008 | Nanette Respess

The Future of Lincoln School

In the last few weeks you may have read or heard much about potential school closings and/or consolidations in the Huntsville City School system. Lincoln Elementary has been featured prominently in several of these articles and many have asked questions about how this may affect the work being done at Lincoln. This spring, a committee made a recommendation… [more] July 1, 2008 | Amy Gandy

Pastor’s Note

Okay, so the economy stinks—at least when it comes to the gas pump, the grocery store, the stock market, and the retail value of our homes (unless you’re buying of course). Saying that the economy stinks, though, is a very, very relative statement. If we were in just about any other part of the world, we would be stunned at the material wealth… [more] July 1, 2008 | Mike Honeycutt

Special Directions

Wedding Directors are a necessity if you are getting married at Southwood. Our church family has been fortunate to have several gifted women volunteer their skills, talents, and time to brides and grooms over the past thirteen years. Carol Cox has been the coordinator of all the ladies but will quickly tell you that Carol Joiner and Cathy Mayer and… [more] June 15, 2008 | Nanette Respess

Indy, Revisited

The problem of success is that the more you produce of a successful formula, the greater the risk of becoming a parody of yourself. This is the precarious position Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and the rest of the gang find themselves in at the outset of the 4th Indy flick.

At the opening of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of… [more] June 15, 2008 | Adam Steverson

Peruvian Missions

Many of you are familiar with our mission trips to Peru and the street boys that our youth and adult have come to love. You also may associate Peru with the tables set up in the hallway each November where crafts and goods made in Peru are sold to help Scripture Union. The faces behind Scripture Union are Southwood supported missionaries, Paul and… [more] June 15, 2008 | Pam Mayes

Meet James and Rachel Parker

What does the guy who is leading music dislike the most? Spiders. When you meet James Parker, you quickly discover he is a spider expert, can tell you all about their living habits and will check behind things leaning against a wall. James and his wife Rachel came to Southwood almost two years ago. This time last year James joined the musicians who… [more] June 15, 2008 | Nanette Respess

One Woman’s Dress

Who doesn’t enjoy a wedding filled with flowers, colorful dresses, glorious bouquets of flowers, and a radiant, bedeckeed bride walking the aisle to meet her groom? Summer weddings draw us to churches to be part of the ceremony that creates a new family when a man is covenantally joined to a woman. We love the story of how they met, the proposal… [more] June 15, 2008 | Nanette Respess

Why Do We Sing?

Church has been a huge part of my life as far back as I can remember. When Jesus began to draw me to Himself, I began to understand why we go to church. Community made sense, as did preaching and corporate prayer. But there was always this lingering question that nagged me as I grew; Why DO we sing? Why couldn’t we just listen to the sermon, pray,… [more] June 15, 2008 | James Parker

Pastor’s Note

Recently I realized we were the “Old Couple” in our cul-de-sac. I knew that day would come, but it still freaked me out. I figured I had a few years yet to go before that happened. All our neighbors are younger than Sherrie and me – and of course their children are much younger than ours. Most nights when I come home a beehive of activity… [more] June 15, 2008 | Bill Nash

Meet the Pattons

We have a new face leading worship. He is familiar to some, not to others. When asking Jake what he has been doing with his time this spring, he will answer, “ivy.” The Pattons returned to Huntsville after four years in St. Louis, MO where Jake studied for his Masters of Divinity (MDiv) at Covenant Seminary. They have settled into a home that… [more] June 1, 2008 | Nanette Respess

A Look at Narnia: Prince Caspian

“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” is the highly anticipated follow-up to the C.S. Lewis classic, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. In “Prince Caspian,” the Pevensie children once again find themselves magically transported from 1940s England to the mystical land of Narnia. The children are soon shocked to learn that… [more] June 1, 2008 | Adam Steverson

Seth Lewis: Home-Grown Missionary

Ever wonder what our Southwood kids will be when they grow up? We stand for baptisms and say we will help our parents raise these infants in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Seth Lewis is one of those children we have helped raise since 1987. Southwood was only a Sunday night Bible study then. Fast forward to 2008. Seth is married to Jessica… [more] June 1, 2008 | Pam Mayes

The Power Behind Powerlab

Why would two women who have children (and one on the way), husbands, and home projects volunteer to commit several months of time to plan Vacation Bible School (VBS)? Many people will remember the long, humorous emails from Leah Treen or the detailed opportunities to serve from Michelle Sullins during last fall’s Southwood 300. Leah (LT) and Michelle… [more] June 1, 2008 | Nanette Respess

Lincoln Village Update

Lincoln Village. We have become familiar with the term. Many know the places of the village; some know the faces of Lincoln Village. A myriad of things are always happening in the village.  A laundry list comes to mind of work completed, work ongoing and work to be done in the future.  Kids are going to camp. Ballet camp is happening this… [more] June 1, 2008 | Amy Gandy

Pastor’s Note

One of my favorite seminary professors and a dear friend, Jerram Barrs, told us something in class one day that was remarkably sad but at the same time a valid critique of much of today’s Church.  One of Jerram’s sons had a good friend who was an atheist.  When this friend discovered that Jerram was a pastor, he asked Jerram’s son… [more] June 1, 2008 | Mike Honeycutt