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You are here: Home / Archive / From the Pastor’s Study

June 30, 2019

From the Pastor’s Study

Rev. Dr. Gary L. Bagley, Parish Associate

Not long after arriving at our daughter’s home several years ago, our granddaughter, Anna, took my hand and coaxed me into the playroom. Quickly, she pulled out two small, colorful, plastic cups … reached for a small, colorful, plastic pitcher … then poured a delicious, invisible beverage into both cups. She lifted her cup (which was my cue to do likewise), sipped the invisible hot beverage (as did I), and waited for my response. “This is the finest cup of tea I’ve ever had,” I responded. She and her party made it so.

Some people wait on others to make things happen. Others just do it. Some people search the world over for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Others make these and other “inalienable rights” happen right where they are. Or, perhaps, they see the unmixed blessings right in front of them.

One of the most misunderstood phrases of both Jesus and John the baptizer is “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2, 4:17, Mark 1:15.) The way I heard it explained as a teenager indicated that everyone in Jesus’ and John’s earshot were either inherently bad or had committed some egregious mistake. Such had only a negative tone. Literally, the Greek word used for “repent” in these sayings is metanoia. Its literal translation is “change your way of thinking,” rather than “express deep remorse or something really bad is going to happen to you.” While that could be one of the implications, the bigger challenge is to “open your eyes, change your way of thinking.” It can be positive and enlivening, as well as condemning.

Next Sunday, July 7, the gospel reading contains one of my favorite insights (in Eugene Peterson’s paraphrased translation of Luke 10:8-9): [Jesus to his disciples] “When you enter a town and are received, eat what they set before you, heal anyone who is sick, and tell them, ‘God’s kingdom is right on your doorstep!’” Another way to put it is: “Open your eyes, smell the roses, embrace that which is alive before you; life in all of its fullness is right in front of you.”

I think my granddaughter, Anna, and her invisible tea party understood that. We’ll talk more about that on the 7th….

Filed Under: Archive, Uncategorized

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News & Announcements

From the Pastor: Heart Problems

September 1, 2023

A Sermon by Teresa Anderson Franklinfor Nacoochee Presbyterian ChurchBased on Matthew 15:10-28 Today I want to talk about heart problems, but not the kind that sends us to a cardiologist for treatment. Rather, I want to … [Read More] about From the Pastor: Heart Problems

Welcome to Nick Mitchell

September 1, 2023

NPC is so pleased to welcome Nick Mitchell as our new Director of Christian Education. He was introduced to the congregation during the August 27th service, and we are all looking forward to how he will enhance our Christian … [Read More] about Welcome to Nick Mitchell

Update from Pastor Nominating Committee

September 1, 2023

Your Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) has been meeting weekly since June to write and finalize our church’s Ministry Discernment Profile (MDP). We are pleased to announce that we officially finished and submitted the MDP on … [Read More] about Update from Pastor Nominating Committee

Events Calendar

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  • September 2023

Calendar of Events

S Sun

M Mon

T Tue

W Wed

T Thu

F Fri

S Sat

1 event, 27

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

August 27 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

1 event, 28

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

August 28 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 29

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

August 29 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

4 events, 30

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

August 30 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

August 30 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

August 30 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

+ 1 More

0 events, 31

0 events, 1

0 events, 2

1 event, 3

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

September 3 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

1 event, 4

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 4 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 5

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 5 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

6 events, 6

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 6 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

8:30 am - 10:00 am Event Series

Men’s Breakfast at Crossroads Café

September 6 @ 8:30 am - 10:00 am Event Series

Men’s Breakfast at Crossroads Café

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

September 6 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

+ 3 More

0 events, 7

0 events, 8

0 events, 9

1 event, 10

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

September 10 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

1 event, 11

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 11 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 12

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 12 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

5 events, 13

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 13 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

September 13 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

September 13 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

+ 2 More

0 events, 14

0 events, 15

0 events, 16

1 event, 17

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

September 17 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

1 event, 18

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 18 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 19

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 19 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

5 events, 20

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 20 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

September 20 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Woman’s Spirituality Group

September 20 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Woman’s Spirituality Group

+ 2 More

0 events, 21

0 events, 22

0 events, 23

1 event, 24

10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

September 24 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

1 event, 25

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 25 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

1 event, 26

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 26 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

5 events, 27

7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 27 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

September 27 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

September 27 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

+ 2 More

0 events, 28

0 events, 29

0 events, 30

August 27
August 27 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

August 28
August 28 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

August 29
August 29 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

August 30
August 30 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

August 30 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

August 30 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

+ 1 More
  • There are no events on this day.
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  • There are no events on this day.
September 3
September 3 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

September 4
September 4 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 5
September 5 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 6
September 6 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 6 @ 8:30 am - 10:00 am Event Series

Men’s Breakfast at Crossroads Café

September 6 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

+ 3 More
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
September 10
September 10 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

September 11
September 11 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 12
September 12 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 13
September 13 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 13 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

September 13 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

+ 2 More
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
September 17
September 17 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

September 18
September 18 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 19
September 19 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 20
September 20 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 20 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

September 20 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Woman’s Spirituality Group

+ 2 More
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
September 24
September 24 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Sunday Service

September 25
September 25 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 26
September 26 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 27
September 27 @ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Event Series

Outside Group Meeting Downstairs Room

September 27 @ 10:15 am - 11:00 am Event Series

Tai Chi Chih with Teresa

September 27 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Centering Prayer

+ 2 More
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
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LOCATION

260 GA Highway 255 North
Send mail to PO Box 87
Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571
(706) 878-2226

SERVICE TIMES

Worship services are held Sundays at 10 am.

Church Office Hours:
Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am - Noon

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