Newport's Tornado

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Storm Damage

On April 27, 2011 a major storm hit Newport. This is some of the destruction: the Adult High School Building was almost completely leveled, the Cocke County High School and Newport Grammar School had structural damage, and some residents went two days without power. Cocke County was blessed by the Lord with no reported fatalities or life-threatening injuries. However, some of our surrounding counties did have worse damage with fatalities. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the effected families.

UPDATE: April 30,2011
We officially had a F1 Tornado. They have classified all the damages. Please pray for our county and all of East Tennessee as we try to recover from the loss and damages.

Easter

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Newport is nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains as most of you know. Our flowers and trees are really coming to life. Here are a few pictures from around town just to show you how blessed we are to live in this beautiful area:

Spring

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The first of this video has the children planting different flowers in planters. The children did this for the church to show that we all can do things for one another, young and old alike. The second half shows the children planting pine saplings. Andrew Brown supplied these to us. We would like to thank him for his generous gift.

Lucy Hale

The First Christian Church family is saddened today. One of our beloved members went to be with our Lord. Lucy Hale passed away late Monday March 28th. Lucy had fought congestive heart disease for many years. Lucy was incredibly active in the community and church activities from The Ladies Missionary Society to Vacation Bible School. I don't remember having a VBS without Lucy participating in some capacity. Lucy never gave birth to children but she had a mother's heart. She became a mother to many a child at First Christian. Anyone who knew Lucy was truly blessed. I know that I am a better person and Christian because of her.

Obituary Lucy Hale (June 16, 1926 - March 28, 2011) Lucy Hale, age 84, of Newport, passed away, Monday, March 28, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center St. Mary’s. She was a member of the First Christian Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur Hale; father, Rufus Foster; mother and step father, Sue and Ivan “Pete” Hall. She is survived by her cousins, Roger, Wayne and Jimmy Butler, Peggy Giles, Sandra Hux, Evelyn Butler, Wanda Raines, Lorene McClanahan, all of Newport, and Dorothy McGoldrick of Atlanta, GA; nephew, Roger Hale of Newport, sister-in-law, Nannie Hale of Newport; and a her very special friend Arlene Hightower; also many other friends and her church family. Funeral services will be held 8:00 pm Wednesday, March 30, 2011 in Manes Funeral Home Chapel, with Brother Martin Stump officiating. Burial will be 10:00 am, Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Union Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm Wednesday at Manes Funeral Home prior to the funeral.

Nannie's Birthday

Happenings in 1911
Births:

• Ronald Reagan, future U.S President
• Bill Monroe, Creator of Bluegrass Music
• Tennessee Williams, American Dramatist
• Lucille Ball, Actress
• Ginger Rogers, Actress
• Roy Rogers, Film Star
• Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel Music

Events:

• Philadelphia Athletics beat NY Giants in the World Series.
• Camp Fire Girls of America is founded.
• Ray Harroun wins 1st running of Indy 500 at an average speed of 74.59 mph.
• The average cost of a house was $4,800.

Famous Songs:

• Down By The Old Mill Stream
• Oh You Beautiful Doll
• Let Me Call You Sweetheart
• Under the Yum Yum Tree
• By the Light of the Silvery Moon

Our Deepest Fear

I forgot how I learned about this poem but I love the sentiment behind it. I hope you like it as well. The poem is titled "Our Deepest Fear" by Marian Williamson.

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually who are we not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Valentine's Banquet 2011

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Nannie Hale

Yesterday, February 17, 2011 marked Mrs. Nannie Hale's 100th birthday. Nannie is the oldest member of First Christian. She is very active in the Ladies Missionary Society and.the Loyal Ladies Class. She is also involved with the Senior Center. She is President of the Quilters and until last spring taught exercise classes. The quilting circle helped her celebrated with a lunch at Carver's Applehouse. First Christian will honor Nannie with a party after church on Sunday, February 20th. We hope everyone that life has been touched by Nannie will attend. We want to commemorate this special occasion for a wonderful lady.