Newsletter
In a hospital last Christmas Eve, a pregnant Colorado woman, Tracy Hermanstorfer was in labor. Her husband,
Mike, was holding her hand when he recalls, “She literally stopped breathing and her heart stopped. Half my
family was lying right there in front of me – there’s no other way to say it – dead. Once her heartbeat stopped, it
felt like mine did, too.”
Tracy’s room filled with doctors and nurses who were trying to restart her heart, but nothing was working. When
all measures failed, the doctors said to Mike, “We have been unable to revive her, and we’re going to take your
son out now.” With no time to get to an operating room, an emergency Caesarean-section was performed right
there, in Tracy’s hospital bed. But the 7 lb., 4 oz. robust looking baby named Coltyn, also wasn’t breathing. Mike
was handed his son, who he said was, “absolutely lifeless.” As his dad held him, the doctors went to work on
Coltyn and soon the baby drew his first breath. “His life began in my hands. What more of a present could you ask
for?” Mike said.
But another gift was to come. Five minutes after Tracy had stopped breathing, her heart restarted on its own. As
Coltyn’s little body filled with oxygen, so did Tracy’s and she began to snap back into life. Mike said, “My legs went
out from underneath me. I had everything in the world taken from me … and I had everything given (back) to me.”
Tracy’s doctors can’t explain the stunning recovery, the reason this happened, or why they are both healthy
despite the time they spent without oxygen. “There is only one explanation,” Mike Hermanstorfer said, “and it’s
just an absolute miracle.” (1, 2)
Upon seeing the risen Jesus, “IT’S A MIRACLE,” may have been in the mind of his loved ones. With the shock of
seeing him alive, they, like Mike Hermanstorfer, may have felt that their legs were going out from under them. Can
you imagine grieving deeply when everything is taken from you and then feeling utter joy when it all returns?
All was not lost! Jesus had returned as he had said he would. In spite of suffering the agony of crucifixion, of
human death, he never really left! Jesus proved that a certainty of Oneness with our Loving, Divine Parent,
Omnipresent God, allows us to transcend all situations, even death.
If, like Jesus, we feel oneness with our Loving Father and know that death has no power over us, what can
restrict or limit us in life? Nothing! Jesus teaching is to love, unconditionally, and to have unlimited life in the
Kingdom of God, NOW by knowing our oneness with our Father and thus with each other.
God loves us and supplies us with all that we could ever want or need. We, His unlimited children, are blessed
and free to revel in abundant Life. Deeply grateful for this and for Jesus’ life, we rejoice this Easter; We Rejoice!
(1) Roanoke Times, Dec. 31, 2009; “Mom, Baby get Second Chance” Assoc. Press.
(2) Roanoke Times, Jan. 2225, 2010; “Mother and baby back from brink of death.” Bill Reed; The Colorado Springs Gazette.
Mike, was holding her hand when he recalls, “She literally stopped breathing and her heart stopped. Half my
family was lying right there in front of me – there’s no other way to say it – dead. Once her heartbeat stopped, it
felt like mine did, too.”
Tracy’s room filled with doctors and nurses who were trying to restart her heart, but nothing was working. When
all measures failed, the doctors said to Mike, “We have been unable to revive her, and we’re going to take your
son out now.” With no time to get to an operating room, an emergency Caesarean-section was performed right
there, in Tracy’s hospital bed. But the 7 lb., 4 oz. robust looking baby named Coltyn, also wasn’t breathing. Mike
was handed his son, who he said was, “absolutely lifeless.” As his dad held him, the doctors went to work on
Coltyn and soon the baby drew his first breath. “His life began in my hands. What more of a present could you ask
for?” Mike said.
But another gift was to come. Five minutes after Tracy had stopped breathing, her heart restarted on its own. As
Coltyn’s little body filled with oxygen, so did Tracy’s and she began to snap back into life. Mike said, “My legs went
out from underneath me. I had everything in the world taken from me … and I had everything given (back) to me.”
Tracy’s doctors can’t explain the stunning recovery, the reason this happened, or why they are both healthy
despite the time they spent without oxygen. “There is only one explanation,” Mike Hermanstorfer said, “and it’s
just an absolute miracle.” (1, 2)
Upon seeing the risen Jesus, “IT’S A MIRACLE,” may have been in the mind of his loved ones. With the shock of
seeing him alive, they, like Mike Hermanstorfer, may have felt that their legs were going out from under them. Can
you imagine grieving deeply when everything is taken from you and then feeling utter joy when it all returns?
All was not lost! Jesus had returned as he had said he would. In spite of suffering the agony of crucifixion, of
human death, he never really left! Jesus proved that a certainty of Oneness with our Loving, Divine Parent,
Omnipresent God, allows us to transcend all situations, even death.
If, like Jesus, we feel oneness with our Loving Father and know that death has no power over us, what can
restrict or limit us in life? Nothing! Jesus teaching is to love, unconditionally, and to have unlimited life in the
Kingdom of God, NOW by knowing our oneness with our Father and thus with each other.
God loves us and supplies us with all that we could ever want or need. We, His unlimited children, are blessed
and free to revel in abundant Life. Deeply grateful for this and for Jesus’ life, we rejoice this Easter; We Rejoice!
(1) Roanoke Times, Dec. 31, 2009; “Mom, Baby get Second Chance” Assoc. Press.
(2) Roanoke Times, Jan. 2225, 2010; “Mother and baby back from brink of death.” Bill Reed; The Colorado Springs Gazette.
Message from Rev Velma Bullington
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Sunday Flowers
Celebrate a birthday or anniversary or just surprise a friend, someone in the hospital or nursing home by sponsoring
a fresh flower arrangement in our sanctuary on Sunday morning.
The arrangement you sponsor will make our sanctuary more beautiful and will make glad the heart of the recipient of
the bouquet after church. The cost is just $20 and a new 2010 Flower Calendar is hanging in the church foyer awaiting
your signature!
Celebrate a birthday or anniversary or just surprise a friend, someone in the hospital or nursing home by sponsoring
a fresh flower arrangement in our sanctuary on Sunday morning.
The arrangement you sponsor will make our sanctuary more beautiful and will make glad the heart of the recipient of
the bouquet after church. The cost is just $20 and a new 2010 Flower Calendar is hanging in the church foyer awaiting
your signature!
Curtains for Sale
We recently replaced
our sanctuary curtains
but the former ones
are in excellent
condition. If you’re
interested in buying
them, plus all the
hardware for hanging
them, make us an offer!
We recently replaced
our sanctuary curtains
but the former ones
are in excellent
condition. If you’re
interested in buying
them, plus all the
hardware for hanging
them, make us an offer!
March and April Birthdays
Make it a point to call or congratulate
them or say a prayer of thanks for the
following people on their birth dates.
March
Charlotte Lester 01
Gary Randolph 03
D J Barba 03
Cynthia Greer 06
Betty Tarpley 08
E J Brown 09
Bob Edwards 17
Joanita Taormina 25
April
Eddie Wiggins 09
Jan Graham 11
Bert Boyd 12
Make it a point to call or congratulate
them or say a prayer of thanks for the
following people on their birth dates.
March
Charlotte Lester 01
Gary Randolph 03
D J Barba 03
Cynthia Greer 06
Betty Tarpley 08
E J Brown 09
Bob Edwards 17
Joanita Taormina 25
April
Eddie Wiggins 09
Jan Graham 11
Bert Boyd 12
Rev. Freidline to Teach & Speak
Rev. Janet Freidline, President and Registrar of the Divine Science School and co-minister of the
Divine Science Church in Washington, D.C. will be in Roanoke from April 9th to 16th. She will teach the
final basic class, Consecration and Higher Training. Only those students who have either audited, or
taken the other five classes for credit are qualified to attend. Rev. Freidline will also speak on Sun.,
April 11. Her sermon title is “What Is The Enemy?” Don’t miss hearing her speak!
Rev. Janet Freidline, President and Registrar of the Divine Science School and co-minister of the
Divine Science Church in Washington, D.C. will be in Roanoke from April 9th to 16th. She will teach the
final basic class, Consecration and Higher Training. Only those students who have either audited, or
taken the other five classes for credit are qualified to attend. Rev. Freidline will also speak on Sun.,
April 11. Her sermon title is “What Is The Enemy?” Don’t miss hearing her speak!
The Bottom Line
Dec. '09 Contributions $4,462.00
Misc. Income $1983.51
Total $6445.51
Disbursements $6133.92
Balance $311.59
Jan. '10 Contributions $4,128.00
Misc. Income $1,455.41
Total $5,583.41
Disbursements $6,792.22
Balance $(1,208.81)
Dec. 1 Balance Froward $ 736.82
($160.40)
Dec. '09 Contributions $4,462.00
Misc. Income $1983.51
Total $6445.51
Disbursements $6133.92
Balance $311.59
Jan. '10 Contributions $4,128.00
Misc. Income $1,455.41
Total $5,583.41
Disbursements $6,792.22
Balance $(1,208.81)
Dec. 1 Balance Froward $ 736.82
($160.40)
Win This Rare Painting
Jan Graham has lovingly donated this rare and beautiful P.
Buckley Moss painting, titled "With All My Heart" which is matted
and framed.
We are holding a raffle for a chance to win this. Each ticket is only
$2, and you can also buy 3 tickets for $5.
Contact Jan, through the "contact us" link on this website, or call
the church if you are interested, and leave a message as to how
many tickets you would like to purchase. (540) 774-5512 ext. 10
All proceeds benefit our Church! So its a very worthy cause.
Drawing to be held March 31. You need not be present to win.
Thank you!
Jan Graham has lovingly donated this rare and beautiful P.
Buckley Moss painting, titled "With All My Heart" which is matted
and framed.
We are holding a raffle for a chance to win this. Each ticket is only
$2, and you can also buy 3 tickets for $5.
Contact Jan, through the "contact us" link on this website, or call
the church if you are interested, and leave a message as to how
many tickets you would like to purchase. (540) 774-5512 ext. 10
All proceeds benefit our Church! So its a very worthy cause.
Drawing to be held March 31. You need not be present to win.
Thank you!
Sample
FOLLOWING THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS
Noticed The Changes?
As you drove up to the front of the church lately, you may have
noticed how beautifully the rock on the Columbaria Wall matches
the rock on the front of the church. We all look forward to
warmer weather when this important addition to our church, the
Columbaria Wall can be finished. But … a number of other
improvements have already taken place. We’ve received many
positive comments on the new curtains, the decorative poles
and finials that support the curtains and the new brass
chandeliers in the sanctuary. Silk trees were placed on both
sides of the dais. The outside lights on either side of the front
door, as well as the post light have been replaced. The sign on
the front lawn was enlarged and repainted and looks great. The
two major projects that remain are repainting the sanctuary and
putting the church name on the back of the Annex. One awaits
the funds and the other, warmer weather!
As you drove up to the front of the church lately, you may have
noticed how beautifully the rock on the Columbaria Wall matches
the rock on the front of the church. We all look forward to
warmer weather when this important addition to our church, the
Columbaria Wall can be finished. But … a number of other
improvements have already taken place. We’ve received many
positive comments on the new curtains, the decorative poles
and finials that support the curtains and the new brass
chandeliers in the sanctuary. Silk trees were placed on both
sides of the dais. The outside lights on either side of the front
door, as well as the post light have been replaced. The sign on
the front lawn was enlarged and repainted and looks great. The
two major projects that remain are repainting the sanctuary and
putting the church name on the back of the Annex. One awaits
the funds and the other, warmer weather!
Attention All Members
Make sure you plan to attend church on
March 21st. You’ll have an opportunity to
choose your nominees for the 2010
Nominating Committee. This very important
Committee is responsible for finding people
to serve on the Executive Board of VCCDS
from June, 2010 to May, 2011. Your good
judgment and choices are essential in
helping us elect a strong Executive Board
who will supervise the care of our church
building and grounds, will bring about any
needed improvements and will supply
creative new ideas to benefit the church.
Make sure you plan to attend church on
March 21st. You’ll have an opportunity to
choose your nominees for the 2010
Nominating Committee. This very important
Committee is responsible for finding people
to serve on the Executive Board of VCCDS
from June, 2010 to May, 2011. Your good
judgment and choices are essential in
helping us elect a strong Executive Board
who will supervise the care of our church
building and grounds, will bring about any
needed improvements and will supply
creative new ideas to benefit the church.
March Health Fair
On Sat., March 20th, from 10-2 p.m., we will be
hosting our yearly Health Fair in the Lucia Annex
at VCCDS. Radford nursing students,
supervised by Professor Ginny Weisz, will
provide a variety of health tests at no or very
low cost. They will include blood pressure
checks, blood sugar, cholesterol, hemoglobin
and bone density screens. In addition, several
alternative practitioners will be available for
Reiki energy treatments and massage. The Fair
is open to all, and no appointments are
necessary. Just show up!
On Sat., March 20th, from 10-2 p.m., we will be
hosting our yearly Health Fair in the Lucia Annex
at VCCDS. Radford nursing students,
supervised by Professor Ginny Weisz, will
provide a variety of health tests at no or very
low cost. They will include blood pressure
checks, blood sugar, cholesterol, hemoglobin
and bone density screens. In addition, several
alternative practitioners will be available for
Reiki energy treatments and massage. The Fair
is open to all, and no appointments are
necessary. Just show up!
Daylight Saving Time Begins Mar. 14
Don’t forget to “spring ahead” … move
your clocks ahead one hour before you
retire on Sat. March 13 so you can join
us at church for the whole service,
rather than arrive just in time for coffee!
Don’t forget to “spring ahead” … move
your clocks ahead one hour before you
retire on Sat. March 13 so you can join
us at church for the whole service,
rather than arrive just in time for coffee!
Special Easter Week Events!
Please give the most important event in the Christian
calendar the reverence and focus it deserves. Jesus’
death and resurrection changed the world; changed the
lives of most of the people who have lived since then.
If we can just absorb the full, mind-boggling meaning of
eternal life, as demonstrated by Jesus Christ, we not
only will never fear death, we will find ourselves
unafraid to face life and all it holds!
Palm Sunday, Mar. 28, Rev. Velma’s talk is, “Are You
Riding a Donkey?”
Good Friday, April 2, 7 p.m., Rev. Velma, Rev. Betty and
Dr. Maurita share thoughts on why it was a Good Friday.
Easter Sunday, April 4, 7 a.m., Easter Sunrise service
in the Meditation Garden.
At 11, Dr. Maurita’s sermon title is “Tomorrow.”
Communion will be shared. Special refreshments will
be served after both services.
Please give the most important event in the Christian
calendar the reverence and focus it deserves. Jesus’
death and resurrection changed the world; changed the
lives of most of the people who have lived since then.
If we can just absorb the full, mind-boggling meaning of
eternal life, as demonstrated by Jesus Christ, we not
only will never fear death, we will find ourselves
unafraid to face life and all it holds!
Palm Sunday, Mar. 28, Rev. Velma’s talk is, “Are You
Riding a Donkey?”
Good Friday, April 2, 7 p.m., Rev. Velma, Rev. Betty and
Dr. Maurita share thoughts on why it was a Good Friday.
Easter Sunday, April 4, 7 a.m., Easter Sunrise service
in the Meditation Garden.
At 11, Dr. Maurita’s sermon title is “Tomorrow.”
Communion will be shared. Special refreshments will
be served after both services.
Easter Hydrangeas
Honor or remember a family member or
friend by sponsoring a beautiful pink or
blue Easter hydrangea in an 8 inch foil
wrapped pot. Take it home and enjoy it,
plant it in your garden or give it as a
surprise gift to someone right after our 11
o’clock service. Cost: $16.50. Deadline
for signup: Sunday, March 14th.
Honor or remember a family member or
friend by sponsoring a beautiful pink or
blue Easter hydrangea in an 8 inch foil
wrapped pot. Take it home and enjoy it,
plant it in your garden or give it as a
surprise gift to someone right after our 11
o’clock service. Cost: $16.50. Deadline
for signup: Sunday, March 14th.
Orientation to Divine Science
On Mon., Mar. 15 and 22 at 7 p.m., a free, two
evening series on the basic ideas in Divine
Science will be held. It’s for those who are
curious and those interested in membership
in our church. Just sign up at church!
On Mon., Mar. 15 and 22 at 7 p.m., a free, two
evening series on the basic ideas in Divine
Science will be held. It’s for those who are
curious and those interested in membership
in our church. Just sign up at church!
St. Patty’s Day Irish Pot Luck Supper & Comedy Flicks! Fri., Mar. 19, 6 p.m. Y’all Come!
Not only will you have a delicious, bountiful dinner, you’ll round out your evening with a lot of health-
enhancing, soul-satisfying belly laughs! Jean is fixing corned beef & cabbage. Bring a side-dish or dessert
and you’ll enjoy good food, good friends & good fun! Love offering.
Not only will you have a delicious, bountiful dinner, you’ll round out your evening with a lot of health-
enhancing, soul-satisfying belly laughs! Jean is fixing corned beef & cabbage. Bring a side-dish or dessert
and you’ll enjoy good food, good friends & good fun! Love offering.
Lots-a Big-a Pizz-a Pie-a with Salad, Drink, Desert & Bingo! Fri., Apr., 16, 6 p.m.
Four or five different kinds of pizza – BIG tossed salad, beverages and desert PLUS bingo with lots of prizes! That’s a
recipe for a great evening. Just circle the date on your calendar, sign up at church and plan to come. Love offering.
Four or five different kinds of pizza – BIG tossed salad, beverages and desert PLUS bingo with lots of prizes! That’s a
recipe for a great evening. Just circle the date on your calendar, sign up at church and plan to come. Love offering.