The Narrow Escape. (Chapter 30)



Heading to Newberry Community Church after picking up the folks who 

didn't have transportation to get to church, Gary said to Vera as he drove

along Newberry Road and into town,  "Vera, we ought to announce to

everyone on here that a guest is coming, Richard Williams."

 "Oh, yes!" Vera replied,  "Didn't he actually call Mac and tell him he,

as well as Neva and Karen, were coming?"

 "He did,"  Gary went on,  "and he called to tell me about it." 

  Vera turned to face the passengers, who were mostly elderly and

children and announced, We're going to have a guest this morning,

Richard Williams. He's the one whose wife and daughter, Neva and
Karen, came in a month-and-a-half ago and asked that we pray for him
as well as them."

  An elderly woman in a pink, flowery dress and white hair up in a bun,

said,  Wasn't he that fellow who gave his life to the Lord while still in

the hospital? 

 "Yes, that's the one," Vera answered.  "He and his family want to

become members."

 "Well, GLORY!"  The woman shouted with praise and joy.  "Glory

to God!" 

"Here! Here!"  An elderly African-American gentleman shouted

next.  "HALLELUIAH!"
 Clapping of hands and additional shouts of praise came from the rest
of the passengers, even from a few of the children. Rejoicing had filled
the church bus.

 Gary and Vera looked at each other and smiled and expressed joy

over what the announcement had brought about.

 Brian and Dawn Canfield were helping Wilfred Templar and

Jenny Garrett with the bulletins while Mac prepared to greet 

the folks who would soon be arriving. 
Brian handed Mac a few of the bulletins that had been completed. 
"Good man," Mac said as Brian handed the bulletins to him. 
 Brian was turning to head back to the church office when he stopped

and turned back toward Mac and addressed, "Uncle Mac?"

 "Yes, Brian?"

 "Dawn and I can finish up the bulletins while you, Jenny and

Wilfred get ready to greet folks."

 "Are you sure you can handle the copier?"

 "Yes, sir. I watched how you, Jenny and Wilfred worked it."

 "Okay, then," Mac said, then added, "But if you have any trouble,

don't hesitate to ask one of us, alright?"

"Yes, Uncle Mac,"  answered Brian and then he headed back to

the office room to resume with the bulletins. 
 Mac then heard some talking among the two children, Wilfred, and
Jenny, and then Jenny and Wilfred came out with bulletins in hand
and laid them at the table in the hallway where Jenny would hand them
out.

 With Mac at the front door, Jenny at the hallway table and

Wilfred at the back door and handicap entrance/exit, church

was open for worship.

 A red Chevy Cobalt coupe belonging to Karen Williams

pulled into the church parking lot and into a space closest

to the church that wasn't marked as a handicap space.

 Karen, as well as her mother and father, who were with

her, felt it best that her father take the handicap entrance

to avoid exertion, even though he was otherwise functional.

 Both doors of the red Chevy opened with Karen emerging

first, then her father, who sat up front, and her mother

climbing out just behind him.  

 Karen removed her sunglasses and put them in her purse as

she walked around the car to accompany her parents to the

rear entrance.

 Richard Williams, Karen's father, looked over the church
building and remarked affirmatively, "It's almost like I imagined
it!"
 "You haven't seen anything yet, Daddy,"  Karen replied in

anticipation.

 "Oh, really?"  Richard turned to grin at his young daughter and

added in mock seriousness,  "I don't think this heart can take any

more surprises!"

 "This one will do your heart good, Richard," Neva put in.

 "I can hardly wait," Richard said.

 Wilfred was at the back door when he heard voices outside the

door. As the voices got closer, he started to recognize the sounds
of the voices and immediately opened the door to discover that

the Williams family, all three of them this time, were the first

folks to arrive. Wilfred greeted Karen and her mother

jovially with Richard letting them go in ahead of him. 

 As Richard entered Wilfred reached out to shake Richard's

hand with both of his and acknowledged him with warmth and

enthusiasm. 

"Good morning and welcome to Newberry Community Church,"

greeted Wilfred, " I am Wilfred Templar and we are very glad 

that you came to visit us this morning. Please make yourself at

home, friend."

 "Richard Williams," Richard answered, "Good to meet

you Wilfred, and thank you."

 Richard entered the hallway to join Neva and Karen

as they went over to the hallway table where Jenny was

handing out the bulletins. Richard noticed how right when

Jenny saw him enter that she quickly came over to greet him

and hand him a bulletin.

 "Good morning," Jenny smiled and held out her hand to

Richard gracefully, "I'm Jenny Garrett and welcome to our

church. Would you like a bulletin?"

 "Thank you, Jenny," Richard replied as she took a bulletin

from her which she held,  "It's nice to be here."

 No sooner than he said that when Brian and Dawn came

out with more bulletins and put them on the table. They

saw Richard with Neva and Karen and immediately went

over to meet him.

 "Good morning," Brian addressed Richard as he held out his

hand, "I'm Brian Canfield and this is my sister, Dawn."

 "Well, pleased to meet you, Brian and Dawn,"  Richard

 responded, moved by the manners of the two children.

 "We have tea and coffee in the fellowship room,"  Dawn

said to Richard, "May we show you to the room?"

 Richard looked up from Brian and Dawn and to Neva and

Karen in amazement, Neva and Karen just smiled and nodded.

 Richard looked back again at Brian and Dawn and said, "That

would be nice, thank you."

Brian and Dawn lead the way, to the tea room, the Williamses

following them.

Wilfred was about to head back to the back door and Jenny was

gathering the bulletins that Brian and Dawn had recently brought out

when Wilfred suddenly stopped short.

"Oh, good heavens," Wilfred exclaimed, "Mac is still out front. He

probably thought the Williamses were coming in the main entrance!"

 "I'll go and tell him, Wilfred,"  Jenny said as she set the bulletins down

and went down the hallway stairs to the front entrance.

Mac was standing dutifully outside the front door awaiting the church

folks' arrival when he heard Jenny come through the door.

 "Mac?"  Mac turned to acknowledge Jenny when he heard her say his

 name.

 "Yes, Jenny?"  Mac answered.

 "The Williamses are here. They came in the back door. Wilfred and I thought

you'd like to know."

 "Oh, okay! Thank you Jenny, I'm coming right in."

 Jenny nodded and smiled as she turned and went back inside as Mac followed.

This concludes Chapter 30.