The 'hand' that rocked our ParkwayHills cradle - Mr's Shirley Bullock, 1936-2011

If you've attended ParkwayHills Church any time between the Spring of 1989 and last Sunday, and you had a baby - a 'wee one' - still of the infant, not-yet-crawling stage, then chances are your child was held, loved, changed and rocked by the steady 'hands' of Mrs. Shirley Bullock. Shirley holds the distinction of being the 2nd longest ParkwayHills employee (2nd only to me, by 1 week, in length of service) and she has been absolutely faithful to this charge. Sadly and quite unexpectedly, however, her good service came to an end today as she went home to be with the LORD, passing from this life to life eternal early this morning.

We first came to know Shirley through church member, Tom McIntyre, as she worked for him 'part-time' by transporting cars for his business. After our church's 1st service under the tent (Easter, 1989) we moved temporarily into Tom's showroom on Midway Road near the Addison airport, where Shirley became our first official Sunday nursery worker. It was to be temporary, but, wherever we went - from CarChurch on Midway, to Brinker Elementary and, eventually, to our permanent home here on the North Dallas Tollway, Shirley remained.

"Miss Shirley," as we called her, was very often the first to arrive each Sunday. And, since her 'room' was right across the hall from my office, she and I would exchange morning pleasantries. In these latter days she had taken to asking me about the kids of our church, who were now grown. Many whom wouldn't know her if they saw her. But, oh my, she knew them - in ways they could not understand, but, nonetheless, certain and sure - and she'd ask, 'pastor, whatever happened to...' then on she'd go, nodding her head understandingly as I would describe where and what they were up to.

Miss Shirley held my children - she held all of of our staff babies. In fact, over time she was to hold most all of the infants that came our way, so that the earliest parkwayhills remembrance of these children would have been from the arms of this dear, plain-spoken, midwesterner - a transplant to Texas and to our church family - but a dear lady too seldom recognized now so sorely missed.

We love you Miss Shirley - and we tell you so! Thank's for rocking our ParkwayHills cradles, and...

Happy Home-Going!

Pastor Sam

modernFAMILY - Wk.3 w/ Kyle Morrill

I am excited about my pulpit series, modernFAMILY, which continues this Sunday with a special word by longtime ParkwayHills LIFEgroup teacher, Kyle Morrill. Kyle has been a ParkwayHills member since 1994, nearly 17 years, and has served both as teacher and administrator at Trinity Christian Academy for over 25 years.

My purpose in having Kyle is singular. I will ask him this question: "If there is one thing that you would tell parents they are doing wrong and one thing they are doing right, what would that be?" This is a man who knows both kids and parents well. I can't wait to hear what he has to say.

In addition to this, my message for the morning will focus on the ROLE OF THE CHILD. My text, "Children obey your parents"... as "this is the first commandment with a promise," (Eph. 6"1-3) is packed with implications for both children and parents and bears meaning beyond the nuclear family, even to the body of Christ as a whole.

I look forward to seeing you then.

Till Sunday,

Pastor Sam