“Among the changing months, May stands confest
The sweetest, and in fairest colours dressed!
Soft as the breeze that fans the smiling field;
Sweet as the breath that opening roses yield.”
–James Thomson (1700–1748)

This writer is back! I was in-and-out of the University Hospital in Jackson from April 23 until this past Thursday. I regret that there was no “Terry Headlight News” published for the past few weeks in the Gazette. I am appreciative of the many prayers and for the cards extended to me during the past weeks! Thank you!

This is a current Terry prayer list: Laverna Linton Broome, Maggie (Mrs. Stanley) Brown, Curley Champion, Harold and Judy (Wilson) Crowder, Betty Davis, Ina Grace Housley, Frank Jackson, Terry Johnson, Freddie and Lillie Rene (Hales) Jones, Jeanette Jones, Patti McMaster Jones, Mamie Katherine McFarland Ray, Elsie Mae Whitehead Shack, Barbara Sills, Lurlene Savell Whitehead, Larry and Leslie Wilson, Jerry Witherington, missionaries, churches, those in the military, upcoming General elections, peace in Europe and the Middle East.

The town of Terry is expecting a new medical clinic, a new pharmacy, and a new downtown food truck. I also learned this morning that a new restaurant is planned to open in George Morgan’s old store. As was stated each week by the late Ms. Mamie Birdson in her column, “Watch Terry grow!”

Were you able to see the television news report on the Newman Foundation and its upcoming happenings? This was on channels 3 and 40 earlier this week.

The First Baptist Church of Terry on Raymond Street is planning a church-wide family fellowship this coming Sunday (May 26th) at 4:00 p. m. to celebrate the upcoming summer season and Memorial Day.

Earlier that day, Nick Chandler will be bringing the message at the morning worship service.

We have (since the last “Terry Headlight News” was last published) now moved into a new month and a new season of the liturgical calendar. The observance of Mother’s Day has also transpired, and it is hoped that all had a joyous celebration!

May is the fifth month of the year, and it has thirty-one days. The end of the traditional school year and the beginning of the summer vacation are two events of the month. The graduation of the 2024 senior class at Terry High School (and probably other schools) will have taken place by the time that you read this. The birth flowers of May are the Lily of the Valley and Crataegus monogyna. The emerald is the month’s birthstone.

The forty-day season of Easter has now ended, and the season of Pentecost began last Sunday. This Sunday is designated as Most Holy Trinity Sunday. This feast invites us to consider what we believe about God, who has revealed Himself to us in the Trinity, one God in three Persons. The suggested scripture readings are Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 (Moses teaches the people that Yahweh is the only God.), Psalm 33:4-5, 6-9, 18-19, 20, 22 (a prayer for the Lord’s mercy), Romans 8:14-17 (Through the Spirit, we have been adopted as children of God) and Matthew 28:16-20 (Jesus sends His disciples to make disciples of all nations.). Saint Matthew’s Gospel quickly moves from the disciples’ discovery of Jesus’ empty tomb and Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to the commission that Jesus gives to his disciples in the Gospel.

Jesus commissions his disciples to baptize in the name of the Trinity; this is one of the clearest attestations for Baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity found in Scripture. Other New Testament references to Baptism describe it as being celebrated in the name of Jesus. As we read this Gospel on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, we are reminded that this central mystery of faith is meant to be lived. As baptized Christians, we share in the life of the blessed Trinity and seek to invite others to share in God’s love.

Here are some recently celebrated birthdays: May 17: Casi Kieff; May 21: Loren Horton; May 20: Pat Roberts; May 21: Jimmy Sanford; May 22: Wendy Tardo, Kendall Rutledge; May 24: Daniel Barry, Cameron Clark; May 25: Ray Adair, Margaret Ann Dixon Kinney.

Upon returning from my hospital stay, I heard a friend speak of a Spring Pea Salad. That made me wish for these salads. I am providing the following recipe for them:

SPRING PEA SALAD
ingredients:
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp. sour cream
1 ½ tsp. apple cider vinegar
1 ½ tsp. sugar
kosher salt and freshly ground black
peppercorns, to taste
4 cups fresh or thawed frozen peas
4 ounces Cheddar cheese, finely shredded
¼ cup finely chopped red onion
4 slices bacon, cooked crisp, drained and
crumbled
chopped fresh Italian parsley, to taste

directions:
In a large mixing or salad bowl, whisk together first 4 ingredients (through sugar); season with salt and pepper.
Fold in peas, cheese and onion until well coated.
Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Garnish with bacon and parsley before serving.

Again, this Sunday is Most Holy Trinity Sunday. An appropriate hymn is “O Day of Rest and Gladness” by Christopher Words-worth. In 1862 the nephew of author William Wordsworth wrote this hymn around the themes of creation and God’s rest on the seventh day. The lyrics combine two themes. They show the beauty of the gift of light at the moment of creation. They also describe the miracle of our salvation through Jesus, The Light of the World (Genesis 1:3 and John 8:12). In stunning clarity, Genesis 1:1-5 and John 1:1-5 testify that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were all present at the moment of creation. This hymn’s text follows:

“O day of rest and gladness,
O day of joy and light,
O balm of care and sadness,
Most beautiful, most bright;
On thee, the high and lowly,
Through ages joined in tune,
Sing Holy, holy, holy,
To God, the great Triune.
“On thee, at the creation,
The light first had its birth;
On thee, for our salvation,
Christ rose from depths of earth;
On thee, our Lord victorious,
The Spirit sent from Heav’n,
And thus on thee most glorious
A triple light was giv’n.
“Thou art a port protected
From storms that round us rise;
A garden intersected
With streams of paradise;
Thou art a cooling fountain
In life’s dry, dreary sand;
From thee, like Pisgah’s mountain,
We view our promised land.
“Thou art a holy ladder,
Where angels go and come;
Each Sunday finds us gladder,
Nearer to Heav’n, our home;
A day of sweet reflection,
Thou art, a day of love,
A day of resurrection
From earth to things above.
“Today on weary nations
The heav’nly manna falls;
To holy convocations
The silver trumpet calls,
Where Gospel light is glowing
With pure and radiant beams;
And living water flowing,
With soulrefreshing streams.
“New graces ever gaining
From this our day of rest,
We reach the rest remaining
To spirits of the blest.
To Holy Ghost be praises,
To Father, and to Son;
The Church her voice upraises
To Thee, blest Three in One.”

As you are thanked each week for your readership, you are again thanked. You have read the oldest newspaper in the county, and it may be read on a weekly basis. Your submissions, corrections, and additions are always welcomed, and this writer may be reached at terryj1@bellsouth or 601-878-5714. (Pray for PEACE, people everywhere!)