Sunday days for us very a lot but are on the other hand pretty routine. To illustrate I will give a brief history and outline todays activities. I attend a small ward, the Rochester Ward, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints located in Somersworth New Hampshire. The Rochester Ward was created when the Somersworth Ward was divided into two sections. At the time I served in the Bishopric of the Somersworth Ward (another story all on its own) I have included a picture of the first Bishopric of the Rochester ward. Well, all most... the first Executive Secretary Brother Raymond Yeagley had already moved.
From left to right
Neil Dennis 1st Counselor
Steve Guillian - Bishop
Ben Carling - 2nd Counselor
Dennis O'Hara - Executive Secretary/Ward Clerk
This picture was taken at the release of Ben Carling (replaced by Steve Hunting) on November 5th 2006. We started off as a ward of about 80 members, our attendance fluctuates between 60-90, a few times we have been in the 50's and once or twice in the 100's. Being in the bishopric kept our lives busy.
Anyway just before leaving for Utah to work during the summer of 2007 I was released and Camille was put in as the Relief Society President. When I returned in the fall I was called to be the Gospel Doctrine teacher. I loved that calling but it was short lived. I soon was called again to work with Bishop Guillian this time as the Financial Clerk in June of the following year 2008.
So as it stands today, Camille is still the Relief Society President, and I'm still the Ward Financial Clerk. As such I need to stay after church each Sunday to prepare and make the financial deposits for contributions from the ward members. On most Sundays Camille needs to arrive early or stay late for her meetings. I two boys are very patient with us as they wait in the church while we perform our duties.
This morning Eric needed to be their early for a Scout board of review for the rank of Star in the scouting program, so we arrived early. He just received awards for several merit badges, but still has about 6 outstanding that we hadn't collected awards for. It will be 8 or 9 before the next court of honor. I'm including a picture that was taken on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 when he received his awards.
Before sacrament meeting we were asked by a fried of Marc (and current investigator) if the missionaries could meet at our place for a discussion at 3:30, we agreed. They also needed a ride, however we were not able to assist them since we didn't have room in our car, or time to make two trips after our after-church meetings.
Our sacrament meeting speakers happened to be Marc Dennis (my son), another sister in the ward and myself. Neither I nor Marc had spoken in a while so it was good for us. We all three spoke on faith. Marc used Book of Mormon stories of people that illustrated using faith (or the lack their of) I spoke on faith not as a belief but as a system of doctrine. I took a lot from a talk give by President Hinckley while serving as second counselor to Presikent Kimball on The Cornerstones of Our Faith.
During Sunday School meeting (of which I used to teach) I would like to attend but the past few weeks have found me doing other duties. For example this Sunday, Bishop needed help with the AV equipment for his combined Priesthood/Relief Society meeting. I prepared a DVD with two conference talks for him last night, but needed to make sure they worked on the Ward's equipment. He also needed a CD play set up that played through the chapels sound system. So once again I missed my Sunday School class.
Our combined Priesthood/Relief Society meeting had a focus on proclaiming the gospel.
After church was over at 2:00, Marc and Camille needed to stay after for a Seminary kick off meeting. Early morning Seminary starts each school day at 6:00 AM and goes until 6:45 AM. Because of this our morning scripture study goes from 5:00 AM to 5:30 AM. So Marc gets himself up between 4:00 and 4:30 so he can be ready for school before all of this.
Camille came in to the Clerk's Office at about 3:00 and picked up the keys so she could go home and be there when the missionaries arrived. I finished up my work and Brother Hunting gave me a ride home and I arrived home at about 4:30 to catch the very end of the missionary discussion. We had the missionary elders stay over for afternoon meal. I made waffles. They left us with a missionary though and asked us for a referral, we have them a couple of families to check up on.
Later in the evening we talked with Mom and Dad Hadley and had our family home evening lesson. We chose the first presidency message for September. I taught the first part, the following weeks we will take turns on teaching us the lessons on unity.
Over all a typical Sunday in the Dennis family.