We have great news for all Harlan Burton fans!

We have missed him singing at the Relay for Life event.

Harlan will be in concert at New Ebenezer Baptist Church on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007, at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Burton is from Dadeville, Alabama.

He is a well-known and loved Gospel writer and singer.

This special Gospel Singing will also include and feature local talents.

The church is located on Highway 68, Highland Home, Ala.,

three miles west of Hwy. 331.

Refreshments will be served during a fellowship period.

A love offering will be taken.

Pastor William Leverette

extends a welcome to everyone to worship and fellowship with them through this time of music honoring God.

For more information, call Rev. Leverette at (334) 335-2074.

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Douglas Butts, an employee of Southeast Alabama Gas District in the Luverne area, was honored with a retirement reception on Thursday, January 11, at South Luverne Baptist Church in the fellowship hall.

Over 100 family members and friends came and congratulated Douglas and wished him well in his retirement.

Mr. Les Colquitt, Human Resource Director of Southeast Alabama Gas District, gave an opening prayer and welcome to all attending this special celebration.

He also praised Douglas for his faithful and dedicated service of 33 years.

Mr. Royce Slighter, Superintendent of Operations of the Western Division, presented Douglas with an award and a gift in appreciation of his dedicated service to the company and their customers.

Mr. Slighter praised Douglas for his professional standard of work ethics and conduct during his years as a service representative at the Luverne Office.

The coordinator of the reception was Pam Land of the Corporate Division in Andalusia.

The food table was covered with a white tablecloth with a royal blue satin runner.

In the center was a beautiful fresh flower arrangement with white, yellow and blue flowers.

The punch table held a decorated cake depicting the Gas Company Emblem in blue and white.

The registry table held a fresh bouquet of white, yellow and blue flowers along with a guest book.

The flowers were given to Mr. and Mrs. Butts after the reception.

All of Douglas's immediate family was present.

Douglas and his wife Betty visited with all their guests and expressed their appreciation to all who helped them celebrate his retirement.

Douglas also let the company and friends know that he would still be on call at anytime he was needed.

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The Adult Grateful Hearts fellowship group of South Luverne Baptist Church held their January meeting Thursday the 11th, at 6:00 p.m.

Pastor Mike Green gave the blessing on the meal of delicious homemade soup that was catered by The Front Porch Tea Room in Brantley.

Cornbread was served with the soup.

After the meal, Glenda Ziglar of Dothan blessed everyone with a message of &#8220Hope, Expectations and New Beginnings” that was so timely for the start of a new year.

Mrs. Tip (Ruth) Massey, also of Dothan and a friend of Ms. Ziglar, was a visitor.

In closing, Nancy sang a cappella &#8220When I survey the Wondrous Cross,” honoring a special request.

Pastor Mike Green dismissed the group with prayer.

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The 1947 LHS Classmates Lunch Bunch met for their second Thursday of each month luncheon at Meadowcrest Community room January 11th, at 10:30 a.m.

Ten members attended this &#8220Brown Bag” lunch.

Several brought leftover Christmas cakes and candies for dessert.

A get-well card was signed by all to send to classmate Lucille Compton, who at this time is a resident at Luverne Health & Rehabilitation Facility.

The group decided to have a &#8220Brown Bag” luncheon on February 8th at Meadowcrest.

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The South Luverne Baptist Women on Missions had a very special program Tuesday, January 9th, at 2:00 p.m. at the church.

Edna Norsworthy was in charge of the January program.

In preparing a program from their Missions Mosaic magazine, she found an article titled &#8220Angel in Scrubs” about obeying when the path is not clear.

She immediately thought of her own &#8220Angel in Scrubs.”

She has often referred to Betty Russell as her Angel in White.

Close friends know why she does this.

Edna called Betty, who is a retired nurse, and asked her to speak to the SLBC W.O.M. group and relate to them some of her experiences as a Christian nurse.

She did not hesitate to help.

Betty kept everyone spellbound as she shared many stories and experiences during her nursing career when she held several different positions in the health field.

One of the main points Betty made was the difference between a caring nurse and a non-caring nurse, both knowing their profession and doing their jobs well; however, there is no comparison when it comes to having a nurse who cares and has compassion and one who does not.

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Joquin Baptist Church hosted the Alabama Crenshaw Baptist WMU quarterly meeting on Monday, January 15th.

Pastor Wes Hatcher welcomed everyone and blessed the bountiful meal that was served by the Joquin ladies at 6:00 p.m.

New Harmony Baptist ladies furnished the desserts.

After the meal, Ms. Doris Rogers made several important announcements and conducted a short business meeting.

Jewel Killough, Missions Chairperson, thanked all churches for their support in the Nursing Home Christmas Store, and for all they do in Mission Work all year round.

She called for reports from churches to share some of their special mission projects.

Tim and Kathy Dowdy rendered the special music.

Ms. Rogers introduced Rev. John Gunter of Dothan as the guest speaker.

Rev. Gunter is a missionary with NAMB and is now serving 7 counties in Alabama as a church planter.

Rev. and Mrs. Gunter and their 2 young sons served for 9 years in the Dominion Republic.

His presentation included videos of their work while there.

Mrs. Gunter teaches Spanish in a school in Dothan.

The 2007 theme of WMU is &#8220Live the Call” and the critical issue is poverty.

Ms. Rogers expressed her appreciation as the Crenshaw County SMU director to all churches for their support, and encouraged all SMU chapters to organize the youth groups that come under the WMU umbrella so that our youth will also &#8220Discover the Joy of Missions.”

She invited the over 100 people in attendance to make plans to attend the April meeting to be held at South Luverne Baptist Church.

Pastor Mike Green will show slides of his most recent trip to the Holy Land.

Chapel Hill and Patsburg received the attendance banners.

Rev. Mike Moses gave the closing prayer.

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This Week . . . The Luverne Community News welcomes your news and events.

Please call 334-335-6643 by Friday of each week to report them.