First Presbyterian Church, Citronelle, Al

02/01/2025

As the story goes, a priest, Valentine, was executed for secretly marrying couples to prevent the groom from fighting in a war for the Italian Emperor, Claudius II. Pope Gelasius I would declare in the 5th century that February 14 as 'a day of remembrance' for the martyr!
There are 4 different kinds of love in New Testament Greek language, & are identified as: 1. phileo (friend/brotherly love), 2. storge (pronounced stor-gay), which is love between family members, 3. Eros (romantic/erotic), & 4. agape' love (God love). C.S. Lewis, 20th century scholar/theologian, wrote an excellent book on the subject: "The 4 Loves."
To add a little humor during these challenging times, my romantic love, Judy, SEEMS okay with my putting a Valentine's joke every day on FB till February 14, starting today.
Joke 1. "Without Valentine's Day, February would be...well, like January."
Do you want to say: "Don't quit your day job, Ron?" Well, thankfully, I don't have a job anymore because I am retired!"
MAYBE you'll indulge me with a groan or 2 during the next couple weeks. Though I will emphasize 'romance,' humor (more accurately: 'corny jokes') it may help to remember Solomon's proverb: "A Merry ❤️ is like a medicine!" (Proverbs 17:22).

12/25/2023

We awoke Christmas morning,1981, in the home of Rev. Joan Peters, Pastor at St. Margaret's United Reformed Church in South Shields, England near Newcastle. Our host gave us chocolates. We didn't have a giftwrap present for her OR for each other. So, we simply "wrapped" our arms around each other. That & Jesus was enough!

12/25/2023

"Popcorn presents" for the birds on a Cedar tree! Thanks to our late friend, John Kelly from Gulfport

10/28/2023

My beautiful wife, Judy, just retired as a medical technologist last evening, Thursday, October 27, 2023, after looking through a microscope for the last 48 years, finishing as a laboratory expert at University Hospital in Mobile, AL! What a great & worthy calling she's had! I have always been so proud of her! What are Judy's goals now? To 'care for Claire' (our only granddaughter), her 3 brothers, Will, Mike, & James, & her 2 cousins, John & Sam, of course. She wants to travel & see family & friends, & also a new place or two if we can afford it! Above all, she wants to continue to serve our Lord Jesus as she has all of her life! Congratulations to the most wonderful person I have ever known! 🙏💖

10/23/2023

To excerpt the prophet, Isaiah 63:15,17: "Look down from heaven & see from your lofty throne, holy & glorious. Where are your zeal & your might? Your tenderness & your compassion are withheld from us...Why, O Lord, do you make us wander from your ways & harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants." The prophet wrote when the Jews had returned after 60 years of captivity in Babylon. It was a time much like ours: chaotic & yet hopeful with both opportunities & problems. The Jews were rebuilding the Temple, the center of their faith, but it was downsized compared to Solomon's edifice. Jews intermarried with Canaanites. Their faith was wavering. There were huge problems. Does this sound familiar? We know wars, crime, drugs, violence, greed, & traditional values are in decline. Every day, 17 children are killed by gunfire! That's about 6,000 children killed by guns in America in a year's time. Doesn't this make us cry in anguish like Isaiah? Why do we tolerate such evil? God help us! Do something! We need to pray as directly as Isaiah. My prayer today is: "Come, Lord Jesus!" & your prayer? 🙏

10/23/2023

I came across Herb Alpert's "Classics: Volume 1" CD this Monday a.m., which we inherited from my late in-laws, Jack & Alice Provost, & listening to it with great pleasure & nostalgia with his multi-Grammy winning albums! He was born to musically talented Ukrainian Jewish immigrants 88 years ago, (& raised in the LA area). I can hardly imagine he's that old. Surprisingly, he even outsold the Beatles & Rolling Stobes in 1965 as those 2 renowned bands burst on the scene. My late parents owned every A & M album that he & Jerry Moss produced. Other reflections as I hear his music? The Dating Game with Jim Lang, "El Presidente" on my mind on the best day of my life, I thought at the time, when my parents took us to 6 Flags Over Texas, & Joe Euseppi doing the Teaberry Shuffle in Altheimer, AR. My alk-time favorites was on the rare occasion he sang: "This Guy's in Love With You," & "Rise." Jusy 1 more thought. A few years ago, I posted a reflections about Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, & to my surprise Herb himself responded! Wow! I still hope to hear your horn in concert & to meet you! May God bless you & your loved ones with good health & safety.🙏 🎺💖

Join us as we worship the Lord, Jesus Christ. "Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God" (Romans 15:7).

07/27/2019

"Gifts of the Spirit" sermon series? Are Presbyterians a little more tolerant of such than we used to be? You'd be surprised. As Jesus said to 2 of John's disciples, "Come & see for yourself" (from "The Message" paraphrase, John 1:39). We will worship at 11:00 a.m. at 1st Presbyterian Church, State Street, Citronelle, AL. So friends, come & see!

07/12/2019

"Christmas in July" will be happening at 1st Presbyterian Church, 7840 State Street in Citronelle this Sunday, July 14th, 11:00 a.m. We'll sing Christmas carols & hear a duet from Ian Stone, & his Dad, the Rev. Ron Stone, a karaoke version of "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth." The sermon, "Joseph's Life Imagined" based on Matthew 1:18-25 from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, & Luke 2:1-12 from Clarence Jordan's humorous paraphrase with a Southern accent, "Cotton Patch Gospels." Come & remember God bringing us Hope, Joy, Peace, & Love. If tropical storm Barry allows, y'all come!

07/06/2019

Independence Day Weekend, 11:00 A.M., Sunday, July 7, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church, 7840 State Street, Citronelle, AL. A 'Dialogue Sermon' will be entitled, "The Lord's Peaceable Kingdom," by Pastor, Rev. Ron Stone & his son, Ian Stone, Escambia County H.S. Educator. It is based on Isaiah 11:1-10, & Romans 15:4-5, 12-13. It is an original, creative, & humorous message about Church & our Nation. You will laugh along with thinking seriously about what God wants of His Church, the Nation He calls, & the World He created & He still creates!!! We will sing patriotic hymns & songs accompanied by our guitarist-elder, Brian Waters, pray for our nation & our leaders, & enjoy our 'faith community,' today & next Sunday as we celebrate 'Christmas in July!' Be among friends in Christ & be a friend in His Name!

06/14/2019

Rev. Dr. Ron Stone & his son, Ian Stone, will preach a dialogue sermon on Father's Day, "Help Them Grow."

06/12/2019

Come worship with us at First Presbyterian Church in Citronelle on Father's Day, June 16, 11:00 a.m. We will first honor our Heavenly Father, as always, giving praise for who He is what He does for His children, you & me! The sermon, "Help Them Grow," based on Ephesians 6:1-4, will be unusual, maybe even surprising. Special music & hymns, led by Brian Waters on guitar, will be more than good. It will be lovely!

05/26/2019

Jesus poses a question this morning from John 5: "Do you want to be made well?" Most of us would give a quick response: "Well, of course, I would!" But being made well bears responsibility. When we are wounded, physically, emotionally, spiritually, & morally, people don't expect anything from us. It's not a problem, except for Jesus. If we are made well, we are held accountable. Do we want to be made well? Or would we rather hang onto our wounds? How do we respond to His probing question: "Do you want to be made well?" Come join us for worship, Sunday, 11:00 a.m.