SHOALS CLUSTER HISTORY
The Shoals Cluster began with a meeting at the home of Chuck and Elaine Beard in March of 1985. Earlier that year, the Beards had received a letter from Alabama Community board member Rachel Bentley, asking them to form a cluster in this area. It was a follow-up for walk #23. There had been six pilgrims from the Shoals Area on that walk: Sheliah English, Stella McDuff, Linda Hodge, Corinne Randle, Virginia Hardie, and Lynda Bottcher. Having groups this size on a walk has been a Shoals tradition for at least this long.
In 1985, the Alabama Community had divided the whole state
into 15 cluster areas. Most included more than one county.
Ours is shown as Cluster #1, and it was comprised of
Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, and Lawrence counties. A
roster from that time frame shows Walk #23 as the most
recent walk, and it lists thirty-two members.
At that first meeting in 1985, most remembered about a
dozen in attendance. Recollections are not clear, but a
possible list is: Chuck and Elaine Beard, Sam and Anita
Bristow, Bob and Stella McDuff, Lynda Bottcher, Cindy
Schuessler, Linda Hodge, Sheliah English, Corinne Randle,
and M.M. and Virginia Adams.
Meetings were held at the Beard's home for several months.
There was always a devotional and prayer. Singing was
accompanied by Elaine and her autoharp. The group always
enjoyed refreshments and fellowship, and usually made
agape. Many remembered the small decorative apples that
had, "You are the apple of God's eye" on them. These were
usually sent for the women's walks. For the men's walks, a
favorite was the black pocket combs that carried the
message, "Even the hairs of your head are numbered."
There is a mail-out dated 12/19/86 that lists the meeting
sites and dates for the first half of 1987. Those meeting
sites include Holy Covenant Church in Sheffield, a home of
Bill and Ada Cook, Dwane and Janice Rhodes, Deborah and
Randall Paseur, Sarah Sandlin, Wayne and Jan Lawhorn with
Chris Johnson. In 1987, most meeings began to be scheduled
at the Wesley Foundation, and continued there until 1996.
Tne meeting during that time was held at the home of Sherry
Belew. It was September of 1993, and the group gathered
outdoors, by the slough near Sherry's home. At dusk, the
group was approached by a boat carrying a man in Galilean
attire. Could it be? Once ashore, it was clear that the man
was Tom Moye, Spiritual Director for the cluster. It was a
very moving moment for the group.
In 1996, the meetings were moved to St. James UMC on Cox
Creek Parkway in Florence. Beginning in 2000, the meetings
began to alternate between St. James, and Tuscumbia First
UMC. Meetings in odd months were scheduled at St. James,
and those in even months at Tuscumbia. In 2005 Rogersville
UMC was added a a hostchurch for cluster meetings.
At some point in 1988, the Alabama Community assumed the
general configuration of the North Alabama Conference of
the United Methodist Church. This is roughly the upper half
of the state. At this time, we were called the Florence
Cluster, and the divisions on the map clearly correspond to
the districts of the Conference. In the mid-nineties, the
Hamilton, Haleyville, and Franklin county clusters emerged.
Prior to these clusters forming, records show several
Franklin County residents as members of this cluster.
However, few Lawrence county members have been listed on
our roles. Those living near Decatur usually join that
group, while those on the western side of the county join
the Franklin county group. By the late 90's, the cluster
become known as the Shoals Cluster, and it included Colbert
and Lauderdale counties.
Cluster leaders to date have been:
- Chuck and Elaine Beard 1985, 86
- Bill and Ada Cook 1987, 88,89,90
- Dwane Rhodes 1991
- Stella McDuff 1992
- Lola Pottenger 1993, 94
- Keith McPeters 1995
- Eddie Moore 1996, 97
- Bud Bottcher 1998, 99
- Bob McDuff 2000
- Lynda Bottcher 2001
- Sherry Belew 2002
- James Ray 2003
- Elaine Beard 2004
- Ed Smith 2005
- Vic Watford 2006
- Jamey Cosby 2007
- Diana Hurst 2008
In 1985 Corinne Randle accepted the responsibility for the 72-hour Prayer Vigil for the Cluster, and held that position until 2001. Lynne Martin attended Walk #25, and soon began to bring her guitar to the meetings, to help with providing music. In 1987, John Schuessler attended Walk #42. In early 1988, he was asked to help with the music for Walk #55. Since that time, John has served on numerous Alabama and Living Waters Walks, leaving his signature on much of the music for the Community. Patsy Killen has served the Cluster in this area, as have Judy Woolley, Jennie Lee Cabler, Larry Hogan, Ella Ferguson, Danylu Sibly, Frank Burns, and Jeff Quillen.
Records during the early 90's reveal that at each meeting, a different person or group was responsible for refreshments. In the time from roughly 1992 through 1994, clusters were assigned some portion of the refreshments for each Walk. Chris Johnson held that responsibility during that time, and made countless trips to Sumatanga, carrying not only food, but agape as well. Eventually Walks were assigned to the Cluster where the Lay Director belonged, and that Cluster took the responsibility for those provisions. Over the years Bill and Ada Cook have also helped with refreshments, as have Bill and Mary Wallace, Tom and Shirley Watson, and James and Linda Ray.
Agape has been provided by many people, and by many Reunion Groups. Those who have coordinated agape include Stella McDuff, Lynda Botcher, Jauneece Poe, Tom Watson, Chuck and Elaine Beard, Ed and Gloria Smith, and Dianne Hurst.
For many years, the cluster elected officers to conduct
business, and these positions were fairly consistent
throughout the Community. Each cluster had a Cluster Lay
Director and Spiritual Director, a Secretary and a
Treasurer, and Musician(s). There were also chairpersons
for Agape, 72-Hour Prayer Vigil, and Refreshments, who
coordinated with their counterparts on each walk. In 1994,
the Cluster Lay Director was given the responsibility for
gathering applications to serve from cluster members, and
submitting them to the Team Selection Committee. In 1998,
these positions and others officially formed the Shoals
Cluster Board, which began regularly schedutled board
meetings to conduct the business of the cluster.
Since its inception the Shoals Cluster has had three members who have served on the Alabama Community Board. Cindy Schuessler served during 1987-89, Bud Bottcher from 1999 through 2002, and Lynda Botcher from 2003 to the present.
In 1994, the Cluster created a packet for new pilgrims
returning to the group. It included a list of the walks for
that year with the dates; the location and dates of the
follow-up or cluster meetings; and the names of those
resposible for refreshments. There was a sheet entitled
"General Information about an Emmaus Walk" that told how to
serve on a team, what the various committees were and their
duties, and gave a list of Points to Remember (do's and
don't's). There was a membership roster, an application to
serve, and information about sponsorship and reunion
groups. During this time, a questionaire was circulated to
gather membership data (name, walk#, etc.); preferences for
meeting day, place, and content; reunion group preference
and attendance; and a list of Cluster responsibilities for
which one might volunteer.
Walks originating from the Shoals Cluster:
- #67 August, 1989 Lynda Bottcher
- #71 November, 1989 Cindy Schuessler
- #135 October, 1995 Ada Cook
- #165 December, 1997 Bud Bottcher
- #179 October, 1998 Jane Stonbraker
- #207 June/July, 2000 Sherry Belew
- #212 November, 2000 John Schuessler
- #218 March, 2001 Joy Harbin
- #236 April, 2002 Anne Roy
- #248 February, 2003 Bob McDuff
- #258 September, 2003 Anita Long (a joint Shoals,
Franklin County and Moulton Walk)
- #265 March, 2004 Rod Schlosser
- #276 October, 2004 Tom Watson (a joint Shoals,
Franklin County and Moulton Walk)
- #284 April, 2005 Elaine Beard
- #296 January, 2006 Stella McDuff (a joint Shoals,
Franklin County and Moulton Walk)
- #305 June, 2006 Susan Cosby (a joint Shoals, Athens,
Decatur, and Moulton Walk)
- #319 April 2007 Chuck Beard (a joint Shoals, Athens,
Decatur, and Moulton Walk)
- #333 March 2008 Judy Wooley (a joint Shoals, Athens,
Decatur, and Moulton Walk)
The Shoals Cluster has enjoyed renewed growth in recent
years, with large groups of pilgrims attending walks on a
regular basis, and sustained cluster attendance of more
than 100, with occasions of 160. At the beginning of 2004,
the roster showed over 500 members. By 2008, it is over
900.
To God be all the praise and all the glory.