This week’s spotlight is on Ann Smith.
Which worship service and Sunday school class do you attend? I usually go to 9:00 and 11:00 because I enjoy both services and I get to see different folks at each one. I am not a member of a specific Sunday School class. I teach in different classes.
How long have you been a member of the church? About a year and a half.
What are some things you like to do/what are your hobbies? I enjoy reading, yoga, walking, riding my bike and being outside. I like to hike and am always glad to find others who enjoy a walk or hike in the woods. I especially enjoy being in the mountains.
Tell us a little about yourself. I grew up in Atlanta and am a lifelong Methodist. I attended Young Harris College and would have stayed in the mountains if it had been a 4-year school when I attended. I finished my undergrad at Mercer, which is how I ended up in Macon. My first career was in accounting. I eventually discerned a call toward spiritual direction that led me to where I am today. When I was doing accounting work I wrote a column on small business for the Macon Telegraph and discovered I enjoy writing. Now I blog regularly, sometimes dabbling in poetry! I have two adult sons, both married. J. & Maddy live in Glendale, California and Nick & Jessica live in Kennesaw.
What’s the best vacation you’ve been on? A road trip to Memphis right after J.’s freshman year of college. He’d just taken an honors course on the history of Rock and Roll so it was like having our own personal tour guide as we visited Graceland, Sun Records and the Stax Museum! Plus we ate lots of great barbeque!
What attracted you to Vineville or what is your favorite thing about Vineville? Something I love about Vineville is how friendly everyone is. Also I love that there is a hunger for learning, and an emphasis on prayer and missions. If I had to say a favorite thing, it’s probably the weekly Taize worship service, both because of its contemplative nature and the opportunity to receive communion weekly.
If you could choose anything to do for a day, what would it be? To spend a day in the mountains, where I can hike or just enjoy being outside.
What are a few of your favorite books and/or movies? I’m a nonfiction reader. I like to read
anything by Robert Benson, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen or Shane Claiborne. My favorite movies are Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Blues Brothers.
Anything else interesting you’d like us to know? I’m a retreat junkie! I enjoy attending retreats or leading them!