Howard D. Batt - New Castle Courier Times - New Castle, Indiana

1/11/2012 3:20:00 PM Howard D. Batt

Howard D. Batt, 84, New Castle resident, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, at his residence. He was born Nov. 20, 1927, in Henry County, a son of the late Lewis I. and Lela Hale Batt.     Mr. Batt was a lifelong resident of New Castle, and was a 1946 graduate of New Castle High School. He was retired from Chrysler Corporation in 1988 after 30 years of services as a tool process engineer. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years, and was a member of the New Castle Lions Club for more than 40 years.     He was very involved with his family's activities, was a fan of automobile racing, and enjoyed flying model airplanes.     Left to cherish his loving memory include his wife of 65 years, Donna Gordon Batt, whom he married Nov. 23, 1946; five children, Susan David (husband Butch) of Chandler, Ariz., Cheryl L. Laley of Ossian, Anita J. Hedrick (husband Mike) of New Castle, Dale A Batt (wife Pam) of New Castle and Mark W. Batt (wife Teresa) of New Castle; 11 grandchildren, Matt McDonald (wife Stephanie) of Scottsdale, Ariz., Jacqui Phillips of Chandler, Ariz., Jason Laley (wife Tisha) of Ossian, Melissa Criswell of Lake City, Fla., Erin Bowman (husband Joe) of New Castle, Josh Batt of New Castle, Amanda Rich (husband James) of Pall Mall, Tenn., Chad Hedrick of New Castle, Pam Reno of New Castle, Josh Reno of New Castle and Wendy Norris (husband Rex Jr.) of Spiceland; 11 great-grandchildren, Peyton, Collin, Gavin and Kaden Laley all of Ossian, Austin Criswell of New Castle, Jarrett Gillock of New Castle, Lucas McDonald of Scottsdale, Ariz., Alivia and Samantha Rich of Pall Mall, Tenn., and Gage and Briceon Reno of New Castle; also, several nieces, nephews and cousins.     He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Beth A. Logan; three brothers; and two sisters.     Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, at Macer-Hall Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at the funeral home, with Reverend Rex Espiritu and Reverend Arthur Whitaker both officiating. Burial will follow in Green Hills Memory Gardens.     Online condolences may be made at www.macerhall.com. Macer-Hall Funeral Directors Sam Hall, Gary Hall and Mike Ragan are honored to conduct the services.     Jan. 10, 2012

 
 

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Howard Batt

Macer-Hall Funeral Home 600 South Main Street New Castle, IN   47362 765-529-5900/529-2920

In Loving Memory Howard Batt  - 1/10/2012                     Howard Batt, age-84, New Castle resident, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at his residence.     Arrangements are pending at Macer-Hall Funeral Home & Cremation Services.     Online condolences may be made at www.macerhall.com Online Condolences   From: Steve Dyer   New Castle IN Relationship:  Friend     I always considered Howard a good friend. And enjoyed working with him the many years in Lions club. He and his family are in my thoughts and prayers. Sent:  1/11/2012 From: Cathy Harris   Spiceland Indiana Relationship:  Associate Pastor Spiceland Friends Church     Teresa and family - you are all in our thoughts and prayers. So sorry for your loss. Sent:  1/11/2012 Send an Online Condolence     View Printer-Friendly Page

 
 

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Pastoral Reflection for Annual Report 2011-2012

Certain passages from the Scriptures come to mind as we continue to traverse through the year ending and into the coming new year.

 
 

In Numbers 13, the Lord tells the prophet Moses to send leaders to explore the land that the Lord is giving to the people of God. Among those sent in leadership are Caleb and Hoshea (or Joshua). Upon together submitting their report to Moses and Aaron, Caleb speaks out and says, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." But others instead express fear and reluctance, saying, "We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

 
 

In Judges 6, the people of Israel again did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Still, in the midst of their disobedience, a messenger of God was sent. The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?" The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" "But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."

 
 

This year has marked a beginning for our exploration in leadership to discern the Lord's leading, seeking God's will and favor as a church congregation gathered in the unity and fellowship of the Holy Spirit. In view of the new and changing denominational landscape of the old mainline churches, and particularly in our Presbyterian Church (USA), the leadership of First Presbyterian Church of New Castle, Indiana is embarking on exploratory initiatives to determine our course of action for the near and foreseeable future. Varied trajectories are open before us, available for due consideration. The time is at hand for this process to further unfold over the next year. A number of your Elders in leadership will be in attendance as The Fellowship of Presbyterians convenes their covenanting conference in Orlando this January 2012, following their inaugural gathering which I attended in Minneapolis last August 2011.

 
 

Prayer of the faithful continues to be critical along this journey. I pray we continue and proceed with the same mindset as Caleb's. Let us go up and take the land the Lord our God is giving us! And also, like Gideon before us, let us go in the strength we have and be witnesses sent by the Lord, Who is our salvation! As we contend with the challenges before us, may we experience God's success and presence with us in the Lord, our mighty warrior. Let the leaders' journeying continue and let the New Year begin!

 

In the Mighty Presence and Spirit of the Lord our King,

Rex Espiritu