The July Lamplighter is hot off the electronic presses, find out more below!

TheLamplighter / July 2006
Editor: Lillian Geltz
From the Pastor’s Desk
In a recent Preacher Magazine article I read – interestingly enough titled “Innovate or die” – author Alan Nelson (Rev! – Jul, Aug – ’06) listed seven different symptoms by which to measure the vitality (or lack of growth) of any congregation. Those seven ‘symptoms’ are as follows:
1- Worship attendance is up less than 10% from three years ago
2 – Small groups and Sunday School attendance has increased less than 10% from five years ago
3 – 90% of Church Board members are the same as they were a year ago
4 – Less than one new ministry for every 200 attendees was begun in the last 12 months
5 – People can predict, within 75% accuracy on average, the basic order and content of any given
Sunday morning Worship service
6 – Tithes and offerings have grown less than 10% from three years ago
7 – More than 50% of your regular attendees are over 60 years of age.
Author Nelson says that if you recognize that more than three of these symptoms are true for your congregation, you are likely in danger of being stuck in a rut in your ministry and mission as a Church.How do we stack up against these seven benchmarks for church vitality? What can we do to improve or change our weak points and celebrate and accelerate our strong ones?
What new avenues of ministry and study have you personally become involved with recently? What new ministry or activity would you like to see be started here? What area of ministry are you willing to expend some personal energy into to try to introduce more people to the faith?
Summer is often the time for a more relaxed (read that “slow down”) schedule of activities at Church. Let’s use this time to visit, plan, think, dream, and envision new possibilities for our congregation. As you vacation, worship with other congregations and study their ministries. Let’s take a vacation this Summer, but neither from God nor from personal spiritual growth.
PS – I read the following recently. (It was called an African Proverb) Not sure if it applies to the
above, but it definitely is food for thought… … Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter if you are a lion or a gazelle, when the sun rises, you’d better start running.

Bible Challenge Questions
1. What was Jesus response when told that Jairus’ daughter had died?
2. Where can we read: “My soul waits for the Lord, and in His Word I put my hope.”?

3. Who prayed that we might know how “wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus” for us?

Important Dates for Your Calendar:
July 30th – 1 PM (after light lunch {provided}) MACOB Music Fest – featuring favorites from Senior Choir, Bell Choir, and Praise Team
August 13th – ( 9AM – 3 PM) 46th annual Brethren Home Chicken Barbecue & Quilt Auction
(lots of good food, chicken dinner, sandwiches, ice cream, entertainment …and more!
September 22, 23rd – Disaster Relief Auction
October 21st – Camp Eder’s Fall Festival

Don’t Forget! We need your help! Old photos and memorabilia from MACOB’s past years are needed for the 70th anniversary celebration! All items’ owners will be noted on placards and returned on the day of the event – August (25) & 26th. Please dig into your treasure trove to help celebrate this milestone. Contact Ruth Gleim for more details.
Join us for the Summer series of Sunday School Studies.
The International Lesson Class is using the book “Together: Conversations on being the Church” as a basis for discussion about what it means to be the Church today, a very timely topic as the world and everything we know undergoes so many changes today. Who are we? What does it mean to be ‘the Church’ ? What does it mean to be Brethren? What “Church” are we leaving to our children and grandchildren?? These and many more questions provide fuel for some lively conversations and learning on what it means to be the church. Join us for some challenging ‘interruptions’ in your faith walk!
The Discussion Class will be working on a study of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, one part of C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series. Incorporating video clips of the recent movie and discussing the writings of Lewis, a Christian-based writer, will help to understand the application of this timeless classic on our spiritual walk today. This class promises lively discussion. Be sure to join them.
The Young Adult Class continues to meet in the Library under the leadership of Ralph Miller discussing their self-selected study topics.
There are also classes for Youth, Jr Hi, and children.
In addition, about one Sunday per month through out the Summer, there will be special combined classes during which we will hear presentations from different person regarding mission work and opportunities we may have to be involved in and/or directly support mission work outside our congregation.
“Let’s Worship God Together in Song!”
Madison Avenue announces Music Appreciation Worship
Sunday, July 30, 2006
by Brandon R. Grady
As many of you know, the Senior Choir, Praise team, Bell Choir, and Kids Choir have all put in quite a bit of hard work over these past several years as the music program at Madison Avenue has undergone quite a bit of transformation. God has truly blessed us as we continue to discover new realms that awesome universal language of music can reach. It seems like once a week, we always say, “Wow, that’s totally a new thing for us. We’ve never done it that way before.” Speaking for all the members of the music program, we would like to thank all of you in the congregation for all of your wonderful feedback. It helps us make a better worship experience as we continue to explore new avenues together.
To celebrate these changes we have experienced, the four choirs would like to cordially invite all of you to a time of worship in music on the afternoon of Sunday, July 30th. Each choir will be presenting some of its favorite selections used during our worship services throughout the last two years. We will also be including several hymns for all of us to sing as a congregation. The afternoon will conclude with a selection that will be performed by the choirs together.
The event, which should last no more than one and a half hours, will be preceded in the morning by the regular worship service followed by a light lunch consisting of your choice of pretzel ham and cheese or turkey sandwiches, which will be served in the fellowship hall. We will begin the Music Appreciation worship at 1 P.M. Hope you can all make it!

Sunday School News Remember! Year ’round schedule of Sunday School at 9AM and Worship at 10:15AM .

“RELEASED TIME”
Did you know that there is an opportunity to expose public school children to the Bible during the school day? It’s completely legal, and our church will be hosting the group that arranges for students to be released from school one hour a week for religious education. The organization is Joy El Ministries and the program at Madison Avenue includes volunteers from several surrounding churches. Our outreach is to Devers Elementary School the first year and will be open to third graders with plans to expand a grade each year. The emphasis is on Bible lessons, character instruction, and Bible memorization. More volunteers are needed, including a coordinator and a bus driver with a CDL license (a bus is available through Joy El) or a passenger van and driver which can be driven with a regular license. “Listeners” will listen to the Bible verses being recited by the students and support the same two or three students throughout the school year. The program is to begin in mid-September. You can visit Joy El Ministries website at www.joyel.org for more information. Lisa Walk, regional coordinator, will visit with us during the Sunday School hour on August 6th to explain Joy El Ministries and answer questions. A meeting for all potential volunteers is set for August 9th at 1 p.m. Speak to Ruth Duncan, Becky Rishel or the pastor if you are interested.

Answers to Bible Challenge Questions
l.Don’t be afraid, just believe (Mark 5:36) 2. Psalm 130:5 3. Paul (Ephesians

June Board Report
The Board met on Tuesday, June 13. I shared an opening devotion from one of my lawn mowing meditations, and it seemed to fit into our activities for June. If you would like to hear it, chase me down;I’d be happy to sit down and share it with you.
The Board received a letter from the District Office requesting support for Brandon Grady’s tuition at Bethany Seminary. The Board approved support in the amount of $862.92 – $431.46 from General Fund and $431.46 from the Endowment Fund. The Board also acted on a motion to support Brandon Grady’s registration fee of $75 for Annual Conference. The motion was approved.
The District extended a thank you to the volunteer persons and congregations who supported the meat canning project for the year 2006. This year the volunteers canned 83,945 pounds of chicken or 46,339 cans.
Becky Rishel reported on another meeting with JoElle ministries, and this one was attended by several pastors and members of local churches. They are going to proceed with the endeavor to reach out to the students of Smith Middle School and sow some seeds.
No July meeting is scheduled: the next Board meeting is on Tuesday, August 13, 2006
In His Service
The General Board/ Dave Wolfe

Missions & Service Commission
Our special offering emphasis for the month of July will be the Global Food Crisis Fund. This important outreach ministry of our denomination has been trying to meet the needs of many less fortunate folks around the world.
“We usually associate malnutrition with a ‘crisis’ – a natural disaster or famine. But most people are hungry because they are poor, as one out of four of the world’s people lives on less than a dollar a day. What can you do? Much more than you think. Less than two dollars can provide a week’s grain ration for a person threatened by famine. For $25 – what the average American spends eating out each week – you can supply a family with a wood-conserving stove that also vents harmful smoke outdoors. With $60, we can buy a flock of hens, providing food, income, and self-esteem for a poor woman in Central America. The Global Food Crisis Fund supports projects like these – and many more – all around the world. But they are only possible with your help.” (Brethren Digest)
Support this month’s Mission & Service outreach project. Mark your offering envelope accordingly, or use one of the special envelopes.
Also, joyfully fan the spark into a “Flame” with your donations. Flame is the name of the heifer Phil Kissinger (Thanks, Phil) secured for our church to donate to the Brethren Disaster Relief Auction this year. The proceeds from this auction are used to help many people who have been affected by disaster.
The Carlisle Trucker & Traveler Chaplain Ministry Fall Banquet is on October 14th at 6:00 PM at the New Fairview COB. A full-course family style beef dinner, ministry update from Chaplain Dan, entertainment by “Set Free”, a silent auction and door prizes are all part of the evening. Tickets are $6 for children under 12 and $10 for adults. Please see Treva Gingerich for tickets.

Homebound Members
Following is a list of our homebound members. You are encouraged to remember these folks in your prayers and also with personal visits and cards as appropriate. They would appreciate your visits & attention
Mrs. Robert Eichelberger/2901 West Wind Lane/York, PA 17404

Mr. Ralph Eichelberger/ Lebanon VA Center//Building 1  14A/ Lincoln Avenue/Lebanon, PA 17042

Mr. Ed Rishel/Rest Haven/1050 S George St/York, PA 17403

Miss Charlotte Harbaugh/187 Glen Avenue/Dallastown, PA 17313

Mrs. Frank Hinkle/2461 Vireo Road/York, PA 17403

Mrs. Julia Smith/Rest Haven/1050 S George St/York, PA 17403

Miss Linda Fuhrman/Margaret Moul Home/2050 Barley Rd/York,PA 17404

Miss Donna Hash/Margaret Moul Home/2050 Barley Rd/York,PA 17404

Miss Pat Wiley/Margaret Moul Home/2050 Barley Rd/York,PA 17404

Mrs. Ruth Sallade/1700 Market Street/York, PA 17404
Shuttle of Time
God made these tears for a reason
Flooding our soul from the heart;
Expressions of joy and of sadness ¬
Making these teardrops start. ¬

Each weaves its own special pattern ¬
The “shuttle of time” in and out;
Memories both of good and bad ¬
A part of our lives no doubt.

Handiwork as it were put together
A patchwork of God’s own design;
Woven in threads of gold and gray
These lives that are yours and mine

The gray are loss and hardship
That brings the faith in us out;
While the gold are love and gratitude
That’s what life is all about
None weaves the same pattern
So unique of God’s own design
For He is the master weaver
His work is so refined.

When the final threads are woven
And His shuttle is put to rest;
I pray that we have left our mark
And have woven for God our best.
Written 12/15/92 by the Lord and Angel
Women’s Fellowship News
July – no meeting day due to July 4th holiday
July 11 – Trip to New Windsor – 10 AM
July 24 – Brethren Home Volunteer Day – 9 AM
Our Annual Trip to New Windsor is July 11th leaving the Church at 10AM. We continue to put together the ”Health Kits” and hope to have at least 200 to deliver. We will visit the International Gift Shop and do lunch at Baugher’s Restaurant. Thank You! for the many donations. Out reach for the month: $100 to Camp Eder
July Worship Calendar & Sermon Schedule
7/1 – 7/5 Annual Conference – Peoria, Illinois
7/2 9:00 AM Sunday school
10: 15 AM Worship Kim Gingerich speaking
7/9 9:00 AM Sunday school
10: 15 AM Worship “Life Insurance”
7/15 7:30 AM Men’s Prayer Breakfast
7/16 9:00 AM Sunday school
10:15 AM Worship “Recycled or Redeemed?” Psalm 130
Lamplighter deadline today
7/23 9:00 AM Sunday school
10: 15 AM Worship “Sabbath – R & R”
7/30 9:00 AM Sunday School
10: 15 AM Worship “The best view”
noon – Soup and Sandwich lunch
1:00 PM MACOB Music Fest – featuring Senior and Bell Choirs and Praise Team
8/6 9:00 AM Sunday School
10: 15 AM Worship Brandon Grady preaching

July Birthdays
July 2 Don Mummert
July 5 Harold Lehigh
Chris Schwenck
July 7 Hannah Craig
July 10 Charles Hash
Shawn Dubbs
Jeanette Baker
July 11 Newt Linebaugh
Donna Jo Wolfe
July 12 Alyssa Dehoff
July 16 Lisa Petrosky
Elaine Hinkle
July 21 Ethel Kintzel
July 25 Scott Linebaugh
Terry Knause
July 30 Newt Linebaugh, Jr.
Jack Goodwin
Delaney Laucks