April Lamplighter!
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Madison Avenue Church of the Brethren
545 Madison Avenue, York, PA 17404
717.845.1884
http://www.madisonavechurch.org
The Lamplighter:April 2007
Editor: Lillian Geltz
From the Pastor’s Desk
Since I was really at a loss as to what to write in this month’s column, I turned to one of my ‘preacher magazines’ for some inspiration. And fortunately for me, I was not disappointed (though perhaps you may be).
I really enjoy the little one block cartoons that appear in several of those publications I read on a regular basis. There was one in last month’s Preaching magazine that pictured a pastor making a home visit to a parishioner whose ‘regular attendance’ was obviously twice annually. The caption at the bottom of the cartoon was a statement from the gentleman of the house, as he left the pastor at the door. It read: “Sorry to hear that you’re leaving us, Pastor. I hope you schedule your last sermon on Easter or Christmas Eve so that my wife and I can hear it.” I’m certain the pastor timed his departure with that wish in mind.
Then there was an advertisement I saw for a brand new “Robo-Preacher 2010.” The ad ran this explanation: “Are you tired of a pastor who can’t develop sermons, find appropriate illustrations, deliver a sermon in anything but a monotone, or even spend enough time in the Word so that he can choose his own texts or write a challenging sermon? Then your Church is ready for the new “Robo-Preacher 2010.” This all new automated preaching machine will solve all the above problems - and then some. Why pay for a salary, housing allowance, all that hair spray (!!!), and those ugly paisley ties, when you can let the Robo-Preacher 2010 proclaim the Word in bite-size 20-minute increments for just pennies a day?! Call today.” (batteries not included)
Well, I’m not sure if that gave any of you any ideas, but it sure gave me a wake-up call. I have resolved to make a much more concerted and determined effort to improve sermon preparation, selection, and delivery. I didn’t realize such a product was available and that my calling was in such imminent jeopardy. Praise the Lord for those people considerate enough to forewarn those of us who can’t read the signs of the times.
But, ever the optimist, I have found that there is a bright side to this dark warning of inadequacy. Just think of all I can do with the money I’ll save on hair spray!
April Bible Challenge
1. Paul records that Jesus, after His resurrection, appeared to the disciples, specifically Peter and James, and to a large group of how many people at one time?
2. Who said, “Unless I see the nail prints and His side, I will not believe” Jesus is alive?
3. How many fish did the disciples catch on the morning that Jesus cooked them breakfast after they had fished a whole night and caught nothing?
Special Worship for Lent and Easter
Our annual Palm Sunday Lovefeast & Communion will be shared on Sunday evening, April 1st, at 6:30 PM. This special invitation to share the Lord’s Table is one of the unique Brethren ordinances we hold dear and continue to practice in spite of our modern society’s neglect of traditional Biblical activities. This moving Worship has been largely abandoned even by many Brethren folks in recent years as being no longer relevant to our faith, too modernized for convenience and therefore irreverent and/or unbiblical, and devoid of its meaning and purpose (none of which is true). Nevertheless, the invitation from Jesus to commune with Him at His Table still is extended, and the faithful still come to be challenged anew to wash the feet of a society stained by sin and apathy.
The invitation is open to all believing Christians to worship at His table, share a meal with fellow believers, wash the feet of a brother or sister, and identify with our Risen Savior as we eat the Bread and drink the Cup of Christ’s body, sacrificed for us.
“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who believe, it is the power of God.” Come and experience the power.
Also, on Friday, April 6th at 7 PM, we will gather for Worship in observance of Good Friday. Our schedule for Easter Sunday morning will be: Sunrise Worship at 6:45 am (at the Kissingers’ - dress warmly!), breakfast at 8:15 in the Fellowship Hall, regular Sunday school at 9:00 and Worship Celebration at 10:15AM
Women’s Fellowship News
April 3 Meeting & lunch with Bermudian/Lakeview
April 28 Women’s Spring Luncheon Hanover COB (10 AM)
May 8 Mother/Daughter Banquet 6PM (note this date)
June 4, 5 59th Annual Women’s Camp
Our annual meeting with the Bermudian ladies (and now also Lakeview) is scheduled for Tuesday, April 3rd at 10 AM. This will include a program of “poetry and painting” as well as lunch.
Women’s Spring Luncheon is at Hanover COB on April 28th. The theme this year is “Diamonds on Dusty Roads” with Donna Steiner as guest speaker. The cost is $8.00 and reservations are due by April 14th. If interested, see Bernice or Phyllis. Take advantage of this opportunity.
The Mother/Daughter Banquet is a week earlier than usual. It will be on Tuessday, May 8th, with James W. Herman (retired Pastor) as our entertainment. He is a ventriloquist, magician, and illusionist. It will begin at 6 PM and include a covered dish with meat furnished. Plan to attend.
The Lehman Center
TLC Auction is on April 24th at the 4-H Center beginning at noon with food and a preview of items. The Auction starts at 5:00 PM until??? We are asking for donations of pies, money, or items to be auctioned. See Phyllis Morthland - our auxiliary member.
The Lord’s Command
What’s love got to do with it - To love is the “Lord’s command” - It means everything you see; It’s the way to finding peace;
No matter if it be friend or foe - Put others always before yourself -
God said it’s the way it should be. Your joy will surely increase .
First, love God with all your heart - This old world is crying out -
Then your neighbor as your self; For us all to give our best;
If need be turn the other cheek - Share your love with all you meet -
Far greater than any wealth. God will take care of the rest.
Written 2/22/07 by the Lord and Angel
Missions & Service News
Another Way to Live and Serve: On Christmas Eve 2006, about midnight, the Black River Church of the Brethren in Spencer, Ohio burned to the ground. This was quite a shock to the 150 year old congregation, which only hours earlier had celebrated Christmas with a candlelight service. It was a complete loss. The fire was the second catastrophic event the Church had suffered since 2001, when a tornado tore away part of its roof and caused extensive water damage. Despite adversity, the people of Black River COB are being sustained by their faith.
It was decided at our Board meeting on March 13th, to set aside Sunday, May 6th as a day to share in a special offering to give to the reconstruction of the Black River Church. Please consider how you may be able to share in this offering. In addition, we are going to have a Ham & Cheese pretzel sandwich sale on May 3rd, with all the proceeds going to the Black River COB as well. You may help by selling and/or buying sandwiches. Order forms will be available from April 1st thru April 22nd. The sandwiches will be made on Wednesday, May 2nd. You may pick up your orders after 6:30 PM.
Continuing the Work of Jesus is what our Church is all about. Thank you for all your generous support in so many ways. God’s blessings to all.
March General Board Report
The Board met on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, and since we missed the February meeting, we had quit a bit of information and planning to discuss.
Barb reported that half of the District Assessment has been paid, and I reported that an additional check of $2500 will be sent to the District this month from the Endowment Fund earnings. The Church books and Endowment Fund have been audited and found to be in order.
All the commissions have been busy, and they will be reporting projects and plans in the bulletin and the Lamplighter. A few highlights are that the bus has been repaired and will be at a future Worship service for the congregation to inspect. Lovefeast will be April 1st, the Easter Egg hunt will be April 7th -starting at 10 am., Vacation Bible School will be the week of June 17th, and we will be having an Easter Sunrise service hosted by Katie and Phil Kissinger at their farm.
At the Board meeting I surrendered the chair to Carol Kauffman so I could open a discussion about the computer system in the church office. Ten years ago we installed a donated computer and printer. At that time I was not convinced that a butcher would grasp the computer technology available. Well, long story short, Pastor Godfrey has been using the computer a lot. The current system is outdated the hard drive is almost full and the printer is worn out. A motion was made to purchase a new computer, seconded, and approved by the Board. A replacement printer has been donated.
If you have a chance some month, please join us at a Board meeting. While planning events and discussing finances may sound extremely boring, we manage to have a lot of fun.
In His Service
The General Board Dave Wolfe
April Worship and Activities Schedule
4/1 9:00 AM Sunday school
10:15 AM Celebration Worship “The hands of faith” selected Scriptures
6:30 PM Lovefeast & Communion
4/5 6:30 PM (weekly, each Thursday) Bell Choir practice
7:30 PM (weekly, each Thursday) Adult choir
4/6 7:00 PM Good Friday Worship
4/8 Easter Sunday Worship
6:45 AM Sunrise Worship
8:15 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM Sunday school
10:15 AM Celebration Worship “The hands of faith” selected Scriptures
4/9 - 12 Meat canning
4/10 noon Bible Study
4/12 6:30 PM Commission meetings
7:30 PM Church Board meeting
4/15 9:00 AM Sunday School
10:15 AM Celebration Worship “He came back” Mark 16:2-7; 1st Cor. 15:3-8
6:30 PM Bible study & Prayer group
4/16 7:00 PM Romans Bible Study
4/16 - 19 Meat canning
4/21 7:30 AM Men’s prayer breakfast
4/22 9:00 AM Sunday school
10:15 AM Celebration Worship “I wonder…..” John 20:19 - 31
4/24 CAS 16th Annual Lehman Center Auction
4/26 noon Bible study
4/28 9 - noon District Women’s Spring Luncheon (Hanover COB)
Men’s breakfast at Codorus COB
4/29 9:00 AM Sunday School
10:15 AM Celebration Worship “Catching fish, feeding sheep” John 21:1 - 19
Answers to Bible Challenge
1. 500 (1st Cor. 15:6) 2. Thomas (John 20:25) 3. 153 (John 21:11)
Christian Ed
Easter Egg Hunt
Gather all the children you can find for an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 7th, starting at 10 a.m., rain or shine. (But we’d definitely prefer “shine”.) There will be an Easter basket doorprize, prizes for four age groups toddlers to twelve, an Easter story, and a healthy snack. The Neighborhood Association is co-sponsoring with us. Church extended families and neighborhood children are all welcome for a morning of fun and friendship. The evangelism committee offers the egg hunt as a way to reach out to the community and introduce families to our church.
WAHOO! Vacation Bible School will be held June 17-22 this summer. Sunday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 will be registration and an introduction to the theme, Avalanche Ranch. Monday through Friday we will meet with the children from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. each evening. We’re lucky to have a lot staff returning, but more vounteers are needed.
Please contact Becky Rishel (428-3732 or rishels2@earthlink.net) if you can help. You won’t regret giving up a week of evenings to spend time with a country-western theme teaching a lively group of children about Jesus’s love.
and…
The Young Adult Group would also like to say Thank You! to the church for supporting the recent Young Adult dinner. Those of us who attended had a lovely evening full of good food and great company. We all got to know each other a little better and look forward to more events in the future.
April Birthdays
2 Linda Kerrn 13 Paul Veverka 19 Tyler Snelbaker
5 Conner Snyder 14 Cadin Snyder 20 Troy Lehigh
8 Carol Kauffman 15 Kim Gingerich 21 Joann Kozyrev
Bernice Ness Muriel Reynold 22 Brady Loucks
Herb Stump Gordon Spangler Dylan Loucks
11 Nicole Williams Kaitlin Miller 25 Mabel Schell
12 Ralph Miller 18 Mike Brenneman 26 Paul Ritchey, Sr.