Madison Avenue Church of the Brethren
645 Madison Avenue, York, PA 17404
Phone: 854-1885
The Lamplighter
April 2008
Editor: Lillian Geltz
From the Pastor’s Desk
I guess I’ve always enjoyed the little brain-teaser type quizzes you come across from time to time. They serve a very worthwhile purpose for me. Anytime I’m feeling a bit arrogant or smart or smart-alecky, one little quiz will usually humble me quite quickly and easily. It’s always amazing to me how simple some things are and yet we overlook (okay, I overlook) the obvious. Sometimes the answers to life’s most challenging questions are so obvious and so right in front of us, I marvel at our ability (my ability) to miss them!
Ready for a quick quiz? The answers are really easy, so don’t spend a lot of time dissecting them. No trick questions. I promise they’re all perfectly obvious and simple. (answers at bottom of article – no cheating!)
1. If a red brick house is made of red bricks and a blue brick house is made of blue bricks and a yellow brick house is made of yellow bricks, what is a greenhouse made of?
2. You are competing in a race, and you overtake the person in second place. In what position are you now?
3. You are competing in a race, and you overtake the runner in last place. What place are you now in?
4. Okay, now this one is obvious………… Marie’s father has five daughters. Their names are as follows: # 1 Chacha # 2 Cheche #3 Chichi #4 Chocho and # 5 ??????? What is #5’s name? (Look.
Think… it’s easy)
I guess it just makes me wonder how many of the solutions to our everyday problems are right under our noses and we don’t see them. I wonder how many of our spiritual problems have simple, obvious answers but we’re too dense to recognize them. I wonder how often I’ve overlooked simple obvious direction from the Bible for whatever difficulty I think I’m engaged in simply because I’m not reading, not listening, or not paying attention to God speaking. How easy it is (for me) to ignore the simple clear message of God and His Word.
Answers
1. A greenhouse is made of glass. Isn’t that pretty obvious?
2. If you answered that you are in first place, then you made a tiny mistake. You overtook the second place runner, so you have taken over that place; therefore, you are now in second place. Don’t fret.. The next one is easier.
3. If you answered second-last, you are wrong! Think about this….how can you overtake the person running last. If you’re behind them they can’t be last! The answer is impossible. Okay, so this one was a trick question. Sorry.
4. If you answered Chuchu, I’m sorry. It was clearly stated that Marie’s father had five daughters. So one of them must be named Marie, right? Whatever made you think it was Chuchu? That’s not even a name!!!
Bible Challenge Questions
1. For what is a disciple named Cleopas best known in Scripture?
2. To whom was Jesus talking when he said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim to see, your guilt remains.”
3. Who was it that recognized Peter as having been with Jesus (on the night of Jesus’ trial)?
“Strengthen Your Spiritual Walk” Seminar
The Ridge Church of the Brethren is sponsoring a special Seminar (Revival services) at the Ridge Church on April 6th – 9th. With excellent speakers (different person each night) speaking on a variety of subjects, you will be sure to be strengthened in your spiritual walk of faith. Check out the poster on the bulletin board for further details. This is a super event that will benefit each attendee. Carpooling available.
Dinner Theater – Fundraiser
The West York Church of the Brethren is hosting a Dinner Theater on two consecutive nights –Friday, April 11th and Saturday, April 12th. Monies raised will benefit CAS (Fri. night) and Camp Eder (Sat. night). Check out the poster and information on the bulletin board and be sure to attend this great fundraising event. An auction is also included each night. Don’t miss it.
From Donna Hash
Hello Church,
I like to say that I am doing well now. Thank you for your prayers while I was in hospital. I like to say special thank you to Pastor to take his time to come to feed me in hospital. Donna Hash
Church Board Report
Church Board met Tuesday March 11th. The February meeting was canceled due to the weather. The Oyster Feed, February 9th, was a great success. Also, the motor home has been sold and delivered to its new owners, a Gospel group from Louisiana. Thanks to Jerry Duncan and Dick Rishel on their extensive efforts to accomplish this!
Some updates to the rest rooms have been completed as well as old water fountains have been removed.
The Endowment Fund continues with many opportunities for ministry over the ongoing year.
The Evangelism committee has plans for several new events planned to attract interest from the neighborhood and the Church. April 9th & May 31st the Church will be open for food, games and karaoke. August 16th is the Church Picnic, and October 4th will be a Fall Festival with a Market Place (Flea Market ) and events with apples and pies on the agenda.
Also in March, a Board Retreat was held with ideas presented on how to revise and update the Board so it may require fewer people and meetings. More on this in the future with an upcoming Board Meeting planned to discuss this thoroughly. Also, a great speaker, Byron Borger, made a presentation that explored the importance of reading and learning and what culture changes are taking place that affect churches from both youth and adult perspectives. This retreat was well attended.
A new DVD series from NEST Videos with a Youth SS Curriculum has been approved for purchase. This series will offer many learning opportunities for youth and young teens for many years. Joy El Ministry has gone well with only 5-6 weeks left.
Your Board has been busy, committing to serve our God and the Church with ideas and service, moving in many directions.
Don’t forget the upcoming Board Meeting, April 15th. Note: this is not the normal week.
Board Chair,
Dennis Strawbridge
To Think About…
The words we speak, the songs we sing, the doctrines we teach…will only have true meaning when we practice what we preach.
Answers to Bible Challenge questions:
1. not recognizing Jesus as they talked on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:18) 2. the Pharisees (John 9:41) 3. unnamed servant girl (Matt.26:69)
Women’s Fellowship
April 4 Vegetable Soup Sale
April 8 Lunch with Bermudian and Lakeview
April 26 Women’s Spring luncheon
April 29 The Lehman Center Auction
May 13 Mother/ Daughter Banquet
(continued next page)
Thanks for everyone’s order for vegetable soup. Orders can be picked up on Friday, April 4th after
1 PM.
On April 8th we will meet with the Bermudian & Lakeview ladies. The meeting begins at 10 AM with devotions, entertainment (Pat Anderson) and lunch. Plan to attend
Women’s Spring Luncheon will be held April 26th with registration 8 – 9 AM at the Faith Community Church (Brethren Home). The cost is $8.00 and the deadline for registration is April 11th. If you plan on attending, please see that Bernice receives your money by April 6th to send in by April 11th.
Continue to bring I items for the Health Kits, which include a hand towel, washcloth, comb, toothbrush, nail clippers, a bar of soap and 6 Band-aids. NO Toothpaste! You can also contribute money for items or shipping.
The Lehman Center 17th Annual Auction is Tuesday, April 29th at the York County 4H Center. Preview and food begin at noon and the auction starts at 5 PM. If you care to help in any way, contact Phyllis Morthland for information at 792-9377.
Remember that we’re collecting for Health Kits - no toothpaste!
Missions & Service
• Two opportunities for volunteering are available. The first is May 11 – 17 at Pearl Rive, LA, helping to rebuild homes that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The other is a one-day opportunity helping to maintain and refurbish the Miller Meeting House Cemetery by doing lawn work, repairing stone wall, installing fence and more. Volunteers are asked to bring their own tools.. Teenagers are welcome as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Lunch is provided. See Treva Gingerich for details.
• The West York COB is sponsoring a dinner theater and auction to benefit Children’s Aid. Tickets are $25. Please see Treva for tickets.
Upcoming 300th Anniversary Events!
• May 2 & 3 Mechanicsburg COB Dinner Theater: “A Simple Feast”
Cost: $15.00 Call Georgia Markey at 717.624.8636
• June 1 District-wide Baptism Service
Jake & Arlene Miller Homestead near Spring Grove at 3:00
See Pastor Kim for more details.
Church Calendar & Schedule April 2008
4/1 6:30 PM New Bible study – all welcome
4/2 7:00 PM Praise Team practice (every Wednesday)
4/3 6:30 PM Bell Choir practice (weekly, each Thursday)
7:30 PM Adult choir (weekly, each Thursday.)
4/4 (after 1 PM) Women’s Fellowship Vegetable soup sale
4/6 9:00 AM Sunday school
10:15 AM Celebration Worship “20/20 Vision” Luke 24:13 – 35
6:30 PM Creation Bible Study
4/10 noon Bible Study
4/11, 12 5:30 PM West York COB Dinner Theater
4/13 9:00 AM Sunday school
10:15 AM Celebration Worship “When good things happen to bad people” Psalm 73
noon Golden Age dinner
4/15 6:30 PM Commission meetings
7:30 PM Church Board meeting - note change!
4/19 7:30 AM Men’s prayer breakfast
4/20 9:00 AM Sunday School
10:15 AM Celebration Worship “When bad things happen to good people” John 9:1 - 41
6:30 PM Creation Bible study
4/24 noon Bible study
4/26 8:00 AM District Women’s Spring Luncheon (Faith Community)
4/27 9:00 AM Sunday School
10:15 AM Celebration Worship “Always be prepared” Matt.26:69 – 75
4/29 CAS 17th Annual Lehman Center Auction
How Wide Thy Love
“How Wide Thy Love,” Oh Holy One- We too have often faltered -
Who created heaven and earth. Doubted, denied and betrayed;
Who fills us with a peace and hope - In our words, thoughts and deeds-
Each dawn a start of rebirth. But our hope has not been swayed.
Forgiving our sins, Oh Holy One - For God so loved the world-
When we cannot forgive ourselves. That He gave His Only Son.
Because, Oh Lord, you never give up - So that through His precious blood -
Your work began with twelve The Lord’s will shall be done.
Written 3/21/89 by the Lord and Angel
Just ordinary men they were –
You called to come and follow;
Who doubted, denied and betrayed –
Sometimes their faith was hollow.
April Birthdays
1 Brenda Williams
2 Linda Kerrn 13 Paul Veverka 19 Tyler Snelbaker
4 Charity Loucks 14 Cadin Jack Snyder 20 Troy Lehigh
5 Conner Snyder 15 Kim Gingerich 21 Joann Kozyrev
6 Ben Sparrow Muriel Reynold 22 Brady Loucks
8 Carol Kauffman Gordon Spangler, Jr Dylan Loucks
Bernice Ness Kaitlin Miller 25 Mabel Schell
Herb Stump 17 Jamie Wolfe 26 Paul Ritchey, Sr
11 Nicole Williams Drew Rhoades
12 Ralph Miller 18 Mike Brenneman
Jim Craig