July Lamplighter
The Lamplighter
JULY 2009
Editor: Lillian Geltz
From the Pastor’s Desk
What are our expectations of God? How do we perceive and understand God? Are our expectations and understandings influenced by our familiarity with the Bible or by our desires of how we want God to be and to act? If God doesn’t do what we expect or want, do we just stop believing or trying to get to know him? Have we formed or own opinion of who God is and what we believe by studying the Bible or just by our own wishes and what we want him to be?
Recently in Dallas, a “Husband Shopping Center” opened, where women could go to choose a husband from among many men. It was laid out with five floors, with the men increasing in positive attributes as one ascends the floors. The only rules: Once you opened the door to any floor, you must choose a man from that floor, and if you went up a floor, you couldn’t go back down except to leave the place, never to return.
A couple of girlfriends went to the place to find men. On the first floor, the door had a sign that read: “These men have jobs and love children.” The women read the sign and said, “Well that’s better than not having jobs and not loving kids, but I wonder what’s farther up.” So they went up.
The sign on the second floor read: “These men have high-paying jobs, love children, and are extremely good looking.” The girls were tempted, but decided to go higher.
Third floor: “These men have high-paying jobs, love children, are extremely good looking and help with the housework.” Almost as one the women said, “Wow! That’s really tempting, but I wonder what’s up higher.” And up they went to the fourth floor.
Here the sign said: “These men have high-paying jobs, love children, are extremely good looking, help with the housework and have a strong romantic streak.” Again the women were tempted to open the door and rush in, but held off saying, “Oh. Mercy! Can you even imagine what’s waiting on the next floor? So up they went.
Arriving at the fifth floor, they saw the sign that read: “This floor is empty and exists only to prove that women are impossible to please.”
Okay, you can turn the gender issue the other way just as easily, I’ll admit. But the point is this: Do we apply that very same principle to our expectations of God? Can we accept God as the Bible tells us, or will we insist on making Him in our image? Do we know the God of the Bible or are we just making up some god to suit our own personal likes and dislikes? And then, when things don’t go as
we want, we blame God and wonder why he didn’t do what we wanted. Who is God, really?
Bible Challenge Questions
1. Who said, “What you have done to the least of these, you’ve done to me.”?
2. Who said, “A prophet is without honor in his own hometown.”?
3. What is the more common name for the Sea of Tiberias?
Sunday School News
Join us for the summer series of Sunday School studies. The International Lesson Class is using the lesson book Call Sealed with Promise as a basis for discussion and learning. The series of lessons is based on Scripture from the first five books of the Old Testament. We will study how God’s call came to different people at different times and God’s faithfulness in those calls. Join us for some challenging and exciting times of fellowship, study and learning.
(continued)
The Discussion Class will continue its discussion of the popular Christian fiction book The Shack, a book that explores the challenging topic of forgiveness. Though it is a fiction book, there are several great lessons to gain from this study
The Young Adult Class members continue to meet in the Library under the leadership of Ralph Miller with their own chosen study topics. There are also classes for Youth, Jr Hi, and children.
Annual Conference 6/26 – 6/30
Annual Conference is in San Diego, CA this year, from Saturday, 6/26 thru Wednesday, 6/30. With a theme of “The old has gone; the new has come; all this is from God,” Moderator David Shumate will lead conference attendees through the five days of activity that serves as much as a family reunion as a working session. Five major important business items (some of the most impacting and controversial business in years!), innumerable insight sessions, powerful Worship services, great Bible study options, great music and group singing, and much more await those who choose to be better informed and challenged in their faith walk. The Pastors can obtain more information if you are planning to attend. Please remember the Conference and all the delegates and attendees in your prayers, as the decisions made there have a lasting effect in our denomination’s ministries and our witness to the world. Our delegate this year is Sue Grady.
Leadership Team report (6/3/09)
The new Leadership Team met on June 3rd. Among the major items discussed were a financial package to be offered to a prospect for a Youth Ministry Director, proposal for a new furnace, and preparations for our upcoming VBS. Also discussed were financial reports, repairs, Deacon work, Church picnic, and preparations for a 75th anniversary celebration next year.
More details can be obtained by checking the minutes of that meeting, which are always available on the info table in the Fellowship Hall near the mailboxes. Keep up to date on all that’s happening at MACOB by reading a copy of those minutes.
Upcoming Dates
Some upcoming important dates to remember are as follows:
August 8th - 47th Annual Brethren Home Chicken Barbecue, Quilt Auction & Antique Cars
(lots of good food, chicken dinner, sandwiches, ice cream, entertainment …and more!)
(Hours are from 9AM - 3 PM)
September 18, 19 District Conference – Bunkertown COB
September 25, 26 Disaster Relief Auction – Lebanon Fairgrounds
October 17th Camp Eder’s Fall Festival (8AM - 4PM)
Looking Ahead…..
For those of you who were able to be a part of the two combined nights of music that Brandon instituted with MACOB and the Conestoga COB, here’s some good news for you. There’s another one in the planning! Though the date and all the mechanics have not yet been worked out, Brandon is trying to get Ambler, Conestoga, and MACOB musical groups together for a concert of praise. You won’t want to miss this evening of music. Stay tuned for more details.
It’s that time of year again!
Once again, Madison Avenue is doing its part to support the 33rd Disaster Relief Auction to be held on September 25th & 26 on the Lebanon Fairgrounds. We are starting our collection to send a heifer named Penny to the auction.
This annual auction supports many of the initiatives established by the Church of the Brethren, and many types of help are needed. Consider some of the possible ways in which you (or a group) can do so: donate a theme basket, baked goods, a quilt, time
See Treva Gingerich for more information
Homebound Members
Following is a list of our homebound members. You are encouraged to remember these folks in your prayers and also with visits and cards as appropriate. They would appreciate your visits and attention.
Mrs. Betty May Mrs. Ethel Kintzel Miss Linda Furhman
2990 Carlisle Pike 2680 Wyngate Road 2050 Barley Road
Box 128 Dover, PA 17315 York, PA 17408
New Oxford. PA 17350
Miss Charlotte Harbaugh Miss Pat Wiley Miss Donna Hash
Manor Care 2050 Barley Road 2050 Barley Road
Dallastown, Pa. 17313 York, PA 17404 York, PA 17404
764-8763
Russell Miller Harriet Nevin Charles Hash
2830 Carol Rd. Country Meadows, Rm 307 101 Lookout Court
The Brunswick, Room 232 1900 Trolley Road York, PA 17408
York, Pa 17402 York, PA 17408
Jim Bohn Russ, Helen Chronister Ed Blymire
819 Old Route 30 630 Harmony Dr. Apt. 267 Colonial Manor
Ortanna, PA. 17353 New Oxford, PA 17350 970 Colonial Avenue
717 334 3986 York, PA 17403
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Ritchey Howard Ness
331 Lovely Lane Ct. 947 Marbrook Lane
New Oxford, PA 17350 York, PA 17404
717 624 5518 848 8479
Kind, Gentle Soul
There was a kind, gentle soul - Her joy for the future –
So wanted to be a good wife; Was her son coming home;
But stress, strife, poor health – She saw him only briefly-
Took over, made a hard life. Before God called her home.
Was not what she wanted – Now the lesson we can learn –
Hard to survive, be free; Is to forgive and move on;
She missed being on the farm - As life is far too short -
It was not meant to be. Our victory can be won.
She was a dear, caring soul – Written by the Lord & Angel 5/18/09
Humble, so giving was she; in memory of Mabel Schell
With a deep faith in God –
Which truly set her free.
WE ROCKED CROCODILE DOCK!
•Vacation Bible School had the church hopping the third week in June. Fifteen children, four teen helpers and 24 volunteers learned about Moses and the escape of the Israelites from Egypt as well as the death
and resurrection of Jesus. Lively music, dramatic stories, multiple clever crafts, comfort critters to be sent to disaster relief areas, yummy snacks and exciting games all reinforced the topics for the evening. The adventures of Chadder Chipmunk in the Hokey Bad Jokey Swamp also helped teach us to “Fear Not” because God is With Us, God is Powerful, God Does What He Says He’ll Do, God Gives Us Life and God
Cares for Us.
•New this year was an adult class that had two participants from the neighborhood. It is hoped this will expand in the future.
• Special thanks to Meg Rishel for the gorgeous backdrop and others who helped create the decorations.
• It is an amazing gift from God that so many members of our congregation are moved to help make Vacation Bible School happen. Thanks to each one who gave their time and talents to make this outreach
to children in the
neighborhood.
Women’s Fellowship News
July 14 Trip to New Windsor 9:30 AM
July 27 Brethren Home Volunteer Day 9 AM
We have assembled nearly 300 Health Kits at this time. Our plan is to deliver them to New Windsor Service Center on July 14th, leaving the church at 9:30 AM. Part of our day is a visit to the International Gift Shop and lunch at Baugher’s Restaurant. Thank you for the gifts toward this project, especially Jim Bohn. Thanks also for the sugar cookie sale support.
The Eco-Corner
One of our callings in today’s world (as in all times) is to be careful and conscientious stewards of the earth’s resources that have been placed into our hands. Especially in America’s fast-paced and abundant society, becoming swept up in careless and wasteful habits is very easy, contributing to pollution and waste. Following are five very easy habits that you can make a part of your everyday routine and do your part in saving the world’s resources as well as creating a more eco-friendly environment.
1. Unplug appliances not in use. Did you know that appliances continue to draw electricity even if not in use? Save energy and money by unplugging!
2. Use a cloth bag when going to the grocery store – or any other store for that matter. Plastic bags use a huge amount of resources to produce . They also pollute – killing many animals that consider them food. Did you know that an island floats in the Pacific – made of littered plastic?
3. Decrease the amount of commercial cleaning products you use. Commercial cleaning products are full of chemicals and use resources for manufacturing. The old alternatives of household baking soda, vinegar, scouring pads and a little elbow grease do just as well.
4. Leave grass clippings on the lawn. The decompose and add nutrients back into the soil.
5. Avoid commercial herbicides. Try using vinegar in a spray bottle as a weed killer. Spray milk on plants to ward away deer & cayenne to ward away rabbits.
Remember that no one can do everything, but everyone can do something to help the environment.
Hot off the Press! Our congregation meeting in Council last Sunday (6/21) approved the purchase and installation of a new furnace/heating plant for our facility as well as the addition of a 1/3 time Youth Director to our staff here at MACOB. Check out the minutes of that Council meeting or ask one of the staff or Leadership Team for more details.
Church Activity Schedule for July 2009
6/26 – 30 Annual Conference - San Diego, CA
7/5 9:00 AM Sunday school
10:15 AM Worship “Rest and be thankful” Exodus 20:8 - 11
7/12 9:00 AM Sunday school
10:15 AM Worship “The choice is yours” Matthew 25:31 - 46
7/18 7:30 AM Men’s Prayer Breakfast
7/19 9:00 AM Sunday school
10:15 AM Worship “Letting go” Mark 6:1 - 13
Lamplighter deadline today
7/26 9:00 AM Sunday school
10:15 AM Worship “Jesus is Lord” John 6:1 - 21
Remember our year ‘round schedule of Sunday School at 9 AM and Worship at 10:15 AM
July Birthdays
2 Don Mummert 12 Alyssa DeHoff
5 Harold Lehigh 16 Lisa Petrosky
Chris Schwenck 21 Ethel Kintzel
9 Tammy Frey 25 Scott Linebaugh
10 Charles Hash Terry Knause
Shawn Dubs 26 Paul Melhorn, Jr.
Jeanette Baker 30 Newt Linebaugh, Jr.
11 Newt Linebaugh Delaney Loucks
Donna Jo Wolfe Patricia Day