August Lamplighter
The Lamplighter
August 2009
From the Pastor’s Desk
I seldom read the comics section of the Sunday paper though there was a time when it was one of my favorite parts. I still like the old “Peanuts” cartoons, though there are only reruns now that Mr. Shultz is gone. I do remember one very old “Dennis the Menace” cartoon in which Dennis was kneeling beside his bed beginning his bedtime prayer. This is how he started: “God, you might want to pull up a chair. I’ve been very busy today.”
I’m not real sure, but I suspect that more than a few of us have had days like that. Well, at least I have! Sometimes I wonder at the extent to which I must certainly try my maker’s patience and His willingness to forgive. More than one day, I confess, I have to agree with Paul’s summation of his daily activities where said in Romans: “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the veil I do not want to do; this I keep on doing. ……what a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”
On those low days, I am buoyed by the words Paul writes soon thereafter, when He thanks God for that rescue through the work of Jesus. Then I too, can also say: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”
So then the question becomes – what does it mean to be in Christ Jesus? That whole chapter (Romans 
is a personal uplifting passage for me as I struggle daily to follow the guidelines and teachings of the Bible. Knowing the Word is not quite enough, though it is an absolute necessary start. I must live it out daily in all I do. That’s the problem for me: this life is so ‘daily.’
I pray your summer is going well. As we gear up for the fall here at MACOB, I want to encourage you in as strong a way as possible to consider joining at least one small group study group. Those of you who have been active in small groups over the years know what a valuable, learning, growing, relationship-building experience it can be. My encouragement to you is to invite others into whatever group you are going to be a part of this year. People you may not know well, people who are not members of this congregation, people who need to hear the message of the gospel – perhaps even for the first time.
And for those of you who’ve never been a part of a small study group, I really want to encourage you to join a group. You will never know how rewarding it can be in terms of learning and growing and getting a new handle on God’s Word until you try.
The success of the future ministry here at MACOB may well hinge of the very invitation you give to someone (perhaps yourself!) to join a small group. Church growth only happens through personal invitations from those within the family of faith to those who need an avenue of relationship to learn about Jesus. You may be that avenue.
Ralph Miller is our Small Groups Leader on our Leadership Team. If you have suggestions for study topics and/or subjects for a small group, please let him know. Currently, we are working on topics to be offered and getting leaders lined up for leading those groups beginning likely near the end of September or the beginning of October. Please consider which group you will want to be a part of. More information and a listing of groups and times will be available soon.
Bible Challenge Questions
1. Two of Paul’s pastoral letters contain his admonition for the people to share in the singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs; Colossians and …..?
2. In which one of David’s psalms do we read that we are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made?’
3. The Bible clearly records an instance of Jesus spitting. What was that occasion?
Brethren Home 46th Annual Chicken BBQ & Quilt Auction & Car Show - Saturday, August 8th
The Quilt Auction and Chicken Barbecue you wait for all year!
More info us available at www.brethrenhome.org or call (717) 624 – 2161.
We will be scrubbing potatoes on Friday morning (August 7th).
If you can help, please contact Treva Gingerich.
Church Picnic
August 9…sounds like a great date for a picnic. Please join us after church service on Sunday, August 9th for an all-church picnic. There will be splashing & dashing and diving & sliding, some walking and stopping, good food and fellowship to savor - so please feel free to dress casually (picnic attire would be perfectly acceptable).
Our Church service that morning will be centered on this year’s Annual Conference. Following the morning service, plan to stay and enjoy the beautiful August weather as we celebrate God’s creation.
We will provide hot dogs, BBQ, chips, ice cream and drinks. Bring cakes for the cake walk, chairs to park your bottom on, a relaxed attitude and we promise to put a smile on your face. We’ll have a dunk tank, a slippy slide and various games for the young or young at heart. We look forward to seeing you and having a wonderful time fellowshipping on the church lawn.
Gifts Discernment Team
Because of our new leadership team configuration, the work formerly done by the Nominating Committee is now being addressed by the Gifts Discernment Team. They are in the process of beginning their work of prayerfully seeking members willing to serve on our Leadership Team and in other capacities of leadership within the Church. We ask two things of each of you: first, that you be in prayer for us as we seek to discern who God may be preparing and calling into positions of leadership, and second, that if you are asked to consider being called to one of needed positions, that you carefully - and prayerfully - consider that God may be calling you to serve in some new or different or special way. We believe that God has given each one of us a special Spiritual gift(s) to be used for the work of His kingdom here on earth. Please consider that God may be calling you to use your gift in a new and vital way for the health and growth of this congregation.
Is God calling you? He may be - through the prayerful discerning process of the Gifts Discernment Team.
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 as well as God’s faithfulness in those calls. Join us for some challenging and exciting times of fellowship, study, and learning.
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, several great lessons can be gained from this study.
The Young Adult Class continues 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 Report
In an effort to more fully inform you of Annual Conference work and activities, our Conference reporting will be very different this year. Our entire Worship service on Sunday, August 9th will center on
the workings of Annual Conference in San Diego. With video clips of sermons, highlights of the various Conference activities, music and much more, you won’t want to miss this exciting time of Worship and reporting. The all-church picnic will follow; plan to attend!
To Think About……
Rivers gain a lot more attention than the little tributaries that create them. You can name some of the great rivers of the world, but you probably cannot name any of their tributaries. However, without the tributaries, there would be no river. And remember also, that the smaller streams, while less well-known, are always found on a higher elevation.
Some of our lives are like those tributary streams. We may never be well-known for anything we do. But it is our role to provide the ‘pure water’ from the higher elevation that enables another to be a mighty river of influence. Who are you mentoring in the faith?
Dunkard Valley Live
If you are into Contemporary Christian music in concert, check out the fifth annual Dunkard Valley Live concert at the Codorus COB ball field on Sat and/or Sunday August 1& 2, 2009. A large number of local persons, praise teams, groups, and choirs will be performing their own style of Christian music, live on stage. Worship services with dynamic speakers will be interspersed throughout the event. There will be plenty of parking, food, and fellowship on site, as well as a great variety of music and worship. See posters on bulletin boards for more info. (Rain dates – August 9th & 10th )
It’s that time of year again!
Once again, Madison Avenue is doing its part to support the 33rd Disaster Relief Auction 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, or time. See Treva Gingerich for more information
God of Comfort
We have a God of Comfort - His love for us is likened to –
As we live out our days; Ripened fruit on the vine;
He is always with us – He wants us to prosper-
Give to Him due praise. Caring for all of mankind.
His forgiveness is like – How blessed are His people –
A breath of fresh air; Who live in His Son’s grace;
New chance to do better - Sending Jesus to earth -
As we bask in His care. To stand in the sinner’s place.
Written by the Lord & Angel 7/18/09
Answers to Bible Challenge
1. Ephesians (Eph. 5:19) 2. Psalm 139 (vs 14) 3. Healing of the deaf man (Mark 7:33)
Women’s Fellowship News
August No meeting
August 7 Scrub potatoes for the Brethren Home Barbecue 8 AM
August 24 Brethren Home Volunteer Day 9 AM
September 15 Picnic at Pinchot Park
Our “sugar cookie sale” was a great project as we made 50 dozen. Thanks to everyone who helped and purchased cookies.
Keep Tuesday, September 15th open for our Pinchot Park Picnic with the Bermudian ladies. More details will be coming.
Seven of us delivered 300 Health Kits to New Windsor Service Center on Tuesday, July 14th.
Church Schedule – August ‘09
8/2 9:00 AM Sunday school
10:15 AM Worship “Give thanks” Ephesians 5:15 - 20
8/8 9AM - 3 PM Brethren Home Chicken BBQ, quilts, cars and more
8/9 9:00 AM Sunday school
10:15 AM Worship Annual Conference Sunday
Noon All Church picnic
8/15 7:30 AM Men’s Prayer breakfast
8/16 9:00 AM Sunday school
10:15 AM Worship “God knows” Psalm 139:1 - 18, 23, 24
Lamplighter deadline
8/23 9:00 AM Sunday school
10:15 AM Worship “Can you hear?” Mark 7:31 - 37
8/30 9:00 AM Sunday School
10:15 AM Worship “What do you say?” Mark 8:27 – 30
August Birthdays
1 Kerry Gingerich 13 Wanda Linebaugh 18 Danny Flinchbaugh
2 Joe Petrosky Brenda Hess Dennis Spangler
3 Jake Laughman Helen Melhorn 19 Eva Vuolo
4 Robin Gleim Stahl 14 Russell Miller Jim Staggers
6 Austin Ort 15 John Loucks 20 Jo Ellen Craig
7 John Baugher 16 Elizabeth Kauffman 22 Jolynn Lentz
8 Jacob Snyder Robin Ness Tara Seasock
9 Paul Ritchey, Jr. Matt Vuolo 24 Sheryl Billet
Karen Spangler 17 Jim Bohn 26 Jessica Witmer
11 Jack Craig