From the Pastor’s Desk

The little book of Haggai in the Old Testament doesn’t get a whole lot of exposure or teaching in the modern Church. The book records the prophet Haggai’s appeal from God to His chosen people to consider the true priorities in their life. They had returned from exile in Babylon to a scene of utter destruction in Jerusalem. After a half-hearted, aborted attempt to rebuild the temple, they abandoned that task in favor of building their own houses.  Their abandonment of the temple work also signaled an abandonment of their religious fervor.

Through the prophet Haggai, God told his people to consider their situation; they had planted much but harvested little, they ate but were never filled, clothed themselves but were never warm, and earned wages but were lost. It seems when we lose sight of our first priority – worshipping God – all else also seems to take a downhill slide also. When we lose our focus on the importance of worship and our relationship with God, it’s not only our spiritual health that suffers – but the overall health in all of life suffers as well.

I read a meditation recently that asked two very sobering questions: If your church burned down, would you rebuild it – and why? And if your church burned down, would your community miss it? The answers to those questions say a lot about the commitment of a church’s membership. Are we truly committed to the ministry of God’s Word and is worship truly a priority in our life? Would we just assimilate ourselves into other churches, or rebuild? Would the community miss us if we were not here? Some very sobering questions that hit at the core of our faith and its sincerity.

It’s getting close to the Advent season and the hustle and bustle that often brings out the worst in some of us.  I encourage you to consider forgoing the traditional gift-giving deception and seriously consider doing some creative alternative gift-buying rather than wasting money on things people really don’t need, can’t use and will just sit around and accumulate more space and dust. Consider CAS, Camp Eder, Global Food Crisis Fund, Heifer Project, Habitat, New Community Project, Rescue Mission, Angel Tree, Samaritan’s Purse, CWS (kits), and many more. If you need information on how to go about donating to these organizations or where to go for information, please see the Pastor.

Bible Challenge Questions

1. What group of Jewish leaders, who did not believe in a resurrection, asked Jesus a trick question about a woman married seven different times to seven different men?

2. Who said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”?

3. Who Said, “No one knows about the hour or the day, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only

the Father.”

Men’s Breakfast

For several years now, the men of the Church, as well as guests, gather in the Fellowship Hall on the 3rd Saturday of every month for a great home cooked breakfast and a time of fellowship, Bible study, and prayer. All men (all ages) are invited, and are encouraged to invite friends as well. These times of study and sharing around the table have been a special blessing to those who participate on a regular basis. Consider joining us and growing with us in our relationship as men and in our growth in the Spirit. For November, it’s on Saturday, November 20th – 7:30 AM.

To think about….

A professor from Utah State University has reduced the population of the world proportionately from 6 billion to 100 people. If the entire world’s population was 100 people then:

* 57 would be Asian                                        * 21 would be European

* 8 would be African                                       * 14 would be North / South American

*70 would be non-white                                * 70 would be unable to read

* 50 would be malnourished                       * 80 would live in substandard housing

* 1 would have a college education             * 50% of the world’s wealth would be in the hands of 6 US citizens

Giant Gift Cards

For many years MACOB operated a food pantry here at Church. For a variety of reasons, that pantry was discontinued. About five years ago, we again began an outreach food program to help persons in desperate need of help and food. Through the donations of some individuals, and from funds derived from four different sources in our budget, as well as the Deacons, you, the members of our congregation, have been helping to feed the hungry through our regular offerings. We do that by the purchase of Giant Food store gift cards. When persons contact the Church seeking help, those persons with screened needs are given food cards redeemable at Giant for food. So, indirectly, we have all been involved in this ministry.

For the last four years, we have been a part of a program that Giant offers whereby, if we purchase gift cards in quantity from them, they will give us a 5% discount on our purchase. So for every $100 we buy, we receive $5 free. The advantage for us is that if those of our congregation who buy groceries from Giant buy their cards from us, it gives us a much better opportunity to receive even more cards that we are able to give to those in need.

So if you’re a Giant shopper, or would like to help this cause, purchase gift cards from the Church. You don’t receive any discount for yourself, it’s the same as using cash, but the church is able to receive more free cards as we sell more. It’s an easy, convenient way to support our ministry to those in need even while doing your grocery shopping! Of course, you can also give the cards as gifts, too.

Leadership Team Meeting   10/06/10

The Leadership Team met on Wednesday, October 6th to discuss and act upon the needs and activities of the ministries of our congregation. Much of our time was spent developing the 2011 budget for presentation at Council. We also discussed and acted on a form for requesting funds from the Endowment Fund, received a preview of the slate of leaders for Council approval, received the resignation of our Youth Director effective 12/12/10,  discussed Lovefeast (timing, style, attendance) and other ongoing and future renovations and improvements to our facility.

The bulk of our time was spent discussing and developing the 2011 budget and the agenda for the upcoming Fall Council meeting on October 31st.

Answers to Bible Challenge

1/ Capernaum  (Mark 2:1)    2. Divorce question  (Mark 10:9)   3. 1st Thessalonians 5:17 (pray continually)

Church Council Meeting  -  October 31st , 2010 (12:15 PM)

Our annual Fall Council meeting has been set for 10/31/10 following Worship and a light lunch, to begin at approximately 12:15  PM. Important agenda items include the approval of the slate of officers for the Leadership Team, Conference delegates, Church Clerk and others. The budget for 2011 will be presented for approval. Several other information items necessary for discussion include the resignation of our Youth Director, need for repair or replacement or our organ, the ongoing relationship with the House of Restoration Ministries sharing our facility and their request for installing a projection system, possible restructuring of the front of our sanctuary to make it more efficient and attractive, and more. Be sure to be present for this important meeting in the life and ministry of our congregation.  Worship at 10:15, light lunch at 11:45, Council at 12:15.

Youth News

At the most recent Leadership Team meeting, our Youth Director, Tim Rutkowski, tendered his resignation, effective December 15th. We want to thank Tim for his work with the Youth of our congregation and wish him well in his future endeavors. We will miss you, Tim, and hope you – and your family – can continue to worship with us. We pray God’s blessings and direction for you.

From the Internet

A while back, well-known radio announcer and commentator, Paul Harvey, (most famous for his “the rest of the story” stories) shared the following prayer on his day-time radio program. What do you think?  (a copy is posted on our bulletin board)

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, “Woe to those who call evil good,” but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen

Answers to Bible Challenge

1. Sadducees  (Luke 20:27)   2. soldiers at the Cross (Luke 23:36, 37)  3. Jesus  (Matt.24:36)

Women’s Fellowship News

November 3             Birthdays for the Brethren Home

November 9             Meeting Day 9 AM

November 20 Christmas in Loganville

November 22 Brethren Home Volunteer Day 9 AM

December 7 Christmas Lunch at Old Country Buffet

We are responsible for the November birthdays at Brethren Home on Wednesday, November 3rd. If you can help, see Barb Shoff for details.

• The Lehman Center will be located at the Codorus COB for the Annual Christmas in Loganville celebration. It is a great place to do Christmas shopping at great prices. All proceeds benefit the Center. If you have any items to donate, see Phyllis.

• Thanks for supporting the Soup Sale!

Light of Eternal Day

Lord, we truly love you -                                    Your desire is for us -

Makes all the difference you see;                        To be your hands and feet;

For t he true joy in living -                                    A covenant that binds us -

Is in being a servant to thee.                                    In a joyous bond complete.

This world, all its pleasures -                                    Keep a thirst and a hunger -

Never fulfill nor satisfy;                                    In our hearts as we pray;

Joy is in knowing you, dear Lord -                        To grow, come and follow -

Our needs you daily supply.                                    Till the “light of eternal day.”

Written 1/12/06 by the Lord and Angel

Church Calendar and Schedule  for November 2010

10/31   12:15 PM              Church Council meeting

11/1     6:30  PM                  Women’s Bible study

11/4     6:00  PM                Bell Choir practice    (every Thursday)

7:00  PM                              Adult Choir practice   (every Thursday)

8:00  PM                              Praise Team practice (every Thursday)

11/7     9:00  AM                Sunday school

10:15  AM                           Worship Celebration “Changing the game”             Luke 20:27 – 38

7:00  PM                            David Radcliffe – Hanover COB

11/11  12:30  PM               Bible study

11/14     9:00  AM               Sunday school

10:15  AM                            Worship Celebration            “Remembered by God”                 Luke 23:32 – 43

1:00  PM                               Deacon workshop    (at Bermudian COB)

11/15    6:30 PM                 Women’s Bible study

11/20   7:30  AM                Men’s Prayer Breakfast

11/21   9:00  AM                Sunday school                        Pastor Kim preaching

10:15  AM                           Worship Celebration

Lamplighter articles due today

11/28   9:00  AM                Sunday School

10:15  AM                          Worship Celebration            “Christmas cheer?”                        Matthew 24:36 – 44

11/29   6:30  PM                Women’s Bible study

November Birthdays

1 Jay Rishel 19 Samantha Kern 24 Jim Venable

6 Phyllis Morthland 20 Justin Hoerner Stanley Dellinger

7 Mike Melhorn 21 Brenda Linebaugh 26 Richard King

10 Connie Venable Christie Spangler Robert King

12        Jane Brenneman                                                                                                DeannaCrawford

30             Alysha Ritchey