Madison Ave. Church of The Brethren

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.
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From the Pastor’s Desk
I hope you have been attending Worship regularly to hear the sermon series on Discipleship that we are currently examining. I do not normally do a series of sermons related to one topic, but I feel that this is so vital for our future and for the spiritual health of every one of us that I decided to step out of my comfort zone and concentrate on this topic. Every one of us needs at some time – or times – to leave our comfortable space and step out to grow. I pray the series has been challenging for you. It certainly has been – and is !!! – for me.
I am excited as we enter a new phase of government and leadership here at MACOB. We have been blessed as a congregation to have had such a depth of leadership over the years. But we need to be ever more intentional in training and developing new leaders as our ministry grows and expands into new arenas we’ve never touched upon before. And that’s going to be a part of the new Leadership Team’s focus in the coming months: being very intentional in creating opportunities for all to grow in faith, to grow in relationship (with other persons and with God), and to grow in ministry.

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Madison Avenue Church of the Brethren
645 Madison Avenue, York, PA  17404
Phone:  854-1885

The Lamplighter
March  2009
Editor:  Lillian Geltz

From the Pastor’s Desk
It is that time of year again when we begin to prepare for Easter Sunday.  It is the season of Lent.  As part of our preparation, let us consider the following devotion written by Billy Graham.  The main reason Jesus died on the cross was to save us from our sins.  But the New Testament also stresses the importance of His suffering as an example for us.
The Greek word for “example” comes from ancient school life, and refers to something written down by the teacher, so it could be followed and copied exactly by a child learning to write.  Christ is our copybook.  We look to Him as our teacher, and by His suffering He gave us an example to follow so we can learn how suffering is to be borne.
How did He bear it?  By not giving in to despair or doubt.  By looking beyond it and seeing the glory that was to come.  By knowing the Father was with Him and would use His suffering for good.  The same can be true for us.
The author of Hebrews writes, “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3, NIV).  Yes, consider Him.
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Madison Avenue Church of the Brethren
645 Madison Avenue, York, PA 17404
Phone: 854-1885

The Lamplighter
December 2008
Editor: Lillian Geltz

From the Pastor’s Desk
It’s hard to believe that another year is almost gone with Advent already here and Christmas just around the corner! Be sure to join us for Worship throughout the Advent/Christmas season, especially on Christmas Eve. Throughout the Advent season our regular morning services will be at 10:15, following Sunday school at 9 AM. Our traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion service will begin at 7PM on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24th. Be sure to join us and bring a friend.
In this age of wealth and abundance, probably the last thing most of us need is another ‘thing’ to be given to us as a gift. I want to encourage all of you to consider alternative Christmas giving this year. In light of the many natural disasters and people in severe need around the world, rather than giving your loved one a gift, consider making a donation to a good cause or charity in their name: e.g..Brethren Disaster Relief Fund, One Great Hour of Sharing, Heifer Project (see catalogues and forms on table at bulletin board), Habitat for Humanity, The Lehman Center, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Gift of the Heart Kits, Camp Eder, and the list goes on…. In this season of love and giving, give a gift of love (money) to a worthwhile organization in the name of your loved one. Everyone involved will be blessed by doing so.

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