Annual Meeting May 20, 2018

Transcription

1 LAMPLIGHTER June 2018 Annual Meeting May 20, 2018 WADING RIVER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH JUNE 17 A special cake for two special people. A big thank you to Jean Elliott for her many years of playing the organ, and to Rosemarie Schulz for everything you ve done and continue to do until we lose you to the West Coast! MONTHLY PRAYER SERVICE JUNE 10 TH 6PM Thank you to everyone who came out to bake cookies for Sarah Benjamin s families and helped with the church cleanup! Duck Pond Day assistance is needed! If you are interested in assisting with the church activities on Duck Pond Day June 3 rd from 12 4pm, please contact the church office or sign up in the parlor. We also will need some help on June 2 at 12:00pm to clean the bounce house and do initial set up. Come join us as we are God s Love in Action. Please see Julie Lutz if you have any questions. Important Duck Pond Day Traffic and Parking Notes If you use a handicapped parking space, please be sure to have a handicapped sticker or tag on that day. Beginning at 10:30am vendors will be using our gravel lot to park and the roads will begin to close at noon.

2 A Word from Pastor TJ 2018 Vision Update In January, the leadership presented a plan to the congregation to help us grow and thrive as a church in this changing world. The first step was to evaluate where we are as a church and to seek clear direction from the Lord, so we can focus our efforts on the things that will have the biggest impact on the life and mission of WRCC. To do this, we used several tools such as the Natural Church Development survey, which assesses the spiritual health of the church based on the congregation s experience, and several sources of information about the people who live in our community. At the annual meeting on May 20 th, the leaders shared with everyone what we found: First, we learned that WRCC has a number of strengths. In particular, the organization and leadership of the church are working well together, and that our home groups and many of our ministries are strong. But we also learned that we need to grow in some areas. Specifically, we are not experiencing joy in the Lord and the inspiration that come from encountering God as much as we should, especially in our worship services. We also learned that the people in our community are interested in church and need help and support in life, but they feel too busy for church and don t know where to turn for the help and support they need. Everyone in leadership spent a lot of time discussing all of this in a lot of depth, praying, and asking God to lead us to the right direction as a church. After 5 months of praying and planning, we believe he has answered our prayers and given us the right direction for WRCC. Here it is: Celebrating God s presence in our lives, our church, and our relationships. This is the direction that we believe God has given to us, the focus we believe is needed for the life and mission of WRCC. I m happy to say, at the annual meeting, everyone agreed and affirmed this as our focus for the next year in the life of WRCC. Of course, that leads to the obvious question, how will we do this? We answered this question with 3 action goals that will direct our efforts. For the leaders of WRCC to help everyone in the church recognize and celebrate God s presence in their lives, and share it with people who need to see him too. First, over the next months the leaders of WRCC will be taking numerous small, practical steps to help everyone in the church recognize God s presence, celebrate his work, and see all the opportunities we have to help other people see him too. This will happen through many individual conversations and practical steps the leaders will work through over time to help us all find more joy and see the power we have to help the people in our lives come to know Jesus. To plan 2-3 outreach events that focus on building relationships and growing our faith. Second, we will plan a few church-wide events that will focus on a dual purpose of growing our faith and building relationships. These will be opportunities for us to grow our faith, but also opportunities to invite people that we already know, to build deeper relationships with them, and to help them find exactly the kind of help and support they need in Jesus and his church. To develop our worship services and music to help the church celebrate God s presence across our differing generations. Finally, we will begin planning, praying, and discussing with many people how our worship services can more effectively help us recognize and celebrate God s presence together. This means we will be working to find ways the worship can serve our church as a whole, across our generations and differing preferences, so that we all connect to God and find the joy in him that we should. This is the direction that we believe God has given us. We were excited to hear the congregation agree. Now we ask you to join with us as we all look a little more closely at our lives, our worship, and our relationships to see that God is already present and already working, and join with us as we celebrate him. After all, we are his people and his church, and he has promised to build us if we follow him. In Christ, Pastor TJ, on behalf of the Deacons, Trustees, and other Leaders of WRCC.

3 Building Endurance for the Trials of Life Dr. Tony Evans Published May 30, Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds. James 1:2 (NIV) I clearly remember watching TV when I was a young boy growing up in Baltimore. From time to time the normal programming would be interrupted by a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. Then I would hear a loud, annoying noise for 30 or 60 seconds. I used to hate those tests because they always seemed to come at the worst time just when you didn t want the show to be interrupted. And since there was never any advance warning the test was coming, there was no way you could avoid it. The station just broke in and did its test. The setbacks of life are like that. They often come with no warning, just the announcement: This is a test. There s often nothing to warn you that the doctor is coming back with a bad report or that your company is downsizing. Life's setbacks just show up at the most inopportune times. We see throughout Scripture that trials are an inevitable reality in life, and we read imperatives like this: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds (James 1:2). Notice the Bible does not say if you encounter trials, but when. Trials are inescapable. Trials are difficulties we inevitably run into as part of life, not necessarily the problems we create for ourselves. Those kinds of problems are called sin. So if you re going through a tough time right now, don t be surprised. If you have just exited a trial, don t be shocked when the next one arrives. Trials come with living in an imperfect world. Trials come in a multitude of colors, shapes and sizes. So, since we can t avoid them, what should we do with them? How can we turn a setback into a comeback? The Bible gives us three instructions on how to respond to trials: Recognize the Joy: When trials come, instead of getting mad, get glad, because you know God is up to something good in your life. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4). This does not mean you have to hide the pain of a trial or pretend the pain feels good. The Bible does not say we need to feel joyful during a trial, but to consider that trial all joy. Ask for Wisdom: God urges us to ask for His help during trials. James goes on to tell us to ask God, and He will freely and generously give us His wisdom. (James 1:5) The Bible promises a generous supply of God s wisdom in answer to your prayer so you will know how to navigate successfully through the trial until you ve reached its intended goal. Give God Praise: James third piece of advice is to give God praise. We are to praise God no matter what our situation. (James 1:9-11) Give glory to God. He will lift you to a high position at the right time, and He will humble you when you need humbling. Give Him praise either way because He knows exactly what you need. God wants you to pass the test to overcome the trial not only so He can give you the reward, but also so you will learn to love Him more, with Christ-like passion and devotion. He puts you in trials to draw you close, to teach you to cling to Him, to grow you into spiritual adulthood and bring you along in your journey toward your comeback. Let Him finish His work in you.

4 Vacation Bible School 2018 July 16-20, 6:00pm - 8:45 pm Welcome Ministry As you look around the Church on a Sunday morning, do you see someone who is sitting alone? Is a newcomer to Church? Is someone you haven t seen in a while? Is it someone we have been praying for? Do you think about going over to say hello, welcome, how are you doing? If you are just thinking about it, maybe now is the time to take that leap of faith and just do it! Every member of the congregation is part of the Welcome Ministry, we all have the ability and responsibility to shine the light of God s love and Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. Proverbs 16:31 Drivers needed to transport seniors to church activities, appointments and errands. Just tell us your schedule and we will look for a match as need arises. Sign up in the parlor or see Julie Lutz. welcome on all who step through the doors on a Sunday morning! We are blessed with the greeters that serve faithfully every Sunday, but summer time means family vacation time soooo some weeks it is a scramble to find greeters for each service. As I make up the schedule each month, PLEASE say YES if I ask you to serve some Sunday. As the commercial says: Try it, you ll like it! Ann Otten for the Welcome Ministry GriefShare Support Group Wednesdays at 6:30pm There is help and encouragement after the death of a loved one. GriefShare is a special weekly seminar and support group designed to help you rebuild your life. We know it hurts, and we want to help. If you would like to know more, please pick up a pamphlet in the parlor.

5

6 Women s Ministry Scholarships for College Bound Seniors If you are a college-bound senior, and would like to apply for the Gladys S. Jackson Memorial Scholarship, please write a paragraph or two listing your contributions to the life of the church, as well as your future plans. Please leave them in Donna s mail slot by her office. All letters should be submitted by Sunday, June 10. The scholarships will be awarded on Sunday, June 17 during the 10:30am service. Women s Ministry - Calling all women and friends Join us for our End-of-Year Dinner! When: Tuesday, June 12 th at 6:00pm Where: Auditorium Cost: $12.00 (payable that night) Sign-up sheet in the parlor Please sign up by Sunday, June 10 th so that we have an accurate count June - July Sermon Series: Titus, Celebrating God s Presence Together God promised to always be near us and always work for our good, but we can t always see him. Sometimes, the things we face in life obscure our view of God, and he seems absent. The good news is, he has given us a wonderful gift to help us remember that he is always near, each other. Join us for a new sermon series on the book of Titus. Starting June 10 th, we ll see how we can work together to help us all recognize God s presence and celebrate his work, no matter the circumstances. Come join us, so you can see him, and help others see him too! Family Cookout and Webcast: The Faith Playbook Sunday, June 10 th 6:00-8:30 pm Come and join us on for The Faith Playbook! We'll cookout on the church lawn and then join a webcast to hear NFL stars like Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles, quarterback Carson Wentz, and many others as they discuss their faith in Christ and how it has impacted their lives. It will be an amazing time to see how faith has shaped these players, and to see how our faith can shape our lives too. There is no cost, join us and invite a friend! Please RSVP by signing up in the parlor or contacting the church by phone or so we have enough food. Join us for an evening of food, friendship and faith!

7 June Birthdays Mission Trip 2018 July 22 - July 27, 2018 Join us as we travel to Erie PA to be God s Love In Action! 2 Chris Jones 8 Helga Guthy Art Lederle 12 Jessie Hertling Abigail Lutz 23 Rick Rowehl 28 Linda Rundlett The Cross Erie: a church for the city. The Gospel is ultimately about humanity being restored to God s community. Through practicing community individuals grow fully in the grace and knowledge to be found in Jesus. Furthermore, it is through community that a fragmented world can best witness the power of the Gospel and the nature of God s work. As a culture of confession, transformation, friendship, forgiveness, justice, power, and love springs up in the lives of normal people, those who don t know Christ will be compelled to ask: "what is happening?" Mission Trip 2018 is about: Faith development If you would like to be added to the monthly birthday list, please contact the church office at or donnar@wadingriver church.org. Multi-generational service Ongoing connectedness The Thrift Store is always looking for volunteers. If you re able to help out, please contact Nancy Swenk at (631)

8 Wading River Congregational Church TJ Turner, Pastor - pastortj@wadingriverchurch.org Donna Rassner, Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper donnar@wadingriverchurch.org 2057 North ntry Road Wading River, NY Phone / Fax: Visit us at: Follow us on Facebook: WadingRiverChurch/ Deacons deacons@wadingriverchurch.org Katrina Blunnie Jeanne Carle Janet Gangitano (alternate) Molly Lutz (alternate) Finn Mauritzen Jane Throwe Walt Vogel Trustees trustees@wadingriverchurch.org Curtis Barnes Janice Elliott Chris Jones (co-chair) Joe Nocerino Mike Scarpinito Diane Schembri (co-chair) Nancy Swenk Michael Wing Treasurer: Bill Radonavitch Clerk Ann Otten Women s Ministry Ann Otten Kerstin Turner Julie Lutz Nancy Bosseckert Senior Ministry Rosemarie Schulz Organist: Diane Hanwick Asst. Treasurer Lana O Toole Welcome Ministry Ann Otten Food Pantry: Carolyn Baier Joe Baier Craig Baier Sunday School: Kim Schmidt, Superintendent Donna Rassner, Secretary-Treasurer WADING RIVER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 2057 N Country Road Wading River, NY June 2018