From the Pastor s Office... Purify my heart. Upcoming Events. Volume 2, Issue 2 February, 2016

Transcription

1 Monthly Newsletter First Brethren Church, South Bend, IN Volume 2, Issue 2 February, 2016 From the Pastor s Office... Welcome to February FBC Colony! February what does that even mean? Interesting enough, the Roman month Februarius was named after the Latin term februum, which means purification, via the purification ritual Februa held on February 15 (full moon) in the old lunar Roman calendar, which derives from an earlier Etruscan word referring to purging. What should we be purifying and purging this month? I spoke to you last month about our theme of Absolute Truth this year, but we also have a sub-theme this year with sabbatical, meaning to rest or take a break. I know we are in sabbatical as far as the business and administration side of First Brethren Church, but ministry and life will continue. If February is a time to purify, then what do I need to purge and purify in my own life, or take a break from? James reminds us in 4:8, that the truth is that we need to purify our hearts, and Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:22, since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart. We must keep ourselves spiritually clean before God, and then love one another. This should be the goal of all of Christ s followers. I must continually keep my life clean before our awesome God. This constant evaluation of my life takes time and honesty with myself to make sure that I am truly doing what God desires in my life. Purify my heart As I stand here and write this newsletter to you, I look at my calendar and see a lot of events scheduled. For example: Moody Bible Institute's Founders Week, Luvability camp, Friday Night Coffee, district meetings, Maria's basketball games, food pantry, the movie War Room, and still all of our regular weekly services and ministries. I think I'm already tired. :-) The busyness of ministry will always be there, but it's the blessing of ministry that we must never forget. Even in the difficulties of physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, financial need, and even spiritual uncertainty, we as God s people must remain faithful to God and His people. We must continue to encourage and help those in need. To tie together the 3 topics: truth, sabbatical, and purity, I want us to remember the truth that we must take a break from the regular routines of life often to reflect and purify ourselves before Almighty God. I hope to teach you a new/old chorus this month called Purify My Heart. It is a call to worship that will help us focus on our need to examine and purify ourselves as we come to God in worship. Even though February is busy from the calendar s point of view, let us rest in the God of Sabbath and Worship and Adore Him. As I always conclude, Please let me know if you need any assistance. You can contact me at the church (574) , me: fyoungen@att.net or my cell phone I will do my best to pray for you all and together may we know and live the absolute truth of God s Word. God Bless Pastor Fred Inside this issue: Moderator Moment 2 War Room Challenge 2 Church Calendar 3 February Volunteer Schedule Birthdays, Anniversaries, Library News 5 Youth Activities 6 March Volunteer Sch. 6 News from Benjamin 7 Upcoming Events Sunday, February 7, Ladies Luncheon, 12:15pm Monday, February 8, BCE Meeting, 6:30pm Friday, February 12, Friday Night Coffee, 6:30pm Saturday, February 13, Men s Prayer Breakfast, 8:00am Sunday, February 14, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! Friday, February 19, Deacon Food Pantry, 5-7pm Sunday, February 21, Congregational Meeting, 9:30, War Room Movie, 12:30pm Monday, February 22, Deacon/Deaconess Mtg, 6:30pm 4

2 Page 2 Moderator Moment: The past several years have been very busy for our congregation. We have successfully transitioned the senior pastor role, thrown an amazing retirement dinner for Pastor Larry and Bev, hosted a welcome event for Pastor Fred and his family, merged our two worship services into one blended service, participated in a Natural Church Development survey and organized an assessment process, and kept all of our normal events going such as the Pork Chop Dinners and Back to School Bash. Let's face it...many of us are very tired. The Official Board recently went through a visioning process and one of our top priorities was to take a sabbatical. A sabbatical means to take a rest or a break. God himself took a break after creating the world, so what makes us think we can continue at such a fast pace without taking a break? This next year, we want to allow people to take some much needed rest and to also take a break from some our "normal" activities in order to assess the effectiveness of our ministries and programs. During 2016, you will hear us talk more about sabbatical and what that means. In the meantime, you may see some changes to the calendar, including putting some of our normal events on hold such as our Pork Chop Dinners and Back to School Bash. This does not necessarily mean that these things are gone forever...but rather are put on hold for the current year. As we talk more about sabbatical, you will be encouraged to do three things - 1) deepen your relationship with God; 2) deepen your relationship with others in our congregation; and 3) deepen your relationships within our communities, in particular, identifying where we can partner with other churches and organizations. When asked about what taking a sabbatical means, I have said repeatedly, "we will not be taking a break from God or each other...but we are taking a break from the things that have worn us down." I look forward to hearing your ideas about how you will embrace "sabbatical" in the coming year. Serving with you, Jennifer Kary War Room Challenge Part of Miss Clara s powerful prayer cries out, Lord, we need an army of believers who will stand on Your Word above all else; Lord call us to battle! Raise them up Lord! Raise them up! Before an army can be shipped into battle they have to go through boot camp or some sort of training. God needs to train us up in order to raise us up, as we volunteer to be a soldier in His army. The old hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers keeps running through my mind as I type these battle plans. Worship music is a strong motivator but always remember your sword; the Word of God. There may be times we are tempted to lean on our own understandings, instead of standing on the Word of God. Human experiences and education are good, but God s Word is BEST. God uses our education and experience to help us grow as the branches abiding in Him, the vine. His Word is the root that keeps us steadfast and the sap that feeds and strengthens us. We must look at our experiences and education through the lens of God s Word; it is our Christian worldview. Write down a few things that you believe that determine the way you behave; find them in Scripture and write down each verse that is the foundation of this belief you stand on above all else. If you cannot substantiate your belief with Scripture then you need to replace it with truth. Be careful, Satan is sneaky, he likes to twist and blur the Word to make it sound like something else that appeals to our flesh. Write down the Scriptures that give you clear wisdom about God s will and ways and do not waver! Then open your ears to hear Him calling you to battle; be prepared and armor up, He is raising up an army and you have just been recruited! (Ephesians 6:10-18) - Taken from War Room 30 Day Prayer Calendar by Kathy Branzell

3 ** ** Please note that the Deacon Food Pantry will only be open ONE DAY this month, which is Saturday, January 23rd from 10am-12pm. The month of February will also have just ONE DAY on Friday, February 19th from 5-7pm. Be sure to make note of these changes. Thank you.

4 Page 4 February Volunteer Schedule SUNDAYS Greeters 2-7 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Kathi Ginter 2-14 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Sherri Benko 2-21 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Judy Rose-Walley 2-28 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Kathy Galbreath * * If anyone else is interested in being a Greeter on Sunday Mornings, please contact Bonnie as soon as possible. Thank you. * * * Hosts 2-7 Bev Wolf 2-14 Ellen Gilbert 2-21 Bev Wolf 2-28 Jan Kary This is a ministry that expands hospitality to our Sunday morning guests. Any questions please contact Bev Wolf, Nursery 2-7 9:30am - 10:45am - Linda Kohman & Cindi Jewett :30am - Angela Scott & Corinne Freel 10:45am - Fawn Robertson & Connie Wood :30am - Peggy Baer & 10:45am - Peggy Baer & Hanna Galbreath :30am - Kris & Claire Wright 10:45am - Kris & Claire Wright If you are unable to serve on your assigned Sunday please contact Peggy Baer, We are in need of more volunteers to help in the nursery. Please see Peggy if you can help. Blood Pressure Screening This will be available on Sunday, February 21 in the Conference Room next to the library starting at 10:30am. SUNDAYS Van Drivers We are in need of additional drivers. If you can help, please contact the church office at Dennis Wood 2-14 Dennis Wood 2-21 Rich & Kathy Hollister 2-28 Jack Kary Financial Stewards 2-7 Charmaine & Kathi Ginter 2-14 Bev Wolf & Linda Kohman 2-21 Jack Kary, Sr. & Becky Reynolds 2-28 Jack Kary, Jr. & Kathy Plaia MONDAYS Monday Morning Mailers 2-1 Sandy Sherrod 2-8 Judy Rose-Walley 2-15 Jan Smith 2-22 Charlotte Meller 2-29 Sandy Sherrod If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Sherrod, We are looking for additional volunteers to help one Monday per month. Trustee of the Month - Aaron Wright Thank You Thank you to everyone who donated hats, mittens or gloves to the Everything Winter Tree. Items donated included: 47 hats, 39 gloves, 3 jackets and 2 pair of boots. Men s Conference Saturday, March 19, :30am - 4:55pm Elkhart, IN

5 Page 5 BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES February Birthdays 2/1 - Kathi Ginter 2/2 - Peggy Baer 2/2 - Kathy Plaia 2/2 - Ryne Wright 2/5 - Ethlynne McKee 2/5 - Nancy Hollister 2/8 - Tracy McKee 2/10 - Win Zaw 2/11 - Bill Grenert 2/11 - Ruth Ragle 2/16 - Robert Hardesty 2/16 - Alexis Kary 2/19 - Ruth Bilinski 2/20 - Keith Bennett 2/21 - Sally Wagner 2/22 - Rebekah Plaia 2/24 - Karen Simko 2/27 - Ruthann Millage Anniversaries 2/1 - Bill & Laurie Grenert 2/16 - Mike & Amy Riley * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Upcoming Opportunities Friendships Warm the Heart ATTENTION LADIES Sunday, February 7, 2016 from 12:15-2:00 pm. All Ladies of FBC, please join us for an afternoon of friendship and fellowship. We are planning a Soup and Salad luncheon, soup will be provided, please bring a salad to share. We are gathering for the purpose of friendship and to share that friendship with others. Bring your friend, Bring a guest, all are welcome! We ask that you reach out to one another, invite and provide transportation to a lady who may have restrictions and is not always able to attend, or invite someone who hasn t attended in a while, or invite the friend that you see every Sunday, for whatever the reason help us to extend a hand of friendship to the ladies of FBC. ~ Men s Prayer Breakfast will be Saturday, February 13 at 8:00am. All men are invited for fellowship, good food and a dedicated time for prayer and Bible reading as a group of men. Plan to attend! YOUTH ACTIVITIES FOR FEBRUUARY February 7-10:45am Make Valentines for shut-ins February 14-10:45am Deliver scarves to homeless February 21-10:45am Recap, Reflection & Preparation February 28-10:45am El Campito LIBRARY NEWS Recently I found this piece in a book from our library. As a mother it touched me because I didn t do all of these things but God still worked in my life and the lives of my children just showing that he can use imperfect people in His plan. Please check out our shelves to find what inspires or teaches you. Love: a variation on a theme from Love Adds a Little Chocolate by Medard Laz (245) If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love, I am a housekeeper not a homemaker. If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love, my children learn cleanliness not godliness. Loves leaves the dust in search of a child s laugh. Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window. Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk. Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys. Love is present through the trials. Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive. Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child, then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood. Love is the key that opens salvation s message to a child s heart. Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God s perfection of my child. As mother there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is love. Jo Ann Merrill

6 Page 6 March Volunteer Schedule * * * One of the suggestions we received for the Newsletter was to give 2 months of Volunteer schedules so we are trying it this month. Hopefully this way everyone is kept more informed ahead of time and can plan accordingly. Thank you! * * * SUNDAYS Greeters 3-6 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Karen Carson 3-13 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Connie Wood 3-20 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Arthur Barry 3-27 Jeaniece Bumgardner & Charlotte Meller * * If anyone else is interested in being a Greeter on Sunday Mornings, please contact Bonnie as soon as possible. Thank you. * * * Hosts 3-6 Bev Wolf 3-13 Ellen Gilbert 3-20 Bev Wolf 3-27 Jan Kary This is a ministry that expands hospitality to our Sunday morning guests. Any questions please contact Bev Wolf, Nursery 3-6 9:30am - 10:45am - Linda Kohman & Cindi Jewett :30am - Angela Scott & Corinne Freel 10:45am - Fawn Robertson & Connie Wood :30am - Peggy Baer & 10:45am - Peggy Baer & Hanna Galbreath :30am - Kris & Claire Wright 10:45am - Kris & Claire Wright If you are unable to serve on your assigned Sunday please contact Peggy Baer, We are in need of more volunteers to help in the nursery. Please see Peggy if you can help. SUNDAYS Blood Pressure Screening Van Drivers This will be available on Sunday, March 20 in the Conference Room next to the library starting at 10:30am. We are in need of additional drivers. If you can help, please contact the church office at Dennis Wood 3-13 Dennis Wood 3-20 Rich & Kathy Hollister 3-27 Jack Kary Financial Stewards 3-6 Charmaine & Kathi Ginter 3-13 Bev Wolf & Linda Kohman 3-20 Jack Kary, Sr. & Becky Reynolds 3-27 Jack Kary, Jr. & Kathy Plaia MONDAYS Monday Morning Mailers 3-7 Sandy Sherrod 3-14 Judy Rose-Walley 3-21 Jan Smith 3-28 Charlotte Meller If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Sherrod, We are looking for additional volunteers to help one Monday per month. Trustee of the Month - Bill Grenert

7 Warm greetings to all! I m thinking warm thoughts for everyone. Winter may have come late, but it s here now and it sure has been cold. This building is cold when no one is here. I have been wearing extra layers (yes, church mice wear clothes). So if you ever see a mouse without clothes in this building, it s not me. It s hard to believe that I am writing my letter for February. Time is going so fast. Ash Wednesday is February 10 and Easter will be March 27. I know that some Christians give something up for Lent but I would like you to do something for Jesus, like read and study the Bible more. Pray and Praise the Lord more. Come to think of it, to do more for Jesus, you might have to give something up to have the time. Next month we will share plans for Holy Week. There is going to be a Soup and Salad luncheon for the Ladies on Sunday, February 7 from 12:15-2:00pm. The soup will be provided. Please bring a salad to share. All ladies are invited, so encourage every lady to stay after church that day. I m not sure what is going to happen besides the meal but it is going to be a great time of food and fellowship. Being a male mouse, I wasn t invited but I am going to hide and listen and hopefully get something to eat. On February 21 at 12:15, there will be a replay of the movie War Room. I enjoyed this movie on New Year s Eve and it is worth seeing again. A light lunch will be served that day. Everyone is invited. Mark your calendars and plan to stay after 2nd Hour. Speaking of 2nd Hour, I have been having a hard time picking a class to go to each Sunday, they are all so good. If you haven t been staying, why don t you try to stay some Sunday and try one or all of them on different Sundays? Friday Night Coffee Bible Study will meet February 12th at 6:30pm. I enjoyed the first one and learned a lot. Everyone is welcome so please come. The Food Pantry will be open Friday, February 19 from 5-7pm. Remember, we can always use financial assistance, food or help for the Food Pantry. The same is true for the Hay Food Bags that are put together weekly. I hope to see everyone at worship service and 2nd Hour each week. Remember that Men s breakfast is February 13 at 8:00am. Being a male mouse, I enjoy the fellowship and prayer with the men. Oh, and I enjoy the food too. Well, I m getting cold so I am going to get under extra blankets. Please pray for each other and FBC. Keep safe and warm. Check on each other and your neighbors. Show the love of Jesus to all. Men, just remember that Valentine s Day is February 14. Being a mouse, it s not important to me but I think it is to humans. God bless you all, Benjamin

8 4909 S. Ironwood Dr. South Bend, IN (574) Return Service Requested We re on the web! firstbrethren.org "Who shall separate us from the LOVE of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? NO, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who LOVED us." ~ Romans 8: Sermon Series What is Absolute Truth?