CFCC BUZZ Congregational Free Church of Christ Happy Spring, Daylight Saving and Easter!

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1 CFCC BUZZ Congregational Free Church of Christ Happy Spring, Daylight Saving and Easter! This is the second BUZZ Newsletter for If you are not in church or do not have , you will receive your newsletter in the mail a few days later. Give any changes in your address to Renee Yashinsky at reneeyash@yahoo.com. Give news items for the next newsletter to Joan Mason at ~Pastor s Message~ How will this Easter sit with you? How will this day be different? Some yesteryears are similar. Each one is so transparent. You ve walked long roads since Easter-past. This journey brought you hither. You have arrived to this new place. Life comes from God s forever. Easter returns to focus us On what Our Lord has said. Christ told the Truth; He calls us still To move beyond the dead. Death is a basic fact of life. It often looks our way. But, it can t win it never does! Death never has a say. Death fades away into new life Life is new resurrection. God cancels death in raising us. God is our sole protection. 1

2 So Easter Day is always new. It finds us so completely. So fresh, complete and always new, God comforts us uniquely. Jeffrey Craig Stonesifer ~Give Yourself to God~ Historically (that is long ago), people who entered the temple to worship brought offerings to God. These included a sacrifice of value this means an unblemished lamb as atonement for their sins. In today s world, we travel to God not with anything we have to offer, but because of the offering Christ gave of Himself for us at His crucifixion. Remember that God s interest in you does not begin and end at the crucifying cross. His loving towards you is one of constant care. Sometimes this is calm, while other times it involves brokenness. Many of the Old Testament saints faced trials far beyond their human ability. One of the greatest rewards of these struggles is the preparation to worship and serve God and to die and live for Jesus. We learn to come to the Lord in obedience and not out of selfassurance. Brokenness is a blessing and God always blesses those who suffer in obedience to His call. You may be experiencing difficult times presently and wondering if God hears your pleas for help. You might wonder if He really cares. Take some time to think through the things that make you feel contented: the company of others, personal recognition, financial security. Each of these can bless us. They should never be the source of our contentment. If you are searching for true joy, there is only one path to take. Apostle Paul mentions that the life of Jesus is manifested in our bodies and gives us peace. SOURCE: In Touch, Giving Yourself to God by Dr. Charles F. Stanley. February 2011, page 5. Edited by Joan Mason. 2

3 ~Kids Corner~ 1. What did Jesus invite doubting Thomas to do that would affirm His resurrection? a. Touch Jesus arm b. Invited Thomas to place his hands in the nailprints c. Read John 20: d. Nothing 2. According to the Apostle Paul, how many people saw the risen Christ at one time? a. 100 b. 350 c. 400 d. Over 500 You will find the correct answers at the end of the BUZZ newsletter. ~Important Occurrences~ Sunday School begins in the Chapel on Sunday mornings at 9am which is also the time of our regular service. (Our current confirmation class also begins at that time). After Pastor Stonesifer presents the children s sermon, the children meet with their teachers downstairs in the Sunday School rooms. Children of all ages are welcome. Lessons are Biblically based and adapted to your child s age. It is also a lot of fun! Please join us downstairs for breakfast immediately following today s service. The price is still only $4.00. Everyone is welcome to enjoy a delicious breakfast made by our church elves! We now have a full slate of CFCC officers. Our president is Phil Orwig, vice-president is Ray Dunkle Jr., secretary is Cathy Teter and treasurer is Henry Shoener. Thank you for your devotion. Contact Norm Lengel at for information concerning the renting of our social hall. Contact Mary Harrold at with any questions regarding additions to the bulletin, sponsoring a bulletin or the placing of altar flowers. 3

4 Don t forget to check out our website: March 13 begins daylight saving time. Spring ahead one hour. March 13 is the first Sunday in Lent communion service March 20 is our monthly congregational meeting with covered dish March 26 is our pot pie dinner in the social hall from 4-7 pm Palm Sunday is April 17 Easter Sunday is April 24. Communion service May 1 Chinese Auction pre-sale following the morning service May 5 Chinese Auction pre-sale from 6-8pm May 7 Chinese Auction. Doors open at 11 with the drawing at 1 pm. ~On Wisdom~ I was exploring the February 2011 issue of the In Touch Ministries, published by minister Dr.Charles Stanley. Here are some thoughts on wisdom. See here Psalm 119:24, a sentence worthy to be weighed of us, when David calleth the commandments of God his counselors. For the first place, he meant that he might scorn all the wisdom of the most able and the most expert men in the word, since he was conducted by the word of God, governed thereby. In the second place, he meant that when he shall be governed by the word of God, he would not only be truly wise, but that it would be as if he had all the wisdom of all the men in the world, yea, and a great deal more. John Calvin When there is a feast of words, there is often a famine of wisdom Catherine of Siena God never meant that man should scale the heavenly strides of human wisdom. - William Cowper The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are. C.S. Lewis To have a low opinion of our own merits and to think highly of others is evidence of wisdom. Thomas A. Kempis 4

5 There is a difference between wisdom and knowledge. Knowledge is information; it has to do with our intellect. Wisdom has more to do with heart and with attitude the best definition is viewing life from God s viewpoint. Dr. Charles F. Stanley ~The Gifts of Lent~ March 9 Ash Wednesday, Christ Church in McKeansburg March 16 Congregational Free Church of Christ, McKeansburg March 23 Friedens Lutheran Church, New Ringgold March 30 Calvary United Methodist Church, Lewistown Valley April 6 Immanuel Evangelical Congregational Church, Drehersville April 13 Zion Church, Lewistown Valley April 21 Maundy Thursday Immanuel United Methodist Church, West Penn April 22 Good Friday Zion United Methodist Church, New Ringgold (1:30pm) April 24 Easter Sunrise at Harry Strack Farm, 2497 Summer Valley Road, 2.7 miles east of New Ringgold. Meet at 5:40am to walk together May 5 National Day of Prayer Salem United Methodist Church, Drehersville June 2 Ascension Day Zion United Methodist Church, Reynolds Services start at 7:30pm unless otherwise noted. ~Fundraising~ March 26 (Saturday) is our chicken pot pie dinner to be held in our social hall. This delicious homemade dinner is held from 4-7 pm. Take a break from cooking and bring your family. Donations of desserts are needed. Contact Anna Shoener at for information or tickets ($8.00). April 14 is the date of our next sub sale. These subs are always made fresh the date of the sale. Contact Anna Shoener. Our annual Chinese Auction will be held on Saturday, May 7 in our social hall. Doors open at 11am with the auction beginning at 1pm. Lunch will be sold along with a bake sale. Can t make it on the 7 th? There will be a pre-sale immediately following the service on May l and another pre-sale on Thursday, May 5 from 6-8pm. We will watch 5

6 your tickets for you. We need donations worth about $5 for the main tables and higher priced items for the special ticket tables. Donations can be anything but it has to be NEW. We are asking all members to donate. The more prizes we have, the more money we make for the upkeep of our church. Please come and support this auction and bring a friend. This is always a lot of fun. Please contact Renee at or reneeyash@yahoo.com with any questions. We sell Rada knives and utensils. Contact Anna Shoener for info or a catalogue. Keep bringing in your cell phones, ink cartridges and aluminum cans which we recycle. Keep using your Redner and Boyer s Food Stores tags. Redner receipts have to be brought into church and placed in the basket in the foyer. Boyer s receipts don t need to be brought in. Do you need a tag to scan at the register? See Anna Shoener ~Pastor s Additional Thoughts~ Why doesn t God just force us To complete the tasks He wants? Why not use that great power To coerce a firm response? Our great-and-loving Father Blesses us with much free will. He turns us loose to walk along. He NEVER holds us still. He lets us choose; He gives us room. God never forces action. We think; we talk; we feel all ways. Freedom is our reaction. God turns-us-loose as morning dawns. God really lets us be He watches from His throne above Knowing what He will see. 6

7 Freedom-unleased is our response. We live and go and do. God wants us to live BESIDE Him. From there, God will renew. ~Closure~ One Door Closes..Another Opens Revelations 3:8 Jeffrey Craig Stonesifer When God leads you to the edge of a cliff, trust Him fully and let go. Either he ll catch you when you fall or teach you how to fly. God closes doors no man can open and God opens doors no man can close. Kids Corner answers 1.b 2.d 7

8 CHINESE AUCTION Congregational Free Church of Christ McKeans Ridge Road, McKeansburg, PA Saturday, May 7 th, 2011 Doors Open at 11:00am Drawing at 1:00pm Pre-sale: Thursday, May 5 th, 2011 from 6:00pm 8:00pm We will be having a Chinese Auction and Bake Sale in our Social Room. Come out and join us for a few hours of fun! Food and Drinks will be available for sale. Directions: From the blinking light in Orwigsburg Route 443 East towards McKeansburg. Travel approximately 4 miles, then turn right onto McKeans Ridge Road. Look for our signs! All proceeds benefit Congregational Free Church of Christ. 8