The Waggonette. February The Waggonette page 1

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1 The Waggonette page 1 The Waggonette February 2017 Love God Love People Be a Blessing Waggoners United Methodist Church 1271 Longs Gap Rd., Carlisle, Pennsylvania Church Office (717) Bridge Café 8:00 AM Worship 9:00 Sunday School 10:15 AM From the Pastor In John 15 we read the story of how we are the vine and Christ is the vinedresser. It is a reminder of how important it is for us to stay connected not only to God but to each other. This month as we begin a special Bible Study on prayer we are focusing on benefits of staying connected through prayer. The scriptures promise that if we abide in love with each other and in love with God the Father we will exhibit fruit of the spirit both in terms of making disciples and in a spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness and selfcontrol. We are also promised that we will have a desire to obey God s commands and to share God s love. Perhaps part of the reason we have not had greater influence is that we are not bearing the fruit God wants us to bear. That might be because our connection in God s vineyard may be weak. This month we are entering a study of the book, Too Busy Not to Pray by Bill Hybels. Here we will learn how to abide in God s love through prayer and stay in loving fellowship with each other so we can bear fruit for God s kingdom both in making disciples and in being a positive influence in our world by exhibiting the spiritual fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness and self-control. Join us for this special study. May God bless you throughout February, Pastor Rick. This picture of abiding in God is a picture far removed from the reality of the world. In our world it seems as if each individual struggles for themselves. There is loneliness, injustice, division and struggle. With so many Christians in the world, it seems like we should be doing a better job at sharing the way of Christ.

2 The Waggonette page 2 February Worship Highlights February 5 5 th Sunday in Epiphany Healing Service Sermon Spice it Up Based on I Corinthians 2:1-12, Matthew 5:13-20 Hymns #571 Go Make of All Disciples, #569 We ve A Story to Tell to the Nations, #375 There is a Balm in Gilead, #370 Victory in Jesus February 12 6 th Sunday in Epiphany Sermon The Heart of the Matter Based on Matthew 5:21-37 Hymns - #400 Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, #474 Precious Lord, #467 Trust and Obey February 19 7 th Sunday in Epiphany Sermon - Nobody s Perfect? Based on Matthew 5:38-48 Hymns - #384 Love Divine All Loves Excelling, #408 The Gift of Love, #545 The Church s One Foundation. February 26 Transfiguration Sunday Sermon - Look to the Hills Based on Psalm 121 and Matthew 17:1-9 Hymns - #139 Praise to the Lord the Almighty, #77 How Great Thou Art, #349 Turn your Eyes Upon Jesus. March Worship Highlights March 5 1 st Sunday in Lent Communion Sermon Lead me Not into Temptation Based on Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11 Hymns #378 Amazing Grace, #395 Take Time to be Holy, #377 It is Well with My Soul, #370 Victory in Jesus March 12 2 nd Sunday in Lent Sermon Blessed and Blessing Based on Psalm 121, Genesis 12:1-4a, John 3:1-17 March 19 3 rd Sunday in Lent Sermon - Let it Flow Based on Exodus 7:1-17, John 4:5-52 March 26 Fourth Sunday in Lent Matthew 28 consultation weekend worship lead by consultation team! Mission Offerings February 5.United Way Fuel Fund February 12 Project Share February 19..Future Fund February 26.Carlisle Cares

3 The Waggonette page 3 Valentine s Day Around the Word Valentine s Day is celebrated in many different ways around the world. Among the most interesting is Japan who celebrates the day in both February and March. Valentine s Day in Japan Valentine's Day is celebrated in an interesting manner on two different dates in the country of Japan. On February 14, females present gifts to their boyfriends or any man close to them. The favor is returned to ladies on the White Day celebrated on March 14 when men pamper women who gave them gifts a month before on Valentine s Day. Tradition of Gifting Chocolates Chocolates for boyfriends, lovers or husbands are special ones and are called hon-mei. Many Japanese girls think that it is not true love if they buy Valentine's day chocolates for their boyfriend and hence honmei-choco is usually prepared by girls themselves. Men feel lucky if they receive honmei (prospective winner)-choco on Valentine's Day. As chocolate is the most popular gift for the occasion, days before the festival, department and grocery stores stock themselves with chocolates in large variety to lure customers. It is estimated that more than half the chocolate sold in a year is sold around Valentine s Day in Japan. Tradition of Celebrating White Day There is a strong tradition of women gifting chocolates to men on Valentine s Day in Japan. It is seen that two types of chocolates are more popular for Valentine's Day. One type of chocolate called giri-choco is bought for friends, bosses, colleagues and close male friends. Giri' in Japan means obligation hence these types of chocolates have no romantic association. Giri chocolates are usually bought from the store. Ladies make sure they pass on giri-choco to please all men close to them as it is seen that men who do not receive any chocolate feel embarrassed. White Day celebration in Japan is said to have been initiated as a marketing tool by a marshmallow chocolate company in the 1960s. On March 14 or White Day men are supposed to give return gifts of chocolates to women who gifted them chocolates on February 14. The color of the chocolate is generally white because of the name of the day. These days, men also gift flowers, candies and other gifts along with the chocolates. Valentine's Day Celebration in Japan Valentine's Day and White Day festival is celebrated with charm and enthusiasm in Japan. It is observed that the festivals are more popular amongst young groups, especially those below 20 years. The most popular Valentine's Day gift is chocolates though ladies also give other gifts like neckties and clothes to men dear to them.

4 The Waggonette page 4 History of Valentine's Day Valentine's Day - the popular festival of love and romance traces its origin to an ancient Roman festival and has not been created by card companies as some people believe it to be. There are various legends associated with the festival along with the belief that birds began to mate from this day. Popularity of the Valentine's Day festival stems from the combined effects of all these legends, beliefs and of course the wish to glorify the unparalleled feeling of love. Feast of Lupercalia Historians trace the origin of Valentine's Day to the ancient Roman Empire. It is said that in the Rome of ancient times people observed a holiday on February 14th to honor Juno - the Queen of Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also regarded Juno as the Goddess of Women and Marriage. On the following day, February 15th began the fertility festival called 'Feast of Lupercalia'. The festival of Lupercalia was celebrated to honor the Gods Lupercus and Faunus - the Roman God of Agriculture and the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. An interesting custom was followed in the Feast of Lupercalia to bring together young boys and girls who otherwise were strictly separated. On the eve of the festival names of young Roman girls were written on a slip of paper and placed into jars. Each young man drew out a girl's name from the jar and was paired with the girl for the duration of Lupercalia. Sometimes pairing lasted for a year until next year's celebration. Quite often, the couple would fall in love with each other and later marry. The custom lasted for a long time until people felt that the custom was un-christian and that mates should be chosen by sight, not luck. Defiance by Saint Valentine The pairing of young boys and girls did set the mood of the Valentine's Day Festival as we know today. But it was actually due to the efforts and daring of a priest St Valentine that the festival got its name and clearer meaning. The story goes that during the reign of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in several bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius found it tough to get soldiers and felt the reason that men did not join the army was because they did not wish to leave their wives and families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. A romantic at heart, a priest of Rome, Saint Valentine, defied Claudius's unjustified order. Along with Saint Marius, St Valentine secretly married couples. When his defiance was discovered, Valentine was brutally beaten and put to death on February 14, about 270 AD. After his death Valentine was named a Saint. According to another version of legend, Valentine was killed because he attempted to help Christians escape from the Roman prison as they were being tortured and beaten there. Yet another popular version of the legend states that while in prison, Valentine or Valentinus fell in love with the jailer's daughter who visited him during confinement. Before his death, Valentine wrote a farewell letter to his sweetheart from the jail and signed From your Valentine'.

5 The Waggonette page 5 The expression became quite popular amongst the love struck and is still very much in vogue. By the Middle Ages, Valentine assumed the image of a heroic and romantic figure amongst the masses in England and France. Later, when Christianity spread through Rome, the priests moved Lupercalia from February 15 to February 14. Around 498 AD, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St. Valentine's Day to honor the martyr Valentinus and to end the pagan celebration. In the course of time, Valentine's Day came to be regarded as the festival that celebrates love and not just romantic love. Today, Valentine's Day cards are gifted to teachers, parents, friends, siblings and sweethearts. Popularity of Valentine's Day has spread in countries across the seven continents and is still increasing by the year. Beginning of Birds Mating Season During the Middle Ages, people in England and France held a belief that birds started to look for their mate from February 14. This popular notion further helped to link Valentine's Day - celebrated in the middle of the month of February, with love and romance. Over the period of time, St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers and they began to celebrate Valentine's Day as a day of romance by exchanging love notes and simple gifts such as flowers. Popularity of St. Valentine s Day Valentine's Day festival gradually grew in popularity amongst the masses due to the combined effect of all the above said reasons. To mark the day, lovers began to exchange love notes called Valentines' with their sweethearts. Originally the trend was to send handmade cards, but this was changed in the beginning of the 19th century when mass-produced greeting cards caught the fancy of the people. A Valentine Prayer I said a Valentine prayer for you and asked the Lord above to fill your heart and bless your soul With the precious gift of love. I asked Him for sincere love The kind that's meant to stay Just like the generous love You give to those you touch each day. I prayed for love from family And from every cherished friend Then I asked the Lord to give you His love that knows no end. (Author unknown)

6 The Waggonette page 6 February Worship Assistants February Birthdays February 5, 2017 Greeters: Rick & Lydia Mellott Ushers: Chuck Bear & John Zimmerman Scripture Reader: Rick Mellott Nursery: Available February 12, 2017 Greeters: Curt & Priscilla Myrick Ushers: Tim Grenoble & John Foltz Scripture Reader: Leroy Hoover Nursery: Available February 19, 2017 Greeters: John & Cathie Zimmerman Ushers: Leroy Hoover & Ken Pannebaker Scripture Reader: Rick Mellott Nursery: Available 6 Ernest Miller 6 Cathie Zimmerman 8 Betty Andrews 11 Priscilla Myrick 11 John Zimmerman 14 Thomas Shoemaker 16 William DeWalt 17 Joseph Baric 21 Marjorie Haus 21 Lance Oburn 22 Lauren Gipe 24 Sarah DeWalt 24 Marley Redcay 25 BJ Deitch 26 Nicholas Weitoish 27 Larry Zell February 26, 2017 Greeters: John & Virginia Foltz Ushers: Rick & Lydia Mellott Scripture Reader: Leroy Hoover Nursery: Available February Anniversaries 10 Harold & Mable Stum 16 James & Mae Morton 27 Paul & Janice Yorlets

7 The Waggonette page 7 Matthew 28 Consultation Weekend Set For March Over the next year we will be learning how to reach out and share the love of Christ more effectively to our community. As part of this Matthew 28 process we will be having a special consultation team here with us the weekend of March On Friday evening they will be meeting with our Church leadership. On Saturday morning there will be some special classes and sharing time for the entire congregation. On Sunday during worship and for a time after they will be sharing with us their prescriptions to help our church grow. This can only be effective if as many as possible participate. Mark your calendars now. As part of this process there is much information to gather, prayer teams that need to be formed and preparations for the weekend. If you d like to be part of the leadership team, please let Pastor Rick know Bible Studies! Beginning in January our Monday at 6 PM and Tuesday at 9 AM Bible studies will be studying one of the books Pastor Rick read with his Matthew 28 study group. Too Busy Not to Pray will help us discover that no matter how busy we may be we will always be overwhelmed until we take the time to do first things first PRAY! This is a helpful lesson for all Christians but particularly those in leadership. We hope to use this study to begin a prayer team for the mission of our church and to pray that those in our community who do not know Christ may come to him. We will follow up this study with a study on the book of Ephesians. Devotionals are available to the right rear of the sanctuary. We simply ask for a one dollar contribution to offset the cost. Place your offering in the basket, which is near the stand containing the devotional booklets. More to Your Story By Max Lucado Meet Me at the Bridge A New Sunday School Class For Younger (thinking) Adults/ Youth On September 11, Pastor Rick began leading this new discussion class focusing on Christian practical questions to life issues we all face. In December we began studying Max Lucado s More to Your Story to learn how to discover your personal place in God s plan. Through this study you might just discover Jesus personal call on your life as to why on earth he placed you here in the first place. Each class will be a short 4 8 week unit. While each session can stand alone, maximum benefit can be achieved by sharing in the discussions for the entire unit.

8 The Waggonette page 8 BLOOD DONATIONS NEEDED MEN S PRAYER BREAKFAST This year our Men s Prayer Breakfast will focus on Themes from the Mayberry Bible Study as we let Andy, Opie and Aunt Bea teach us endearing Biblical truths about things like loyalty, friendship and forgiveness. All men are invited to join us in the Bridge Café the 4 th Saturday at 7:30 AM for fellowship and inspiration. WOMEN S PRAYER BREAKFAST This year Nancy Hoffman is leading us on an exciting study of the book, Bad Girls of the Bible and what we can learn from them by Liz Curtis Higgs. All women are invited to join us the 2 nd Saturday of each month at 7:30 AM. A delicious breakfast is served following each study session. Please sign up on the clipboards and order your copy of the book from Nancy ($10.00). BRIDGE CAFÉ MISSIONS OUTREACH PROJECTS FOR FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 We will be collecting diapers & new or gently used children s books that will be distributed to the less fortunate in our community. Please contact Shelly Lilly for information. Our blood donations are down to an all time low of just 2 pints. If you have the ability to donate blood, please contact Patty Rockey for details. Our Group Number is #347. Give the Gift of Life! 2017 Offering Envelopes Several people have not yet picked up their 2017 Offering Envelopes which have been moved to the Sharing table. If you do not have envelopes and would like a box, please contact Fay Minich. At the end of the year, statements of your yearly offering contributions are sent out. The envelopes make it much easier and convenient to keep track of your yearly giving for income tax purposes. WAGGONERS CHURCH STAFF Pastor: Rick Denison Ch. Sec: Suzanne Lindermann Treasurer: Liz Hoover Fin. Sec: Fay Minich Custodian: Roxann Marpoe Trustee: Jim Simon waggonersumc@embarqmail.com

9 The Waggonette page 9 Ongoing Events Women s Prayer Breakfast is held every 2 nd Saturday of each month from Sept. May at 7:30 AM. The women, led by Nancy Hoffman, study a selection of Christian Contemporary literature. This year s study is from Liz Curtis Higgs s book Bad Girls of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them. After the lesson, the women enjoy breakfast in the Bridge Café. ALL WOMEN of the church are invited to attend. Men s Prayer Breakfast is held every 4 th Saturday of each month from Sept. May at 7:30 AM. The men, led by Pastor Rick, study an interesting selection of Christian contemporary lessons. This year we ll be using clips from the Andy Griffith show to let Andy, Barney, Opie and Aunt Bea teach us Christian truths. After the lesson, the men enjoy breakfast in the Bridge Café. ALL MEN of the church are invited to attend. Church Fellowship Breakfast is held every 3 rd Thursday of each month at 9 AM at the Fairground Diner, 1111 Spring Rd., Carlisle. Everyone is invited & pays for their own meal. Weekly Bible Study is held every Mon. night at 6 PM & every Tues. morning at 9 AM from Sept. May. Everyone is invited as Pastor Rick leads us in interesting & uplifting Biblical teachings. Worship Team practices at 6:30 PM the Wed. prior to the Sunday on which they sing. Everyone is invited to join. Senior Choir, led by Stephanie Keifer, has been temporarily discontinued. Everyone is invited to join. Youth Choir, led by Stephanie Keifer, practices every Sunday at 10:15 AM in the Social Hall. All preschool thru elementary aged children are invited to attend. The Youth Choir usually sings every 4 th Sunday during Worship Service. Manor Care Bingo is a ministry of 4 or 5 volunteers on 2 teams who help out at Manor Care Nursing Home the 2nd Thursday of each month (Jan. thru 7:15 PM. Team #1 and Team #2 alternate months, beginning with Team #1 in Jan. Anyone interested in helping should contact Rick Mellott at or Ernie Miller at Time for Tots is a preschool program that meets from Sept. to mid-may. They meet in the Nursery every Monday from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. This program offers young children a socially, emotionally and educationally motivating experience. If you have a 3 or 4 year old who would like to join the class, contact Cindy Bear at Sunday s at Waggoners Church Bridge Café Join us every Sunday morning at 8 AM in the Bridge Café for coffee, pastries, breakfast items & fellowship. They also sponsor a new outreach ministry each month. Everyone is welcome and monetary contributions are always appreciated to offset our costs. Thanks! Sunday School All classes are in session on Sunday (Sept. through May) at 10:15 AM. *Nursery class - for children birth to 4 years of age & meets in the room adjacent to the restrooms. *Children in K 9th grades meet in the social hall. *Youth in 10th - 12th grades gather in the Bridge Café. *Adult Class #1 meets in the front of the sanctuary and studies the International Sunday School Lesson. *Adult Class #2 (Meet Me At The Bridge) This class meets in the Bridge Café & studies are based on a variety of contemporary Christian literature. *** Ongoing Projects Giant Gift Card Program Purchase cards from our church and Giant will donate 5% back to the church. Contact Chuck Bear *** Soup Ministry Make soup at home and place in the freezer in the kitchen for shut-ins. Make sure you include the date made on your soup. *** Blood Bank Donate blood to our local Blood Bank. Please use #347 as our Group Number.