NEWS FROM THE GROVE November 2017

Transcription

1 NEWS FROM THE GROVE November 2017 Mark Bowyer, Pastor Web Address: wakemansgrove.com 668 Wakemans Grove Road, Edinburg, VA FROM PASTOR MARK: Another Look at God's Love The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. -Jeremiah 31:3; 9 The following is an excerpt from a favorite book of mine. The author is referenced below. It is a story about a World War I soldier's homecoming to his family. It is told from his little daughter's perspective. It reminds me so much of the deep and intimate love God has for each one of us and that he wants each one of us to experience! Please enjoy: The heat was stifling inside the high stone walls of the courtyard. It was the summer of 1917 and war was raging all over France. Suzanne sat on a wooden chair under the big acacia tree rocking her doll, her legs barely touching the ground. The letter had arrived from the front several days before, "Coming home at last, I love you all so much, Papa. Her mother had cried, and Suzanne, not sure of what she should do in such circumstances had cried along with her. She did not like being six years old too much. Her brothers, 10 and 12, almost men now, went every day to work at the war plant with her mother. There was no one to keep her during the day and Mama cried sometimes when she left for work. But Suzanne could take care of herself; there were chores to do around the house and she was not allowed to go outside. For the last seven days Suzanne had disobeyed Mama. She had waited for the big iron gate to close. Then she would run to the tall oak armoire, climb on a chair, and pull out her Sunday dress. The blue ribbon for her hair was Suzanne's prized possession. It was the same blue as Mary's dress in the big cathedral. Papa would have a princess to come home to! She knew exactly what she would do when he arrived; she had dreamed about it every day in the courtyard. Suzanne had been very little when her father had left for the war, almost two years now, and she could not remember his face. But she looked at his picture every day. He was so magnificent in his cavalry uniform, holding his shining helmet with the long horsetail, a gleaming saber by his side; and she loved his mustache. He looked so strong, the way a Papa should look. Every day she would polish the frame and reverently spit on the glass to make it shine. Then she would lay her favorite blue ribbon in front of it. It was her gift to him. Continued on page 7

2 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Nov. 1 Jeremiah Crowder 1 Zachary Frenchak 2 Zachary Payne 2 Rick Roberts 3 Diana Noland 4 Phyllis Smith 4 Duke McCaffrey 5 Dillon Trelawny 6 Alaina MacLeod 6 Ronnie Markley 8 Tracy Thompson 12 Brook Barrick 13 Will Lam 13 Holden Lear 16 Teresa Tamkin 17 Judi Wakeman 17 Ed Trelawny 18 Maddie Lam 20 Keith Zirkle 20 Tippy Robinson 20 Alexis Silvious 21 Richard Barton 22 Hunter Wakeman 22 Linda Hawkins 24 Kent Tamkin 25 Gene Knicely 27 Melissa Hollar 27 Brandon Wilkins 28 Kristi Zirkle 29 Lily Neff 30 Mandy Tharp If your birthday or anniversary was missed, please contact Dawn Baker. Help us keep our records correct and complete. Thank you! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! Nov. 28 Rev. & Mrs. Jimmy Robinson Welcome to our Church Services: Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Prayer Meeting each Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. The Witness Commission will be sponsoring a Food Drive for Local Food Pantries on November Non-perishable foods only, please!! The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoice (Psalm 126:3) On Giving Tuesday (11/28) join us as we celebrate the great things God has done! Church of the Brethren Page 2

3 THANK YOU Dear Church Family, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the scholarship funding I received from the Lula Wakeman Hardy Scholarship Fund. I was very honored and appreciative to receive this financial support. The financial monies were applied toward my academic books for the Fall Semester. Once again, thank you for the financial support as I continue to further my education at Virginia Tech. Respectfully, Will Lam Dear Church Family, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the scholarship funding I received from the Lula Wakeman Hardy Scholarship Fund. I was very honored and appreciative to receive this financial support. The financial monies were applied towards Dual Enrollment classes at Lord Fairfax Community College, while I attend the Massanutten Regional Governor s School. Once again, thank you for the financial support as I continue in my efforts to further my educational endeavors. Respectfully, Tommy Lam Dear Wakemans Grove COB - Thank you for the wonderful meal (based on prior experience) and your kindness shown following the passing of John. Sincerely, Mary Kellog & the Family of John Maigret The CBYF would like to personally thank each and every one who helped to make our Annual Apple Butter Boiling a HUGE success! We appreciate the support of the congregation more than you will ever know and we LOVE spending time with each of you! So, THANK YOU Again! To my Church Family, I would like to thank you for choosing me for funding from the Lula Hardy Wakeman Scholarship Fund. This covers my Dual Enrollment fees through LFCC while still attending Central HS. This funding is a blessing to all that it is issued to. Thank you again! - Cameron Baker Dear Church Family, I wanted to extend my appreciation for the Scholarship money awarded to me for the Fall Semester. I am finishing my second year at LFCC and look forward to transferring to a four-year university in the near future. This helps to eliminate the high costs of purchasing books and supplies throughout the year. God bless! - Lauran Baker It s Supper Time!! Our annual Turkey and Oyster Supper will be held on Sat., Nov. 11th starting at 4:00 pm. The supper preparation will begin on Friday morning at 8:00 am with potato peeling, kitchen cleaning and setting up of the fellowship hall. Saturday morning preparation will start at 9:00 am. If you have not been asked to do a particular job during the supper, cannot help either Friday or Saturday morning but can help during the supper please be at the church by 3:00 Saturday afternoon. Remember many hands make light the work!! Your help is needed and will be GREATLY appreciated. page 3

4 BRETHREN WOODS Upcoming Dates for your Calendar November 10 & 11 Simplify: A Simple Living Weekend Guest speakers will include our very own Samuel Funkhouser! November VA Camp & Retreat Leaders Gathering December 2 - Brethren Woods Banquet January 4 - Registration opens for Summer Camp 2018 January 6 - Winter Work Day guys and girls get your chain saws ready for the winter work day! THANKSGIVING COVERED-DISH DINNER/TALENT NIGHT Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of the heavenly lights, ~ James 1:17 Our Annual Thanksgiving Covered-dish Dinner and Talent Night will be held on Wednesday, November 22 at 6:30 p.m. Come one, Come all, to the Talent portion of the evening beginning at 7:30. A sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin board for the talent night. Come enjoy a wonderful evening of fellowship and fun. **Limit one performance per individual or group and no more than two selections.** Results of the Fall Congregational Business Meeting 2018 Ballot Results Church Board: Nathaniel Dirting Barry Baker Donna Lear Aaron Baker Kenny Wakeman Nominating Committee: Sharon Foltz District Conference: Barbara Garber Lynda Burner Valerie Renner, Alternate Annual Conference: Keith & Diana Zirkle ~ 2018 Budget Approved Financial Secretary: Crystal Hollar Church Clerk: Kristy Fadely Deacons: Keith & Diana Zirkle Cecil & Barbara Holler Keith & Cathy Smith ~ Board recommends that we begin the process of pursuing an additional part time pastoral staff person with emphasis on visitation. Salary & hours TBD. ~ Building Program Continue with existing plans drawn, proceed with building of fellowship hall. Page 4

5 Junior High Corner We have some exciting events coming up in the next month! National Junior High Sunday will be November 5; the group will be conducting the entire service, so please be in prayer for them as they prepare. That same day we will be attending the District Barn Dance in Harrisonburg, along with the CBYF and the Grove Youth Band. It is always fun to fellowship with other youth their own age in the District and have a little food, square dancing and games. Our group plans to help in any way that we can with the Men s Fellowship Turkey & Oyster Supper on November 11. We will be decorating the church Christmas tree at the end of November and will be getting prepared for our Children s Shopping Spree that will be held in the Fellowship Hall on two different Sundays in December. If you have any items that you would like to donate, we will be placing a box in the vestibule or contact an advisor and we will take them for you. We also plan to shop for Christmas presents for some children again this year. Junior High Advisors, Missy and Jimmy Hollar Daniel and Amber Foltz CBYF News Thank you to everyone who came out to help on Friday with snitting and on Saturday for the actual boiling of the applebutter!! It was a wonderful weekend!! We really enjoyed getting to know all of you a little better. It s always fun to work together! With your help we raised around $4,000 to add to our NYC fund! We couldn t do it without you!! The CBYF will be playing a real life Clue game on Sunday, October 29, at 6:00. All youth members are asked to bring your favorite snack to share with the group. Come dressed in your best detective attire! Black is always good for sneaking around!! On the following Sunday, all District Youth will be gathering for a Harvest Party at the Michaels barn in Port Republic. Bring a bag lunch and we will plan to leave the church at 2:00. Please let one of us know if you are or aren t going so that we can be sure to have enough room for transportation! The Youth and Jr. High groups are providing the meat, but you can bring a covered dish if you would like. We have had a busy couple of months, but we will have a little break in the excitement for a while. We will be adopting a family through Social Services again and will need to shop for them soon. Stay tuned in for details!! Enjoy November; we will be caroling before you know it!! Adam and Kristi Zirkle, Advisors ATTENTION ALL YOUTH. Now available to you for this quarter KEYS FOR KIDS Devotionals! Please pick up your copy on the information table located in the vestibule. Let your Advisors, Parents, Pastor Mark, Dawn in the church office or any member of the Nurture Commission, know what you think of this new publication. We have ordered these on a trial basis in order to determine how you like them. Enjoy! Page 5

6 CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS The Worship Commission will be taking orders for Christmas Poinsettias beginning Sunday, November 5 through Sunday, December 3. Cost is $6.00 each and order forms will be placed on the bulletin table in the vestibule for your convenience. Poinsettias can be purchased in honor or memory of your loved ones. They will be placed in the church on Sunday, December 17 and can be picked up after the Christmas Eve Service on December 24th. -Payment instructions on order forms.christmas Card Exchange It s hard to believe it s that time of year again. The Family Life Committee will once again this year host the Christmas Card Exchange. Bring your addressed cards and leave them in the box in the vestibule.. We have some special Christmas Helpers that have volunteered to sort them... June Thompson & Kay Townshend. We will begin collecting cards on Sunday, November 26 and continue until Wednesday, December 20. Cards are to be for local regular attendees. No cards will be mailed. Do not feel like you have to participate in this if you do not wish. This is a way to help cut down on the price of postage within the church. So start early! Have a Merry Christmas from the Family Life Committee June Thompson and Kay Townshend. COOKBOOKS Cookbooks are available and would make excellent Christmas gifts. Only $8.00 each. See Sharon Foltz or Dawn Baker. Here is a great recipe from the book. PUMPKIN BREAD By Gary Kalwaytis 2/3 C. shortening 2 2/3 C. sugar 4 eggs 16 oz. canned pumpkin 2/3 C. water 3 1/3 C. all-purpose flour** 2 tsp. baking soda 1 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. ground cloves 2/3 C. coarsely, chopped nuts 2/3 C. raisins Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9x5x3 loaf pans. In large bowl cream shortening and sugar until fluffy. Stir in eggs, pumpkin and water. Blend in flour, soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and cloves. Stir in nuts and raisins. Pour into pans: bake for about 70 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Enjoy the pumpkin bread when it comes out of the oven. ** If using self-rising flour, omit baking soda, salt and baking powder. Friends, are you on Facebook? A quick word about my friends policy: If you request to friend me, I will gladly accept! I choose to accept friendship requests rather than friend others in the church to help avoid someone feeling left out. I hope this helps. ~ Pastor Mark Page 6

7 Continued from front page: Suzanne shifted uncomfortably on her chair and pulled at her black cotton stockings; Mama insisted that respectable ladies always wore stockings She was hungry too, in fact she was always hungry. Sometimes they would have some bread and vegetables to eat, but more often they all went to bed hungry. The heat made her tired, her eyelids were heavy; she yawned. The little doll fell in the dirt. She had not heard the gate open. The soldier was standing still, looking at her. His uniform was torn and covered with dust; she saw tears streaming down his bearded face. He was old. Fear suddenly made her stomach hurt the same way she felt when she heard the guns; she would hide under the bed then. She was going to die, she probably would never see her family again, and Papa would not find her when he finally came home. She swallowed very hard and looked at the enemy, "Are you going to kill me?" she whispered. The soldier had fallen on his knees in the dirt, his head down on his chest. A strange sound came from his throat. Suzanne did not know what to do. "You see," he said softly, "I am looking for a little girl just like you. I have not seen her in a very long time; I am her Papa." That night they all clung to each other in Mama's big bed. Suzanne on one side, Mama on the other, and Papa in the middle, the boys at their feet. Suzanne had tied herself to her father's wrist with the blue ribbon. A father felt so good and warm. She was afraid to fall asleep; he might go away. In the morning, Suzanne folded the blue ribbon carefully in a wooden cigar box and buried it deeply in the flower garden. As long as no one knew where it was, Papa would always stay with her. It was her secret forever. And she would never tell. ~ (From David Redding, Before You Call I will Answer, Fleming H. Revel Company, 1985 pp 60-61) This excerpt perfectly describes for me the intimacy that God intends for all of us. I can scarcely add to it, so I will not, except to say I hope you are living this closeness with Christ today, knowing you are tied onto Him by His grace. He will never go away; He will never let you go! I welcome comments or questions about this story. In His boundless love, Pastor Mark REGISTER FOR WINTER CAMP February 2nd 3rd For 3rd-8th graders! Do you miss summer camp already? We do too! Join us for a weekend just like summer camp, but with snow tubing and hot chocolate! This weekend camp begins on Friday at 6pm and wraps up on Saturday at 5pm. The weekend will include your favorite summer activities like nature, crafts, Bible study, and vespers, but also a campfire and a sneak peek at Summer 2018 s curriculum, Beyond Belief! The Universe of God. $95 covers lodging, meals, snow tubing, and all activities. Consider sponsoring a grandchild to come to this event! For more information and to register, visit: Page 7

8 OFFERING ENVELOPES Offering envelopes for 2018 are being prepared now. If you wish your monetary gifts to be recorded for tax purposes, an offering envelope must be used. If you need an envelope, please let me know. Please remember to put the amount of your donation on the envelope, either as regular budget or as building fund. I do not see your contributions, so if it is not recorded on the envelope I do not know what you have given. Also, checks that are placed in the offering plate and are not in an envelope are not recorded. This has been a misunderstanding in the past. If you have been using an envelope, and wish to discontinue, please let me know that also. Thank you, Crystal Hollar 2018 Mission Trips The Shenandoah District has received its schedule for Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM) projects for next year. It s not too early to be marking your 2018 calendar for the trips you want to make as a member of a volunteer crew. Contact Jerry Ruff at to get you (or a church group) on the calendar. Jan needed South Carolina Feb needed South Carolina Mar needed Eureka, MO Apr. 29-May 5 15 needed Project 2 June needed South Carolina July needed South Carolina Aug needed South Carolina Sept needed Project 1 Oct needed Project 2 Dec needed Project 1 WEDNESDAY PIECEMAKERS November 2017 Continue: ~quilting for Disaster Relief Auction ~working on project for women of Ghana, West Africa. ~working on blankets for children that are cancer patients at Charlottesville. Everything ALL cotton. Six (6) throws were given to A Small Hand. (They have re-opened after being closed for awhile (located in Edinburgsupported by Luthrans).) A member visited a quilt museum Wayside,Middletown. Enjoyed members sharing some of their work for SHOW & TELL. Sent cards for illness, birthdays etc. God s Pattern: God uses the rough edges of irritating people to shape and cut us more like Jesus Christ. Empty Bowl Soup Supper The Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter Annual Empty Bowl Soup Supper will be held Friday, November 17th, 5:30-7:30 pm at Central High School. Tickets are $35.00 each for adults and $20 each for students. They are available through the Alliance for Shelter ( ). The church has been asked to provide 10 dozen cookies for this event. Please sign the sheet on the bulletin board if you can help out. page 8

9 November 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 9:00 Piecemakers 4:30 YC 6:00 CBYF 6:15 Jr Choir 7:00 Band Prayer Mtg 8:00 Adult Choir :00 Jr Highs meet for pizza/ practice before Corn Maze 5Children s Church and National Jr High Sunday District Barn Dance DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS BEGIN FOOD DRIVE 6 7 7:00 Commissions meet 8 9:00 Piecemakers 4:30 YC 6:00 CBYF 6:15 Jr Choir 7:00 Band/ Worship/ Witness Mtg Prayer Mtg 8:00 Adult 9 10 Set up for T&O Supper 11 4:00 until Turkey & Oyster Supper :00 Board Meeting 14 7:00 4-H 15 9:00 Piecemakers 4:30 YC 6:00 CBYF 6:15 Jr Choir 7:00 Band Prayer Mtg 8:00 Adult Choir HIS (Deliver cookies for soup supper) 17 Empty Bowl Soup Supper 5:30/CHS Children s Church 10:00 Adult Choir to Greenfield 12:30 Board Retreat FOOD DRIVE ENDS :40 Girl Scouts 22 6:30 Thanksgiving Covered Dish Meal/Talent Night 23 Thanksgiving Jr Highs Christmas Tree Decorating & Christmas Shopping :00 Piecemakers 6:00 CBYF 6:15 Jr Choir 7:00 Band Prayer Mtg 8:00 Adult Choir 30 Page 9

10 Brethren Woods Wish List Do you have a heart for the ministry of Brethren Woods? We are always in need of items that will help grow the ministry. We invite you to prayerfully consider how you might be able to contribute to what God is doing at Brethren Woods! -New box fans ($20 each) -Sand Volleyball Court -Kitchenware for Rental Facilities (approx. $300 per building) -Used Vehicles (We call it Clunkers for Cash! We'll take your old car, sell it, and use the money to benefit the growing ministry at Brethren Woods! Your contribution is tax deductible!) -Cooking Supplies (Mountain Pie Irons, Roasting Sticks, Dutch Ovens, etc.) -Golf Cart -Mattresses ($100 each) -Front Load Washers and Dryers -Replacement Windows for the A-Frame -A good used backhoe -A new or used imac computer Questions about donations? Contact camp@brethrenwoods.org or call Wakemans Grove Church of the Brethren 668 Wakemans Grove Road Edinburg, VA 22824