THE SPIRE. Summer 2014 Love God! Love Others!

Transcription

1 THE SPIRE Summer 2014 Love God! Love Others! Upland Baptist Church 325 Main Street, Upland, PA Phone: Website: Rev. Brenda A. B. Shaw, Pastor

2 Duck Seeks to Forgive Duck spent much of the next few weeks watching the leaves grow on the trees. Even the oak tree was now full of fresh green leaves, instead of holding on to the dead brown leaves. Summer was arriving in Mr. Gasper s backyard. Even though Duck tried to ignore his feelings toward Toby, he could not seem to forget. He was still angry over Toby leaving him with Mr. Gasper; he felt discarded. Duck wanted to forget and be happy, but he continued to feel bad. He thought maybe time would make things better, but,as the days passed, he continued to feel upset about the circumstances. Duck wasn t sure what to do about how he was feeling. He did not know how to get over his anger. He could not seem to forget. He could not seem to get over it on his own. He did not really know how to forgive. Duck wondered if he would ever truly forgive Toby. Duck yearned for the day when he and Toby could be friends again; though, if he was asked right then, he wasn t sure he would want to go home with Toby. Mr. Gasper often left the radio on for Duck when he was going to be out of the house for a while. Duck enjoyed listening to the easy listening station that Mr. Gasper favored. One day, though, Mr. Gasper switched on the radio before leaving the house and it was a different station. Instead of the familiar relaxing music someone was talking.

3 Duck listened to the man talk. As he listened he realized the man was talking about forgiveness. Duck listened even more attentively as the minister continued his message: Listen to these words from the Gospel of Matthew 18:21-22: Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. The preacher continued to talk about how forgiveness has no limits. Duck began to feel worse. He knew that Jesus died for the forgiveness of his sins. He knew that he was supposed to forgive others, but it was so difficult. Duck began to feel like a failure. The minister continued to talk: If we are going to be people who are forgiving, then we must be honest. We have to be honest with our feelings. Don t tell yourself you should not feel a particular way. Instead be honest about how you are feeling. God wants us to be honest before him about our feelings. Sometimes it helps to write down our feelings in a journal and then offer that writing to God. Other times we need seek the counsel of a trusted friend, a pastor, or a trained counselor to help us be intentional about our feelings. Duck sighed in relief. Maybe it was OK that he was feeling so many things: sadness over being left behind, anger at Toby, loneliness. Duck even felt a little guilty because he liked Mr. Gasper. There were a lot of feelings going on for Duck and he was really glad to hear that it was OK to share those feelings with God.

4 Duck hoped the preacher would soon tell him how to forgive. He really wanted it to be easy. Maybe even a couple of steps to follow and then he would be finished with this whole process. Duck continued to listen. Instead of hearing how to forgive, the preacher talked about how difficult it was to forgive. He quoted C.S. Lewis: C.S. Lewis put it this way: We find that the work of forgiveness has to be done over and over again. W, forgive, we mortify our resentment; a week later some chain of thought carries us back to the original offense and we discover the old resentment blazing away if nothing had been done about it at all. We need to forgive our brother seventy times seven not only for 490 offenses, but for one offense. When the preacher finished his talk and ended with a prayer, Duck was a little disheartened. There had been no steps, no formula for how he was to forgive Toby. He wasn t sure what he was supposed to do next. He quit paying attention to the radio as he thought about what he was supposed to do next. Then it occurred to him. There wasn t a formula for forgiveness. There weren t a couple of steps to do and then be done. He needed to work out a plan with God. He needed to take this problem to God and let God show him how to proceed. Duck felt a little silly that he did not think of praying earlier. He knew that God loved him and wanted to help him. Duck knew that God would show him what to do. As he settled in to pray, Duck knew this would not be an easy journey, but he was committed to seeing it through. He knew he could forgive Toby with God s help, just as he knew that Jesus forgave him.

5 Though we know that God wants us to forgive, we are not always very good about doing it. Personally, I am struggling with someone that has hurt me in the past and, whenever our paths cross, all of the hurt and anger resurfaces. I know that God wants me to forgive them, but I struggle to be obedient. The good news is that I do not have to figure this out on my own. God will walk with me. God will show me how to forgive, what path to take. If I will turn to God and seek him, he will show me the steps to take. He will even forgive me for the lack of forgiveness in my heart. I do not believe that forgiveness is an easy task, but I do believe that it is crucial to our walk with God. Is there someone in your life you need to forgive? Do you need to join Duck and me in seeking out God s will? Pastor Brenda

6 Attention: All Men of the Church! Sunday School would like to honor the men, of ALL AGES, in our congregation with a Men s Breakfast on Sunday, June 15th, Father s Day, at 9:00 am. If you have company for the day, feel free to bring them along! All you need to do is sign-up on the sheet in the front or the back of the church. Questions? See Linda Cook We hope you will join us!

7 Chairperson ~ Linda Cook At the April meeting, the Legal Corporation/Ministry Council... Discussed and approved financial reports; Continued to discuss checking accounts for various groups; Discussed ongoing property issues; Commented on the work Bob Singley has done around the Church and how the grounds are looking wonderful; Each of the Team Leaders reported on various items they were working on and/or hoping to initiate. Reviewed previous activities. Reports can be found in this issue of the Spire. Property Team Leader ~ Diane Lord Orgram Members of the Church have stepped up to assist the Property Committee. We are grateful for each person s contribution. We believe that we have finally caught all of our squirrels in the Food Bank. We have the following issues under discussion: Windows in the Chapel Mice in the Chapel Flashing around the Church Drainage in Chapel basement Thank you to both Dan Miller for the repairs to the Church Parking lot and Sonny Johnson for repairs to the Garage.

8 Ministry to Members Team Leader ~ Dawn Rafalski Men s Group Summer 2014 New Jersey Mission Trips are scheduled for July Manasquan, NJ area and August 9-16 Atlantic City & Wildwood, NJ area. American Baptist Men s Retreat will be held Friday, August 1 - Sunday, August 3, 2014 at Shippensburg University. The theme is God, Our Ever-Present Help! If you would like to get more info see John Kofroth or Bob Singley. Look for registration forms in your bulletin or in the back of the church. Women s Union In order to fulfill our White Cross quota we are in need of old cotton sheets for rolling bandages. Any color or pattern is acceptable. Give sheets to Louise Sauk. Members News The first Sunday Social, ushering in Spring, was held after worship on May 18 th. Refreshments were served outside in the front of the church and everyone enjoyed a time of celebration as we honored our two college graduates, Ben Geveke and Jesse Kulp. Come to worship on June 8 th and stay for the Annual Church Picnic on the church grounds. Hamburgers, hotdogs and beverages will be provided. Just bring a side dish or dessert and join in the fun!! If you are willing to help set up and clear up see Dawn Rafalski.

9 Outreach Food Bank News The Food Bank is in need of Hamburger Helper and baby food. Any kind of baby food is acceptable. You can place these items in the box at the back of the church. If you have some good ideas for outreach programs for the Fall, let anyone on the Ministry Council know. CityTeam Upland Baptist will be at CityTeam on Saturday, June 28, 2014 to serve the evening meal. This is a change because we will be participating in the Church Unique program on our regularly scheduled date. We are also scheduled to be at CityTeam on Saturday, August 16 th. Due to vacations, we are usually short on helpers in August. If you already know your schedule for the month of August, please let Linda Cook know if you can help prepare and serve the meal. Thank you for your monetary donations to the Church s CityTeam fund. It costs over $ to buy our food and supplies, so any and all contributions are appreciated. CityTeam s shelter program is in need of combs, razors, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, deodorant, wash cloths, single sheets, pillow cases, towels, and men s socks.

10 The kitchen program needs paper towels, napkins, soups, rice, crackers, canned tomatoes, pasta, salt and pepper, powered coffee cream, tuna, peanut butter, and jelly. Donations can be given to Linda Cook. Thank you to everyone who has read the Spire, shopped and donated so many items this past year. Your generosity is appreciated! CityTeam s Back to School Program During the months of June, July, and August, we will be collecting single subject spiral notebooks for CityTeam s Back to School Program. There will be a box in the back of the Church for your donations. Monetary donations will also be accepted and can be given to Linda Cook. Watch for sales this summer and stock up! Because of your generosity, and some terrific bargain shopping, Upland Baptist donated over 1275 notebooks to the Back to School Program last year. WOW! Can we do it again this year?

11 Discipleship Team Leader ~ Jackie Wright Sunday School Activities May 11 - Women s Breakfast Almost forty women, of all ages, were honored with a breakfast on Mother s Day. It was a wonderful time of fellowship! Thank you to the men who helped prepare and serve, to Linda Cook who organized the breakfast and program, and Pastor Brenda and Linda for decorating. May 19 - VBS Night ends for the summer May 25 - Memorial Sunday The youth helped to honor our veterans, and also recognize those who have had memorial donations given in their name. June 2 - Watermelon Party Night, ages 5 12, 6:30 to 8:00 CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) will be running the program June 8 - Last Day of Sunday School Children and Youth Sunday and the Church Picnic June 15 - Men s Recognition Breakfast Sunday School resumes September 7, 2014

12 Sunday School News... Katie Boyer-Mason moved to a new position in the Joyful Noise group this spring. The new position meant learning to play new bells, and she has done a wonderful job! Anna Geveke was inducted into the National Honor Society at Sun Valley High School. Anna also sang with the Sun Valley High School Chorus in the Spring Concert. Ben Geveke substituted for one of the Joyful Noise members who could not play with the group in Church on Sunday, May 18 th. Thank You, Ben! Great job!334eee Thomas Geveke s team at Northley Middle School won a blue ribbon at the annual Reading Olympics competition. Tom also played in the Jazz in the Valley Concert. Kyle Lord is planning to run cross country with Ridley High School. Practice begins during summer vacation. Billy Lord made the Dean s List at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Stephen Shaw was recognized for exhibiting the Virtue of the Month Joy. He has gotten some hits and is enjoying his baseball season. Stephen is excited about his garden. This year, two of our former Sunday School students graduated from college! Let s give a cheer and a round of applause to... Ben Geveke and Jesse Kulp! Ben and Jesse have found jobs in their field of study upon graduation! Even as we wish them great success, we know they will continue to do well. They were wonderful students, and even better, are wonderful young adults!

13 VBS NIGHT What a year we have had! We have had anywhere from 2 to 20 children attending on Monday evenings. No matter the number, they have been an active group of children. Everyone who attended this year was served dinner, heard a Bible lesson, completed a craft, and an activity. Our VBS Night program had an amazing group of volunteers. We have been blessed to have so many caring and dedicated members of our congregation helping with VBS Night. Whether they volunteered every week or once a month, or have only been able to help during part of the year, their contribution has been invaluable! THANK YOU Brenda Shaw Linda Cook Pat Irace Charlene Miller Hans Geveke Ray Leber Rob Powers Peggy Weber Joan Decker Francis White Betty Vandergrift Sue Kulp Denise Fallin Sweeney Angela Nieves Dawn Rafalski A BIG THANK YOU to everyone in the congregation who has supported the program with monetary donations. We could not afford the program without your support. Once the school year begins in September, we will start up our Monday Night VBS again. As Jesus said, Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.

14 Worship Team Leader ~ Pat Irace Thank you to all the faithful members who took part in the Sunday morning services (ushers, greeters, etc.) for the period of March thru June. This month, I will be asking for volunteers for the next quarter July, August and September. You will be responsible for one Sunday in each month. Your participation is greatly appreciated. June 8, we will be celebrating the Children and Youth of our congregation. June 22, July 27 and August 24 th are our Sundays to visit Belvedere Nursing Home. The service is at 2:30, and anyone who is interested in attending is very welcome. Because we feel music is an important part of our Church, Pastor Brenda and I have been working on ways to improve the musical aspect of our Sunday morning worship service. As you know, we no longer have a Choir and we need some help in leading the congregational singing and possibly some new ways to incorporate music into the service. We plan to hire a temporary consultant who can help us get started in these areas. As we develop this new idea, we will keep you posted on our progress. Sandy at the organ and piano, and John and the Joyful Noise are wonderful expressions of our faith through music; but we feel we can add something more to make our worship fresh and energizing for everyone.

15 Let Us Pray Barbara Coale Helena and Joe Rausch Patrick Sweeney Susan Walmsley Contact the church office with your contribution to Let Us Pray by the 15 th of the month. You will be listed for one month. If you want a concern listed again, you will need to resubmit the request. uplandbaptist@verizon.net or Be joyful in Hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God s people who are in need.

16 JUNE, JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS June Birthdays 7 Adam Robert Moore 10 Tony Crispino 12 Mary Hampton 18 Axel Williams 23 Madison Hahn August Birthdays 5 Bob Smith 6 Carol Arscott 8 Elinore Ottey 15 Doris Fraim 21 Ken Mason Cameron Klimek Lucas Gervase 22 Betty Jean Greenhalgh July Birthdays 1 Shane Murphy 2 John Fraim 7 Linda Cook 8 Billy Lord 13 Grace Miles 16 Betty Vandergrift Christy Mason 18 Jesse Kulp 20 Julian Messick 26 Rose Redding 28 Harold Hampton 30 Stephen Shaw 31 Charlene Miller September Birthdays 3 Doris Moody 4 Rozanne Bennett 9 Florence Cage 11 Louise Sauk 13 Betty Singley 15 Diane Lord Ogram 18 Dave Miskowic 20 Bill Lord Sr. 22 George Ferguson Sybil Scott

17 JUNE, JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES June Anniversaries 1 Shane & Casey Murphy 11 John & Rev. Brenda Shaw 19 Ken & Christy Mason 22 David & Darlene Pysher 24 Ray & Cindy Leber 26 Harold & Mary Hampton 29 Robert & Bella Smith 30 Frank & Sue Kulp July Anniversaries 7 Bill & Karin Lord 16 Mark & Rebecca Minchak August Anniversaries 17 Jason & Shannon Sutherland September Anniversaries 7 Hans & Akky Geveke 14 Dan & Charlene Miller 28 Julian & Iris Messick

18 Women s Union Home and International Missionary birthdays for June: Rev. Yamina Apolinaris 6/2 Corporacion Milagros del Amor PO Box 6445 Caguas, PR yapolinaris@gmail.com Rev. Rick Bunker 6/2 Philadelphia Park PO Box Street Rd. Bensalem, PA rickbunker@juno.com Mr. Philip Smith 6/ Van Karajan Dr. Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Philip.smith@internationalministries.org Rev. Vital Pierre 6/15 Apartado 24 Bluefields, Nicaragua vital.pierre@internationalministries.org Mrs. Kelly Bunker 6/22 Address same as above for Rick Bunker

19 June 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Communion 9:30 am Sunday School 10:45 am Worship 2 6:30 8:00 pm Watermelon Party (Child Evangelism Fellowship) 3 CSS Lunch Training Pastor Brenda & Linda Cook 4 5 6:45 pm Legal Corp Mtg 7:30 pm Ministry Council pm Cindy Leber Retirement Party 8 Children & Youth Sunday 9:30 am Sunday School 10:45 am Worship Church Picnic Flag Day Father s Day 9:00 am Men s Breakfast :45 pm Pastor Brenda Crozer Grad Church Unique Pastor Brenda, Linda Cook & Dawn Rafalski 22 2:30 pm Belvedere :00 pm Planning Mtg pm Hall Rental CityTeam (serve dinner) 29 30

20 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 July Independence Day Office Closed 5 6 Communion Office Closed 12 MONDAY THRU THURSDAY 11:30 12:15 SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM 13 Sunday Social - One Board Office Closed 19 MONDAY THRU THURSDAY 11:30 12:15 SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM Office Closed 26 MONDAY THRU THURSDAY 11:30 12:15 SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM 27 GIDEON INT L PRESENTATION 2:30 pm Belvedere VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL (MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 10:30 AM 12:15 PM) MONDAY THRU THURSDAY 11:30 12: SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM

21 August 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Office Closed Church Unique Pastor Brenda, Linda Cook & Dawn Rafalski 2 3 Communion Office Closed 9 MONDAY THRU THURSDAY 11:30 12:15 SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM Office Closed 16 MONDAY THRU THURSDAY 11:30 12:15 SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL (MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 10:30 AM 12:15 PM) 17 Spire Deadline Office Closed 23 MONDAY THRU THURSDAY 11:30 12:15 SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM 24 2:30 pm Belvedere Office Closed 30