A total of $12,741 has been distributed thus far.

Transcription

1 INCLEMENT WEATHER In the event of inclement weather on a Sunday, please call the church office at prior to services. A message on the machine will inform you if services have been cancelled that day. LAMPLIGHTER February 2015 Benevolences One of the strengths of a church is often measured by its benevolence giving. At last year s annual meeting the congregation voted to allow the deacons to use up to 10% of the Endowment Funds for benevolences. This was above our normal operating benevolence money. We are pleased to report that we have supported the following: OMF International Timothy Hill Children s Ranch Protestant Campus Ministry CAST YWAM Mission of the World Hope for the Future Ministries Hope House Ministries WADING RIVER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH New Members Class Beginning Sunday, February 15 from 6 8pm at Pastor TJ s house. Please sign up in the auditorium. Sr. Youth Group Mark your calendars! Revelation launches their new series of rec. nights titled ishine! Anyone in Grades 6-12 are welcome. January 31 February 21 March 21 April 25 May 30 Join us from 7-10pm for a night filled with games, crafts and meeting new people! A total of $12,741 has been distributed thus far. Thrift Store How nice to have three months off! Well, maybe. Actually the whole Thursday crew is in every week plus extra days too. So far we have bagged and boxed all unsold winter clothing, linens, etc. These have all been delivered to our outreaches - see below. Now we are in the middle of cleaning, scrubbing, maybe painting - getting rid of dirt we can't reach when the rooms are full. Next we'll be stocking the shelves and racks with fresh things for spring. This is inside. Outside is totally snowed in and unreachable. Hopefully, we can get out there before March 20. We are looking for ideas on how to improve intake and display outside - anyone with any ideas please share them now. Now, where did all the "stuff" go: 1. Sarah Benjamin's ministry 2. Suffolk County Health Centers 3. Bide-a-Wee 4. Kent Shelter 5. Ridge Rest Home 6. Father Frank's Hope House 7. Yaphank Vets Home 8. Vietnam Vets of America 9. Dress for Success 10. St. Vincent de Paul Society I hope I didn't forget one. See you soon! Dottie Davis

2 A Word from Pastor TJ The LORD said, Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by. Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. 1 Kings 19:11-13 Much of New York was recently disappointed by a blizzard. Blizzards come almost every year, of course, but this one was different. It left people disappointed for a surprising reason. People weren't frustrated by the interruptions it caused or angered by damage it did. Instead, they were upset that it wasn't as bad as expected. That s right, people in the city were disappointed (rather than elated) that they got a few inches of snow rather than the two feet predicted. Why? Did they really want two feet of snow in Manhattan? No. The problem was that people s expectations weren't met. Expectations have a profound impact on our experiences. We ve probably all been disappointed by a good movie or meal simply because it wasn t what we expected. Most of the time this just means we miss out on what could have been a good experience. But as Christians we sometimes find this same kind of disappointment with God and, as a result, miss seeing him in our lives. The problem, of course, is not with God. He is always with us and working in our lives for our good (see Romans 8:28). The problem is that we often look for him in the wrong places. In 1 Kings we read about a prophet named Elijah. He was faithful to God in a time when very few were and was hated for it. In one of his darkest moments, as he literally ran for his life, he ran to a mount Horeb, seeking God where had spoken to his people before. When he arrives he sees tornadoes, earthquakes and fire, dramatic displays of power. Yet God was not in them. Like Elijah, we often expect to see God in the dramatic. We look for him to make himself known in obvious, unmistakable ways. And we are often disappointed. We find ourselves wondering if God is really here, if he really cares, because we don t find him in the ways we expect. When God didn t appear in the storm or fire, though, Elijah waited and listened. Finally he heard a gentle whisper and God was there. God had been there all along. Elijah was not alone; he was not abandoned. God had not failed him. Elijah simply hadn t stopped to listen. God is still found in small, quiet places. He speaks to us constantly, telling us of his love and promising to be with us, but quietly, in a whisper. If we want to hear him we have to stop and listen. Like Elijah we need to go the place God has spoken before. So in times of desperation, when you most need to hear from God, go to his word. Bring your pain and fear to him in prayer. Call on him and he will answer. And when you hear him you will not be disappointed.

3 Lamplighter New Study with Pastor Craig Events in the Life of Jesus 2015 SEEKING VOLUNTEERS INTERESTED IN The Miraculous Catch Luke 5:1-11 LEADING DISCUSSIONS CCM HYW Healing the Paralytic Mark 2:1-12; Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5: The Parable of the Sower Mark 4:1-9; Matthew 13:1-9; Luke 8:4-8 JOE N The Prodigal Son Luke 15: The Stilling of the Storm Mark 4:35-41; MT 8:18, 23-27; LK 8:22-25; JN 6: The Gerasene Demoniac Mark 5:1-20; Matthew 8:28-34; LK 8: The Multiplication of Loaves Mark 6:35-44; Matthew 14:13-21; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:1-15 HYW The Healing at the Pool John 5: Jesus in Jericho (Bartimaeus) Mark 10:46-52; MT 20:29-34; LK 18:35-43 (Zacchaeus) Luke 19:1-10 CCM Lazarus is Raised John 11:1-44 Women s Guild Hopefully, everyone has been safe and warm during this winter season. It is amazing how the ice coating the trees and bushes shimmers like diamonds! Truly beautiful! served! As always, if you need transportation, please contact Nancy Bosseckert, Lynette DeLucia, Ann Otten, Rosemarie Schulz or Donna in the church office. February Birthdays 4 Gabriella Acosta 8 Amanda Rowehl 9 Jim O Toole Katherine Lee 12 Owen Wilson 13 Denise Flaim Sarah Rondinella 15 Pat Hauck Hannah Rondinella 19 Gary Otten Jim Angermaier 20 Christian Aliperti Joe Girolamo Jean Lucarini 22 Ken Crawford Bette Lederle 23 Diane Hanwick 28 Christian Perricone January s lunch and a movie was a joyful afternoon of food and fellowship! Sight and Sound Theater s production of Ruth was the main feature a wonderful live performance of this beautiful story. Tears, laughter and sighs of pleasure indicated that the afternoon was a success. Please join us on Monday, February 9 at 7pm for our Valentine Workshop. This has become a Women s Guild tradition who doesn t remember making valentines as a youngster and the happiness they brought to the recipients. We will tap into your creative side as we learn new artistic techniques, create valentines to send to members of our congregation and beyond to spread a little love, and share an evening of fun and fellowship! Refreshments will be Look for the sign-up in the auditorium for the Women s Faith Lift Garden Getaway on Saturday, March 14. The Faith Lift leaders are very excited about this program to welcome spring through faith, love, prayer and fellowship. After these past two weeks of winter, a touch of spring will lift all of our hearts and spirits. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Please look for the registration forms and reserve your spot as we Walk with God in our Garden Getaway! Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7

4 Lamplighter Deacon s Corner Well, winter is here! But stay hopeful, Jesus is here as well and Easter is just around the corner. It is easier in the midst of a winter storm to yearn for and appreciate the rebirth associated with Easter and the spring that comes along with it. It is easier in the midst of a storm to appreciate the rebirth and hope that comes from faith and belief in our Savior. Our Father never promised an easy or simple life. In fact He told us we would have problems in life. However, He promised that He would walk with us through the storms and that He has a plan to prosper us and not to harm us. It is difficult to trust Him and remember that on some days. The Deacons continue to work and learn alongside Pastors TJ and Craig about how to best meet the spiritual needs of the church. One of the ways that we do that is through book studies. A recent book that we are reading is called A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller. It is God s perfect timing that Pastor TJ has started a sermon series on prayer and will soon begin a study on prayer. There is also a book study on the A Praying Life that has started on Monday evenings. It is essential that we understand both the purpose and power of prayer. The Bible is how we learn about who God is, prayer is how we relate to and communicate with Him. One of the things that A Praying Life talks about is that we first learn to talk with our Father by learning to ask like a child. For those of you who don t have children around, here is a reminder of how children ask; What do they ask for? They ask for everything and anything. How often do they ask? They ask repeatedly, over and over again. How do little children ask? They ask without guile, they just say what is on their minds. They have no awareness of what is appropriate or inappropriate. Let s learn to ask like children. As we mature in our faith perhaps we will get to the point where we can delight ourselves in our Father and let Him be the only desire of our heart. May the grace of our God who promises to give us all more than we could even think to ask for or imagine, be with each of us as we go about our lives. From A Praying Life At some point, each of us comes face to face with the valley of the shadow of death. We can t ignore it. We can t remain neutral with evil. We either give up and distance ourselves, or we learn to walk with the Shepherd. There is no middle ground. In His Service, The Deacons

5

6 Wading River Congregational Church TJ Turner, Pastor - pastortj@wadingriverchurch.org The Rev. Dr. Craig C. Malbon, UCC, Associate Pastor - revdrcraig@gmail.com Ralph DeLucia, Sexton - rdelucia@wadingriverchurch.org Kathy Rowehl, Children s Ministries Coordinator kathyr@wadingriverchurch.org Donna Rassner, Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper donnar@wadingriverchurch.org 2057 North Country Road Wading River, NY Phone: Fax: We re on the Web! See us at: Deacons: deacons@wadingriverchurch.org Joe Baier (Chair) Tom Flaim Julie Lutz Finn Maruitzen Joe Nocerino Rosemarie Schulz Trustees: trustees@wadingriverchurch.org Peter Akras Dottie Davis Carole Eibs Greg Efimetz (Chair) John Flynn Jack Guthy Frank Lehman Andrew Tumilowicz Walt Vogel Sunday School: Dina Jones, Co-Superintendent Kathy Wilson, Co-Superintendent Kathy Rowehl, Secretary-Treasurer Outreach Coordinator: Nancy Bosseckert Treasurer: Loretta Klein Clerk: Lauren Agnew Asst. Treasurer: Lana O Toole Asst. Clerk Kerstin Turner Women s Guild: Nancy Bosseckert, President Kerstin Turner, Vice-President Carol Bangel, Treasurer Lynette DeLucia, Recording Secretary Ann Otten, Corresponding Secretary Men s Fellowship: Frank Lehman, President Peter Akras, Secretary/Treasurer Food Pantry: Carolyn Baier Joe Baier Craig Baier Organists: Diane Hanwick Jean Elliott Choir Director: Doris Allen WADING RIVER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 2057 N Country Road Wading River, NY February 2015