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The Elmira Seventh-day Adventist Church December 2005 Newsletter |
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The Elmira Seventh-day Adventist Church December 2005 Newsletter |
HAPPY HOLIDAYS ONCE AGAIN
As we say each year, “I can't believe its here already”? Ready or Not….. !
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).
The scriptures remind us to continue in prayer - but the scriptures also remind us to offer thanksgiving. What can you be thankful for this holiday season? Another year of life, family, friends, house and home…?
We are not just to make requests to God, but offer thanksgiving for His many blessings and mercies.
It must cheer the heart of God when we are truly thankful for His workings in our lives. How many times has God enriched your life and you have forgotten to thank Him? More often, we seek God to give Him our request list rather then coming to Him with a thankful heart.
As breath to a soul, so is prayer to the Christian. Friends, a Christian cannot survive without prayer. It is the power that draws us to the feet of Jesus. So, being thankful, especially to the God of the universe, reminds our souls how dependent upon the power of God for survival we really are. It truly is a humbling experience.
If any thing, we have a Redeemer who has come to this world to live and die that we may have eternal life. If that is not something to be thankful for, I don't know what is.
“Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.” - E. P. Powell. Something to consider during the holidays and each day after.
During the time of giving and receiving don't forget the greatest Gift of all ----- Jesus.
God's blessing to each of you.
Happy Holidays!
Elder Roger Curtis began a Sabbath sermon series on the Sanctuary November 19. Please join us each week as we seek to better understand this unique SDA doctrine. The book Path to the Throne of God, by Sarah Peck, accompanies this series. See Barb or Sharon if you are interested in purchasing this book.
Our new Bible Study series, “In the Footsteps of Paul,” began Thursday, November 17 with scenes from Tarsus, Caesarea, and Jerusalem.
Subjects during December will be: Dec. 1 - “On the Damascus Road,” Dec. 8 - “A Rabbi Discovers the Gospel,” and Dec.15 - “Light for the Gentiles.” There will be no Bible study at the church December 22 and 29. We will resume January 5.
Our speaker for the worship service December 3 will be Elder Stan Rouse, New York Conference President and Educational Secretary.
Our guest speaker on January 7 will be Howard Krug. (This is rescheduled from November.) Howard is an SDA church historian and teacher in the Rochester area, leading out in SDA History tours in the upstate New York area.
Monday, December 19, 5:00-6:30 PM there will be a Church & Community dinner in the Church Fellowship Hall. The menu includes Vegetarian Turkey Roast with Gravy, Potato, Vegetable, Tossed Salad, Rolls, and Dessert .
Cost will be: Adults - $4.50, Children under 12 - $3.00 Personal Ministries Inreach/Outreach
There will be a Town Hall Meeting Saturday evening, January 28, 6:30 - 8:30 PM. New York Conference personnel will be here to meet with our members. All are invited to attend. CHRISTMAS PARTY
Our annual Christmas get-together will be Saturday evening, December 17, at 5:30 PM in the church fellowship hall. Bring finger foods and a gift for a Chinese Auction. (approximately $5 price range - something suitable for either a man or a woman.)
Adventist churches and their immediate surroundings that were severely affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita earlier this year will get help in rebuilding from Adventist Community Services (ACS) Disaster Response.
Donors to ACS - the church's humanitarian arm in the United States and in Bermuda -- helped raise an unprecedented $2 million. ("Source: Adventist News Network") Our local Elmira Church members have donated $1776 to ADRA, ACS, and the Atlantic Union Conference Special Katrina Relief Offering taken on November 12.
Elder Randy Maxwell will be at Union Spring Academy February 3-5 to present a Prayer Conference. Friday evening's topic will be “Lord, Teach Us to Pray.” Sabbath School will be a presentation about a village that was transformed by community prayer.
Elder Maxwell will present the sermon and in the afternoon there will be a workshop, “Revival for One: Putting the Spark in Your Personal Prayer Life.” Meal tickets at the academy cafeteria can be purchased in advance through Andrew Fish at 315-889-7134. For further information, contact Pastor Tim Bailey at 315-730-0387 or Patricia Kimble at 315-889-5122.
We had a very successful blood drive Tuesday, November 15. Twenty nine pints were collected - enough to help as many as eighty seven people. Thank you to our callers and all those who helped out or donated. Our next drive is scheduled for Tuesday, January 17.
. . . are now available. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board for various books in all age groups. If you would like to order one, please sign up by December 10.
All anyone has to do is be at one of our Fellowship Luncheons to know that we have some good cooks in this church ! A Cookbook of favorite recipes is being prepared. Everyone is asked to bring out their favorite Vegetarian recipes. Each person is allowed to submit 3 recipes to the project. We are looking for a variety of types: appetizers, beverages, entrees, vegetables, salads, soups, breads, desserts, etc. Turn in your recipes to Barb Boyce or Sharon. Recipes are already coming in. We are anxious to try them out!
Twelve Thanksgiving baskets were made to help others, as well as eleven fruit baskets which were delivered to our shut-ins. Thank you to everyone for all your financial and food donations.
A large truck-load of items left on Wednesday, November 16 for the Northern Tier Children's Home in Harrison Valley, PA.
Our Community Services Department was able to assist a young man find some furniture in September, and helped find clothing and a bed for a girl in October. Another project provided a crib, baby seat, buggy, bathtub, clothes, and a car seat for a new baby.
. . . to Rachael Miller, who passed her driver's test November 17.
. . . to all who helped out to make our delicious Harvest Dinner, November 12.
We extend our condolences to the family of Louisa Keller Hatton, who passed away October 5 at the age of 90.
During September and October, the Elmira church opened their doors to the community, offering a Health Seminar. Based on a Loma Linda Wellness program, presentations included many areas of promoting a healthy lifestyle, such as: fitness, diet, stress, the connection between the mind & body, and preventing disease. Local area professionals provided some of the presentations, and church members were involved as presenters, registered nurses, and cooks for our ending meal. Blood pressure and weight screening were also available. Six weeks of instruction and discussion ended with a delicious vegetarian meal on the final week. We were pleased to have visitors from the community in attendance, as well as several church members. Five of our visitors received a vegetarian cookbook for attending all six evenings.
As Jesus ministered to people's physical needs, we hope to follow in His example, reaching out to the Elmira area.
Everyone is invited to our luncheons each Sabbath following the worship service. Please bring a dish to pass.
There will be no luncheon December 24.
Soup & Sandwich Luncheon in December will be December 31.
So far we have $57,212.59 toward our goal of paving our parking lot. The weekly Children's Offering is added to this fund. Anyone wishing to contribute to this fund, please mark your tithe envelope “Church Parking Lot.”
During December our lessons continue on “Ephesians, the Gospel of Relationships.” Please join us as we study each Sabbath morning. Song service begins at 9:20. Classes are provided for adults and children.
Mission Spotlight is also shown once each month. This quarter the programs are from the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, December will be from Cambodia.
Thank you for saving your newspapers, magazines, and health food labels for Investment. See Alvin Jackson, our Investment leader. Please be sure the UPC symbol is on the food labels.
2005-2006 Fruit Sale Dates are as follows:
December 18, January 15, February 12, and March 12 in the Nature's Garden building.
The December sale will be from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; January through March will be 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Oranges and Pink Grapefruit are available by the full case, half or quarter. Fruit baskets will be available in December. This is a fund-raiser for paving our church parking lot.
Check with Larry for monthly sales on case lots. Orders go in monthly.
STORE HOURS Thursday, 4:00-7:00 p.m.