CONNECTIONS with the Manchester Church of the Brethren
July 2011
Joys and Concerns
There are many ways in which our lives intersect with one another. Please keep these concerns in your minds and hearts in the coming days.
Within our church family:
·We are grateful to Dorotha Williams for hymn leading during worship on June 26.
- Our deacons this week: Di Wion, Dorotha Williams, Barbara McFadden, and Di & Marie Willoughby.
· Prayers for those who are not able to join us for worship due to their current health limitations, including: Erma Petry, Fred & Lois Roop and Raymon Eller.
· The family of Julia Metzger on her death last Sunday afternoon, June 19. The Memorial Service will be at the Timbercrest Chapel on Saturday afternoon, July 9, at 2:30 with visitation following the service.
· Ruth Kurtz who has moved to Timbercrest Healthcare.
· Our delegates and all those who will be traveling to Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan the end of this week. We pray for an awareness of God’s presence in our worship, in our business and in our gathering.
Within the wider community:
· Our sister church in El Salvador, Emmanuel Baptist. We pray for IBE and other faith communities as they work with the government to break the power of young adult gangs that threaten much of the city life in San Salvador.
· We pray for those who continue to be affected by natural disasters around the world.
· We pray for peace.
With Gratitude
Please accept this note as an “on-going” thank you for your support as I recover from surgery. We have been blessed with food, visits, calls, cards, prayers, and a pie that showed up in the refrigerator while I slept one day. We are truly under-girded by our faith community. Ann Hartsough
Weekly Calendar
The Family Life Center is open from 8 to 10 am for walking and exercise.
Monday, June 27
12:00 pm Women’s Bible Study
1:00 pm resurfacing FLC Floor
7:00 pm Deacon meeting
Tuesday, June 28
10:30 am Staff Meeting
5:00 pm Weight Watchers – Room 220
6:00 pm Yoga
7:00 pm Messenger Bible Study at Timbercrest
Thursday, June 30
6:00 pm Yoga
Friday, July 1 – Office Closed
Walkers please use West FLC door
Saturday, July 2
Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Sunday, July 3
9:30 a.m. Worship. Truer words were never spoken. Jim Chinworth. Text: Romans 7: 15-25a. Special Music: Robert & Debra Lynn
10:30 am Fellowship Time
10:45 am Christian Education.
7:00 pm Room 213 in use
July Worship Themes
July 3, Jim Chinworth. Truer words were never spoken. Text: Romans 7: 15-25a. Special Music, Robert & Debra Lynn
July 10 – World Communion Sunday
Guest preacher, Dave McFadden. Wearing our intentions on our sleeve. Text: 1 Thess 5: 12-18, Deut. 9: 1-7. Special Music, Steve Cripe, Anne Myers
July 17, Karen Eberly. Teachable Moments. Psalm 86: 11-17. Special Music, Kenneth Miller
July 24, Guest preacher, Kimberly Koczan-Flory. Special Music, Laura Gable
July 31, Guest Preacher. Bob Bowman. Special Music, Jennifer & Eric Reichenbach
The Messenger Bible Study group meets from 7-8 p.m. on Tues., June 28, in the Education Room at Timbercrest. Marie and Don Willoughby will lead a discussion of Graydon Snyder's article in the June Messenger, the fourth in a series on what it means to take the New Testament as our creed. Bring Messenger if you have it, and your Bible too, if you like.
Summer Yoga
Yoga classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Narthex from 6pm to 7pm. For more information please contact Heather Mitchell at (214) 502-8035 or heather.Mitchell30@gmail.com
Children’s Summer Sunday School
Once again our children will benefit from inter-generational experiences this summer.
July 3, No children’s Sunday School
July 10, garden pavers, watering trees
July 17, art activity, watering trees
July 24, weeding mulch, watering trees
July 31, Scavenger Hunt
Pastor On-Call Schedule:
June 29 – July 2, Helen Beery, 982-6021, Cell: 260-444-7337
July 3 – July 6, Mia Miller, 901-3000
July 7 - Pastor Karen, 982-8420, 578-1247
Adult Christian Education
Questers meets in the Chapel
July 3 – Living the Questions. Jo Ann Schall
July 10, 17, and 24 Bill Eberly will lead a book study: When Jesus became God (by Rubenstein)
July 31, Wilson Lutz leads discussion, Is Science always right?
Koinonia Class meets in the Conference Room
July 3 class will not meet due to Annual Conference
July 10, Annabel Rupel - The Rupel Family
July 17, Esther Rupel - research on Brethren Dress
July 24, Jim Chinworth will present a report on The Food Resource Bank
July 31 might be Annual Conference Report Sunday
Friends Class meets in Room 211
All Things Considered Class is in recess this summer
Jubilee Class meets in Room 301
Blood Pressure Check
July 10 come prepared to check your blood pressure in the Parish Nurse Room before or after worship.
Containers for Left-Overs Needed
Cleaning out your cupboards this summer? The Funeral Dinner Committee needs plastic tubs with tight lids to use for sending left-overs with families. They can be put in the cupboard above the hand-washing sink in the kitchen. Also, please pick up your dishes on the table by the stove. Thanks very much to everyone for your help in providing food and containers! This ministry is much appreciated.
The Funeral Dinner Committee
Many Many Thanks!
Many thanks to the 85+ people whose assistance made this incredible VBS event possible, especially Jennifer Reichenbach and Kim Reinoehl whose role as awesome directors made it a fabulous success! We had a total of 93 children attend: about a third of them preschoolers! What an impressionable experience to enjoy the feel and fare of the MarketPlace! Children cheerfully participated in an Out-Reach Project by bringing money and/or non-perishable food items to be donated to the local Fellowship Food Pantry! $253.50 was given.
Market Place 29 AD Bread
1 pkg yeast (or one Tablespoon)
1/4 cup honey
1 1/2 cup tepid water
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole wheat four
2 1/2 cups white flour
Dissolve yeast and honey in water. Stir in whole wheat flour and salt. Mix well. Add white flour a bit at a time until the dough cleans the bowl and pulls together in a mass. Turn out on a floured board, adding the remaining flour (as needed)
Knead on lightly floured board. Place in a greased bowl. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (over an hour). This recipe has enough sweetness to cool-rise in the fridge overnight. Punch down, and allow to rise again.
Form into shapes. Bake at 350 to 400 degrees, depending on the shape of the bread.
To bake in a skillet, roll as thin as a tortilla, place in a pre-heated skillet. Turn once while cooking. (I have used an electric skillet set at 350 degrees)
Hint: The amount of flour needed varies depending on how the flour is measured and the amount of humidity in the flour.
Revised directions by Angilee Beery, June 2011
Executive Board Meeting Report
At its meeting on June 15, 2011, the Executive
Board:
• opened the meeting with devotions led by Richard Harshbarger.
• took a Brethren Heritage quiz based on the travels of the Junior High Tour. (All Board members passed the quiz.)
• received the Treasurer’s report as of May 31. Income exceeded budgeted expense $15,526. (Note: second quarter outreach payments have not been
made.) Other income exceeded expense by $18,332 resulting in net income of $33,858 after 5 months. The cash reserve ratio increased from 2.74 to 2.91. The goal is 3.
• heard the Manchester Church of the Brethren is one of the top 10 donors to the Manchester Early Learning Center.
• learned $8,011 was raised by the Wabash County Crop Walk. Our congregation raised $4,898 of that
amount.
• discussed participation in Funfest, deciding not to sponsor the dunk tank this year. A concept for a parade entry was suggested and will be developed if time allows.
• learned the 2012 budget guidelines will be presented by Stewardship at the July Board meeting.
• adopted a new wedding fee schedule after a few minor revisions were made. The schedule, presented at the April Board meeting, is effective immediately.
• began the process to prepare the ballot for Nominating Committee for election at the fall Council Meeting.
…Anne Myers, Executive Board Chair
Circles of Trust Groups to form again for the fall
This fall will mark the fourth year groups will gather for a time of personal discernment and spiritual formation through a process known as "Circles of Trust." Developed by Parker Palmer these groups seek to assist persons in their spiritual journey through the use of silence, readings, scripture, individual and small group reflection. There will be a series of testimonies by persons who have particpated these past 3 years. If you wish to inquire about being involved in the coming year, contact Jim Chinworth in the church office.
Parker Palmer, who developed the Circle of Trust concept quotes Thomas Merton, “There is in all things…a hidden wholeness”. I interpret Merton to mean that there is within each of us the potential for a life of wholeness, a life without significant internal conflict, a life of integrity.
I found in my Circle of Trust the opportunity receive stimulation from the leaders regarding a theme pertaining to wholeness, to think reflectively in solitude, to explore applicable metaphors, then finally to risk sharing my insights with the group who was working with the same issues.
It is a rare experience to be able to reveal to another person or group ones deepest thoughts, trusting they will be held in confidence and not ridiculed. The Circle of Trust however is such a place. The Circle created for me an atmosphere in which I was able to express myself, get honest feedback, then independently move toward the “hidden wholeness” in my life that I want to believe is possible.
As Mark Twain said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.”
Ernie Barr
CONNECTIONS with our Community:
Fellowship of Churches
REACH assisted 12 clients last month, six with housing rent. They anticipate a quiet summer because many families used their allowed assistance for the year last winter with utilities.
The Thrift Shop is thankful that donations are up and that clients appreciate the expanded hours. They no longer deal with used furniture and everyone seems happy with that policy.
The Food Pantry reports irregular attendance maybe a result of when food-stamps are issued, though they try to explain to clients that everyone still qualifies to visit the Food Pantry. Rowena appreciates all the volunteers who have stepped up during her illness.
Thursday’s Child assisted 35 children, infant through 4 years of age. RuthAnn Schlitt gave a brief history of the program and expressed appreciation for the space they have been sharing with Reach and the Thrift Shop for the past year. It is working well for all.
Annual Hymn Sing is being planned for Fun Fest again this year. The Fellowship of Churches really appreciates the space at The Firehouse. Please include the Community Hymn Sing as part of your summer Fun Fest!
Wednesday at Warvel
This summer Eel River Community Church of the Brethren is providing a weekly worship service on Wednesday evenings at Warvel Park. The Wednesday night services begin at 5:30pm with a potluck and fellowship, followed by a “nontraditional” worship in the pavilion nearest to the Scout Hall. Everyone is encouraged to bring his or her own plate, utensils, and beverage, plus a dish to share. These services begin at 5:30 pm each Wednesday evening for the summer months. Invite a friend or two and meet us at the park, rain or shine!
Wabash County Juvenile Mentoring Program
Contact the Youth Services Bureau (260-563-7727) or Rick Tolley (260-571-2448) to schedule an appointment and get the process started if you are interested in mentoring local youth; if you have questions about the program or if you simply wish to support this program that does not receive any government funding.
CONNECTIONS with our District… and our Denomination:
South/Central Indiana District
Phone: 260-982-8805; Fax: 260-982-7181
Toll Free: 877-730-9315
District Minister: bsollenberger@brethren.org
Office Email: scicob@kcaccess.com
District Website: www.scindcob.org
Denominational Newsletter
Newsline is produced by the news services of the Church of the Brethren. To subscribe, simply contact the editor at: cobnews@brethren.org
Newsline appears every other week, with special issues as needed. Please feel free to forward Newsline to a friend.
There will be many ways to follow events at Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich., on July 2-6. Webcasts of every business session and worship service are planned, find them at www.brethren.org/webcasts click on "Annual Conference." A recording of each webcast will be available shortly after the session concludes. Daily news reports and photo albums will be at www.brethren.org/news along with the daily sermon and worship bulletin as well as:
Messenger
Watch for the new digital reprint from Messenger magazine that brings together six essays in a series on the church’s Special Response process. This download is available exclusively through Brethren Press.
Prayers for the month of July
July 3 - Sunday of Annual Conference- Spend some time with the Annual Conference theme scriptures. Pray that the celebration of ministry, the discerning conversations, and the times of prayer in Grand Rapids might be a witness to this ever-widening table of Christ.
July 10- In the heat of the summer take a minute to count air-conditioners in your house. Call to mind those who labor in the sun or whose resources can not put food on the table or pay for the energy to stay cool. Adjust your own thermostat; then pray for those whom you have called to mind.
July 17- This is the 20th anniversary for the Youth Peace Travel Team. As these young people travel around the country to our camps, pray for their safety and well-being. May their witness to the Peace of Christ help raise up another generation of peacemakers.
July 24- The summer time is often a season of conferences. This year, a number of gatherings of the wider church are taking place around the world. Pray that the Church of the Brethren might offer a voice for another way of living out the teachings and salvation of Christ.
July 31- It seems as though the transitions back to school come upon us even before we have found the rhythms of summer. Lift up the students of all ages among your community. Prayer for what the Apostle Paul called the renewing and transformation of the mind (Romans 12:2). May the classrooms be safe spaces for growth in wisdom.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances…
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Song & Story Fest
June 26 – July 2
Camp Brethren Heights, Rodney, Michigan
A registration form for you to copy is available in the church office. Or you may go on-line through www.onearthpeace.org/programs Questions? Call Ken Kline Smeltzer 1-814-571-0496 or 1-814-466-6491 or bksmetlz.Comcast.net
NOAC Theme: Passion, Purpose, Change
NOAC will be September 5 – 9 at Lake Junaluska, NC again this year. Forms are in the Church Office.
ALERT:
Our South/Central Indiana District is scheduled to provide volunteers in Brentwood, Tennessee, (just south of Nashville) for flood recovery December 11-17. Detailed information about disaster relief projects is available in the church office, as well as the District Office. Call Cliff Kindy, District Disaster Coordinator, for up-dates: phone:260-982-2971
How to help:
As always, the prayers of the Christian community for the victims and the responders are needed, welcome, and appreciated. Church World Service (CWS) is appealing for Emergency Clean-Up Buckets to assist both flooded and tornado-stricken homeowners. Instructions are at:
The buckets are warehoused and distributed by the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
