Volume 12  Issue 1                                                                                                                                        January 2009

To the kids who participated in the Christmas program, who did such a good job learning and saying their poems, who played their musical instruments so beautifully, who sang the songs so enthusiastically, who helped the adults remember what it was like when they were kids in church.

To parents who realize the importance and necessity of bringing their children to learn about Jesus, who He is, why He came to earth, and why He is essential for Christians living

To the adults who made the “happy birthday, Jesus” evening fun by providing crafts, games, food and fun.

To those who love music and are willing to use their talents in songs which tell the story in a way better than words,

To the church for giving us opportunities to serve others all year round.

To our Pastor, who leads us, inspires us and always strives to lead us in a truly Christian way.

 

 

If you want to be baptized, we will be having a Baptism Sunday on January 11^th during our 10:15 worship service. Baptism is the way we are welcomed into the family of God, washing away our sins and being anointed with the Holy Spirit. District Superintendent John Rudasill will be joining us for worship. Please let Pastor Katie know if you would like to be Baptized.

 

Sewing for Jesus

Pastor Katie is looking for a few good sewers! Do you have a machine? Would you be willing to sew to share God's love with people in Columbia? Voice of the Martyrs are in need of parachutes (don't worry! They are small!)  that can be used to deliver the good news to people in Columbia . If you are willing, I would love to gather together after worship late in January to make some parachutes to send to Columbia . See Pastor Katie if you are interested in participating.

  

Pastor Katie is looking for a few faithful women to participate in the United Methodist Women’s reading program. We commit to reading 4 books in 2009, mostly focusing on mission and service. Then, we would meet once a quarter to talk about them one evening at the church.

We will be reading the book in January and then meet mid-February. If you are interested, let Pastor Katie know. The first book is going to be Amish Faith: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy. See Pastor Katie for details or to let her know to order you a book by January 15th.

 

– From Pastor Chris Bishop

When you study scripture how do you go about it?

Shovel Slinger: Fling open your Bible, put a finger on a verse (get a scoop of dirt), read it, pray a bit done. You might wonder why God wasn’t very visible in the story that you read about the suffering of Job and his friends. Over time you have a pile of random scoops.

The Oil driller: Find a story in mind, read it, read the study notes about the story, read and research more about it. Drill down to the deep theological meaning. Dredge up the goodness from that story. Then move on to the next thing that you have. (This is what pastors do for Sermons)

The Bulldozer: This is a larger approach to studying the scriptures. This is where you will slowly read, interoperate, digest the scripture layer by layer. Like a bulldozer takes out layer by layer, we read and understand the larger picture and gradually move deeper and deeper.

May your new year begin a journey into the Word of God like a Bulldozer!

 

This summer, Pastor Katie will serve as the pastor at Camp Manidoken ’s Adventure Camp for 5^th and 6^th graders, July 5-10^th. We would love to have a group of our young people in 5^th and 6^th grades come to camp! We are also in need of some adult volunteers (18 or older) to serve as counselors that week.

 Pastor Chris will be serving that week as well, with High School students. High Schoolers are also invited to come. Both groups will participate in high ropes courses, canoeing, hiking, daily Bible Study, and other activities. 

If you are interested in serving or would like to send your youth to camp, please let Pastor Katie know.

 

 

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The Early Church, Acts 2:42-47

I am looking forward to the 2009. Who knows what it will bring? Perhaps this will be the year I learn how to quilt. Jeannette is promising to teach me this winter. Perhaps this is the year I finally read those books that have been in the “wish” pile since seminary. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Perhaps this will be the year Chris and I take Eden to Sesame Street Land . I have wanted to go there since I was a child. Perhaps this year I will get in shape with the pedometer the conference is sending me. Apparently Pastors are some of most inactive people that our insurance covers. To remedy this, they are giving each pastor a pedometer to use and then enticing us with gift cards to rack up miles. The wonder of new beginnings is that the possibilities are endless. And the same is true with our church.

As we journey on as a single station church, perhaps 2009 will be a year of record attendance. With pews full of people, touched and inspired by the Word of God, perhaps this will be the year. As we realize the importance of studying the Word, perhaps 2009 will be a year (like some in the past) where our Sunday School classes are overflowing. With classes full of all of us, eager to learn, perhaps this will be the year.

Perhaps 2009 will be a year where we stand firm financially. Not drawing out of savings or trusting in the equitable compensation grant from the conference, but tithing and giving of God’s bounty in our lives.

Perhaps 2009 will be a year where Christian fellowship continues to abound at Garfield . Building on our Picnic, Yard Sale and Bazaar, perhaps there will be ways we can fellowship with each other and with the whole community.

Perhaps 2009 will be a year where we welcome many new families, reaching out to the newest members of our communities. With new faces and new families, perhaps this will be the year.

As I write this “perhaps” article, I sit at my desk in the office at home. Staring in front of me is a wall full of victories. Each victory, each way God has moved in my life, in the life of our church, in the lives of people we know and love, is put on a post-it note, and stuck to my wall. Each one a victory, a perhaps that is not a wonder any longer – but something to be thankful for. And on my desk, there are several post-its I wait to post.

One is for our Sunday School. It reads, “I celebrate that our Sunday School is growing.” Perhaps will be posted in 2009.

One is for our worship. It reads, “I celebrate that our pews are full of people being touched by the Holy Spirit.” Perhaps it will be posted in 2009.

Another is for our fellowship. It reads, “I celebrate the new fellowship opportunities for our community.”

Still another for our finances. It reads, “I celebrate that Garfield tithes and offerings fill every need.”

The last is for new friends and families. It reads, “I celebrate that we welcomed new families and friends as members to Garfield .”

Putting all “perhaps” aside – I know that this will be a year of blessings. Because the Holy Spirit is moving at Garfield . I have witnessed it in the ways we have grown as a community of faith, becoming a single station church. I have witnessed it at Vacation Bible School , the Annual Sunday School picnic, our Bazaar. I have seen it in worship, in study, in fellowship.  And I hope this year you will be blessed to experience it.  

 

Billy Ferrell – Missionary

Friends, our congregation supports the work of Billy Ferrell and his family in their ministry with York college students through the Collation of Christian Outreach. Here is an excerpt from his monthly newsletter. The full newsletter can be found on the ministry bulletin board.

“The ministry with students at Harrisburg Area Community College continues to grow.  The  student club there meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays for Bible study and fellowship time.  Becki and I have also found ourselves quickly accepted into the campus community and have begun to build relationships with staff and students.  We were even asked to be guest judges for the campus karaoke contest! 

Ministry with community college students is much different.  Due to the fact that all of the students are commuters, most of them work, and some have families, one of the biggest needs across campus is a need for a place to belong.  We have been working hard to create an atmosphere where all students can find a place of welcome and love; a place where they can be introduced to the transformative Gospel of Christ in a way they never have.” – Billy Ferrell

 

I want to thank you all for your prayers, offerings, and presence that has helped Garfield go full station this year. Your leadership and encouragement has made this a wonderful transition and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us next year.

 

Winter Break Camp Thank You

Thank you for all of your support of the Winter Break Camp. Dozens of the children from our community have had the opportunity to hear the word of God through your generosity. Donations of snacks, juice, art supplies, toilet paper tubes, scholarships and time made this possible. Photos, testimonies and more fun will appear in the February newsletter.

 

 

 

The Choir is taking a break through the month of January.  Think about how you can enhance the service in the choir’s absence.

 

 

 

 

The Inauguration

When president-elect Abraham Lincoln headed to Washington, D.C., he called himself a “humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty.” He spoke of America’s citizenry as God’s “almost chosen people.”

Wasn’t that a lovely compliment? One suspects Lincoln was speaking as a good father speaks to children, wanting them to live up to their full potential. He surely wanted the “almost chosen people” to be servants of the living God.

As God’s chosen people, as well as Americans who soon will have a new leader, how can we live up to God’s expectations for us? What can we each do to make our country a better place? And how can we share the good news with others that God has chosen us to live with him forever?

 

 

 

 BIBLE QUIZ

In John 8:12 (NRSV), Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will ….”

Choose the phrase below that correctly completes this sentence.

 

A. never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

B. never walk alone.

C. be my companion always.

D. sit at my right hand.

 

How to keep warm in church

1. Rush to the front of the sanctuary. That will warm you up, and you’ll avoid the draft in the back of the church.

2. Invite your neighbors and friends, and sit 12 people to a pew.

3. Seat yourself near the pulpit. Much hot air is emitted from that area.

4. Wear thermal underwear (in the appropriate liturgical colors, of course).

5. Wait for an unfamiliar hymn — and then watch the sparks fly!

 

 

Remedy for a flat spirit

Almost everyone has an occasional down day. You know the dreaded “flat” or “blah” feeling. Sometimes you don’t even feel like praying. Is there any hope for this condition?

In the 12th century, a Carthusian monk named Guigo felt drained and depressed. But as he rested, the following prayer came to his mind:

My soul is so dry that by itself it cannot pray;

Yet you can squeeze from it the juice of a thousand prayers.

My soul is so parched that by itself it cannot love;

Yet you can draw from it boundless love for you and for my neighbor.

My soul is so cold that by itself it has no joy;

Yet you can light the fire of heavenly joy within me.

My soul is so feeble that by itself it has no faith;

Yet by your power my faith grows to a great height.

Thank you for prayer, for love, for joy, for faith;

Let me always be prayerful, loving, joyful, faithful.