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THE PARISH NEWSLETTER FOR THE LIVING WATERS PARISH
Contents
From the Editor Parish Prayer List Pastor Norma Jean's Pen Pastor Ray's Pen Easter Story Cookies
Lenten Studies Parish Breakfasts Lenten Worships World Day of Prayer Conference Wide Training
Month of Miracles Covenant Players Parish Evaluation God's Power at Work 30 Hour Fast for Famine
Talent or Untalent In Memory of Ed Bellinger Parish Calendar
The Parish newsletter has gotten a bumpy start, but due to the hard work of the parish newsletter staff at each church, the newsletter will enjoy a new level of distribution and enjoyment by all. If your church or group function is not included on the newsletter event calendar, found on page 5, please contact the editor, or your local newsletter staff member. Please be sure to thank your local newsletter staff member for their time, dedication and effort to the newsletter project.
If you have any questions or comments concerning this newsletter or any of the articles, please do not hesitate to contact me. (Cell phone # 272-7831)
In His Service,
Sarah Swartfiguer, editor
Newsletter staff:
Bouckville Jim Calhoun 893- 7586
Deansboro Marion Schlist wmschlist@usadatanet.net
Madison Jean Dickinson 824- 2178
Oriskany Falls Mike Marris mmarrisl@twcny.rr.com
Shannon Froio, Travis Owens, Danny Grey, Bill and Muriel Swartfiguer and family, Pastor Ray and Barb, Alice Bowie, Hurricane and Earthquake victims, families who have had fire losses, Living Waters parish, The family of Walter Lindberg, Karen Farney, Kerryanne, David and DJ Mills and William, Mallory and Ben, Ed Bellinger, Mary Slocum, Jack Peck, Family of Porky Murphy, Julia Able, Henry Lewis, Kay and June(sister of Claire F.), Dan Can Jr and family, Nancy Allen, Bob Gray, Liz Moon Zelinski, Sam Marconi, Linda Van Duesen, Brett Linden, Annie Moon, Lucy Jeifris, Joe Terrier, Mary Martin, Clayton Smith, Lu and Pete Palmer, Alton Hinman, James Stewart, Ivan Richard, James H, Elizabeth Meachem, Jean Livermore, Pam &Kevin Schenck, Janet Warbella, Linda Dixon, Joan Scones, Edna, George Tucker, Scott Fellows, Jeanette Lyman, Sue Graff, Jean Forward, Mary Hoch, Sue Dillon, soldiers and others seeking to keep peace in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places around the world, the hungry and the homeless and the family of Rev. Timothy O’Connor- Slater.
THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT NEWSLETTER IS MAY 16TH. THANKS!
The Pastor’s Pen by Pastor Norma Jean
March 1 the Christian Season of Lent begins. Lent is a time of self-examination, a time to set aside some time each and every day to examine your personal life as well as your Spiritual life. It is a time not so much to give something up, as to add some Spiritual time to your day. There are many opportunities for you to add worship and study time to your life.
Okay. I hear you. Your days are full, and you are very busy. Don’t think that you have time for daily prayer? Are you praying on your way to and from work? How about rising say, ten or fifteen minutes earlier in the morning and spending that time in prayer, Bible reading, or self reflection with God?
How much time do you spend watching television, talking on the telephone, doing whatever on the computer? God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are constantly watching out for you, present with you, loving you, even when others do not find you too loveable.
On Easter Sunday, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, after we have walked that long journey to the cross and Christ’s crucifixion. Christ died for your sins and mine; God’s one and only Son paid the price for our salvation! Take time this Lent to spend with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, to give them praise and thanksgiving for all that they do for you, to seek their help in your everyday lives and in the lives of others.
Every one of us is called to serve God, begin your service each day in prayer and time alone with God! "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth not rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also." Matthew 6:9-2 1
Where is your treasure?
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Norma Jean
The Pastor’s Pen by Pastor Ray
Are you sharing your faith?
I was next to the youngest of a family of six children. My earliest memory was that we were taught to share. We had to share toys, space in the bedroom and bicycles and everything imaginable. It was especially hard to share that which we valued most. Sharing was the way. My children are teaching their children to share. Sharing is still being taught to our children.
What about your faith? Are you sharing?
I have been in the parish for nearly three years. Therefore, I will share some observations that I have been making. Folks in the parish, you are not sharing your faith as much as you should. All four churches that make up our parish are very different but yet they have one similarity. We had a Bring a Friend to Church Sunday last week, and very few invited a friend to attend with them I heard some say, "I have no friends." I am sure that is not really true.
I am calling on you each to accept a challenge. The Lenten season is about to begin. I challenge you to Share your Faith. I want you to write down the name of a friend, relative, acquaintance and neighbor. Yes, write down four names. I want you to pray daily for these four persons on a daily basis for about ten days. Then, I want you to invite them to church. I want you to do this and see what happens. There are plenty of church attendance opportunities throughout the upcoming Lenten Season. We have a service scheduled weekly, and during Holy Week there is a service Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and two on Easter Sunday. I want you to accept this challenge. Jesus is depending on you to be an outreach, witness and faith sharer. Do you love the Lord? Share it!
Our mission statement says that we are a Bible believing Christ centered congregation that enacts the Great Commission through nurture, outreach and witness as led by the Holy Spirit. The Great Commission is Matthew 28:16- 20. Here is your chance to allow the rubber to meet the road, so to speak. Make your list, pray, ask and share your faith. Ask the Holy Spirit to walk you through this challenge. I dare you to try it. In fact, I double dog dare you to try it. If you get one new person to attend church with you, give all the honor and glory to Christ Jesus.
(To be made the evening before Easter as a family activity)
You will need:
1 cup whole pecans 3 egg whites
1 cup granulated sugar wooden spoon
1 tsp. vinegar pinch of salt
zipper baggie tape
Bible
1.)Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. (This is important) Place pecans in zipper baggie and beat them with a wooden spoon to break them into small pieces. Explain that Jesus was arrested by Roman soldiers and beaten. Read John 19:1- 3. 2.)Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. of vinegar into a mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty while on the cross, he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28- 30. 3.) Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10- 11. 4.)Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers and the bitterness of their own sin. Read Luke 23: 27. 5.) Add 1 cup granulated sugar. Explain that this is the sweetest part of the story, Jesus died because he loves us. He wants us to know Him and belong to Him. Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16. 6.) Beat with a mixer on high speed until stiff peaks are formed. (12- 15 minutes) Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those who have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:13. 7.) Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57- 60. 8.) Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:5 7- 60. 9.) Go to bed. Explain that they may feel sad leaving the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20- 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven door and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow. On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 26:1- 9.
Lenten studies will be offered Tuesday evenings at 7pm beginning February 28 at the Deansboro UMC. The same study course will also be offered at the Madison UMC on Wednesday mornings at 9:30am.
We will study "The Cure for the Common Life, Living in Your Sweet Spot" by Max Lucado. During this seven week course participants will be led, Max Lucado style, through some tools to help you discover ". . .your individual purpose, why God has planted you here on earth." The book is available in bookstores, on- line, even at Wal- Mart. Pastor Norma Jean has ordered 10 at a cost of $13 each. The first ten people to sign up for the study will receive the 10 books. Join us during Lent in this study as we discover some exciting things about ourselves and about God, and share with each other.
The second Saturday of each month at 7:30am, persons from our parish gather for a meal, fellowship time and a program. On March 11 our program will be offered by Bob Elmer at the Oriskany Falls Church. On April 8 our speaker will be Pastor Arthur Fellows at the Madison UMC. On May 13 our Parish Breakfast will be held at Bouckville and we are hoping to have a humorous speaker. Join us for a special time together sharing, feasting and learning together. A free will offering is taken.
Beginning March 1 Ash Wednesday, there will be a variety of opportunities for worship within the Parish area on Sunday and during the week. Check the calendar pages to see where each service will be held. Pastor Dolores Cottet and the congregation of the Madison Baptist Church will join with us for most of the services. Holy Week there will be an opportunity on Wednesday April l to view the Mel Gibson movie, "The Passion of the Christ". Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunrise services of worship will also be held. Check the weekly bulletin and the "Faith Paper" calendar for more details.
A special worship service will be held at the Bouckville UMC to honor the World Day of Prayer on Friday March 3 at 7pm. The United Methodist Women of Bouckville, Madison and Oriskany Falls, along with the Madison Baptist Women’s Group will offer a time of worship and prayer as we celebrate in South African style, remembering this part of the world in prayer. All are welcome, both men and women, to this special time of worship and prayer.
Conference Wide Training Events
March 11, 9am- 3pm Jefferson Community College Watertown
March 25, 9am- 3pm Auburn Middle School Auburn
Join your fellow United Methodist members in attending a day of workshops, designed for all church members. The day begins with registration at 9am, followed by worship and three workshops. Lunch is included in the $15 registration fee. You may choose from the sessions listed below and others, which will be added later.
Nurturing Spiritual Formation through Small Groups Darryl Barrow will speak on leadership for small groups to nurture spiritual growth, discipleship and fellowship. The workshop is intended to enhance our gifts at being intentional in our faith development and faithful action providing individual churches with a balanced, practical, effective small- group strategy for spiritual growth.
A Guide to Conference Resources Lauren Swanson and Darryl Barrow will bring a workshop on conference resources, to be held during one of the lunch sessions. In this session you will learn what resources are available from the annual conference and how to access them.
Creating a Plan for Ministry and Mission This workshop lays out the elements and process for creating a plan for ministry and mission. Topics for consideration will include ministry context evaluation, mission, vision and strategic planning. (Note: It is recommended that ALL members of SPPRC attend this workshop)
Is Your Church Healthy? BJ Norrix will lead the first workshop in Watertown and Everett Bassett will continue with a second workshop in Auburn. Learn how to identify whether your church is moving toward health. You will discover and review the eight principles of a healthy church, as well as receive an introduction to the Church Health Assessment tool that the Revitalizing Congregation Team will be using.
Spiritual Formation through . . Meetings? Do you know that a meeting can lead to spiritual formation as well as accomplish agenda items? Sharon Bassett will lead a workshop teaching effective ways to lead productive meetings, incorporate spiritual growth, motivate individuals and serve God.
The Local Church Trustees Carl Johnson will speak on the role of the trustees of the local church and their relationship to the administrative board, council and the pastor.
Connection in the Church, The Strength of the United Methodists During this workshop, led by Steve Deckard, leaders will learn how to find resources and persons in the UMC. Using paper and the internet, we will discover some of the exciting and vital ministries across the conference and the United Methodist Church. We will answer questions and open doors for new leaders and those who are looking for new ideas.
Statistical Table Training Debbie Burnett will be training treasurers and! or pastors on completing the Statistical Tables in an informal, interactive setting. She will cover the most commonly questioned area. There will be plenty of time for questions, so be prepared to ask yours.
During the month of May, the Conference Lay ministries team, moved by the Holy Spirit has asked every church to accomplish as many miracles as possible. Miracles can take many forms, but the idea is to serve or encourage others in the name of Christ. A miracle can be as simple as a telephone call to a shut- in or as complex as a community health fair. The good works can impact your congregation and! or folks outside your church walls. As with most churches, members of the congregation are already volunteering in many capacities, there is no problem raising these miracles up, but the objective is to include some new ones. The team is asking that the miracles be documented in some way. Suggestions include journaling, photos, sketches, prose and poetry. It would be interesting to know what percentage of the actual congregation participated. Please discuss your ideas with the Lay Leader or Parish Council Representatives from your congregation. The miracles will be shared at this year’s Annual Conference June 2- June 5, 2006.
Friday March 31, 2006 the Parish is hosting the Covenant Players at 7pm in the Bouckville UMC. These gifted Christian actors will present a play created just for us about evangelism. Refreshments will be served immediately following the program. If you are interested in hosting any of the players in your home, please contact Pastor Norma Jean or Pastor Ray. This promises to be a fun and educational experience.
February 7 the Parish Council met with Reverand Betty Burlew, Pastor of the Cazenovia and Nelson parish and a member of the Conference Revitalizing Congregations Team. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce us to a "Health Evaluation Checklist" recently developed by the Team. We are one of ten churches or parishes receiving Equitable Salary Compensation that were selected to field test this checklist. This checklist is an intentional way for churches to examine items such as "...the power of prayer" in our church lives, evangelism, stewardship, and other areas.
After looking at each area, the churches are asked to set a goal or two to work on. Within the next month, each church in our parish is asked to conduct an all- church meeting to complete this checklist and set some goals. The results of each meeting will be compiled and brought to a parish council meeting where one or two of these goals will be determined and worked on during the next six months. Steps for evaluation will be included in the goal setting at the parish level. After six months, a new set of goals will be determined by the Parish Council to be our areas of concentration.
The Parish Council members are very excited about this process as are your pastors. Check your bulletin for more details and be sure to attend the meeting at your church. We need the participation of everyone for this to be successful!
Joy opens our hearts to God’s power at work in ourselves and in our world. It helps us to remember God’s positive answers for all the negative things we say about ourselves, as shown in this wonderful list someone sent me:
• You might say, "It’s impossible." God says "All things are possible," (Luke 18:27)
• You might say, "I’m too tired." God says "I will give you rest," (Matthew 11:28- 30)
• You might say, "Nobody really loves me." God says, "I love you." (John 3:16, 34)
• You might say, "I can’t go on." God says, "My grace is sufficient." ( Corinthians 12:9, Psalms 91:15)
• You might say, "I can’t do it." God says, "You can do all things." (Philippians 4:13)
From Faith for a Lifetime, Daily Inspiration for Women of Faith, Published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson Inc. Nashville, Tennessee 37214. 2005. ISBN 1-4041-0051-2
30 Hour Fast for Famine- You Are Invited
Local middle and high school youth from the Oriskany Falls and Madison churches are gearing up for this year’s Fast for Famine. The Fast is an international activity that not only teaches youth about hunger and need throughout the world, but invites them to go without food while raising money to be a part of the solution. Each year, about a million young people worldwide participate in this life- changing event. During the past five years, about twenty of our own youth have participated and annually have raised approximately $1,000.
This year’s event is scheduled for the last weekend in April and will be hosted by the Oriskany Falls UMC. The Fast, modified on an individual level when necessary, last for 30 hours. The final 24 hours are spent together with a huge variety of activities which educate, entertain and motivate while keeping their minds off of food.
Tentative ideas for this year’s event includes a scavenger hunt, music and dancing, wheel barreling for food, a community service project, prayer partners, traveling to a neighboring Fast event to watch One Foot Forward in concert, arts and crafts, video games, and fellowship. The list goes on and on. The event concludes with a generous breakfast and prayers of thanks for the blessings we have in both serving and receiving.
We invite all interested youth to contact us with questions. We’d love to have you join us! Tonic Stewart 821- 6221 & Lori Waterman 821- 4332
Talent or Un-Talent? You Decide!
There will be a Talent! Un-Talent Show at the Bouckville UMC on Saturday February 25 at 5pm. If you have a Talent, or if you have an Un-Talent, please join our cast of characters for an unforgettable show. A Baked Potato Supper will be served as well. Come one, come all. Don’t miss it! (Please contact Sue Terrier if you would like to participate in the show. 893- 7987)
This poem was submitted by Gert Way, in memory of Ed Bellinger.
How He Lived
Not how did he die?
But how did he live?
Not what did he gain?
But what did he give?
These are the merits
To measure the worth
Of a man as man
Regardless of birth.
Not, what was his station?
But, had he a heart?
And how did he play
His God- given part?
Was he ever ready
With a word of good cheer
To bring a smile,
To banish a tear?
Not what was his church?
Nor what was his creed?
But had he befriended
Those really in need?
Not what did the sketch
In the newspaper say?
But how many were sorry
When he passed away?
Feb. 22 7pm Church Council meeting at Bouckville
Feb. 23 7pm Church Council meeting at Oriskany Falls
Feb. 25 7am- 11am Pancake Breakfast at Madison
Feb. 25 5pm Talent! Un- Talent Show with Baked Potato Supper at Bouckville
Feb. 27 6:30pm Church Council at Madison
March 1 7pm Ash Wednesday Service at Deansboro
March 3 7pm World Day of Prayer Service at Bouckville
March 6 7pm Parish Council at Oriskany Falls
March 8 7pm Lenten Service at Madison Baptist Church
March 11 7:30am Parish Breakfast at Oriskany Falls
March 11 9am- 3pm Conference Training Watertown
March 15 7pm Lenten Service at Oriskany Falls
March l6 10:30am Worship at Harding Nursing Home
March 18 4- 7pm Spaghefti Supper at Deansboro
March 22 7pm Lenten Service at Bouckville
March 25 7- 11am Pancake Breakfast at Madison
March 29 Noon Lenten Service, Soup Lunch at Deansboro
March 29 7pm Church Council meeting at Bouckville
March 30 7pm Church Council meeting at Oriskany Falls
March 31 7pm Covenant Players at Bouckville
April 5 7pm Lent Service at Madison UMC
April 5 7pm Trustees meeting at Oriskany Falls
April 6 10:30am Worship Service at Harding Nursing Home
April 8 7:30am Parish Breakfast at Deansboro
April 9 Ecumenical Hymn Sing TBA
April 11 6:30pm Oriskany Falls UMW at Burleigh Apartments
April 12 7pm Lenten Service at Madison Baptist Church "The Passion of the Christ"
April 13 7pm Holy Thursday Service at Madison
April 14 7pm Good Friday Service at Oriskany Falls
April 16 6am Easter Sunrise Service at Mary Martin’s Crow Hill
April 18 7pm Parish Council meeting at Bouckville
April 19 7pm Bouckville UMW meeting
April 23 8:30am Evaluation from retreat at Deansboro
April 24 6:30pm Church Council meeting at Madison
April 26 7pm Church Council meeting at Bouckville
April 27 7pm Church Council meeting at Oriskany Falls
April 29 7-11am Pancake Breakfast at Madison
May 3 7pm Trustees Meeting at Oriskany Falls
May 4 TBA National Day of Prayer at Bouckville
May 10 7pm Church Council meeting at Deansboro
May 13 7:30am Parish Breakfast at Bouckville
May 17 TBA Bouckville UMW at Bounty’s Crossing
May 18 10:30am Worship Service at Harding Nursing Home
May 20 4-7 pm Chicken and Biscuit Dinner at Deansboro
May 25 7pm Church Council meeting at Oriskany Falls
May 27 7-11am Pancake Breakfast at Madison
May 31 7pm Church Council meeting at Bouckville
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