Lamplighter

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure … and running over.” Luke 6:38

This is a promise, but it should not be taken as a motive for giving. The Christian who contributes to God’s cause because he expects more in return from the Lord is not giving – he is doing business! One man said, “I tithe all my income because I find it pays.” While I may agree that it does pay to give liberally, I certainly do not agree that this should be our motive. Jesus said, “ … lend, hoping for nothing again: and your reward shall be great” in Luke 6:35. True giving is not interested in trying to get something back; yet all such generosity will receive rich returns. Solomon says, “Honor the Lord with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase; so shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10. Do you think the poor widow who dropped her two mites into the collection box in Luke 21:2 expected a big return? I am sure she did not; and yet, what a reward she received, for her name was immortalized by Jesus himself when He “credited” her with tremendous generosity. Yes, we have a record of that poor widow who truly gave more than all the rich men TOGETHER (Mark 12:43).

A certain generous farmer, who loved the Lord and believed that it was “more blessed to give than receive,” was asked by some non-Christian neighbors how he could bestow so much on others and still remain so prosperous. “O that’s quite simple,” he replied. “You see, I only shovel out what God shovels in and He has a BIGGER SHOVEL than I have!” This farmer had the secret. He did not give out to make the Lord “shovel more in,” but rather he was liberal because God had already shoveled it in!

What has God already shoveled or blessed you with? Are you giving back? We could probably give more. Read the Bible verse at the beginning again. I challenge you to put God to the test – see what surprises He has in store for you.

Love in Jesus,

Pastor Susan

From 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, you’re invited to fill your personal food cavity at an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast in Fellowship Hall. Proceeds from the modestly priced meal will help our outreach team finance its annual October good-will trip to help the Katrina victims in Gulfport, MS.

Betty Hostetter, outreach committee chair, has promised plenty of flapjacks for all. Tickets are $5.00 for those 10 years and up; $3.00 for anyone 4 to 9 years. Kiddies under 4 eat free.

As always, the team will need to take along a lot of construction materials when they head south in the fall so this will be a big fundraiser for them and they need support from all of us.

This breakfast is open to the public, so be sure to bring your friends, relatives and acquaintances with you.

In 2007 NHUMC had a food stand for one Saturday. This year our church will have a food stand at the summertime outdoor New Holland Farmers Market on South Roberts Avenue every Saturday. The market opens Saturday, May 3, and closes September 27. Hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Committee members are as follows: Sharon and Rick Heisley are co-chairs. Members include Jeff and Patty Good, Barbara Mask, LeRoy and Dana Riehl, Bets Wright and Pastor Susan.

The menu includes sausage sandwiches, individual servings of fresh fruit and pasta salad, baked goods by the piece, including lemon bars, Rice Krispie treats, cookies and brownies. Drinks will include lemonade, iced tea, and orange drink.

Please call Dana (355-2584) immediately if you plan to attend “A Closer Walk”so she can give you more information.

It is a wonderful three days of worship, speakers and fellowship with other Christians in Wildwood, New Jersey. We camp on the beach (Yes, we have shower and restroom facilities); we sit on the beach at night and enjoy the sunset, speakers, musicians and dancers. It is not limited to youth or children (last year there was a great grandmother who was wheeled by her group out to the beach stage on a beach wagon). They serve us two breakfasts and a dinner. We have unlimited rides on the boardwalk, as well as unlimited water park use – and it’s only $52 per person. If you are interested in joining us, please let Dana know as soon as possible (355-2584). We are raising funds to help offset the cost of the ticket prices as well as extra meals and van rental we will need for the three days there. If you don’t like camping, you can book your own hotel room and still join us. This is an awesome and fun few days. We would love to have you along! Call today!!!

A workday has been scheduled for May 17 from 8:00 a.m. to noon. We will be doing cleaning, weeding, mulching, and miscellaneous chores at both the parsonage and church properties. Special assignments can be made at other times if you can’t help on that Saturday. Coffee and doughnuts will be provided. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

May workday is scheduled for Thursday, May 29. Please let me know if you are interested in helping that day.

The school year is quickly drawing to a close! One Sunday in June, which is yet to be decided, we want to honor all those who have reached a milestone in their lives. If you have a “graduate” in your midst, please call the church office (354-0226) with: name, high school (or college and degree, if applicable) and future plans. Also include your relationship to them.

While visiting in Jacksonville, Florida, I found the following in a church bulletin written by an anonymous author:

O Lord, Thou knowest I am growing older! Keep me from closing my eyes to the fact. Keep me from becoming a pest, a self-appointed sage with fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Keep me from the temptation of trying to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful, not moody; helpful, not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all – but Lord, Thou knowest I don’t want to lose all my friends by boring them with the past. Keep my mind free from the recital of all my experiences and endless details. Seal my lips about my rheumatism and gout. My aches and pains are unceasing, rehearsing them is becoming sweeter day by day. I do not ask for improved memory, but for less cocksureness about the memory of others. Teach me to admit that sometimes I am mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet, I do not care to be an overly pious person (some of them are so hard to get along with). Make me more considerate as my age progresses. Let me never grow old – only older. May it be said of me, “Though the outward man perish, the inward man is renewed day by day.” Amen.

The following persons have visited with us over the past few weeks. Welcome them into our fellowship when you see them.

The upstate New York man was rich in almost every way. His estate was worth millions. He owned houses, land, antiques and cattle. But though on the outside he had it all, he was very unhappy on the inside. His wife was growing old, and the couple was childless. He had always wanted a little boy to carry on the family legacy.

Miraculously, his wife became pregnant in her later years, and she gave birth to a little boy. The boy was severely handicapped, but the man loved him with his whole heart.

When the boy was 5, his mom died. The dad drew closer to his special son. At age 13, the boy’s birth defects cost him his life and the father died soon after from a broken heart.

The estate was auctioned before hundreds of bidders. The first item offered was a painting of the boy. No one bid. They waited like vultures for the riches. Finally, the poor housemaid, who helped raise the boy, offered $5 for the picture and easily took the bid. To everyone’s shock, the auctioneer ripped a handwritten will from the back of the picture. This is what it said: “To the person who thinks enough of my son to buy this painting, to this person I give my entire estate.”

The auction was over. The greedy crowd walked away in shock and dismay. How many of us have sought after what we thought were true riches only to find out later that our Father was prepared to give us his entire estate if we had only sought after his Son alone?

· Yvonne Stolzfoos family, on the death of Yvonne’s uncle and the death of their pet dog

· The National Day of Prayer events; spiritual renewal for our nation; godly leadership of our president, our elected leaders, and our judges

· Safety and protection for our troops serving around the world, and their families at home who love and miss them

“You made all the delicate inner parts of my body and knit them together within my mother’s womb”

We need to reach out with undying love to the lost as our mothers and grandmothers have had sleepless nights praying for us and our families.

< Thank you to all who volunteered to help with the Ham and Oyster Dinner. It was an enjoyable day and we had many satisfied customers. The results are still being tallied. Whether you worked, donated a cake, bought tickets or helped in any way, we certainly appreciate your assistance.

< Thanks to all who faithfully serve our church community in many ways. --Pastor Susan

< A big thank you to the people that went and ate at Bird-in-Hand Restaurant April 21.

Please forgive us if your birthday or anniversary was not listed. We want to have it recorded, so please call the church office (354-0226) so we can update our list.