1. Art and Diseño

Houghton Wesleyan Church
Highlights
Joyfully loving God,
wholeheartedly serving others
February 2015
Volume 47, No. 9
A Presence of Hope in a World of Despair
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations
will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:1-3)
In this country, February is a time to think about two of our greatest presidents, to reflect on the historic
and current contributions of African-Americans, and to express our love for those most precious to us. In our
church, February has become the time when we think about the ways in which we touch the world—the world
around us, the world far from us and the world in-between. This emphasis on the world is not intended to free
us from thinking about others at other times, but rather to help us focus more intently so that we are ever more
aware and involved in the world all the time.
When I think about the world today I feel a sense of despair. The expansive presence of war, violence and
terrorism makes me wonder if there is any hope of peace. When I contemplate the millions of Christians who
are regularly opposed, threatened or persecuted for their faith, I feel overwhelmed with grief and desperation
about not only their struggle but the growing reality that their experiences may soon be ours. When I ponder
that there are upwards of 50 million refugees in the world right now, that almost 5,000 people have died from
Ebola, that 35 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV/AIDS, including 3.2 million children
and that the vast majority of these people live in low- and middle-income countries, particularly sub-Saharan
Africa, and that more than 800 million people don’t have enough food, I get awfully discouraged about the
future of our world. When I realize that there are about 5 billion people in the world who have no relationship
with Jesus Christ, my heart aches. Quite frankly, I don’t really like to think about all of this and all of these
people and yet it’s the reality of our world.
Nevertheless, despite the sobering and agonizing statistics, we are people of hope. We have hope not
because these statistics aren’t true or because we live in denial, but because we still believe that the risen
Christ is at work and that God’s people are still called to be light in the darkness of our world. Sometimes we
can become so overwhelmed by the bad news, we forget the good news—that Jesus is greater than the power
of evil, that he has conquered all, that he fills the Church with his Spirit to be witnesses of grace and truth, and
that what we do makes a difference because he is in it. It’s the truth of Christ that fills us with hope and why
we care about others and involve ourselves in being agents of Christ with others.
Our Missions Convention (February 2-8) is an opportunity for you to think about the whole world. We will
present ministry opportunities that are near to us and opportunities that are far from us. We will be reminded
that our God is still Lord of all and that his message of love and hope in Christ will never fail.
I hope that you will participate in as many activities as possible. Many of the events are intended for
families as well as adults and youth. Our goal is to make God’s work of hope more visible so that we will give
glory to God and open our hearts to the continued work of his Spirit in and through us. I encourage you to
mark these days and times and together let’s see what God will do.
Blessings,
Pastor Wes
RFKC Prayer Partners Needed
If you are interested in being a Prayer Partner for this year's Royal Family
Kids' Camp, please contact Maria Rhone at [email protected] or by
calling (716) 445-4280. Prayer Partners are assigned one specific camper,
counselor, or staff member to pray for on a daily basis during the week of
camp as well as the weeks leading up to camp. Prayer partners will also be
responsible for writing a note to the person they are praying for, which will
be delivered during the week of camp.
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Valentine’s Banquet
Friday, February 13, 2015
6 pm, in the Houghton Wesleyan Church Community Room
Hosted by the College Ministries team
The meal will be catered by the Black-Eyed Susan Restaurant
and served by our college students!
Sign up with the bulletin inserts on February 1st or 8th.
The cost is only $10 per couple, and childcare will be provided.
If you have questions or want to help with the dinner,
please email [email protected]
or call Pastor Kevin at the church office
(585-567-2264)
Wellspring Update
We can feel the gap narrowing at Wellspring as we near the 10th
Anniversary date of April 15 - an important landmark time. Can
we be up and running by then? Can we make it? We pray for this,
as God permits. Building activity increases as the money comes
in. We are grateful for our builder, Ed Johnson.
Words are inadequate, but necessary here to let you know that
your generous Christmas Eve offering of well over $2000.00 just
warms our hearts and reminds us that you know we are all part of
the Body of Christ whether in a church/college ministry or at a resource center down the road for those in need. Thank you.
Join us in prayer for the home stretch results! Reminder - all are welcome to stop by for lunch any Wednesday
or Friday just before 12 pm.
The Wellspring Board
"And God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that in ALL things at ALL times having ALL you
need, you will abound in EVERY good work.”
2 Cor. 9:8
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Missions Convention 2015
The mission
team is excited to announce this year’s upcoming Mission Convention weekend and service opportunities. Please read through the information below and prayerfully consider joining us as we serve alongside local, regional and international mission agencies as a church family!
Saturday, February 7th:
Join us as we travel to the west side of Buffalo, working with Jericho Road and Westside
Ministries! Meet at the church at 8:00 a.m. to ride together into the city, preparing for a day
of painting and light labor projects. At noon we will be immersing ourselves in the diversity
of Buffalo by trying foods from around the globe at the West Side Bazaar.
(www.westsidebazaar.com) .We will be home by 5 p.m. This is an intergenerational Mission
opportunity and we encourage youth and families to participate together. Supplies and
transportation will be provided. Please bring $10-$15 to buy your own lunch and wear
appropriate work clothing. Those under the age of 18 will need a parent or responsible
guardian to accompany them. Please sign up, tear off, and drop in the offering plate by
Sunday, February 1st.
BUFFALO TEAM February 7
Name: ______________________________________________ Phone #: _____________________
Parent or Guardian Responsible (if under 18): _________________________________
Specific Skill Set: _________________________________________________________
Sunday, February 8th:
We are pleased to be welcoming Dr. George Beals, Director of Church Development with World Hope International, as our keynote speaker for our Sunday morning worship services.
We will meet together in the Community Room during the 9:40 Sunday school hour to celebrate a “passing of
the torch”. Join us as we celebrate missionaries from our congregation that are entering into retirement and
those who we will begin to support in the new year. Hear them tell stories of their calling and passion for those
with whom they work!
Boy’s and Girl’s Club: During their Wednesday night programming, the elementary school children will be
learning about Haiti and packaging Health Kits to send with a mission team from Fillmore Wesleyan! Please
help us to collect the materials needed and drop them in the bins located around the church and C.E. building
between now and Sunday, February 1st. A shopping list has been provided on page 7.
Tuesday, February, 17th: Our church will be preparing and serving a meal as part of
Wellspring Ministries ongoing mission to serve a hot meal to those in need.
If you or your family are interested in joining one or both teams, please sign up below and
drop the slip in the offering plate by Sunday, February 8th.
WELLSPRING TEAM February 17
Name: ______________________________________________ Phone #: _____________________
Interested in: Preparing the meal here at the church (3:30 – 5:00 p.m.) ________
Serving at Wellsprings in Belfast (5:30 – 7:00 p.m.) _________ Both: _____________
Special Mission Insert
Women’s Cozy Mid-Winter Retreat
February 28, 9:a.m to noon
Featuring keynote speaker Kristen Sanasith
Come out of the bitter cold and join us for a time of worship, yummy
food and fellowship as Kristen Sanasith shares her heart and
experience with us!
MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITY
If you have been thinking about becoming a member of the Houghton Wesleyan Church or would like to know
more about what it means to be a member, you will want to attend a membership class. Pastor Wes will be
leading a membership class this spring in which you will discover some of the history of our church, what are
the vital things we believe and where we are moving into the future. If you are interested in attending, contact
the church office.
“LIVE STREAMING” CHURCH SERVICES
Thanks to a generous gift, we are now set up to live stream our worship services each Sunday. Access is
available on most devices (Computer, iPhone, Android, Tablets, Roku, and other devices that stream audio and
video). For the first few weeks, the stream will be audio only. Once all of the equipment is ready, the
streaming will be audio and video. Every sermon and service that we stream LIVE is archived each week and
can be revisited at a later day or time. The Link to the stream: http://streaming.hwchurch.org/ .
For help in setting up the stream via Roku look here: http://faith/streamspot.com/roku .Our subscription comes
with tech support for viewers. Contact [email protected] and tell them you need help viewing the
Houghton Wesleyan stream. Check our website for future developments. Thank you for worshipping with us!
SUBSCRIBE TO DOWNLOAD WEEKLY SERVICES
You may subscribe to our Sunday worship service and sermons by podcast or on iTunes (www.itunes.com) by
scanning the QR Codes posted in the church foyer.
Wednesday Evening Children’s Ministries in February
Our Wednesday evening children’s ministries (BOOM! Club, King’s Kids Girls’ Club, and Boys’ Club) will
meet on February 4th and 11th. February 4th is Missions Night for all kids. February 11th is PALS Night
for our King’s Kids Girls’ Club. Due to the Fillmore Midwinter recess and Houghton College February Break,
these ministries will NOT meet on Wednesday, February 18th and 25th. Thank you!
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Wesleyan Kids For Missions
W.K.F.M. IS
FEBRUARY 15
In February our focus will be on
the Nune people. Our guest
speaker is Dr. Don Little who
will help us understand a little
more about the area we call
Nuneland.
We will take an offering for the
Wesleyan Native American Ministries to help them buy a van for
transporting children to church.
Three 80-something ladies, who live alone in their own
homes and no longer drive, are so glad we pick them up
each Thursday to grocery shop, get prescriptions from the
pharmacy, and do their banking. They especially enjoy
time to socialize with their contemporaries over a hot
lunch at the Fillmore firehall.
These three gals come from two neighboring villages, and are getting to know each other.
How delightful, a few weeks ago, to see the two in the back seat each help the other snap
her seat belt.
We need more volunteers to cover all the Thursdays. Could you help drive, or ride as
assistant? Time: 10:30am--1:30pm (at the latest), any Thursday you are available. Involves
driving to Caneadea and Fillmore, helping the ladies in and out of the vehicle, eating lunch
with the folks at the firehall. This trio of ladies would love your help! Contact Becky
Hutton: 585-567-2727 or [email protected].
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The Library Corner
This year Lent begins on February 18th. Be sure to take advantage of the many
resources for the season displayed throughout the church library. One of these
is Devotional Classics edited by Richard J. Foster. It features writings from
Christians throughout the ages such as Augustine, Pascal, Francis of Assisi,
Bonhoeffer, Julian of Norwich, Martin Luther, Kierkegaard, and Calvin.
Several interesting new non-fiction books were recently added to the collection. The book Dangerous Surrender, by Kay Warren (Rick Warren’s wife),
tells of her struggle to accept God’s calling to help AIDS victims. In When
Your World Falls Apart, renowned pastor, teacher and author David Jeremiah
shares the comfort and hope of the Psalms, showing how these truths can guide
you through life's greatest challenges. You will read inspiring real-life stories of people who struggled with
terminal illness, the loss of a child or the imprisonment of a spouse. He also reveals how the Psalms sustained
him during his own battle with cancer. The Lord is My Shepherd: Resting in the Peace and Power of Psalm 23
by Pastor Robert Morgan includes true stories and verse-by-verse explorations that uncover the rich blessings
of God's time-tested promises to help us experience true rest.
Arriving too late for Christmas, but a wonderful read any time of the year, is a new children’s picture
book, Christmas Day in the Morning written by Pearl S. Buck, and illustrated by Mark Buehner. It tells the
beautiful tale of a young man growing up on a farm who wants to get his hard-working father a gift for Christmas, something that shows how much he really loves him. But it's Christmas Eve, and he doesn't have any
money to spend. What could he possibly get? Suddenly, he thinks of the best gift of all…
New DVDs in the library include the entire Little House on the Prairie TV series plus a bonus collector’s edition, and Focus on the Family’s Irreplaceable, a defense of the traditional family. Please stop by and
enjoy all our library has to offer.
Dear Friends at Houghton Wesleyan Church,
It has been almost a year since Bonnie left us for heaven. Rarely does an hour go by that we do not have at least a
brief thought of her. Please continue to pray for us as we miss Bonnie very much. You have been a tremendous
blessing to us in so many ways. The dedication of the Children’s Library in honor of Bonnie was extremely special.
The colorful African theme, the focus on Christ, the playful expressions of stuffed animals, and the cozy, comfortable place to read truly reflect Bonnie’s life. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our lives and Bonnie’s
as you have prayed for us. May God bless you and always keep you in His loving care.
With love in Christ,
Jim & Karen Szymanski
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Congratulations to Kevin and Barb Raymond on the birth of Griffin Lee on
December 31. He joins big sister Evelyn and big brother Dawson.
Congratulations to Peter and Jessica Romance on the birth of Aaron Laurence on
January 26. He joins big sister Kate.
Our prayers and condolences go for the
family of Alton Shea who died January
17, just six days after his 101st birthday.
Family and friends gathered at Houghton
Wesleyan Church on January 25 where a
memorial service was held at 3:00 p.m.
and burial at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery,
Houghton. The service is available
online.
We would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love shown to our family after (Gertrude "Polly" Lytle)
Mom died on November 21, 2014. We appreciate all the cards, calls, visits, and flowers, but we are most
grateful for your prayers on our behalf.
With music still ringing in our hearts,
Horace and Diane Emmons
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Meat and Cheese Lasagna, garden salad, crusty Italian
bread & Butter, Roasted Vegetables, Spice Cake with Maple
Butter Cream Icing.
Catered by the Black-Eyed Susan
Alfreda Kreckman—(585) 567-4479
Ellis Brotzman—(585) 207– 5011 or [email protected]
Cost is $12.00 per person payable at the door
***********************************************************************
General questions – Fred Shannon (President) – 567-2753 ([email protected])
Meal Questions – Alfreda Kreckman – 567-4479
Program Questions – Bob Danner – 567-2766 ([email protected])
***********************************************************************
Thank you to everyone who came to my birthday
celebration and for all the cards I received. I truly
appreciate the cards and the kind words.
Louise Prinsell
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

Meets Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30
in the gym
Everyone welcome
Do you knit or crochet? (Or would you like to learn?) Would you like a
chance to connect with other women (and girls) of all ages and walks of life
while working away at your current project?
We'd love to have you join us! We meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the
month at 7pm in room 6 below the sanctuary (February 10, 24, March 10, 24,
April 14, and 28, etc.)
Come once, come every time, come when you can. Come late or leave
early. Bring your project, or see what others are doing for inspiration.
Learn a new skill, or help someone else. Relax. Talk. Laugh. Drink tea.
For more information check with Beth or Ally Stevick (365-2809), Brenda
Montanye (610-7469), Jill Jordan (567-4642) or Sarah Derck (765-667-0204).
Houghton Volunteer Ambulance Service
Pancake Supper
Tuesday, February 10th, 5:30-7:00pm
Houghton Wesleyan Church Community Room
Dinner includes pancakes, eggs, sausage,
miscellaneous beverages, and of course real maple syrup!
Prices: $8 for adults, $5 for kids, $25 max for families
All proceeds go to the purchase of the new ambulance.
We hope to see you all there!
Dog Grooming ~ Now Open at “Buddy’s Place”
For Appointments please call Stacy at 716-445-9333
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FOR RENT
1 bedroom apartment(s) on Dugway Road in Fillmore. New paint and new gas oven,
includes appliances, water and sewer, lawn care, snow removal and garbage pick up.
$450 per month.
609-618-6431 or [email protected]
No pets, unless prior arrangement is made (like increased deposit and rent).
Looking for a fun and social way to stay in shape?
Adult exercise classes are in session at the Houghton Movement & Arts Center ) for the spring semester! All
ages and levels are welcome--classes are appropriate for most seniors and expectant/new moms as well!
BarreFIT (a blend of ballet barre moves, yoga & Pilates) meets Tuesdays at 6:30 am & Thursdays at 7:00 pm.
Pilates (strengthening and stretching exercises performed on a mat) meets Fridays at 6:30 pm,
and
Adult Ballet meets Fridays at 5:30 pm. Classes are taught by certified instructors.
Your first class is free!
For more information or to sign-up please email Sarah at [email protected] or call 210-854-3951.
Houghton Movement and Arts Center, 9729 Route 19, Houghton
Menu:
www.3bumspizza.com
585-365-2867
9676 Route 19
Houghton NY
- - - - - - - - - - - - Mon-Thurs
10am-11pm
Friday
10am-12am
Saturday
11am-12am
Sunday
11am-9pm
Page 12
SUNDAYS IN FEBRUARY
CHURCH STAFF
Wes Oden, Senior Pastor
567-2024 [email protected]
February 1 (8:20 am / 9:40 am / 11:00 am)
a.m. Jesus Is the Way (John 14)
p.m. Small Groups
Jon Cole, Youth Pastor
307-9950 [email protected]
February 8 (8:20 am / 9:40 am / 11:00 am)
a.m. Rev. George Beale (Missions Convention)
p.m. Small Groups
Cindy Oden, Assistant Pastor
567-2024 [email protected]
February 15 (8:20 am / 9:40 am / 11:00 am)
a.m. Jesus Is the True Vine (John 15)
p.m. Small Groups
Kevin Austin, Assistant Pastor
808-1644 [email protected]
February 22 (8:20 am / 9:40 am / 11:00 am)
a.m. The Privilege of Sacrifice (Leviticus 1-7)
p.m. Small Groups
Amanda Cox, Music & Worship Director
567-4870 [email protected]
ASH WEDNESDAY: February 18 is the beginning of Lent.
You are invited to an Ash Wednesday Service at the church
at 6:30pm. During this service, we will begin to contemplate
the passion of Christ through scripture, song, and the
imposition of ashes.
Emily Hoffman, Children’s Ministry Director
567-8138 [email protected]
Church Office, M-F, 8 AM-Noon & 1-5 PM,
567-2264 [email protected]
Beginning February 7 the Post Office in Houghton’s Counter Hours will be:
Monday-Friday ……….8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
and
2:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Saturdays …….……….10:00 a.m. to noon
We appreciate the U.S. Postal Service response to schedule hours most convenient to customers.
Love Allegany County 2015
College Ministry February Break Service Project
February 25- 28th
If you are a Houghton College Student and are interested in this Service Project, check out
details in the Sunday bulletin or email Pastor Kevin at [email protected].