Churchmatters February 2015 Monthly Newsletter of East Glenville Community Church A Word from Pastor Jim Mark Your Calendar February 1st Youth Super Bowl Party February 3rd Servant Leader Council Meeting February 7th Men’s Breakfast Bridal Shower Maybe it's because I like basketball. Maybe I just like the simplicity of the thought. In one of his books about being a man in church, Patrick Morley told the story how "one day my son, a shooting guard on his Christian high school team was playing in a basketball game at the gym of a long-time rival -- also a Christian high school. Some our fans were getting little too animated, a bit too much into the game. Finally the referee stopped in front of our section in the stands and yelled out, 'You're Christians! Act like it!' Admittedly a bit unusual, but it raises a good question. How does a Christian know how to act?" The directness from the referee makes me say "ouch"….though I love Morley's question? How do we know what the Lord asks of us in our behavior? Such a good God not to leave us without direction! For we have His Word as our guide for faith and practice (II Timothy 3:16-7). That's what's behind our current preaching series from Colossians called "Genuine Community in Church Relationships." I warmly invite you to continue with me in this study of how Paul was guiding the Colossians Christians in their life together as followers of Jesus. Miss some sermons? Check out the sermons listed on-line on www.egcchurch.org/media. And please continue in prayer for me and all of those around you as we absorb and apply God's Word into life here. A Word from Nature about Relationships in Church God speaks his truths in his revealed Word. But how striking it is to see God's heart and mind expressed in the natural handiwork of the Creator. An example about church life… "The huge redwood trees in California are considered the largest things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are 300 feet high and over 2500 years old. One would think that trees so large would have a tremendous root system reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth. The redwoods actually have a very shallow system of roots, reaching no deeper than 810 feet. One way the trees are able to keep from falling over is by growing close to other redwood trees. Their root systems spread out and intermingle, providing more support together than they would have alone. When the storms come or the winds blow, the redwoods stand. They are locked to each other, and they don’t' stand alone, for all the trees support and protect each other." Seems a fitting parable? Elders 17 degrees. That’s the temperature outside as I write to you. Am I alone in occasionally wondering “Why in the world did God create winter?” I doubt it. And yet answers abound… to put nitrogen back in the soil, to replenish the water supply. My favorite is that He intends for the land to rest… and us too. This month new classes will be starting and Phil Sears and I will be focusing on the topic of knowing the will of God. “What does winter have to do with the will of God?” you may ask. Well, one of the things necessary to know God’s will for us is to stop long enough to listen. I’ve quickly asked for God’s guidance and then rushed on without the answer before. Haven’t you? So, while the land is resting and it’s cold enough that we’d prefer not to rush around, perhaps we too can rest and listen for God’s still small voice? Romans 12:2 tells us “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Let’s use this winter to spend time listening for how the Lord wants to transform us. Alex Crum Have you seen the new church visual graphic yet? It's starting to appear…watch for Spirit Powered Activities Reaching Kids it more all around. Grades K - 5 Friday, February 27th 6:30 - 8:00pm in Buchanan Hall Theme is: VBS Weird Animals - Day 4 Revisit VBS Bible Point & Bible story & music! Snack, songs, games, lesson! Come and bring a friend. Donation requested: $1 per child Contact Susan Perregaux: 384-7296 Trustee Talk Well, your opportunity has come! If you remember I told you last month about the great time we had at our Fall Work Day. We raked, cleaned up outside and had fun, food and fellowship. We had such a great time that we thought we would give everyone a chance before the Spring to join us in another Work Party. This one will be an all Church Work Day on March 14th 9 am - noon to do inside work on all the buildings. Everyone is invited, bring the whole family! Come and join us to help wash windows, clean carpets, repair chairs, change light bulbs, dust window ledges, clean out closets and cabinets etc. We look forward to seeing you there! This new visual representation for EGCC is a product of a process of conversations, edits and feedback, and some creative graphics work for the final design (which was contributed by Tammy Durant). Starting last summer, the Elders were presented a set of options from different originators. Editing ideas and fresh variants were generated, and the shortlist finally sent out to our staff and media projection team for vetting. Their feedback led back to the Elders for final approval in November. First appearing in our Christmas Eve invitation and printed program, we'll now be including the new graphic into the wide range of our printed and digital media which describe East Glenville Community Church. Look over the coming months too for new informational brochures helpful for friends and visitors looking for more details about what goes on here at EGCC. If you are responsible for promotion in your specific program area, contact Pastor Jim. Let's talk about ways we can begin to use this new graphic to help represent the Lord's work here among us. Women of the Well We invite all of you to join us at our spring activities: “Getting to Know You” is a 5week prayer partnering. If you have not participated in one of our events yet this year, we especially encourage you to join us for this program. Please fill out the survey page available on the information table in the foyer and place it in the box there. After the service on February 15th there will be a short meeting where you will be paired with your partner and spend a few minutes chatting and planning the way you will communicate your prayer requests to one another. Monday evening March 23rd from 7 to 8:30 will be the closing for the Getting to Know You program. Even if you were not able to join in the prayer group, please come for a casual evening to hear about the experiences of those who participated and a talk on Developing Intimacy with God. Our next Book Club will meet on Friday March 6. We will be discussing Lisa Wingate’s “The Story Keeper”. Copies are available at local libraries. Questions? See Melisa Olson. April 24th is the date for our retreat, Garden Getaway, where women walk with God. We will meet from 8:30 to 4:30 at Sacandaga Bible Conference. Rather than using a speaker, this retreat will be an interactive time where discussion leaders take small groups through times of study, prayer and sharing. It will be full of friendship, faith and fun as we walk through six sessions, including times of worship, a prayer walk and a fun craft to give as a gift. Cost is $50, with an optional dinner at extra cost at a local restaurant. Registration forms are available throughout the church and from the women on the Women’s Ministry team. Come and be refreshed! Bridal Shower Friends of Jackie Feurer will be hosting a Bridal Shower for her on Saturday February 7th at 12pm, in Buchanan Hall. All teens and ladies are invited to join us in the joyous celebration! We will enjoy lunch together so if you plan to come, please bring a salad to share. To contribute toward a group gift see Margaret Shaver, Melissa Foti or Cindi Phillips. Even if you don't know Jackie, please come for fun, food and fellowship! Needed: Volunteers to serve in the Sound Ministry As our music ministry is growing in many exciting ways, the Sound Team Ministry is in dire need of volunteers who have a desire to serve our God. As a Sound “Tech”, we are primarily responsible for setting up and taking down the stage, and operating the sound system for rehearsals, sound checks, services and special events. Prior experience is desired but not necessary. An orientation and ongoing training will be provided. Sound techs work in pairs and your commitment will usually be to serve at one to two services per month, plus a rehearsal and sound check for each service. So, if you have a love for music and a servant’s heart, please contact Pat Daly, Sound Team Leader, at 518-852 -6883, or at [email protected] for more information. Adult Sunday School Update: Come and Be Part of our Current Classes! Communication and Conflict – Buchanan Hall Whenever two people come together and start to communicate, there is the potential for conflict. Misunderstandings, miscommunications, misperceptions and misreading of other personalities. In all these and more…we see conflict arise in our friendships, our workplaces, our homes, and in our church life too. No big surprise here to God. The Bible lists many examples of people in conflict and many helpful instructions too for how to defuse conflict in a positive way. This 6 week class will help us in practical ways (and humorous at times too!) to Define what Scripture says about conflict and authentic communication Discover our own personal conflict style and positive steps you can take for confronting conflict Describe what Biblical reconciliation looks like, and the real-life skills to practice it. Whatever your age and however long you have been in church life, come and be a part. Led by Pastor Jim Smith and Dan Meguin, we meet around discussion tables in Buchanan Hall. Kingdom Living – Family Wisdom from Proverbs 3 – Classroom BH-1 This is both a discussion class and small group rolled into one. Sharing life together as young couples and parents of children, this group meets in Classroom BH-1. Come and share coffee and light breakfast to start, and be part of developing the wisdom from Proverbs as it applies to home life with marriage and children. Look for monthly special celebration and fellowship times Sunday mornings, plus special helpful workshops through the year offering practical life skills. This is group formed in a new way to share life together and invite others to join them in their marriages and home life as Christians. Updates for Facilities Policies One of our accomplishments in 2014 in managing our building and grounds as wise stewards has been to update our building and grounds policies. Through the Spring, Summer and Fall, the Trustees and Pastor Jim have been reviewing, revising and clarifying our operating policies covering space and the reservation process for facilities. It had been some time since these had been reviewed in full and in consultation with staff and other ministry leaders, we now have brought updates to them across the board. Policies have been updated, new ones drafted, reservation forms refreshed and we have brought continuity and consistency in responding to requests with a new schedule. If you would like to see these revised versions, please drop by the office and see Gina our secretary. In the near future we'll be posting these policies and forms on the church website for digital access too. If you are planning a church program event, as before, please contact the office so we can coordinate your event in light of the larger church schedule. Those seeking space for a personal, non-church, please contact the office as well. Gina can assist you with the applicable request form for the Trustees review and answer any questions you may have. Dorcas and Flannelgraph The members of the Dorcas and Flannelgraph would like your help. They are still in need of new members. To help Dorcas, you would not necessarily have to physically join them on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 2:30. You could work from home to aid in their efforts to help the poor and needy. If you can sew, knit or crochet, they can use you. Five people from our church work from home and six meet regularly in the Dorcas room. Flannelgraph meets on Tuesdays as well from 10am-2pm. They could use help with set up and take down, cutting out the figures as well as painting. Both groups join together for lunch and fellowship every week. Speak with Ann Van Wie or Carol Versocki to learn more - or just stop by on a Tuesday! Have you found our Prayer Shawls in the Foyer Yet? Individuals make tiny prayer shawls that can be carried in a pocket, purse, or bag; stored in a small space; or even used as a bookmark. The shawls are covered with prayer by the one who makes them while they are being made, when they are placed in the distribution basket, and even after they are taken by someone. People can help themselves to a shawl from the basket. At difficult times, or even at any time, it can be held while praying and bring comfort knowing that there is support available. The shawls are not a special item with power to solve problems. They are a tangible reminder that the Lord is able to love, comfort, provide strength, etc. and that His Body, the Church is also there. All we need to do is ask in prayer. Scripture Memory and Relationships Please join us in memorizing Colossians 3:1-17. We are told in this section of scripture to take off our old self, which is focused on earthly things and to put on the new self, which is “being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” We are called to work on replacing our thoughts about earthly things with the Word of God, letting it “dwell in us richly”. As we memorize scripture and meditate on it, our minds start becoming more focused on God’s purpose for us; to be reconciled to Him and be in relationship with Him, so he can free us to stop being so focused on ourselves and thus learn to love Him and others, as he loved us, sacrificially. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29) Colossians 3:1-17 3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Getting Acquainted Luncheon If you are a new attendee or visitor, we would like to invite you and your family to join us for a casual luncheon after the Worship Service on Sunday, February 8th. The Staff and Church Elders at EGCC are excited that you have been joining us and we look forward to getting to know you better. There will be an opportunity for us to present our ministries and to answer any questions that you may have about our church. EGCC Christian Preschool It’s that time again! We are already planning for the next school year! We have an Open House scheduled on Tuesday, February 10th from 6 8pm and another on Saturday, February 28th from 10am - 12pm. We are offering the regular 2 day class for 3-year-olds and an optional third day if there is sufficient enrollment. The 4-year-old classes are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning and afternoon. There is also an enhanced class on Tuesday afternoons. If you or someone you know would like more information, please call 399-6894, or email us at [email protected]. Non Profit Org U.S. Postage Paid Burnt Hills, NY Permit No. 5 335 Saratoga Road Glenville, NY 12302 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED EGCC Information Staff Sunday School: 9:00am Worship: 10:30am Senior Pastor: Rev. James Smith Location: 335 Saratoga Rd. Glenville, NY 12302 Phone: 399-3151 Preschool: 399-6894 New Fax #: 631-6673 Email: [email protected] Check out our Church Website @ www.egcchurch.org Assistant Pastor: Rev. Phil Sears Dir. of Children’s Ministries Susan Perregaux Dir. Of Preschool Linda Wachtel Dir. of Student Ministries Travis Phillips Dir. of Worship Ministries: Sandie Wanamaker Administrative Assistant: Gina Vendetti
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