` 120 WEST MAIN STREET, NEW HOLLAND, PA 17557 Church Phone: 717-354-0226 Church Fax: 717-354-7942 Website: http://nhumc.us/ Pastor: Ray Voran Pastor Email: revoran@gmail.com
JULY 2013 We talked about the parable of the tenants in Matthew 21 on June 16. You may remember that I said there was more going on in that passage than we could talk about in one service (in fact, I seem to recall that we got out kind of late even though the pastor did not try to cover everything). One worthwhile lesson from these verses I did not talk about that day is found in verse 42. At the conclusion of the parable, Jesus asks His listeners this simple question, “Haven’t you ever read what the Scriptures say?” He goes on to explain how the Bible says that He is the cornerstone on which all is built regardless of how people react towards Him. Another way to say this would be … Jesus is the glue that holds it all together even when society tries to tear Him (and us) apart. It is great for us to remember that we worship and serve the One who is the Rock and the Foundation. We can rest assured that our faith is not misplaced. Even if the opinion polls show that the majority of people believe Jesus is irrelevant, He still holds it all together! Think of Jesus’ words once again though. “Haven’t you ever read what the Scriptures say?” His listeners should have already known this because the Bible (and, of course, He is talking about the Old Testament here) tells us. There are many ways that we learn about God. Nature, His creation, teaches us about Him; church traditions help us to learn the truth about God; we experience God’s presence in our own lives. There are times, however, when we may be left with questions, unsure of our faith. Rich Mullins wrote the line in one of his songs – “I will never doubt His promise, though I doubt my heart, I doubt my eyes.” There may be times when it does not feel like God’s promises are true or that it does not look like God can be trusted; but at those times I will choose to have faith because I know that God’s promises are always valid. And, of course, those promises are found in His Word – the Bible. I think that is why Jesus asks the question. There are many valid and important ways to know and worship God, but we find His promises and the Good News in the Bible. May we all pick it up and read it today! Blessings,
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Pastor Ray Our Worship Service starts at 9:00 a.m. every Sunday. Sunday School is at 10:15 a.m.
encouraged to come, lend a hand, as we complete yardwork for shut-ins and other projects. Regular IGNITE worship services will resume on September 7.
Contacting Pastor Ray ~ email: revoran@gmail.com Home: (717) 656-0812 Cell: (717)333-6939 Look for me on Facebook: Ray Voran
Regular Events Knepper Care Group – First and Third Mondays, 7:00 p.m. Naval Care Group – Second and Fourth Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. Bazaar Workshops – Second and Fourth Tuesdays, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Community Senior Center – Second Thursday, 10:00 a.m. Seniors meet at Yoder’s Restaurant – Third Saturday, 11:15 a.m. Burgers-n-Bibles –First Thursday, 11:30 am, at Wendy’s Restaurant LUMINA ministry – Second Thursday ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Special July Events Independence Day – July 4 IGNITE service project – July 13 Vacation Bible School – each Sunday at 10:15 a.m.
Ignite News Due to busy summer schedules for those involved, the IGNITE Service will not be meeting regularly throughout the summer. We WILL meet on two occasions, July 13 and August 24, for service projects. Everyone is 2
Discipleship Opportunity! A New Class Coming Up! I shared with the Church Council in May that we are planning a small group discipleship training opportunity. This will be based on Rick Warren’s “40 Days of Purpose.” You will hear more about it in the coming months (we will likely begin around the middle of October). This is just to let you know that it is coming. I believe we all benefit by becoming better disciples of Jesus Christ (that is our calling after all – to be and to make disciples). As we strive to reach those in the community with the Good News of the Gospel, it just makes sense that we also are growing in that Good News. Stay tuned for more information! -- Pastor Ray
Hear ye, Hear ye
Gary, and Loretta for their faithful visits. Blessings to everyone! – Dottie Baer
Thank
you! Your cards, calls, and prayers have been very much appreciated. Please know that they have meant a great deal to us. God’s blessings! -- Bert and Roy Schroll
Kingdom Rock is here at NHUMC for 2013 VBS! Every Sunday at 10:15 a.m., children and adults alike are welcome to join in Kingdom Rock Vacation Bible School! We hope to see you there!
I
would like to thank everyone for your prayers and cards during my recent hospital stay. Also the visits from Pastor Ray and Loretta and Gary Zimmerman were appreciated. -- Dorothy Weidman
Thank-you! ~The Christian Education Committee
We, the NOW committee, would like
Free Community Meals 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. July 18, 2013
to thank all who helped make the annual book sale a success. We are thankful and appreciated all who gave of their time in setting up, sorting, working at the sale, signs, etc. (you know who you are). We were able to raise $801.00 for the RED BIRD MISSION in Kentucky. May God have all the glory for the great success it was! Thank you all again! -- NOW
Third Thursday of every month Ranck’s United Methodist Church at the New Holland United Methodist Church Dinner is served with all ages welcome. -- Dee Kopicz, Outreach Chair at Ranck’s
Thank you to Tim Hess, Julie Mitton, Liz Lennon, Pat Williams and all the rest who worked hard to turn our adult Sunday school classroom into a castle for VBS this summer. It looks wonderful. Great job, everyone! -- Pastor Ray
Thank you for all your birthday wishes and a special thank-you to Jane, Dolly, 3
United Methodist Church (610-223-8207)
SERVER SCHEDULE FOR THIS MONTH Nursery July July July July
7 14 21 28
Liz, Mark Lennon & Sharma Menard Barb Mask and Nesta Petit-ton Donna Sandoe and Neika Boisrond Selma Wells and Nick Boisrond
4 Lay Readers July July July July
7 14 21 28
Joyce Wilbur Tim Hess Cindy White John Mask
Birthdays: July 5 Pat Wissler July 5 Bob McLean July 5 Tracey Hess July 10 Dorothy Weidman July 13 Collin Corrie July 16 Barbara Mask July 16 Alice Weiler July 17 Betty Heal July 20 Lynne Corrie July 24 Shirley Givler July 28 Marvin Mondesir Anniversaries: July 3 Harry & Charlotte Maclay July 7 Bob & Shirley Fitzcharles th
Have a great July 4 !
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Please call the church office (354-0226) so we can update our records if your name was missed.
Prayer and Praise
• Thomas Stauffer, III, age 15, recovering
from heart surgery • Mitch Kraeling, 22-yr. old nephew of Diane Artus, who is fighting bone cancer • Bert Schroll, recovering from surgery • Victims and family of the Oklahoma tornado • Retea Pagdanganan (a senior at GSHS), daughter of Yvonne Stolzfoos’ coworker, brain surgery treatment • Ron White, neighbor of Sandi Rapp, receiving cancer treatment • Stena Mc Carty, friend of Virgina Meck, stage 4 cancer • Judy Fisher, friend of Virginia Meck, breast cancer • Dina McCarty, friend of Shiela Arment’s mother, stage 3 cancer • Dottie Hararas, sister of Cathy Williams, treatment for cancer • Peggy Graber, family friend of Dave and Judy Trost, treatment for cancer
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Modern Day Ten Commandments 5
6 Compiled by Chaplain of the
U.S.S. Wright Association (Ralph McComas and Gordon Heal served on this ship during their military service.)
Someone has written these beautiful words. They are like the ten commandments to follow in life all the time! 1. Prayer is not a “spare wheel” that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a “steering wheel” that directs the right path throughout the journey. 2. So why is a car’s WINDSHIELD so large and Rear View Mirror so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, Look Ahead and Move on. 3. Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes a few minutes to burn, but it takes years to write. 4. All things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it; they will not last forever. If going wrong, don’t worry; they can’t last long either. 5. Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamond! If you get a Diamond, don’t forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a base of Gold! 6. Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, “Relax, sweetheart, it’s just a bend, not the end!” 7. When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn’t solve your problems, HE has faith in your abilities. 8. A blind person asked St. Anthony: “Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?” He replied: “Yes, losing your vision!” 9. When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, 6
when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you. 10. WORRYING does not take away tomorrow’s TROUBLES; it takes away today’s PEACE.
Lessons Life Taught Me Written by Regina Brett, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio
To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. My odometer rolls over to 91 in August, so here is my column once more: 1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch. 5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagreee. 7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone. 8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it. 9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. 10. When it come to chocolate, resistance is futile. 11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present. 12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry. 13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it. 15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry – God never blinks. 16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. 17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful. 18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger. 19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
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21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special. 22. Over prepare, then go with the flow. 23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple. 24. The most important sex organ is the brain. 25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. 26. Frame every so-called disater with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’ 27. Always choose life. 28. Forgive everyone everything. 29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time. 31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 33. Believe in miracles. 34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do. 35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. 36. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young. 37. Your children get only one childhood. 38. All that truly matters in the end is that you are loved. 39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. 40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back. 41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 42. The best is yet to come … 43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 44. Yield. 45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.