Pastor’s Corner
It’s not only the church season of Epiphany but it is also the season of reflection. We come storming out of the whirlwind of Christmas stuff right into a season of some serious thinking.
The start of the New Year always seems to be a time that we take a fresh look at our lives and try to set new goals. But the days are cold and dreary and we’re already struggling with resolutions not met. The weather and guilt grind us and make us stop to ponder and ask: Just who am I in this life and world? Thinking….I hope that who I am isn’t dependent on the pounds that I’ll lose this year. Thinking….who we are cannot ultimately be found in celebrations and gifts like we enjoyed during Christmas. Thinking….who we are cannot hinge upon the family and friends that we visited during the holidays. So who are we really?
Who we are is found in God, who came to be who we are. In His baptism Jesus becomes who we are to be on His way to the cross for the sake of our salvation. In our baptism Christ connects Himself to His baptism: “We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4) That’s who we really are, no matter the season…
Hey! Come to think of it, that is our Epiphany!
Thanks, Thoughts, and Healing Mercies
Last week, while enduring another examination at my hospital in Boston, I witnessed a miracle: I was blessed with the news that my cancer, which was terminal, is in complete remission. My family and I thank you, our church family, for all of your prayers, offers of help, and kind words of advice and encouragement.
Although this has been a long, difficult, and uncertain ordeal, (lasting nearly a year) we all agree that it would be have been unbearable without Christ. We have had our faith tested, but come away with a much firmer understanding of God's grace. For instance, all those in the Bible who died, either died in or out of faith--there was no in between. I cannot help but think of all those Christ healed in the Gospels: they weren't healed because they were more worthy or deserving, but because Jesus was showing Himself to be the Son of God. I'm not more worthy of receiving His healing mercies than another, but He has shown that He is God With Us, especially in our afflictions and tribulation. He shows us His hand at work for all to see. He is with us! Praise the Lord, and thank you for your prayers, love, and concern. God bless you and continue to bless our church.
Amen,
Bill Corrow
Election 2010
On Sunday, January 17, the congregation elected the following members to serve on the Church Council for 2010:
President – Jim Stone
Vice President – Scott Morgan
Secretary – Ken Bailey
Treasurer – Stacie Whaley
Elders – Tim Dienst, John Currier & Ken Bailey
Ellie Corrow will continue as our Sunday School Superintendent. “Thank You” to all who served as officers and on committees during the past year and to those who continue to serve or who have accepted new offices.
Relief for Haiti
by Sandy Dienst
By now you all know about the devastation caused by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th and by the aftershocks. At this time the number of dead is estimated at over 200,000 with an additional 250,000 injured. It is also estimated that there are approximately 1.5 million people left homeless.
As Christians, we know that our primary means of help for those affected by this type of disaster is prayer. But our financial help is also needed. If you are able and wish to donate toward the disaster relief in Haiti, here are some safe ways to make your donation while also helping to spread God’s Word.
Samaritan’s Purse ~
You may remember Samaritan’s Purse as being the organization behind the Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts that we put together at Christmas time. Samaritan’s Purse was also actually the first responder to the devastation in Haiti since they have a continuing mission there bringing faith, hope, health and education to the poor. You may donate and read more about their efforts in Haiti online at www.samaritanspurse.org, or you can mail or call in your donation to :
Samaritan's Purse
P.O. Box 3000
Boone, NC 28607
Phone (828) 262-1980
LCMS World Relief and Human Care ~
LCMS World Relief and Human Care is the international relief branch of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. They work together with their Lutheran partners to supply emergency food, supplies and medical teams to the stricken area. You may donate to LCMS World Relief online at www.lcms.org.
Or mail donations marked “Haiti Earthquake Relief” to:
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Attn: LCMS World Relief and Human Care
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-6861
Or donate by phone: (888)930-4438
*** Special Note to Thrivent Financial Members ***
If you are a member of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Thrivent will make a 50% match of your donation to LCMS World Relief and Human Care for “Haitian Relief” up to $250 per member! This is a great opportunity for your donation to go even further in helping the people of Haiti. Go to www.Thrivent.com for more details.
World Gospel Mission ~
Thad and Ruth Gouge, extended members of the Schumacher family of our congregation, are currently missionaries with the World Gospel Mission in Honduras. This organization also has a presence in Haiti and is now providing much-needed shelter, food and care for those displaced by the earthquake. If you wish to donate toward the efforts of the World Gospel Mission as they spread the Word of God and provide disaster relief throughout the world, please mark your check either “For the Gouges in Honduras” or “Relief in Haiti” and mail to:
World Gospel Mission
PO Box 948
Marion, IN 46952
Phone: (765)664-7331
You can also make your contribution online and learn more about the work of World Gospel Mission at www.wgm.org.
A From Christmas Decorating to Spring Cleaning
by Kristin Belding
A big “Thank You” to all of the families who stayed to help decorate the sanctuary on December 13th and then to un-decorate on January 10th. A special ”Thank You” to Wendy Bailey for staying way after and helping to organize and clean out old music, making the back choir area of the sanctuary look much tidier.
Also a “Thank You” to Bill Corrow who supplied our beautiful Christmas tree, to those many families who donated poinsettias for the altar and to Ruth Stuwe who made table-top arrangements for the entryway and the fellowship hall. The church looked just lovely this Christmas season!
As a result of this early “spring cleaning”, we have quite a few items not ready for the trash. Perhaps they would be useful to someone in the congregation. A sampling of these potential treasures would be piano lesson books for beginners, bows and ribbons previously used and slightly squashed, computer keyboards, mouses and mouse pads. Take a moment to look over the items located on the big table downstairs.
Trash to Treasure
by Kristin Belding
A thrift shop in a Montpelier church (Trinity Methodist) recently advertised that they could use donations: hats, mittens, scarves and also old cassette tapes, DVDs and CDs. Since I had never heard of anyone interested in old cassette tapes, I called to make sure, and the response was “Yes, they are good sellers at the shop.”
Instead of tossing out all those old tapes, let's donate them to TMC. I'll be happy to transport them there.
Women in Mission – LWML
By Ruth Stuwe
On Tuesday, December 29th, the last Tuesday of the month, the ladies of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League celebrated Jesus' birth with a light supper consisting mainly of hors d'oeuvres and desserts. Following our light supper, Ellie Corrow, led us in a timely devotion. Then we proceeded with a candlelight ceremony which retold the birth of Jesus through the lighting of many different candles representing the various characters surrounding the CHRISTmas story. We sang Christmas carols and read Bible passages. We then ended the evening with each of us receiving our own little white candle to represent the "Good News" that we are to spread throughout the world. We were once again reminded that there are no more shepherds who will spread the news of Christ's birth. It is up to us!
On Tuesday, January 26, 2010, we will again meet at 6pm for a light supper and fellowship at church, followed by a Bible study led by Ellie Corrow. This is a wonderful opportunity for the women of the congregation to get to know each other better, and also to grow in God's Word. We are still collecting "mites" for our New England District and International LCMS mission projects. If you have not received a little mite box, please ask for one that evening. See you there!
Women’s Guild Movie Night
Tuesday, February 2nd, 6:00 PM
Community Lutheran Church
Featured Presentation ~
“Friendly Persuasion”
This 1956 film, starring Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire and Anthony Perkins, chronicles the life and trials of an Indiana Quaker family during the Civil War.
Join us for an enjoyable evening at the movies. Of course there will be popcorn and other theater favorites for you to munch on. Questions??? Please contact Sandy Dienst.
A Father’s Love
by Mike Schumacher
As we age, the line of memories becomes larger than what lies ahead, and the memories that stick are often such inconspicuous actual events. You wonder, “Why do I remember that?”
When I was a boy of six or and we kids were sent to bed. Later on, my Dad sneaked into my room on tip-toe. For some reason, I pretended to be asleep. I don’t know why I did that, but I’m glad I did because the most wonderful thing happened.
My Dad crept over to my bed and rearranged my covers, then bent down and gave me a kiss on the forehead before he crept out. Such an unimportant moment, seemingly.
But after that, I knew for certain my Dad loved me, more surely than I had before. He did not kiss me to see my smile, or to teach me he loved me, or for any other reason than the simple fact that he loved me. He was (he thought) the only one awake in the room, and he kissed me out his love for me. I (he thought) wouldn’t even know…He just had to do it to express his love. It made me feel very secure, and the memory sticks.
Later in life, this long-ago minute in my life became a parable to me. God so loved us. Just like kissing a sleeping boy; while we were yet sinners…asleep…He sent His Son to die. He didn’t do it to be thanked (though we are thankful) or to be praised (though we do praise Him). From His heart of love, while we were yet sinners, He kissed us just because His love for us impelled Him to do it. That, too, makes me feel secure. Our Father loves us. He kissed us while we slept.
* * * * *
Note from our Treasurer, Stacey Whaley
December 2009 Financials:
Total Income $ 8,649.00
Total Expenses 6,061.31
Net Gain $ 2,587.69
Statements of Contribution for 2009 for amounts totaling $250 or greater have been mailed. If you have any questions, please give Stacey a call. Thank you for your generosity to Williamstown Lutheran Church during the past year.
Next Newsletter Deadline…
Tuesday, February 16th
Please email committee reports, prayer requests “Good News” articles, announcements of upcoming events, and other items of interest to sdienst@pshift.com
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