February 3 LUMC E-newsletter

Leesburg UMC February Newsletter

February 3, 2008

THIS MONTH'S ARTICLES

Lenten Season Begins

30 Pieces of Silver

Angels In Action

The Christian Church Calander

The Season of Lent

My Preparation for Easter

Monthly Announcements
Leesburg Traveler's
Choir Loft
Prisca Circle
Coffee Circle
Campbell Lebels
Everything else
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Monthly Prayer List
Monthly Shut-in Prayer List
Norma's Notes
From Lori Hearn

Monthly Announcements

Thirty Pieces of Silver

The Chair Lift

Lenten Wreath

Cooks Corner

Whose Hands It's In

Lenten Season Begins

Today, Feb. 3, marks the ending of the Epiphany season as we celebrate Transfiguration Sunday.

Why does the celebration of the Transfiguration take place just before Lent in the UM church? We celebrate the revelation of Christ’s glory “before the passion” so that we may “be strengthened to bear our cross and be changed into his likeness.”

We will also view the third session of Rob Weber “Longing To Belong” DVD. This session is entitled “What Are We Hungry For” which will focus on Holy Communion. As it is the first of the month, we will also have Holy Communion. Norma Hayes will present the special music with a Power Point Message in Music highlighting the Transfiguration Sunday scripture.

Lenten season will begin on Wed., Feb. 6 with a short Ash Wednesday Service starting at 7:00 pm.

On the second Sunday of Lent, February 10 we will have our Praise Sunday. This has been moved up one week due to the absence of the Praise Team on the third week of this month.

The third Sunday of Lent, February 17, Pastor Mike will continue with the Rob Weber fourth session of “Longing To Belong” DVD. This session is entitled “What Happens When We Pray Together?” Carol West and Helen Smoker will present the special music.

On the last Sunday of February and the fourth Sunday of Lent, we will view Rob Weber fifth session of “Longing To Belong” DVD entitled “What’s the Deal With Miracles? Because some of the choir will still be down south, Norma Hayes will again present the special music with a Power Point Message in Music.

Lenten Wreath
On Sunday, February 10th, as you enter the sanctuary, you will notice a new Lenten wreath at the altar. The wreath will contain six candles, one for each Sunday in Lent. The Advent Candle wreath contains four candles, one for each Sunday and the Christ Candle for Christmas eve. At Lent, all six candles will be lit the first Sunday, then we will extinguish a candle each week to remind us of the approaching darkness of betrayal and death.

30 Pieces of Silver
We will again collect 30 pieces of silver during the Lenten Season in remembrance of price Judas received for helping the chief priests arrest Jesus. Plastic bags will be passed out on the first two Sundays of Lent. Place one coin in the bag each day beginning February 20th and bring your 30 pieces of silver to the Maundy Thursday service, March 20th. If you are unable to attend that evening, bring your coins to one of the two Easter services, March 23.
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Angels in Action
Last Monday, several members of our church manned the “kitchen” at Tim Polk’s tractor sale in Leesburg,. Thank you, Lori Everest, for chairing the sale.

A special thanks goes to those who manned the frigid weather on Jan. 19th and Jan. 26th as they picked up the needed equipment from 6 & 15 and set up in Leesburg. Lori Everest, Ellsworth Everest a Ellsworth employee and Ron West set up for the sale on Sat. the 26th. Then the Everests’ put in a long day plowing snow for their customers after they cleared our sidewalks and parking area.

Also a special thanks to Ron West, Shirley Polk and Helen Smoker who made the chili for the sale. Ron transferred the chili to Jones for refrigeration before the sale.

The Christian Church Calendar
Are you aware that the Christian church has a calendar that focuses on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ? The calendar is organized around two major centers of Sacred Time: Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany; and Lent, Holy Week, and Easter concluding at Pentecost, also known as Ordinary Time. This year the church calendar is divided into these seasons:

Advent [Dec. 2—Dec. 24, 2007]
Christmas (The 12 days of Christmas) [Dec. 25, 2007—Jan. 5, 2008]
Epiphany [Jan. 6—Feb. 5, 2008]
Ash Wednesday [Feb. 6, 2008]
Lent [Feb. 6—March 22, 2008]
Holy Week [March 16-22, 2008]
Maundy Thursday [March 20, 2008]
Good Friday [March 21, 2008]
Easter [March 23, 2008]
Eastertide [Mar. 24—Apr.l 10, ‘08]
Pentecost [May 11—Nov. 29, 2008]

The church also uses colors to designate the changing of the seasons. The Advent season color is royal blue (we use purple) representing the coming King Jesus. On Christmas Eve, the color changes to white and gold celebrating the purity of the infant born in the manger. Epiphany also is represented by white and gold which signifies celebrations, newness and hope that God revealed himself through Jesus Christ. Starting the Lent season with Ash Wednesday through Good Friday, the color becomes purple to acknowledge the somber time of the eventual crucifixion of Jesus Christ. On Easter and the 50 days following Easter, the color changes to white celebrating the risen Lord. Pentecost Sunday is red as we remember Holy Fire of the Spirit. The color for the rest of the Pentecost or Ordinary Times season is green as it reminds us of new life and growth.

We are now in the season of Epiphany. Epiphany is the Greek word for “appearance” or revelation”. Christians commemorates the visitation of the Magi to the child Jesus on this day, January 6. In the season of Epiphany, the second Sunday, {Jan. 13} is designated as remembrance of the Baptism of the Lord by John the Baptist. The last Sunday of Epiphany is known as Transfiguration Sunday which will occur on Feb. 3 this year.

The Season of Lent
Excerpts from “Connecting Worship and Daily Living in Lent” by Daniel Benedict
[Daniel Benedict retired from the staff of the General Board of Discipleship in August 2005.
Lent is a time of preparation for the initiation of people into the Christian life in baptism. It is also a time for the church to journey together toward Easter and the reaffirmation of the baptismal covenant. Lent is not about being miserable, sad, and funereal in anticipation of Good Friday. The Sundays of Lent are not part of the forty days of Lent and so remain "little Easters," as are all Sundays. Fasting and giving up something can be part of Lenten disciplines, but so can taking on some things. How does your church help seekers and members to connect worship and daily growth in spiritual, relational, emotional, and bodily fitness?

“My Preparation for Easter" [found on the following page] is a resource that you might use to take an inward and outward journey towards Easter. Extra copies will also be found in the narthex.

Sunday is called “the eighth day” in a number of early Christian writings. This is why many baptismal fonts have eight sides. Remember that Lent is not merely about penitence, but also [and primarily] about preparation for baptism.
Easter follows a lunar, rather than a solar, calendar and is celebrated on the Sunday that follows the first full moon after March 21, the vernal (spring) equinox. Therefore Easter cannot fall earlier than March 22 or later than April 25. Between 1875 and 2124, Easter has not fallen once on March 22 and only has or will fall twice on March 23: 1913 and 2008.

My Preparation for Easter
(Check the ones you desire or feel prompted to do; circle the ones you then decide to do.)
Inward and Personal Disciplines
___ Spend time in solitude each day.
___ Read a book for inner growth.
___ Begin to keep a journal of prayer concerns, questions, reading.
___ Focus on thanksgiving, rather than on asking, in prayer.
___ Give myself a gift of three hours to do something I always say I don't have time to do.
___ Find a way to go to bed earlier or sleep in so I get enough rest.
___ Make a list of people with whom I need to be reconciled. Pray for them and let Jesus guide me in my thinking and feeling toward them.
___ Take control of my life by _______________________________________.
___ Go to all of the Holy Week services as an act of love and waiting with Jesus.
___ Take one hour to inventory my priorities and plan how I will reorder them.
___ Give up a grudge or a rehearsal of a past event.
___ Forgive someone who has hurt me.
___ Dance my prayers to a favorite tape or CD.
___ Take on some loving task.
___ Plan to visit a "shut-in" neighbor or church member weekly.
___ Write a letter of affirmation once a week to a person who has touched my life.
___ Listen and respond to Christ's call to a ministry of service.
___ Go to coffee or dinner with someone I want to know better.
___ Begin to recycle waste from my home and workplace.
___ Give blood and recall the cross.
___ Say "NO" to something that is a waste of money and time.
___ Pray to God to help me resist racial prejudice and to give me courage in opposing it.
___ Decide to become a member of the church and speak to a pastor or lay leader.
___ Rebuke the spirit of criticism and my own tongue out of control.
___ Other outward and social promptings:

As a way of being accountable, I will:
___ Share my plan with at least one other person and share with that person my experience of Lent during Holy Week.

(signed) _________________________ (date) _____________
Keep this for reference during the coming weeks.

Monthly Announcements

Leesburg Travelers
The Travelers will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 11:30 am at Pete’s Fish of Stroh in Syracuse. Please contact at Helen Smoker at 453-3729 for reservations.

Choir Loft
Because all choir members at one time or another will not be in town during Feb., Norma will be doing most of the Message in Music. Helen Smoker and Carol West will present the music on Feb. 20th. The choir will be back in the choir loft March 9th. It’s a good time to join the choir as you wouldn't have to attend any rehearsals this month!

Prisca Circle
This month the Prisca circle will go out for a Valentine Dinner with your spouse. See Norma Fawley for further details.

Coffee hour
We always need people to bring refreshments and make coffee for the enjoyment of all during the coffee hour. The sign-up sheet is located in the Fellowship Hall.

Campbell Labels:
Save your Campbell's labels, Pepperidge Farm labels, Swanson Broth labels, Franco-American labels and Prego labels. All of these labels will be used at Bashor Home.

Everything Else:
At the end of the month, remember to bring:
1) missions pennies; 2) non-perishable food and paper goods for Our Fathers House; 3) empty aluminum cans in a closed bag; and 4) medicine containers.

Birthdays and Anniversaries
Feb. 05 Dave & Lori Smoker
Feb. 06 Mick Case
Feb. 06 John Anglin
Feb. 15 Don & Judy McDermit
Feb. 16 JoAnn Pound
Feb. 18 Mary Stookey
Feb. 19 Janet Kinney
Feb. 20 Gene Marshall
Feb. 21 Thelma Kammerer
Feb. 22 Don McDermit
Feb. 25 Barbara Diehl
Feb. 26 Irene Robison
Feb. 27 Ken & Carolyn Davidson

Monthy Prayer List
February
01 Jerry Kammerer
02 Cindy Kammerer
03 Thelma Kammerer
04 Janet Kinney
05 Dick Klopenstein
06 Peggy Klopenstein
07 Paul Kramer
08 Dawn Kramer
09 Lois Kunce
10 Don McDermit
11 Judy McDermit
12 Gene Marshall
13 Jerry Martin
14 Vicki Martin
15 Louise Miller
16 Linda Mounsey
17 Burt Niles
18 George Paton
19 Judy Paton
20 Brian Payne
21 Sue Payne
22 Gary Polk
23 Josh Polk
24 Larry Polk
25 Shirley Polk
26 Loren Pound
27 JoAnn Pound
28 Pat Rader
29 Maxine Robison
March
01 Irene Robison
02 Melanie Rooney
03 Iva Marie Rosbrugh
04 JoJo Sheler
05 Josephine Shively
06 Betty Smith
07 Peg Smith
08 Julie Smoker

Shut-In Prayer List
Week of:
Feb. 03-09 Melba Fawley
Feb. 10-16 Norman Jeffers
Feb. 17-23 Betty Hetler
Feb. 24-01 Les Boughner
Mar. 02-08 Tom Manges

During the year we pray for one member or constituent member in our congregation each day. We also remember and pray for one shut-in or member who needs extra loving care each week by sending them cards, calling them, visiting them and praying for them.

Ongoing Prayer List
Norman Jeffers, (Peggy Ciula's father); Bob Long, (in rehab); Robin Watters, (broken leg); Joanne Foster, (hip replacement); Marilyn Hartman, (recuperating from surgery); Les Boughner, (Verlyn Hearn's uncle in TX, serious health problems); Melba Fawley, (Charles mother, serious health problems); Gordon Naylor, (Malcolm's father in England, has cancer of the bladder); Marsha Grimm, (HoJo's niece, rare leg bone cancer); Maxine Robinson, (heart problems and re-occurring cancer); Tom Manges, (Carol West's brother, very slow recovery after leg amputation); Betty Hetler, (lung problems); Andon Zehring, (22 month old son of Brian & Janelle Zehring); Peter Dudley, (5 yr. old great nephew of Helen Smoker and Ellsworth Everest); Marjorie West, Irene Robison, Pat Rader, Max Anglin; Virginia Huffman; Dr. John and Harriet Arford; Burt Niles; Norma Walters; and Josephine Shively.

Prayer Update
Andon Zehring
Last month Andon went back to Riley for testing. They again found growth in his cancer. After further testing, they started Andon on a new type of chemo treatment. After initial treatments, it was decided that Andon could go to Goshen for continued treatments. The family is elated that Andon is not experiencing adverse effects from his treatments.

Norman Jeffers
Norman Jeffers, Peggy Ciula’s father’s, health has deteriorated in the past month and is now in Westminster Village in Muncie. He also has been in St. Vincent’s hospital in Indy two times this past month. Peggy and Rocky also need our prayers as they continue to work in Warsaw, then spend their weekends with Peggy’s father and mother in Muncie.

Marilyn Hartman
Marilyn is now at home and is able to go out on occasion. Her joyful outlook on life is very uplifting when you speak with her.

Other Updates
Please keep Pastor Mike or the office updated on the people who are on the Prayer List.

Norma’s Notes
Again, as a reminder, I am locking the doors unless I know that a meeting has been scheduled in the church or if I know that you are going to be coming to the church. If you can’t reach me on the church phone, please call me on my cell phone: 265-8230. Thanks

If your are still receiving your newsletter through the mail, but have an e-mail address, would you consider having the newsletter sent to you through your e-mail? I know that it’s a small reduction in mailing and printing, but, every little bit does help our budget.

From Lori Hearn
My family and I really appreciated your cards, thoughts and prayers you gave me during my recent recuperation from a broken shoulder. I’m happy to report that I am able to return to my normal life. Thank you, LUMC, for your loving care. Lori

Our Sympathy
The LUMC congregation extends our sympathy to Virginia Huffman and her family on the passing of Wally on Jan. 11, one day before their 65 anniversary.

The Chair Lift
As many of you know, Lori and Keith Everest have been trying to find someone who will be able to repair the upstairs chair lift. The chair lift was repaired once, but in only two weeks, it again “froze up” and is again inoperable. Lori is still waiting for a reply from a company to see if they can repair our 30 plus year old chair lift. We are sorry for the inconvenience that the broken chair lift is causing several in our congregation.

January Attendance

Jan. 06 42
Jan. 13 45
Jan. 20 39
Jan. 27 41

Totals 167
Average 42
Financial Information
At his time, I do not have information to publish in the newsletter. However, I do know that we are up to date with our current expenses.

Cooks Corner

Cavatini

Submitted by Lori Everest
1/2 lb. ground sausage
1/4 c. chopped onion
1/2 pkg. pepperoni
1 small can mushrooms
3/4 jar spaghetti sauce
8 oz. curly or rigatoni noodles
2 c. mozzarella cheese
Sauté sausage, pepperoni and onion until done. Drain. Add mushrooms and spaghetti sauce. Simmer for 10 minutes. Cook and drain the noodles as directed on package. Add the noodles to the above mixture. Put mixture in a small casserole dish. Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serves 6-8 people.

Garlic Toast

Submitted by Lori Everest
Soak both sides of white bread with garlic butter. Sprinkle lots of parmesan cheese on both sides. Bake at 350 degrees until brown and crisp.

Whose Hands It’s In

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.

A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.

It depends whose hands it's in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.

A baseball in Mark McGuire's hands is worth $19 million.

It depends on whose hands it's in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.

A tennis racket in Venus Williams' hands is a championship winning.

It depends whose hands it's in.

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.

A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.

It depends whose hands it's in.

A sling shot in my hands is a kid's toy.

A sling shot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.

It depends whose hands it's in.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands.

It depends whose hands it's in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.

Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world.

It depends whose hands it's in.

As you see now it depends whose hands it's in.

So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because. . .

It depends whose hands it's in.

This message is now in your hands.

What will YOU do with it?

It Depends on Who's Hands it's in!!