Annandale Reformed Church New Life Community
CONNECTIONS
Web Site: www.annandalereformedchurch.org
Our Mission Statement
We are a family in Christ called together by the Holy Spirit to serve God in our community. We are placed here to worship, to nurture and serve, and to make the joyous life in Jesus Christ more accessible to our neighbors.
October 2014 Vol 25, No 10
9
The Pastor’s Monthly Column
"Let God Take Control"
Every day, we have to decide who’s going to be in control of our lives—us or God. The choice is always a battle.
There are things in life we want to control.
We want to make our own rules. But stress relief always starts with letting God be God.
It starts with saying, “God, I’m giving up control to you, because we cannot control the things that are yours.”
Psalm 46:10 says, “Let go of your concerns! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth.”
None of us know what we’re going to face this week.
But we already know what God wants us to do: Let go, and know God will do God’s share. Let go of control, and know God is in control. Let go, and know!
This is the first step to serenity.
Whenever we face out-of-control situations, we tend to push one of two extremes.
For some, the more out-of-control our life gets, the harder we try to control it.
Some do the opposite: We just give up! We have a pity party and invite ourselves to it.
Both of those reactions are foolish. They don’t work.
Instead of being a victim, or being hyper-controlling, we need to pray a prayer of surrender.
Millions of people pray the Serenity Prayer, which is based on the Lord’s Prayer. But most have never read the last eight lines:
“Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, taking as Jesus did this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that you will make all things right if I surrender to your will so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with you forever in the next. Amen.”
That’s where your power lies!
There is power when you surrender to God the very things of which you’ve been trying to take control.
(thanks to Pastor Rick Warren)
Roast Beef Dinner
Our Roast Beef Dinner if scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 2014
If you haven’t already done so, please take one of the flyers from the back table and place it in a strategic location to help make this a successful event. Also, tell your neighbors, your family, or even just someone who just met,
We have our “chefs” in place and look forward to a great meal.
We will again be serving buffet style and will have people on hand to help anyone who might like to have someone go up to the table to help them just carry the plate back to their table.
We will be serving dinner from 4 to 7 pm. Tickets are a s follows:
Adults $13.00
Children 5 – 12 $7.00
Children under 5 Free
Early Reminder
Nov. 2nd
It’s time for you to regain that hour of sleep that you lost in the spring.
On Nov. 2nd Daylight Savings officially begins. So before you go to bed on Sat., Nov. 1st be sure o set your clock BACK one hour. Enjoy that extra sleep.
STAY HEALTHY.
We want you all to keep healthy. Don’t forget we have the hand sanitizer on the back table for your use.
Mission of the Month
October’s Mission of the Month – Keep Helping the Iraq Refugees!
The Mission Committee is continuing our September project - sending help to Iraqis persecuted by the jihad fundamentalist Muslim group, the Islamic State (IS), formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Special media focus has been on the thousands of victimized Yazidi Kurds in Northern Iraq. These people have their own ethnic religion, Kurdish, which is distinct from Sunni and Shi’ite Muslim. Unfortunately, IS hascommitted horrific acts of genocide against the Yazidis. In fact, IS wants to clean out Iraq, and eventually other Muslim-inhabited countries, of any citizens - Christian, Kurdish, Muslim, and so forth - who will not convert to its particular fundamentalist Islamic beliefs. This means that any Iraqi who will not change religions to that of the IS is in danger of being killed.
At least 5 million Iraqis have been displaced by the IS crisis. Refugee camps have been set up, but these are becoming overly crowded as new civilians are forced to move in. The United Nations, sending in supplies to the camps, calls this one of the worst crises in this decade..
So, what can our own church do to help persecuted Iraqis? Here is what Missions has planned. An organization called the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is doing a lot for the refugees. Among other efforts, the IRC will be assisting in building new classrooms in crowded areas and planning new education programs. It is also developing community centers with counseling for traumatized children and job training for women. It is also sending out blankets and mattresses to about 6,000 displaced Iraqis. Missions is collecting monetary donations to send to IRC. Look for the envelope marked “Missions” in your church bulletins and give generously to those who need our help. For more information on IRC, please visit www.rescue.org.
Special thanks to Pastor Ken Lobb for finding the IRC online.
Bible Trivia
1 What apostle was exiled to Patmos?
2 How many years were the Israelites in Egypt>
3 What prophet was exiled in Egypt with other people from Judah?
4 What was the first instance of exile in the Bible?
5 Who was brought down to Egypt and sold to a man names Potiphar?
Answers on the calendar page!
Sunday School
Sunday School started September 21st. We had a great first class together catching up, talking about our favorite summer moments and what we hope to learn this year. I wasvery proud the children rememberedThe Lord's Prayer andThe Doxology evenafter summer vacation!
I want to thank all our returning teachers: Jeannette Betza, Alison Kipe, Courtney Lunger, and Tera Lunger. I am so thankful to all of them for returning and a special thank you to our new teacher Kevin Mulligan! Because of all their help and dedication, we are now able to have 3 classes each week throughout the year. Our3 groups are The Little Angels,The Disciples andThe Faithfuls.
Don't forget we have class every Sunday except for Christmas break. Thank you again for sharing your children with us.
The World in the eyes of Maxine!
Gift Certificates
Late summer cookouts may be over, but the holidays are just around the corner. Remember, for every $10.00 certificate that is sold the church benefits $.50. What a great fund raising event that doesn’t take any of your time, or your money.
The ladies, Sharon, Nancy or Sherry will have them during coffee hour for you to purchase yours.
Prison Ministry
We are still collecting the following items for the women at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility:
· 2015 Calendars
· Christmas Cards
· All Occasion Cards
There is a box in the narthex labeled as such for you to simply put your contribution in. If you have any questions or would like to know more about this, please contact Sharon Riddle at 908-735-5743
Wow!
What a great picnic! The weather was great, the food was great, the kids had a blast and so did everyone who was there.
Thanks to Cheryl Mulligan for spearheading this event again this year. GREAT JOB CHERYL!
Thank you to all who helped set up ,cook, and clean up.
Recipe of the Month!
We didn’t have any contributions to share with you this month. Come on, you are always bringing good things to eat either at coffee hour or at a luncheon. We would love to have you share those fabulous “secret “ recipes with us.
Did You Know?
"Stewardesses"
Is the longest word typed with only the left hand
And "lollipop"
Isthe longest word typed with your right hand.
Choir
From our Minister of Music
The invitation is still extended to anyone who enjoys singing and has considered singing in the church choir.
It is a modest commitment. Each Sunday they get together a half an hour before service andprepare for the service. Obviously, because of the time constraint, material is easy to learn.
This is a no pressure environment and our choir members enjoy praising God in a manner that has become important to them and the congregation!
Please consider this. We would like to suggest that members be at least of high school age and we think you’ll enjoy this opportunity to praise God with the talent that he gave you!
See Craig if you feel God is leading you to share that talent.
Ads for God!
God is like COKE
He's the real thing.
God is like HALLMARK CARDS
He cares enough to send His very best.
God is like TIDE
He gets the stains out that others leave behind.
God is like GENERAL ELECTRIC
He brings good things to life.
God is like SEARS
He has everything.
God is like ALKA-SELTZER
Try Him, you'll like Him.
God is like SCOTCH TAPE
You can't see Him, but you know He's there.
God is likeDELTA
He's ready when you are.
God is like ALLSTATE
You're in good hands with Him.
God is likeVO-5 Hair Spray
He holds through all kinds of weather.
God is like DIAL SOAP
Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did?
God is like the U.S. POST OFFICE
Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from His appointed destination. !
God is like Chevrolet. . . ..the heart beat of America.
God is like Maxwell House. .
Good to the very last drop.
God is like Bounty. . .
He is the quicker picker upper. . can handle the tough jobs. . and He won't fall apart on you.
Town Wide Yard Sale
Thank you so much Tera Lunger for coordinating and following through on all the arrangements for the Town Wide Yard Sale.
Also thank you for seeing that the signs were put out around the community.
The church realized a profit of $350.00 from the day.
Again, thank you so much
Ladies’ Society
The ladies sold food and drinks and had a bake sale at the town wide yard sale on Sept. 6th as well as sold other items that were donated or left over from last year. Despite the extremely hot day, they did very well. What was not sold that day was sold during coffee hour the next day. They also served hot dogs for coffee hour the following day. They would like to thank everyone who purchased items or donated items to sell. They made $329.00.
At their meeting on Monday, September 8th, they made plans for upcoming events. In October they will set tables, peel vegetables and make Cole-Slaw for the roast beef dinner.
On November 22, they will have a bake sale during coffee hour (mark your calendar!). December 8th will be their annual Christmas covered dish luncheon (more to come on this).
Upcoming events for the winter months will be additional bake sales and soup sales and April will be their annual Tricky Tray. We have a great group of ladies and would like to thank everyone for supporting their events.
All Ladies! If you would like to join this great group of ladies, just come to any of their meetings. They are always looking for more people to share fellowship with.
Greeters/Ushers
If you are interested and do not already serve being a Sunday Morning greeter/usher please see Nancy Gasparetti so that she may include you on the schedule. You can either see her on Sunday morning or give her a call at 908-213-9761
Heaven Sent
From
The Daffodil Principle
Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead "I will come next Tuesday", I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.
Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.
"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!"
My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother." "Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.
"But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this."
"Carolyn," I said sternly, "Please turn around." "It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."
After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, "Daffodil Garden." We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.