November 2009 Good News!
AN URGE TO BE ANONYMOUS
When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your . . . deed may be in secret. —Matthew 6:3-4
The urge to misbehave and the desire to be anonymous always visit me together. Like partners making a sales call, they do their best to convince me that I can afford to do something wrong because I won’t have to pay.
Human nature tells us to use the cover of anonymity to avoid taking the blame for the bad things we do. God, however, tells us something else. He wants us to use anonymity to avoid taking credit for the good that we do (Matt. 6:4). Why is it that the urge to remain anonymous seldom accompanies my desire to do good!
The Bible says we’re not to let one hand know the good that the other is doing (vv.3-4). In other words, within the body of Christ our deeds of charity should be done without calling attention to ourselves. This does not mean, however, that God wants good deeds to remain hidden; it just means that they should be done in a way that makes a good name for God, not ourselves.
When we volunteer our services or make donations to churches and organizations that do good work in the name of Jesus, we receive something much better than honor from our peers. We receive rewards from God, and God receives glory from others! (1 Peter 2:12).
God bless you and keep you and give you His love;
God prosper your labor with help from above.
Be His strength in your arm and His love in your soul,
His smile your reward and His glory your goal. —Anon.
When we serve in Jesus’ name, He gets the glory.
By Julie Ackerman Link, from “Our Daily Bread”
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2009/11/01/devotion.aspx
| Date | Birthday | Anniversary |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Charlie Teets | |
| 9 | Larry Longenecker Philip White | |
| 11 | Virginia Parish | |
| 17 | Barbara Herndon | |
| 19 | Arnold Churchill | |
| 20 | Theresa Porto-Norcross | |
| 21 | Aiden White | |
| 22 | Jim McIntosh | |
| 24 | Clay Maxwell | Anthony & Doris Lambusta |
| 25 | Dot Norton | |
| 27 | Ruth McKenzie | |
| 28 | Ken Cunningham |
ABWM MEETING
Calling all women in our church! Our first meeting of the year will be on November 18th at 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM in the ECC Ministries Building. Come experience the friendship and fellowship of the women in our church. Hear what the new ABWM study theme for the next 2 years will be. Help plan our annual All Church Christmas Party. Bring a sandwich; dessert and beverage provided. See you there!
PIE CONTEST
The winner of the pie Contest” held at the supper on October 24th was Rosalie Longenecker for her southern pecan pie. Ummmmm, good!!!
STUFF WE CAN USE
- Toilet Tissue
- (Always in need — do people eat this stuff?)
- Paper Towels – Rolls
- Copy Paper–any quantity, any color
- Bleach
- Hand Soap
- A/C Filters – 24×24 & 20×20
- 9 oz. Cold Drink Cups
If you can help with any of these items, please bring them to church with you on Sunday morning and place them in the foyer. Any donation, large or small will help the church to stay within the budget. Thanks for all that has been contributed to date.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
For October
For Coffee Hour:
Donuts; Don & Jo Ellen Truchan; Evelyn Ahn, Virginia Parrish & Jerry Faticanti; Irene Norcross & Betsy Starkman.
For Greeters:
Betty Russell, Bob & Nola Wilson, Vicky Cyphers, John & Joycelyn Carter.
For Worship Leader:
Ruth Warren, Chuck DeMola, Bob Wilson & John Carter.
For Flowers:
Vicky Cyphers, Rosalie & Larry Longenecker, Jane Coatney, Paul & Barbara Norcross.
SOUP’ER SUPPER AND AUCTION
The Supper and auction is scheduled for Saturday, January 30th at 6 p.m. Again this year we are looking forward to a great social with an auction for fun and a few laughs.
Plan now to attend. Don’t worry about the auction. We will be doing things the same way as we did last year with a combination “Silent Auction” and a short live auction of a few mystery items just for fun. If you have any items for the silent auction please speak to the pastor or someone from the Program/Ministry Team. Some auction ideas include restaurant gift cards, rounds of golf, a couple nights at a resort, or a Christmas gift you’d be willing to donate instead of going through the hassle of returning.
BOOK CLUB SCHEDULE
The book Club will be continuing in November and beyond. We hope see you there for one or all discussions.
We meet at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.
November 11th – “Knit Too”, by Kate Jacobs at Irene Norcross’
December 2nd –“ Finding Noel” by Richard Paul Evans. TBS
January 13th- “Here If You Need Me” by Kate Braestrup. TBS
February 10th – “Still Alice” by Lisa Genova. TBS
(If you would like to host the Book Club please let Linda DeMola know.)
FAITH EXPLORATION
After the Holiday season we will be starting a “Faith Exploration” experience. This will be an opportunity to ask questions about the nature of God and the role of faith in your life. We want to do this in a setting that will encourage openness, questioning, and doubt. There will be no “expectations” or “responsibilities” — just to be open to what God might have in store.
To facilitate the process, you are asked to pick up a cop of The Shack, by Wm. Paul Young and read it over the next couple months. The book is available at most bookstores or on-line through Barnes and Nobel or Amazon.com.
FOOD TABLE FOR RCS
Each November we set up our Thanksgiving table to collect food items for the RCS Food Bank. With 5 Sunday’s this month plus the November 14th Community Concert we should have a table overflowing. Please bring your items any Sunday – all nonperishable foods and paper products welcome. We would like to have an “overflowing bounty” already in place when we host the community Concert on Saturday, Nov. 14th. Thank you.
CAN YOU FIND SIXTEEN BOOKS OF THE BIBLE????
I once made a remark about the hidden books of the bible. It was a lulu. Kept people looking so hard for facts and for others it was quite a revelation. Some people were in a jam. Especially since the names of the books were not capitalized. But the truth finally struck home to a number of readers. To others it was a real job. It should be a most fascinating few moments for you. Yes, there will be some really easy ones to spot. Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit it usually takes a minister to find one word and there will be loud lamentations when it is found. One little lady says she brews a cup of tea to help her concentrate. See how well you can compete. Relax and see how many of the sixteen names of books of the bible you can find in this story. One preacher found fifteen names in twenty minutes but took three weeks to find the sixteenth. Good luck!!!!!
CHURCH WOMEN UNITED
November 6, 2009 is CWU World Community Day Celebration.
Place: Curlew United Methodist Church
Time: Registration 9:30 AM Program 10:00 AM
Theme: “Piecing Earth Together”
Resources to study environmental issues and ways to join together to make a difference will be presented. Come be a part of this multi-denominational women’s group in our area. See Robbie McIntosh for additional information.
TRIED AND TRUE RECIPES
“I have been meaning to write and tell you how much I loved the cookbook! Not only does it have such wonderful recipes, but is the most attractive church cookbook I have ever seen.”
“The layout is incredible and the pages in front of each section provide such helpful hints!”
We are hearing comments like those above from several folks who have purchased the cookbooks. With the holidays fast approaching, they are a special gift idea for only $10. Everyone likes good food.
If you are not in the local area and want to take part in this fundraiser, please send your payment to the church, and we will get them right out to you. Shipping is $4 per book unless you are ordering more than 4 copies to be sent to one address. In that case contact Mary or Linda for shipping costs.
C.B.F. GATHERING
On Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. the Tampa Bay Area Fellowship Cluster will gather for Dinner, Entertainment and a brief report on “Missions with CBF of Florida — Sunshine Style.” Church of the Beatitudes in St. Petersburg and Pastor Phil Miller-Evans have agreed to host this wonderful evening.
There is a flyer on the bulletin board with more information. If needed, we will also arrange transportation. (Paul will be going and will have room in his car.) All who wish to come, will need to make a reservation by calling the church or the pastor by Monday, November 9th so that he can forward the information to the CBF.
INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING SERVICE
The annual service will be held on Monday, November 23rd, 7:00 p.m. at All SAints Catholic Church on Curlew Road (east of US 19). This is always a special time for our congregation as well as for the community. Please make plans now to attend, and invite your neighbors. As plans get finalized, there will be more details in the weekly Sunday bulletins.
NOTE FROM MICHAEL SMITH
Greetings and best wishes to you!
Elspeth and I are doing just fine after three weeks in Kabul. Our two cats finally arrived via Germany and the United Arab Emirates. Elsepth and I flew to Dubai from Kabul on Sunday night and brought them back with us early Monday morning. They are happy, though slightly miffed at the inconvenience we have caused them. We’re happy to have the cats from home in our new Kabul home with us.
The recent tragedy in Kabul which has been on the news indicates the problems when a relatively small group of terrorists can cause so much harm and loss of life in a country that is struggling to get on its feet. But despite the attack on the UN guest house, the general feeling among ex-pats in Kabul is that the situation is relatively safe. The University is in session with classes being held as scheduled. We have increased security and are taking precautions for the faculty and staff and students. The chances are that there will be more violence before the run-off elections on November 7. The intention of the Taliban is to disrupt the election and cause a low voter turnout.
There is concern here that the US may be losing the will to stay with Afghanistan as this country struggles to get on its feet and develops its own army and police force to maintain its own security. We hope that the US resolve continues, despite the costs to the US. This is a critical country, and security here touches on security issues that go well beyond this country and this region. Also, the US presence here has had a huge impact–not just the military presence but especially the aid that is behind the development of the economy, the education of women, the reform of the civil service, the creation of jobs, the enhancement of the judicial system and rule of law, and the development of infrastructure.
In a few days I will send an update on what has been going on here.
The biggest adjustment for us is the cold weather after so many years in Florida, the Middle East, and Africa. We expect snow in November!
Please give our best wishes to all and our appreciation for the thoughts and prayers.
Best wishes, Michael and Elspeth
