NEWSLETTER
February 2011
TO ALL THE GOOD AND GENTLE
FOLKS OF THE COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU:
Greetings:
I am writing this
newsletter reflection a bit early this month, since I shall be traveling to
North Carolina during the last week of January in order to pick up our car which
was on loan to our son upon his return from England. When he returned he and his
family were in need of a car, thus we let him use our second vehicle. He has now
purchased a car and we need to pick ours up. It shall be a long and perhaps
difficult trip (given the time of year), but I am certain our visits with them
and the grandchildren— even briefly—will refresh us.
As I once again write to
all of you “good and gentlefolk,” the well known (and for some infamous) winter,
endemic to these northwoods has, at last, arrived. It is a welcome sight for
those whose economic livelihood depends upon its presence and also for those of
us who welcome the beauty of God’s creation so magnificently manifest before our
very eyes. Looking out my windows, at least those which are not so frosted that
we cannot see through them, the lovely white snow blanket throughout the woods
and atop the deeply frozen lakes, as well as being on the branches of so many
evergreen trees, catches our attention bringing smiles to our faces and wonder
in our hearts and spirits. At our feeders we see birds, some large, some small,
reminding us of the complexity of this creation, a complexity which is quite
miniscule as we cast our eyes upon the vast universe(s) which surround our (in
perspective) little planet. We hear voices in restaurants, coming in from the
cold for refreshment, many of which share our amazement over this marvelous
creation and some which enjoy the sharing of time, ideas, and the simple joys of
life so clearly before us. It reminds me of some comments my mother was fond of
making as I brought her each day to the Senior Citizens Center in Dayton, Ohio.
Her comment was simple: as we drove over the small hills on the way to town,
with the sun on the horizon—coming up for the day—and the majesty of life
manifesting itself, she would frequently remark: “How can anyone say there is no
God, with all of this beauty before us.” Simple, clear, and heartfelt! I often
return to such simple thoughts when skepticism about the world in which we live,
engendered by racism, barely camouflaged, by xenophobia, sexism, and religious
bigotry and intolerance rears its ugliness in my presence. While the world we
live in has great beauty, it also has much ugliness; the world we live in has a
richness beyond imagination, but its riches are too often cast off into narrow
corridors; the world we live in has great possibility, but for those
possibilities to become reality, we, who proclaim the Christian faith and love,
must do so—in fact and deed—and not simply in word. As a very dear colleague of
mine was fond of saying: (Christian) love “is something you do, to wit: love is
“an active verb.” When we look at our world from afar—from outer space—as in the
lovely lyric sung by Bette Midler, i.e. “From a Distance” - it appears as a
beautiful marble, floating in space but distance obscures the imperfections
within its own realm. It is for us, as children of God, as God’s ambassadors of
love and grace, as God’s willing servants, to bring about the beauty, peace, joy
, and love which is right there before our very eyes. Then, we shall be more
truly able to look at our world, look in the hearts and eyes of our fellow human
beings, and see our God—for we all have been created in God’s magnificent image.
I offer you these words,
as we enter into the second month of this year 2012, the month in which we shall
begin the great season of lent, a season of reflection, introspection, and a
season in which we may renew our lives and our faith in our God of Love.
Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed by the world which surrounds us, powerless, as
it were, to do very much—for we are only one person and without much influence
or power. But—remember—in the heart and mind of our God of Love, I believe,
there is “no deed too small,” seen as having no value in the heart of God. I
remember, many years ago, attending a service in Madison Square Garden, in the
mid 1950s, I believe, hearing a wonderful rendition of “His Eye Is On the
Sparrow” by songstress, Ethel Waters. Indeed, God’s eye is on the sparrow and it
is on you and on me, and as we seek to do the “right and the good,” all of our
deeds—large or small—are well received by our God.
Enjoy the snow, its
challenges and its beauty, as we travel through these next few months. Be of
good courage, live the faith in all you do and allow me to close with an
adaptation of this “Irish Blessing:”
May you have
Walls to keep out the
wind,
A roof to keep out the
rain,
Warm drinks by the fire,
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all that your heart
may desire,
Including the love of God
within.
And, be at peace, do good
work, “Love and Serve the Lord!”
Pax et Caritas
Bill Anderson
FAYE EVANS
We recently lost a very
dear friend and member, Faye Evans. If you wish to express condolences to Faye’s
family, the following is the appropriate address. There will be a memorial
service for Faye this summer, most likely early August.
Jamie Miller
2426 Outlook St.
Kalamazoo, MI. 49001
NOTES FROM SESSION
Session held its first
regular Session meeting of 2012 on January 18th. Dr. Anderson welcomed Dick
Rosenthal as a new Elder. Session would also like to express appreciation to
Nancy DiCristina for serving the past 3 years on Session and as Worship and
Music Moderator. Thank you, Nancy, for your faithful service. Thank yous have
been received from Nancy Siroin, Mary Nienaber and Dr. Anderson for their Staff
Christmas gifts. Thank yous were also received from Headstart for mittens and
from the Lakeland Pantry for the Christmas Donations. Our membership is now 83
with the death of Faye Evans on January 3rd.
Our church finances seem
to be in good shape and we finished 2011 very close to previous expectations.
Financial reports from Session, PW and Deacons will be printed and available to
the congregation. If anyone would like to have a copy mailed to them, please
call or write the church to request a copy. The 2012 per capita apportionment is
$28/member.
We appreciated the Rev.
Erv Teichmiller filling in for Dr. Anderson on January 29th. We miss Dr.
Anderson, but always look forward to having Erv visit our pulpit. Thank you,
Erv.
The total Mission giving
for CPC, Deacons and PW was over $29,500 in 2011, which definitely shows that
CPC is a very sharing and caring congregation! That ministry extends far beyond
our church property to our community, our nation and our world.
The kitchen faucet has
recently been replaced. Thanks to Linda Lockwood for providing the faucet and to
Bob Schneider for replacing it. It will be much more functional than the old one
(and it doesn’t leak like the old one.)
Judy Allen will be serving
as Worship and Music Moderator, filling the position vacated by Nancy
DiCristina. If you have suggestions, please talk with Judy.
Session is very happy to
hear of Greg Stiles’ progress. He is anxious to return so we can all witness the
“new Greg.”.
The next regular session
meeting will be on Thursday, Feb 9th, 2012.
Carol Gelwicks, Clerk
WHAT GOD IS LIKE
God is like Coke. He’s the
real thing.
God is like Bayer Aspirin.
He works wonders.
God is like Hallmark
cards. He cares enough to send the very best.
God is like VO5 hairspray.
He works through all kinds of weather.
God is like Dial soap.
Aren’t you glad you know
Him? Don’t you wish
everyone did?
God is like Scotch tape.
You can’t see Him but you know he’s there.
God is like American
Express. Don’t leave home without Him.
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Mary Nienaber
Feb. 6
Erv Teichmiller
Feb. 7
Bette Rosenthal
Feb. 10
Ken Biek
Feb. 11
Jean Coverston
Feb. 11
Margaret Dempster
Feb. 11
Barbara Schneider
Feb. 13
Mary Ann Miller
Feb. 14
Liz Clark
Feb. 15
Hiram Valliere
Feb. 18
Sue Robertson
Feb. 19
Rev. Bill Anderson
Feb. 22
Carol Schmitz
Feb. 23
Dave and Marie Peterman
Feb. 13
John and Claudia Tegtmeier
CHOIR NOTES
Do you believe in magic?? When people come
together in a choral or instrumental program, something magical happens.
Certainly the nervous stomach and adrenaline rush of performance are present,
but the effect of the total group is powerful. Performers become friends, and
strong emotional bonds are formed. When individuals join in a musical effort,
the product has a feeling of magic. The Lenten season will soon be upon us, with
some of the most beautiful choral music ever sung by choirs. Hymn #80 brings us
for lent this American spiritual—”Jesus walked this lonesome valley, he had to
walk it by himself; Oh nobody else could walk it for him, He had to walk it by
himself”. Keep a song in your heart.
DEACON’S NEWS
We were very pleased to
have so many helping hands to take down the Christmas decorations on January
3rd. Thank you to all who participated!! We will leave up the wreaths outside
for a little while longer. Many poinsettias were taken to Avanti and K Care and
a special one from Grangers was taken to Florence and Hiram Valliere, who are
both at home now..
We had a meeting on the
21st of January to wrap up 2011 and get ready for a busy spring with Easter
preparations. There was some discussion on whether to continue the lilies or to
just order a couple of very large ones to adorn the sanctuary. It was decided to
keep the tradition going of individuals buying lilies. The order blanks will be
in the bulletins a few weeks before Easter, which is April 8th. We will once
again be working with JJ’s.
FEBRUARY SCRIPTURE READINGSS
February 5, 2012
Communion Sunday
5th Sunday after Epiphany
Isa. 40:21-31; Ps.
147:1-11, 20c; 1 Cor. 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-
39
February 12, 2012
6th Sunday after Epiphany
2 Kings 5:1-14; Ps. 30; 1
Cor. 9:24-27; Mark 1:40-45
February 19, 2012
Transfiguration of the
Lord
2 Kings 2:1-12; Ps.
50:1-6; 2 Cor. 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9
February 26
1st. Sunday of Lent
Gen. 9:8-17; Ps. 25:1-10;
1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15
YEAR-END REPORTS
Anyone wishing to have a
copy of the year-end reports of the church may receive a copy by writing the
church and requesting one. The church address is::
Community Presbyterian
Church
P.O. Box 159
PER CAPITA
The Per Capita apportionment for 2012 is $28
per member.
DOING SOMETHING FOR LENT
Some years ago there was the story about a
family who was visited by an older aunt during the season of Lent. The aunt was
a devoted Christian who liked to read mystery stories, especially murder
mysteries. The family made sure there was a supply of such books in her room.
Toward the end of the aunt’s stay, the family noticed that she had not touched a
single book. “What’s the matter,” asked a nephew, “don’t you like our selection
of books?” “Oh, no, it’s not that,” she replied. “It’s just that I’ve given up
murder for Lent.”
COFFEE HOUR
We thank the Lockwoods, the Petermans, Mary
Ann Miller, the Gelwicks and the Spellmeyers for hosting the Coffee Hour in
January.
As people of God and servants of
our Lord Jesus Christ, we believe our mission to be the building of a strong
fellowship, ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of the church, the
community, and the world, fulfilling our Lord’s command to “love our neighbors”.
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