News from the Faithful Community
FEBRUARY 2012
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
1333 Cowpath Rd, Hatfield, PA 19440
Web: www.hatfieldcob.org
Rev. Ruby Bean, Pastor
Church Office: (215)855-3064
Residence: (215)721-4987
THE NAMES AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
We have begun the year of 2012, time passes so quickly, and I know many are feeling they are just recovering from all the holiday happenings and want some time to catch their breath. You all have a few weeks and then we begin the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is February 22nd. Of course Lent is a good time for contemplation about our Lord and reading the Scriptures and having time for prayer. I wanted to introduce something that could guide our thinking and meditation through Lent and thought about the names of God and particularly the Lamb of God who was the sacrifice for our sins.
As I thought about this and was working on another worship service I came across a resource that can be useful for all of us during Lent. It comes from www.navigator.org and you can go there and check out the entire resource. I will make copies available at church and will share a few in this article to get you started for the first days of Lent and then share additional ones next month.
Thirty Days of Praying the Names and Attributed of God
God is Jehovah. The name of independent being – “I AM WHO I AM” – only belongs to Jehovah God. As we consider His greatness, we fall down in fear and awe of this One who possesses all authority. Exodus3: 13 – 15
God is Johova-M’Kaddesh. This name means “the God who sanctifies.” A God separate from all that is evil requires that the people who follow Him be cleansed from all evil. Leviticus 20: 7, 8
God is infinite. We cannot speak of measure, amount, size, or weight and at the same time be speaking of God, for He is beyond measurement. God has no beginning, no end, and no limits. Romans 11:33
God is omnipotent. God has power. Since God is also infinite, whatever He has must be without limit; therefore, God has limitless power. Jeremiah 32: 17, 18, 26, 27
God is good. The goodness of God is what disposes Him to be kind, benevolent, and full of good will toward all creation. Psalm 119: 65 – 72 (CONTINUED NEXT PAGE)
Our Church in Action
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God is love. God’s love is so great that He gave His only Son to bring us into fellowship with Him. God’s love not only encompasses the world, but embraces each of us personally and intimately. 1 John 4: 7 – 10
God is Jehovah-jireh. This name means “the God who provides.” Just as He provided yesterday, He will provide tomorrow. He grants deliverance from sin, the oil of joy for the ashes of sorrow, and eternal citizenship in His Kingdom.
Genesis 22: 9 – 14
May using these names as part of our daily Bible reading, prayer, and worship help us to focus on God and draw us closer to our Savior.
-Pastor Ruby
FOOD CUPBOARD NEWS . . .
We are continuing to be busy at the Food Cupboard even on
snowy days people show up for food. The needs are great.
We have many volunteers and are grateful for all who willingly
give of their time to serve the people of Hatfield Borough and
Hatfield Township. I want to share some statistics of the
number of families and clients we served from June – December 2011.
Month Families Individuals
June 70 197
July 57 159
August 82 248
September 88 255
October 88 251
November 86 245
December 72 228
Seeing the number of people served can help us understand the impact we have on the community and that there are needs that we are meeting. Food and other supplies keep coming in from various sources and many times you can walk in the church and a bag or box of food is setting in the foyer. Many times we do not get to meet the people who are dropping off these items. One man brought boxes and bags of Christmas candy. This is a real nice treat for our families and I know they appreciate receiving these special treats.
WELCOME NEW FOOD CUPBOARD MANAGER . . .
I want to take this opportunity to introduce the new Food Cupboard Manager. Kelly Poehlmann is from Harleysville and she will be overseeing the Food Cupboard operation for the Hatfield Church. She has and interest and desire to help people in need. Kelly is married to Greg and they have three boys Ben, Sam and Eli. Her sons came with their grandfather and volunteered at our Food Cupboard last summer.
Kelly has a degree in Economics from Penn State and a second degree in Accounting from Ursinus. She spent several years in the banking business working at Harleysville National Bank and then worked as the Assistant Treasurer at Cherrydale Farms in Pennsburg.
For the past 13 years she has been working at home as a mother to her sons and has been an active volunteer at the elementary school. Kelly’s volunteer work also includes running the snack stand for Harleysville Baseball.
We welcome Kelly to the Hatfield Brethren Food Cupboard. She has taken on the challenge of learning all the ins and outs of the Food Cupboard and we look forward to working with her.
-Pastor Ruby
COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICES . . .
The Community Lenten Services begin Wednesday, February 29th. Worship is at 7:30pm with a time of fellowship/refreshment following. The offerings will be contributed to support the Hatfield Pastor’s Fund. The suggested theme is “We worship Christ the King” and will include select biblical representations of Christ the King:
The Humble King The Shepherd King
The Compassionate King The King of Pain The Exalted King
Scheduled Date: Host: Preaching:
Wednesday, February 29 Heidelberg UCC Daryl Nelson
Wednesday, March 7 Grace Lutheran Bert Walsh
Wednesday, March 14 Hatfield C.o.B. Bob Tufton
Wednesday, March 21 St. Maria Goretti Glenn Lambert
Wednesday, March 28 Emmanuel ECC Ruby Bean
THE SEMINARY CORNER . . .
So it is February, already. Can you believe that? And transitions are on the horizon. As many of you know, I will be graduating from Bethany in May. Thank you, Jesus! He has been so faithful to me during this educational experience. I cannot thank Him enough. I am also grateful for all of your support: your financial help, cards, emails, telephone calls, and prayers. Katrina and I are praying for what the Lord has for us after I graduate. My plan is to pursue pastoral ministry within a congregation. My pastoral profile is currently available to congregations across the denomination for consideration. Accordingly, we would appreciate your prayers during this season of waiting. By the same token, I know Hatfield will be experiencing a transition soon with the departure of Pastor Ruby. We will miss her, and pray for God's favor on her and her calling beyond our congregation. We have been blessed by her ministry over the years.
In times of transition, it can be difficult to know what's ahead for us. Katrina and I are there. So are many of you. This can cause anxiety, fear, doubt, concern, etc. I'm sure you could add more. But the good news is that our Lord Jesus will be with us no matter what. He is praying for us. He loves and cares for us. He is for us – not against us. He is an awesome God! There is nothing too big for Him! So what should our response be? “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God” (Phil 4:4-6 NRSV). Rejoice, yes, rejoice... and pray! If you are thinking that this is impossible or that Paul is ridiculous for suggesting these things; just remember that he was locked up in prison when he wrote this letter to the Christians in Philippi. Paul knew what it was like to rejoice in Jesus and pray with thanksgiving in tough circumstances. Will we? Will you? Will I? Here's the blessing if we do: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7). Let's receive that peace, especially as we go through transition holding onto the hand of Jesus, who is holding our hands even tighter. May His peace be with you, Hatfield family.
Praying with you, Brother Brandon
Pastor Ruby will be on vacation February 23rd to March 7th visiting the Holy Lands. If you need pastoral care during her absence, please call your Deacon or a member of the Deacon body:
Annette or Don Hanks – 215-368-xxxx
Rob Hanks – 215-362-xxxx
Connie Holbert – 215-368-xxxx
What’s Happening This Month
Thursday, February 2nd
Worshipful Work
7:00pm.
***
Sunday, February 5th
Sunday School
9:00am.
Worship
10:00am.
***
Monday, February 6th
Bagging Food Cupboard
6:30pm.
***
Tuesday, February 7th
Food Cupboard
Noon – 2:00pm.
***
Thursday, February 9th
Prayer & Praise
7:00pm.
Pastor Ruby’s Home
***
Saturday, February 11th
Fellowship Breakfast
9:00am.
Doyles, Hatfield
Sunday, February 12th
Sunday School
9:00am.
Morning Worship
10:00am.
Guest: Rev. Clay Moyer from Indian Creek COB
Following Worship
Lunch at the Holberts’
Laymen Playmen
“Anything Goes”
2:00pm.
***
Thursday, February 16th
Prayer & Praise
7:00pm.
Home of Pastor Ruby
***
Saturday, February 18th
Food Cupboard
10:00am.
***
Sunday, February 19th
Sunday School
9:00am.
Worship
10:00am.
***
Monday, February 20th
Bagging Food Cupboard
6:30pm.
Tuesday, February 21st
Food Cupboard
Noon – 2:00pm.
Wednesday, February 22nd
Ash Wednesday
The beginning of Lent
***
Thursday, February 23rd
Prayer & Praise
7:00pm.
Barb & Paula’s home
***
Sunday, February 26th
Sunday School
9:00am.
Worship
10:00am.
Guest: Nathan Lott, student Lancaster Bible College
Following Worship
Carry In Meal
***
Monday, February 27th
Food Cupboard
6:30pm.
***
Wednesday, February 29th
Community Lenten Service
7:30pm.
Heidelberg UCC
Rev. Daryl Nelson preaching
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
04 – Paul Jones
12 – Kim Sewell
13 – Connie Holbert
23 – John Wagner
RENOVARE’
Essentials Conference
To discover how we can
personally and corporately
grow in our spiritual vitality!
Saturday, April 21, 2012
8am – 5:30pm, Elizabethtown College
Featuring a team from RENOVARE’ including Dr. Richard J. Foster, founder of Renovare’ and author of Celebration of Discipline. Cost is $40 with early registration by March 1st and $50 per attendee after. Sign up early as the last event turned persons away.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Sunday, February 12, 2012, Rev. Clay Moyer from Indian Creek Church.
Sunday, February 26, 2012, Nathan Lott, student from Lancaster Bible College.
WOMEN’S EVENTS . . .
§ Saturday, March 10th at Coventry Church of the Brethren – District Women’s Spring Fellowship. Patricia Ann Moyer will be the speaker. Registration is 8:45am – 9:15am with the program beginning 9:30am to 2:30pm. Buffet lunch is $6 by reservation with payment due the day of the event. Sign-up sheet is located on the bulletin board. Please sign up by Sunday, February 26th.
§ Wednesday, March 21st at Midway COB – Annual Women’s Spiritual Retreat, “Hope and Help for Those Who Hurt”. Nancy Guthrie, from Nashville, Tennessee, will be the featured speaker. She and her husband suffered the loss of two children as infants from Zellweger Syndrome. Nancy wrote the book, “Holding On to Hope: A Pathway of Suffering to the Heart of God.” Morning Session is 9:30am – 11:30am with lunch at 11:30am. Afternoon Session is 12:45pm – 2:00pm. Lunch and babysitting will be provided for all those who are pre-registered. A freewill offering will be taken. Call 717-273-43832 by Sunday, March 11th to register.