Brookwood Presbyterian Church
February 2010
I live for
those who love me,
For those I know are true,
For the Heav’n that smiles above me,
And awaits my spirit, too;
For all human ties that bind me,
For the task by God assigned me,
For the bright hopes left behind me,
And the good that I can do.
I live to
hail the season,
By bards and seers foretold;
When men shall live by reason,
And not alone for gold;
When man to man united,
And every wrong thing righted,
The whole world shall be lighted,
As Eden was of old.
I live for
those who love me,
For those who know me true,
For the Heav’n that smiles above me,
And awaits my spirit, too;
For the wrong that needs resistance,
For the cause that lacks assistance,
For the future in the distance,
For the good that I can do.
Words: G. Linnaeus Banks, in the Tonic Solfa Reporter, June 1861. Music: Bridgetown, arranged from Franz J. Haydn (1732-1809) (MIDI, NWC, PDF).
Greetings from the Pastor’s Corner:
“Friend Makers for God” Evangelism Classes Continuing for February - March
Hi there. As one of your pastors, I want to personally invite you to a class I am starting called, “Friend Makers For God”. It is an “Evangelism Class” - a “friendship Evangelism” class. It is a class targeted for us as individuals who are unique (and not made from a cookie cutter); and targeted for us as people that are not used to “doing evangelism”. That’s correct. I have no interest in forcing you into some kind of evangelistic mold. I have every interest in helping you become the faith sharing, “Friend Maker for God”, that God created you to be.
Christianity is NOT a religion - it is a relationship between Christ and his disciples.
Somewhere along the road of life, we have become believers in Jesus, and we have a story to tell ... but, what is your story? Come to class and get reacquainted with it.
Faith is very personal --- but NEVER meant to be only private. We have to be willing to ask people to be our guests here at Brookwood.
If we are not willing to do this --- what will our present and future be? (Matthew 28:16-20)
“Friend Makers for God” February - March Class Schedule
February 3 Getting Out of the Salt Shaker - What’s this mean for my Church? (Video
curriculum). What is the difference between the “Good News” and the “Bad
News”? Why do we have to be willing to share them both? Practicing My Story.
February 10 How to Realize that YOU are Contagious - part 1. Understanding that God
wants YOU to be Contagious. What will Contagiousness do for me? My Church?
Getting Out of the Salt Shaker again (Video curriculum).
February 24 How to Realize that YOU are Contagious - part 2. How to Be Contagious
Feeling Confident in My Story - Because It’s God’s Story!
March 3 Telling Our Stories To Each Other. Role Playing Those Stories.
Re-Connecting with the 49 and 7 hard questions.
March 10 Role Playing and Telling. It almost always takes at least 7 times, so
do not be discouraged at all if they do not convert right away!
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Another Reason Why I Believe Jesus Rose from the Dead:
Go ahead, read the Acts of the Apostles, the writings of Paul, and the many, many historical texts written before the year 200 AD (written many times by eye witnesses of the Resurrection) … and after you get done reading all of that evidence (which will probably take you many, many months to get through it all), just try and make a case for Jesus NOT being Resurrected by the Holy Spirit. The facts stand on their own - Jesus rose from the dead … but what are you, personally, doing with that information? What have you done so far with the information you already have obtained concerning the resurrection of Jesus? Probably, if you are like the vast majority of Christians in the United States, you have taken that information and put it a-way-back on a shelf in your brain, right next to “Myths”, “Legends”, and “I Hope It Is True”. Bunk!
John Piper states in his book, Desiring God; “Paul claimed that, not only had he seen the risen Christ, but that 500 others had seen him also, and many were still alive when he made this public claim.” Well, many people down through the ages have said, and I can just hear them mouthing the words, “Well that is all well and good for Paul, that is his opinion. But in our modern society today, we know that those kinds of wacky things just do not happen. And because Paul was always saying things like that, I will have to discount all the rest of his writings as suspect also.” That comment, and ones like it are just wrong and are pig headed and just do not deal with the facts. Paul never said it was his opinion. He said this was his validated, factual and provable experience. He would usually say something like this, “Fine, if you do not want to believe me and my eye witness account, then just go ask one of the other people who saw it.”
Here is the bed rock solid fact about the Resurrection: No one at the time of Jesus’ resurrection or up until about the year 125 AD doubted that the resurrection happened, just the way it is written about in scripture. Why? Because, there were always plenty of eye witnesses around to consult on the factual information concerning this matter. Now it is true that many people, including most of the Jewish world, chose to not put their faith in Christ and thereby take the resurrection seriously. But that is NOT because of a lack of evidence. They knew it happened and related to the evidence as factual. Their choice not to believe was much more along the lines of not wanting to be confronted by the rigorous demands a life of faith puts upon an individual. Please check it for yourself: there is not one article or writing in all of antiquity (before 150 AD) that states Jesus did not rise from the dead. His resurrection was completely not talked about and not written about by the Jesus authorities at the time. Don’t you think if Jesus had not risen, they of all people and all cultures, who want to get the word out?
Many people run around today as if they have “the right” to not deal with the facts and act like God is not alive and well and sitting on his throne. Of course they have “the right” to not deal with the facts --- but, by thinking along those lines, they are just not living in reality. To live and think that way is illogical and not dealing with the real world. If a person is not going to believe - that is their business. But let’s not make ourselves look really stupid by saying there are not facts and the resurrection of Jesus is all just a myth. As a well know comedian, named Bill always says, “You can not fix stupid!”
John Piper quotes and writes: “Then Jesus appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one
time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep” (I Cor. 15:6). What makes this so relevant is that this was written to Greeks who were skeptical of such claims when many of these witnesses were still alive. So it was a risky claim if it could be disproved by a little firsthand research.”
Come on Church! Let’s stop living as if the Resurrection was in question. Let’s live each day knowing that we have eternal life right now. Just imagine how our lives would be completely turned around if we started to live as if we had eternal life right now, which we actually do!
- pastor Jim
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Birthdays 2/7 Kristy Grubb 2/8 Keyana Thompson 2/10 Irene Davis 2/14 Nancy Cashwell 2/15 Marlene Deardurff 2/15 Joel Gear 2/16 Otis Cuffee 2/23 Joyce Faubel 2/23 Doug Tiefel 2/23 Susan Cook 2/23 Mark Bailey 2/26 Melanie Evans 2/26 Brigitta Gegenheimer 2/27 Carol Ross |
Lay Readers 2/7 Barb Smoot 2/14 Ellen Wristen 2/21 Pam Nutter 2/28 Frank Banks
Communion Date Feb. 13/14 Transfiguration of the Lord - Intinction
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Parent Seminars
Brookwood Presbyterian Church is hosting parent seminars as a part of its outreach ministry. The seminars are designed to help parents develop effective parenting skills and gain knowledge regarding challenging issues confronted by parents of special needs children.
The seminars are free but reservations are required.
The seminars are held at the Church at 2685 E. Livingston Ave. in the Church library beginning at 7:00 pm. Park in the parking lot behind the Sanctuary and enter through the courtyard.
February 10, 2010 Defining and Discussing Your Child’s mental Health Diagnosis
February 24, 2010 Helping Your Child Develop Organization Skills
March 3, 2010 Finding Solutions to Challenging Behavioral and Academic Issues
March 24, 2010 Is your Child A Victim of School Bullies
March 31, 2010 Managing Your Child’s Anger at School
Agape Feast
Agape Feasts well be held at Brookwood Presbyterian Church, 2685 E. Livingston Ave. at 5:00 pm on the Saturdays during Lent (February 20th thru March 27th).
The Agape Feast, “Love Feast”, is in remembrance of Jesus' Feeding of the 5000. The Feast consists of a light supper, music and singing, prayer and distribution of food.
Each participant -young and old- will receive a bag of groceries. The food is intended to be shared with those in need.
Brookwood recognizes that many individuals and families are experiencing great difficulties. Loss of employment and the housing crisis have had a dramatic impact on many. In these difficult and stressful economic times everyone knows someone who is in need.
The Agape Feasts will be held in the Fellowship Hall (Lower level beneath the Sanctuary). Parking is available behind the Sanctuary. Enter the side door in the courtyard off the parking lot. Elevator access is available. For additional information call the Church office at (614) 235-3451.
Worship Outlines for - February and the Beginning of March
2/6 Saturday Night Worship 5 pm see 2/7/10
2/7 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Theme: Being Christ’s Ambassadors
Message: “Ambassadors As Evangelists” II Peter 3:1, 2, 8-10, 13
2/13 Saturday Night Worship 5 pm see 2/14
2/14 Theme: - Jesus is our High Priest - He makes intercession of us
- Reformation
Message: “Jesus, Our Priest” Hebrews 7:23-28
2/20 Saturday Night Worship 5 pm
Saturday Theme: Salvation is found only in Jesus Christ
Message: “Saved” Romans 10:1-13
2/21 Theme: The use or misuse of money is a spiritual matter - it affects our quality
of life --- Question: Will we attempt to develop a high quality of life
by focusing on money or by focusing on God?
Message: “Quality of Life” Luke 12:13-21
2/28 Saturday Night Worship 5 pm
Saturday Theme: Evangelism --- Witness of and to and for Christ
Message: “Witness” Zephaniah 3:12-20
3/1 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time see 2/28
Seven Part “Front Door Message Series” - March, April, May 2010
This series is NOT evangelism as you are probably thinking.
It IS evangelism that you can bring your un-churched friends and family to and be
assured that we will not “hit them with a BIG Bible”; and you can be assured we
will answer their questions about faith in a meaningful and engaging way (and fun).
1. March 6, 7 Our Problem #1
I. Why so Empty? Mt. 4:4
II. Where to Look? Ps. 27:10
III. How to Hear? Lk. 16:31
2. March 13, 14 Our Problem #2
I. Religion? Eph. 5:16; 4:14
II. What is Sin? Gen. 3:6; Rom. 6:23
III. Is There a Cure? Rev. 1:5; Jn. 5:24
3. March 20, 21 God’s Answer #1
I. Who is Jesus? Jn. 10:30; 12:45;
II. What is the Cross All About? Heb. 9:12; Rom. 5:8
Palm Sunday Weekend March 27, 28
Easter Weekend April 3, 4
Parts 4 - 7 in April and May
Hello Friends!
Brookwood Church member David Fick has recently completed Therapy Dog classes with his dog Huck and is offering his services to visit hospitals, nursing homes and shut-ins at private homes with Huck.
Huck is a nine year old Golden Retriever and also a rescued dog. He is very loving and also very calm and would love to visit anyone and bring a smile to their face.
David & Huck are fully licensed with Therapy Dog Incorporated and both are ready to serve. If you are interested in a visit, please call the Church office to set up a good time and date.
Pastor Jim’s Upcoming Sunday School Classes
Quick! Go out and get “The Shack” … and start reading it … there is still time. We already began our study from God’s perspective on Sunday, January 3 --- but you are most graciously invited to jump in anywhere in this study. This is a very popular book --- with a not so popular message … or is it? You decide. See you in class. AND, by the way, you do NOT have to have the entire book read before you start coming to class. Keeping just a chapter or two ahead will help you understand where we are going. BUT DO NOT LET THAT DISCOURAGE YOU --- come as you are and where you are in your reading (even if “that reading” has not even started yet).
“The Shack” “John Calvin:
His Life and Legacy”
Book available in Book Stores DVD curriculum
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Day: Sundays, for 4 more weeks Day: Sundays, for 4 weeks
January 31, February 7, 14, 21 March 7, 14, 21, 28
Time: 9:30 - 10:15 am Time: 9:30 - 10:15 am
Place: Mariners' Kitchen Place: Mariners' Kitchen
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The John Calvin study begins with a video curriculum in March … stay tuned.
FINANCE REPORT
If you do not have your offering envelopes for 2010 they can be picked up in the
lobby. If you wish to have them mailed to you please call the church office and
let them know.
Please note that the first envelope is for the PerCapita apportionment payment to Presbytery. It remains at $34 per member - the total amount for your family is noted on the envelope. This amount is paid to the Presbytery for each member on Brookwood's rolls. If you do not pay your apportionment, it must be taken from the General Operating funds.
Brookwood Quilt-Etc. Group
Are You Interested??
· Getting together with other quilters.
· Working on individual or group projects.
· Learning how to quilt.
· Don't want to quilt, but would like to knit, crochet, embroider, etc.
· Don't want to quilt, etc. but would like to Care, Share, Pray and/or bring cookies.
· We will meet the 1st & 3rd Tuesday of every month from 2 – 4 pm in the Library.
If interested, please contact Susan Howard
