He Lives!!
As we approach the observance of our Lord's crucifixion and celebrate His resurrection, spend time in worship for all He has done for You!
In This Issue ...Prayer Sanctuary Don't forget ...Spring Ahead ... |
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Holy Week16 - Palm Sunday May2-3 - 24 HOUR PRAYER VIGIL June 7 - Strawberry Festival/Talent Night July8-10 - SPORTS CAMP August11-15 - MUSICAL DAY CAMP September12-13 - Women of Faith Conf. October 5 - LOVE FEAST November 2 - CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING December24 - CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE If you do not see your event in the list, be sure to visit www.bvcob.com to see if it is listed on the official church calendar. Be sure to submit all calendar additions and corrections to the church secretary. Forms are available in the secretary's office and in the Member's Area of the church website. *** Back to Top *** |
Good Friday Prayer Sanctuary from WMMT
On Friday, March 21st the multipurpose room will be transformed into a "sanctuary of prayer" for those persons who would like to observe Good Friday by spending time in reflection and prayer.
- 12:00 noon to 7:00 PM
- Prayer stations will be set up within the room
- Prayer Service following at 7:00 PM
We hope that this opportunity aids all who take part to remember and honor Christ's sacrifice for us.
For the Worship & Music Ministry Team
Diane Heintzelman
Welcome
On Sunday morning, February 10, Matt Christ was installed as our new Youth Pastor. He is also taking steps to be relicensed back into the Church of the Brethren in the near future. Please continue to welcome Matt, Denise, Abigail and Malachi Christ as they return to our church family.
On the same Sunday, Judy Christ and Matt & Denise Christ were received into membership by letter of transfer. We rejoice as they share in our faith community.
Men's Ministry Kettle Cook Update
Men's Ministry had another successful Kettle Cook at the end of November. Combined with a $500 contribution from the Dreisbach UCC rummage sale, a total of $1,900 was given to Family Practice Center and SUN Home Health towards unmet patient medical bills. Thank you to all who purchased soup.
Mike Manbeck
Website Update
Did you know that the church polity, safe place policy and church forms are available online in a private network created just for the members and regular attendees of the Buffalo Valley Church of the Brethren?
We are working on changing access to the members' area so that you can recover lost or forgotten passwords. In order to transition to the new format, everyone will need to register again by visiting the website's member registration page.
Your username will be your email address and you may select the password of your choice. Once set up, you can recover lost or forgotten passwords via email.
It is my hope that this change will create a better user experience for the church family. If you have questions or concerns, you can contact me at peggy@projectsbypeggy.com.
Peggy Shields (Webmaster)
P.S. If you have news to be featured on the website or notice errors and/or omissions in the online information, please be sure to let me know so I can work with church staff to make it right.
From Our Youth Pastor,
The Lord has blessed us greatly with several youth on fire for the Lord. Ignite has brought a passion unlike any other. If you are in Senior High and have not had the opportunity to attend, I encourage you to take that step of faith to encounter the Living God on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm ending around 9 pm here at Buffalo Valley.
In addition, check out Sunday Night Youth for Junior and Senior High youth grades 6 - 12 at 6 - 7:30 pm. We spend a time in God's word deepening our beliefs and enjoying fellowship and food with activities such as volleyball, basketball, card games, dr. dodge ball, rock, capture the flag, four square and much more. Please know the youth team is looking into an extended time so that you may experience God even more.
Events are coming up that will take us outside the four walls such as hiking, indoor archery, paintball, canoeing, biking, bomberay, cabin adventures and retreats, movie nights, concert venues, and many more exciting ways to share in the faith.
Another way to connect to God and your peers are cell groups. Take a look at the youth bulletin board in the narthex for more details.
We're also searching for ways to serve our community. Recently we had the privilege of shoveling out a driveway and as an extension of our love for Christ, more are to come.
Be advised that Creation is just around the corner on June 25 -28. There is a signup sheet in the narthex.
Check that area out for upcoming events as well such as the Hawaiian Mystery Meal. The best way to describe this is like a box of chocolates, you'll never know what you're going to get. This is scheduled for February 24 at 6 pm, lasting until 8:30. There is also a signup sheet so we are able to have enough food items, but feel free to come if you didn't get that chance to sign up and what a great time to bring a friend.
As a youth team, we are very excited to see what God has in store for the youth ministry here at Buffalo Valley. Know that we are in prayer for you and what is to come. Feel free to email or call with any ideas you'd like us to consider as a youth team.
All for God's Glory,
Pastor Matt
Camp Eder Adventure
Reminder to those interested in going to Camp Eder this summer. Have your registration forms signed by Fay Richard and send to camp with the $45 registration fee.
The church will pay up to $215 for your "Handle with Care" camp! Contact Fay with questions.
Fay Richard
Building & Grounds
It has been a busy month for us. We have been renovating the parsonage for Matt and Denise Christ. Because of Denise's difficulties with stairs we moved the laundry upstairs. There were two walls removed to open the space for the dining room. We also put new carpet in the living room. There was paint put on most of the rooms as well. The place looks great!
I want to thank all the volunteers who helped with this project. A special thanks to Marlin Yoder for his time and expertise.
Your Brother in Christ,
Gary Kline
Do everything in its own time; do everything in earnest; if it is worth doing, then do it with all your might.
Robert Murray M’Cheyne
Women's Ministry Team Update
The ladies at Buffalo Valley Church of the Brethren are keeping busy, preparing for the 10th Annual Women's Retreat ...that will just be finishing up as you're receiving this month's Lamplighter. We're looking forward to spending the weekend with God...doesn't that sound refreshing?
Our first Time-Out at Applebee's was a great success...what could be better than dessert and appetizers to make one's life slow down...if only for 2 hours. We're hoping the winter weather won't make it too hard keep the dates! Keep your eye on your email...and if you aren't on the church wide email, let Jen in the office know you'd like to be added because that's where you can keep up on all the events! The next Time-Out is Thursday March 27th at 8 pm at the Lewisburg Applebee's. My next Women's Ministry Newsletter will be coming out at the end of March and I'll set up the next dates for the next quarter's Time-Outs then.
In the meantime, think about attending this year's Women of Faith Conference in Philadelphia on September 12th and 13th. The bus and hotel and tickets are already reserved...all you have to do is decide to go and show up at the bus! How easy is that? Have any questions? See me or Sylvia Beiler. Information should be on the bulletin board in the Narthex by the printing of this Lamplighter.
Have a blessed coming month,
Your sister in Christ,
Melanie Yoder
News from the Mission Team
The Annual Meat Canning for the Southern District will be the last week in March and the first week in April. The goal for the Buffalo Valley Church of the Brethren (BVCOB) this year is to contribute $650 to this project. A special meat canning offering will be taken Sunday, March 2 and Sunday, March 9. Please use the small brown envelopes for your offering.
This year the Mission Ministry Team has committed to help with the actual meat canning which takes place at Christian Aid Ministries, located near New Holland in Lancaster County. BVCOB needs to supply 10 individuals. We will be working the 6 am – 12 noon shift. We will be leaving the church between 3:30 - 4 am. Please contact Jake Myer if you will be able to help with this one day mission project.
The Mission Ministry Team is sponsoring another Mission trip to Arizona this summer. Vicki Bastian will be coordinating this trip. Watch for additional details as they become available.
The Mission Work Team that traveled to the Gulf Coast had another very rewarding trip. The group consisted of 6 members from BVCOB, 6 members from the Sugar Valley COB, and 3 members from Christ’s Church in Beaver Springs. The group was divided into 4 work teams and helped 4 families get 1 week closer to getting back into their home. While in Louisiana the group was able to attend a Mardi Gras Parade on Friday evening.
Don’t forget about Operation Christmas Child. This year we are collecting items for our shoe boxes on an ongoing basis. Check the Chart on the bulletin board in the rear of the Multipurpose Room (MPR) and see what items are needed yet. As you bring items for Operation Christmas Child, place them in the tub in the Narthex.
Jake Myer
Spiritual Growth & Health: An Update from the SLMT
The Love Feast & Communion service will be celebrated on Thursday, March 21 at 7 pm. This is a special time in the life of our church family. If you haven’t come before, we encourage you to see what this special service holds. If you have questions about what happens at the service, talk to a member of the Spiritual Life Ministry Team (SLMT). The team consists of all deacons and all ordained and licensed ministers. There will also be a presentation on Palm Sunday about the Love Feast service to make everyone more aware of what is involved.
We have financially helped two families from the community in the last several months. If anyone knows of a need within the congregation, please let a deacon know.
A deacon is assigned to follow-up on new prayer requests for those in our faith community and their families each week. Hopefully, if your name has appeared on the prayer list, you have been ministered to by this effort. Also, the prayer room is available on Sunday mornings for anyone who wants to pray or talk with someone or pray alone.
By signing the attendance sheets each Sunday you help us stay informed of who is worshipping with us. We are receiving attendance lists weekly and are trying to be more diligent at looking over them. We are trying to keep informed of who is missing on a regular basis and contact them to see if there is a problem or situation with which we can help.
Our monthly meetings have changed to the 4th Tuesday of each month. If anyone has any concerns they would like discussed at the meeting, let a member of the SLMT know.
Dennis Hunsberger
SLMT Chairperson
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
The Adult Sunday School Department is ready for the spring quarter to begin on Sunday, March 2. There are a wide variety of classes to meet everyone's interest. Have you signed up for a class? It's not too late! Sign-up sheets are located in the narthex.
We are always looking for those who have an interest or a passion to teach and would like to serve Christ in this way. If this is one of your gifts please let Brian Keister or I know and join in this rewarding opportunity.
Please join us for the next Adult Teacher's Meeting on Thursday, April 3 at 7 PM.
Amy Bastian
Assistant Adult SS Director
JUST A CLICK AWAY ... on the web at www.bvcob.com
The BVCOB website is being updated. If you have not visited it lately, you may be missing something you did not know was available. One can listen to the sermon archives at Online Sermons. You probably did not know it was right at your finger tips.
Don't miss out on what is happening! Go to the website calendar for Buffalo Valley Church of the Brethren happenings.
There are also links to places like www.bvcobyouth.com.
From the Pastor,
"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." - Proverbs 25:11
Last Christmas I asked our congregation to put four prison inmates on their Christmas card list.
The response from the prisoners can best be described as joy and surprise.
Dustin Conrad writes -
"I just wanted to tell you and the people of the church, thank you for all of the Christmas cards and prayers. I was surprised to have received so many cards from people I don't know! Just knowing that all those people took time out of their day to send me a Christmas card, lifted my spirits and put a smile on my face! Which doesn't happen very often around here!"
Casey Nicodemus writes -
"I want to start this letter by saying it is so hard for me to read your card and the cards from the other church members. You have no clue how much receiving all these cards make me happy!"
Logan Williams writes -
"Thank you for being so forgiving and for all the cards for Christmas. It really meant a lot to me."
I also want to say thank you. Thank you for bringing joy and hope to these men. May the Lord bless you real good!
Pastor Randy
NEW HEART, NEW SPIRIT
The Ministries Coordinating Team (MCT) met on Feb 8th and 9th at the Church for a leadership retreat led by the Executive team. The theme was entitled "New Heart, New Spirit" based on Ezekiel 36 & 37. We had a good time of sharing with each other and were challenged by God's call to His people through the prophet Ezekiel. Through that challenge we developed four covenants which we plan to keep in front of us during the coming year. We also discussed some of the nuts and bolts of the MCT and the challenges of leading ministry teams. Here is our covenant:
Through warm welcome, honest dialog, sincere affirmation, fervent prayer, and timely presence we will show loving devotion to one another. Depending upon Jesus Christ as our Savior, Lord and Friend, we will seek continual renewal within our relationships through confession, repentance, and forgiveness.
We will live and share our Vision, trusting God to bear fruit through us which is a reflection of Jesus Christ.
We agree to "Love Well" by constantly pursuing a spirit of unity to be modeled before our ministry teams and congregation.
The Executive team also evaluated our pastoral staff (except for Matt) and worked with them to develop their ministry plans for 2008. These plans were affirmed at the last MCT meeting. Matt will be sharing his plans at a later date.
We covet your prayers for and participation in the varied ministries God is calling us to here at Buffalo Valley.
Love Well,
Brian Keister, MCT Chairperson
IGNITE Highlights
IGNITE will begin a new series called Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye on February 27th. In our Identity Theft series, which just ended, we had discovered the source of our identity - the deep, long, wide, and tall love of God. We also examined those things that seek to steal and destroy it. Now that we know who we are and whose image we are created in, transformation must take place.
We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (this new understanding of who we were created to be - Romans 12:2). The focus of this series is found in Colossians 3:1-17 where we find what all of this new understanding of who we are looks like. In particular, we will be operating from Colossians 3:10 where Paul urges us to "put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge (our identity) according to the image of the One (the source of our identity) who created us."
Jonathan Bastian
Crown Money Map Coaches
Crown Financial Ministry's trained Volunteer Money Map Coaches work with married couples and individuals, helping them develop a personal budget, apply Biblical principles of stewardship, build a plan to get out of debt, and achieve spiritual and financial freedom. Our church family is blessed to have two coaches right in our midst. If you could benefit from God's perspective on managing your money, please see either Jeff Bastian or Rich Allen.
Mike Manbeck
God works in us and with us, not against us or without us.
John Owen
District & Denominational News
The Southern District Turf Fund reimbursed the Buffalo Valley COB Mission Work Teams to the Gulf Coast for the airfare. Both the November 2007 and the January 2008 Work Teams received funds. $3300 was received to cover airfare for both trips. The Southern District Turf Fund is funded from monies generated by the Disaster Relief Auction each year in September at the Lebanon Fair Grounds.
The Church of the Brethren General Board has approved a "Resolution Urging Forbearance". Introduction to the resolution states; "We find ourselves in a world where people are driven apart by deep differences. These divisions seep into the church, pitting us against one another in action and language. Yet God has entrusted us with a ministry of reconciliation".
The last part of the resolution states that; "be it resolved that we pledge ourselves on matters where we are not of one mind to let the Holy Spirit draw us together to be of one heart".
The full resolution can be read on the Brethren Web site @ Brethren.org. Key word "General Board Resolutions". The resolution will be presented to the Church Annual Conference this year in Richmond, Virginia.
Jake Myer
"…the Bible contains 2,350 verses on how to handle your money and possessions. You might be surprised to learn that 15 percent of everything Jesus Christ said had to do with it. In fact, He talked more about money than almost any other subject. He knew money would be a challenge for all of us and He cared enough to show us how to handle it wisely."
Howard Dayton (From Your Money Map)
If how we handle money and possessions is this important to God, why do we get upset when people discuss money in church?
LARGE PRINT AVAILABLE - If you or someone you know would like to receive The Lamplighter as a large print version, please contact Jeff and Vicki Bastian.