` 120 WEST MAIN STREET, NEW HOLLAND, PA 17557 Church Phone: 717-354-0226 Church Fax: 717-354-7942 Website: http://nhumc.us/ Pastor: Ray Voran Pastor Email: revoran@gmail.com
MARCH 2014 Keep Your Eyes Open! Isaiah 44:6-20 is an interesting passage (and it gives kind of a depressing commentary on the spiritual state of many human beings). It is talking about those who worship idols. We should all take a few minutes to read the whole thing, but to paraphrase it says something along these lines … “imagine something as ridiculous as this: A person finds an old log and cuts it in half. He uses half of it to build a fire and warm a bowl of soup. The other half he carves into the image of a bird or animal or whatever and THEN he says to the image (that he just created!), ‘you are my god.’ How can something you created be your god? And don’t you notice that the idol has ears and a mouth that are useless along with eyes that do not see?” There are a number of other passages in the Old Testament (Isaiah 6:9, Jeremiah 5:21, Psalm 115:4-8, Psalm 135:15-18 and others) that tell the people not to worship idols that “have eyes but do not see”. And the warning is included that you will become like whatever it is that you worship. So … if we worship idols that have eyes but do not see, our eyes will eventually cease to function and we will not be able to see as God does. In fact, Jesus explains why some folks have trouble understanding his parables by saying that they have “eyes but do not see” in Matthew 13:14. He uses that same phrase to rebuke the disciples and encourage them to grow spiritually in Mark 8:18. It seems that there we continually face the danger that we will not see even when God puts something right in front of us. I believe this extends to people. Maybe we do not want to be bothered. Maybe we think we are better than someone else. Perhaps we think we are unworthy. Maybe we simply are too busy and caught up in our own lives to notice another person. Whatever the reason (and I’m sure there are plenty more), there are people that we have a difficult time seeing – at least seeing them the way that God does – as priceless creations in His image.
2 When we study the life of Jesus, we find that He saw everyone. In fact, he seemed to specialize in seeing those who were used to being ignored; those whom society considered to be the least important. (We looked at four individuals but there are plenty more!) It is amazing that Jesus has time for them. I hope we all remember at least two things from this series on Who Jesus Saw:
1. When we feel dirty, unwelcome and invisible, Jesus sees us, accepts us, wipes our tears, cleans us up and loves us.
2. As the church we should be the ones most likely to see those around us who are feeling unloved and alone, and then offer that same love as Jesus did. -- Pastor Ray Is. 6:9, Is. 44:6-20, Jer. 5:21, Ps. 135:15-18, Ps. 115:4-8 -- OT folks who worship idols Mark 8:18 -- disciples Matthew 13:14 -- crowds hearing the parables
Our Worship Service starts at 9:00 a.m. every Sunday. Sunday School is at 10:15 a.m. ~~~~~~~~~~ Saturday IGNITE service starts at 6:00 p.m.
Contacting Pastor Ray ~ email: revoran@gmail.com Home: (717) 656-0812 Cell: (717)333-6939 Look for me on Facebook: Ray Voran
Regular Events Knepper Care Group – Every other Monday, 7:00 p.m. (Check calendar) Naval Care Group – Second and Fourth Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. Community Senior Center – Second Thursday, 10:00 a.m. Seniors meet at Yoder’s Restaurant – Third Saturday, 11:15 a.m. 2
Burgers-n-Bibles –First Thursday, 11:30 am, at Wendy’s Restaurant LUMINA ministry – Second Thursday Knit-Wits – Every Saturday, 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Coming Events March 5, 7:30 p.m. – Ash Wednesday services at Ranck’s UMC March 11, 7:00 p.m. – Ad. Council in Chapel Hall March 12, 7:00 p.m. – Committee meetings rescheduled from 1st Wed. There is no NOW meeting March 22, 4:00 p.m. -- IGNITE Hymn Sing to Shut-ins ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ash Wednesday We will be joining the congregations from Evangelical United Methodist Church and
Ranck’s United Methodist Church again this year for our Ash Wednesday service. The service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, at Ranck’s UMC. Pastor Ray will be preaching at the service. We hope to have many attend from our church family.
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IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, CHURCH CLOSING WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND CHURCH FACEBOOK PAGE. WE WILL ALSO ANNOUNCE IT ON WGAL (CHECK THEIR WEBSITE OR THE TV STATION).
LIFE-LINE HEALTH SCREENING Once again this year, we are pleased to offer a preventive health event. Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will host their affordable, noninvasive and painless health screenings on 4/16/2014. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening, for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. In order to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call 1-888-653-6441 . We hope that, like last year, this is a great ministry and outreach to the folks in our community! -- Pastor Ray 3
Free Community Meals 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. March 20, 2014 Third Thursday of every month Ranck’s United Methodist Church at the New Holland United Methodist Church Dinner is served with all ages welcome. -- Dee Kopicz, Outreach Chair at Ranck’s United Methodist Church
Bits of News!!! The Naval Care Group is looking to borrow “The Purpose Driven Life” book for their study. If you wish to loan your book, please drop off at the church office or contact Fred Naval. Money and orders are due March 2 for the Wolfgang Spring candy sale. Profits will be used to benefit our General Fund or the Roof expenses. Order forms and catalogs are in front of the mailboxes. Please place any orders, along with the money, in Heather Bressi’s mailbox. If you have any questions, call Heather (717-455-1056). Thank you! Do you know anyone who needs a crib? Regina Boose has one available that her daughter just finished using. Call 354-0734 if you have questions.
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Cheers and
Thanks
March March March March March March
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Anniversaries March 31
Thank you all for your support of the youth soup sale. We raised approximately $2,300 for Youth Ministries. – Pastor Ray
Cheers to Dave and Judy Trost for all their work in reupholstering the chairs in Chapel Hall. – Fred Naval
Thanks for the donation of the new flat screen TV in Chapel Hall. This will be a great asset for the Ignite service, Sunday School and other activities. -- Pastor Ray
Lois Seldomridge Raymond Welk Gary Zimmerman Vanapolie Gauthier Ethel Ludwig Linda Deamer
John and Barbara Mask
Please call the church office (354-0226) so we can update our records if your name was missed.
SERVER SCHEDULE FOR THIS MONTH Nursery
March March March March March March March March 4
1 2 3 9 16 17 18 20
Elizabeth Wagner Frank Ludwig Cathy Williams Guy Petit-ton Fred naval Ralph McComas David Hall Mabel Ludwig
March 2 March 9 March 16 March 23 March 30
Selma Wells, Nesta Petit-ton Shirley Givler, Neika Boisrond Cathy Williams, Nick Boisrond Jane Keene, Paula Gauthier Liz & Mark Lennon, Beatrice Gauthier Lay Readers
March 2 Francesca Artus March 9 Tim Hess
March 16 Jim Boose March 23 Sandi Rapp March 30 Shirley Givler Tellers March 2 March 9 March 16 March 23 March 30
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Norece Richwine & Pat Williams Norece Richwine & Tim Hess Norece Richwine & Karen Miller Norece Richwine & Juliet Mitton Norece Richwine & Sandi Rapp
Prayer and Praise
• Terry Schaffer, leg difficulties • Earl and May Ortlip, brother and sister-in-law of Selma Wells, health and aging issues • Mary Lennon, Mark Lennon’s mother, diagnosed with cancer • Tony Clark, in a motorcycle accident, recovering at home • People in the Philippines affected by storm • Family of Diane and Francesca Artus, at the passing of a nephew/cousin, Mitch