SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2008

Reflections of December 28, 2008

 

“Joyous Ritual” 

“Ritual” may evoke in our minds negative thoughts of boredom and no fun.  Aimee, however, concentrated on the joy found in ritual as evidenced in the lives of Simeon and Anna.  Both Simeon and Anna were well advanced in years and both were devout and righteous as they awaited the coming of the Messiah.  (Anna had been a widow for over seven decades.)  They recognized Jesus as a gift because they had spent much time in relationship with God.  Do we await God’s plan for our lives?  Are we connected enough to recognize the gift when it comes? 

Can we start a new ritual by:

·     Reading through the Bible next year?

·     Exercising regularly?

·     Finding someone to whom to be accountable?

·     Being excited about following Jesus (as stated in our Silverwood goals)?

Isaiah Weishaupt, Aimee’s toddler, felt he NEEDED a piece of hard candy and was reluctant to give it up, and so swallowed it.  Choking followed, but a quick Heimlich from Dad saved the day!  Our perceived needs may not always be good for us! 

The service ended with “Silent Night” as everyone lit a candle.

                                                       --Marge Neufeld

 

 

 

Looking Ahead

 

January 11, 2009

  9:15 am – Christian Education

10:30 am – Worship: When Jesus is baptized (Mark 1:4-11), he receives good news as the Spirit of the Lord descends upon him:  “You are my son, my beloved; with you I am well pleased.”  With this blessing and commissioning we see the beginning of “The .com Era.”  Ron will preach on “Jesus and .com.”   The other scriptures for the day are Genesis 1:1-5; Acts 19:1-7; and Psalm 29.  Eliza Stoltzfus with plan the worship service and Diane Miller will plan our music.

 

 

 

Youth Group Activities

SR Youth : Worship & Bible Study

Wednesday, January 7 @ 7 pm

 

Please be sure and check your mailbox on January 4

for Haystack Supper food assignments!

-----------------------------------------------

JR Youth : Worship & Bible Study

Wednesday, January 7 @ 7 pm

 

SNOW CAMP!

January 9 -11

Leave from the church @ 7 pm on Friday

Return to the church @ noon on Sunday


 

Keeping Up with the Silverwood Flock

 

 

Victor Schwartz and Dick and Rosa Dirmeyer would like to extend their appreciation for your prayers, phone calls, and cards while Vic was suffering his illness.  He is currently off all pain medications and slowly but surely feeling much improved!

 

Dear Silverwood Family, Thank you for the beautiful plant as well as the cards, thoughts and prayers during our recent loss.  Your kindness helps us find strength and comfort.  – Randy, Gail, Nicholas and Jacob Gerber

 

Ali Hochstetler , along with the Bethany High School girls basketball team won the championship of a holiday tournament.  Well done, Ali!

 

The Bethany Bruins’ boys team also captured a holiday tournament championship.  Chad Stoltzfus coached and Jared Christophel played in this tournament – congratulations team members!

 

FOUND: a gift certificate.  Call the church office to claim it (533-1922)!

 

Congratulations to Cade Fisher and his Quality Sales soccer team as they went 11-2 and won the 2008 concord youth soccer league’s third grade title.  Way to go!

 

Kelsey Miller’s two basketball leagues, one at Penn High and one at the Elkhart Sports Center were champions in the two tourneys for the third and fourth teams.  Good job, Kelsey!

 

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS


Congregational Activities

 

January:

4

Su

9:15am

Christian Education

 

 

10:30am

Worship - Epiphany

5

Mo

8:30am

MOMS In Touch

 

 

10:00am

Pastoral Team Meeting

 

 

6:00pm

Discipling Commission

7

We

10:00am

Staff Meeting

 

 

7:00pm

JR / SR Youth

9

Fr

7:00pm

JR Youth Leave for Snow Camp

11

Su

9:15am

Christian Education

 

 

10:30am

Worship

 

 

11:30am

2nd Sunday Carry-in Meal

12

Mo

8:30am

MOMS In Touch

 

 

10:00am

Pastoral Team Meeting

 

 

6:00pm

Fellowship Hall Reserved for 4-H

14

We

6:00pm

Outreach Commission

 

 

7:00pm

SR High Haystack Supper Prep

15

Th

6:30am

Band of Men

 

 

6:30pm

Worship with Jonell

 

 

7:00pm

Will You Walk With Me?

 

Staff Away

 

Aimee Weishaupt will be taking a three-week intensive class at AMBS January 5-23.  She will be out of the office during this time.  If you need her, please email and she will check in with you as she is able.  Or check with the church office to see if Angi can help you.

 

Ron Gingerich will be away January 30 and 31.

 

Janice Troyer will be away February 6 and 7 while taking a class at AMBS.  Other class dates to be announced as they draw closer.

 

 

ADMINISTRATION – Supporting All Areas


Reporting for December 28, 2008:

 

Offering

 

Attendance

Budget

8,392.00

 

Worship

239

Designated

5,310.30

 

Christian Ed

153

Total

13,702.30

 

 

 


THE BOARD – Our Governance


Benevolent Fund:

The benevolent fund has been opened.  This fund is set up to help people in our congregation in times of need.  This is a way that we are community together.  The money given to this account does not come from the budget, but is above budget giving.  If you would like to give to this account, please be sure to mark your check for the benevolent fund or it will not get there. 

 

Haystack Fundraiser and Congregational Meeting:   After the worship service Sunday, January 18 there will be a Haystack Fundraiser meal for the SR High Youth to help raise money for Convention in Columbus .  Following the meal will be the Annual Congregational Meeting in the sanctuary.  All are invited to stay for the meal and the meeting.  We ask that you prepare for the meeting by reading the meeting packets that can be found in your mailboxes January 4. 

 

COMMUNITY LIFE – Relating to Each Other


Second Sunday Potluck:

We will have a carry-in meal following the worship service on January 11.  Please plan to bring a dish to share and stay for food and fellowship!

 

 

Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries

 

 

January:

 

 

 4  Bruce Schwartz, Nathan Slabach, Jeanette Yoder

 

 5  Nicole Hershberger

 6  Ryan Gingrich

 

 8  Jenna Kieper, John Stoltzfus

 

  9  Jack Hertig

 

11  Lauren Detweiler

 

12   Derek Christophel, Lauren Dickerson

 

13   Adele Reichert, Cynthia Marcus

 

14   Megan Eichorn

 

 

A BAND OF MEN!

A small group that invites men to grow and become stronger as  we support each other in prayer, study, and fellowship:  our first meeting will be on Thursday morning , January 8 at the church.  We will meet weekly at 6:30 am for about 50-60  minutes and will be finished by 7:30 am. As we begin this group, Ron Guengerich will lead the group in prayer, study and sharing our lives with each other.


WILL YOU WALK WITH ME?

This group will have their first meeting on Thursday, January 8.   If you are interested in walking for exercise and getting to know some new people come to Silverwood at 7:00 pm.  We will be walking indoors.  Get out those walking shoes and come join us! Contact Dick Gilliom at or 534-2932 if you are interested.

 

WERE YOU EVER A TEENAGER?

Do you ever feel like teens speak a different language, or do they look at you like you’re the one speaking a different language?  If you answered yes to either of these questions, this is the small group for you.  Come join other language challenged parents who desire to better relate to the teens of today.  If all goes well, we may begin to speak “teen” a little better and may even get “the look” less often.  Perhaps you are a post-teen parent with wisdom to share or a pre-teen parent looking to prepare yourself; all are welcome.  Please contact Craig Detweiler at 533-1165 or if you are interested.

         



We want to feature YOU in “A Silverwood Snapshot”

Do you have a desire to share a “snapshot” of your life as a Christian?  This is a great way to help build your faith and the faith of others.  We want to hear from you!  Please send your submission & photo to or stop by the church office Monday – Friday from 9 am–5 pm.

 

DISCIPLING – Strengthening / Encouraging Relationships

 

Children’s Christmas Program:

I am currently looking for video recordings of any of the children’s Christmas programs from the past few years.  If you have a copy that I could view, please place it in my mailbox and I will return it to you.  Thanks, Aimee!

 

Christian Education:

 

Everyone is invited and welcomed to join a Christian Education class on Sunday morning.  Below you will find where they are meeting:

 

Mission Possible! (Jesus and his disciples) —Meeting in SW Fellowship Hall: When Jesus proclaims that he is “preaching the good news (Luke 4:18),” he also proclaims that “the year of the Lord’s favor” had arrived.  This quote from Isaiah refers to the year of jubilee.  This week we will look at how the “year of jubilee” is part of the gospel and outreach:  debts are forgiven; sins are pardoned; and impurity is cleansed.  How do we proclaim the year of jubilee?

 

Body Talk: Speaking the Words of Health – Meeting in the Room behind the Library

 

Take Up the Cross – Meeting in the NW Fellowship Hall

 

Human Commitment – Meeting in Room # 19

 

 

REPORTS AND NOTES


Office Hours and Contact Information

 

Business Hours:

Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.

 

 

Contact Information:

533-1922 (phone)  /  533-4069 (fax)

 

(email)

 

 

Beyond Silverwood Announcements:

Announcements may be viewed in their entirety on our website at www.silverwoodmc.org; click on Administration/Announcements/Beyond Silverwood. 

Full-length announcements are also posted on the commission bulletin boards in our fellowship hall.  

 

 

Inquiring Minds Want to Know:

Have you ever had a burning question about any and all things Silverwood?  We invite you to submit your questions to one of our pastors or to the church office where your question and our reply will be made available in an upcoming newsletter issue…so other inquiring minds will know too.