Thoughts from Pastor Dennis
August
Dear Friends,
A colleague of mine once said, “Spending a week at church camp at Hartman Center benefits a person as much as six months of Sunday School classes.” I believe there is a lot of truth in that statement.
I am encouraged by the participation of our children and youth in many of the programs offered by our Hartman center Camping and Retreat facility. I am also encouraged that persons of all ages in our congregation have an opportunity to experience some time away with our faith family at Hartman Center this fall.
Our Evangelism Committee is planning a congregational retreat, October 13-15, and Rev. Jacquie Church-Young will be providing primary leadership for this event. It is only three days, but I am certain that what we gain spiritually and in terms of our fellowship with one another will be far beyond what three days anywhere else would give us.
Some of our members already know what a wonderful setting Hartman center is for relaxation and worship and spiritual growth. I am urging you folks, who have never been to Hartman Center, to sign up and join us for what is sure to be a joyful time for learning and growing in our faith.
Yours
In Christ,
Pastor Dennis Weidler
July
“…the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment.
Since everything around us is going to melt away, what Holy, godly lives you should be living! You should look forward to that day and hurry it along – the day God will set the heavens on fire and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world where everyone is right with God.”
2 Peter 3:10-13, New Living Translation
Dear Friends,
Maybe the passage above is too hot a one to handle during some of these tougher, hotter days of summer! Yet, I lift up these verses because they remind me, so much, of the good, positive direction in which we are headed, as a congregation.
I always have been inspired by the many ways faith is put into action among the folks of our congregation. Our participation in the West York Church of the Brethren Food Pantry and Our Daily Bread lunch program, our hands-on gifts to Habitat For Humanity and Group Workcamp experiences, our good goals set for Heifer Project International CROP Walks, and other mission projects are indications of our working toward that “,,,world where everyone is right with God.” We consistently and earnestly seek justice for our relationships with other people in our community and our world.
Also, there is another way in which we consistently seek to honor relationships with others – it is by taking seriously and following through consistently on our covenantal obligations to the wider ministries of our denomination. Believe me, not every congregation treats honorably or nurtures its relationship with the Association and Conference and other Covenanted Ministries of the United Church of Christ. Our experience within those different circles of the church is wide-ranging; our participation level is high; we regularly hear of memorable experiences that our delegates and visitors have, while representing us in those different areas.
It is not to say that we agree with, nor do we rubber stamp every pronouncement or decision that is made by leadership in the wider Conference or denomination. We do seek to understand the stances that are taken by the wider church and we seek to conduct ourselves in a manner that reflects the good news and affirmations we have received from Jesus himself. Basically, this is what is called, living in covenantal relationship with others.
It is not easy to follow through on “holy” and “godly” living, yet what I detect in you, good folks, is a desire to work positively in that direction. Because of you and because of your willingness to carefully tend these missional and covenantal relationships, we receive signs that “the new heavens and new earth,” which God so graciously promises us, are on their way!
Glad To Be With You On The
Journey,
Pastor Dennis Weidler