Children support retreat swimming pool

Red Run News -- January 8, 2012

We welcomed our bishop Ken Martin and his wife Lois to our service this morning. Ken brought a message on resources for encouragement. Our resources are the body of Christ (the church), the words of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God. Each one carries his own load and helps carry the other's overload.

On behalf of the Red Run congregation, Julia Sensenig presented a Bible to Colleen on the occasion of her twelfth birthday.

Randy Hostetter announced that the children's offerings from April to December 2011 amounted to over $500 and is designated towards the swimming pool at Woodcrest Retreat.

Ellen Martin played the prelude music on the keyboard. Bob Sauder, Glenda Lafferty, Randy Hostetter, Letitia Weaver, and Emily Sauder led us in a time of singing to worship our Creator. We prayed for those who are sick.

Some of us had met at the church on Friday evening to bake cookies. As a result, there was a cookie for each person after the church service today.

Next Sunday (January 15, 2012) the Red Run Choir will resume the practice of singing at 8:30 a.m. each Sunday morning.

We look forward to a fellowship meal after the church service on January 15.

Talk to Randy Hostetter if you would like to register for Stewardship University held at Lancaster Mennonite School on Saturday, March 3, 2012. You can choose up to three seminars to help you live a God-honoring life of holistic stewardship.

You are all invited to the bishop installation service to be held at the Weaverland Mennonite Church at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 26, 2012. As you know, Pastor Carl gives bishop oversight to the congregations in the Bowmansville-Reading District and will soon assume oversight responsibilities for the congregations in the Weaverland-Northeast District.

The angel appears to Mary

Red Run News -- December 18, 2011

About twelve of us caroled on Saturday evening (December 17) in the neighborhood of the church. We delivered the fruit baskets supplied by Marty Weaver. We concluded the caroling with hot dogs, hot chocolate, and cookies outdoors at Joe and Maryann Miozza's home.

In the Children's Time on December 18, Tina Mickley showed the nursing uniform her mother had worn and also shared her own childhood aspiration to be a nurse. Some of the children talked of their future plans. Tina told the story of the three trees who also had plans of their own, but God had even better plans for them. Julia Mickley read the Scripture (Luke 1:26-38) about the good plans God had for Mary. Pastor Kevin used the story of Mary to remind us to commit to obey God, expect to hear God, and expect to bless others. We also learned a lot about angels n the Bible

Next Sunday (December 25) is Christmas Day. A fellowship breakfast will be available from 9:15 to 9:55 a.m. (no Sunday School class), followed by the 10 a.m. church service, in which Ken Sensenig will share a Christmas message for all age groups.

All are welcome to a cookie baking evening at the church on Friday, January 6, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.

The most important thing -- the good news of Jesus

Red Run News -- December 4, 2011

We turn back to God. This was the theme for the second Sunday of Advent.

Colleen and Glenda Lafferty read the Scripture this morning (Mark 1:1-8). The chimes choir presented the hymn, "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence." We sang "O Come, All Ye Children" during the lighting of the candles.

Excitement ran high during the Children's Time. Emily Sauder pulled into the auditorium a covered wagon carrying an itinerant preacher, a puppet played by her father Bob Sauder. (See the attached photo.) The preacher, along with his dog, faced many challenges in his call to tell others about Jesus. Even when we go through tough times, sharing the good news of Jesus is the most important thing.

Melvin Weaver brought a message about John the Baptist, who announced the coming of Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises. In our time, we also acknowledge Jesus as the Sovereign Lord and Savior. We confess our sins, live holy lives, tell others about Jesus, love each other, pray for each other, and help each other.

All are welcome to the Christmas program at Red Run to be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 11. And, if you can, bring a plate of cookies to add to the refreshments to be served that evening. Invite others to come to the program.

Ready Runners will meet on Tuesday, December 6, from 6:30 -- 7:30 p.m. for a Christmas program practice.

Jesus is coming again!

Red Run News -- November 27, 2011

First Sunday of Advent

Michelle Sensenig played the prelude music. Bob Sauder led us in singing including an Advent favorite "Joy to the World." The chimes choir played "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent." Simao Prysakar read the solemn Scripture (Matthew 25:31-46) about the coming again of Jesus. Then Pastor Carl and the puppet Esmerelda had a conversation about that event. The birth of Jesus and the coming again of Jesus are two chapters in the one grand story of God's love for us and for the whole world. Jesus has gone to prepare a home for us and then will return for us. We prepare our hearts for that great occasion.

We prayed for those who are in grief.

On Sunday, November 20, Pastor Kevin had a message from Ephesians 1, calling us to have a strong faith in Jesus and to care for God's people everywhere. Glenda Lafferty led us in singing "Count Your Blessings," "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus," (a favorite of Shannon's), and "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder," (a favorite of Willis Burkholder's).

Ready Runners will meet at the church on Thursday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m.

On December 4, we will have a fellowship breakfast (9:30-9:55 a.m.) between Sunday School and the church service.

On Sunday evening, December 11, the annual Christmas program will be held at Red Run at 7 p.m.

Leaves, Leaves, Leaves

Red Run News -- November 13, 2011
Saturday was a beautiful fall day to work in the church grove to put the trees to sleep for the winter. We raked leaves, cut low-hanging branches, and rode on trailers.
We mowed leaves, trimmed bushes, and pedaled bikes.
We hauled leaves, played football, and danced to holiday music.
We burned leaves, talked with friends, and ate ham sandwiches.
We pulled leaves out of the rain gutters and even retrieved a bean bag accidentally thrown on the roof weeks ago.
Our energy spilled over into helping some of the neighbors as well.
Thanks to those who organized the work day and all who helped.

For our Sunday service, Ellen Martin played the prelude and offering music, including the hymn "Fairest Lord Jesus." Bob Sauder, Randy Hostetter, Letitia Weaver, and Ian Martin led us in singing. We sang several hymns that are based on the 90th psalm.

Pastor Carl reflected on the 90th psalm. We thought about God's sovereignty, unfailing love, and just wrath. We thought about human sin and frailty. And we were reminded of God's grace to forgive our sins. We were also reminded of our responsibility to appropriate that grace to live in God's will in this brief but important blip called life.

Pastor Carl talked about the upcoming Advent services (beginning November 27) on the theme "We Receive the Best Gift." See Pastor Carl if you would like to read the Scripture or share a ten-minute story time with the children on one of these Sundays.

Melvin Weaver reported from Eastern Mennonite Missions on the challenges of mission work in Europe. Julia Sensenig reported on the fall women's assembly of our conference that was attended by four women from our congregation.

There is a card making session at the church on Saturday, November 19, from 9-11 a.m.

Remember that next Sunday (November 20), we look forward to a fellowship meal. On December 1 (Thursday) Ready Runners will meet at the church at 6:30 p.m. On Sunday, December 4, there is a fellowship breakfast between Sunday School and the church service.

Our annual Christmas program is on the evening of December 11 at 7 p.m..

We bring the sacrifice of praise

Red Run News -- October 30, 2011

A lovely October snowfall complicated our lives this morning. Some of us did not have electricity at home. Some of us faced detours enroute to the service because of the trees and electric lines that were down. Some congregations were not able to have services today, but we were thankful to be able to meet together at Red Run. We prayed for those who are experiencing hardships as the result of this storm.

The Sunday School lesson was on the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount.

Pastor Carl brought a message from Psalm 43 about coming into the house of God with our offerings of money, praises, and our very lives. "We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord." We sang "I was glad, I was glad when they said unto me" and then the children helped us to sing a new song: "I Like to Pray."

On the keyboard, Ellen Martin played "We are climbing Jacob's ladder." We sang some more favorite songs today: "He Hideth My Soul," a favorite of Earl Martin, and "As the Deer," a favorite of Miguel Prysakar. We are thankful for a good medical report from Rhoda Nolt. We prayed for Lonnie and Amy and daughter Emma as they have begun a new home. We prayed for Glenn and Julie Stauffer and family in Montana as Mel and Ruthie reported on their recent visit there.


Looking forward to Sunday, November 6:
Remember to turn your clocks back one hour.
At 9 a.m. there will be the children's classes as usual. In the combined adult class, Bishop Ken Martin will speak for a few minutes about the bishop discernment for the Weaverland-Northeast District. Then a speaker from the Gideons will share until the 9:30 a.m. fellowship breakfast. During that break time, you may want to talk to either Ken Martin or or the Gideons speaker or both. Ken Sensenig will have the message during our regular 10 a.m. service.

Waiting for the bridegroom!

Red Run News -- October 2, 2011

We gathered on this cloudy, fall day to celebrate the communion service -- in remembrance of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. Those who came early heard the choir sing "Saved by the blood of the crucified one" and other hymns of faith. Some in that early audience were quietly singing the words as their own testimony.

Assisted by Letitia, Pastor Kevin re-enacted a betrothal which was sealed by each drinking from the same cup. Then the bridegroom went away to prepare a house and the bride prepared herself in expectation for the groom's return. Even so, the church waits expectantly for the return of Jesus Christ. And the communion service is the reminder of who Jesus is, what he has done for us, and that he is coming for us to take us to the place that he has prepared for us. So today we broke bread together and drank from the cup as a reminder of these truths.

Bob Sauder, Letitia Weaver, Randy Hostetter, and Emily Sauder led us in singing today. We sang "Let your face shine upon us that we may be saved," which comes from the 80th psalm, one of the texts used by Pastor Kevin. We also sang "Crown Him with Many Crowns," which is a favorite hymn of Maxine Harting.

We prayed for those in the northern part of our state, who are still reeling from the devastation of recent flooding. Continue to remember those among us who are ill. Give thanks for the healing that God has provided.

Is Saturday, November 12, on your calendar as the day to clean up at the church and grove?

On Sunday, October 9, we plan for a fellowship breakfast between Sunday School and the church service. Then on Sunday, October 16, we plan to have a fellowship meal after the church service.

On September 25, Pastor Carl brought a message on spiritual gifts. This is the time of the year when we fill certain offices in the life of the church. We sang "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder," a favorite hymn of Willis Burkholder. Paul and Edith Gehman expressed thanks to the congregation for support and prayers during the recent passing of their grandson Kole Trupe.