Noah is dedicated to the Lord

Red Run News -- September 30, 2007

Melvin Weaver led in the dedication of Noah Elliot Weaver, son of Kevin and Letitia. Guests for the occasion included Dale and Dorothy Lefever, Kristen Lefever, Dale and Sharon Brubaker and their sons Trenton, Grant, Kyle, and Jaden. The Ready Runners sang "God's Love Is for You."

Pastor Carl preached from 1 Timothy 6:11. We pursue righteousness (right relationships), godliness (reverential worship with our lips and lives), faith (the conviction that God is real), love (as exemplified by Jesus Christ as He washed the disciples' feet in the shadow of the cross), endurance (patient and productive waiting for the coming of Jesus), and gentleness (rest in the tender arms of Jesus). In reference to the gentle Jesus, the choir sang "His Yoke Is Easy."

Kevin Weaver led us in singing several hymns of trust: "Only Trust Him" and "Tis So Sweet." At the conclusion of the service, we shared in a time of footwashing.

Kevin Weaver reported that the second year of his pastoral training is underway. The special emphasis for this school year will be the teaching ministry of the congregation. Kevin is always appreciative of any input that any of us may have. Bob Sauder reported on the trip of our children's puppet team to Shiloh Church in Reading this past Tuesday evening.

After the service, we stepped outside to enjoy the bright fall sunshine. The morning's lesson lingered in the mind of one little girl. She held a pair of dolls, and one doll was telling the Bible story to the other doll. By that time, the conversation of some of the dads had drifted to sports.

Blessed be the name of the LORD!

Red Run News -- September 23, 2007

The lovely grounds at Red Run were neatly mowed. The sun shown brightly upon us as we gathered for worship and sang:

Sun of my soul, thou Savior dear, it is not night if thou be near;
Oh, may no earthbound cloud arise to hide thee from thy servant's eye.

Abide with me from morn to eve, for without thee I cannot live;
Abide with me when night is nigh, for without thee I dare not die.

Come near and bless us when we wake, ere through the world our way we take;
Till in the ocean of thy love, we lose ourselves in heaven above.

A wheat sheaf appeared in Joyce Sauder's class as the children heard the story of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. Bob Sauder taught the men's class on the lesson about Hagar, Sarah, and Abraham. Both lessons show that family situations can get very complicated! Of course, most of us know that from our own experiences.

You will remember the puppet story of Zaccheus which was presented by the children several weeks ago. The children will present that story again on Tuesday evening at Shiloh Mennonite Church.

During the prelude and offering, Randy Hostetter played hymns on the guitar -- including "O Worship the King." After the opening hymns of the church service, Karen and Ken Sensenig led us in a litany of thanksgiving. Karen shared that the pastoral search committee at the Habecker Mennonite Church is recommending to the Habecker congregation that they call Karen as the pastor. The members of the Habecker congregation will vote on this recommendation during the next two weeks. We wish God's blessing on Karen and Ken as they look forward to this transition in their lives.

Kevin Weaver preached this morning on the text "Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time on and forevermore (Psalm 113). When we praise the Lord, then our hearts and attitudes are changed. We see the God who cares about us, the God who lifts up the poor from the dirt, and the God who blesses families with children. Kevin strongly challenged us to be conscious of what God is doing in our lives and then to speak our praises of God. In response to the sermon, the choir sang "Bless His Name."

In the sharing time, Esther Martin told us about the ladies' group that meets in their development. We prayed for wisdom for those Christian leaders who will meet with the president of Iran on Wednesday. We acnowledged the 25th anniversary of the Ephrata Reuzit Shop and Paul Gehman's service as chairman of that board. Visitors this morning included Leonard and Rosene Martin, who had attended Red Run some years ago.

Julia Sensenig will be at a nursing conference in Phoenix, Arizona, from Tuesday through Saturday this coming week.

Great joy in heaven!

Red Run News -- September 16, 2007

As we walked across the church parking lot this morning, there was a hint of fall in the air and we could hear the steady crackling of acorns falling from the huge oak trees.

The Sunday School lessons from Genesis was entitled "Our place in the family!" Esther Martin taught the women's class which considered such practical questions as "How do we relate to people with whom we disagree?" Meanwhile the men's class (taught by Melvin Weaver) discussed Ishmael and Isaac and some of the tensions of the present-day world.

Bob Sauder opened the church service by leading "We now have met to worship thee." Then Nathaniel Martin put the songs on the overhead as Bob led in a number of songs. Edith Gehman reported on the passing of her stepmother Anna Mary Weaver.

Pastor Carl preached on the story of the lost coin (Luke 15). God is searching diligently for the lost, and there is great joy in heaven when the lost are found. We all know that feeling of joy when we rediscover something precious that we have lost. The choir sang "The Ninety and Nine."

Glenda Lafferty is planning another cardmaking session for Saturday morning, October 13. See the sign-up sheet in the lobby.

Church retreat at Woodcrest

Red Run News -- September 9, 2007

This was the weekend for the annual retreat of our congregation at the Woodcrest Retreat Center. We enjoyed the facilities of Woodcrest. Red Run even built and contributed a picnic table to Woodcrest. Thanks to those who worked on that project on Saturday.

On Saturday evening we gathered around a campfire and Willis Burkholder created a work of art with the large hollow log that he had brought along for that purpose. Ken Sensenig helped us get the storytelling started, and then around that fire many of us shared stories from our lives. We learned a lot about each other.

Charles Harting taught the Sunday School lesson at the 9:00 a.m. service at the church.
At Woodcrest, Randy Hostetter and Bob Sauder played guitars and led us in singing. Julia Sensenig told the flannelgraph story of how the life of the infant Moses was preserved when he was hidden away from danger. Joyce Sauder helped the children with a craft.

Irvin Martin preached from the book of Philemon. God's grace goes far beyond what we imagine -- in our lives and in the lives of others. We prayed for Maxine Harting who will have an MRI on Tuesday.

Willis Burkholder barbecued delicious chicken and there was lots of other good food for the fellowship meal. You might think traffic would not be heavy at a retreat center. However, before lunch there was the hum of traffic. Little tractors, farm wagons, and tricycles made their rounds up and down the rows between the tables in the pavilion.

Since Irvin Martin will retire as bishop early next year, the ministry of the Bowmansville-Reading District has begun a discernment process to find his replacement. The leadership of each congregation will identify what they think the qualities and work of a bishop should be. These ideas will be gathered and condensed before the next meeting of the district ministry onTuesday, October 9. Pastor Carl called the congregation to especially pray each Tuesday for this process.

Family Arrives from Ukraine

Red Run News -- September 2, 2007

Paul Gehman taught the combined class from Genesis 1. God created a perfect world. That world was marred by sin, and now God is preparing a perfect place where we shall live forever. Bob Sauder (playing guitar) and Randy Hostetter (playing bass guitar) led us in singing. We also sang, "Our God, He is Alive." Tim Martin led us in the time of prayer and announcements. We prayed for Brian Martin (son of Marvin and Ellen), who is recovering from an illness. We noted the passing of Levi, brother of Willis Burkholder. Also the passing of Marian Weaver, grandmother of Julia Sensenig and Karen Sensenig.

Melvin Weaver preached on the text "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." The prophet Jonah proclaimed that God is compassionate and merciful. This God has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ. We follow Jesus on a journey of faith into the future. When this world is shaken, only that which is eternal will remain. The choir sang a closing hymn "Glory ever be to Jesus, God's own well-beloved Son; By His grace He hath redeemed us, 'It is finished,' all is done." Carl Sensenig conducted a service at the campground. About twenty campers participated.

We had some special visitors this morning. The Red Run congregation is sponsoring the Prysachar family, who arrived in the United States from Ukraine on Wednesday, August 29. Vitaliy and Alla Prysacher have twin sons Simao and Miguel (born August 2, 2002 ). The family speaks Romanian, Ukrainian, and Portuguese. The Prysachar family is staying in the home of Alla's brother Anatoliy Grigrorutsa. Anatoliy and Viorica Grigrorutsa live at 568 Greenview Drive , Denver , PA 17517 here in Fivepointville. (Phone: 445-0346). The Grigrorutsa children attend Gehmans Mennonite School – Gloria in 8th grade and Anatoly in 6th grade. We wish the Lord’s blessing on the Prysachar family as they begin a new life in this country.

Remember the church retreat at Woodcrest Retreat Center on September 7-9. There will be a Saturday evening campfire. There will be a combined Sunday School class at the church from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. The 11:00 a.m. Sunday service at Woodcrest Retreat will include children's activities and a sermon by bishop Irvin Martin. A fellowship meal will follow the service.