Hymn Sing at Hartings

Red Run News -- September 28, 2009

Ruthie Weaver showed us the new books in our church library. She told us about a lot of things -- bear cubs and baseball players and Milton Hershey and the Amish.

Melvin Weaver preached from Matthew 21:23-32. We respect the authority of God who is above all. We are also obedient to the other authorities in our lives. If we call Jesus our Lord, then we should also live in obedience -- an obedience which comes through faith.

Charles Harting called on us to take the opportunity to offer a word of encouragement to those who are worried about the financial instability in our world.

A group of Red Run members enjoyed a hymn sing at the home of Charles and Maxine Harting on Sunday evening. Glenn Stauffer departed on Sunday for ten weeks of scientific study on seals in Antarctica. Andrew Sensenig is doing research on spider silk at the University of Akron.

Ready Runners meets on Wednesday, October 1, at 6:30 p.m. The Woodcrest Auction is this Saturday, October 4. A communion service will be held on Sunday, October 12. Glenda Lafferty will help us make Christmas cards at the church on Saturday morning, October 25.

Paul Gehman, Chaplain at Fairmount Homes

Red Run News -- September 21, 2008

Julia Sensenig led the singing as our service began at 9 a.m. We sang together many of the songs that the children usually sing before Sunday School. Bob Sauder read our Scripture for today, the blessings given by Jesus in Matthew 5:1-12.

At the 9 a.m. service, bishop Kenneth Martin led in a credentialing service for Paul Gehman as a chaplain at Fairmount Homes -- a position that Paul has held since last year. We wish Paul the Lord's blessing as he serves as chaplain. Kent Richards, vice-president of operations at Fairmount Homes, was present in our service and noted that Paul had begun 30 years ago as a volunteer at Fairmount Homes.

We shared together in a light breakfast in the fellowship hall. Thanks to those who brought the food and to Ruthie Weaver who organized this.

At the 10 a.m. service we were led in singing by our team of guitarists: Randy Hostetter, Glenda Lafferty, and Bob Sauder with Tisha Weaver on the piano and Colleen Lafferty putting up the overhead transparencies.

Pastor Carl preached on the words of Jesus, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." When you come up against difficult experiences, you realize that you cannot help yourself. If you completely depend upon God, then you have become poor in spirit. This trust in God is what then enables us to lead lives of contentment and peace.

Kevin Weaver has just begun the third of three years of pastoral training. Blessings, Kevin, in your study and your ministry!

Glenn, Julia, and Melanie Stauffer return to this area this coming week. A few days later, Glenn will fly to Antarctica to conduct scientific research until December while Julie and Melanie remain in this area. The Stauffer family plans to return to their home in Montana at the beginning of January.

In our sharing time, we remembered Luke and Levi Witmer, whose house was damaged this week by an accident involving a car.

Christmas in the summer time

Red Run News -- September 14, 2008

On Saturday evening, we gathered around the campfire at Woodcrest. This year the event featured a double-decker fire tunnel of hollow logs created by Willis Burkholder. Randy Hostetter led us in singing, and then Tim Martin sparked the onversation with leading questions (family traditions, "stupid" purchases, etc.) Of course, our answers were not always to the question asked, but we learned a lot and had a good time.

Some of us met for a service at the church at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. Charles Harting taught the Sunday School lesson, which happened to be about the birth of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. Charles noted that it was refreshing to study this account at a time of year when we were not surrounded by the cultural trappings of Christmas. That thought led Charles to bring from his childhood the following memory: At the Reinholds United Zion Church, little Charles was fascinated by old, white-haired Michael Gress, who always sat on the front bench. The old man sat with his hands across his abdomen in such a way that a staring child could not fail to note the two missing fingers. Then when the members of the congregation were invited to suggest hymns to sing, Michael invariably called out in his deep voice, cracked with age, "Number 92." It may have been a sunshiny late summer day, but still Michael selected the same song, "Silent Night," amid some titters from the back benches where the young people sat. (Lesson from Michael: We can think about the miraculous birth of the Lord Jesus during months other than December.)

At Woodcrest we began the church service at 11 a.m., one hour later than we normally have our church service. Bob Sauder and Randy Hostetter led us in singing. Julia Sensenig, assisted by Randy Hostetter, Mel Weaver, and Kevin Weaver, acted out two stories: the Samaritan woman at the well and then the healing of the parayzed man. Ken Sensenig told a story about local farmers who gave food and shelter to escaped prisoners of war during the American Revolution. We also face questions of how we relate to enemies in the times in which we live.

Kevin Weaver led our time of sharing and prayer. After the service we enjoyed a fellowship meal that included delicious chicken barbecue prepared by Willis Burkholder.

Next Sunday (September 21), we have another change in schedule. We will open the 9 a.m. service with a time of singing -- songs especially with the children in mind. Bishop Ken Martin will then direct the credentialing of Paul Gehman as the chaplain at Fairmount Homes. At 9:30 a.m., we will share a light breakfast in the fellowship hall before our regular 10 a.m. service.

Congratulations to Henry and Erma Garman on 50 years of marriage.

Baptismal Service

Red Run News -- September 7, 2008

We enjoyed today's sunshine after the heavy rains delivered by tropical storm Hanna on Saturday. We welcomed Paul and Edith Gehman back from a trip to Switzerland.

Randy Hostetter took song selections and led us in singing hymns including "Hallelujah, What a Savior!" and "We're Marching to Zion." We prayed for the sick and the sorrowing.

Today we celebrated the baptism of Colleen Lafferty. Pastor Carl preached from Acts 2. When the people cried out, "What shall we do?", Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized." Baptism represents the gifts of faith and forgiveness and the privilege of following Jesus in our daily lives.

After the sermon, we proceeded a half mile down the road to the Red Run Campground where Pastor Carl asked Colleen:
Do you believe that Jesus loves you?
Do you believe that Jesus has forgiven all your sins?
Do you love Jesus and want to obey His teachings?
When Colleen said "yes" to these questions, she was immersed in the water and baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. For Colleen, this begins a lifelong walk with Jesus. This is also a time for those of us who have been baptized to re-evaluate our daily walk with Jesus.

In order to get the most out of a gorgeous, late summer day, many walked the distance between the church and the campground.

The Great Adventure of Following Jesus

Red Run News -- August 31, 2008

Melvin Weaver led a service at the Red Run Campground for those who were camping for the Labor Day weekend. Kevin Weaver concluded the Core Values class. Next Sunday (September 7) we will return to the regular arrangement for the adult classes. Gene Hurst was elected to another term as Sunday School secretary.

Children at a very young age learn the skill of taking money to the offering jar at the front of the church. To safely turn around and return to their benches in the face of oncoming traffic is a higher-level skill that soon follows.

Randy Hostetter, Bob Sauder, and Glenda Lafferty led us in singing "In Christ Alone," and other songs.

Pastor Carl preached from Matthew 16:21-28 -- the passage in which Jesus rebukes the disciple Peter, "Get behind me, Satan." This account reminds us that it was necessary for Jesus to suffer for our sins and to die at the hands of sinful people. This passage is a warning to church leaders to follow Jesus and not to be sidetracked by worldly ways of thinking. And all of us are called to that great adventure of following Jesus in our day-to-day lives. The choir sang, "Follow the Path of Jesus."

On September 7, we plan for the baptism of Colleen Lafferty. On September 14 our church service will be at Woodcrest at 11 a.m., followed by a chicken BBQ and a fellowship meal. (A time of Bible study will be held at the church from 9:00 -- 9:45 a.m.) On September 21, we plan for the credentialing service for Paul Gehman at the 9 a.m. service.

The Prysakar family gives thanks that the paperwork for permanent residency status has been filed. We prayed for the needs of family, friends, and neighbors. We remembered those too who live in the path of the hurricane.