Loving as Jesus loves

Red Run News -- June 21, 2009 -- Father's Day

We prayed this morning for the fathers in our congregation.

A Sunday school elective "Love and Respect" was begun today. This class meets in the annex area. This morning the class was taught by Kevin Weaver. Others will teach the class in following weeks. The standard Sunday School lesson will be taught in a class in the auditorium.

Our guest speaker was Ryan Long, a student at Elizabethtown College. Ryan's message was entitled "Afraid To Love." Ryan challenged us to express the love of Jesus to others in our individual lives and as a church. For the children, Julia Sensenig told the story of Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus -- examples of friendship among people of different stations in life.

Julia Mickley gave thanks for a good first week of camp at Woodcrest and asked us to remember the staff training this coming week. Marty Weaver was back after spending several weeks in Ohio. We prayed for the sick and bereaved and also gave thanks for God's healing.

Lewie and Esther Martin, assisted by others in our congregation, provided a Saturday morning Farmer's Breakfast for the senior citizens in the churches of the Bowmansville-Reading District. Kevin Weaver gave a nature talk about lichens -- which are really a working together of two different species, an algae and a fungus.

A spiritual birth

Red Run News -- June 14, 2009

Thanks to all those who helped with the Summer Bible School this past week at the Bowmansville Mennonite Church. Red Run members were well represented among those who staffed and attended the Bible School, and this is greatly appreciated.

Thanks to those who organized the Ministry Appreciation Picnic at the Terre Hill Park on Saturday, June 6. We had good food and fellowship and a lot of fun on the playground.

Welcome back to some of our college students who have been away from us for a while.

Congratulations to Nathaniel Martin, whose Little League team won the championship game. We are glad to see Nathaniel recovering from an injury to his face that he received in that game.

We appreciate that former pastor James Martin was with us on June 7 to bring the message. James used the account of Nicodemus (a respected teacher) coming to Jesus (the Master Teacher) in John 3. James described the spiritual birth that God works in our hearts.

On June 14, Randy Hostetter led us in singing songs about following Jesus. Pastor Carl told the children the story of the shepherd boy David being anointed as the king of Israel. Pastor Carl also had the message on the parable of the growing seed (Mark 4:26-29). We are called to be faithful in the planting of the seed of the gospel (the good news of Jesus), but God makes the seed grow (by bringing conviction and new life).

The infilling of the Holy Spirit

Red Run News -- May 31, 2009

On Pentecost Sunday we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Christian church. To the children, Pastor Kevin showed a model airplane and talked about the need for power and direction for the plane to fly. Likewise, we need God's Spirit within us for power and direction in our lives.

Pastor Kevin brought a message from Acts 2. He called us to see the fields that are ready to be harvested (that is, those persons in our lives who need to hear the good news of Jesus) and to ask God for an infilling of the Holy Spirit so that we have the desire and the power to share this good news. Pastor Kevin challenged us to connect with each other and with other believers so that we can encourage one another in our calling to extend the fellowship to those whom God is calling.

The children sang "Who's that walking on the water?" This is a song related to the upcoming Bible School at Bowmansville Mennonite Church June 7-11 (Sunday-Thursday) at 7 p.m. each evening. There are classes for all ages including an adult class taught by Jeremy Leaman. Many from our congregation are helping to operate this Summer Bible School.

We welcomed Daniel from Mozambique who is staying at the home of Ken and Karen Sensenig and working with Mennonite Central Committee.

A Sunday School elective "Love and Respect" is scheduled to begin on Sunday morning, June 21. This will be held in the annex area of the church while the standard Sunday lesson will be studied in the class in the auditorium.

All are welcome to the picnic in the Terre Hill Park on Saturday, June 6, beginning at 4 p.m., with the meal served about 5 p.m. This picnic is an expression of appreciation for the ministry team at Red Run.

Next Sunday (June 7) we plan for a fellowship breakfast time from 9:30 to 9:55 a.m., between Sunday School and the church service. Former interim pastor James Martin is scheduled to bring the message.