Sharing with Steve
I spent last week at Lake James Christian Camp in Angola, IN. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed camp. I believe the last time I went to camp was in 2007. I have been to a lot of church camps – Park Springs in North Carolina, El Porvenir in New Mexico, King Solomon in Kansas, and Camp Edisto in South Carolina. Each camp had its unique beauty and character.
Lake James can stand with the best of them. They have “camp” down to a fine art. The faculty I worked with was excellent. The camp staff was very friendly and helpful. Lake James enjoys broad support in northeastern Indiana, northwestern Ohio, and south central Michigan. We had eighty-five 5th and 6th graders. We tried to impress on them that even in their youth they could influence their friends and family for Jesus Christ. We worked to give them the tools to do that. We talked about the whole armor of God and how that can make a difference. Even at this young age these kids are proficient on the internet and the use of cell phones. We talked about the dangers of posting pictures on-line or for that matter anything on-line. It would have been good for parents to sit in on some of these classes. We challenged the kids to memorize Bible verses and facts. Several rose to the occasion and memorized every verse and fact presented. Each night we had a campfire on the shore of Lake James. Our songs and shouts of “Praise the Lord” would echo across the lake and back again. It was a great setting. The week culminated in the baptism of eleven youth. I made several of the phone calls to parents and the lasting affect of Lake James was seen. Several of the parents had been baptized as campers at Lake James and they were so excited that their child could experience what they had experienced.
I am already looking forward to next year. Most of the faculty indicated that they would like to come back and serve next year. This is by no means a picnic. From 7:15 a.m. until 11 p.m. we were busy doing something. I commend the dedication of those who gave up a week during the summer to help youth grow in Jesus Christ. I want to thank our mission’s committee for supporting Lake James. This is a place where life change is taking place. I want to thank Meadowbrook for allowing and encouraging me to return to camp. We are laying the foundation for more of our youth to go next year. It is never too early to start planning.
Visiting Family Life Minister Prospect
Nathan North will be visiting with us the week-end of August 16. Nathan is currently living in Indianapolis. An activity for the youth and their parents is being planned for Friday, August 14. Nathan will be interviewing with the elders and the search committee on Saturday. He will be at church on Sunday and will be given the opportunity to meet everyone. He will also be at the Family Fun Festival. If you have any questions about this visit please see Steve. Please be keeping this in your prayers.
Vacation Bible School begins Sun., Aug. 9 . . . . .
The 2015 Vacation Bible School is right around the corner. We are doing something different this year–we are doing an evening VBS. We are hoping that we can get more children and adults involved. We will be starting on Sunday evening, August 9, and go through Thursday evening, August 13. That will give you Friday evening to rest up for the Family Fun Festival on Saturday, August 15. The times will be from 6:00pm until 8:30pm each evening. This year we are going to Spy School. We will be looking at the two spies sent into Jericho. We will look at the twelve spies sent to examine the Promised Land. We will look at King Joash and the years that he was hidden away to protect him from his grandmother. We will look at Elijah and the contest he had with the prophets of Baal. And we will look at Esther and the part she played in protecting the Jews. We can’t tell you much more than that because it is “Top Secret.” VBS is for youth pre-K through 5th grade. If you want to volunteer please e-mail Tabitha Martin at fabchicatab@yahoo.com. For more information please see Tabitha Martin or Brenda Cox. Please be keeping this in prayer and “thanks” in advance for supporting and helping our VBS.
TO REGISTER FOR VBS – GO TO THE HOME PAGE – CLICK ON THE VBS ICON WHICH WILL TAKE YOU TO THE REGISTRATION FORM.
FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL
Our annual Family Fun Fest will be held on Saturday, August 15, from noon until 3pm with hot dogs and ice cream treats. A slip n’ slide will be on the grounds for the kids, and we also expect a visit from the fire truck with the water cannon. The big tent will be set up to provide shade. Over the past years this event has been the culmination of the week of VBS. Everyone is invited. There is no cost. The big tent will be set up to provide shade. Plan now to attend.
Bags for VA Home Residents
“Sisters of the Yarn” enjoy making things for others. Recently they sewed over seventy bags to place on wheel chairs so that the occupant would have a bag to place items in as they move about. Several ladies took the bags to the Veterans Homes in Grand Rapids where Norm Tope resides. “We delivered more than 70 bags and received more than 70 smiles” said Elaine Bright. Everyone who went had a good time and the veterans enjoyed the bags. Many were put to immediate use. The seamstresses were Elaine, Mimi Romaella, Ruth Lindhagen, Laura Urtega, Sandy Krugh, and Charity Clodfelter. We appreciate the servant’s heart of these ladies and the skills that they bring to the table.
Sisters In Service Afternoon Tea Coming in September
Save the date ladies for the annual Sisters in Service Afternoon Tea that will be held on Saturday, September 26 in the Fellowship Hall. Anyone interested in hosting a tea table should attend a planning meeting on Sat., Aug. 15 at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall or see Kathi Tope.
SECOND ANNUAL SCRAPBOOK CROP AT MEADOWBROOK
By Cindy Gerstenlauer
Meadowbrook will be hosting the second annual Scrapbook Crop on Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. It will be open to church attendees as well as to the community. Proceeds will benefit our Teen Ministries to help finance outings like camp and CIY. Registration forms are available on-line, on the bulletin board in the foyer, or by contacting crop coordinator Cindy Gerstenlauer, cgerstenlauer@comcast.net.
Most scrapbooking is done away from home, free from all the obligations and distractions, as that is when there is designated time to do it. When an actual date is made to scrapbook, then it is a happy event to spend time with others in a similar pursuit, and more gets done. Preparing for this event gets you organized and motivated to do something constructive with all those photos. You don’t have to feel guilty about this time away as typically you are working on something for your loved ones, who enjoy looking at the fruits of your labor. You come home refreshed with a sense of accomplishment.
Scrapbooking is a lot like quilting, only instead of working with cloth, you are working with photos. You are stitching together your lives onto scrapbook pages, just like stitching together the squares of a quilt. You care about your color choices, your techniques, and your placement. Scrapbook techniques change over time, just like anything else. Tools get invented and become popular. The craft or medium we use may vary, but our hearts and goals are the same, to put our lives onto fabric and paper. We chronicle who and what we care about. We chronicle our hopes and dreams and prayers.
The beauty of scrapbooking is that each person is making an album that suits them alone. Beginners and more advanced scrappers can comfortably sit in a crop together. Each person will take an idea you give them and make it their own at their own level and in their own style. Scrappers typically like to share their ideas, pages, techniques, and creations with each other. Supplies and equipment are often shared. When people are inspired it takes very little else for them to enjoy the day.
How Meadowbrook Members Can Help
Even more value can be added to the event by knowing you are helping others by your attendance and participation. Volunteer opportunities will be in the Sunday Bulletin and will be posted on the bulletin board in the foyer. It is especially important that the teens be present and willing to assist croppers as necessary, especially when unloading and loading their cars. Please save the date!
Jeremiah Cox – August 4
Steve & Phyllis Martin (Ann.) – August 5
Mike & Cindy Gerstenlauer (Ann.) – August 6
Jason Stallings – August 7
Don & Ruth Edwards (Ann.) – August 10
Ken & Carolyn Bennett (Ann.) – August 11
Corbin Hammond – August 13
Lynn Ross – August 13
Elaine Bright – August 14
Phyllis Martin – August 14
June Thomas – August 19
Brad & Mary Koster (Ann.) – August 24
Ron Lindhagen – August 24
Ron Murphy – August 30
Bonnie Iseman – August 30
LAWN CARE FOR AUGUST
August 2 – The Orange Team
August 9 – The Red Team
August 16 – The Blue Team
August 23 – The Green Team
August 30 – The Orange Team
FROM THE PEW
A Strong Life – Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.
Psalm 119:165
This month we are continuing the theme of how living for Christ is the best possible life. We have seen that living in the Spirit provides a life of meaning, and a life of excellence. This month we will look at how living in the Spirit is also a strong life. As a side note, I apologize for missing the July newsletter. Carole and I safely accomplished moving to our new home in Florida last month. Carole will be living there while I stay here to work awhile longer. Hopefully things will be a little more settled now.
I remember times in my life when I was not strong and more influenced by the world. I seemed to be the mark of everyone that had something to sell – and I don’t mean material things. People seemed to be constantly coming to me to join activities, or share ideas and beliefs that I knew deep down were not the best for me, but it seemed fun and exciting at the time. I also wanted to “fit-in” with my peers and be accepted. Of course, these things did not live up to their promise and I usually regretted them afterward and felt rather used. I finally realized these people were living in the mud and they were trying to drag me down into the mud with them. They were not doing me any favors! I noticed that when I lived by God’s Word life was much better. I felt stronger and not susceptible to those who were trying to use me for their purposes. As I lived by the Word and in the Spirit, people soon stopped trying to influence me as they realized I was mentally and spiritually in a place of strength they could not reach. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:14 that when we live in Christ we will no longer be tossed and blown about by every new teaching, or tricked by the lies of clever people. When we live for Christ we will be strong and not fall into the traps set for the unwary. Next month we will continue to explore other gifts and benefits of living in the Spirit. Art Drake
