From Faith to Faith 

May 2007
Assistant Pastors: Rev. Bruce Buchanan & Rev. James Kobb

Church workday!
Come for a day of fun and help make our church beautiful! Saturday, May 12th, we will have a church-wide workday! The fun will begin at 8:00 a.m. There will be windows to clean, ceiling tiles to replace, flower beds to weed and clean out, trees to trim, painting, and many other projects. There are jobs for all hands, big or small! Everyone’s help would be appreciated and rewarded with fellowship with believers. Lunch will be provided at noon. If it rains on May 12th the indoor projects will still be done and the outdoor projects will be postponed until May 19th.

The WIC Mother-Daughter Banquet for this year will be Friday, May 18th, beginning at 6:30 p.m. All Faith Church mothers and daughters are invited to attend the banquet and bring your mothers and daughters with you. This year we will feast upon homemade salads, rolls and pies. (Chocolate may be involved.) The program will include music from our pianists and our children’s choir, a devotion about banqueting and a guest speaker, Mrs. De France Thomas who will be bringing us a presentation entitled “Minding Your Manners Through The Years”. There will not be an admission cost this year. There is a sign up sheet on the vestibule table to reserve a space for you and your guests and to sign up for a salad to bring. The dessert, rolls and beverages will be provided for you.

RAISING AN EBENEZER
By Rev. Mark Scholten

What is an Ebenezer and how does one raise it?
Robert Robinson was a Baptist and Methodist preacher in the 1700’s. During the course of his difficult travels he wrote the lyrics to “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” One phrase of that song reads, “Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I’ve come.”You have probably sung those words a hundred times. What does it mean? Does it have anything to do with Ebenezer Scrooge?
Ebenezer comes from a Hebrew word meaning “stone of help.” Samuel raised an Ebenezer between the towns of Mizpah and Shen after God had granted them victory over the Philistines; “thus far has the Lord helped us.” (1 Samuel 7:12)
An Ebenezer is a memorial stone, a way of remembering the help that God has given in the past. It is a spur to our memory that we might recall the providential blessing of God in the past in order to trust him in the present and for the future. We need not use stones to raise an Ebenezer. We can use pen and paper; take a photograph; or tell the story over and over again.
“Prone to wander, Lord I feel it; prone to leave the God I love.” Robert Robinson wandered from God later in life. He returned to sin and drifted from the faith into Unitarianism.
"The story is told that Robinson was one day riding a stagecoach when he noticed a woman deeply engrossed with a hymnbook. During an ensuing conversation the lady turned to Robinson and asked what he thought of the hymn she was humming. Robinson burst into tears and said, 'Madam, I am the poor unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then" (101 Hymn Stories, Kenneth Osbeck, Kregel Publications, 1982).
Robinson’s own hymn acted as an Ebenezer for him. Have you raised your Ebenezers? Do you have memorial stones that remind you of the past blessings of God in your life? They can serve as a catalyst for your faith at some difficult time in the future.

Vacation Bible School
We are gearing up once again for another opportunity to bring the gospel to children at our Vacation Bible School. Let us keep in mind that each of us can contribute in many different ways. As the old saying goes “with many hands the work load lightens!”

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Teacher: Must be a communicant member of Faith Church to teach. The responsibilities include preparing and teaching Bible lessons, assisting students, nurturing relationships and maintaining discipline. (Teachers assistants may be non-members approved by the VBS director ages 14 and up.)
Craft Coordinator: Must be a communicant member of Faith Church to lead the craft area. (Craft assistants may be non-members approved by the VBS director ages 14 and up). Responsibilities include selecting crafts for each age group, collecting and organizing craft materials and supervising craft levels.
Music Coordinator: Must be a communicant member of Faith Church to teach the music. Responsibilities include selecting and leading music in opening assembly each day, teaching music to each class in preparation for the closing program and coordinating with the Skit Director on the closing program.
Recreation Coordinator: Must be a communicant member of Faith Church to teach recreation. Responsibilities include selecting activities, gathering equipment and supervising activities. (Recreation assistants may be non-members approved by the VBS director ages 14 and up).
Snack Coordinator: Must be a communicant member of Faith Church to lead the snack department. Responsibilities include selecting snacks, purchasing ingredients and coordinating the serving of snacks each day and for any special events. (Snack assistants may be non-members approved by the VBS director ages 14 and up).
Nursery Workers: You would supervise the children of VBS workers.
Floaters: One day or all-week “fill in” helpers. This position is very helpful in case of last minute errands or staff illnesses.

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP WITH VBS:
Pray:Pray that the workers will be organized and able to share the gospel. Pray that we will have a safe, injury free week.
Lunch Money Donations: Every day at the close of VBS we invite our staff who have labored hard all day to a good, healthy meal. This way they do not have to go home and prepare a lunch. This has proven through the years to be a blessing and good time of reflection on the day’s accomplishments. If you can donate toward the staff lunches please give your money to Melinda Althuis.
Our focus, as always, will be on the Bible and Missions. The staff will work and pray to make everything we do during VBS week draw attention back to the Bible and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

2007 Vacation Bible School Schedule
May 6 – Planning meeting following morning worship
June 3 – Planning meeting following morning worship
July 1 – Planning meeting following morning worship
July 21 – Prop and decoration meeting 9:00 a.m.
August 5 – set up for VBS after evening service
Vacation Bible School begins August 6th
(August 6-10 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for ages 5-13)

May Preaching Schedule
May 6: AM and PM: Rev. Buchanan

May 13:AM:Rev.Buchanan PM: Rev. Kobb

May 20:AM and PM: Rev. Buchanan

May 27:AM:Rev. Buchanan PM Rev. Kobb

Women in the Church News
Due to potential needs and transitional changes here at Faith Church the WIC (Women in the Church) will have a light schedule for the remainder of 2007. The rest of our time will remain open to help meet the needs of our families in transition.
As the needs of these families becomes known, there will be many ways for us to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ. The WIC officers will communicate these needs to you via phone or sign up sheets throughout the remainder of the year.

Two meetings are planned for 2007:

May 18: The Mother Daughter Banquet (see the front page of the newsletter for more information).
Nov. 10: This meeting will have a missionary theme. We will also vote on and install new officers for 2008.

She extends her hand to the poor; and she stretches out her hands to the needy. (Proverbs 31:20)