Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Special Activities and Pastor's Message
February, 2012

MILO'S MESSAGE

We are creatures created by a God who avoids comprehension, and that does not generally bode well with us. Maybe we want to blame God for that. After all, he has created within us brains that he expects us to use. We study books, we read our Bibles, we think, we attend Sunday School, we pray…all with the hope that our efforts will bring us closer to understanding him.

However, just as soon as we think we're close to understanding him, some new questions come to our minds or some mind-boggling events happen and we discover that we don't know nearly as much about him as we may have thought.

This is a good thing and a bad thing. On one hand, it's good that we don't understand him well enough to be able to categorize him and pigeonhole him. We think that it would make life easier if we could summarize him and put him into a neat box where we could keep him and what he does under our control.

But God is not the type of god who can be controlled by us. If he were, then he would no longer be God.

The bad thing about not being able to put God into a neat package is that we become confused and frustrated when life's surprises keep us in a constant state of flux. This does not sit well with a bunch of human beings who demand to know the what and why of human events. When things do not go as we think they should and when life defies reason, we have to wonder what it's all about.

So what is it all about?

It's pretty simple, really. Life is all about having been created by a God whose wisdom is far beyond our human comprehension. He is a God who knows what he is doing with his universe. By the same token, because he knows, it is not necessary for us to know.

It boils down to how willing we are to place our lives into his hands and care.

SPRINGERS FEBRUARY MEETING

Where would we be without the bee? Come to the February Springers meeting on February 21 at 10:30 to hear bee keeper Ilene Bates talk about caring for bees and making honey as well as the threat to our environment that bees are facing throughout the world and what we can do to ensure that bees survive. We will have our usual lunch afterwards, so bring a covered dish and a friend and join us on February 21.

Thanks to Jim and Pat Messersmith for a wonderful presentation on their recent trip at our January meeting. It was great to see so many people in attendance. Hope you can make it on Feb. 21.

IT'S TIME TO PLAN FOR 2012 AT CRAIG SPRINGS

"Secrets of the Kingdom-The Parables of Jesus"

We have received the schedule for this summer's camping program at Craig Springs, and that reminds us that it's time to start thinking about which event you want to attend. If registration forms are postmarked no later than May 15, the registration fee is reduced $50. Complete information is available online at www.CraigSprings.com

Springfield offers camping scholarships to members of our church. Contact Rev. Marr for more financial information.

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE

Ash Wednesday, which begins the Season of Lent, will be on February 22.

Accordingly, we will have an Ashing Service at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary. We invite members and friends of the church to join us as we use the Season of Lent to bring before God the brokenness and evil in our lives, asking for his forgiveness and healing.

February 19-26

Week of Compassion is the annual special outreach offering period for the Disciples' world-relief, rehabilitation, and development ministries. The Compassion Response Fund is an allocation the Week of Compassion Advisory Committee makes each year to enable WoC to respond quickly to requests for emergencies, disasters and other urgent and unexpected needs that arise.

In 2011 the WoC Committee allocated $471,449 for the Response Fund; it is the single largest item in the WoC program budget. In addition to what is budgeted for the Response Fund, the WoC receives designated gifts for the Fund and for specific disasters, countries and situations that further enhance our capacity to respond to emergency needs and appeals. Detailed information is available online at woc.disciples.org

We will receive our special offering during the week of Feb. 19-26, and the Missions Committee will sponsor a special meal for the occasion. More information will be available in the Sunday worship bulletins.

WHEAT
(Western Hanover Emergency Action Team)

Thanks to the generosity of the Springfield family and friends, the WHEAT Food Pantry has been well supplied with cans of green vegetables! In addition to prior deliveries to the Pantry, on January 9, two workers from Springfield delivered to the Pantry at Mt. Olivet 120 cans of vegetables and several pounds of turnips donated by Carolyn and Doug Seay from their garden. 41 families visited the Pantry on that evening and each family received a grocery bag of canned and packaged foods as well as milk, cheese, ground beef, hot dogs, margarine, and bread. Winter garden vegetables (turnips and kale) were distributed also. Beaverdam Methodist, St. Peter's Methodist, Mt. Olivet Baptist, Church of our Savior Episcopal, and Springfield Christian provided workers for the evening.

Thank you for your support of this continuing project. A box for your donations is provided in the Narthex of the Church.


	*Springfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)*
Home About Us Contact Us Calendar Special Events	Special Activities and Pastor's Message February, 2012 MILO'S MESSAGE We are creatures created by a God who avoids comprehension, and that does not generally bode well with us. Maybe we want to blame God for that. After all, he has created within us brains that he expects us to use. We study books, we read our Bibles, we think, we attend Sunday School, we pray…all with the hope that our efforts will bring us closer to understanding him. However, just as soon as we think we're close to understanding him, some new questions come to our minds or some mind-boggling events happen and we discover that we don't know nearly as much about him as we may have thought. This is a good thing and a bad thing. On one hand, it's good that we don't understand him well enough to be able to categorize him and pigeonhole him. We think that it would make life easier if we could summarize him and put him into a neat box where we could keep him and what he does under our control. But God is not the type of god who can be controlled by us. If he were, then he would no longer be God. The bad thing about not being able to put God into a neat package is that we become confused and frustrated when life's surprises keep us in a constant state of flux. This does not sit well with a bunch of human beings who demand to know the what and why of human events. When things do not go as we think they should and when life defies reason, we have to wonder what it's all about. So what is it all about? It's pretty simple, really. Life is all about having been created by a God whose wisdom is far beyond our human comprehension. He is a God who knows what he is doing with his universe. By the same token, because he knows, it is not necessary for us to know. It boils down to how willing we are to place our lives into his hands and care. SPRINGERS FEBRUARY MEETING Where would we be without the bee? Come to the February Springers meeting on February 21 at 10:30 to hear bee keeper Ilene Bates talk about caring for bees and making honey as well as the threat to our environment that bees are facing throughout the world and what we can do to ensure that bees survive. We will have our usual lunch afterwards, so bring a covered dish and a friend and join us on February 21. Thanks to Jim and Pat Messersmith for a wonderful presentation on their recent trip at our January meeting. It was great to see so many people in attendance. Hope you can make it on Feb. 21. IT'S TIME TO PLAN FOR 2012 AT CRAIG SPRINGS "Secrets of the Kingdom-The Parables of Jesus" We have received the schedule for this summer's camping program at Craig Springs, and that reminds us that it's time to start thinking about which event you want to attend. If registration forms are postmarked no later than May 15, the registration fee is reduced $50. Complete information is available online at www.CraigSprings.com Springfield offers camping scholarships to members of our church. Contact Rev. Marr for more financial information. ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE Ash Wednesday, which begins the Season of Lent, will be on February 22. Accordingly, we will have an Ashing Service at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary. We invite members and friends of the church to join us as we use the Season of Lent to bring before God the brokenness and evil in our lives, asking for his forgiveness and healing. February 19-26 Week of Compassion is the annual special outreach offering period for the Disciples' world-relief, rehabilitation, and development ministries. The Compassion Response Fund is an allocation the Week of Compassion Advisory Committee makes each year to enable WoC to respond quickly to requests for emergencies, disasters and other urgent and unexpected needs that arise. In 2011 the WoC Committee allocated $471,449 for the Response Fund; it is the single largest item in the WoC program budget. In addition to what is budgeted for the Response Fund, the WoC receives designated gifts for the Fund and for specific disasters, countries and situations that further enhance our capacity to respond to emergency needs and appeals. Detailed information is available online at woc.disciples.org We will receive our special offering during the week of Feb. 19-26, and the Missions Committee will sponsor a special meal for the occasion. More information will be available in the Sunday worship bulletins. WHEAT (Western Hanover Emergency Action Team) Thanks to the generosity of the Springfield family and friends, the WHEAT Food Pantry has been well supplied with cans of green vegetables! In addition to prior deliveries to the Pantry, on January 9, two workers from Springfield delivered to the Pantry at Mt. Olivet 120 cans of vegetables and several pounds of turnips donated by Carolyn and Doug Seay from their garden. 41 families visited the Pantry on that evening and each family received a grocery bag of canned and packaged foods as well as milk, cheese, ground beef, hot dogs, margarine, and bread. Winter garden vegetables (turnips and kale) were distributed also. Beaverdam Methodist, St. Peter's Methodist, Mt. Olivet Baptist, Church of our Savior Episcopal, and Springfield Christian provided workers for the evening. Thank you for your support of this continuing project. A box for your donations is provided in the Narthex of the Church.