Christmas Caroling

We had a fantastic time Christmas caroling last week to the elderly and shut-ins around Augusta and Rockingham Counties, with 29 people participating. 

 

Annual Hayride

We enjoyed a beautiful Sunday afternoon on a hayride to Todd Lake. The weather and the scenery were spectacular.

"For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12

2017 UB National Conference

 From the "Connect" newsletter:

2017 US National Conference

Next summer, we celebrate 250 years as a denomination. That'll make the US National Conference a little extra special. We're meeting in Lancaster, Pa., where it all began. Here are the details:

Date: July 12-15, 2017. Location: Lancaster County Convention Center, Lancaster, Pa.

This is a family-oriented conference, open to anyone. Past conventions have drawn 900+ attendees. It would be great to break 1000 for this historic edition.

The business session, which will include electing a bishop, will be held on Thursday, July 13. Each church can send at least two delegates--the senior pastor and at least one layperson, based on church size. This fall, as you prepare your church budget for 2017, be sure to include travel, hotel, and conference registration.

Registration costs will be $60 for individuals and $100 for families. The conference hotel is the Marriott at Penn Square, which is attached to the Lancaster Convention Center. Conference registration will go live in early 2017.

Updated information will be posted here.

Annual Church Picnic

We will be having our annual church picnic Sunday August 28th at Oakdale Park in Bridgewater at shelter #2, beginning at 5pm. Meat, drinks & tableware will be provided. Please bring a dish or two to share with all. Also, please bring your own lawn chairs. See you there.

Pray About Your Problems - August 2016

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say again: Rejoice! Let the gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4: 4-7

What do you do when you have a problem? Do you worry? Most of us do, if not everyone. So, if worrying doesn't solve the problem, why worry? Worrying is common with almost all of us. We normally rely on self to resolve the problem instead of seeking God's help. Jesus tells us during the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:27, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life."

The Bible's account about Hezekiah gives us an idea for problem solving: 2 Kings 19: 14-15, "Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord, Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord."

Hezekiah know who could help him. Instead of waiting and worrying he went directly tot the Lord for his direction and help. We need to do the same immediately.

Instead of turning to God as a first resource, we so often turn to Him as a last resort. Follow Hezekiah's formula. Turn to God first with your problems, for only He is capable of handling them in a way that will be in your best interest - and according to His perfect will.

~Pastor Dan 

Bonca's South Africa trip

Jacob's Ladder, a program that strives to provide opportunities for gifted, at-risk students during their formative years, recently featured a video Bonca made of her trip to South Africa through her school, Chatham Hall. She writes: "These two places have changed my life in ways I can't even express. If it wasn't for Jacob's Ladder and all that the program and the people did for me there then I wouldn't be where I am today. I wouldn't be the same emotionally, spiritually, or academically. I also wouldn't be at Chatham Hall. The camp led me to find this AMAZING school which I would have never found without JL. Chatham Hall has been a continuous blessing and has been a place for me to grow, learn, lead, discover, travel, and be myself. I can't believe this fall will be the beginning of my last year at CH, but I couldn't be more grateful for all of the support and guidance everyone there has provided me through my high school years. I'm so excited to return and lead my school in small ways and in big ways. ‪#‎classof2017‬"
Here is her  South Africa video.

This Year's Rhodes Grove Campers

The youth have been enjoying fun, friendship and spiritual growth at Rhodes Grove Camp this summer. One more will be going next week, but here are some photos of the ones who have already gone and returned.