June 2016 - Wading River Congregational Church

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LAMPLIGHTER
June
2016
WADING RIVER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Revelation
“Mock Rec Night”
June 12th 1:00 - 4:00pm
Have you ever wondered what exactly
a "Rec. Night” entails? Now is your
chance to come and see the fun that
takes place each month during our teen
led Rec. Nights. For three years now
Revelation has attempted to do their
Contemporary
Worship Service
June 3 at 7pm
Friday Prayer
Service
June 17 at 7pm
part in reaching out to teens in the
community, now we are eager to show
off the amazing things that God has
been doing through each of us. (ALL
AGES WELCOME! From 2 years old
to 102 years old!)
Women’s Ministry
Scholarships for College
Bound Seniors
If you are a college-bound senior, and
would like to apply for a Gladys S.
Jackson Memorial Scholarship, please
write a paragraph or two, listing your
contributions to the life of the church,
as well as your future plans. Please put
them in the Women’s Ministry
mailbox upstairs. All letters should be
submitted by Sunday, June 5. The
scholarships will be awarded on
Sunday, June 12 during the 10:30am
service. If you have questions, please
see Nancy Bosseckert.
Dear WRCC Family,
We feel so blessed by all your prayers,
cards, flowers, phone calls, food thank you all so much for everything
during Leif's recovery.
Our whole family has felt uplifted Susan and Leif Ahrens
Women’s Ministry
In May the Women's Ministry took a
trip to the Peconic Herb Farm for a
river-side picnic lunch. A wonderful
time was had by all - especially the
kids! Despite the clouds, it was a great
time of fellowship in an incredible
lovely place, www.prherbfarm.com.
Stay tuned for more upcoming
women's events!
In attendance, but not pictured - Nancy,
Alex and Tori Bosseckert, Nathan,
Lucas & JJ Kahn, Kerstin, Sam & Ellie
Turner and Lynette DeLucia.
Pictured are Judy Schroeder, Doris Busch and
Bette Lederle
A Word from Pastor TJ
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers
and sisters. Every good and perfect gift
is from above, coming down from the
Father of the heavenly lights, who does
not change like shifting shadows.”
- James 1:16
I cut our grass. Well, at least, I’m
supposed to. The truth is it doesn’t
happen nearly as often as it should.
Usually, before it actually does, our
yard becomes an overgrown mess of
grass and weeds. Recently, as I
contemplated going to cut the
overgrown grass, I was struck by the
irony of the whole situation.
Grass is a wonderful thing when it is
maintained. It makes the yard inviting
and enjoyable, neat and clean. It
becomes a great place for the kids to
play, and for us to cook out and relax
with friends. When you stop and think
about it, it’s pretty amazing to have a
place like that right behind our house.
All it requires from us is a little care
and maintenance. But that is where the
problem comes in.
As I contemplated cutting the grass I
found myself not wanting to do it
because it was so long. When I looked
at the yard it was messy and unkempt;
I imagined all of the ticks and bugs that
were probably there and thought about
how dirty I might get trying to clean it
up. This thing that was meant to be a
blessing had become a problem.
Instead of helping us enjoy the yard it
was keeping us out of it.
James reminds us that every good thing
in our lives is a gift from God. Our
houses and homes, family and friends,
food and clothing, and all the other
good things that we have are gifts God
has lovingly given us. But the Bible
teaches us that God has given us these
things for a reason, so that he can be
glorified and other people be blessed
through us. As long as the good things
we have are maintained, kept in their
place, they can be used for good in our
lives and the world. The problem is that
these good things sometimes get
overgrown and out of control. We let
them take over our lives to the point
that we forget about the God who gave
them to us and focus only on the gifts.
When this happens, they are no longer
instruments of good but of destruction.
This is why Jesus reminds us not to live
for “treasure on earth” (Matthew 6).
There is a real treasure to be found, a
source of joy, life and purpose, a place
where we can find all the things we
sometimes look for in this world. That
place is in the presence of God. But to
come to him we have to let go of other
things, even good things, and put them
back in their place. After all, if the
good things God has given us consume
our time so that we can’t pray, worship,
or seek God in his word, they’re no
longer good. But God is always good
and Jesus promises that he is always
worth seeking, even when we have to
sacrifice other things to do it.
Take time this month to be with Jesus,
the true treasure. Pray, read his word,
come and worship and find the joy that
can only be found in him.
VBS
Register Now
(Pre-K through 6th
Grade)
July 18th – 22nd
6:00 PM to 8:45
PM
Or Volunteer to Help
Questions see Molly or
Julie Lutz
631-929-3845 or email
[email protected]
VBS Planning Meeting
Tues June 7th
7:00- 10:00 PM
VBS Work Meetings
Wed June 8th
7:00-10:00 PM
Thurs June 9th
10:00-1:00 PM
Fri
June 10th
7:00-10:00 PM
Sat
June 11th
9:00-3:00 PM
Mon
June 13th
10:00-1:00 PM
Tues June 14th
7:00-10:00 PM
Wed June 15th
7:00-10:00 PM
Thurs June 16th
10:00-1:00 PM
June 20th
10:00-1:00 PM
Tues June 21st
10:00-1:00 PM
Wed June 22nd
7:00-10:00 PM
Fri
June 24th
7:00-10:00 PM
Mon
June 27th
10:00-1:00 PM
Tues June 28th
7:00-10:00 PM
Mon
Thurs June 30th
10:00-1:00 PM
Sat
July 2nd
9:00-3:00 PM
Mon
July 4th
9:00-12:00 PM
Tues July 5th
6:00-9:00 PM
Fri
July 8th
6:00-9:00 PM
Sat
July 9th
9:00-3:00 PM
Mon
July 11th
10:00-1:00 PM
Tues July 12th
6:00-9:00 PM
Wed July 13th
6:00-9:00 PM
Thurs July 14th
10:00-1:00 PM
Fri
July 15th
6:00-7:00 PM
and 8:00-10:00 PM
Sat
July 16th
3:00-9:00 PM
Sun
July 17th `
12:00 PM- finish
Wednesday Fellowship
June Birthdays
2
Chris Jones
6
Alan Hurley
8
Helga Guthy
12
Over the years, we have been making
baby kits, a total of 10, for Church
World Services. Unfortunately this
year without notice, they replaced the
kits with something else. We already
had the materials for the kits and no
place for them to go…so we thought.
Youth Bureau. This program helps
homeless women between the ages of
16 and 21, some with children or who
are expecting. They teach them life
skills, counsel them and help prepare
them to care for themselves and their
children.
Thankfully every other year, and it was
this year, Leisure Glen sponsors a baby
shower for Mercy House, a nondenominational not-for- profit agency,
contracted with the Suffolk County
We will continue to knit baby and
children items for Sarah Benjamin,
which is ongoing. As soon as I know
where we can collect them I will put
something in the bulletin.
In His Name,
Rosemarie Schulz
Art Lederle
Genesis
Jessie Hertling
The Genesis youth group is looking
forward to SUMMER!
Abigail Lutz
20
Lauren Agnew
23
Rick Rowehl
28
Linda Rundlett
On June 18th, a group of 15 will be
going to a Long Island Ducks game look for pictures and shenanigans in
next months' Lamplighter (and on
Facebook!).
Mark your calendars now for a July
30th family movie on the lawn. We're
currently taking suggestions for movie
titles - email the church office or
message Genesis via Facebook.
Coming up in August, we'll have a
back to school paint night and outdoor
game night. Watch for details coming
soon. If you have any questions or have
ideas for future events, contact Chris &
Dina Jones or Kerstin Turner.
Help Wanted!
Children's Ministry Coordinator
As you may know, Kathy Rowehl is
retiring from her position as Children's
Ministry Coordinator this June. We're
now looking for someone to step into
that role as a volunteer to help lead our
kids and students ministries. The
Children’s Ministry Coordinator will
work together with the leaders of
Sunday
School,
Genesis
and
Revelation to help our kids grow in
their faith and understanding of the
love of God and how they can know
and follow him through all of life.
If this sounds like a role you could help
fill, please prayerfully consider
stepping into this position. If you
would like more information or are
interested in this position, please
contact the church office, the Deacons
or Pastor TJ. We hope to fill this
position by the end of June, so please
contact us as soon.
Thanks,
WRCC Deacons
[email protected]
Pretty Weeds
Kerstin Turner
May is winding down, which means we
have spent countless hours in the yard.
Trimming shrubs, bagging leaves (we
are blessed to do this year round),
planting things and spreading mulch.
Mostly, after winter, we spend our time
pulling weeds. TJ and I both deny the
fact we wanted a big yard but we
bought this house knowing the yard
was a monster so we can’t blame
anyone but ourselves.
The first year in our house we pretty
much maintained what was there.
Some shrubs, a few perennials popped
up once in a while, we bagged leaves.
The second year a few unruly vines
crept in – we trimmed those. We also
bagged more leaves and discovered we
had raspberry bushes – HOORAY! The
birds are the most appreciative of the
raspberries.
Recently though, our
flower beds were screaming for some
TLC. Despite the jungle, several Irises
popped up, 2 tulips (the deer
appreciated them), 2 giant hostas (the
deer REALLY appreciated them) but
mostly grass mixed with weeds tried to
overtake them. They nearly succeeded
– so I (with the help from the kids) set
out to pull weeds from our front beds. I
wish I could tell you we are done, but
there are portions still neglected.
In the digging and pulling I found a few
small perennial buds trying to rise
above the dandelions. I showed Ellie
the tiny pink petals that were trying to
beat the odds – she says, “Oh Mom,
let’s put them somewhere safe.” There
were actually a few of these same
flowers scattered in odd places, so I
relocated them together. A few weeks
has gone by and they are doing
surprisingly well.
Those scattered plants are us, dear
Christian. Fragile petals in a world
constantly being swallowed by weeds,
vines, dead leaves and sometimes
animals. On our own we can’t
stand…..we get lost….we get
buried…. But together, with others,
under the watchful eye of the Gardener
we are cared for. How often (and easy)
we neglect prayer, reading the Bible,
spending time with Christians,
attending worship….and the weeds
come. Sometimes the weeds appear
pretty (just ask Ellie) but their roots
grow beneath the surface and multiply,
stealing life from fragile petals. What
are the weeds in our lives? What pretty
weeds keep you from prayer, attending
church, reading the Bible, spending
time with other Christians? What pretty
weeds have told you to let God
go….that he’s not a priority. Don’t be
deluded….pretty weeds are still weeds.
Don’t let them tear you away from the
love, care and goodness of God. Our
Gardener.
Let us hold fast the confession of our
hope without wavering, for he who
promised is faithful. And let us
consider how to stir up one another to
love and good works, not neglecting to
meet together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another, and all
the more as you see the Day drawing
near. – Hebrews 10:23-25
As Kathy Rowehl prepares to retire
after 23 years of service (15 of them as
a paid church employee) to the Sunday
School and youth programs of this
church, it is fitting that we take a few
moments to reflect on her service to
God, the children and the families of
WRCC.
The Bible says that God puts His
faithful people where He wants them
and provides them the tools that they
need to accomplish His work. Kathy
has been a beautiful example of that
over her many years of coordinating
the children’s ministry programs.
There is no one more gracious and kind
to the people that she encounters, no
matter what their age, than Kathy.
Sunday after Sunday for many years
Kathy has greeted the children and the
families that have walked through the
doors of the Sunday School. She has
been the beautiful first impression of
our children’s ministry programs. Of
course her reach went far beyond
Sunday School. She has been the
smiling face at the registration table for
VBS to greet an entire generation of
children! And we can’t forget the
pageants, the egg hunts, the Duck Pond
Days, the church family nights, and
many other youth ministry programs
that she has supported with her
organization, coordination and prayers.
Kathy’s impact and influence doesn’t
stop at the children, she has also
encouraged and supported dozens and
dozens of Sunday School and youth
ministry volunteers over the years. She
is gifted at patiently listening to the
ideas of others, and helping where help
is needed to implement those ideas.
The seeds that have been planted in the
hearts of the children who have been
blessed by her service will be
blossoming for many years to come.
One thing that has been consistent
through all of Kathy’s work is the quiet
grace with which she serves. She is a
beautiful example of humble servant
leadership - A model for all of the rest
of us. Not only do the little ones and
their parents have a soft heart for “Miss
Kathy” but congregation members of
all ages do as well.
As Kathy begins a life with more time
to enjoy her family, we pause to reflect
on and thank her for being such a
beautiful Godly servant.
TJ Turner, Pastor - [email protected]
Donna Rassner, Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper – [email protected]
Wading River
Congregational
Church
Deacons
2057 North Country Road
Wading River, NY 11792
[email protected]
Joe Burgess
Jeanne Carle
Lynette DeLucia
Finn Mauritzen
Karen Perricone
Rosemarie Schulz
Phone / Fax: 631.929.8849
Trustees
[email protected]
David Agnew
Curtis Barnes
Pat Burgess
Dottie Davis
Chris Jones
Joe Nocerino
Mike Scarpinito
Judy Schroeder
Greg Von Brook
Treasurer:
Asst. Treasurer
Bill Radonavitch
Lana O’Toole
Clerk
Asst. Clerk
Ann Otten
Molly Lutz
Women’s Ministry
Youth Leadership Team
Ann Otten
Kerstin Turner
Julie Lutz
Nancy Bosseckert
Abigail Lutz
Noah Blunnie
Ryan Radonavitch
Senior Ministry
Welcome Ministry
Rosemarie Schulz
Finn Mauritzen
Food Pantry:
Organists:
Carolyn Baier
Joe Baier
Craig Baier
Diane Hanwick
Jean Elliott
Choir Director:
Sunday School:
Kim Schmidt, Superintendent
Donna Rassner, Secretary-Treasurer
We’re on the Web!
See us at:
www.wrcongchurch.org
WADING RIVER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
2057 N Country Road
Wading River, NY 11792
June 2016
Doris Allen