Words From Wanda

At our April Church Cabinet meeting I shared a devotional thought with the members present about the Cell Phone vs. the Bible.  After sharing this thought provoking message, the members of the Cabinet asked me to include it in our next Newsletter.  The message came to me originally from a dear friend in St. Louis, Cindy McCreary.  Here is her message that I shared with the Church Cabinet.

 

THE CELL PHONE vs. THE BIBLE

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones?

 

-         What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

-         What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

-         What if we flipped through it several times a day?

-         What if we spent an hour or more using it every day?

-         What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

-         What if we gave it to kids as a gift?

-         What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?

-         What if we used it as we traveled?

-         What if we used it in case of emergencies?

 

Hopefully these questions give you something to make you go…Hmm…I wonder…where is my Bible?

 

Oh, and a few more things about the Bible vs. the Cell Phone…

 

With the Bible:

The plan fits all.

There is unlimited usage.

There are no roaming charges.

There is no weak signal.

 

And finally and most importantly…

We don’t ever have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus has already paid the bill!

 

Blessings to you in May,

Wanda

Teaching the Word...

MAY LECTIONARY TEXTS

Here are the Lectionary texts for the month of May.  Rev. Mello’s preaching texts are in Bold print.  You are invited to read the texts ahead of each Sunday service as you prepare to hear God’s word.  These texts are also the texts that are studied in our Wednesday morning Bible Study to which everyone is invited.

 

May 4, 2008 

Psalm 68:1-10 & 32-35

Acts 1:6-14

1 Peter 4:12-14 & 5:6-11

John 17:1-11

 

May 11, 2008 (Pentecost)

Psalm 104:24-34

Acts 2:1-21

1 Corinthians 12:3b-13

John 20:19-23

 

May 18, 2008

Psalm 8

Genesis 1:1-2:4a

2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Matthew 28:16-20

 

May 25, 2008 

Psalm 131

Isaiah 49:8-16a

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Matthew 6:24-34

 

WORSHIP READERS NEEDED…

  We are in need of our worship readers for the month of May and June.  If you are interested in serving as a worship reader please sign up on the sheets in the Social Hall or speak to Rev. Mello.   May you be blessed as you read God’s word in worship. 

 

WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY

   Everyone is invited to join us at 9:30 AM each Wednesday in the

library as we study the scripture texts for Sunday’s service. 

 

 Touching the World...

FOOD PANTRY NEEDS

  Any or all of the items on the list that follows will be welcome additions to our food pantry.  Your gifts to replenish the food pantry are greatly appreciated.  Please remember, if you can’t get out to purchase any of the things on the list, cash donations are also accepted so that the necessary items may be purchased.  Please DO NOT bring PREVIOUSLY OPENED SPICES OR FOOD ITEMS!  We cannot give those out to people as we don’t know their safety.

  Our pantry is well stocked at the moment so we are not in need of food donations at this time.  We will let you know when your food gifts are needed.  Thanks!

 
ASSISTANCE FUND

You are invited to give a gift for mission to our Assistance Fund.  Thanks so much for your continued support of this fund!  Your gifts to this fund do indeed help those in our community who are in need!

CHURCH CABINET MEETING

Our next monthly Church Cabinet meeting will be on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 7:00 PM in the lounge.  All Cabinet members are urged to attend.

 

WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP NEWS

  The Women’s Fellowship would like to remind you to continue to save Campbell’s Soup, Swanson, and boxtops for education.  Bring your labels to the church and the women will take care of sending them on to the proper places.

 

SPRING RUMMAGE SALE

  Thanks to everyone who helped with the Spring Rummage Sale on April 5.  We couldn’t have had such a successful event without the help of each and every one of you!  Thanks again!

 

2008 CHURCH SCHOLARSHIP

  The church will be awarding college/trade school scholarships in May.  These scholarships are for students graduating from high school in June, 2008.  Children and grandchildren of members are eligible to apply.  Recipients must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 through the 1st semester of their senior year, and they must be residents of Kern County.  Call the church office, 854-4473, or Judy Chase, 854-3956, for an application.  Applications are due in the church office by noon, May 1, 2008.

 

REMEMBER YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR NEWS ON OUR WEBSITE:  www.arvinucc.org

Check it out!

SPECIAL OFFERING FOR BAKERSFIELD RESCUE MISSION

  You may have noticed several articles recently in our local newpaper that indicate the desperate need for funds that has plagued the Bakersfield Rescue Mission.  As a result, the Church Cabinet has voted to hold a special offering for the Mission.  We will be sending the money we collect to the Rescue Mission at the end of May.  So if you would like to donate to this important local mission, please get your gift to the church office as soon as possible.  If you write a check, please mark it “ Rescue Mission”.  Thanks!

 

MOTHER’S DAY BLANKET OFFERING

During the month of May we will be collecting monetary gifts in honor of our mothers and women who have been like mothers to us.  As we have done in the past, these gifts will be sent to Church World Service to purchase blankets for people in need all around the world.  We ask that you fill out a heart with the name of the women you wish to honor and add $5.00 for each woman on each heart.  Hearts will be available in the church office, in our regular Sunday bulletins, and there is one here in our newsletter for you to use.  We will post the hearts on a blanket display in the social hall that will remain up through the month of May.  Please prayerfully consider honoring your mother and other women who are special to you in this beneficial way.

If you send us a check, please be sure to mark it “Mother’s Day Blankets”.

 

BRING A FRIEND SUNDAY

  We encourage you to bring a friend to worship on Sunday, May 4, 2008 as we celebrate Bring a Friend Sunday with worship and a light lunch to follow in the Social Hall.

  On that Sunday we will also be welcoming new members into the church.  So come and join us for worship on May 4…and bring a friend!

 

Church Family News…

  As our world remains in a time of war, we ask that you continue to remember in your prayers all of our young people serving our country all over the world.  Especially pray for Jason Brand, John & David Phillips, Isaac Philips, Josh Francis, and Tracey Farris.  Tracey is the grandson of Johnny & Patti Villalovos who recently entered the US Navy.

 

  Please keep our homebound, and nursing home members in your thoughts and prayers.  They are Mildred Holbert in the nursing home; and Lucille Barkley at home.

 

  Please keep the Mellos in your prayers as they return to court in June and then await the decision regarding Rodger’s court case to keep his job.

 

A TOUCH OF HUMOR

  Here are the brilliant answers given by some 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

 

Why did God make mothers?

1.      Mostly to clean the house.

2.      To help us out of there when we are getting born.

 

How did God make mothers?

1.      He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2.      Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3.      God made my Mom just the same as he made me.  He just used bigger parts.

 

What kind of little girl was your mom?

1.      My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2.      I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

 

What does you mother do in her spare time?

1.      Mother’s don’t do spare time.

2.      To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

 

Why did you mom marry your dad?

1.      My dad makes the best spaghetti and my mom eats a lot.

2.      My grandma says that mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.

3.      She got too old to do anything else with him.

 

If you could change one thing about you mom, what would it be?

1.      I’d make mom smarter.  Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.

2.      I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head!