THANK YOU

Dear Church Family,

I would like to thank everyone for your cards, visits and prayers during my illness. They were greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,

Donald Foster

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Helping Up Mission

Needs: Fresh Vegetables, Fruit, and Drivers!

The Sunday return trip to the mission has really been an eye opener. Ron and I are getting the chance to talk to the guys and then enjoy our ride home already knowing how blessed we are. Talking to them really shows both of us the special little things that we take for granted.

All of our lives seem so complicated, we struggle with trying to find some peaceful time. Ladies, can you imagine living with 100 other women like ourselves, and men living with other men who know everything about everything? Fun, Ha!

The joy that these men feel, to see their wife, kids or girlfriends for a few hours every couple of weeks or even months seems unreal to me.

I know not everyone has the burden or understands why our hearts are so heavy for these men, and I guess God just has us in different ministries, but we can all pray for them.

The need for fresh food is so great. The stores are no longer able to give price reduced items, so these items are very scarce. When you go to the grocery store, ask for the price of a 50 or even 100 pound bag of potatoes, probably just the cost of a fast food dinner. This could feed 200 men. There are just so many things we could do.

We have been blessed that God has directed Chip Weisenborn and Joe Franco to drive in the mornings. If you can spare just 2 hours to drive in the morning just one Sunday, I know you would be blessed. We have so much for which to be thankful. I pray that your heart will be touched and you will reach out.

All other matters, contact Sherry Weisenborn.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

7/16 Dessert (watermelon – need 20)

8/27 Dessert (Fruits and veggies, cut-up)

9/17 Dessert

The church will open on the above dates from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

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VBS Report

Wow! What a great VBS we had this year! The children were wonderful and we had a great team of directors, teachers, adult and teen workers. A big thank you to everyone who worked in VBS.

This year we had an enrollment of 307 with an average attendance of 210 each day. And best of all, Praise the Lord, there 2343 28 children that accepted Jesus into their hearts. The children gave $1,291.32 for the Retired Pastor’s Fund.

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Choir Notes

Well, believe it or not, the first samples of music for Christmas have arrived, and as I write this, I’m previewing one of them. It seems so early, but to be ready for rehearsals in September, the process of elimination as well as the planning must begin now.

Last Wednesday was our last rehearsal of the season; we will begin the fall rehearsal schedule on Wednesday, September 7 th.

In regard to membership in the choir, please know that we welcome new voices; we meet each Wednesday after the prayer service.

It has been a joy to serve as choral director this year; your encouragement to the choir has been a very real source of encouragement to me. I look forward to using these summer months to review and select choral music for the fall and Christmas season.

Serving our Lord though music,

Carol Haaversen

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Church Directory Update

A new church directory is in the process of being updated. If you have changed your address, phone number or e-mail address please call the church office and leave your change. If your e-mail address has not been in the directory and you would like to have it added, please call the church office.

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Teen News

Upcoming Events:

July 16-23

Missions Trip to Smithfield, NC

*****

September 17

Hershey Park Christian Day

Cost: $22.00

Tickets need to be purchased by the end of April for the discounted price.

In Him,

Jeff Tracey, Youth Pastor

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The Keenagers

We will not have any luncheon or trips for the next two months. In September we will begin again with a picnic lunch in the pavilion. The date and time will be announced later in August.

We would like to see some new faces and get some new ideas for our upcoming season. If you have any ideas please call me or Iris Singleton and let us know. Everyone is welcome to come to our luncheons and trips. We have a lot of fun and we would love to have you.

We were to be blessed with the presence of Mrs. June Naylor at our last meeting but because of so much pain caused by her surgery she was not able to come and sing for us. We look forward to hearing her sing sometime soon after we begin our fall season. Please be in prayer that she will soon heal and get rid of the pain.

I would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe summer.

Your Keenager in Christ,

Myrtle Gettle

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Adult_Sunday_School_Department

Attendance was very good at the breakfast held on June 6 th during the Sunday school hour for Friend Day. As always, the members and guests enjoyed great food and great fellowship. At the June business meeting it was related that 80% of people who do not attend Sunday school do not read the Bible on any kind of regular basis. Thus you can readily understand why Sunday school is so vitally important. Many thanks to all the teachers for vacating their class rooms on June 19 th so the rooms could be set up for VBS. Most classes met in the sanctuary for a combined class lesson by Bill Abbey, except for Adult II and Adult III which met in the Masonic building to continue their study of Ezekiel. At the business meeting, the new Bible study curriculum in Jeremiah/Lamentations being used in Adult II and Adult III was amply discussed. Overall this material was liked because it goes through a book of the Bible in its entirety, is more in depth and has more insight. However, it does require a lot more time for the teachers in preparing for their lesson on Sunday, and the member books require more reading and studying also. This curriculum, like the curriculum used by the other classes, is all approved for Sunday school Bible study, but it remains the teacher’s choice. All the classes enjoy the men from the Helping Up Mission and really appreciate their knowledge and great insights into the Bible.

People are presently busy putting dates on their calendars for vacations, company and other wonderful summer things, and the Sunday School department is planning an old fashioned B-B-Q for a Sunday in July or August. More information will be provided shortly.

Adult I continued their home study; “Improving Communication in Marriage” at the Anderson’s home with the Franco’s leading the study. Adult V and Adult VI held a fellowship together in late May. Items are still being provided to New Life for Mothers and Children on a monthly basis.

Our next business meeting is scheduled for Sunday, August 14 th.

In His Service,

Carolyn C. Foster, Director

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Children's Sunday School Department

SWIM PARTY
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2005

AT THE HAMRICK HOME

Lunch served: Hotdogs and Hamburgers

Beverages

Ice Cream

The van will leave the church at 11:30 a.m. and will return to church at 4:00 p.m.

RSVP: Joan Krebs

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VERY IMPORTANT PRESCHOOL AND CHILDREN’S DEPARTMENT TEACHER MEETING

August 22, 2005

7:00 p.m. at the church

If you are a teacher in the preschool or children’s department, you are expected to attend this meeting. Please bring your calendar and ideas for activities for the children next year.

Thanks,

Joan Krebs, Director

CHILDREN'S CHURCH SCHEDULE

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Social Committee

Friend day was wonderful with all of our friends and family here to help us celebrate our 199 th anniversary.

I would like to thank all of you that brought food and a special thank you to the social committee without whom it would not be possible to have this special day.

I am missing a 36-cup coffee maker from the kitchen. If you borrowed it and haven’t returned it, please do so asap.

Working for Him,

Ruth Taylor, Social Chairman

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FAITH Ministry

On Sunday, June 12th, FAITH ended its Spring session with a celebration. There was joy in completing 16-weeks of training, witnessing to the lost and making ministry visits. However, there was also a feeling of sadness. Knowing the group would not be together as a team and especially not going out to witness together each Sunday made everyone very sad.

Joy outweighed the sadness for even though the teams will not be going out together to witness, they will still be making visits to people with needs. Once you get the joy of making visits, you cannot seem to stop. Please call any member of FAITH if you have someone you would like for them to visit.

The people involved in FAITH are very committed to this ministry. They have felt the thrill of seeing someone accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They have felt the loneliness of a person whose spouse is no longer with her/him. They have seen the love and thankfulness in a person’s eyes that is sick, depressed, disturbed with problems, etc. The joy in ministering to others is indescribable. During the fall session, why don’t you come and experience this joy with us?

The FAITH teams go out on visits excited a bout what the Lord will do and then they return from a visit really “keyed up” about what the Lord did do. It may not be celebrating someone’s receiving the Lord or even experiencing someone “seeing” immediate answers to their problems/concerns, but there will be something wonderful to celebrate. God is truly an awesome God! His wonders to behold!

The FAITH members are true Great Commission Christians who obey Christ’s command: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and low, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. To share the love of Jesus with others is one of the most incredible and marvelous feelings a person can experience.

Please pray for FAITH which will resume on September 11 for another session of 16-weeks. We would be so pleased if every adult at Gunpowder would join us at our August banquet preceding the Fall session in September. We would like to share this love that consumes us. There’s not thing like it! Please plan to attend.

In His Service,

Carolyn C. Foster - Director

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Prayer Ministry

Watchman Prayer Ministry - “Intercessors”

Dear Prayer Partners and Church Family,

The number of “emergency prayers’ so far this year has reached 40. How great it is to be on the receiving end of an answered prayer. Unfortunately, we will have an opening on the prayer wall at 4:00 a.m.

I pray that some of these areas of prayer may help you grow in your prayer life. There are many areas in our church needing constant (daily) prayer. If you are a member of this church, you have a responsibility to pray.

Sometimes we take some things for granted. Flip a light switch to the off position, what happens? The circuit is broken, the current stops flowing and the light goes out. We all know this. You don’t have to be an engineer to know this. What does this have to do with our prayer life?

Look at it like this; God is our power or current flowing through us to accomplish His will. Then what’s the switch? Glad you asked, you faith. When our faith wavers the current is interrupted, when there is no power source (current, God), it stops us from becoming what God wants us to be. Watch out for areas in our lives that causes our faith to waiver. Think about it. We must seek the face of God anew every day. The more we invest in our church, the more we’ll get out of it. Remember what the church is. The church is not a building, it is the people joined together with the twin of the Holy Spirit. Child of God if you don’t believe in Jesus, God won’t hear or guide you. There are many people who want the joy that comes with a relationship with Christ but without the worship of Jesus. Impossible! Remember the first topic? It’s through prayer the Lord releases His energy. His divine power (current). Prayer enables our mind and spirit to discern what the natural person cannot detect (those without the relationships).

Taken from a devotional on February 4, 2004 (with permission Adrian Rogers), “But now that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself. Psalm 4:3. My thought – if there is ever a reason to pray and we can think of many, Jesus told us to. (Luke 18:1). Ephesians 6:18tells us to pray “in the spirit”. Remember this – any prayer that the Holy Spirit lays on your heart will be answered because the prayer that gets to heaven is the prayer that starts in Heaven. We just close the circuit.

What are you talking to God about these days? Are you asking for something? Are you thanking Him for the privilege of having communion with Him?

We have many needs facing our church family. What are they? Read your Belfry, look in your bulletin, listen to your Pastor, needs in the Sunday school classes, if we would just enter with an open mind and heart, we would all be of one accord. I pray I say this the right way – Worship service after Sunday school is time of furtherance in our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

I know this is a very long article and I jumped around, but everything I said I felt the Spirit move. For more information on praying for other Christians, look in Colossians 1.

The open slot on the prayer wall is 4 a.m. Should you want to fill this slot, call the church office or Mary Scheuerman. This time slot is for ½ hour on Mondays. I know there is a heart that is being prompted. Known disobedience is a sin. God bless each of our prayer warriors.

HOW TO PRAY FOR OTHER CHRISTIANS

1. Be thankful for their faith and changed lives
2. Ask God to help them know that He wants them to do
3. Ask God to give them deep spiritual understanding
4. Ask God to help them live for Him
5. Ask God to give them more knowledge of Himself
6. Ask God to give them strength for endurance
7. Ask God to fill them with joy, strength and thankfulness

How many people in your life could be touched if you prayed in this way?

Prayerfully,

Bob Scheuerman, Prayer Coordinator

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Women's Ministry

STARS for CHRIST  

Click to see "Untalent Show" pictures

Click to see "Crazy Hat Party" pictures

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WOMEN’S FALL RETREAT

November 18-19, 2005

SPINNERS INN

HERSHEY, PA

THEME: Courageous Christian Contender

Speaker: Melody Knox, Consultant Specialist for Women’s Ministries for the Baptist Convention

Special Music: Sandy Glass (Friday)

Testimony: Ulonda Thompson, Associate Director of New Life Home for Women and Children- Glen Rock, PA

Cost: $60 to share a bed; $80 for your own bed

Please mark your calendar now and plan to join us for a refreshing, renewing, fulfilling, spiritual relationship with our awesome Savior, Jesus Christ.

For more information, call Joan Krebs, Retreat Coordinator.

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July & August Birthdays & Anniversaries

ANNIVERSARIES July 5 Mark & Kim McCarty July 12 Alf & Caroline Haaversen July 12 Pastor Jack & Dana Newton July 18 Chris & Ashley Copenhaver August 3 Paul & Jeanne Botzler August 20 Jim & Carolyn Foster August 21 Martin & Barbara Covington

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New Addition

Congratulations to George & Heather Rebstad on the birth of their daughter on June 13, 2005. She weighed in at 8 lbs and 20-1/2 inches long. Sofie Foster Rebstad has a very proud older brother, Noah. Bruce and Cathy Wisnom are her proud grandparents and let’s not forget Uncle Peter who is also very proud and protective of his niece.

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Belfry Archive

February, 2005

March, 2005

April, 2005

May, 2005

June, 2005