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The Reflector
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REV. MITCHELL LEE MILLER
FALLSTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - JANUARY 2006
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FROM THE
PASTOR
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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
greetings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome to the Year of Our Lord, 2006. Let me begin by first
saying ‘thank you’ once again for the very kind and generous gift to me
and my family at Christmas.
As we say ‘hello’ to the New Year we find ourselves desiring to make
resolutions to change some of our habits and behaviors. These New
Year’s Resolutions are very common even if we don’t take them very
seriously. Still it does allow us the opportunity to improve
ourselves. But in order to fully realize the changes we would
like to make, we need to look back on that which has passed.
This time of self-examination is good for making more than our
not-so-serious resolutions. Self-examination can be a Spiritual
exercise as well. We all know that none of us are perfect, and
each of us have sins that hang over our heads. Like the
proverbial mill stone around our neck, they hold us down and prevent us
from reaching our fullest potential as people of faith. It
is fortunate that we are blessed with the opportunity to take our sins
to God and repent.
Repentance is not all that different than New Year’s resolutions in the
way we examine our lives and recognize the need to make real
changes. Repentance by definition means to turn around 180
degrees and turn our back on behavior that we know offends God.
However, repentance is different than New Year’s resolutions in the way
we go about accomplishing the changes we seek. While we tend to
make our resolutions in secret and depend mostly on the power of our
own will to uphold our resolutions, when we repent, we ask for the help
of God and by the power of His Holy Spirit, we seek to
change.
For the people of God, repentance is both a personal and a corporate
exercise. Each of us has our own sins to deal with, that is
easy for us to define. For the church body itself, the subject is
somewhat more difficult. Community sins are much more challenging
in that it is often hard to agree on what needs to be changed.
Especially since it is so much easier to see what is wrong with other
people rather than ourselves. Of course, Jesus tells us
that the opposite is true. The real problem in our lives is not the
speck of dust in another’s eye, but rather, it is the beam in our own
eye. Here again the power of repentance and grace comes into play, for
change is not really the issue, it is more simply that we stop engaging
in behaviors that harm the body of Christ. And just as we seek
God’s forgiveness for our sins, as a community of faith, we need to be
forgiving of each other as well.
Take the time to examine your life, and your life within the church.
What needs to be changed and what needs to be forgiven? How can
we honor God as a community and in our individual lives this coming
year?
May the peace and blessings of God, the joy of Jesus Christ, and the
guidance of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
~Mitchell Lee Miller
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| NEW SMALL
GROUP FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE SMALLER |
Are you all that you can be or do you
think you are a few more pounds than you should be? I have tried every
diet you can think of and I still can’t find one that works. If you are
like me, then I invite you to join me for a final try into a healthy
life by signing up for “2006 is the Year”. I have been told “the Spirit
helps us in our weakness” (Romans 8:26). This time I will fight the
demon with God’s help. If you were part of the 40 Days or Purpose, you
may have decided to change your life to God’s purpose. I want to start
with a healthier body.
The plan is this; you
will choose your own plan. Some may want to join Weight Watchers.
Others will follow Atkins. Some will call their doctor for a plan.
Others will make up their own plan. You choose what is best for you. We
will meet once each week at the church beginning in January. We will
choose a time that suits us best. Each week we will;
1.
Pray
2.
Do a 15 minute fast walk around the neighborhood or inside
exercise if the weather is bad
3.
Discuss our progress
4.
Help each other with encouragement
5.
Share recipes
6.
Keep track of our progress & weigh in if you want
Contact: churchoffice@fallstonpc.org
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Fallston
Presbyterian Women
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The Fallston
Presbyterian Women would like to thank everyone who
contributed to the
success of our annual Christmas Bazaar. Our
community supported
our efforts and we made over $2,000. We are
grateful to our Senior
Group for putting together the soup mixes.
Thank you to the Pre-K
for their delicious cookies. Thank you to
everyone who baked and
or cooked. Thank you to our Youth for the
Children’s Shopping
area. Thank you to everyone who bought or sold
a quilt raffle ticket.
Thank you to our crafters. Thank you to all who
worked the day of the
Bazaar. We couldn’t have done it with out you!
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IS GOD
CALLING YOU?
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Service Participants
are an integral part of our church. It is an honor
and privilege to help
with Worship. Perhaps you took part in the Forty
Days of Purpose and
you are seeking another way to serve God.
If you would like to participate by
doing the Children’s Sermon, helping with Communion, being a Lay Reader
or a Greeter or an Acolyte, please contact
us at churchoffice@fallstonpc.org
If you already participate please let
us know what service
you are available for
and what positions you can fill. We are compiling a list in the office
to make it easier to get substitutes if the need arises. Thank you for
your cooperation with this endeavor and thank you especially for your
service to our church.
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EMAIL
ADDRESSES
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If you have an email
address, we would love to have it! Your email address will not be
distributed and you will not be bombarded with email from us. We often
email notices and updates about church business and functions. We
want to include YOU! Email us at churchoffice@fallstonpc.org
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STEAL AWAY
WITH JESUS
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Oasis Ministries
presents a one day Lenten Retreat.
In a day of quiet
retreat, participants will center on solitude and detachment from the
world as preparation for community and service. The leader will be Kent
Ira Goff, founding mentor of Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development
and author of “What Would I Believe if I Didn’t Believe Anything” and
“The Soul of Tomorrow’s Church.”
Tuesday,
March 7, 2006 9:30 -
3:30
Christ Presbyterian Church, Camp Hill, PA
OR
Tuesday,
March 21, 2006 9:30 -
3:30
Shepherd’s Spring Retreat Center, Sharpsburg, PA
Bring a brown bag
lunch, beverages and snacks will be provided.
Cost: $55 - $95 (As
you are able)
Registration Deadline:
February 17, 2006
Call 717 737 8222 or
email Betsy Keller at betsykeller@oasismin.org
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SPOTLIGHT
ON MISSIONS
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What is it?
In May of 1990, Bob Varelli started the first soup kitchen in Harford
County. Since then a few others have opened, but the original Manna
House is still providing a hot lunch for needy people at the Bel Air
Methodist Church every Wednesday from 11:30 to 1:00. In addition
to the hot lunch, each person is given a bag of groceries to take home.
How does FPC help?
We make an annual
monetary donation of
$350.00.
Our church has also supplied dessert for Manna House on the 4th
Wednesday of the month.
How can YOU help?
Volunteers are needed
to help set tables, serve
the
food, pack the bags of groceries, and clean the tables after lunch.
Manna House is always grateful for donations of canned goods.
For more information,
contact the following:
Lee Lederer
Manna House
Bel Air Methodist Church
21 Linwood Avenue
Bel Air, MD 21014
Mission’s Focus Donations
for January
PEANUT BUTTER
for the
Harford Community Action Agency’s food pantry
Any
additional donations are very welcome for these or
any
other organization.
THANK YOU!
The Mission Committee
wants to thank you for your generous
donations to both the
Food Pantry and the Cambodian Orphanage
as well as to the five
special offerings throughout the year.
Beginning in January,
we will no longer be asking for donations
on behalf of the
Cambodian Orphanage. Postage costs have proven
to be prohibitive.
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