The Reflector

REV. MITCHELL LEE MILLER
FALLSTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - FEBRUARY 2006

FROM THE PASTOR

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, greetings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As we continue on through the quiet winter months we find ourselves looking ahead to the green-up of Spring. Spring, when the weather turns warm, the flowers begin to bloom, and life seems to return to our world.

Winter can be a time of great distress for many people. We find ourselves cooped up for what seems like months on end. In winter our activity level drops and we become as dormant as the trees and plants we trust will grow in the Spring. Finding ways to exercise becomes a priority so that our muscles don’t weaken. This has brought the great advent of the gym. People dedicated, for a variety of reasons, to getting out to work out.

Winter presents the same challenge to our Spiritual lives. Following Christmas we have the big let-down and our Spiritual energy level drops. We find ourselves waiting for the coming of Spring and the Easter celebration that comes with it. It is easy to get our Spiritual energy level up for Christmas and Easter because there is so much activity that surrounds the two most important days on the Church calendar. The challenge is finding ways to exercise our Spiritual muscles during the weeks in between. 

Fortunately for us, Spiritual exercise is not necessarily dependent upon the weather outside. In fact, many of the classic spiritual disciplines benefit from the semi-seclusion of the winter. Personal disciplines of prayer and study immediately come to mind.

This is the time of the year we are naturally afforded more time to read and pray, particularly as family activities. With the coming of automobiles and greater ease in “getting out” which was quickly followed by the development of radio and television, allowing the world to “get in,” family prayer and study time began to get squeezed out. Personal time with God has suffered as well.

What then shall we do? Developing Spiritual discipline is not always easy and takes a great deal of practice and some experimentation. Each one of us must find the way which works best for us. Of course it all begins with the dedication of a little time during the day, finding ways to make God a bigger part of our daily routine. There are many sources of help for this. Tons of books are dedicated to the subject, magazines offer help and there are even bible studies available on television, radio, and on-line. Of course there is the great resource and support of the church family. Regular attendance in worship, Sunday School, small groups and the other activities at church are crucial to our Spiritual growth and energy.

The benefits of Spiritual exercise are obvious. In the same way physical activity makes one feel better, so to that Spiritual exercise allows for deeper feelings of closeness and confidence in the promises of God. Conventional wisdom says that this is the time of the year to start getting physically ready for all the outdoor fun and activity of Spring and Summer. In similar fashion, now is the time to get ready for the great celebration of the Resurrection at Easter and for the more complete enjoyment of the world God has created for our care and enjoyment. 

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

MEMBERSHIP

The membership/fellowship committee would like to invite everyone to the Lenten Series Dinners which will begin on Wednesday March 8th.  We will enjoy dinner together, fellowship together and have a different game each week.  Please plan on joining us for five Wednesday evenings beginning March 8th. 

If you have any ideas for fellowship activities or membership, we would love to hear your suggestions.  Also, if we miss a birthday/anniversary or any of your directory information changes, please let us know so we can update our list.  The membership/fellowship committee will have the next meeting on Tuesday March 7th at 7:00p.m.

COME CELEBRATE THE PARTY OF LIFE

Come Celebrate the party of Life, a St. Jude’s fund raiser to help save children’s lives.

Everyone and their families are invited to play bingo at Fallston Presbyterian Church on March 5, 2006 from 2 – 4 pm.  There will be a brief introduction to the benefits of St Judes.  Food, drinks, snacks, bingo and prizes will be provided.  This party is being held to raise money for research and the children of St Judes Children Research Hospital.  There is No Charge to come, but donations are appreciated.  If you are able to attend the party or have any question or anyone would like to help out email us at fallstonpc@gmail.com.

Thanks for the help and support.

An insight to where the money goes:

Spinal tap (includes. Phys. Fee)           $234.

Physical therapy per hour                    $308.

One day of oxygen                             $372.

Avg. charge per inpatient per day                  $4,672.

ICU daily room rate                                      $2,521.

Avg. charge per Outpatient visit per day        $1,815.

Chest X-ray, one view                                  $117.

One day of chemotherapy to leukemia or solid tumor patients,

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR

A pleasant hour was spent with our new Music Director, Andrew Long, on Tuesday, January 17.  Choir Practice will be held on Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM beginning March 2^nd. All are welcome.

Baltimore Presbytery’s Senior High Retreat

Theme:   “The Real World”    Sharing Your Faith in Everyday Life

Scripture:   John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We will look at ways of sharing our faith in Jesus in our everyday lives by viewing video clips and other media forms. 

Workshops: All participants will attend two workshops. Workshops are 1½ hours each, on different topics related to our theme. 

Express Yourself: As always, we’ll have fun activities planned for the afternoon.  You can also hang out with friends in the fellowship hall during this time.

Location: Camp Wo-Me-To

Located in Rocks State Park near Bel Air, Maryland.  Each participant will sleep in a bunkhouse with 10 – 15 participants. 

Registration Fee: $100/person

We are collecting school supplies and children’s underwear for Magnolia Elementary School. They are looking for:

          Pencils

          Marble notebooks

          Dry erase markers

          Pocket folders

          Dividers

          Pencil sharpeners

          Glue sticks (lots needed)

          Binders (1 ½ - 2 inch)

Meals on Wheels

·     What is it?  Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland is a private, non-profit 501 (c)(3) human services agency incorporated in the state of Maryland. Since 1960, Meals on Wheels has served the homebound who are incapacitated, whether temporarily or long-term, by providing nutritious meals and daily contact with a volunteer whose reassuring visit gives the homebound client important social interaction and a vital link to the community.

·     How does FPC help?  We make an annual monetary donation of $600.00. Many members of our congregation are actively involved in some aspect of this mission.

·     How can YOU help? There are many ways an individual can help in this organization; some of these are as follows: drivers, visitors, packers, grocery shoppers, phone pals, schedulers, and home safety assessors.

For more information, contact the following:

William Robinson,
Program Administrator
Harford County Office of Meals on Wheels
2916 Churchville Road
Churchville, MD 21028

Loving Couples: Are you looking for a great getaway? Attend one of our spring Marriage Encounter Weekends to be held March 3-5, or our mid-week option March 6-8. All you bring is a good, fundamentally sound marriage. The weekend will show you new ways to love, listen, and share with each other. God is ever present in your marriage and can make your good marriage great !

Weekends begin at 7:00pm Friday and end at 5:00 pm Sunday. Mid-week option begins at 7:00pm Monday and ends at 5:00pm Wednesday. The weekends will be held at the lovely VanDiver Inn Bed & Breakfast in Havre de Grace, MD, just off I-95. Come early or stay late to experience this historic town.

Contact Al and Dottie Lund at 302 478 4209 or email dottielund@comcast.net

Register on line at www.presby-me.org

The Faith Communities and Civil Agencies United (FCCAU) sponsors a day shelter with a hot meal and a rotating night shelter for the homeless in Harford County.  FCCAU is having a Longaberger Basket Bingo to help finance their efforts.  The FPW has decided to sponsor a kitchen basket.  The FPW will purchase the basket, and we are asking for you to help fill it with attractive, new items (may be homemade).  The FPW is donating one of our cookbooks, some kitchen knives and flavorings.  One of our members is donating a gift certificate for a homemade cake to be made at the winners’ request. We are also accepting monetary donations to purchase items for the basket.

The bingo will be held on Friday, April 7, at St. Mathews Lutheran Church on Churchville Road. 

Thanks for helping the homeless in our area.

The Next Generation Project, a ministry of the Presbytery of Baltimore gathering a faith community for adults 20- 35 in the Greater Baltimore area, is hosting Benefit Concert to support Individuals and Families with Cancer.

You are invited to become a part of, "The Forgiven, Fallston Presbyterian's “ARMY OF GOD” Youth Ministry.

"The Forgiven," are a group of young people dedicated to living lives of love and forgiveness, faith and service.

Our classes meet weekly (Sunday's at 10:00 AM). We discuss what it takes to be a Soldier in God's Army; the ability to: Serve, Support, Communicate, Protect and Fight.

The Lord Our God is Ruler over all things, the Lord Jesus is our Commanding Officer, and the Holy Spirit is our Guide and Builder of Relationships.

Come and share with us: fun, food and fellowship. Come and share with us: movies, music, and missions.

Come and be a part of our, "gang," you can't go wrong with God.