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Dear PassWordites, Middletown is 46 degrees and sunny this afternoon. This day has not gone as expected, but then they rarely do. Still, God is good and greatly to be praised! Jeff planted tomato seeds this past week, I planted palm trees. He’s been sitting on 80 some different packages of tomato seeds that he managed to accumulate. He is a born pack rat. I only had 3 palm tree seeds, but I have been hoarding these for some time also. The last time Jeff and I both went to Haiti…was it 2008?...we took Kara along and stayed at the mission compound in Borel but stopped at Pierre Payen on the way back to the United States. I had never seen the new hospital at that point and Dr. Vic gave us a tour. In the middle of the hospital is an open courtyard with growing plants and trees. I saw a young palm tree there; I am not sure exactly what kind of palm tree it was, though I think Dr. Vic said something about it being a variety of red palm. But what I do remember is the lovely red fruit growing at its base and I commented on how unique and beautiful it was. Dr. Vic leaned over, picked up 3 palm tree seeds, probably about the size of acorns or a little bigger (actually they looked like miniature coconuts now that I think about it), and handed them to me. I brought them home and quite frankly, forgot about them. Every so often I would run into them in my carryon bag and eventually I took them out, set them on the bookshelf in my bedroom, and there too, they were forgotten in the accumulation of books and papers and trinkets and other stuff that ends up on top of that bookcase (Ok, Ok, so Jeff isn’t the only packrat here….) But every so often I would spy them and think, “I have to get those planted!”, mentally kicking myself. Still, you know how it is….some things just don’t have much priority. And then having put it off and put it off, I would think, those seeds are so old, they aren’t going to be good any more anyways…why bother? And besides…this is Pennsylvania…whoever has seen palm trees in PA anyways? But last month Dr. Vic died. I had prayed and prayed for a miracle, we all prayed and prayed for a miracle. And then we prayed for more time…at least a season of time. And then I prayed he could get back to Haiti; it was killing me to not be in Haiti to help during the time of the earthquake - I could just feel what it must be doing to him….And then finally he was in Haiti but it wasn’t working and he needed to come home and then fast, too fast, he just wasn’t with us anymore. By that point I had somehow, for some reason, brought the palm tree seeds down to the desk in the sunroom where they rattled around when anyone got in the drawer. So one day this past week, against all odds, I decided I had nothing to lose except a little potting soil so I filled a pot, and planted my three palm tree seeds that Dr. Vic had handed me. I watered them carefully, set them in the windowsill where the sun can reach them and if you did not know better you would think that I am only keeping a pot of soil moist and warm because absolutely nothing is showing there. But what I think finally made me plant these seeds is my admiration for Dr. Vic. Admiration for a man who against all kinds of odds - and believe me, even pre-earthquake, Haiti was an unbelievably difficult place to live – Dr. Vic chose to spend a large portion of his time and energy in a place where the needs are overwhelming and often one feels that the work is futile. So planting those seeds became an act of faith; that out of things that appear sterile and dried up and old, can come new life. That indeed, even in death, God can bring not only new life but gorgeous, abundant, beautiful life. I don’t know if my palm tree seeds will sprout and grow. And even if they do I still have no idea how they will possibly survive a Pennsylvania winter. Still, Dr. Vic entrusted them to me….knowing that there were possibilities within each of those seeds. And so, late as I may be, I am attempting to honor him by acting on that trust. The analogy is pretty obvious…God has entrusted us with life, with resources, with talents, with time, money, energy. What are we doing with all of this? Is it sitting on a dusty shelf somewhere, rattling around in a desk drawer, laying at the bottom of a carryon bag? And despite how it may look to us…how dried up and useless it might appear, when our lives are in the hands of the Master Gardner miraculous and amazing things happen. So ….spring doesn’t come for a few weeks yet…but maybe it is time to do some personal gardening with the lives God has entrusted to us.
Announcements:
Fellowship Hall Coffee Hour will run on Sundays from 8:45 A.M. till 9:20 A.M. beginning this week.
The monthly dinner for March will be on the 22nd. The menu is Baked Pork Chops, Baked Potatoes, Vegetable and dessert. Again, we will need desserts. You gave a great response in February, and we could use a repeat. As usual serving begins at 4:30 PM. Our last dinner was a GREAT success we want to THANK all of you who provided desserts, helped serve and clean up. We can use that help again. To help serve see Sandy Robbins.
Angel Food Ministries at Middletown First Church of God had their last distribution in February. Angel Food has decided to close due to fewer amounts of food boxes being bought. We thank all our volunteers and all who participated in this ministry.
CALENDAR Saturday, March 6th. 8:00 Men’s Breakfast, Triple Room. Don Clouser, speaker.
Sunday, March 7th. Worship at 8:00 and 10:30. “Who is going to take care of us?” Message from John, chapter 14. Classes for everyone at 9:15.
EVERY SUNDAY: FROG Pond for all kids, 1-5grades. 9:15
Sunday, March 7th. 6:00 Betesda Church of God, Worship in the Sanctuary (Our Latino sister Church)
Sunday, March 7th, 2010. 8:00 YACH (Young Adult Coffee Hour)
Wednesday, March 10th. WEDNESAY NIGHT LIVE. Supper at 5:45, Class at 6:30. Financial Peace University begins at 5:45.
Thursday, March 11th. 8:00 Breakfast Club, Church office. EVERYONE WELCOME.
COMING ATTRACTIONS:
Sunday, March 14. Sunshiner Sunday
Sunday, March 28. Palm Sunday, Adult Choir Easter Cantata
Thursday, April 1 Maundy Thursday service
Thursday, April, 2 Good Friday
Saturday, April 3rd. Easter Egg Hunt! 10:00 am.
Sunday, April 4th, Easter Sunrise Service – 6:30 A.M. Narthex, followed by breakfast in Fellowship Hall at 7:00.
Sunday, April 4th. Easter Sunday! He is Risen!
Saturday, May 8th. Aaron Wood Fundraiser, including chicken barbeque, on church grounds. More details to follow.
Sunday, June 6th Graduation Sunday.
Sunday, June 13th. MiKiWoGo begins!
Monday – Friday, July 12-16 VBS Day Camp! More details to follow but plan ahead now for this great all day experience. Come and bring a friend!
Prayer Requests:
Helen Mansberger. Helen went home to be with the Lord, last Friday afternoon. Currently her husband, Bob Mansberger, is in very serious condition at Hershey Medical Center. He is supposed to undergo a second operation very shortly.
Benjamin Gingrich, son of Erin and Nate Gingrich, is coming home today! We give praise. Continue to remember Ben and his family in your prayers.
Rich Pelletier is also doing much better, recuperating from infection. Rich plans on coming home tomorrow. Continue to pray for him and his family.
Bob Gibson is doing rehab at Select Specialty at the Polyclinic Hospital. Continue to remember Bob and Donna.
Jim Abromitis is home and doing well. Thank you for your prayers on Jim’s behalf.
Glenn Figard is in the Rheems Nursing Home for rehab. Continue to remember Glenn, please.
Enough. Go plant something this weekend… Tomatoes, palm trees, talent, money, time….take what God has given you and watch it grow.
Blessings, Pastor Kim
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