September 23, 2008

Good Moanin' Springfieldians,

Well, I went and did it, but I'm not sure why. I joined Facebook. But as of yet, I don't really do Facebook.

I'm not against it, you understand, it's just the older I get the harder it is to keep up with all the changes taking place in technology. Everyday there's something new, and one of the biggest "somethings" new in recent years is the whole Internet world of social networking. I'm thinking specifically of these "things" called Facebook and MySpace.

I'm told that there are 53 million subscribers to Facebook. Can you imagine that that, 53,000,000!! (Someone else told me it was over 100 million world-wide.) It was launched on February 4, 2004. It works like this  a user establishes a personal profile page on Facebook and then builds a network of "friends." One can also establish or join existing like-minded groups, such as "Cub Fans" or "Olivet Students." (After this year I don't think there are "Tiger Fans," "Wolverine Fans," and definitely no "Lion Fans" groups.)

The idea is that you can keep in touch and communicate easily with these friends whenever and wherever they are. You might think this is just a "teen thing," it isn't.

While I signed up, I'm still not sure it's for me. I know that part of this is generational (I hate that!); social networking to me is a Coke with some friends, or meeting at Starbucks, or having someone over to our home  more face-to-face rather than face-to-wall.

You can put pictures on your wall (I'm starting to get a little bit of the lingo down) so old and new friends can see what you look like now. I haven't done that yet. On my wall there's just a silhouette of a man. I kind of like him in my place, he's thinner, and he doesn't have any gray hair.

And I have heard from a couple of friends from college. (Well, I didn't hear from them, I read what they put on my wall.) Both my sisters are a part of it; my brother is a part of it. They all seem to have the knack for this thing. Of course my kids are a part of it. Lauren is on it for hours a day it seems, and Nathan is very rarely, if ever, on it, (I don't know what that says about him) and Ashley falls some place in between. There are many, many from the church that are part of the revolution of networking. Steve Krampitz, I think might win the contest for having the most pictures on his wall. You can play games like Scrabble with each other. I've been invited to play some games, but haven't accepted any invitations yet because I don't think I could figure out how to play.

And then just as I was trying to sort out all this Facebook stuff I read something Dr. John Bowling, president of Olivet Nazarene University, wrote about this subject and he quoted an article he had read. This is the quote:

"Technology has created a magnificent new world, bursting with opportunity. It has opened up a global, knowledge base economy and unchained people from their desks. We are all in its debt  and we are never going back. But we cannot move forward successfully without preserving the human moment...The human moment provides the zest and color in the painting of our daily lives; it restores us, strengthen us, and makes us whole."

The more I've thought about this phenomenon, and how quickly it grew so large, the more I realize there is this tremendous need in our lives to be connected with each other. I need to be connected with family and old friends. I needed to be connected with new friends. There's a reason the Bible tells us we are like a body and every part is important, and the foot can't say to the hand I don't need you. In fact, listen to what it says, "But in fact God has arranged all the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them." (I Corinthians 12:18)

If that's really true, and it is, then I need to stay connected. I need more face-to-face encounters and I need more face-to-wall encounters. And the real question is: What am I writing on their walls? Am I being an encourager? Am I showing them Jesus? Am I reaching out?

Maybe I'll keep trying this Facebook thing and see if I get the hang of it and then stay a little better connected.

I still like the looks of the silhouette though.

Did You Know?

Did you see the Pumpkin Fest commercial Sunday, starring "Pumpkin Man"? If not you can go to Youtube and see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdK_q0kilBw You might want to copy this site and paste it in your web browser to watch it.

Oh, by the way, I am now officially the father of a lawyer. Nathan received word yesterday he passed the bar exam.

Tom and Kathy Hedden are new grandparents again. Saturday a grandson, Grant Isaac, made his grand entrance into this world. Mom, baby, and dad are doing great. Grandparents are doing even better.

It was great to have Matt McFee in the worship gathering Sunday. He's a recent graduate of Marine boot camp. He'll be home for a few days and then back to California for advanced training.

This Sunday, September 28th, we will receive our Alabaster Offering. This is a special offering of love that we receive twice a year and it 100% for the purchasing of property and the constructing of buildings on the mission field. Like the woman in scripture who broke open her alabaster jar of perfume to wash the feet of Jesus, this is an offering just because we love Jesus.

Springfield Zone Mission Rally will take place Thursday, October 9 at 7:00 p.m. at the Taylorville Church of the Nazarene. Brian and Lynne Utter, missionaries to South America, will be speaking. They are originally from our District, so it will be a great opportunity to support them in their important ministry. All are invited.

Wednesday, September 24th and Saturday, October 4th, all ushers and Momentum security personnel are asked to attend a training sessions. Wednesday's class will be from 7:00-8:00 p.m. and Saturday's class will be from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Training is be facilitated by Tom Hiatt and Kim Barrington. It is suggested that you wear comfortable clothing for this training.

Momentum Volunteer Training, Saturday October 4th. Pastor Jay is conducting a Momentum Volunteer Training session for all who volunteer at Momentum, from 11:00-2:00 p.m. on Saturday. If you'd like to become a volunteer for Friday evenings, once a month or more, contact Pastor Jay. There is a need for more volunteers. Kick off is Friday, October 10th and is for all 6th graders through 12th grade.

Sunday, October 5th, we will be joining with 1.5 Nazarenes around the world celebrating our 100th Anniversary!

If you did not have the opportunity to sign up to be a part of a Small Group, contact Pastor Gregg. There are openings in existing groups and new groups will be forming.

Diana McGregor is still in Texas volunteering with the Red Cross to help those are dealing with the devastation from hurricane Ike. Keep her in your prayers.

There will be a Christian Education Board meeting, this Wednesday, September 24th at 5:30 p.m. for all ministry leaders. Meet in room #106 and have dinner together as you meet.

Marketing Committee will meet Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 5:15 p.m. in #105. Grab a plate of food and enjoy a meal as you meet.

Mark your calendars for the Annual Pumpkin Fest October 11th, from 4:00  7:30 p.m. at the church. This is a great time to pick up your pumpkins and baked goods. There will be games and rides for the kids and more fun than they can imagine.

You can still join the Wednesday Night Connection classes which meet at 6:15 p.m. right after our family dinner. This week's dinner menu is: Turkey Salad Sandwiches, Potato Chips, Pasta Salad, and Cookies.

The Answers for Life class led by Andy Peterson is a great way to prepare to meet Pastor Jay's challenge of witnessing and leading people to the Lord. If you're not already obligated elsewhere on Wednesday night, invite a non-churched or non-Christian friend and attend this class with them as we seek to "worship Christ as Lord of [our] lives. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it." 1 Peter 3:15 NLT

Kidz Express on Wednesday evenings from 6:00  6:15 p.m. will be a time of games and activities before the start of Caravan. Gloria Sanguedolce is planning great times for the kids.

We are in need of some more volunteers to help staff the nursery both on Sundays and especially on Wednesdays. It may come to the place where we can not offer this important ministry to families if there are not some more volunteers.

This coming Sunday, September 28, our wonderful nursery volunteers are: Kathleen Hochstetler with the infants; and Chris Bott and Katie Azzo with the toddlers, and Anna Hiatt as the floater. This Wednesday, September 24th, the nursery will be staffed by Lisa Willoughby and Patric Crawford. Thank you!

Upcoming Events: Coffeehouse Comedy - Nov. 8 & 9

Centennial Service  October 5th we will celebrate the Church of the Nazarene's 100th Anniversary

Pumpkin Fest - October 11, 4:00 - 7:30 (volunteers needed)

The Garrison Family of Greenfield just lost everything in a fire this last Friday and needs clothing and all household items. The boys are 5 and 6 years old and they wear about a 6-7. The dad is a 42x32 jeans size and 2x  3x shirts. Mom is a 14 in jeans and large or xlarge in women's shirts. There is a trust fund at UCB in Greenfield. If you have extras, now is the time to help someone in need. Bring your items to the church and Teri Prince will see that the family gets your donations. Thanks in advance for your kindness to this family.

A bulletin board has been put together to help us remember those from the church or family members who are serving in the military. If you'd like to include someone on this board contact Debi Adams for the info you will need to supply. You can see the bulletin board above the drinking fountain in the hallway going towards the Family Life Center.

Keep using GoodSearch.com, we've earned $26.40 for the year 2008. Remember this is a search engine very similar to Google. You just type in goodsearch.com and then you are able to use it as you would Google or other search engines.

ADULT MINISTRIES

The next Prime Time Dinner is next Tuesday, October 14th, at 6:00 p.m. in room #106.

CHILDREN MINISTRIES

Upward Basketball sign-up will be on Saturday, October 25.

Caravan, a Christian based scouting program, is still going on. Cost is $10 per child. Caravan meets every Wednesday beginning September 10 from 6:15-7:15 p.m. See Director Janice Young for more information.

Kidz Expressway has begun collecting Culver Restaurant "Team Scoopie Points" from children's meals (on the side of the bag). The children would like to earn enough points to acquire several pieces of equipment. You can give your points to Gloria Sanguedolce, drop them at the office, or leave them at the Kidz Check-In area. The children appreciate your efforts to help with their projects. You can also continue to bring in those "Cans for Kids."

TEEN MINISTRY

October 10th Momentum kicks off!

Teen Girls' Bible Study  will meet on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m., at Sue Bagley's home (327 Osteen, Chatham). All teen girls are invited for the fellowship and Bible study.

PRAYER REQUESTS...

Those listed in Sunday's bulletin

Jim Fleming  Trudy Tucker's father has had a heart attack and is hospitalized

Lynette Heppe

Renee Gallaher's mother  recently diagnosed with colon cancer

Tim Gallaher's mother  health concerns