CONKLIN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
882 MAIN STREET October 2011
(732) 254-5062 PASTOR STEPH
(732) 254-5062 PASTOR STEPH
October Newsletter
Pastor’s Corner
As you read this short devotional narrative think hard about what your commitment is toward others, your family, your friends, your church but more importantly, your God!
Harvest Moon
My grandfather had a small farm where he raised beef and some grain for feed. He also worked diligently as a factory laborer and country pastor. He was a good neighbor and well respected for honoring his word.
When harvest-time came, he'd piece together his old one-row corn picker and oil it up for the season. He pulled it behind a little Ford 9-N tractor with a wagon hooked on the back. It was a noisy contraption unlike the modern machines you see these days devouring the golden armies of grain in wide gulps.
His whole operation was like that. Basic. In fact, his life was like that, too. He worked hard, helped others and you could count on him to keep his promises. That's what made it so hard one autumn when difficult circumstances closed in on him.
He had promised to harvest a few ribbons of corn that wound around the hills on a friend's farm, but after harvesting his own corn, Grandpa's little corn picker coughed, sputtered and quit. It would be out of commission until a particular part could be ordered, but that would take far too long to help this year. Then the odds of being able to help out his neighbor got even worse; the factory where grandpa worked began to require overtime. In order to keep his job there he had to leave the farm before dawn and didn't get home until well after sunset.
One autumn night, while harvest time was running out, he and his wife sat at the kitchen table sipping bitter black coffee trying to figure a way out of their dilemma.
"There's nothing you can do," said my grandma. "You'll just have to tell him that you can't help with the corn this year."
"Well that just doesn't sit well with me," said my grandpa. "My friend is depending on me. I can't exactly let my neighbor's harvest rot in the field, can I?"
"If you don't have the equipment, you just can't do it," she said.
"Well, I could do it the way we used to do it. I could harvest it by hand," he said.
"When do you think you'd have time to do it?" she asked. "With the overtime you've been working you'd be up all night...besides it'd be too dark."
"I know one night that I could do it!" he said running to the bookshelf. He grabbed the Farmer's Almanac and started flipping through the pages until he found what he was looking for. "Aha! There's still one more full moon in October." As it happened, the harvest moon had yet to pass. They say it's called the harvest moon because it gives farmers more light and more time to collect their crops. "If the Lord gives us clear weather, I think I can do it," he said.
And so a few days later, after a long shift at the factory, my grandpa made his way to the field where my grandma met him in the truck with dinner and a steaming thermos of strong, black coffee. The weather was cold but clear, and the moon was brilliant. He worked through the night to keep his word.
I know this story well, because I've spent hours on that old tractor's fender talking with my grandpa. We've even suffered through some of that same bitter coffee together. I'm proud to say that my parents named me after him.
Sometimes, when I'm tempted to cut corners or to put off responsibilities, I think of my grandfather with his scythe cutting wide arcs of corn in the light of the harvest moon. I hear the ears of corn hit the floor of the wagon and the music of geese crossing the cold October sky. The chill autumn morning darkness envelopes my mind and I see my grandpa, his work finally done, crawling into the seat of the old tractor and making his way home. Behind him in the pale moonlight, row after row of corn shocks stand at attention in respect for a man who keeps his word.
Pastor Steph
UPCOMING EVENTS AND REMINDERS
**CHURCH CONFERENCE FOR 2010-2011 Conklin’s annual church conference will be held on Sunday, October 9th at 4:30 PM. Please plan to attend.
LOG ON TO THE CONKLIN WEBSITE TO SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING……
www.conklinumc.org
Margo Testa has graduated from basic training and is now attending technical school in California. Thank you for your cards and words of encouragement.
A1C Testa
480 West Road
Bldg. 1184C
Port Hueneme, NBVC, CA 93043
PRAYERS FOR HEALTH
John Soana Kathleen Hagedorn
Bill Malinofsky Ted Fahrenholz
Michael, Lexie, Patrick, Jessie Clayton Josie Crawn
Emma Klaus Lillian Malinofsky
Ashford Bartees Lenny Jackson
Patricia O’Hara
Care takers also need our prayers as they see to the comfort of their family members.
CHURCH SERVICES: Sunday services are held at 10:00am every Sunday. The first Sunday of every month is Communion Sunday.
Sunday School at 10:am every Sunday.
Every Sunday morning the congregation is asked to share joys and concerns to be included in our prayers. Our prayers also include those listed on the Prayer List and for those “special friends’ with ‘special needs” that includes private requests such as families in crisis, unemployment, poor health and any other personal needs.
OPEN FLOWER DATES: October 16, 23, 30. To reserve flowers in honor, or in memory, of a loved one or to the glory of God. Please call the church office at 732.254.5062.
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS:
Michael Herrick 10/2
Jason Biehl 10/12
Angela Razzano 10/26
Pastor Stephanie can be reached by cell phone at 732-841-3312 or by email at s.brown14@hotmail.com
CHURCH CHOIR
Come and add your voice with others as one voice to praise the Lord
FOOD PANTRY
The food Pantry is getting low. Please bring in non-perishable food items as you are able.
If you know of someone in need of assistance with food, or is you are in need yourself, please contact the Pastor.
FEED THE CHILDREN: Second Saturday of the month 8:00 - 10:00am
111 CorporateRoad, North Brunswick, NJ 08902
CUMAC: Please remember as you are cleaning out your closets this Fall, we are still collecting shoes and bags to donate to CUMAC.
ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER
The content of the newsletter is comprised from multiple sources but we mostly rely on YOU, our church members, to provide events and information. Please consider contributing something in the next issue. Prayers, poems, recipes, special events, news, (past or future) and more are all welcome
In an effort to save both paper and postage costs, we are now be sending our newsletter via email if we have your email address. Thenewsletter will be available to you through 3 possible options:
1. Pick up at the Church
2. E-mail
3. Regular Mail (only upon request)
4. Website: www.conklinumc.org
If you wish to receive your newsletter via email please send a note to the church at conklinum@yahoo.com and let us know!
Requests for regular mailing of the newsletter should be communicated to the church office at 732-257-6353. Thanks for your help with this!
Thank You and God Bless!
October Lectionary Readings for personal reflection
October 2
Exod. 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Ps. 19 Phil 3:4b-14 Matt. 21:33-46
October 9
Exod. 32:1-14 Ps. 106:1-6, 19-23 Phil. 4:1-9 Matt. 22:1-14
October 16
Exod. 33:12-23 Ps. 99 1 Thess. 1:1-10 Matt. 22:15-22
October 23
Deut. 34:1-12 Ps. 90:1-6, 13-17 1 Thess. 2:1-8 Matt. 22:34-46
October 30
Josh. 3:7-17 Ps. 107:1-7, 33-37 1 Thess. 2:9-13 Matt. 23:1-12
Church Humor
OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES
Author Unknown
A Sunday school teacher was teaching her class about the difference between right and wrong.
"All right children, let's take another example," she said. "If I were to get into a man's pocket and take his billfold with all his money, what would I be?"
Little Johnny raises his hand, and with a confident smile, he blurts out, "You'd be his wife!"
DEATH While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his Father always said: "Glory be unto the Faaaather, and unto the Sonnn .. and into the hole he goes.
Pastor’s Corner
As you read this short devotional narrative think hard about what your commitment is toward others, your family, your friends, your church but more importantly, your God!
Harvest Moon
My grandfather had a small farm where he raised beef and some grain for feed. He also worked diligently as a factory laborer and country pastor. He was a good neighbor and well respected for honoring his word.
When harvest-time came, he'd piece together his old one-row corn picker and oil it up for the season. He pulled it behind a little Ford 9-N tractor with a wagon hooked on the back. It was a noisy contraption unlike the modern machines you see these days devouring the golden armies of grain in wide gulps.
His whole operation was like that. Basic. In fact, his life was like that, too. He worked hard, helped others and you could count on him to keep his promises. That's what made it so hard one autumn when difficult circumstances closed in on him.
He had promised to harvest a few ribbons of corn that wound around the hills on a friend's farm, but after harvesting his own corn, Grandpa's little corn picker coughed, sputtered and quit. It would be out of commission until a particular part could be ordered, but that would take far too long to help this year. Then the odds of being able to help out his neighbor got even worse; the factory where grandpa worked began to require overtime. In order to keep his job there he had to leave the farm before dawn and didn't get home until well after sunset.
One autumn night, while harvest time was running out, he and his wife sat at the kitchen table sipping bitter black coffee trying to figure a way out of their dilemma.
"There's nothing you can do," said my grandma. "You'll just have to tell him that you can't help with the corn this year."
"Well that just doesn't sit well with me," said my grandpa. "My friend is depending on me. I can't exactly let my neighbor's harvest rot in the field, can I?"
"If you don't have the equipment, you just can't do it," she said.
"Well, I could do it the way we used to do it. I could harvest it by hand," he said.
"When do you think you'd have time to do it?" she asked. "With the overtime you've been working you'd be up all night...besides it'd be too dark."
"I know one night that I could do it!" he said running to the bookshelf. He grabbed the Farmer's Almanac and started flipping through the pages until he found what he was looking for. "Aha! There's still one more full moon in October." As it happened, the harvest moon had yet to pass. They say it's called the harvest moon because it gives farmers more light and more time to collect their crops. "If the Lord gives us clear weather, I think I can do it," he said.
And so a few days later, after a long shift at the factory, my grandpa made his way to the field where my grandma met him in the truck with dinner and a steaming thermos of strong, black coffee. The weather was cold but clear, and the moon was brilliant. He worked through the night to keep his word.
I know this story well, because I've spent hours on that old tractor's fender talking with my grandpa. We've even suffered through some of that same bitter coffee together. I'm proud to say that my parents named me after him.
Sometimes, when I'm tempted to cut corners or to put off responsibilities, I think of my grandfather with his scythe cutting wide arcs of corn in the light of the harvest moon. I hear the ears of corn hit the floor of the wagon and the music of geese crossing the cold October sky. The chill autumn morning darkness envelopes my mind and I see my grandpa, his work finally done, crawling into the seat of the old tractor and making his way home. Behind him in the pale moonlight, row after row of corn shocks stand at attention in respect for a man who keeps his word.
Pastor Steph
UPCOMING EVENTS AND REMINDERS
**CHURCH CONFERENCE FOR 2010-2011 Conklin’s annual church conference will be held on Sunday, October 9th at 4:30 PM. Please plan to attend.
- 10/ 3 Work out session @ 7 PM
- 10/8 Feed the Children @ 8 AM
- 10/9 Church Conference @ 4:30 PM
- 10/10 Work out session @ 7 PM
- 10/13 Bible Study @ 7 PM
- 10/15 Church Rummage Sale & Luncheon 9 AM – 2 PM
- 10/16 Football Sunday w/ Luncheon to follow. SHOW YOUR TEAM PRIDE!! @ 10 AM
- 10/17 Work out session @ 7 PM
- 10/19 Book Club Meeting @ 7 PM
- 10/22 The First Reformed Church Ham Dinner from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM (see flyer for more details)
- 10/24 Work out session @ 7 PM
- 10/27 Bible Study @ 7 PM
- 10/29 Harvest Costume Party (Check time on flipcart in lobby)
LOG ON TO THE CONKLIN WEBSITE TO SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING……
www.conklinumc.org
Margo Testa has graduated from basic training and is now attending technical school in California. Thank you for your cards and words of encouragement.
A1C Testa
480 West Road
Bldg. 1184C
Port Hueneme, NBVC, CA 93043
PRAYERS FOR HEALTH
John Soana Kathleen Hagedorn
Bill Malinofsky Ted Fahrenholz
Michael, Lexie, Patrick, Jessie Clayton Josie Crawn
Emma Klaus Lillian Malinofsky
Ashford Bartees Lenny Jackson
Patricia O’Hara
Care takers also need our prayers as they see to the comfort of their family members.
CHURCH SERVICES: Sunday services are held at 10:00am every Sunday. The first Sunday of every month is Communion Sunday.
Sunday School at 10:am every Sunday.
Every Sunday morning the congregation is asked to share joys and concerns to be included in our prayers. Our prayers also include those listed on the Prayer List and for those “special friends’ with ‘special needs” that includes private requests such as families in crisis, unemployment, poor health and any other personal needs.
OPEN FLOWER DATES: October 16, 23, 30. To reserve flowers in honor, or in memory, of a loved one or to the glory of God. Please call the church office at 732.254.5062.
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS:
Michael Herrick 10/2
Jason Biehl 10/12
Angela Razzano 10/26
Pastor Stephanie can be reached by cell phone at 732-841-3312 or by email at s.brown14@hotmail.com
CHURCH CHOIR
Come and add your voice with others as one voice to praise the Lord
FOOD PANTRY
The food Pantry is getting low. Please bring in non-perishable food items as you are able.
If you know of someone in need of assistance with food, or is you are in need yourself, please contact the Pastor.
FEED THE CHILDREN: Second Saturday of the month 8:00 - 10:00am
111 CorporateRoad, North Brunswick, NJ 08902
CUMAC: Please remember as you are cleaning out your closets this Fall, we are still collecting shoes and bags to donate to CUMAC.
ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER
The content of the newsletter is comprised from multiple sources but we mostly rely on YOU, our church members, to provide events and information. Please consider contributing something in the next issue. Prayers, poems, recipes, special events, news, (past or future) and more are all welcome
In an effort to save both paper and postage costs, we are now be sending our newsletter via email if we have your email address. Thenewsletter will be available to you through 3 possible options:
1. Pick up at the Church
2. E-mail
3. Regular Mail (only upon request)
4. Website: www.conklinumc.org
If you wish to receive your newsletter via email please send a note to the church at conklinum@yahoo.com and let us know!
Requests for regular mailing of the newsletter should be communicated to the church office at 732-257-6353. Thanks for your help with this!
Thank You and God Bless!
October Lectionary Readings for personal reflection
October 2
Exod. 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Ps. 19 Phil 3:4b-14 Matt. 21:33-46
October 9
Exod. 32:1-14 Ps. 106:1-6, 19-23 Phil. 4:1-9 Matt. 22:1-14
October 16
Exod. 33:12-23 Ps. 99 1 Thess. 1:1-10 Matt. 22:15-22
October 23
Deut. 34:1-12 Ps. 90:1-6, 13-17 1 Thess. 2:1-8 Matt. 22:34-46
October 30
Josh. 3:7-17 Ps. 107:1-7, 33-37 1 Thess. 2:9-13 Matt. 23:1-12
Church Humor
OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES
Author Unknown
A Sunday school teacher was teaching her class about the difference between right and wrong.
"All right children, let's take another example," she said. "If I were to get into a man's pocket and take his billfold with all his money, what would I be?"
Little Johnny raises his hand, and with a confident smile, he blurts out, "You'd be his wife!"
DEATH While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his Father always said: "Glory be unto the Faaaather, and unto the Sonnn .. and into the hole he goes.
Bishop Sudashana Devadhar
Rev. Barbara A. Rambach, District Supertintendent
Pastor Stephanie Brown
Director of Music: Nancy Drumright
Rev. Barbara A. Rambach, District Supertintendent
Pastor Stephanie Brown
Director of Music: Nancy Drumright