Midtown Herald

Church Newsletter of the Midtown Seventh-day Adventist Church

PASTOR'S COMMENTS

Christmas Blessings from Pastor and Mrs. Fry

May the blessings of this Christmas season be with each one of you as you seek to walk with Jesus. May this new year be the time when your walk with the Savior grows more glorious and rewarding, while your faith and trust in Him grows stronger and deeper day by day.

Pastor and Mrs. Fry

The Essence of Christmas

The story is told of a WWII army officer sent to serve in the Philippines. At first he faithfully wrote letters to his wife assuring her of his faithful, intense abiding love. But gradually the letters became cooler and fewer, then they ceased. Eventually the wife got word that her husband was living with a Philippine lady with whom he had a child. Then one day she received news that her husband had been killed.

To the amazement of friends and family, this lady purchased a ticket and flew to the Philippines to find the woman that had stolen her husband's love. After a diligent difficult search she finally found the woman with whom her husband had fallen in love. Quietly observing from a distance, she could see the woman was now pregnant with his second child, living in hunger and poverty. Leaving, she went to the market and bought food and clothing, then returned and introduced herself presenting the much needed supplies. At first the young mother was fearful and speechless, then finally she asked in broken English, "Why you do this?"  The woman replied, "Though my husband stopped loving me, I never stopped loving him. However, he is gone now. But because he loved you, I have chosen to love you, and I want to care for you and his children." The young Philippine mother burst into tears, begging for forgiveness as she knelt at the feet of this American lady with the unbelievable love. The Christian lady tearfully helped her new friend up and explained she was just passing on the undeserved loving forgiveness God had given to her.

This story and the Christmas story are similar. The Christmas story is the record of the God of the universe bestowing undeserved sacrificial love upon planet earth and the guilty, undeserving, unfaithful human race. The Apostle Paul writes, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners (rebellious law breakers), Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). The gospel writer John pens, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world (though there was much that he might have condemned), but to save the world through Him" (John 3: 16,17).

Is there some undeserving member of your family that needs your forgiveness? Perhaps a son or daughter, or a mom, or a dad. Maybe it's your husband or wife. Most of us have at least one or more "undeserving" family member, neighbor, or work associates with whom we have a broken or strained relationship. Who is the Holy Spirit bringing to your mind just now? Why not in the spirit of Christmas, the spirit of undeserved forgiveness, lovingly and cheerfully give a gift to that person with a note saying, "I love you and I'm praying for you. Let's be friends." This action, taken in the spirit of heaven, is the best way to bring the Christmas gift of undeserved forgiveness and reconciliation, to the heart of an undeserving fellow human, thus restoring a relationship. By taking this action you will reflect the loving truth of the original Christmas story that first brought "Peace on earth, good will to men" on a cold snowy night, almost two thousand years ago.

If we will make this "forgiving the undeserving" a daily habit of life, we extend the Christmas holiday to a year around celebration. Jesus Himself commanded His followers to live this "Christmas Spirit" 365 days a year! Notice His words in Matthew as He was teaching His followers to pray, " .... Forgive us our sins, as we forgive others who sin against us... For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matt. 6:14,15).

Pastor Fry

PROPHETIC COUNSEL

As the twenty-fifth of December is observed to commemorate the birth of Christ, as the children have been instructed by precept and example that this was indeed a day of gladness and rejoicing, you will find it a difficult matter to pass over this period without giving it some attention. It can be made to serve a very good purpose.

(AH 478)

Christmas and New Year celebrations can and should be held in behalf of those who are helpless. God is glorified when we give to help those who have large families to support.

(AH 482)

Will you not arise, my Christian brethren and sisters, and gird yourselves for duty in the fear of God, so arranging this matter that it shall not be dry and uninteresting, but full of innocent enjoyment that shall bear the signet of Heaven? I know the poorer class will respond to these suggestions. The most wealthy should also show an interest and bestow their gifts and offerings proportionate to the means with which God has entrusted them. Let there be recorded in the heavenly books such a Christmas as has never yet been seen because of the donations which shall be given for the sustaining of the work of God and the up building of His kingdom.

(AH 483)

CHURCH NEWS

Have you been wondering about the gold jewelry the Joash Box has collected for the Building Fund? Well, we have just turned it into $2,621.00. Isn't this a marvelous blessing from the Lord? Thank you to all who gave to this project.

Edward Moresco was ordained as a local elder, and Narcissus Washington was ordained as a deacon, Sabbath December 19, 2009.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Please remember the food pantry at ACTS. We need flour, sugar, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, corn meal, cake mix, frosting, and pancake mix. Thanks so much for your kindness and generosity.

Rosie Sheroian

Adventist Community Thrift Shop

Vision

The vision of the Adventist Community Thrift Shop, in conjunction with the Columbia Midtown Seventh-day Adventist Church, is to fund and maintain a center derived from thrift shop sales, that will provide Christ-centered health services, to include physical, mental, social and spiritual help, to individuals who seek those services. The center will be a network of individuals who focus on helping the poor and hurting.

Mission

The mission of ACTS is to develop and maintain Christ-centered, caring community services in the Columbia area by providing assistance to those who have needs and to share the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Values

The values of ACTS are those which reflect the potential of each individual to reflect the image of God, the dignity which is inherent in every person and the importance of quality in human life.

Goals

1. To awaken concern for the poor, the deprived, the sick, the hungry, the homeless and the victims of natural and man-made disasters.
2. To establish policies and procedures which will eliminate race, sex, creed or politics from the criteria for granting service to individuals.
3 . To communicate the spiritual values which the church holds by its very nature without using them as criteria for giving of services.
4. To train volunteers and develop leadership to meet community needs.
5. To develop a program of communication and information within and without the church to make known the objectives and programs.

Helen Koon

CHURCH BOARD ACTIVITY

Voted to send a donation in memory of Virginia Kerr to the First Church library.

Voted to institute an Online Donation system for donations to our church. Tithe and offerings can be sent to the church through this system.

Voted to present to the church in Business the new Church Budget for 2010.

Voted to donate $100.00 to the Ebenezer Spanish Church each time we use their baptismal pool.

Voted to accept ACTS budget for 2010.

MIDTOWN BIBLE SCHOOL

Our Discovery Bible Study Ministry continues to be an effective outreach for Midtown. We had four new students join us in the month of December alone. Please pray, during this busy season of enormous distractions, which compete for time and attention, that each of our new students will continue to hunger for God* s truth found in each lesson plan. Also, continue to seek out opportunities to encourage others with the opportunity of Bible study in the convenience of their own homes. A wonderful prayer for the New Year would be to ask God to impress you with the names of people who are searching, and to then bless you with divine appointments, allowing your paths to cross and conversations to open to serious spiritual matters. That is a prayer God is surely to answer.

A big thanks to each of you who have already contributed your effort in dispersing the Discovery Bible Study application cards throughout the past year. This outreach endeavor involves each and every one of us ... Keep up the faith in what God is going to do through it. God bless you.

Karen Covington

BUILDING FUND

Our Building Fund continues to grow. It now stands at $ 121,000. Let's continue to work towards our goal of $250,000.00 for a down payment.

Charlie Davis, Chairman

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS

Members who will be celebrating their birthdays soon:

January 17, Barry Nicks
January 30, Joe Fry

MIDWEEK AT MIDTOWN

The time of our Prayer Meeting is 6:30 PM. If you haven't yet stopped in, it's never too late. We welcome all members and visitors to join our group and participate in the Bible Study. We do have a lively discussion as we study Face-To-Face With Jesus. Our goal is to learn more about our dear Savior.

We also pray for our church, and other requests, as well as the needs recorded on our Prayer Request cards from our Worship Service. Stop by any Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM here at the Capital Senior Center.

We are told in Steps To Christ, p. 98, that, "Those who are really seeking communion with God will be seen in the prayer meeting."

Bob Sitko

FELLOWSHIP LUNCHES

On the second Sabbath of each month, we have a Full Lunch, and on the fourth Sabbath of each month, we have a Light Lunch consisting of salads, soups, sandwiches and desserts. Please come and enjoy the fellowship of eating together and getting to know others better.

BITS OF WISDOM

A person is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

"If we would take our minds off the distressing situations in which we are placed and think of the power and majesty of God, we would be at peace even in the midst of the shadow of death." (PP 657).

"Many who suppose they are going to heaven are blindfolded by the world." (HP 657).

Mary Ann Fry

HEALTH BITES

 
Better Sleep, Better Marriage

When couples were tracked for seven days, the woman's negative feelings about interactions with their husbands during the day were associated with poor sleep that night for themselves and their partners. For men, poor sleep was associated with negative feelings about their wives the next day.

Theory: Daytime interactions both affect — and are affected by — sleep quality. Self-defense: Avoid disputes on days when you or your spouse have not slept well the night before.

(Brant Hasler, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, dept of psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh.)

My advice: Avoid disputes at all times, if possible, and pray together.

Pastor Fry

VESPERS

Friday Night Video Vespers

Each Friday, at 6:30 PM you can watch an inspirational sermon from one of our church's great speakers, such as Dwight Nelson, Steve Wohlberg, Dr. Walter Veith, or others. The program lasts about an hour, and is a great way to start the Sabbath. Check our website, MidtownChurch.net. These video programs are held at Doug Leonhardt's home in the downtown Columbia area.

Bob Sitko

Church Location

Midtown Church meets at the Capital Senior Center on Park Circle, behind Maxcy Gregg Park, Sabbath (Saturday) Morning at 10:00 AM for Sabbath School and 11:15 AM for the Worship Hour. Please come and join us for fellowship and worship.

All photos by     ©2001-2012, Columbia Midtown SDA Church, 701 Gervais St. #150-301, Columbia SC 29201