Did you ever dream that you were running away from danger and your legs felt like lead? You could barely pick them up; it was like you were running in slow-motion. Sometimes I feel that way in my spiritual walk with the Lord. Although I may not be running away from anything, my spiritual legs can become sluggish.
In Hebrews 12:1, our life as a believer in Jesus is likened to a race. We are instructed to “throw off” everything that hinders us. These may not necessarily be sinful things but even good things that hinder us in the race. An athlete may wear good heavy clothing to protect him while he is not running. But when he runs, those “good” heavy clothing become a hindrance. The Greek word for race comes from the same word from which we get the word agony. The race we are in is not a pleasure run; it is hard, demanding, requiring discipline and self-denial.
I have been thinking about what things can hinder our running. It could be fears, unhealthy relationships, entertainment, hobbies, material possessions, or self-focus. In short, it is anything that hinders us from using our resources, such as time, energy, wealth, and gifts, to enlarge the kingdom of God.
When we throw off these encumbrances, we can “fix our eyes on Jesus”, whose example shows us how to run without becoming weary and losing heart.
As we begin a new year, let’s lose some weight – the weight that hinders – and let us run with freedom. And let us pray for each other that we will not become weary. Rest and the prize is yet to come.
Running with you,
Linda
Good News Club® and Party Club Stats:
You can view this month’s statistics in our printable copy of the newsletter.
Mailbox Club November Report
Lessons graded: 35
Certificates earned: 2
New Students: 3
Salvations: 0
Community Aid
The Community Aid bin is located at: 1315 Long Run Road (Route 443 West) Friedensburg PA 17933
Community Aid takes donations of clothes and sells them in their stores. What is not sold is bundled and donated overseas. CEF of Schuylkill County receives $ .04 a pound.
Gifts were given to Child Evangelism Fellowship of Schuylkill County November 19 to December 20, 2019, to the Glory of God.
In Loving Memory of:
Cullin DeWire by: Dave and Ellie Billman
Laurin and Helen Edmonds by: Marty and Linda Cerullo
“Dad” Mike Gilbert by: Carol Merbah
Bill Houtz by: LaVerne Houtz
Meredith Michelle Lantz by: Charles and Audrey Lantz
My husband, Les by: Joan Mengel
Charles, Ina and Curt Luckenbill by: Will and Connie Wright
Our Pastor by: Garry and Karen Harring
Max Rizzardi by: Carol Rizzardi
Florence Walton by: Carolyn Parnell
Viola Wright by: Will and Connie Luckenbill
Hilda Yeager by: Lloyd Yeager
In Honor of:
All the CEF Children by: Pat Kuchinos
Phyllis Bloch’s 92nd Birthday by: Rachel Koppenhaver
Shelley Hikes by: Gary and Suzy Billman
Judy Ketz by: Evelyn M. Jones
Our Grandchildren by: Mr. and Mrs. Mark Masser
2020 Good News Day Camp
June 22-26 Lewistown Valley Tabernacle, Tamaqua
June 29-July 3 Chinatown, Philadelphia
July 6-10 Valley View Park, Valley View
July 13-17 Manbeck’s E. C. Church, Rock (Pine Grove Area) (Transportation is provided for Pine Grove area children)
July 20-24 Christmas Pines Campground, Auburn (Swimming is scheduled at Auburn)
July 27-31 Higher Ups Park, Ashland (Near the Pioneer Tunnel)
Who: Any child entering 1st grade (completed kindergarten) through those entering 7th grade (completed 6th grade) are welcome to attend as campers. Upon completion of 7th grade, older youth may qualify to serve as helpers. (Many students earn community service hours for helping at camp.)
Time: 9:30 a.m.—3:00 p.m. daily
Cost: $35. per child for the week. There is a $5. per child discount for early registration.
(No child is turned away due to a lack of funds~ sponsor money is available.)
Purpose: Our goal is to give every child in the area, no matter their location or situation, the opportunity to hear about Jesus through a memorable week at camp.
Good News Day Camp is a day packed with Bible lessons, crafts, recreation, and surprises. Each camper and staff member should bring a lunch and drink each day. Sno-Kones will be served every afternoon.
We will gladly mail you a camp registration form or you can download the registration form from the website listed below.
Volunteers are needed to serve at each week of camp.
If you would be interested in helping reach the children in your neighborhood with the soul-saving message of the Gospel, please contact CEF.
Phone: 570-682-9790
Email: cefschpa@gmail.com
Bits and Pieces
Check it Out!
We are excited to announce the launch of our new website. The URL address is the same but we welcome you to take a look at the new homepage and the rest of the website’s pages.
Wesley Gehman of Christ Link ministries, www.christlink.org, spent many hours updating the old site to make it more user-friendly and setting it up so that more people would be able to find CEF of Schuylkill County if they do an internet search for children’s ministry. And he did it all for free. Christ Link is a ministry helping ministries.
Be sure to check out the site often, looking for updates and keeping up with what’s new. The newsletter and prayer calendar can also be found there~ in full color!
Craft Items Needed:
- Half gallon milk or juice cartons ~not plastic (tops may be open in order to stack them)
- New popsicle sticks
- Tongue depressors
Volunteer Training Classes
When: Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: St. John’s Reformed Church Fellowship Hall
17 Chestnut Street, Friedensburg (Behind Friedensburg Firehouse)
Who can attend? Anyone. While our focus is the Good News Club ministry we also have Bible lesson materials available to loan. We are planning to show a video from the series, “That the World May Know” by Focus on the Family.
The spring semester Good News Club lessons will focus on the Life of Christ (The calling of the disciples, the temptation of Jesus and Christ’s miracles)
For a printable copy of this month’s newsletter, click here.
To see this month’s prayer calendar, click here.