Sarah and the children returned home on Thursday afternoon, and I took them out to eat so Sarah would not have to cook. I believe she is planning to cook me a steak on Saturday for dinner. We are looking forward to getting back into a routine for the next few weeks.
Please continue to keep Dorothy Polizzi and Audrey Johnston in your prayers as they continue to recuperate. Dorothy remains at Helen Hayes and does have a phone in her room to receive phone calls. Please let me know if you would like to call her, I will give you the number that rings directly into her room. Both ladies have asked to have their love and greetings extended to the church family.
I am excited for the services next Sunday. This is one of my most favorite services of the year as we gather together in the church cemetery to rejoice in the hope of the resurrection. Every year, the service becomes more meaningful to me, and I tryst that it is a great encouragement to you as we begin the day.
This past week, we had some furniture donated to the church by a family that is moving. Later this week and next we will be picking up a few more pieces. Most of the furniture was placed in the apartment at Maranatha Campus, and after we clean the rooms, the apartment will be thoroughly furnished. We have a missionary family coming in May that will be staying there for several days while they minister here, and visit other churches in the area for support.
I am not scheduling a work day, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done in and around the church as we clean up from the winter storms. If you should like to help, feel free to drop by, or call to make sure that I am around and working. (this might be my new diet and exercise program).
Vacation Bible School is coming up, and there are some ways in which you can help. The Sunday after Easter, we will have a list of items that we need for crafts, games, and other needs.
-Pastor Stephen Racite
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Pastor's Notes
Sarah and the kids started down to her parents on Wednesday. They will be coming home this Wednesday. While they are down in North Carolina, Sarah's grandmothers are both flying in from Ohio to see the family. I have been working on things around the church and also on my class work. I have not gotten as much done as I would like, so I will be pushing myself a little harder the rest of this week. I also like to try and clean the house while Sarah is away, and I have not started on that process yet.
Should you be a member of a local church? If so, which church and why? The Bible does not command church membership, but implies that there was some form of method of someone being a member of the church. This is evidenced from the removal of the individual from the church in 1 Corinthians, the selecting of the deacons from within the church, and the letters written to the churches at Corinth, etc. In Acts, a person was declared to be part of the church upon their salvation testimony and their baptism.
In our ministry, we believe in both a universal and local church. An individual who is saved is a member of the Universal/Invisible Church. Our membership as a local church consists of those who covenant together having believed in Jesus Christ for eternal life, been baptized by water, and agree with the doctrinal statement of the church. In order to maintain a consistency in teaching, all Sunday School teachers are required to be members of the church. All of the officers of the church are required to be members.
Does this mean that those who are not members cannot be involved in the ministry? No, but there is a limitation. Your involvement is consistent with the work of any believer who associates with a church. If you know Jesus Christ as Savior, have been baptized by immersion, and are in agreement with our church covenant, articles of faith and constitution, we encourage you to consider becoming a member
-Pastor Stephen Racite
Should you be a member of a local church? If so, which church and why? The Bible does not command church membership, but implies that there was some form of method of someone being a member of the church. This is evidenced from the removal of the individual from the church in 1 Corinthians, the selecting of the deacons from within the church, and the letters written to the churches at Corinth, etc. In Acts, a person was declared to be part of the church upon their salvation testimony and their baptism.
In our ministry, we believe in both a universal and local church. An individual who is saved is a member of the Universal/Invisible Church. Our membership as a local church consists of those who covenant together having believed in Jesus Christ for eternal life, been baptized by water, and agree with the doctrinal statement of the church. In order to maintain a consistency in teaching, all Sunday School teachers are required to be members of the church. All of the officers of the church are required to be members.
Does this mean that those who are not members cannot be involved in the ministry? No, but there is a limitation. Your involvement is consistent with the work of any believer who associates with a church. If you know Jesus Christ as Savior, have been baptized by immersion, and are in agreement with our church covenant, articles of faith and constitution, we encourage you to consider becoming a member
-Pastor Stephen Racite
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Pastor's Notes
I have enjoyed the return of warmer weather this past week. There were a couple days that I opened the windows to my study because it was warmer outside than it was inside. I am hoping that is a harbinger of good weather to come.
This afternoon, we will have our Annual Business Meeting. We encourage our members to make plans to attend this important meeting, and encourage others to stay for it as well. We will be electing the deacons, trustees, and other officers and committees of the church.
Yesterday, I attended the banquet at Tri State Bible Camp. It was a good time of fellowship, and an opportunity to see some friends. The weather was not conductive to exploring the camp, but if you would like to see the camp, and visit the property there, please let me know and I am more than willing to travel out there and show you around and share with you as much of its history as I know.
This coming Fall, we will be starting an after school Bible Club. Please pray for us as we prepare, choose a curriculum, times, ages, and names. Any suggestions and all volunteers are welcome. Any takers?
If you are willing to help with the removal of the tree in the cemetery, please let me know. I could use the help of someone with a chain saw, and some help in dragging the pieces to the side of the road for pickup. It will probably take a couple of hours to get everything done.
I am looking forward to working on my class this coming week. If all goes well, I will complete the projects and reading for the class, and most of the videos. This far, most of the class has been a review from Junior Church, I had a great teacher there.
This afternoon, we will have our Annual Business Meeting. We encourage our members to make plans to attend this important meeting, and encourage others to stay for it as well. We will be electing the deacons, trustees, and other officers and committees of the church.
Yesterday, I attended the banquet at Tri State Bible Camp. It was a good time of fellowship, and an opportunity to see some friends. The weather was not conductive to exploring the camp, but if you would like to see the camp, and visit the property there, please let me know and I am more than willing to travel out there and show you around and share with you as much of its history as I know.
This coming Fall, we will be starting an after school Bible Club. Please pray for us as we prepare, choose a curriculum, times, ages, and names. Any suggestions and all volunteers are welcome. Any takers?
If you are willing to help with the removal of the tree in the cemetery, please let me know. I could use the help of someone with a chain saw, and some help in dragging the pieces to the side of the road for pickup. It will probably take a couple of hours to get everything done.
I am looking forward to working on my class this coming week. If all goes well, I will complete the projects and reading for the class, and most of the videos. This far, most of the class has been a review from Junior Church, I had a great teacher there.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Pastor's Notes
This past Friday, we received word from the attorney that the judge had finally approved the dissolution of Maranatha Bible Church, and the the transfer of property to the Baptist Church of Cornwall. This was the conclusion of what we had determined several months ago that we were one church. It will take a couple of weeks for the paperwork to be filed in the County Clerk's office, but we should be receiving the original declaration of the judge this week.
The snow that caused us to cancel services last week has left some damage on our properties. There are several branches down here, some trees and branches down at the Maranatha Campus, and a tree down in the cemetery. We will need to remove the tree in the cemetery as it is where we hold our "Son is Risen" Service on Easter morning. If you are available to help with the clean up on any of the propertie, please let me know, and we will schedule good times to do the work. Some of it will need to wait until the rest of the snow melts.
The Sunday School offering is being designated to replace the sign in front of the church. Thus far, we have only determined the cost of the permit, and the size that we are allowed to install. We will need to determine format, wording, and landscaping before we know the exact price. If you have any ideas or suggestions concerning the sign, please let me know. One thing is that has to change is the angle of the sign from being paralell with the road to being either perpendicular or in a "V" shape.
Next Sunday is our Annual Business Meeting of the church. All active members are anticipated to attend and participate, and we invite anyone who comes to the church to stay for the meeting. We will be discussing reports from the last year of our ministry, electing new officers - deacons, trustees, etc. and presenting a vision for the coming year. We anticipate the good hand of the Lord in our ministry in the year to come, and look forward to being greatly used of Him.
-Pastor Stephen Racite
The snow that caused us to cancel services last week has left some damage on our properties. There are several branches down here, some trees and branches down at the Maranatha Campus, and a tree down in the cemetery. We will need to remove the tree in the cemetery as it is where we hold our "Son is Risen" Service on Easter morning. If you are available to help with the clean up on any of the propertie, please let me know, and we will schedule good times to do the work. Some of it will need to wait until the rest of the snow melts.
The Sunday School offering is being designated to replace the sign in front of the church. Thus far, we have only determined the cost of the permit, and the size that we are allowed to install. We will need to determine format, wording, and landscaping before we know the exact price. If you have any ideas or suggestions concerning the sign, please let me know. One thing is that has to change is the angle of the sign from being paralell with the road to being either perpendicular or in a "V" shape.
Next Sunday is our Annual Business Meeting of the church. All active members are anticipated to attend and participate, and we invite anyone who comes to the church to stay for the meeting. We will be discussing reports from the last year of our ministry, electing new officers - deacons, trustees, etc. and presenting a vision for the coming year. We anticipate the good hand of the Lord in our ministry in the year to come, and look forward to being greatly used of Him.
-Pastor Stephen Racite
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Pastor's Notes
Back in the fall, we completed the replacement of the curtains in the sanctuary. This project was a designated gift from the Work/Kipp Memorial funds, and the difference was paid from the estate of Jim Swenson. There is one further portion to the project that we are working on completing. Lord willing in the next few weeks, we will have the covers in for the piano and organ. This will help keep the dust out of them, and help the piano maintain its tune and polish for longer.
Over the last couple of months, Jason Bossley has done a tremendous job with the church website. Should the inevitable happen, and you are unable to attend the services on week, a copy of this back page is often made available. There is also a calendar, and he tells me that you can use this to send you reminders - but that is beyond my computer skills understanding. I encourage you to visit the site, and encourage Jason in his ministry.
I greatly appreciate the different ladies who minister on the instruments. Much time goes into the preparing of the fingers and heart for them to be able to play each Sunday. As God uses them to help you prepare your heart for worship, please give them a word of encouragement. A few Sundays ago, we were reminded of how valuable their addition is to the song service, when they were all ill or absent at the same time. I tried to accompany the congregational singing, and that was a BIG mistake. I still have to get much more practice in before I will be willing to do that again.
I have been enjoying some of the Olympics, though they have kept me up past my bedtime. I have been disappointed with some of our athletes who show such great disrespect for our flag that they cannot stand at attention and show proper respect while our national anthem is being played.
-Pastor Stephen Racite
Over the last couple of months, Jason Bossley has done a tremendous job with the church website. Should the inevitable happen, and you are unable to attend the services on week, a copy of this back page is often made available. There is also a calendar, and he tells me that you can use this to send you reminders - but that is beyond my computer skills understanding. I encourage you to visit the site, and encourage Jason in his ministry.
I greatly appreciate the different ladies who minister on the instruments. Much time goes into the preparing of the fingers and heart for them to be able to play each Sunday. As God uses them to help you prepare your heart for worship, please give them a word of encouragement. A few Sundays ago, we were reminded of how valuable their addition is to the song service, when they were all ill or absent at the same time. I tried to accompany the congregational singing, and that was a BIG mistake. I still have to get much more practice in before I will be willing to do that again.
I have been enjoying some of the Olympics, though they have kept me up past my bedtime. I have been disappointed with some of our athletes who show such great disrespect for our flag that they cannot stand at attention and show proper respect while our national anthem is being played.
-Pastor Stephen Racite
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Pastor's Notes
Keep Pastor Roof and Mike Pelletier in prayer as they will be ministering in Haiti this week. They will leave on Tuesday. As I talked with Pastor Roof this past week, he mentioned that one of the men that might be flying him in, is another pastor friend of ours, Pastor Dave Crispell. Pastor Crispell has an itinerant ministry and owns his own plane that he is now using with Operation Renewed Hope. These Three men will be preaching to the town of Jacmel during the week of Mardi Gras. Please keep these men and their families in prayer as they serve God in preaching the Gospel.
Are you getting excited? Coming in March, we will have a mid-week luncheon for the Keen Agers in our church. This is a new ministry that is starting under the leadership of Pastor Bossley. For those of you who are 50 years of age or older, please see him and let him know of the best couple of dates for you in March. This group will have two purposes. First, to be an encouragement to you as you live for Christ. Second, to be evangelistic in showing the need of a Savior to those you bring with you. I hope that you will come and join in on this group. (Sorry, but I am too young to attend, unless I am asked to speak or play the trumpet.) There will be luncheons and excursions for this group on a regular basis.
It was not until Thursday that I realized that Sunday was Valentine's Day, and by that time, the messages for Sunday were to close to being finished to change to a message on love, either of God's love for us, or our love for one another. However, I do praise God for my wife, whom I love greatly, and her labor with me in the ministry. She grows more special to me each and every day, and is a faithful help meet from God. I cannot believe that in December we will celebrate 10 years of married life together. God has been so good to us. I cannot begin to imagine where I would be if God had not brought us together in His perfect plan and time.
Are you getting excited? Coming in March, we will have a mid-week luncheon for the Keen Agers in our church. This is a new ministry that is starting under the leadership of Pastor Bossley. For those of you who are 50 years of age or older, please see him and let him know of the best couple of dates for you in March. This group will have two purposes. First, to be an encouragement to you as you live for Christ. Second, to be evangelistic in showing the need of a Savior to those you bring with you. I hope that you will come and join in on this group. (Sorry, but I am too young to attend, unless I am asked to speak or play the trumpet.) There will be luncheons and excursions for this group on a regular basis.
It was not until Thursday that I realized that Sunday was Valentine's Day, and by that time, the messages for Sunday were to close to being finished to change to a message on love, either of God's love for us, or our love for one another. However, I do praise God for my wife, whom I love greatly, and her labor with me in the ministry. She grows more special to me each and every day, and is a faithful help meet from God. I cannot believe that in December we will celebrate 10 years of married life together. God has been so good to us. I cannot begin to imagine where I would be if God had not brought us together in His perfect plan and time.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Pastor's Notes
Pastor Joe Roof and Evangelist Mike Pelletier will be heading to Haiti later this month. Both men will be preaching during the four days that they will be in the country. Please pray for them as they minister to this devastated nation and for the expense of this trip. They are taking a container of sandals, food, and medical supplies with them, and the air ticket alone is close to $2,000.00 per person. Pastor Roof received 1,000 crocs this week that they had to repackage and mail to Florida to be included in the container that they are taking.
This morning, we will continue our study through the attributes of God by examining the omnipresence of God. While there are a variety of theological terms that are encompassed within that attribute, we will spend our time in the Bible looking at the description and some of the ramifications of this important attribute. If nothing else occurs, it is my desire that we will see the greatness of the Majesty of God. We do not serve a God who fits into nice little cliche and theological boxes made by the imaginations of men. We do not serve a God who obeys our whims and passions. Rather we serve a God who is greater than all our understanding, whose splendor and grandeur is only begun to be understood by the outstretching of our imagination. Therefore, our struggle is to reveal the Almighty God in terms that we understand while not diminishing the vastness of Who He is.
This past week, we received a Thank You note from the family of Betty Wright with a financial gift for the church. They expressed their appreciation for all the many acts of kindness that our church family expressed toward Betty while she was with us. It is my prayer that we will continue to practice showing Christ's love toward one another so that it is visible to others who are observing our ministry.
On Saturday, my brother and brother-in-law had a birthday, and on Tuesday, my parents will celebrate their wedding anniversary. Interestingly enough, they were all buried in snow this weekend, and they are all south of us. Should I feel sorry for them?
-Pastor Stephen Racite
This morning, we will continue our study through the attributes of God by examining the omnipresence of God. While there are a variety of theological terms that are encompassed within that attribute, we will spend our time in the Bible looking at the description and some of the ramifications of this important attribute. If nothing else occurs, it is my desire that we will see the greatness of the Majesty of God. We do not serve a God who fits into nice little cliche and theological boxes made by the imaginations of men. We do not serve a God who obeys our whims and passions. Rather we serve a God who is greater than all our understanding, whose splendor and grandeur is only begun to be understood by the outstretching of our imagination. Therefore, our struggle is to reveal the Almighty God in terms that we understand while not diminishing the vastness of Who He is.
This past week, we received a Thank You note from the family of Betty Wright with a financial gift for the church. They expressed their appreciation for all the many acts of kindness that our church family expressed toward Betty while she was with us. It is my prayer that we will continue to practice showing Christ's love toward one another so that it is visible to others who are observing our ministry.
On Saturday, my brother and brother-in-law had a birthday, and on Tuesday, my parents will celebrate their wedding anniversary. Interestingly enough, they were all buried in snow this weekend, and they are all south of us. Should I feel sorry for them?
-Pastor Stephen Racite
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