Reaching outside the walls
Take a look at how you, the congregation, have touched the lives of others through acts of love, compassion, service and giving outside our walls. You have offered yourselves, your money & your stuff to help reach out to the people in our community and beyond, expressing the love of God for them. Read the stories and see who was impacted this year by your love and generosity in reaching out to others in our community and our world. You can read or download the report by clicking on the link below, or get one in the lobby at the info center.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” – Matthew 25:40
Advent Devotion – Day 23
Just Trust
By Julie Welles
Trust.
Such a simple word. Such a simple concept. And yet so hard for humans, inherently flawed, to put into action. For most of my life, I have struggled to fully trust in the Lord. There have been and still continue to be areas in my life that I have not handed over control to the Lord. I hold on so tightly to those things that I felt I could control. It gave me a sense of security. But truly, the security was short-lived. Something would happen to shatter my perception. It truly was just a perception, an illusion that I created for myself. True security is only found in Jesus.
Over and over again, I find that the more I let go and let God handle an issue, a habit, some trouble in my life, a person, a relationship, a circumstance-God comes through. He doesn’t just come through; He gives us blessings and wonders, instead! Psalm 40:5, sums it up so much better than I could.”Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; where I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.” I can’t count the ways that God has swooped in and made something beautiful out of the mess of my life. He too, has lifted me out of the slimy pit and mud and mire, and gave me a firm place to stand, a new song in my mouth and gave me a renewed sense of security and trust. (Psalm 40:2-3)
Meet our Missionaries, the Persons
Potluck Dinner to celebrate a visit with the Persons
On December 9 at 6 p.m, we will be hosting a ham and potluck dinner to celebrate the visitation of our missionaries from the Congo. Dr. David Persons and his wife Lorene serve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. David is the dean and professor of Biblical studies and missions at the Faculte Methodiste de Theologie in Mulungwishi, Katanga. His ministry includes training Congolese pastors & serving as the district missionary for the Mulungwishi District of the Southern Congo Conference. His responsibilities include working with Congolese district superintendents in evangelism, church planting, pastoral supervision and development projects. He and Lorene have served as missionaries at Mulungwishi since 1979.
Please sign up to attend the dinner and please indicate what you will be bringing to the potluck. We encourage you to bring an appetizer, side dish, salad or dessert to share! Spiral Ham and drinks will be provided. Learn more about the Persons and their work, and life in the Congo or sign up for the dinner below.
LUMINA: Let your light shine in the darkness
LUMINA is the latin word for “light”. It is only appropriate as we go into this holiday/advent season that we give “light” to those in need who live right around us. This advent season, from November 27-Christmas Eve, we are asking you to donate VISA gift cards to support the ministries of LUMINA. LUMINA is a Lancaster organization, supported by many UM churches, that serves in the darkest places in our communities. Places where poverty and despair are common in people’s lives. They provide many programs for children and teens, nutrition education for young families, a professional clothing bank, a school uniform clothing bank, and more. To learn more about LUMINA, please visit luminaoutreach.org.
For every $20 (or more) VISA gift card we receive, we will place a votive candle in the sanctuary to signify how just one light in the darkness can ignite… changing so many lives…who, in turn, will share their light with others. It is Jesus himself that says “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” in Matthew 5:16.
VISA gift cards can be purchased at convenience stores, grocery stores, discount stores, online, and even your own bank may have them available. Usually, there is a small activation fee to purchase and load the cards with a preset amount. Please drop your cards at the Welcome Center on Sundays, or you may leave them at the office during the week.
Summer Top Ten Food Needs
Summer Top Ten Needs List:
- Cereal
- Rice
- Peanut butter
- Pasta-canned and dry
- Spaghetti
- Spaghetti sauce
- Fruit juice-canned or plastic bottles
- Macaroni and cheese
- Canned meats-tuna, chicken, ham, etc.
- Shelf-stable Milk
Please place the items in the donation bin located in the lobby by July 31.
Gloriously Ruined
By Julie Welles
Someone in the church shared a devotional that included an excerpt from Kay Warren’s book, Say Yes to God, A Call to Courageous Surrender. I was completely floored by Kay’s description of how she felt after coming back from a trip to Africa:
When I speak nowadays to small groups getting ready to go on short-term mission trips, I half jokingly invite them to become members of the Seriously Disturbed, Gloriously Ruined Club. Some of them look at me as though I’m nuts – they can’t imagine what I’m talking about, but then they seek me out when they return from their trip and say, “Now I get it; I’m ruined.” They are no longer content to live with the focus of their lives being on their world – themselves, their problems, their family, their career. Their eyes have been opened to new realities. They have seen how the suffering world lives, and it is now real…
What about you? You don’t have to go to Africa to prove that you’re seriously disturbed and gloriously ruined. That’s where dangerous surrender to God led me, but it’s not a litmus test of the depth of your obedience to God. What is a litmus test of your surrender and obedience to God is how you treat the least among us (see Matthew 25:40). Will you allow God to shake up your comfortable world on behalf of those most in need, whether they live around the world or around the corner?
I’m not just ruined; I’m gloriously ruined! I’m more vibrantly alive than I’ve ever been. I have discovered richness in relationships and work that had eluded me before. I have a better grasp on how to find joy and pleasure in the middle of dire circumstances. Caring for those Jesus loves draws me closer to him … I would never go back to who I used to be. Becoming seriously disturbed and gloriously ruined is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
-Say Yes to God: A Call to Courageous Surrender, by Kay Warren
When people ask me about my trip to Kenya, I always say it was “life changing.” But even those words didn’t seem to give teeth to my feelings. It was so much more than that! When I received this from a congregation member, it blew my mind. THAT’S IT! I am gloriously ruined! That is exactly what it felt like. Nothing in my life will ever be the same. God has shown me things about His Kingdom, His people and myself that will forever change the way I think, live and breathe.
As I have shared before, six months ago, I had no intention of going to Kenya on this mission trip. I stubbornly drug my feet, kicking and screaming. But God had other plans. He called me to go, and once I surrendered, I was at peace. Little did I know that He was getting me ready for the most amazing spiritual mind shift of my life. It was deeply disturbing, emotionally draining, humbling, and yet the most incredibly wonderful, joyous event in my life. Because of the Holy Spirit’s work, I see everything so much differently. And I am happy to be a part of the Seriously Disturbed, and Gloriously Ruined club! Come, join with me – let God shake your world. You will never regret surrendering to Him!
Julie Campbell is Home!
Julie Campbell, missionary and Pastor of Hope United Methodist Church from Wachara, Kenya is home for a few weeks! She has been spending a few restful days at home with her mother, spending time catching up with old friends and supporters and hanging out in the church office occasionally. Julie has been worshipping with us the last few Sundays, and we are so thrilled to announce that she will be giving the sermon on Sunday, June 13. Don’t miss it!
If you get the chance, welcome and spend some time talking with Julie. She loves to share her experiences and stories from Wachara. She would be honored to come to your small group meetings, Bible study or even if you just want to have her for lunch or dinner! If you wish to get in touch with Julie Campbell, please leave a message below, and we will pass it on!
For those of you who have sponsored an orphan in Wachara or are desiring to sponsor one, Julie has brought a book of photos and bios of all the children.
” I am humbled by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that is happening here at Hempfield. Your generosity this Advent season to help build the church building in Wachara, Kenya was just overwhelming. I can’t wait to speak in front of my home church on June 13! I will be sharing much on how Hope United Methodist Church in Wachara has much to teach us, and how you can change the world, by simply helping one child or family across the globe.”
Softball-Batter, Batter, Swing!!
Hempfield UMC’s softball team is getting ready to play! Pre-season games are already in progress. Click the link below to download the 2010 schedule!
Bring your family, friends, lawn chair and refreshments and come cheer on the team! Games are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6 and 7 PM at various church softball fields.
News from the Hautles in Europe
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” Hebrews 12:28
Dear Hempfield UMC Family,
We are always excited to see items we’ve designed in the hands of children. Child Evangelism fellowship of Moldova, with the help of volunteers from local churches there, has planned to distribute a copy of “Meet the King” to every home in the country over the next two years. That is 800,000 books in all!
Brent is also hard at work on a new packet called, “Church to Children,” which, Lord willing, will be used by churches across Europe to begin an effective ministry to children. “Meet the King” and another project we designed, “God Cares About You” bible correspondence course, are two items to be used in the Church to Children packets.
These represent a huge possibility for many to hear, accept and be discipiled in the Gospel of Christ. Thank you for your support, which allows us to be a part of these projects and others like them through your prayers and gift in December. You are a blessing to us! Thank you for your partnership with us.
Gratefully,
Brent, Jen, Amy and Christopher Hautle
The Hautles are one of the missionaries that we support. Since 2003, Brent’s role at Kilchzimmer, the European headquarters of Child Evangelism Fellowship in Switzerland, has been a support ministry in graphic design. Using the gifts God gave him, he enables others to serve on the front lines of evangelizing children all over Europe. Brent creates materials for direct evangelism, development, promotion and training. He designs lesson books, visual aids, brochures, newsletters, multimedia presentations, video presentations, and evangelism tools in multiple languages. He also is involved in training students and others to learn graphic design. Jen’s focus has been on raising their two children, Amy and Christopher, but she is very active in ministering to neighbors and children of their rural area. Both are natives of Pennsylvania. Jen is the daughter of Ray and Helen Henry, members of our church who now reside in their retirement home in Tennessee.
Muhlematt 286
4718 Holderbank
Switzerland
hautle@ggs.ch
Hautle family website: hautle.org
3050 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster, PA 
717.285.5156 
