Brown's Daily Word 9-13-11

Good morning,
Janice, Jeremy, Micah, Simeon, and Ada spent the weekend with us. It was a great treat and thrill for us. They are planning to move toward Corning, NY area. They are in the midst of buying a house there and selling their home in Boston. Our Janice celebrates her birthday today. We praise the Lord for her life. We are so blessed.
We as a nation observed the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy and disaster this weekend. Last week, our region suffered one of the worst floods since records have been kept. Alice did not get home last Wednesday night because of the floods; all the roads leading to the house were closed. Some strangers welcomed her and offered her shelter. She was able to drive later in the evening to Binghamton, where she stayed with Laureen. We were so blessed in so many ways, including the fact that we did not lose any power. There is very little water damage in the basement. There was some minimal water damage in the church basement, but it has been cleaned up. We were able to hold worship last Sunday.
Many of our neighboring Churches were flooded and suffered extensive damage. In fact, many churches were closed last Sunday.
Praise the Lord that He is able to bring out the best in all of us. In times of crises and disasters, the Lord opens doors for us to serve Him, to become His hands, feet, and heart, reaching out to those around us. We prepared meals which were served Saturday noon and Sunday after morning worship, and also delivered meals various families on Sunday afternoon. Our sister church, Central United Methodist Church, is one of the Red Cross designated shelters for many of the flood victims. One of our neighbors stopped by yesterday brought to us a huge watermelon and huge cantaloupe grown in his garden. They are so big that I thought they must have been grown in the south. People are out there tirelessly and selflessly serving and caring for others. Our daughter, Laureen, is on 12 hour nursing duty today at the temporary shelter at BU Events Center.
In the midst of trials and tragedies we turn to the Lord who is our refuge and strength. As the Scripture says, “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:8). Our security in an unsafe world comes from several truths which the Scriptures teach us. The first truth we need to have planted deeply in our lives is that our security is in God, not in the things of this world. The Bible says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm” (Psalm 20:7-8). Our faith is not in our military power, our intelligence network, our economy and financial institutions, the power of our foreign alliances; our hope is in the Lord our God. The Bible says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).
Our security is in our faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whom we live, move, and have our being. Security is not about safety. It is about faith and courage. There are those in our culture who live in great safety and prosperity, yet their lives are consumed with worry and fear. On the other hand, there are those in the world who live in very difficult and dangerous places who have security, because they are full of faith and hope. We want to be safe, but it is more important for us to be secure in our faith and find our courage in God. The Bible says, “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever” (Psalm 125:1). Security is not the absence of trouble, but confidence and courage in the midst of trouble that comes from our faith.
We know that, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands” (Acts 17:24). He is everywhere, for he has said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). It is this faith that gives us the courage to say, we “will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day” (Psalm 91:5). Our confidence cannot be shaken, because we have a God who is in complete control of the Universe. The earth may crumble and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, but we know that God is unchanged, and his love will see us through. We say, “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8). We say with the Psalmist, “I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2).
We have courage because our Lord Jesus the christ, has said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). We are secure in an unsafe world because the Bible says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire’” (Hebrews 12:28-29). We have courage, not because we are strong, but because we have a God who is powerful beyond words and rules over all.
When we are grounded in eternity our lives are built on a foundation that cannot be shaken. The Bible says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). God works in all the situations of our lives to bring about his good. He does not cause every situation, but He does use them. Our confidence does not go up and down with the stock market. Our security is not in how good the news is on television. Our confidence is not shaken even though the earth burns and its smoke rises. For the Lord says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10).

An Invitation to care and share:
We have ample room at the parsonage. It is available for any one for temporary housing. A family that suffered a flood damage spent a day and a night with us. Several families have offered their homes for the flood victims for temporary housing. If you know any one needing temporary housing please call the church office at 607-748-6329.
We will have a full and hot meal served this Wednesday at 6 PM at the Church Fellowship Hall. Our team will be preparing and serving a hot meal this Saturday at noon at the First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Ave, Endicott. Many of our men and women have gone out in ministering to people. They are available for ministering and serving in a variety of ways. The Boy Scout group led by Chris Seavey and Eric Crouse is also available to minister to people and serve them.
Those of you who would like to minister to people in need by giving of your time and talent and treasure please call the church office.
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/SEXRgkW8oh8

Please pray for our upcoming ministry events:


We will be back to our Wednesday schedule, including Bible study, fellowship, and prayer, starting tomorrow, 6/7. We will meet with a meal at 6 PM, with the Bible study beginning at 6:30 PM. We will begin a 4 week study on the theme, "Why? Making Sense of God's Will", by Adam Hamilton. Topics include, "Why Do the Innocent Suffer?", Why Do My Prayers Go Unanswered?", "Why Can't I See God's Will for My Life?", and "Why God's Love Prevails". Following the completion of this study we will be using Rick Warren's study, "Forty Days of Love". This will lead us to the beginning of the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. More information will follow in the church newsletter.

Please mark your calendar for our prayer conference, which will begin on Friday, October 14 and continue through Sunday morning, October 16.
The Key Note Speaker: Kelly Johnson from Memphis TN.
Prayer Team will include: Sunita and Andy, Rob and Jenn and Meredith from Washington DC.

The tentative schedule follows:
Friday, October 14 at 6 PM - opening session at Union Center UMC
Saturday, October 15, 9 AM - noon - concert of prayer at UCUMC
Prayer teams will be available to pray for people for salvation, restoration, healing, deliverance...
Saturday, 5:30 PM - banquet at First UMC, 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott
6:30 PM worship service, including an open invitation to pray at the altar following the worship service. I invite you to be a part of the prayer team during that time.
Sunday morning worship at 8:30 and 11 AM. at UCUMC Kelly Johnson will be preaching. There will be a time for prayer / a concert of prayer

Our first Saturday evening service will be held on Saturday, September 17 at 6:30 PM (Coffee Fellowship at 6 PM) at First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Avenue in Endicott. Rev. Earle Cowden will be preaching, and Laureen Naik will be leading the worship. One of our ministry teams, led by Lynn Rosenbarker, will be preparing and serving a meal at noon on 9/17, as part of our outreach ministry.
Our youth will be attending the Word of Life Superbowl at the arena and other sites on November 4 & 5.
Our annual Thanksgiving Banquet will be held on Saturday, November 19.
The Russian Men's Ensemble will be in concert on December 3.
We are planning for a trip to the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Extravaganza on December 6, leaving here at 6 AM, spending the day in NYC, and attending the show at 5 PM. There are optional sites to visit, including the Ground Zero 9/11 Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. The trip costs $90 per person, including the bus ticket and a ticket to the show. Anyone who wants to reserve a spot on the bus should make their check payable to Union Center United Methodist Church, memo "Radio City Christmas Extravaganza".
September 18, we will go back onto the regular schedule with services at both 8:30 and 11 AM and Sunday School at 9:50 AM. Wesley will resume meeting at 9:30 AM.
Here at Union Center- Wesley- Endicott, we focus on " World as our Parish"., We remind ourselves that we serve under a captain who has never lost a battle. Jesus Christ the Head of the Church is Faithful . We are invited to embrace 7 holy habits of Christian faithfulness. We are called to FOCUS on our prayer life, our relationship with Christ, reading the Bible, faithful worship attendance, financial gifts to Christ and His Church,, serving Jesus with our hands, and sharing the good news of His Great Redemption,with others. May Christ be praised.
A memo from our District Superintendent :

Friends,


Here is a brief update on the latest around the District. Thanks for your support and prayers.


Dave Masland


1. General Comments… bad news: We have 5-6 churches that have sustained MAJOR damage, and another 7-8 that have sustained significant damage. It is hard to think of a community in the District that does not have some families adversely effected by water and mud. In some towns (Owego, Westover, Tioga Center, Barton, etc) nearly 100% of the homes/families/businesses have been effected. The roadsides of these towns are piled 4-5 feet high with mud-covered belongings from every home. The odors of mud, oil, gasoline and sewage hangs everywhere. The thought I keep having is: "The loss for these folks is so huge… the most significant thing we can offer is a listening ear, and kindness."


2. General Comments… good news: After six days of difficult travel due to closed roads, today under God's warm sun, many bridges and roads were re-opened, making travel more possible. Fire companies from all over the Northeast are here pumping out people's basements. NYSEG workers from all over the state are here working non-stop to get people's gas and power back up and running. Representatives from dozens of church and secular organizations met this morning to do their best to coordinate relief and rebuilding efforts in the months to come… and came away with a plan. There are good people being kind neighbors in every corner. UM Church people are doing amazing things: Feeding people with free food every day. Collecting food. Building flood kits. Helping muck out, tear out and throw out wet things. Offering worship space to folks from flooded churches. Everywhere I go, I see people being kind… talking to strangers… offering thanks… showing patience. God is clearly here.


3. Specific Reports…
Owego UMC… Thanks to tireless firemen pumping water for two straight days, at 4 PM Monday the building was finally water free. Sadly, 10+ feet of water has left mud on everything. This church needs help NOW! PLEASE send people this week to help muck out, carry debris to the curb, and begin tearing out wall board so things can dry out. Hundreds of families in homes need similar help in this town!
Tioga Center UMC… Volunteers from the church and community have done a lot of work to pull out wet things. 30" of water in the sanctuary have created unique challenges. Power turned back on today brought new hope.
Nimmonsburg UMC… Volunteers have removed all wet items, and the work of tearing out wet wallboard has begun.
Westover UMC… The parsonage basement has been cleared and cleaned. Volunteers removed a bunch of items from the church today. Much more work needs to be done. They can use some help on Tuesday, if people want to come.
Lounsberry UMC… Water receded slowly. Mucking out and tearing out has been started.
Maine Federated Church… had a bunch of water in both of their buildings used for ministry. Volunteers removed wet items, drying out is well under way.
Barton UMC… had water that filled their basement. Volunteers have removed wet items. Work continues.
Vestal Center UMC… had water damage in both church and parsonage. Volunteers have removed all wet items, drying out has begun.
Nichols UMC… Parsonage and church both had significant water in basement. Volunteers have done much work to remove wet materials, and begin to dry out.
Jenksville UMC… took on water from the West branch of the Owego Creek. Work of cleaning out and drying out has begun.
Newark Valley UMC… Water in their lower level damaged Sunday School/Nursery School spaces. Volunteers have removed all wet items. Wall board needs to be removed.
Central Endicott UMC… For 3-4 days, ground water seeped up thru the lower floors of the church. Volunteers have worked tirelessly to stay ahead of the water, have torn up wet floor coverings, and seem to have finally won the battle. Through it all, ministry to others has continued.
Castle Creek UMC… had some water in their basement, but volunteers have cleaned it up, and drying out has occurred.


With the help of Greg Forrestor and Carl Chamberlain, we are setting up three sites where volunteer teams can gather, get trained, prepare food, get showers and sleep. While the mucking out of churches and homes is a short term project (most of it will be complete in the next week or so), the rebuilding after drying out will likely last for 2+ years. We are getting a system in place to receive people and send them where they are most needed. More details on who to contact to schedule a VIM trip here will be coming soon.