The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 59, Milford, Kosciusko County, 11 February 1987 — Page 16

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed.,

16

Celebration of life

The Syracuse Church of God will be hosting a “Celebration of Life Weekend” on February 13, 14 and 15. those who have never participated in one before may be asking “What is a Celebration of Life weekend?” Pastor Mike Johnson of the Syracuse Church of God says that in the past it has been “a time of seeing people grow spiritually and a time when people made deeper commitments to God and to each other.” On this weekend in February, the visiting team will be from the Olive Branch Church of God in Roann. These 20 to 25 people will be in charge of the many services for the weekend. At a Celebration of Life weekend there is something for everyone, at every age. There is a nursery for those under the age of three. For those age three to 11 there are videos, games, snacks, music and stories. For teenagers there will be participation in share groups, games and a special outing with youth leaders from the visiting team. For adults there are share groups where the questions asked will help attendees examine themselves and share those insights with others in the group if they wish. One of the especially nice features of these groups is that one can always say. “I pass” if there is a question to which he does not Wish to respond. There is also singing, witnessing by the visiting team, a Saturday morning coffee in area homes, meeting new people and making new friends and getting to know some people that one may have thought he already knew. Meals for the weekend are served at the church, which is located on East Washington street at the top of the hill in Syracuse. The meal alone are a good reason to attend, as no one has ever had any reason to leave hungry and the meals are always delicious. The visiting team takes over the Sunday school classes and the Sunday morning worship service. This gives the usual teachers and the pastor a much needed rest and a better chance to participate in the activities of the weekend. Visiting team members stay in area homes. Those who have visitors in their homes usually find that they have made new friendships which will last a< lifetime. The church that sends a team also participates in the

Lakeland Churches APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN TURKE Y CREEK CHURCH CHURCHOFGOD WAWASEE COMMUNITY CHURCH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ClaijfOn Gardpn Cpfltpr TEGHTMEYER Jesseßeera OF S^ EN a V ton warden center V ) h h b0 T r X“Xr Fry ' XACfc/ North Webster X?n^X O rshio IzTsp m Church School 9a m Morning Worship 10:30a.m. Christian Living Studies 6p.m. Worship 10:30a.m. /■ Syracuse Worship 10a.m. Junior Worship 10:30a.m. Wednesday Midweek Service 7 p.m. Bibll SttdTwid. 7°w?.m. Rt 2 Box 133 NORTH WEBSTER 834 2249 457-3474 “ CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH ». i CAtMTV (Armstrong Road) SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES *“-’*'*** w OSWEGO CATHOLIC CHURCH EPISCOPAL CnUKLH w.iawco uawesi eoiEunc ruiioru MORRIS CHAPEL I w 1 Sunday School 930 am SYRACUSE SOUTH SHORE LAKE WAWASEE QUAKER HAVE_ N FREOS C UNITED METHODIST I P J ntITIIfYCDC Morning Worship 10:30a.m. Father Robert Hammond uT/T' m’?. 1 ™”*"*"" DEWART LAKE R, 1, Pierceton I KOSKO PRINTERS J Al A nA A SYRACUSE Sunday Evening Worship 6p.m. Sunday Mass 8:00 am and 10:45 am Holy Eucharist: 9a.m. Sunday Scha>i*is.m Charles Taylor. Pastor [UbaMk St. «NAPA| automotive 7.30p.m. PaulTlnkel, Pastor EveryOtherSunday,B:Ma.m. ——————— FAITHWAY BAPTIST CHURCH Church School 9:15 am. Formerly OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE Morning Worship 10:30a.m. UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Barbee Community Church CATHOLIC CHURCH BYC Sunday 4p.m. NORTHWEBSTER iN'TI*" . w ~““ nnil/>r/r MAnirUAll /—"—\ (Kuhn Drive, Little Barbee Lake) (4th And Main Streets) Mid Week Worship 7 p.m. ROCK CHURCH Rex Lindemood. Pastor JW . I-.TX. H.n.lr RRUCE S MARATHON William L Hutchins, Pastor MILFORD INTERDENOMINATIONAL Worship 8:30 am. and 10:45a.m. ■ flWfi Alf J LT * W « /Afl\ Sunday School 10 a.m. Bro James Linscott Administrator (13-A AIOSON, E. Lake W«w«s*e) Church School 930a m. WAUKSUNf Tire • Her-, Etc. Always Keep Our (*.„„!*) Worship Service 11 am. Sunday Mass 10 30 am C RC Rev. Sarah M. Tuttle, and Senior High Youth Group. Sun. ' COMSTMCTIfIN INC I 457.5417 I *. ai * ■ \ MARATHON / Sunday Everting6p.m. SYRACUSE M.Tuttle, Pastors 7:00p.m. AUnJIBUUIIVH, UIU.J < [ ® IF •» Sunday School 9:45 a.rh. ruoninn\Mrv*hin • General Contractor Syracuse. IN 46567 4EOBIIO / Uwv 1C Milfnrd 7p m FILADELFIA EVANGELICAL Sunday School 945 a.m. Evening Worship 7 p.m. p 658-91 13 Hwy. 13, WIIITOra SPANISH Morning Worship 11 a.m, Wednesday Bible School 7 p.m. ASSEMBLY OF GOD, Milford Evening Service 7 p.m. saint ANDREW'S FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Bi lingual Services Wednesday Evening OF OSWEGO Pastor Alberto Jimenez SYRACUSE •REGAL (T riff th « ? e ' , . Ro r'y'' ckl ®*:'„ Pa!,Or Sunday School 9:30a.m. ro.re ddctuoen ruuoru Rev. Lewis Hathaway. Pastor UylallU CjdA/tSlkSlo •COBALT /lUI gIHIIUIO 2u Unda J S L mXm Sunday Worship 11 a.m &6:30p.m GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH SALEM COMMUNITY CHURCH Church School 9:15 am. “Comolete Jewelnj -'SSSKSS, Tp wawasee «„JS. pg • MERCURY OUTBOARDS --- mdl ina | WA *nST CHURCH* ” Morning Worship 10:30a.m | 107 E. Main 457-4282 SyraCUSC • HARRIS FLOTE BOTE 856'2286 Fom.iy o.n.d S.nr. .946 < A X.D CHRIST SOENTISTS Worship 10:35 a.m. ■—Norman E. McVey. Pastor " (175 N. Detroit) T Evening Worship 6 p.m. Prayer Bible Study Wednesday p SOLOMON'S CREEK Brice Medlock. S.S. Supt WARSAW Family Night. Wednesday 7 p.m. UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10a.m. 1 . . - Brian Clear, Pastor LBl US dOIVS TOUT x-X Worship 10:30a.m. and 7p.m. Sunday Service 10a.m. Worshlp9a.m. Dl..w,kmn l n J n,»kl«m> - —Udtatlrlf* Hmiim AWANA Clubs Thurs. 6:30p.m KINGDOMHALL BURROAK \Y Hooks Drug « VILLAGE PLUMBING & HEATING « — . . - BETHAN Y CHURCH OF GOSHEN FIRST CHURCH - Watchtower Study 10:30a.m. Sunday School 9:30a.m. WORDOF GRACE FELLOWSHIP „,<57 ,-1,0 c„,, t h nt C u m<„ to J fIL, The Pnscnotion People ~.,o nCT u»cu of CHRIST SCIENTIST Tuesday, Study of Prophecy 7:30p.m w™-«hin W:Ma.m. Robert Lewis Drive Rood 13 457-4349 South Os Syrocuse r <US4) Service 10:30 a m. Thursday, Ministry School7p.m. p West Side Irish Lak. I——— ■ F Wayne Lawson Pastor Sunday School 10:30a m. Allen* Peggy Giant, Pastors SYRACUSE RUBBER and Friday, ua.mtojpm (I^O^L^ ’• , VV 5 Paul Clement, Pastor (sßl3S«rtt.) Chr.s Craft. Century. Sk> Supreme. Vik.ng, 5-2 Yochts. • a DDrinijcTC INC / Sunday School 900 a.m. SYRACUSE J.C. Pontoon. MacGregor Sailboats. Johnson Motors r HVMWW i • BETHEL CHURCH OF NORTHERN LAkES Worship Service 10:00a.m. David C. Malsh, Pastor ZION CHAPEL U B CHURCH No Sale Is Complete Without Service' KSWO 457-3141 SSSSSST" USXM: »■' 457.440, SYRACUSE 1 35 South Sycamore Ernest R. Jehnsen, Pastor Karen and Thorpe Mitchell, EMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH Worship Service 10:40a.m. Eric Kolberg, S.S. Supt. Raymond Hoover, Bd. Chm. Pastors Missouri Synod Sunday School 9a.m. Sunday School 9 30a.m. Worship Service 10a.m. Lakeland Youth Center Syracuse Worship 10a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m, Adult Classes, Tuesday 7 p.m. Sunday Worship Service 11 a.m. Evening Worship 7 p.m. CLUNETTE UNITED I Sigmund Pacific Molasses Company OF THE BRETHREN NORTHWEBSTER SYRACUSE ... .. » PENTECOSTAL CHURCH GOSHEN Indionoi Fine,! jeweler, ELKHART '??*!? \ E ’ Dean McFadden, Pastor Richard Dunning. Pastor (Corner Harrison A Pearl St.) SyTSCUSe OnonDnilvQA M Ta 5'30 P M Sundayßlb leStu ‘*V am Sunday School 9:30a.m. Worship 9:15a.m. Ronald G. Looney, Pastor °P en Doil y 9 A fO SJO K M Worship Service 10:30a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. *6 p.m Sunday School 10:30a.m. Sunday School 10 a.m. E»« nln 9 Wo "J' , f‘'“P "’ Wednesday Services 7 p.m. Praise and Worship Sunday 4:30p.m. Wednesday AWANACIubsA 30p.m. Bible Study, Thursday 7; 30 p.m. . - w. *a/es|| . sawsiV Bible Study, Prayer 7:30p.m. HASTINGS LOGAN MONUMENT COe TLIE I rrOminn DAM!/ trinity Lutheran church islandchapel ewreie iriwiawuibie, we I nt LttOuUnU DANIS CHRISTIAN church MISSOURI SYNOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MONUMENT DISPLAY MILFORD LIGONIER Devld Wldmoyer. Pester WAWASEE LAKESIDE CHAPEL OffiCP Os Member CHURCHOF THE BRETHREN Dale Kuhns, Senior Minister Don Fischer. Pastor Mike Zimmerman. Jr., Supt. Harlan Steffen, Pastor Il’WWOncm . - - - NORTHWEBSTER Bible School 9:00 am. Divine Service 9 a.m. Kendall Biller. Aset. Supt. > Mark Pfelster. Supt ftn.kon 91 Al First National Bank EnF Emery Klntner, Pastor Worship 10:00am and7p.m Sunday School & Bible Class 10:30a.m. Sunday School 9:30a.m. Sue Ganshorn, Primary Supervisor PhOfie GOlhen 533-2 16 1 fWUfaroaw Morning Worship 9:30 am. Wednesday Bible Study 7 p.m. Worship 10:30a.m. Worship Service 10a.m. Sunday School 10:30 am , ■ — f Prayer Meeting Thursday 7:30p.m. Sunday School 11 a.m. I>h4m.7'M4»b6 a miaa neMn mufoXochapel , ? | Wawasee Service Center ’ CiRA MICS I .1 waw “"S‘ c °h h,tv l)m( FriliSeHSenict IJM S CHU " C " Tom Spelctwr. MSM ffihe IBebblt Entch // 7 "its I Junior Blough. Supt Men's Praydr Breakfast 7:00a.m. .*,'?» risis Sunday School. 457'3217 PWSk II , rx c ' MT 9-5 1 Sunday School 9Ma m. Worships Mend 10:45a.m u * m t-STm All Ages. 9:Ma m. ISR 13 Acro..fromßowbng aiw, Syracuse . I Morning Worship 10 30 am Sunday School 9:45a m SjAxlay Evening Soryfc»7 p.m. ~ Morning Worship 11 am. Lms._— I Mile North Os North Webster On Stott Rood 13 Sunday Bible Study 7 p.m. Evening Service of Pralse7p.m. Wednesday Service 7 p.m. Church School 10. Mam

BO' B | I CHURCH OF GOD PROGRAM TEAM — Coordinating the Church of God "Celebration of Life” weekend, scheduled for February 1)5. 14 and 15, is a big job, according to Pastor Mike Johnson, who invites'alL to come to the event. Pictured at a recent planning session at the Syracuse church are, from the left, Pauline Firestone, Donna Wolfe and Pastor Johnson. (Photo by Glen Long)

weekend. They have special prayer services and usually have a special supper on Friday evening to give “distant support” to their absent members. Many of the Syracuse Church of God members have participated in a Celebration of Life weekend before, both as host team and visiting team. When asked, “What has a Celebration of Life weekend meant to you in the past?” Karen Stiver said it brought people closer together and was very spiritually uplifting. She also felt that she had “learned to know other church members much better, even though she thought she already knew much about them.” When asked this same question, Kate Hibschman replied, “I think it has been one of the most exciting things I’ve ever been through. I’ve seen people drawn closer to the Lord. One can really feel the Holy Spirit.” Donna Wolfe said, “It’s getting to know people better. A person forms special relationships due to the small discussion groups. Sometimes person shares something that has happened in his life and finds that someone else in the group has had the same experience. Both can be understanding and help each other.” Steve Kiser felt it had been “a

time to grow closer to family and friends and a time to do a self evaluation.” Pauline Firestone said Celebration of Life had been “one of the highlights of her lifejin the Syracuse Church of Gqu.” She said she had really seen jpy, love and the fellowship of Christian people united during these, weekends. Maybe Jackie Plikerd summed up everyone’s feelings when she said, “It really has changed our church. The people have warmed up and are not afraid to hug and show love to each other. Every time we have had a Celebration of Life it has gotten a little better. Those who came on Friday night came back the whole weekend. It’s just something people don’t want to miss. It’s really difficult to see the weekend end.’’ After the weekend is over there is a congregational meeting to see what everyone feels they have gained and how people can help each other hold on to their newly found feelings. Co-coordinators Pauline Firestone and Donna Wolfe invite anyone who would like to experience the church’s Celebration of Life weekend to call them if they have further questions. Pastor Mike Johnson adds “Come join us on February 13, 14 and 15 to celebrate life.”

TRUE LOVE LENDS A HELPING HAND WHEREVER IT'S HEEDED m Jgour love is not a greeting card That conies adorned with hearts and lace; It doesn’t show your true regard Unless some action takes its place: Like doing any kindly deed To show someone how much you care, Or giving aid to those in need Because you have so much to share; For love does not neglect the poor, , At home or in sdme far-off land; It makes their future more secure By offering a helping hand. Love underscored by deeds is fine, As through your faith you’ve ofteifheard; $o send someone a Valentine, \But suit your actions to the word. / — Gloria Nowak

Bethel College Concert Choir will appear at New Paris

The Bethel College Concert Choirs will appear at New Paris Missionary Church on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. About 33 singers chosen by audition are under the direction of Dr. Elliott Nordgren, Chairman of the Division of Fine Arts. The group has earned a reputation over the past 35 years for fine music presented in a professional manner. The choirs will perform traditional selections and choral works by such composers as J.S. Bach, G.F. Handel, J. Brahms and contemporary composers. Spirituals and instrumental and vocal ensembles will add variety to the concert.

A Bethel graduate, Dr. Nordgren was on the music faculty from 1958 to 1968, when he left to fulfill the residence requirements for his doctorate in music at New York University. He taught at Nyack, N.Y. for seven years and returned to Bethel in 1975. Bethel College is a four-year Christian liberal arts college located between Mishawaka and South Bend. Founded in 1947, Bethel is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. A wide variety of majors is offered, leading to an associate of arts, bachelor of arts or master of ministries degree.

Brotherflood Week, Feb. 15-21

By Rev. E. Paul Weaver Brotherhood Week is February 15-21. Many may prefer the name, “Week to Respect All of God’s Children.” Churches and synagogues will seek to find appropriate ways of celebrating the week and getting its meaning. The week was originally set because of its proximity to the birth date of Abraham Lincoln. The week is designed to help people free themselves from hatred and fear because of a person’s color or religious beliefs. When I was a boy in Johnstown, I can remember when, some of the parents of my school friends pulled sheets over their heads and marched down the streets indicating that they hated Catholics, Jews and people who were not Aryans. Most of those marching in those days later became my friends and disassociated themselves themselves from the Ku Kux Klan. I have in my possession a tape recording of a statement made by the former grand wizard of the Klan, telling of his power of life and death over enemies of the Klan. He tells of his conversion to Christ and his present joy in being freed from a life of hatred and murder. Small groups of Klansmen still preach hatred as do those involved in Aryan nations. Some steal weapons from U.S. military bases and have huge arsenals ready to be used against any presumed (‘enemy.” In 19381 Iwas engaged in selling in order to support my wife and daughter while I was in seminary in Chicago. I came into a home in one of the suburbs where the man had his radio tuned to Germany. I heard for the first time the rasping voice of Adolph Hitler. My host, an ardent Nazi, explained why Nazis hated all Jews. The week we were booked to, sail for the mission field ip-: Africa, Hitler blitzed Poland. The ’ world was engaged in World War 11, which would take the lives of almost 50 million persons. Today, new forms of Naziism are springing up again to poison the minds of people. I was in Washington D.C. frequently when Sen. Joe McCarthy was promoting his fear of communism. I witnessed the birth of the House Un-American Activities Committee. Because of

my concern for peace and justice the committee had a file on me and had me thoroughly checked by the FBI. The John Birch Society continued the neurosis about peace and justice. To many it had always seemed that in their neurosis they had always given communism the credit for inventing the teachings of Jesus. Today the emotional attitudes of the John Birch Society have become away of life for many people in very high places. The military-industrial complex, of which President Eisenhower warned us, uses the fears inspired by the John Birch Society to double in six years the debt the United States had accumulated in two centuries. If the Chernobyl disaster had killed every communist on earth, we can be certain that immediately the military-industrial complex would find another “Enemy” for us to fear and hate. I was representing the Indiana Council of Churches on Capitol Hill the week that Martin Luther King, Jr. called hundreds of thousands of us to witness between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, I had been asked to meet six Catholic priests who were coming to that witness and introduce them to some leaders of Congress. In the cafeteria line at lunch, one of the six priests who was black asked for barbecue on bread. The worker behind the .counter asked, “What kind of bread?” My friend did not answer. When he failed to answer the second time, my friend pointed to the white bread, turned to me and said, “I’m so excited about what this day means that I just can’t say that word.” I began to realize how he had suffered under the white discrimination of blacks. « We went out to march with the great sea of human beings. □Together we sang, “How many s. times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?” It came home to me then as I realized that although I had given my whole life seeking peace and justice for all of God’s children, each night I went to sleep in my white skin and could turn off the concerns that kept my brothers and sisters crying. Whether we call it Brotherhood Week or The Week To Respect All of God’s Children, we proclaim

that every person is part of God’s creation. Let us recognize our common humanity and see each person as a brother or sister and a child of our parent. Let us cease putting people in boxes with ugly labels on them. Let us free ourselves of all hatred as the former Grand Wizard of the Klan is freed today. Once we are freed from hatred and fear, as brothers and sisters we can walk into the future. We can rid mankind of all forms of violence and injustice around the earth. Instead of keeping up the arms race we can use our abilities and material possessions to seek to eliminate hunger, cancer, circulatory diseases, birth defects and pollution of water, soil and air. We can face the challenge of our critical ignorance and do a better job of educating citizens in all nations. We can seek to eliminate all use of harmful drugs. We can prepare our people for rewarding employment. This can be our agenda for Brotherhood Week. United Methodist Church news Bible study class will meet in the Milford United Methodist Church baspment on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. Then on Thursday, Feb. 12, at noon, the United Methodist women will meet at the church with the Island Chapel women in attendant. ■. t ■■ Focus of the program will be call to prayer and self-denial, with Vi Miller as leader and president pro tern will be Nancy Newcomer. Hostesses will be Marilyn Brown, Margaret Cousins and the Island Chapel committee. Soup and sandwiches will be served: There will be a church-wide Valentine Day breakfast on Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Chateau Restaurant in Milford beginning at 8:30 a m. The breakfast is sponsored by the United Methodist men and those planning to attend should contact Bob Brown before Thursday, Feb. 12. On Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. there will be a meeting of the worship committee at the church. On Sunday, Feb. 8, hospitality time was hosted by Claudette Himes and Sylvia Hostetler.