The Church HeraldStony Brook Community Church (United Methodist), Stony Brook, New York

STONY BROOKCOMMUNITY CHURCH

216 Christian AvenueStony Brook, NY 11790

Chuck Van Houten, Pastor

Church Office Tel: (631) 751-0574

Church E-mail:stonybrookcommunitychurch@gmail.com

Pastor’s Study Tel: (631) 751-0659

Church Website:www.stonybrookcommunitychurch.org

NYAC VISION STATEMENTThe New York Annual Conference, through the grace of God, embodies a beloved

community of hope, building up a healthy Body of Christ, with heartwarmedUnited Methodists in mission for the transformation of the world.

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Please send updates and information to Newsletter Editor, Bob Retnauer, at

bobretnauer@optimum.net

Newsletter Table of Contents

1......Pastor’s Letter3......Lectionary / UMW News4......March Calendar5.....Spring Musicale6.....Sock Collection7.....Used Book Sale

The Journey of Lent: Easter Hope! Easter Newness! See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am mak-

ing a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. - Isaiah 43:19

I love this quote from Isaiah 43. It reminds me of the ever-present promise of hope and newness in life, even life that is often so filled with routine busyness; life in all its wonderful habits and security that often crowds out new life, new adventure, new hope, news things. It reminds me of a commercial that caught my attention a couple of years ago. It showed an older woman sitting in a helicopter taking off from the helipad of a luxury hotel. She never said a word, but her smiling face spoke louder than any words could. The tag line was: “When was the last time you did something for the first time?”

I’d like to raise this question in a little different fashion: “When was the last time, you did something for the first time in church?” If you think about it, Jesus’ min-istry was very innovative, unpredictable, and challenging, even radical. Can you imagine if you had been one of the original disciples? Again and again Jesus chal-lenged their beliefs, their expectations, and he tried to move them out of their comfort zone.

Do you wonder sometimes, like I do, how Jesus would challenge us if he were physically among us today, here at SBCC? The truth is that we, like most of the disciples, do not like challenges and new experiences as much as we would like to think. The truth is also that we are creatures of habit and that we like to find a reassuring constancy in the routine of church. We like to be comfortable in church, not necessarily challenged.

Yet the resurrected Christ stands for a message of constant renewal and challenge; the resurrection of our Lord itself stands for renewal—as the butterfly is trans-formed in a cocoon, Jesus was transformed in the very process of death and resur-rection.

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What about us? The Easter message is a message of unexpected renewal—no one, not even the disciples themselves—ex-pected God to reverse the apparent defeat of their Lord. If we are to be people of the resurrection, we’d better figure out in what way Christ is challenging us to become part of his continued message of renewal.

This is a big part of why we are experiencing book studies and bible studies here at SBCC. This is why we are studying “Final Words from the Cross” in this Season of Lent as we move toward the cross and Easter resurrection! So that we can take time to not only study God’s ways and God’s word, but to allow God’s word, God’s spirit, in the fellowship of small groups to transform our hearts, our relationships, and our thinking about what it means to be a child of God and a follower of a resurrected savior, about what it really means to be the church, God’s resurrection people.

Are you open to such changes? Are you open to transformation for the purpose of reaching out to others in the name of Christ? Are you open to new ways of worship and being the church? Are you open for spiritual experiences that move you beyond your comfort zone? Are you willing to grow spiritually? Are you willing to do something for Christ for the first time? All these questions, if we have the willingness to embrace them honestly and joyfully, have the power to transform our lives and the world around us for the better, for God!

Let us experience the amazing newness, the awesome unpredictability of the resurrection, and the thrill of being used by God powerfully to do a new thing in our lives this year. It’s still possible, you know. So, let’s be light and new life to the world! Let’s take a leap of faith, or two, or three, or more this year, and know the joy of becoming true Easter Christians!

I wish you a blessed and meaningful time of spiritual growth this Lent and a joyous Easter life together! See you on Sundays!

In God’s love, joy and hope

Pastor Chuck

Think about this with me for a moment. If God would chal-lenge you to do something you have never done, such as teach a Sunday school class, help with youth group, be a lay reader, take a bible study, sing/ring in one of our music ministries, or help with mission; if God challenged you to take part in an Annual Conference mission trip to Costa Rica or Haiti, or help lead outreach to our community, would you do it? Who knows what wonderful new things you might experience for God, that we might all experience with God—if you let God challenge you, that is! Let us never let our souls become com-placent or forget that the one who is seated on the thrown con-tinually promises: “See, I am making all things new” (Rev. 21:5).

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LECTIONARY READINGS

March 06, Fourth Sunday in Lent Joshua 5:9-12Psalm 32 (UMH 766)2 Corinthians 5:16-21Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

March 13, Fifth Sunday in Lent Isaiah 43:16-21Psalm 126 (UMH 847)Philippians 3:4b-14John 12:1-8

March 20, Passion/Palm Sunday Liturgy of the PalmsLuke 19:28-40Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (UMH 839)Liturgy of the Passion

March 24, Holy/Maundy Thursday Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 (UMH 837)1 Corinthians 11:23-26John 13:1-17, 31b-35

UMW News

The United Methodist Women gathered in the evening of February 2nd to create valentines at the Annual Valentine Workshop. Over sixty valentines were created and sent to members over 80, staff, chairpersons of committees and folks we thought would enjoy some sunshine or a thank you. It was a blessing that we were able to slip the workshop in between snow storms!

The following women participated in this ministry of love: Pat Martin, Michele Dexter, Judy Estes, Donna Smith , Carla Retnauer, Barbara Lynch, Carolyn Graham, Susan Trawick, Sue Murphy and Gail Chase.

March 25, Good Friday Isaiah 52:13-53:12Psalm 22 (UMH 752)Hebrews 10:16-25John 18:1-19:42

March 26, Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil Holy Saturd ayJob 14:1-14ayPsalm 31:1-4, 15-16 (UMH 764)1 Peter 4:1-8

March 27, Easter Sunday Acts 10:34-43Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 1 Corinthians 15:19-26John 20:1-18Acts 10:34-43Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 1 Corinthians 15:19-26John 20:1-18orLuke 24:1-12

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Annual Spring Musicale

SUNDAY, April 3, 2016, 3:00 PM STONY BROOK COMMUNITY CHURCH

216 Christian Avenue

Rachel Schutz, The Jewell Tones Vocal Trio Soprano with Valerie Grehan

including Valerie Grehan

Happy Harp Harp Duo

Please join us for a lovely afternoon of Music and Fellowship

Tickets - $15.00, Seniors- $12, Students $5

For sponsorships, tickets and other information, call 631 751 0574 or email

stonybrookcommunitychurch.gmail.com

Reception to meet the artists following the Concert

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It’s tough being poor.

It’s tougher being poor and homeless. And it’s beyond tough to be poor and homeless with damaged feet.

MYF is doing something about it! MYF has been making and serving lunches at the Pax Christi homeless shelter for several months. Now they are extending their mission and collecting socks (and other men’s underwear) for the Pax Christi clients. Please help by bringing new men’s socks or underwear to the collection box in the Community Room in support of MYF’s ongoing socks drive.

“Whatsoeveryou do for the least of these my brethren

you do also for me.”

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Saturday, April 16th

We need your help!

It’s time to Head to your bookshelf and sort through your books.

Bring them to the parlor

This is a UMW sponsored event

Please direct all inquiries to Kate Hausske or Donna Smith