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Additional News!
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New Day ICCC
1st Quarter - 2009 Mission Project
The Greer Soup Kitchen
&
Meals On Wheels
Due to the poor economy, many ministries do not have the resources
needed to provide their normal services. The Greer Soup
Kitchen and our local Meals On Wheels chapters are among the many.
During the months of January, February and March we will be collecting
non-perishable items for these vital ministries.
Please bring all items to the church for distribution.
Any contribution - no matter the size - is appreciated by all.
The need is great!
WEEKLY AT
NEW DAY CCC
Sunday School
9:30 am
Sunday Worship
10:30 am
Intercessory Prayer
Thursday - 6:30 pm
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 DAWNING
ARCHIVES:
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The Dawning - January 2009
SEE THE DAWNING ARCHIVES
FOR PAST ISSUES
From
the Pastor
 January
1st always brings the idea of New Year’s Resolutions and new beginnings.
When I was a child we had a saying when we were playing games that if
our roll of the dice didn’t come up like we wanted or we missed the
basket in a basketball shot, we wanted a “do-over.” As an adult, there
are a lot of times that I wanted to regress to my childlike notions of
getting a “do-over.” I want a new start, a new beginning – a chance to
get it right this time. As I thought about this concept, I remembered
how we came up with the name “New Day’ a few years back, and the
scripture that we have used as our motto since New Day’s inception. That
scripture passage comes from 2nd Corinthians 5:17b, “the old has gone
and the new has come.” Paul’s words are talking about new life in
Christ, but they have a wide variety of applications in our Christian
lives – our church community, our outlook for the future and even our
relationships. Later on in the same chapter Paul goes on to say, “We are
therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making God’s appeal
through us.” When we exhibit our new lives as Christ’s ambassadors we
represent Christ in our world. One of the ways that we represent Christ
is by helping to plant new churches and mentoring and supporting those
who are setting out to share the Gospel anew with others in a safe and
healthy environment. I am overjoyed that New Day is working to support
the New Day Worship Center in Toccoa, Georgia as our first supported
mission. Northern Georgia and northwestern South Carolina will benefit
greatly from having a new church to call home. I pray that each of us
will take the time to consider the daunting responsibility of what
planting a church and helping it to grow entails. This is not just a
quick “laying on of hands” and sending out missionaries to do all the
work, but it means a lifelong relationship with a new worshipping faith
community. In addition to the new work in Toccoa, we have the
opportunity to help another sister congregation in Myrtle Beach – the
Rock. While thus far we have been only peripheral support with prayers,
advice and some Communion ware, I believe that we can offer more
involvement and support to our sisters in Christ who are working
diligently to maintain this faith community on the coast.
“New” is great! We love new things – new clothes, new houses, new
adventures, new babies. We are enthralled by “new.” But after time,
quite often, the “new” wears off and the new clothes find their place in
the back of the closet, the new house takes just as much cleaning and
care as the old one, the new adventure becomes mundane and ordinary and
that new baby has to be fed every two hours. But new churches cannot be
allowed to have the “new” wear off. New churches require commitment for
a long term. New churches require building a relationship that doesn’t
grow mundane and ordinary. New churches deserve and require attention to
careful growth and sustenance. Our challenge for the coming year(s) is
to gird ourselves for all the things that come with being a support
system for others. We have gotten a good start in our mission endeavors
in our past. God used Rescue Children, The Greer Soup Kitchen, A Child’s
Haven, Michael’s Way, AID Upstate and other charitable endeavors to
prepare us for such a time as this. I believe with all my heart that New
Day is called to help plant new faith communities. They may not all take
on the appearance of a traditional church. Some may be local Bible study
groups, others may be house churches and others may have a face that we
can’t even conceive of yet. God has prepared us for our new journey by
giving us a wealth of talent and experiences to draw from. Now we are
charged with the test of our commitment. This isn’t just a commitment to
the new works, but a commitment to God’s work!
As I enter my seventh year as your pastor, I am newly invigorated by the
response and love that this little church has for spreading the Good
News of the Gospel and for sharing our resources with those who need
them. Don’t be surprised if I call on you over the next few months and
ask you to use the gifts that God has given to you to help a new sister
community. Don’t be surprised if you hear more and more about how
mission-minded we are to be. Don’t be surprised to be asked to help our
new mission works with prayers, time and talents. For after all, we are
newly created in Christ and that excitement is meant to be shared! I
love each of you and cherish the responsibility and confidence that you
have placed in me as your pastor. I also ask that you add church growth
and planting to your daily prayer list as we move into a new year
seeking God’s will and purpose for what we have been blessed with.
Blessings and Peace,
Pastor Steve
A
Sinner and a Saint
My employer gave us a very nice Christmas dinner at a
local restaurant last Saturday night. However, I was a little
apprehensive about attending because spouses were invited. There is no
question that I wanted Pastor Steve to be there with me but I was afraid
what kind of reaction would take place in the days following. You see,
while I have never purposely hidden my sexual orientation and everyone
in the office is well aware of the queen gene, I never shared it with
any of the shop personnel. It is important that I have a good working
relationship with the shop and in the two years I have been there I have
gained their cooperation and even friendship. So, I was afraid how this
revelation would affect how they worked with me – especially one person
in particular. I was pretty well convinced that he could not handle it
in an “open and affirming” way to put it mildly.
This gentleman arrived at the dinner fashionably late and he and his
spouse sat at the far end of the table where Pastor and I were seated. I
was later told that his reaction was pretty much what I had suspected
except for one minor difference. He proclaimed his disappointment as
expected but then he ended with this statement: “I have been defending
him for two years!” The person that shared this with me was wise enough
to tell this individual that I am the same person I’ve been these past 2
years and there is no reason for him to treat me differently – and so
far that has been the case.
But let’s get back to that statement about “defending” me. It has truly
bothered me. First of all, it tells me that I have been a topic of
gossip for 2 years. I grant you that most queens would kill to be the
topic of conversation for 2 years but I missed that portion of the gene.
It has made me self-conscious. Just knowing that every time I went into
the shop they were questioning: “Is he or isn’t he?” has made me aware
that they are now saying: “He is! I knew it!” Which brings me to my
second point: Defend me from what? I have forgotten how negatively we
are thought of. I am insulated from these abuses. My church family, my
denominational ties, my co-workers in the office and my God have all
accepted me as I am and in so doing have allowed me to go out and do the
things the child of God I was created to be is called to do. And I have
been very happy in doing just that. I know that you are all saying that
the guys in the shop have now discovered that homos really aren’t those
scary guys who have sequins on their undies that they thought they were.
(Ok, maybe a little glitter but certainly not sequins!) And you are
right, God will use this to dispel a lot of their fears and perhaps they
will discover the true love that God has for His creation. But, it
occurs to me that I have wasted a lot of time worrying about what would
happen at the Christmas dinner and what will happen afterwards and what
will happen the next time I go into the shop. Every time I think about
this situation I feel “funny.” You know, kind of tingly and clammy – you
know, insecure and even embarrassed. That is because it touches me
deeply, it is a reaction to the need for acceptance and the desire not
to be the subject of jokes and gossip.
You know, there is another group that you and I belong to that is
thought of just as negatively as those of us in the GLBT community. It
is the community of faith. When I go out into the shop I never worry if
they are secretly gossiping about whether I am a sinner or a saint. It
never crosses my mind that if they knew that I am a saint they might
make jokes at my expense. I have no doubt they are well aware that I am
a sinner, but do they know that I am also a saint? Do they know that
Jesus Christ is my Lord and that I want them to know Him too? As was the
case with my homosexuality, do I fail to mention my allegiance to Jesus
in order to maintain a good working relationship? If they knew, would I
feel the same “funny” physical symptoms when I contemplated their
thoughts of me? And here is the saddest question of all – why aren’t
they wondering? Shouldn’t they sense the Spirit living within me? Is the
darkness of my sinful humanity so great that the light of God cannot
shine through? Now those are questions worth worrying about.
I maintain that the often asked question: “Are you a sinner or a saint?”
is not accurate. The fact is that we are all sinners. There is no
“either/or” to it. The question should be: “Are you a sinner OR a sinner
that Christ has declared a saint?” I can tell you from experience that
as soon as someone knows that you are claiming the title of “Christian”
they will be ever so quick to point out your sins and, in my case, it
ain’t hard to do. I also know that when they do point out your sins the
best thing you can do is acknowledge your sin and then tell them why
that doesn’t change your status as a Christian. Tell them how Jesus’
blood covers it all and how the life of a Christian is a life of
repentance.
The fact remains; I am a saint and so are you if you have accepted that
Jesus Christ has paid your ransom in full. (I have this strange urge to
send the New Day Directory to the Pope with a note saying that these
individuals are saints and he best “suck it up” and get his paperwork in
order now because there won’t be any purgatory layover for them so that
he has the time to think about canonizing them. Jesus has already
declared it and has purchased for each one of them a first class seat on
a direct flight to Glory in order to worship Him.) Am I a sinner? Are
you a sinner? The question need not be asked – we all are. Am I a saint?
Are you a saint? Now that’s a question worth asking and one that I hope
our acquaintances are gossiping about. I also hope that you and I will
worry about whether they are talking or not. I pray that they are. I
pray that Jesus Christ will so indwell us that the darkness of our sin
will in no way quench the light of His glory. I pray that our lives are
lived in repentance and humility, in servanthood and surrender. Most of
all, I pray that the sinners who aren’t saints will discover that it is
Jesus’ blood that makes the saint and that they too can be pure in the
eye’s of God – forever a saint in His glorious kingdom.
Tim
Dommer
© 2008 | All Rights Reserved
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
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Broccoli Salad |
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Ingredients:
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2 pkgs broccoli slaw |
1/2 cup onion (chopped fine) |
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1 pkg fresh broccoli florets |
1 cup mayonnaise |
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1/2 cup sunflower seeds |
1/2 cup sugar |
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1/2 cup walnuts |
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar |
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1 cup raisins or other sweet dried fruit |
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Cut florets into small, bite size pieces and place these into a large
mixing bowl. Add broccoli slaw, seeds, walnuts, raisins and onion. In
a separate bowl combine mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar. Stir this into
the large bowl thoroughly covering and mixing all ingredients. Allow to
sit about 30 minutes before serving to allow mayonnaise / sugar mixture
to completely breakdown.
Salad may be made 1 day ahead.
Submitted by: Anthony Coley
Becoming A Disciple - Simon, Called Peter
By Deacon Teresa
Matthew 4:18-20 “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea
of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother
Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At
once, they left their nets and followed him.”
Peter, a fisherman by trade, was called by Jesus to become a “fisher of
men.” Peter was not just one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, Peter was one
of the disciples who made up the “inner circle.” He was chosen by Jesus
to be a leader and to use his strong voice for the spread of the Gospel.
Peter’s strong voice also got him into some trouble. For example, at the
Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-10) Peter suggested that shrines be built for
Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Peter’s intentions were to glorify the figures
he saw, but God wanted Peter to see only Jesus. Peter, like many
Christians, was so overwhelmed by Christ’s transfiguration that he felt
compelled to speak. Sometimes we feel the urge to say something or do
something in addition to what God has done without recognizing that God
wants us to see Jesus and only Jesus.
Peter is very well-known for walking on the water (Matthew 14:28-31). A
lot of people condemn Peter for his lack of faith when he sank in the
water. Others fault Peter for looking at the swirling waters and taking
his eyes off of Jesus. But, few people recognize that there were eleven
other disciples who stayed within the comfort and security of the boat.
Eleven other men made the decision to stay put rather than risk getting
into the stormy waters. Often we become so comfortable in our
surroundings and so secure in ourselves, that we refuse to move out of
the boat and towards the path that Jesus has designed for us. We find it
much easier to stay in the boat than to risk our careers, our friends or
our relationships for Jesus Christ.
Peter’s denial of Jesus (Luke 22:56-62) was out of fear for his own
life. Peter had just witnessed Jesus being arrested and taken to the
High Priest. He knew that the High Priests and the religious leaders had
been looking for ways to kill Jesus. Peter knew that every day he was
with Jesus was a risk. When the rooster crowed and Peter realized he had
denied his Lord, he ran away and wept bitterly. Each day our faith in
Christ is tested by people we work with, those we come into contact with
at the store and our own Christian brothers and sisters. We don’t always
pass the test, we sometimes fail and we often weep bitterly. But Jesus
never gave up on Peter, nor does He ever give up on His children and in
this we can find comfort.
Peter did not get discouraged by his failures, but used them as learning
experiences. He became the foundation of the Christian faith and Peter
preached that glorious day of Pentecost when thousands came to believe
on Jesus Christ (Acts 2). Our failures and shortcomings can cause us to
question our faith or hinder our spiritual growth; or we can choose as
Peter did, to call on Jesus for His strength and continue on the journey
as messengers of God.
Peter’s career as a disciple had many ups and downs, but Jesus was
always beside Peter to teach him, guide him and encourage him. We will
all have good and bad days, but no matter how inconsistent our days are,
Jesus remains the same. Through the power of Christ we can become a
“Simon Peter” and accomplish great things for the glory of the Gospel.
Teresa Hrab
The Best Christmas Gift
I received the best Christmas gift today December 22,
2008 any child could have ever received and I would like to share it with
everyone. Be aware that for some it might be a tear jerker if you
understand where I am coming from. I will try my best to explain.
Growing up in my household was a little strange. I have a brother two
years younger than myself and we both grew up with the same hurt and
anger, but he took a different road than I did. We have always been close,
I guess because we really understood each other.
Please don’t get me wrong, we had parents who took care of us, but
something was always missing. When we were young my dad worked nights, so
it was mom and the two kids. We didn’t have a lot of money but my folks
always did the best they could. We never talked about when my folks grew
up or much about their parents. Both their parents were in Pennsylvania
and I never met them until I was 9 years old. We would drive back every
couple years after that for vacation. I loved my grandma and grandpa
Ratajski. It seemed to me I was much closer to them than my mom was. On my
dad’s side there was a lot of abuse growing up and the only one I was
close to was my Auntie Dot. She’s only 7 years older than I am, so I felt
more like a buddy than a niece. Then of course she ran off and got married
and moved on with her life. Happy to say, years later we found each other
again, and I love her very much.
Growing up there wasn’t much hugging or “I love you” in our family. It
carried over into our adult lives. I know for me it was hard to get close
to someone in any relationship I had. It never lasted long because I
didn’t know how to care or to love someone. I was in my 20’s when my dad
said “I love you” to me and I knew he did. At that point our relationship
really changed and it felt good. My mom and I always seem to have problems
and my dad was always trying to fix it. When my dad became ill in 2003 it
became worse. My “problem fixer” couldn’t fix things anymore. When my dad
passed away in 2008 my little world fell apart. I have a daughter who
didn’t want anything to do with me and still doesn’t. She has my
granddaughter that she doesn’t even know and doesn’t seem to know how to
love her either. It seems like my family is so full of anger and
bitterness that there is no end.
On December 22, 2008 my brother sent me an email that was filled with
bitterness and hurt about my mom. He hasn’t talked to her since October
2007. I was so upset with the email that I called my mom at 6am (her time)
in California to tell her about it. We talked for 3 hours, hung up, and
then I called her back and talked another hour. She told me things about
herself that I never knew but now I understand. The best present I could
have ever received were the words, “I love you” and I knew that she really
meant it.
Steve and I have been talking and I have asked for prayer for my daughter
and our relationship to be healed. On Thursday nights Steve has been
praying not for my relationship with Amber to be healed but for all
relationships to be healed. Today, my mom told me she was sorry and she
wasn’t able to get close to me and couldn’t tell me she loved me as a
child because of something that happened to her as a child. God answers
prayers because my mom is now 73 yrs old and I am 51 yrs old. It has taken
many years of hurt, bitterness and even hate at times, but God answers
prayers. One time Steve and I were talking and I had told him, if my mom
passed away I wouldn’t cry because I loved her, I would cry because I
never knew her. We weren’t close and when we tried to be, we would have
terrible fights and then we wouldn’t talk for a long time. There would be
terrible things said that would break my heart in two.
I am sharing this with you because I am asking anyone who has a bad
relationship, not to give up on praying. God will answer. I know my dad is
watching and I know he has been waiting for this day. It’s a new start for
my family even though we’re all grown up. I have to be honest there have
been times when I have turned my back and said to God; “ you deal with it
because I am not doing it.” It’s now time to let the past be the past and
look towards the future.
God answers prayers, don’t give up.
Debby Mann
BIBLE READINGS
The Revised Common Lectionary is a three year series of
scripture readings that provides focus each Sunday of the Church Year. If
you read each week’s selections for the full three years, you will end up
reading the majority of the Bible.
Revised Common Lectionary -
Year B - January 2009
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2nd Sunday After Christmas |
Jan 4,2009 |
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm 147:12-20
Ephesians 1:3-4
John 1:10-18
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1st Sunday After Epiphany |
Jan 11,2009 |
Genesis 1:1-5
Psalm 29
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11
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2nd Sunday After Epiphany |
Jan 18,2009 |
I Samuel 3:1-10
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
I Corinthians 6:12-20
John 1:43-51
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3rd Sunday After Epiphany |
Jan 25, 2009 |
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 62:5-12
I Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20 |
Bible Reading Schedule -
January 2009
The readings for the month of December will conclude our reading
through the New Testament.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all
your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength…” Mark 12:30
1 ____ Genesis 1 ____ Matthew 1 ____ Ezra 1 ____ Acts 1
2 ____ Genesis 2 ____ Matthew 2 ____ Ezra 2 ____ Acts 2
3 ____ Genesis 3 ____ Matthew 3 ____ Ezra 3 ____ Acts 3
4 ____ Genesis 4 ____ Matthew 4 ____ Ezra 4 ____ Acts 4
5 ____ Genesis 5 ____ Matthew 5 ____ Ezra 5 ____ Acts 5
6 ____ Genesis 6 ____ Matthew 6 ____ Ezra 6 ____ Acts 6
7 ____ Genesis 7 ____ Matthew 7 ____ Ezra 7 ____ Acts 7
8 ____ Genesis 8 ____ Matthew 8 ____ Ezra 8 ____ Acts 8
9 ____ Genesis 9,10 ____ Matthew 9 ____ Ezra 9 ____ Acts 9
10 ____ Genesis 11 ____ Matthew 10 ____ Ezra 10 ____Acts 10
11 ____ Genesis 12 ____ Matthew 11 ____ Nehemiah 1 ____ Acts 11
12 ____ Genesis 13 ____ Matthew 12 ____ Nehemiah 2 ____ Acts 12
13 ____ Genesis 14 ____ Matthew 13 ____ Nehemiah 3 ____ Acts 13
14 ____ Genesis 15 ____ Matthew 14 ____ Nehemiah 4 ____ Acts 14
15 ____ Genesis 16 ____ Matthew 15 ____ Nehemiah 5 ____ Acts 15
16 ____ Genesis 17 ____ Matthew 16 ____ Nehemiah 6 ____ Acts 16
17 ____ Genesis 18 ____ Matthew 17 ____ Nehemiah 7 ____ Acts 17
18 ____ Genesis 19 ____ Matthew 18 ____ Nehemiah 8 ____ Acts 18
19 ____ Genesis 20 ____ Matthew 19 ____ Nehemiah 9 ____ Acts 19
20 ____ Genesis 21 ____ Matthew 20 ____ Nehemiah 10 ____ Acts 20
21 ____ Genesis 22 ____ Matthew 21 ____ Nehemiah 11 ____ Acts 21
22 ____ Genesis 23 ____ Matthew 22 ____ Nehemiah 12 ____ Acts 22
23 ____ Genesis 24 ____ Matthew 23 ____ Nehemiah 13 ____ Acts 23
24 ____ Genesis 25 ____ Matthew 24 ____ Esther 1 ____ Acts 24
25 ____ Genesis 26 ____ Matthew 25 ____ Esther 2 ____ Acts 25
26 ____ Genesis 27 ____ Matthew 26 ____ Esther 3 ____ Acts 26
27 ____ Genesis 28 ____ Matthew 27 ____ Esther 4 ____ Acts 27
28 ____ Genesis 29 ____ Matthew 28 ____ Esther 5 ____ Acts 28
29 ____ Genesis 30 ____ Mark 1 ____ Esther 6 ____ Romans 1
30 ____ Genesis 31 ____ Mark 2 ____ Esther 7 ____ Romans 2
31 ____ Genesis 32 ____ Mark 3 ____ Esther 8 ____ Romans 3
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