Blog

A Note From Connie Small for Our Graduates

Details: Friday May 18 2012; Written by Christina Greenawalt

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, be thankful in all things, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

It is May, time for Youth Sunday, the day when our Middle and High Youth get to give us a glimpse of their spiritual lives. Chronologically, it has been many years since I was a teenager, yet I feel like a babe in the woods when I hear these amazing young people expound upon their faith in Christ.

Every youth who has preached has been amazing and here are two of the more recent youth Sundays that have resonated with me and helped me grow closer to our Lord. Abbey Baker preached on the Bible verse quoted above, which is my all-time favorite. I even stitched a piece of needlework based on it, titled, not surprisingly, "Joy, Prayer, Gratitude". She touched upon the same understanding of the verse that I have: prayer is at the center of it all, and flows outwardly into joy and gratitude. Conversely, joy and gratitude flow inwardly into prayer.

This past May (2011), David Masten recited an epic poem he had written about a little chipmunk and his capacity for denial. It was such a perfect allegory of our humanity.

Then Al Prevost preached on Matthew 11: 28-30. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Around that time, Peter's care needs began to increase a bit, and I began to find comfort in seeing myself as yoked with Jesus. To know that Jesus carries all our burdens for us - indeed wants us to cast them upon Him - is such an incredible gift! And Al expressed things so eloquently, reminding us that there is never a single ox in the yoke, but always a pair. And if we are yoked - paired - with Jesus, what more do we need?

It’s a bittersweet moment to share that 19 of our youth will be graduating from high school this May. Allow me to present the graduating class of 2012 and their respective after high school plans:

· Amanda Olivero willattend FAU	· Amber Trowbridge will attend FSU
· Andrew Kelly will attend UTI	· Annie Curtis will attend UNC
· Ashley Harnish will attend USF	· Brandon Rego is undecided
· Cayle Judge will attend NCF	· Clint Gilstrap is undecided
· Emily Julson will attend UF	· James Kostuch will attend FSU
· Joseph Sans is entering the Navy	· Katelynn Kraft will attend UF
· Laura Konkey will attend VCC	· Libby Swanson will attend UF
· Madison Webb will attend UCF	· Mike Petrielle will attend VCC
· Ryan McKercher will attend UF	· Savanna McDowell will attend UF
· Teresa Hoffmann will attend Flagler

As a reminder to our youth, they are always in our prayers; we traditionally give comfort quilts to the graduating seniors. These quilts are the work of many hands in our fellowship, and come with the love and prayers of all of our members. We wish many blessings and much love for our seniors and, indeed, all the youth of our congregation.

Happy Mother's Day to Every Woman!

Details: Friday May 11 2012; Written by Christina Greenawalt

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3

Happy Mother’s Day to every woman! We all have a mother, are a mother, want to be a mother or help to mother. I am not a mother, but each morning I come at CommPres with my coffee in hand and help to nurture, love and grow the children of the church. How does that fit into my job? Well, as I get the mail, check on the sanctuary, pick up bulletins, go about my routine I interact with the children whose voices carry into my office each day. When they have a bad day I know about it and I pray for them. When they celebrate, so do I. Working at CommPres, I am reminded each day that “it takes a village” and I am honored to be part of it in the heart of Celebration. Each day I pray that the Lord will bless us with a larger facility so we can share the love of Christ with more children. Our teachers mother and love these tender little hearts with the kindness and grace of Jesus each and every day!

You do not have to be a mother to be thanked, loved and honored on Mother’s Day. Each woman has impacted the hearts and lives of other women. As a child when I have been failed by my own mother, God brought other women into my life to mother and love me. Even at age 36, I continue to have loving, godly women who care about me and nurture me. It is a mother, who bandages my wound, even though she wanted to get sick. A mother who makes sure I have a safe place to stay when my husband travels. It is the mothers on Friday who makes me feel valued and makes sure I get lunch. It is a mother who sits with me on Thursdays and cuts coupons. It’s a mother who sends sweet emails to cheer up my day. It is a mother who … we all have many different mothers who brighten our lives and show us the love, care and grace of Christ.

Today, on this Mother’s Day pick up the phone and remember the “other mothers” in our lives along with our “real” mom. Thank them for the ways they have brighten our days!

THANK YOU MOMs!

A Special Delivery for Craig and Janel Willson

Details: Friday Apr 27 2012; Written by Craig Willson

Craig-As I sat in the conference room at Canterbury Retreat Center, I realized that I had not cried about anything in quite some time. In fact, I had not allowed myself to feel anything at all most of the year leading up to this ceremony, which I reluctantly attended…, for my wife. As I looked around the room, filled with others who had lost babies that year, all of the feelings I had suppressed for so long took over and I began to weep uncontrollably. I was finally feeling the pain of watching my wife labor for seven hours, knowing full well that she was delivering a baby whose life had already ended. It all had seemed too much for me to bear. We were certain that after the first two miscarriages, Lily Grace was going to be our blessing from above… In that moment, I realized that I had never allowed myself to grieve our loss; I had never cried out to God for help, choosing instead to wear a mask and pretend that everything was okay. I had essentially inserted a wedge between me and God and it was negatively impacting my faith, my marriage and my calling as a worship leader. At the end of the ceremony, we went outside on the lake and symbolically released butterflies, but I was able to release a lot more that day and finally reconnect with God .

Janel-At that point (the butterfly ceremony), we had lost 3 babies. I found some peace in the butterfly ceremony but only because I was given an opportunity to see how these losses had affected Craig. Even after being able to finally connect with my husband, I still didn't have complete peace and understanding in God. I didn't understand why He would allow us to experience so much sadness and pain. It was a little over a year after Lily Grace until I finally felt that I was ready to try again. During the course of that year I went to support groups and met other mothers who had lost babies; I studied a book called "Trusting God" by Jerry Bridges and I did a lot of praying and seeking God. Finally, I was ready to trust God, put my hope in Him and try again. It wasn't easy and I had to remind myself over and over again that I was trusting God, not me. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). In May of 2011, we had our 4th miscarriage, but this time through my tears, sadness and pain, from a hospital recovery room, I was finally able to trust God. I was able to Praise God and thank Him for a blessing and a promise that had not yet come but I knew that one day it would. And when it did, it would be more precious than anything imaginable.

On April 4^th, 2012 we welcomed our little girl, Makenzie Leigh Willson, into this world. After a pregnancy filled with many opportunities to test our newly renewed faith, God delivered on His promise and blessed us with a baby who is perfect in every way. We are constantly reminded that God is faithful, even when we are not; and His timing is ALWAYS perfect!

From the Desk of Pastor William

Details: Tuesday May 08 2012; Written by William A. Lewis

From the Desk of the Pastor, Rev. Dr. William A. Lewis

You may wonder what you would find on the pastor’s desk that encourages his soul. Well, upon straightening his desk the other day I found these quotes on his desk pad that others have shared with him and that he has come across and now hopefully you will be blessed as well.

Inspirational miscellaneous quotes on Pastor William’s desk pad…

Hurt people Hurt people

People whose Bible’s are falling apart usually aren’t.

When everything seems to be going awry, the Holy Spirit is at work.

There are three kinds of people: Jaw bones (all talk); Wish bones (idle thoughts); Back bones (doers).

Our character is a composite of our habits.

Flawless mediocrity is not excellence.

God never wastes a hurt.

Have you prayed about it as much as you’ve talked about it?

A committee: people who take minutes, count seconds and waste hours…

My Statement of Faith: This is what I’ll die for.

The guy who held up Moses’ arms was pretty important.

The devils of Hell rejoice when the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church is in session. (1875 Charles Finney)

Satan is going to return on the backs of offended Christians

Noah said to his wife, “Do me a favor, quit saying into each life a little rain must fall.”

When God shows us the faults of others we are to use that knowledge to intercede for them not criticize them. Oswald Chambers

Pastor you talk like God—your words transcend human understanding.

A mist in the pulpit puts a fog in the pews

Mother Theresa: When I pray coincidences happen, when I don’t pray coincidences don’t happen.

Mission is not a program in the church. Mission is the purpose of the church.

There is no surer test of the spiritual person then his treatment of another’s sin: to help rather triumph, to deliver rather punish. Augustine

Stephen Ministers: The After People

Details: Tuesday Apr 17 2012; Written by Carol Potochney

A note from your Associate Director of Soul Care Ministries:

I am often asked “What exactly is a Stephen Minister?” I love this description from the Stephen Ministry website . . .

Stephen Ministers are the After People.