Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Oct 2010 Lamplighter Newsletter, LaFayette Alliance Church
Oct 2010 Lamplighter Newsletter, LaFayette Alliance Church
Oct 2010 Lamplighter Newsletter, LaFayette Alliance Church
V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 9 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0
INSIDE THIS
The Muffled Groan
ISSUE:
For I consider that the sufferings of amount of suffering that inevita- War has a way of bringing out
From Pastor 2 this present time are not worth bly results from war. Civilians the greatest concentrations of
Brian’s Desk comparing with the glory that is to die. Children are left orphans. human suffering. It also has a
be revealed to us. [19] For the Men writhe in agony on the way of polarizing people’s view of
Wednesday 3 creation waits with eager longing for battlefield as limbs are blown God. There are some people
Prayer Meeting the revealing of the sons of God. away. Brains are scrambled for who witness the horrors of war
[20] For the creation was subjected years to come by war experi- and walk away insisting that such
Letters to 4 to futility, not willingly, but because ences that refuse to fade from atrocities prove there is no God.
Katie Wells of him who subjected it, in hope memory. It was Civil War Gen- Others have come to very oppo-
[21] that the creation itself will be eral William T. Sherman who site conclusions (e.g. Alexander
From the Church 4 set free from its bondage to decay memorably stated: “War is Hell!” Solzhenitsyn). Solzhenitsyn
Library and obtain the freedom knew that the evil
of the glory of the chil- that so characterized
Quizzing 5 dren of God. [22] For wicked people and
News we know that the whole their wars also ran in
creation has been his own veins to
AWM 5 groaning together in the some degree. He
Fall Refocus pains of childbirth until wrote: “If only there
now. [23] And not only were evil people some-
Birthdays/ 5 the creation, but we where insidiously com-
Anniversaries ourselves, who have the mitting evil deeds and
firstfruits of the Spirit, it were necessary only
Church Lockup 5 groan inwardly as we to separate them from
Schedule wait eagerly for adop- the rest of us and
tion as sons, the re- destroy them. But the
VBS 6
demption of our bodies. line dividing good and
The Egypt File (Romans 8:18-23 – ESV) On another occasion Sherman evil cuts through the heart of every
stated: "War is cruel and you can- human being. And who is willing to
Annual Fall 6 not refine it" and "War at best is
Recently, I have had the opportu- destroy a piece of his own heart?”
Church Picnic nity to watch Ken Burns’ out- barbarism." I’ll take his word for
standing documentaries on both it! The Bible reminds us that all of
Bulletin Board 7 the Civil War and World War the suffering that takes place in
Two. If you have not seen either One scene sticks in my mind. It this world is NOT arbitrary. The
of these, it would be well-worth took place during one of the Bible takes suffering seriously
the time investment to do so. many battles at Anzio, Italy. The because it takes sin seriously.
Ken Burns has mastered the art Germans were relentlessly Suffering exists because sin ex-
of making documentaries by not pounding the Allied Forces with ists. Don’t let that fact escape
only distilling all of the pertinent heavy artillery. One man, so you when you see or experience
facts for his audience, but in also shaken with fear jumped out of great suffering. All of creation is
putting a human face on each of his trench and began to pray. He groaning under the weight of sin.
these terrible wars. After all, screamed for God to come down War and its resulting suffering is
these wars were not just about from heaven into this vicious a manifest evidence of that
places, battles, strategies, dates, battle. He then added these groaning.
and etc. They were about PEO- words: “God come down here
PLE—people very much like you yourself. Don’t send us Jesus. This Christians are not called to
and me! is no place for children!” Obvi- “muffle the groan”! We do no
ously this man’s understanding of one any good to either downplay
The thing that has especially Jesus Christ was greatly skewed!
stood out to me in viewing these
documentaries is the incredible (Continued on back page)
PAGE 2
(Continued from page 2) Building the church on stylistic prefer- years. Because of our firm commitment
ences or age appeal (whether old or to and love for the gospel, we wor-
a people with swiveling heads: learning young) is just as contrary to the reconcil- shiped together as one body around one
from the past, living in the present, and ing effect of the gospel as building it on table united to one Christ by one Spirit–
looking to the future. That’s the only class, race, or gender distinctions. In a and we felt God’s infinite approval!
way to avoid in worship what C.S. recent interview J. I. Packer said, “If wor-
Lewis called “chronological snobbery.” ship services are so fixed that what’s The gospel revolution at Coral
being offered fits the expectations, the Ridge continues!
You see, when we separate people hopes, even the prejudices, of any one of
according to something as trivial as these groups as opposed to the others, I
musical preferences, we evidence a don’t believe the worship style glorifies
fundamental failure to comprehend the God.” One of the leading ways the
heart of the gospel. We’re not only church can testify to God’s unifying
feeding toxic tribalism; we’re also say- power before our segregated world is to
ing the gospel can’t successfully bring establish and maintain congregations and
these two different groups together. worship services that transcend cultural
It’s a declaration of doubt about the barriers, including age and musical styles.
unifying power of God’s gospel. Gen-
erational appeal in worship is an admis- So, I am thrilled that as of this morning
sion that the gospel is powerless to Coral Ridge broke down a thick wall that
join together what man has separated. had been separating this church family for
September 9th marks the end of Islam's In another line of thought, September 12 Father, please instill in my chil-
is Grandparents' Day (and the church So pray, as
holiest month, Ramadan. In the final dren a soul that 'follows hard
week of the month, the "Night of picnic!). Praise God for praying grandpar- after Thee' (Ps 63:8), one that Paul did in
Power" is a strategic night of prayer for ents - continue to be faithful in praying
clings passionately to You.
Muslims. Pray that they will have for your grandchildren: for those who are
following the Lord and for those who do Romans 9
dreams and visions of Jesus and will God, please help my children to
trust in Him. Ask God to inspire believ- not yet know Him.
develop a desire to see Your and 10 for
ers to become more intentional in glory declared among the na-
reaching out to Muslim neighbors and And that brings us to September 22nd - tions, Your marvelous deeds the salvation
coworkers. Pray that God would raise See You at the Pole, when Christian stu-
among all peoples (Ps 96:3).
up people with various spiritual gifts to dents annually around the US and the of the Jewish
help the believers, and to help Muslims world will gather before school to pray
together for one another, their class- And, as always, you are invited
to join us Wednesdays at 7 pm people, that
to discover the Good News.
mates and their teachers.
in the Butternut Room as we
September 9th is also Rosh Hashanah, a pray for the church, its minis-
they would
holy day of judgment of sin and repen- As young people are back in school, col-
tries, members and missionaries. know God's
tance, and the first day of the Jewish lege or university, we all need to pray for
New Year. September 18th is Judaism's God to guide and protect them. Here are
holiest day, Yom Kippur - the Day of some Scripture prayer suggestions to Prayerfully Yours, righteous-
Atonement (see Lev. 16:29 - 34). It was pray for them:
a symbol and a foreshadowing of the ness.
effect of Jesus' suffering, death and res- Larry Petry
Father, may integrity and honesty be their
urrection in bringing about the recon-
virtue and their protection (Ps 25:21).
ciliation of God to man (Heb. 9:7 - 12).
PAGE 4
From the Church Library
Letters to Katie Wells Some of the books Jody blogged
about this summer have been
Another book we own by Fitz-
patrick is Because He Loves Me:
added. We snitched from her How Christ Transforms Our
If God calls you to serve Him in a remote area blogs to whet your appetite, but Daily Life (248.7 Fit). Also new
of the world, you PRAY, and then you GO. you can see her complete blogs are Hudson Taylor's Spiritual
on our church website by scroll- Secret (B Tay) and R.C.
It is a lonely life when your only contact with
ing down to Links. Sproul's The Righteous Shall
people who speak your language is a daily
Live by Faith: Romans, a Com-
radio conversation with a mechanic or pilot.
mentary (227.1 Spr)
Comforts from the Cross: Cele-
brating the Gospel One Day at a
Katie will receive mail only once a month
Time, by Elyse Fitzpatrick (242 Please take the time to
The deadline for when the SAMAIR pilot brings in supplies.
Fit). Jody said "Do I celebrate sign out your books: in-
everyday God gives me? or am I structions and a box with
the October issue
Katie’s “Encouragement and Accountability” just running? ...This book is a
cards to fill out is on a
of the Lamplighter group would like to SEND her many letters, month's worth of daily celebra-
tions. Reminding us to take com-
shelf behind the Butter-
cards, and notes of encouragement each
is Sunday, fort in the cross of Jesus Christ. nut Room door.
month so she can feel the support she has
from people who are PRAYing. Her mail will How the facts of Jesus' birth,
September 19th.
go to the post office box in Santa Cruz, just as death and resurrection should
Good reading!
Please submit your it always has. The pilot will bring her mail to 'free, gladden and enliven our
soul every day - when you're Jean Palmer
her.
articles to the struggling to balance the check-
book, stuck in traffic or in a hos-
church office. If the Lord is nudging you to GIVE Katie pital bed, or just bored with the
some encouragement, you can find envelopes same-old-same-old."
already addressed to her on the table near the
door to the sound booth. We don’t know
the date on which the pilot will be flying to Love to Eat, Hate to Eat by Elyse
San Fernando, so if you could send your first Fitzpatrick (616 Fit) About this
card/note to her ASAP, that would be book, Jody says that Elyse thinks
great! It takes about ten days for a letter to God would have us think about
get to Bolivia. Post offices carry 98-cent food and our eating habits. She
stamps, which is what your letter will need. If, makes suggestions for a new way
for any reason, you would like the EA group to think about food, including
to send your letter for you, just bring it back these: Will eating this food dem-
in the envelope and put it back on that ta- onstrate a heart of idolatry? Can I
ble. Be sure to write your return address on eat this food with thanks and
your envelope. We will take care of the post- gratitude?
age and send it on its way to brighten Katie’s
day!
We look forward to working with these young peo- 5 – Pat Andrews, Maggie Dunsford
ple again this year. Please pray for all our quizzers, 7 – Rachel Johnson, Cody Elmer
helpers, and coaches.
11 – Sue Maloney
Marie Murgia, Junior coach 12 – Jane Taylor
Georgia Phipps, Senior coach 13 – (Carl & Barbara Olcott), (Randy & Beth Ortlieb)
16 – Jerry McNeill, Becky Rogers
17 – Joe Murgia, Martha Trout
18 – Bob Trout, (Patrick & Chris Buff)
You won’t want to miss this special day in the life of our church!! We are planning an
exciting day of fun and fellowship following the morning worship service.
Featuring:
Chicken Barbeque
Please bring an EXTRA LARGE side dish or dessert. This event is designed as an out-
reach, so we will need plenty of food! We are basically inviting our neighbors over for
dinner and we want to show them our LAC hospitality! (We also will gladly accept dona-
tions to help cover the cost of the chicken and rental items.)
Moonwalk Jumper House for the kids
Games & Prizes
There will be 10 Game Stations this year. There is a sign-up sheet on the Butternut Room door for volun-
teers to help facilitate these games.
Prayer
This is an amazing opportunity to truly minister to our community. We need to pray that the Lord will bless
this event and we will be able to reach many families.
Please sign-up on the Butternut Room door for food and game helpers.
Come out on
Wednesday, September 22nd at
6:30 pm as we begin another fun
year of Awana!
Our mission is to know Jesus Christ; exalt Him as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, Coming King,
and complete His Great Commission.