Creekside Church of the Brethren
Connection
February 2014
PASTOR’S PONDERINGS
Not long ago, I ran across a child's letter to God:
Dear God,
Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter.
There is nothing good there now.
Ginny
Upon reading this playful, childlike word, it got me wondering: Is this true?
What about Valentine's Day? That's at least a quasi-Christian holiday (with its origins in the lore/
legend surrounding the life and death of Saint Valentine—such as the story relating to Saint
Valentine's pre-martyrdom imprisonment and subsequent friendship with the jailer's daughter, which
included letters of love being exchanged). Further, it comes around in the neighborhood of rightbetween Christmas and Easter.
However, when it comes to the people of God putting another holy-day between Christmas and Easter
this year, I offer the following consideration: Wouldn't it truly be a holy-day between Christmas and
Easter whenever any of us hear or speak the angel's love-word from God (or, even more importantly,
experience the reality of these words in our hearts and souls): "Don't be afraid." During the Christmas
season we hear this "word" spoken to shocked-and-awed Mary, Joseph, and shepherds. During the
Easter season we hear it spoken to frightened women who have
discovered the empty tomb, and to disciples in the upper room
where, in fear, they have "entombed" themselves.
May these words be heard and spoken by us during this time
between Christmas and Easter, whether during Epiphany, or on
Martin Luther King's birthday, or on Valentine's Day, or on
President's Day, or throughout Lent, or whenever. As Saint Paul
reminds us: "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of
season, correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and
careful instruction." Among the most corrective and encouraging
words we can share with one another are "Don't be afraid."
During this interim time, as I "feel" my way in relation to all of you,
and vice versa, may these words increasingly become real-ly
embodied among us, and truly heartening to us.
Pastor Doug
Interim Pastor Doug Reichenbach
with his wife Paulette.
TEAM SPIRIT REPORT
WORDS FROM PASTOR DOUG
Our theme for Epiphany,
the time between
Christmas and the
beginning of Lent, is “Christ, be our Light.”
That has been the prayer of your pastors as
we have begun a new year at Creekside.
Like the wise men who followed the star to
Bethlehem, we have watched for light, sought
God’s guidance, and know that we cannot go
back the same way that we came.
The following are excerpts from Pastor Doug’s
Pastoral Profile regarding leadership:
Here are some of the ways we are sensing
God’s leading in 2014:
• Quarter-time interim Doug Reichenbach,
who brings 30 years of pastoral experience
and wisdom, unique gifts and enthusiasm
to Team Spirit.
• New leadership as well as the continuity
of faithful service on our long-term
ministry teams.
• Committed leadership on the
Church Board, and a determination to
communicate well with the congregation
and work toward best practices for doing
church business.
• Preparing our youth to attend NYC in July.
• Exploring new avenues of outreach in our
community and the N. Indiana District.
• Our need to be a community of caring for
those in our church who are in need of
prayer and support—there is deep need
and deep gratitude for that ministry.
We know that this is not a comprehensive list.
Above all, we know that as people of faith we
need to continue to look for God’s light, and
that sometimes it shines in unlikely places: in
the month of February we will be focusing on
hospitality, and the ways in which we can be
surprised by the presence of God in strangers,
our sisters and brothers, and in ourselves. We
hope that you will join us in a willingness to be
surprised on our journey together in the
coming year, and that Christ will honor all the
gifts that we share in his name.
In Christ, the light of the world—
Pastor Rosanna and Pastor Betty
Those things that energize me as a ministerial
leader are spending time with the scriptures,
and spending time with people who are
energized for story-telling that enhances their
spiritual (trans)formation. One of the emerging
dreams that my spouse (Paulette) and I share
and are energized by (in response to a
question posed by the poet Mary Oliver: "Tell
me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild
and precious life?") is the prospect of creating
some loving space in our home and environs
where persons can come, typically free of
charge, to experience a place of spiritual
safety and rest, a kind of "retreat" experience
enabling them to "go forward" in life with more
energy and enthusiasm, with the only
"requirement" being that they would be asked
to share at least one meal with us for a time of
personal connection and storytelling. I am
energized by persons with whom I share
mutual warmth and curiosity about that which
is important in life. I am energized by people
who have spacious spirits, broad minds, and
big, compassionate hearts.
...One of the images that resonates with me
in regard to what the church is called to be
is an OASIS—Offering Anyone Safety In
Storytelling. It is de-energizing to me as a
ministerial leader when people in the church
don't provide this kind of spaciousness and
graciousness in relation to persons, whether
within the body of Christ, or on the margins,
or beyond.
...As the Creekside Church of the Brethren
and I enter a time of shared ministry, it is also
important for me to come to know and
understand both what energizes you and what
de-energizes you. I neither want to diminish
that which enlivens you nor feed that which
enervates you. In the months ahead I am
committed to being and doing what I can to
enhance Creekside's life together as a body of
Christ, trusting that I will grow and be richly
blessed in the process.
Doug Reichenbach will begin serving as
Creekside’s interim pastor in February, 2014.
MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS
Diane and Tim Lund are old friends who returned to the Elkhart area
and transferred their membership back to Creekside in December
2013. We hope this information helps you to know them better and
welcome them to Creekside.
They met at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, IL when Tim was
a medical student and Diane was a nursing student, and have been
married for 32 years. During that time they have moved twelve times to
a variety of settings, both rural and urban, and have learned the art of
settling in wherever they are. This fall they returned to Elkhart to live
closer to Diane's parents, Al and Norma Knispel.
Tim and Diane have two grown sons and one lively dog. Carl lives in Champaign, IL and is involved in
all aspects of the sound industry (studio recording; large concerts/festivals; sound editing, etc).
Andrew attended Creekside briefly before beginning college in Valparaiso; he presently lives
at Holden Village in Chelan, WA and is employed as a drafter and engineering/utilities assistant.
Sidda, the dog, keeps the family entertained; she is continually on the watch for the cats that have
taken residence under their deck.
Since returning to Creekside, Tim and Diane have joined the choir, Diane has shared her gifts at the
piano and is a member of Worship Team, and Tim has led worship. We are glad to have them back!
HOOSIER NEIGHBOR
Names:
Tim & Diane Lund
How long have you been attending Creekside?
We moved back to Elkhart about 6 months ago and returned to
Creekside at that time.
What is your favorite scripture or hymn?
Tim: “A Mighty Fortress is our God”
Diane: The list of my favorite scriptures and hymns/songs would fill more than a page!
One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
One of my favorite songs is, "Before the Throne of God Above".
What does hospitality mean to you?
Tim: Hospitality means sharing with someone else yourself and your possessions.
Diane: To me, hospitality means doing whatever I can to make a person feel welcomed, of worth; to
create an environment where they feel free to contribute as they wish and have a sense of connection
—so they know they are not alone.
What do you like about Creekside?
Tim: Honest, friendly fellow members.
Diane: I would echo what Tim said. I also appreciate how many of the Creekside folks are intentional
about noticing the gifts in other people and find ways in which everyone may contribute; it allows
people to find their place at Creekside.
What is your vision for Creekside Church?
Tim: Reaching both within and outside of the church to share our lives and our faith.
Diane: My vision for Creekside Church is that we would open our hearts, our minds and our lives to
the NEW God is doing/desires to do in our midst (Isaiah 43:18-19a).
CCS NEEDS OUR HELP
CAMP MACK CORNER
Cash is always needed. $4 fills a prescription,
$10.00 feeds a family of five for 5 days.
The 2014 Events, Retreats and Summer
Camps Brochure has been mailed. It
contains information for all the 2014 summer
camps and retreats. If you did not receive this
brochure, please request one from your Camp
Rep or the Camp Office.
Items needed:
Food:
Canned meat or tuna
Canned fruit or vegetables
Peanut butter
Dried beans
Rice, Ramen noodles
Pasta, Spaghetti Sauce
Soups, Crackers
Boxed dinners/helpers
Baby needs:
Formula
Baby cereal
Baby food
Diapers
Wipes
Personal Care:
Bar soap
Shampoo
Toothpaste & brushes
Deodorant
Powdered laundry soap
Doris Walters, CCS Representative
SORRY!
The Fellowship Team would like to apologize
for the lack of coffee during the fellowship time
on January 12. We were unaware that the
breaker switch had popped while we were in
the worship service.
Jan Birr, Fellowship Team leader
SUMMER CAMP
REGISTRATIONS
Registrations and
payments for summer
camps are due in the
Creekside office by
March 16, 2014. You are responsible for half
of the registration fee; Creekside will pay the
other half. Camperships are available,
see Jan Birr if you have questions.
Jan Birr, Camp Mack Representative
Camp Registration Discount Date is March 20.
Save up to $20 – Register by 3/20/14!
Camp Mack’s Annual Dinner is March 7th.
Hors d’oeuvres are at 6:15 p.m. with the
banquet at 7 pm. Rex Miller, Camp Mack’s
Executive Director, will be our guest speaker
and will be speaking about the future of
Becker and the vision of Camp Mack.
Fund-raising support: $25/person for undesignated seating; Reserved tables: Table of 6 $300; Table of 7 - $350; Table of 8 - $400.
Watch for your invitation or call the camp office
for reservation details.
The Growing from the Ashes Capital
Campaign is raising funds to build Becker
Retreat Center at the site of the former Becker
Lodge. Camp Mack is $442,000.00 away from
the funds to start the building process. Please
prayerfully consider donating to our 1000 @
$50 Challenge for this campaign, this donation
could be in honor of your grandchildren,
parents, siblings or pastor.
Get-A-Way Days are designed to bring you to
camp for a day or part of a day for a “miniretreat.” Check the website for a listing of
programs, their descriptions, and fees.
Upcoming Get-A-Way days are:
February 15 Eagle Watch
March 15
Youth Workers
Mixed Medium painting
March 29
Genealogy, Primitive Baskets,
Loom Weaving
LOOKING AHEAD. . .
February 13-16: Quilt Retreat
February 21-23: Scrapbooking Retreat
March 1
Team Leader Training
March 7
Annual Dinner
March 17-19
Volunteer Work Days
March 22-23
Mother Daughter Retreat
PRAYER REQUESTS: Please pray for:
Camp Mack Staff, Counselors & Summer Staff
The Growing From the Ashes Campaign
Fe b r u a r y 2 0 1 4
BIRTHDAYS
HAPPENING IN FEBRUARY:
5
6
12
13
—No Volunteer Fellowship
Brenneman, Zoe
1
Zerbe, John
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
—Choir practice, 7:00 pm
Miller, Peter
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Hoke, Caroline
8
—Wired Word, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
16
23
17
24
18
25
19
26
20
27
21
28
22
Bode, Deb
9
Birr, Bill
10
Brenneman, Isabella
16
Magers, Deanna
16
Vance, Cody
21
Martin, Ronnie
22
Vance, Patti
25
King, Trinity
26
Keenoy, Teagan
27
Keenoy, Liza
28
—Creekside Game Night, 7-10 pm
—Choir, 8:45 am
—ToGG informational meeting, during
Sunday School
—Spaghetti Dinner: Youth fundraiser
for NYC, noon
17
18
19
20
26
27
1
2
—Wired Word, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
—Outreach/FoF meeting, 6:30 pm
14
16
Su Mo Tu We Th Fri Sat
1
Lamb, Tom
—Worship Team meeting, 9:30 am
—Church Board, 6:30 pm
CREEKSIDE GAME NIGHT
Join us on Feb. 14, 7 pm for
a night of games and
fellowship.
Bring a snack
to share and
a friend!
—Deadline for March Connection
ANNIVERSARIES
Hade, Mike & Trisha
12
Randall, Tim & Shelly
21
—Choir practice, 7:00 pm
Hostetler, Keith & Doris
25
—Wired Word, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
Barwick, Bruce & Cathy
26
—Wired Word, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
SPAGHETTI DINNER
Sunday, February 16, 2014 At noon in the Gathering Area
Sponsored by the Creekside Youth
Donations will go toward the National Youth Conference fund
You and someone you love are invited to share this Valentine meal of
Mama Sue’s spaghetti sauce, salad, breadsticks, and desserts with us.
Because of the generous support and regular contributions of our
congregation, we anticipate that this will be our final fundraiser for National
Youth Conference 2014. Hurrah!
NYC is July 19-24 in Ft, Collins, Colorado. We hope to send 6-7 youth and
two advisors from Creekside. Thank you for your support of our kids! We
couldn’t do this without you.
The Creekside Connection is published monthly to keep members
and friends informed of church programs and to report news about
the people of Creekside Church.
Administrative Assistant & Editor:
Marita Barsoda: [email protected]
Pastors:
Rosanna McFadden: [email protected]
Elizabeth Kelsey: [email protected]
Doug Reichenbach: [email protected]
Website:
www.creeksideconnected.com
Phone:
574-875-7800
574-875-7885 fax
Address:
60455 CR 113
Elkhart, IN 46517-9183
A publication of Creekside Church of the Brethren
The Creekside Connection
• Rooted in God
• Growing in Jesus • Bearing Fruit in the Spirit
60455 CR 113
Elkhart, IN 46517-9183