Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you1 Peter 5:7.
The above scripture tells us to cast or throw all of our cares, worries and concerns on to Him. I pray that He will give us the ability to rise above our situation as we consider the following story I retrieved from an article someplace.
I trust that this will meet someone’s heart today, and that they would trust in Christ to carry them through.
The Sparrow At Starbucks by John Thomas Oaks
It was chilly in Manhattan but warm inside the Starbucks shop on
51st streetand Broadway, just a skip up from Times Square. Early November weather in New York City holds only the slightest hint of the bitter chill of late December and January, but it's enough to send the masses crowding indoors to vie for available space and warmth.
For a musician, it's the most lucrative Starbucks location in the world, I'm told, and consequently, the tips can be substantial if you play your tunes right. Apparently, we were striking all the right chords that night, because our basket was almost overflowing.
It was a fun, low-pressure gig and I was playing keyboard and singing backup for my friend who also added rhythm with an arsenal of percussion instruments. We mostly did pop songs from the '40s to the '90s with a few original tunes thrown in. During our emotional rendition of the classic, "If You Don't Know Me by Now," I noticed a lady sitting in one of the lounge chairs across from me. She was swaying to the beat and singing along.
After the tune was over, she approached me. "I apologize for singing along on that song. Did it bother you?" she asked. "No," I replied. "We love it when the audience joins in. Would you like to sing up front on the next selection?" To my delight, she accepted my invitation. "You choose," I said. "What are you in the mood to sing?"
"Well. Do you know any hymns?"
Hymns? This woman didn't know who she was dealing with. I cut my teeth on hymns. Before I was even born, I was going to church. I gave our guest singer a knowing look. "Name one."
"Oh, I don't know. There are so many good ones. You pick one."
"Okay," I replied. "How about 'His Eye is on the Sparrow'?"
My new friend was silent, her eyes averted. Then she fixed her eyes on mine again and said, "Yeah. Let's do that one."
She slowly nodded her head, put down her purse, straightened her jacket and faced the center of the shop. With my two-bar setup, she began to sing:
Why should I be discouraged? Why should the shadows come?
The audience of coffee drinkers was transfixed. Even the gurgling noises of the cappuccino machine ceased as the employees stopped what they were doing to listen. The song rose to its conclusion:
I sing because I'm happy; I sing because I'm free. For His eye is on the sparrow And I know He watches me.
Holy moment when the last note was sung, the applause crescendoed to deafening roar that would have rivaled a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall.
Embarrassed, the woman tried to shout over the din, "Oh, y'all go back to your coffee. I didn't come in here to do a concert. I just came in here to get somethin' to drink, just like you!"
But the ovation continued. I embraced my new friend. "You, my dear, have made my whole year. That was beautiful."
"Well, it's funny that you picked that particular hymn," she said.
"Why is that?"
"Well ," she hesitated again, "that was my daughter's favorite song."
"Really!" I exclaimed.
"Yes," she said, and then grabbed my hands. By this time, the applause had subsided and it was business as usual. "She was 16. She died of a brain tumor last week."
I said the first thing that found its way through my stunned silence. "Are you going to be okay?"
She smiled through tear-filled eyes and squeezed my hands. "I'm gonna be okay. I've just got to keep trusting the Lord and singing his songs, and everything's gonna be just fine."
She picked up her bag, gave me her card, and then she was gone.
Was it just a coincidence that we happened to be singing in that particular coffee shop on that particular November night?
Coincidence, that this wonderful lady just happened to walk into that particular shop?
Coincidence that of all the hymns to choose from, I just happened to pick the very hymn that was the favorite of her daughter, who had died just the week before?
I refuse to believe it.
God has been arranging encounters in human history since the beginning of time, and it's no stretch for me to imagine that he could reach into a coffee shop in midtown Manhattan and turn an ordinary gig into a revival. It was a great reminder that if we keep trusting him and singing his songs, everything's gonna be okay.
When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.
Pastor Larry
Lighthouse on the Corner
SpringfieldWesleyanChurch
Volume 22 Issue 2
July/August/September 2008
Prayer Requests
Our missionaries:Mark & Wes Taber and families, thePicketts, The Aukermans, and The Fords.
The Church Plants around the World.
Direction for our Youth group and leader, FW Friends and Leaders.
Our Sunday School.
Pastor Larry and Leona
Our shut ins: Virginia Giannini, Frank Bacon, Carole Hilts, Mary Newcomb
Special needs for Jackie Everett, Linda Bates, Tom Theriaque, Rod & Bette Murdock, Jeannette Smith, Tiffany Smith, Ralph Hooper, Irving & Mary Newcomb, Carole Burgos, Margaret MacDonald,
Wesley Nelsson, Alvin (Jr) Brown, Lee Herring, Joe & CindyBednarski,
.
The Hispanic Work with Pastor William Del Rosario.
For those that are in the military
For our country and her leaders. Be in much prayer for our City and our State.
Continue Church growth and Commitment
W. E. Sangster
If you are too busy to pray then you are too busy.
Newsletter Announcement
As of January 2008 we are sending out the newsletter quarterly.If at all possible, we are requesting that the newsletter be sent by e-mail attachment or to be viewed on the web site, rather than sent by mail. As postage and the cost of paper increases, we want to be good stewards of God's money. If you have an e-mail address and we don’t have it yet, please give it to Pastor Larry or Lee.
If you “DO NOT” wish to receive the newsletter, please let us know.
Thank you so much.
Springfield Wesleyan
Save the date:
VacationBibleSchool
August 4-8
Ages 5 – 18
Prepare for lift off to CosmicCity where you will explore the awesome wonder of God!
Join us for incredible Bible adventures, out-of-this-world games, memorable crafts, spacey snacks, wonder-filled science experiments, and amazing worship!
.
FW Friends
FW Friends has ended for summertime activities.See you in September!
Wesleyan Women’s Sonshine Club
On June 16th, we met despite severe thunderstorm predictions and pouring rain.Our craft for the evening was creating cards from a “Make your own card kit”, and cards were sent to a number of our church having health problems.
Our August meeting will be cancelled, and we’ll start up again in September, the 3rd Monday evening of each month at
CHURCH NEWS
On April 18th we attended a Missions Conference at the EllingtonWesleyanChurch with Alan & Aimee Williams preparing to go to the CzechRepublic, and Butch & Tricia Alexander going to Haiti.Carl & Maya Gilles were also represented and will be going to Haiti, but were not in attendance due to the birth of their first baby.
May 1st was the National Day of Prayer. We joined others on the steps of City Hall in Springfield for prayer for our nation, city, and leaders.
May 10th our annual local church conference was held after a dinner attended by 38 people.
May 17th.We attended in Hartford a “Celebration of Life “ in memory of Lynn A. Taitt – Isaac, with a 50 voice choir from Toronto performing.
On May 18th installation of officers was held for 2008-2009, and new members were received into the fellowship.
We cancelled WWSC Ladies night due to Leona’s daughter’s upcoming wedding.
May 23rd Pastor walked his daughter down the isle, gave her away to Ryan O’Donnell, and performed the rest of the marriage ceremony.
May 25th In honor of Memorial Day, we had a table set up in the foyer with pictures of all those who have served or had relatives who served in the Armed Forces.
June 8th We celebrated Children’s Day.The children recited A – Z Bible verses they had memorized in Children’s Church, and shared Hebrews 12: 1 & 2 with motions.They also presented a skit and a song, “We’re Saved”, from FW Friends.
June 26-29 Pastor and Leona went to the Hadley/Luzerne, NY for the district’s first sponsored Inspiration Weekend. The guest speaker was Dwight Robertson of “Kingdom Building Ministries” along with a 50 voice Senior High School chorale “Exalt!” from Bethany Bible College, Sussex, New Brunswick.
June 29 John Cheman, (Pastor Larry & Leona’s son-in-law) was in charge of the morning service.
June 29th We went to Hartford Wesleyan for another tremendous Singspiration.
On July 6th, following the morning service, we gathered at Pastor Larry & Leona’s house for a picnic. A great time was had by all from good food and fellowship to volleyball to water balloons!
The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settle for.
Things You Never Hear in Church
Hey! It's my turn to sit in the front pew.
I was so enthralled; I never noticed your sermon went 25 minutes over time.
Personally I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf. I've decided to give our church the $500 a month I used to send to TV evangelists. I volunteer to be the permanent teacher for the Junior High Sunday School class. Forget the denominational minimum salary; let's pay our pastor so he can live like we do. I love it when we sing hymns I've never heard before! Since we're all here, let's start the service early. Pastor, we'd like to send you to this Bible seminar in the Bahamas. Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment like our annual stewardship campaign!
The Tongue Can Be
Your Worst Enemy!
Your words, your dreams, and your thoughts have power to create conditions in your life.
What you speak about, you can bring about.
If you keep saying you can’t stand your job, you might lose your job.
If you keep saying you can’t stand your body, your body can become sick.
If you keep saying you can’t stand your car, your car could be stolen or just stop operating.
If you keep saying you’re broke, guess what? You’ll always be broke.
If you keep saying you can’t trust a man or trust a woman, you will always find someone in your life to hurt and betray you.
If you keep saying you can’t find a job, you will remain unemployed.
If you keep saying you can’t find someone to love you or believe in you, jour very thought will attract more experiences to confirm your beliefs.
If you keep talking about a divorce or break up in a relationship, then you might end up with it.
Turn your thoughts and conversations around to be more positive and power packed with faith, hope, love and action.
Something To Ponder:
If your religion doesn't take you to church it won't take you to heaven.
Watch your Thoughts, they become words.
Watch your Words, they become actions.
Watch your Actions, they become habits.
Watch your Habits, they become character.
Watch your Character, for it becomes your Destiny.
In the search for Me, I discovered Truth.
In the search for Truth, I discovered Love.
In the search for Love, I discovered GOD.
And in God, I have found Everything.
Watch how your circumstances and situations begin to change when you change the way you speak.
“Life is like melted butter… once things cool down, it can be reshaped!”
Next Directory
The next directory will be out in September.Let us know if there are any changes
Special Events
July 27, -1:30PM Service At Hampden House.
Aug 2 – 7:30 AM Men’s Breakfast
August 4-8 VBS WEEK
Aug 14 – 7:00 PM Crime Watch
Aug 18 Bible study at Rescue Mission
Aug 24 – 1:30PM Service at Hampden House
August 31 Singspiration
August 31 or September 7 Promotion Sunday for SS
Sept 6 – 7:30 AM Men’s breakfast
Sept Crime Watch
Sep 16 – 7pm WWSonshine Club
Sept 28 – 1:30PM Service at Hampden House
WEEKLY EVENTS
Sunday:
10:00AM Sunday School for
all ages
11:00 AM Morning Worship
6:00 PM Bible Study
Wednesday:
6:30 PM Prayer Meeting
FW Friends grades K-6(Start up again in Sept)
Thursday:
6:30 PM Wesleyan Youth (Starts back up in Sept)
See the weekly bulletin for any additions and/or changes!
There was no September newsletter.
As of October 2007 the newsletter will come out quarterly.
Due to the rising cost of paper, ink, and stamps please let us know if you would rather read it here on the website, receive it as an attachment or continue to have one mailed.
See the weekly bulletin for any additions and/or changes!
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
We believe the highest call we can attain is to live our lives as a servant for Jesus Christ; to do what Jesus would do by fulfilling the great commission, reaching out in love to the lost and winning them to Christ.
And we are always looking for ways to improve the web site! Are we missing something you would like to see?
We are also listed under the Wesleyan Church's main denomination web site.
The Springfield Wesleyan Church sends Lighthouse on the Corner out quarterly
