THE WIND OF THE SPIRIT AT WEST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

WEST WINDS Volume XXXXV - No. 5 Peabody, Massachusetts June 2014 AX MEN WILL YOU CHOP THIS TREE Ax men will you chop the roots of this luxuriant tree? Will you crudely take its life and kill without decree? Before you swing another blow step back, look up and see the mystery of life beneath it bark, in its boughs and shining through its leaves. Look carefully at its enduring strength, it height, its girth and ask how long this tree has been deeply planted in the earth. This ancient tree you dare to fell has weathered well the harshest gales of winds and rains and hail. Ax men blind who will not see the beauty of this ancient tree that others seek to love to see and rest within its shade? Before you chop another blow lay down your ax and wipe your brow and feel its shaded breeze, take one deep breath and smell its fragrance sweeter than a rose. Ax men deaf who will not hear the rustling of its leaves, the nesting birds with songs unmatched wafting through the air. Will you dare to cut this glorious tree and plant instead your briars and thorns? The Presidential Election of 2008 marked a major historical shift in American life and culture, not because the president elect was to be our first African American president, but rather because it was well known that he was the most liberal senator in both Illinois and in Washington. At that time in 2008 I laid before our congregation several unknowns yet to be discovered that would affect generations of Americans for many decades. Will he prove to be, a president for all the people? Will he soften his stance on his 'far left ideology'? What will be the impact of his Presidency on the foundation stones of our country? Will the nature and character of marriage and the family be re-defined? Will the Inclusive cultural curriculum of Secular Human Behavior be mandated for children in public schools? Will government funding for abortions be expanded, and 'Parental Notifications' be nullified? Will Partial Birth Abortions be legalized? Will medical care become socialized? Will there be a greater expansion of welfare and government hand-outs? Will 'citizenship rights' and 'social services' be granted to the millions of illegal immigrants? Will we see an escalation of attacks against the Rights of Free-Speech by Christians and by Conservatives in our society? Will there be new appointments to the Supreme Court – If so, what will be the impact for our future? As I write this article six years later, we know the answers to all of these questions except the last one regarding the Supreme Court. And we have learned far more than I had imagined six years ago. Far Left is very far from the large majority of Americans. I now ask the question, will it ever be possible to undo so many of the things that have been done in the deconstruction of our historical values? To my knowledge, no nation has ever been any stronger than its 'Moral character'. Daniel Webster (Rep from NH, and then Sen. from MA in the early 1800's) gave his first notable public address, on July 4, 1800, in Hanover (NH) while he was still an 18 year old student at Dartmouth. He said: "To preserve the government we must also preserve morals. Morality rests on religion, if you destroy the foundation, the superstructure must fall. When the public mind becomes vitiated (impaired, weakened) and corrupt, laws are a nullity (null) and constitutions are waste paper." Pres. John Adams (2nd Pres, 1797-1801) said: “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled (from) morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our constitution was made only for moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” In his 1828 dictionary, Noah Webster defines Politics as: “The science of government; that part of ethics which consists in the regulation and government of a nation or state, for the preservation of its safety, peace and prosperity; --- and the protection of its citizens in their rights, with the preservation and improvement of their morals.” The Politics we are becoming more and more used to don't seem to have much to do with either “ethics” or “the preservation and improvement of the morals of the citizenry”. Proverbs 14:34 “Righteousness exalts (to raise or lift up) a nation, but Sin (offense) is a reproach (a wicked thing) to any people (community, nation).” Today, there are many Axe Men furiously chopping away at the tap root of our nation, Os Guinness- Christian author and apologist, (from a speech in 2008, The Call To Civility), asked and answered a profound question: Question: Will the Western world sever, or recover its roots? - Answer. “No great civilization prevails, if it cuts its roots. And yet the West; shaped partly by the Greeks and partly by the Romans; but largely by the Jewish & Christian faiths, is on the edge of decisively severing that link. Europe has almost completely done that, and The United States is doing so increasingly in its leadership institutions.” The tap root of our country was planted deep by our Founding Fathers in the soil of God's providence and wisdom by men who were unashamed of bending their knees before Him! That founding tap root is broad and strong! It will not be severed in eight years, unless God allows it to be so, as His judgment against us for our sins as a nation against Him. Our National tap root is in need of much healing from the blight attacking it with more determination every day. What can be done to right the wrongs? I have but one lasting solution: It's time for the people of God to stop complaining and commit themselves to fervently pray for revival to spread across our land! And, that revival must begin with the purging and purifying of The Church! It is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:7) We not only have need to pray and to be prayed for (including the divine intercession of the Holy Spirit), we also have the 'responsibility to intercede' for one another and for all other people! 1 Timothy 2:1-6 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for Kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life (undisturbed), Godly and dignified (respectful) in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (For) There is One God, and there is one mediator between God and men, The man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time”. This life of intercessory prayer is a Divine Call on behalf of our Nation – as it were, our National Ministry, to be engaged in all prayer, for all of our leaders! For our own manner of living and quality of our Christian life! And for their salvation. Nothing short of the power of God can change the hearts and minds of our leaders; their politics and their policies! God knows what's happening in our country! That we as a nation are turning our faces away from Him. God sees and hears the ungodly policies and strategies being shaped, debated, and passed in the halls of our government and the courts. God sees and hears the cries of injustice; the cries of innocent and voiceless victims in the womb who's blood cries to God from the ground. God sees and hears the immorality polluting our land and the exploitation of the innocent, children and adults alike! None of it is hid from God! God sees the cultural and moral meltdown in America! And, God hears the fervent prayers of the righteous. We dare not rest in the thought that our prayers are not needed for America and for our President, because in the mystery of God's will, God meets 'some needs' only through 'the prayers of His people'. History Is Filled with the testimonies of God's answers to the prayers of His People! What will God do if we pray earnestly for the President, the heads of our government, the Justices, for the Governors and Mayors; for the restoration of "common sense ethics and morality"? for all the people of America? and for the awakening of The True Church of Jesus Christ? Will God give us victories for our land and its leaders, or have we already gone too far? I don't know the answer to that, but I don't need to know that answer! I simply need to know and believe that God hears and answers the prayers of His people; that I am to pray with fervent prayers of supplication, intercession, and thanksgiving! And that God is sovereign over all creation. Pastor Ralph Wetherington

You Are Cordially Invited to Attend THE ANNUAL SUNDAY SCHOOL CLOSING PROGRAM SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2014

AT 9:00 AM IN THE SANCTUARY All-Church Picnic Sunday, June 22nd (Food will be served at noon) Plan NOW to attend Reach Out and Bring A Friend! Hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages will be Please join us for a morning of Scripture, song and purchased by the church. There is a donation of $4.00 praise as the Sunday School students and teachers finish per adult and $12 per family to cover the cost of the up their year. First graders will be presented Bibles and meat, bread, chips, beverages, supplies, and paper goods. students who have participated in the Scripture Memory Each family is asked to bring one of the following Program will receive recognition. picnic foods to share with others. If your last name Please bring a container of sliced fruit to share in a begins with: fruit salad during fellowship time immediately following A - M bring a Dessert for 10 - 12 people the program in Lyon's Hall. Your fruit may be left in the N - Z bring a Salad for 10 - 12 people kitchen before the program. Thank you. F A free will offering will be taken to continue our DO Plan to come for fellowship, fun and food! sponsorship of Rumpa Mondal from India through the F DON'T Forget your lawn chairs and/or blankets. summer. Thank you for your financial and prayer Pre-sign-up is most helpful, as it enables us to support of Rumpa during this year. determine proper amounts of food and supplies needed. Ø REMINDER: Children should be in their classroom Please complete the bottom portion of the Bulletin insert by 8:45 am. and give it to the Deacon or Deaconess who will be at the Sign-up Table in the lower narthex on Sundays, June 1st, 8th, and 15th. Or you may call the church office (978-535-4112).

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S TO OUR 2014 GRADUATES!

HIGH SCHOOL: Josiah Alexander (Home School) Ariel Banville (Lynn Classical High School) Miranda Barnes (Peabody High School) ROCK SOLID Samuel Grayton (Home School) Caelie Neff (Home School) Rock Solid will NOT be meeting regularly on COLLEGE: Sunday evenings during the summer. Our final meeting Liesel DeFeo (Grove City College) will be Sunday, June 8th at 6:30 pm. We will have Katie Grayton (Cedarville University) special activities for both the senior high and junior high throughout the summer. Samantha Syska (Roger Williams University)

GRADUATE SCHOOL Nathan Neff (Wentworth Institute of Technology)

SonTreasure Island

WEST CHURCH PRESCHOOL HAPPENINGS Vacation Bible School 2014 July 14 - 18, 9:00 am to 12:20 pm The children have been discovering the wonders of one of God's great creations - the Ocean. The M/W/F This summer at SonTreasure Island, we will class will prepare and enjoy a breakfast with their dads create a fun and exciting island atmosphere where on Friday, June 6th. The T/TH children will have their children will have a great time singing, watching "Celebration of Learning" on Thursday, June 12th and skits, creating crafts and playing games. But most the M/W/F children will have their "Celebration of important, they will discover the treasure of God's Learning & Graduation" from Preschool on Friday, June amazing love. 13th. West Church families can register now on the Registration for Fall 2014 is ongoing. We currently have 10 children registered for the M/W/F program and church website: www.westchurchpeabody.org. 13 for the T/TH program. If you know of anyone Registration will be open to the public on Monday, interested in sending a child to the preschool, please June 2nd. have them call the church office. Thank you. If you would like to be a part of this exciting I cannot believe that another school year is coming program, the following positions are still open: a to a close. I truly appreciate your encouraging words & Music Director & Emcee; 1 pair of co-teachers for ask for your continued prayer. Thank you to the pastoral 1st and 2nd grade, 1 teacher for 3rd & 4thgrade, and office staff, the Preschool Committee, the Preschool helpers in 2's & 3's, Pre-k, Kindergarten, 3rd & 4th Staff, and those who work "behind the scenes" throughout the year to make the year successful! grade, 5th & 6th grade and the craft room. VBS Snack needs are as follows: Goldfish; Blessings, Cheez-its; Teddy Grahams; Oreos; Smart Food; Amy Cassidy Nilla Wafers; Twelve 1 gallon jugs of water; several 1 gallon jugs of Iced Tea; and approximately 100 individual water bottles for staff. Please leave your VBS donations in the Treasure Chest in the lower

narthex or in the kitchen.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or

boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

PIONEER GIRLS' NEWS

Happy Days of Summer!

Our Pioneer Girl year ended with a wonderful Awards Nights and Sleepover. In keeping with our theme, The Fruit of the Spirit, family members and friends passed into Lyon's Hall beneath a fruit-balloon arch into a fruit explosion with fruits suspended from the WEST CHURCH WOMEN'S RETREAT ceiling, fruit of the Spirit quilts hung on the walls, a fruity headband craft, and fruit colors everywhere. We "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your enjoyed a slideshow of highlights from our year heart and with all your soul and with all you mind and together, celebrated the girls' achievements for the year with all your strength." with the awarding of sashes adorned with newly earned Mark 12:30 badges, and shared a delicious fruit salad with sherbet. Once the parents, family members, Gal Pals and friends said "good night" and headed home, the Annual Pioneer Girl Sleepover began. The girls enjoyed a night full of fun! From a challenging game of Fruity Twister, to a Dress Up Relay that "glammed up" two of our leaders with everything from curlers and lipstick to face cream and feather boas, to a funny round of illusions by the Trailblazers, it was a busy night! The girls created colorful beaded pins as souvenirs of their evening or special gifts for Mother's Day. Before the girls headed off to their rooms, we had a special devotional time that ended by the girls gathering beneath the sign for the The Women's Retreat Committee particular fruit of the Spirit that they felt the Holy Spirit cordially invites you to attend is helping to grow in them right now. After a very late our annual fall retreat bedtime, they woke up Saturday morning to a delicious to be held pancake breakfast prepared by our wonderful Committee October 31 - November 2, 2014 and then headed home, hopefully to take a nap! at Brookwoods Conference Center While all the Pioneer Girls, leaders and committee members enjoy their summer vacation, there is still Alton, New Hampshire much to think about for next fall. We are busy planning

exciting events for the girls to enjoy. Pioneer Girls' Our guest presenters this year will be 2014-2015 year is sure to be amazing! Bonnie Ross and Kathy Roy We are still in need of more Gal Pals for this who will speak to us about upcoming year. The responsibilities of being a Pal are Knowing Jesus: Intimacy with God important but not demanding. Pals join us at Pioneer Girls for two special "Gal Pal" events - one in the late Friends are welcome. Please begin to pray about fall and the second at our Awards Night in May. whom God may put on your heart to invite. Throughout the rest of the year, Pals send cards on special occasions and pray for their Pioneer Girl. We invite all of the women in our West Church fellowship to Registration begins on June 1st consider being involved in this simple yet dynamic

ministry opportunity. Please let Michelle or Diane know if you are interested in more information about being a part of the Pioneer Girl ministry.

Enjoy a blessed summer, Michelle Gandra & Diane Haywood 978.490.0547 978.744.3789

West Church Reaching Out! As the West Church Community Outreach Team seeks creative ways to intentionally impact Peabody with the love of Christ, unique doors have opened leading to meaningful opportunities. Back in December, a free babysitting night was held for West Church Preschool families, enabling parents to have dinner or shop for Christmas presents. The children enjoyed a night of games led by the Rock Solid youth group, pizza, crafts and a telling of the Christmas story. Each family also received a copy of a children's devotional Bible. Over Mother's Day weekend, the Outreach Team hosted a free refreshment table at a yard sale fundraiser for Citizens for Adequate Housing on Washington St, Peabody. Dozens of baked goods were generously provided by the West Church congregation and given out with hot beverages on the cold and drizzly morning to yard sale shoppers and CAH staff. The Community Outreach Team prayed beforehand for ways to bring God into conversations with the visitors to the refreshment table. Many seeds were sown and Corey Jackson, CAH Executive Director, sent his In Memory of: gratitude, "We are so incredibly happy to have West Church as a community partner. The free coffee and Eleanor Harris homemade baked goods added a touch of hospitality and May 11, 2014 neighborly love to the event. Thank you to all the volunteers and bakers at West Church for assisting us in our mission of building community and hope for those most in need." The Community Outreach Team meets on the last Tuesday of every month. All are welcome to help brainstorm ways in which West Church can identify and meet local needs in the love of Christ, offering the hope of the gospel. For more information, contact Karen Moniz, (978) 407-3335 or [email protected].

Looking ahead: June 15th - Summer Schedule -- Church at 9:30am June 22nd: All Church Picnic (Food served at 12:00pm) July 14th - 18th: SonTreasure Island VBS October 31st - November 2nd: Women's Retreat at Brookwoods