Chapelccino

Christmas Eve Candlelight Concert

2010-12-21T06:34:00.000-08:00

A silent night in Bethlehem, a shining star in the sky, a Savior born to save us from our sins...

Join us this Friday, December 24th, 8:00 p.m. as we celebrate the birth of Christ.

Chapel on the Hill in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, will have a Christmas Eve Candlelight Concert. It will be an evening of majestic, Christ-edifying music, against the backdrop of our beautifully decorated colonial-style sanctuary.

It's a night worth remembering.

From today's bulletin

2010-10-24T20:09:00.000-07:00

Blest to be a blessing, privileged to care.
Challenged by the need apparent everywhere.
Where manking is wanting, fill the vacant place.
Be the means thru which the Lord reveals His grace.

Remembering Katrina, and Lakeshore Baptist Church

2009-09-03T19:11:00.000-07:00

Pastor Don Elbourne has posted a video clip, showing what he saw when he returned to his church, Lakeshore Baptist in Mississippi, four years ago today. It was the first time he was able to get there after Hurricane Katrina.

A few weeks after this was filmed, Chapel on the Hill sent a team of men (Pastor Bill Breckenridge, Frank Scerbo, Cliff Cherry, Blaise Wylie, Nate Abrams, Jeff D'Angelo, Mark Schoonfield, and Bill Hodgetts) to work in that devastated place. Two more teams of Chapel men went down in subsequent trips (Pastor Bill, Bill Hodgetts, Frank Scerbo, Pat Arthur, Scott Enchelmaier, Jeff D'Angelo, Blaise Wylie, and Mark Schoonfield, and then Pastor Bill, Pat Arthur, Scott Enchelmaier, Mark Schoonfield, Johnny Fabrazzo, Steve Hangge, Marc DiEdwardo, Stan Zimmerman, and Frank Scerbo). Later Pastor Bill and Donna-Jean went down, and then Chapel sent a team of women (Donna-Jean Breckenridge, Maria Hangge, Bethany Abrams, Elisa Fabrazzo, Arleen Zimmerman, and Debbie Capolino).

We also sent down many shipments of food, clothing, school supplies, Christmas gifts, cooking supplies, and cash, all provided by Chapel on the Hill.

We continue to send our prayers. To see what is happening at Lakeshore now, go to Brother Don's church blog: rebuildlakeshore.com

and pray for Lakeshore Baptist Church, and the people of that community, as they continue to share the Gospel and to be the hands and feet of Christ.

Because eternity matters most

2009-05-13T05:15:00.000-07:00

In our church, we pray for people's needs. Most often, the requests have to do with physical concerns, and that's normal.

But what matters most is the heart, and a person's spiritual life.

This weekend, Chapel on the Hill will lead a youth retreat in the mountains of Pennsylvania. We are thrilled to be able to speak to these young people about their walk with God. Make that their 'run' with God, as we focus together on Hebrews 12:1 & 2, and "Looking Unto Jesus."

We ask you to pray for them, and for us!

Leaders: Pastor Bill and Donna-Jean, Bethany and Nate.
Young People attending:
Alison, Matt, Gretchen, Nathan, Samantha, Timothy, Amanda, Mike, Melissa, Johnny, Delora, Andrew, Elizabeth, Jordan, Lindsey, Peter, Hannah, Daniel, Jessica, Mike, Vietta, Michael, Taylor, PJ, Emily, Jerard, and Erick.

Please pray - because eternity matters most!

"I Will Arise"

2009-04-10T22:24:00.000-07:00

Several of Chapel on the Hill's Cross Culture young people presented "I Will Arise," choreographed and directed by Bethany Abrams.

"Death will have no victory..."

It was an incredible night - we praise God for the Chapel Choir, under the direction of Pastor Anderson, as they sang songs of worship and adoration, and also for the message we heard.

The whole world will sing...

Redemption's Story

2009-04-10T06:05:00.000-07:00

Tonight at 8 p.m. at Chapel on the Hill, the Chapel Choir, Cross Culture Drama Group, and Pastor Paul Anderson will present "Redemption's Story."

Because it matters more than anything...

(Our Easter celebration of the Resurrection will begin at 9:45 a.m. Sunday with Chapelccino, then our Morning Worship at 10:30 a.m.)

In Their Own Words

2008-12-27T16:56:00.001-08:00

The people of Chapel on the Hill have sent in their Notes of Praise, telling what our church means to them.

Here are those notes, in their own words.

Coming to church on Sunday helps me to become a better person all week. It is like medication for the spirit. Stop taking it and you go back to your old ways.

I have enjoyed the opportunity of meeting some great people and appreciate the beautiful music.

I have enjoyed singing in the choir and the fellowship of the other choir members has been a blessing to me.

I like Chapel because I like to Praise God there and Sing!

I’m glad I have a special prayer buddy and I likes Chapelccino!!

We are thankful for our wonderful church family and knowing that we are always there for each other.

For me, Chapel has been a place of complete security as I tread through the totally insane world around me.

Chapel on the Hill gives me a chance to serve the Lord – delivering meals to our Christian family, greeting at the door, fellowshipping with our loving Christian family, learning by the preaching, being encouraged by others while we are having our problems, praying for others, getting to meet missionaries, and seeing my own family grow closer to Christ!

We’re visiting family members in another state right now but, as you can see, "you're always on our mind"!!

We thank everybody for their prayers for the healing of those who had ailments, it is so very thoughtful.

Chapel on the Hill is a warm, welcoming family of committed believers. The Ladies Fellowship reaches out to so many needy people with the love of Jesus. The Sharon Bible study means a great deal to me.

Worship and prayer for one another are important at Chapel on the Hill. I felt so covered in prayer when having surgery several years ago and when my mother passed away last summer. So many wonderful things take place at Chapel on the Hill.

Pastor Paul Anderson always brings me back to the Word......for this, I am most grateful and "well with my soul". I praise the Lord for bringing me to Chapel on the Hill.

Chapel on the Hill provides our family a place where the Word of God still remains the main source for guidance and where friends are considered family.

The body of Christ as Chapel teaches me how to seek God daily in our life. Our Pastor seeks the word of God right from the Bible and helps us to use the Scriptures in our walk. Chapel is a very special church and I am very grateful to have it.

I am grateful to have Chapel on the Hill as a home church where the preaching is great and the people are warm and caring.

God has used our Bible preaching pastors at Chapel on the Hill to bring me to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God has also used Chapel to give me a faithful praying church family, and Chapel is where I met my Faith Family Child whom I pray for and who gives some of the best hugs around!

I love going to the Chapel. We have been going there since 1977, when we joined the church. It is a safe haven for me. Whenever I need some support and some prayer help I go to my church family.

I thank God for the sound preaching of the WORD, the strong mission ministry both local and around the world, and the prayer life of the church.

There is a great compassion and sensitivity to the trodden, forgotten, and poor, both within the church and in faraway countries. Above all I appreciate the consistent lifestyle of the pastoral leadership and their families, a generous and loving church body, and the multiple opportunities to be of service all for the glory of God .

Chapel on the Hill has changed my life on so many levels that I don't even know where to begin. My fellowship with the Lord has never been stronger. My clarity of what God expects of me is clear now and I have made many new friends that I cherish.

We have personally witnessed the power of prayer, and the fellowship of a church family.

When in a time of facing a crisis or need, that is when you see God’s blessings flow through this church. It's the power of prayer from the people of Chapel on the Hill that has helped us through this past year.

Thank you to Chapel On The Hill for the biblical teaching, the faithful prayer support, and the faith in action shown by those who have helped my wife. A true “family of God”!

I thank God for Chapel on the Hill. I've learned so much from Pastor's teachings and to be in a church where we all have our ups and downs, but to know that we can pray for one another and be there for one another in our family of God means so much.

I thank God we have a teaching pastor who teaches us from the word of God, helping us to see in scripture the love that God has bestowed on us that we are called the "children of God".

I could go on and on about how much Chapel means to me, but what I would truly like to convey is that the powerful, insightful expositions of God's word each week have deepened and strengthened my spiritual roots and drawn me closer to my Saviour each new day.

Pure Joy, Peace. Awe, His Presence amongst His people who show their pure love for their Church Family and genuine prayerful concern for others is what Chapel means to me.

Through rough times, Chapel was always there to offer nothing but genuine love and prayer. I've learned though Chapel that God would see me though all of life's obstacles.

Chapel on the Hill has answered the question for me, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?" Yes, He certainly can, and has - for many years. A table where one can be fed and nourished by the faithful preaching and teaching from the Word of God, not fast food, but the kind of spiritual diet that helps you grow and develop into a mature believer. I thank God for this banquet hall where I have never gone away hungry or become malnourished, enabling me to walk each day in His strength and by His grace.

Chapel on the Hill is where unconditional love is shared by those with whom I will spend eternity together with Jesus! Chapel is HOME!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T23:28:00.000-08:00

...from Chapel on the Hill.

Missions Weekend

2008-11-07T06:53:00.000-08:00

It's an exciting weekend at Chapel on the Hill. We are having our Missions Conference - and launching a new ministry called "CUPbearers."

Also, Pastor Anderson has just published his book, "Habitations of Cruelty," chronicling the plight of children in places like Cambodia, Uganda, and Peru, and challenging readers to do something to make a difference in the world.

Check back here soon - we'll have it all for you to see!

Prime Timers!

2008-10-28T20:19:00.000-07:00

At Chapel on the Hill, we have a great deal of emphasis on young people. We have Cross Culture, KidzAction, IGNITE!, V-Clubs, and Salt and Light Club. Not to be outdone, another group has formed: the Prime Timers. Their demographic is a bit older, but just as joyful and enthused.

This past week, Prime Timers met to pray,

eat,

write letters of support to soldiers,

pack up gifts to our military,

focus on the Word,

and just have a great night together.

What a night!

2008-07-09T08:13:00.000-07:00

On my other blog, I write about our V-Club Banquet. Check it out - there are pictures here, too - it was a night to remember! Click here for the link.

The time of singing has come

2008-04-20T14:57:00.000-07:00

Solomon wrote these beautiful words:

For lo, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth,
The time of singing has come.

We've had so very many things to sing about at Chapel lately. We've been especially grateful for the new little lives in our church family.

Nicolette was born on St. Patrick's Day,

and had her church debut on April 6th. Congratulations to Johnny and Elisa, and big brothers Johnny and Anthony - we're so happy for all of you!

And then there's Grace.

We knew ahead of time that her life would be marked by struggle - but that she would also be safely guarded by her Heavenly Father. She was born on January 30th - and she has already had 13 surgical procedures. She is a witness to God's faithfulness, and to answered prayer.

When she came into church for the first time last Sunday,

she caused quite a stir.

Pastor is here with Dennis, Dina, Baby Grace, and big sister Jessica, to sing the song we sing each Sunday, "I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God."

We thank the Lord that Baby Nicolette and Baby Grace are a part of this Family of God.

Welcome spring

2008-04-08T07:43:00.000-07:00

A Chapel Christmas

2007-12-24T07:24:00.000-08:00

It's been a feast - a Christmas feast, at Chapel on the Hill. We've had music, drama, art, film, messages, and food - to say nothing of fellowship, love, and joy.

Our Christmas Celebration began with a musical program on December 14th. After a time of preparation and rehearsal, everything was made ready

for a beautiful evening.

Pastor Anderson led the 30-voice choir in majestic anthems of praise to God,

of rejoicing in the Incarnation, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection.

The candlelit service

also included drama, with a focus on the writings of the Old Testament prophets,

Micah and

Isaiah, and the writer John,

whose Holy-Spirit-inspired theme of "the Word became flesh" echoed in song throughout the sanctuary.

We included Mary and Joseph, and a wonderful duet

of "My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation."

And then it was time for the kids with Pastor Bill, as they rushed in,

carrying over a hundred shoebox gifts, in a re-creation of our yearly participation in Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child.

Pastor Bill spoke for a few minutes about the vision Pastor Anderson has shared for a "CUPBearers" ministry (supporting ministries that seek to reach the enslaved girls of Cambodia, the child soldiers of Uganda, and the street boys of Peru). It's an intense message for Christmas - and when we watched a short movie showing these little boys, drug-addicted and abandoned, living on the streets of Lima, our festive mood darkened. But when we showed the sequel - what Shama House is doing to rescue, rehabilite and (by God's grace) redeem these young souls - the true spirit of Christmas permeated.

Pastor preached of hope - of the importance of getting what's important at this Christmas time, the message of Emmanuel: "God with us."

Afterwards, several of Chapel's people saw a need for one of their Pastors, and met it - in an extraordinary way.

On Friday night the 21st, Chapel opened its first Christmas Art Gallery. What an array of God-given talent, in drawings,

many paintings,
(below by 16 year old Katelynn DeMeo)

sculpture (by 14 year old Nathan Breckenridge),

quilts,

woodcarvings (done by 15 year old Matt Kenny),

origami,

and wordcraft.

The participants enjoyed the Art Gallery

as much as the onlookers.

Afterwards, we had a great Movie Night, watching "The Nativity Story" and eating popcorn.

"Christmas Sunday" brought more preaching of the Word by Pastor,

more singing (from Pastor and Lois doing "The Family of God"

to the choir's concluding "Hallelujah Chorus")

and then a real feast: a Christmas spread like no other.

The church gave gifts to their Pastors - generous, love-blessed gifts. We ate, we laughed, we sang - again (this time

with the Salt and Light Band)

and we had a very special event:

we watched Bethany and Alison

and the Spirit Wars kids

perform a powerful mime to David Phelps' "End of the Beginning."

It was the dessert to the season for us.

A Chapel Christmas.

A body of believers, celebrating the Savior who came to be one of us, so He could die for all of us. We are rejoicing. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Christmas in the air

2007-12-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

The snow fell this past Sunday, and that means Christmas can't be far behind.

Saturday was spent decorating the sanctuary,

working together on props,

and deciding where everything should go.

There was time for conversation,

some rehearsing,

and just hanging out at church.

Saturday night was Cross Culture - which means

games,

fun,

laughter,

and giving thanks.

And of course there was lots of food - both for body

and soul.

Next morning the snow came,

and so did new members to our fellowship.

Monday was a night for more practice - both for the choir

and for the kids

There's excitement in the air - as we anticipate the Salt and Light Showcase this Friday night, Chapelccino and our Worship Service this Sunday, our Christmas Celebration on the 14th, our Art Gallery and Movie Night "The Nativity Story" on the 21st, and our Worship and Lunch-time Dinner on the 23rd.

There's a lot ahead - and in the words of the choir, "Christ is born - sing Alleluia!"

Picture of Praise

2007-11-23T07:21:00.001-08:00

The news is full of stories of those who got up early on Black Friday, to beat the crowds and get the deals. But the news at Chapel was of those who got up early on Thanksgiving Day in order to praise God for His mercy and blessings to us.

With coffee and cider, pastries and oranges, we met for just an hour - but there was no lag, no break in the testimonies. One after another stood, some who have done it year after year, others who for the first time publicly gave praise to God.

There were those who recounted God's faithfulness this past year - whether in miracle pregnancies, surgical recoveries, or mercies following a terrible theft. Others stood to speak of God's care for them in the little, daily provisions of life. Some said they had given up on church - until they came to Chapel, and experienced "authentic Christianity" in the lives of true brothers and sisters in Christ. There were testimonies of gratitude to God for the outpouring of Christian love in our church toward their spouses, their children, their families. And there were those who said it simply for everyone, "I want to say thank you for Jesus Christ."

There are many good ways to celebrate and enjoy Thanksgiving. Those who came out Thursday morning to be with the family of God all believe they had found the best way.

"Suffer the little children..."

2007-11-06T16:36:00.001-08:00

Jesus made it clear that He loved children, and wanted them to be able to approach Him and learn of Him. And so at Chapel on the Hill, we want to be like Him in that way.

Recently we renewed our long-standing prayer program entitled "Faith Family." The idea of our Faith Family is for adults in church to volunteer to pray daily for one of the children of our church. We match up Faith Family prayer partners, and it's exciting to see young people seeking out their "Faith Family" and to greet them each week.

As each adult committed before the Lord to pray daily for one special child, we trusted God to continue to guard, protect, and 'grow' them in Him.

This Sunday at Chapel, we'll extend that concern beyond our walls. It's "Shoebox Sunday," the day we bring in shoeboxes we've filled with gifts for boys and girls around the world, for Operation Christmas Child. This ministry of Samaritan's Purse shares God's love this way around the globe. Last year, 7.6 million shoeboxes were collected and distributed in many different countries. One of those countries was Zimbabwe.

Johnny, a seventh grader at Chapel, received a letter from the boy who received his gift box.

The letter read,

"Hi John. My name is Kida. I am 11 years old. I like to play hockey, cricket and rugby. I am in sixth grade. I really enjoyed the things in the box. I was born on the 25th of September 1995...I also enjoy reading books. Thank you. Please write back and we can be friends or pen pals."

As we send out these boxes, we pray for those who receive them - that they will be introduced to the love of Christ, and that many will come to know Him through the follow-up discipleship program.

This past weekend was the Missions Conference at Chapel. We sat and ate together, listened to presentations from some of our missionary family, and prayed over what we could give in this coming year to support our missionaries and missionary endeavors.

Our focus was on Dick and Kathy Page's ministry to orphans and needy children in Russia (the Pages are seen here speaking to some of the kids at Chapel),

David Virkler's evangelism ministry, the Camp Elim ministry in Haiti, a ministry to People With AIDS in Greenwich Village, Bible translation work in the Philippines, a church plant in the Yukon Territory, ministry to those displaced in the Sudan, and more...

And God is calling us to go even beyond this - especially for the lost children of the world. Pastor Anderson's heart has been moved to action, as he's learned of children in some of the darkest places of the earth. He is writing a book, "Habitations of Cruelty," about young girls trapped in sexual slavery in Cambodia, young boys turned into murderers as child soldiers in Uganda, and children living in the streets in Peru.

Pastor's message from Sunday is here, on Oneplace. His passion is to see these forgotten, invisible children reached with the transforming, rehabilitating power of the Holy Spirit. We look forward as a church family to doing all we can to share the love of Jesus Christ to these young ones trapped in these "Habitations of Cruelty."

Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. We want to be part of seeing that happen, by asking God to use us however He can - through praying for our own children at Chapel, through sending out a simple shoebox gift somewhere in the world, and through setting up a ministry of financial and prayer support for those who are fearlessly and faithfully working in these dark places.

Jesus laid His hands on those little children, way back in Bible times. And He's still doing it today. We want to be His vehicles, His vessels...His hands, for the children's sake.

Chapel Summers

2007-07-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

Summertime...and the livin' is - exciting!

Some of Chapel on the Hill's regular programs go on hiatus over the summer - but others kick into high gear.

Chapel's youth group, Cross Culture, had their infamous "Lock-In" - yes, most of the kids stayed up all night! It started out with one of Mr. Mark's legendary tail-gate picnics (the tail gate that's been everywhere from Mississippi to Autumn Blaze...)

The highlight of the night (and that's saying a lot) was Star 99.1's Radio Personality David A. Dein.

David shared with the kids how he got into radio - and what Jesus Christ means to him. His humor, honesty and encouragement were used by God to touch our kids' hearts.

The give-aways were a hit, too!

And what's a Lock-In without going out? We headed over to Boonton for some Midnight Bowling:

laser lights, mirror balls, music, the works.

Then it was on back to church for a snowball fight.

(Snow? in summer? Leave it to Bethany and Nate to come up with this. The snowballs were knee-hi's filled with flour, and tied. And yes, they cleaned it up.)

* * * * * * *

The Ladies Fellowship had their annual Banquet,

with a veritable feast of culinary and baked delights

and an evening of song and message that thrilled and inspired everyone who came.

* * * * * * *

Chapelccino is a monthly celebration at Chapel -

and for Father's Day, the women decided to honor the men with a fabulous spread. They cooked up all the guys' favorites -

French toast, SPAM, made-from-scratch fried doughnuts, and even fruit smoothies, for good measure.

* * * * * * *

Our start-of-summer church picnic was held on the church grounds,

with lots

and lots of food

in sunshiny abundance, and fellowship

from grown-ups

to kids

to the littlest ones...

* * * * * * * *

The newest addition to the Chapel calendar has been our Friday Nights at the Movies. We've had the popcorn machine popping as we've split our sides over Thou Shalt Laugh, and cheered and cried our way through Facing the Giants. This week, we'll travel back in time with Queen Esther in One Night With The King. And in August and September, we'll see the work of Michael Landon, Jr., in Love Comes Softly, sequel Love's Enduring Promise, and the fresh-from-the-theaters and not-to-be-missed powerful adaptation of Francine Rivers' novel The Last Sin-Eater.

* * * * * * * *

Our most important program is on Sunday morning - when we worship together,

sing praises to God,

read His Word

and study it together.

And our Pastor's messages can be heard even if you're not able to join us each Sunday!

Just go on over to Oneplace.com and listen here - our URL is www.oneplace.com/ministries/Chapel_On_The_Hill.

It's summertime at Chapel on the Hill - and the livin' is better than ever!

Thank you, Lord, for Ruth Graham

2007-06-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

For Donna-Jean's memorial on the life and ministry of Ruth Bell Graham, click here.

Praying for Virginia Tech

2007-04-19T18:26:00.000-07:00

Pastor has written to campus missionaries Charles and Susan Pugh at Virginia Tech (we learned of them through Chapel missionaries David and Marilyn Clark who will join them in that ministry on May 1st) and learned of how we can pray specifically. That prayer list is on my blog here - check it out. Also, thanks to Christian radio personality Cindy Swanson
here are some other important links - Campus Crusade's Virginia Tech page (with personal stories of VT students), and Campus Crusade's Call to Prayer.

Chapel on the Hill joins the church worldwide in praying, today and in the days to come, for the families of those killed, those still recovering in the hospital, those survivors who witnessed unspeakable horrors, and those involved in counseling and comforting, in the name of Jesus.

Contemplation on Calvary

2007-03-30T10:51:00.000-07:00

Good Friday - April 6th, 8:00 p.m.

Through Christ's death on the cross, we have been redeemed. Each year, we reflect on that historic incident. Through the ministry of the Chapel Concert Choir and dramatic presentations, we will be drawn back to that memorable moment. The theme of the evening's message from our pastor will be "Cross Purposes."

Easter Sunday - April 8th, 10:30 a.m.

Dramatic anthems will be heard throughout the auditorium. Music that has blessed the hearts of God's people down through the years will be presented by the Chapel Concert Choir. We will also present more contemporary selections that will uplift your spirit and remind you of the significance of the resurrection in today's world. Our pastor's timely message will be on "The Relevance of the Resurrection in this 21st Century."

For more information on Chapel on the Hill, including directions, go to www.chapelonthehill.org.

More Blessed to Give

2007-03-30T07:22:00.000-07:00

We do what we do for the Lord, leaving the results with Him. But sometimes we get to see how our God-directed efforts have blessed others.

This fall, women of all ages from Chapel on the Hill made and sent nearly 500 total hand-knit and crocheted scarves, hats, mittens, gloves, and slippers to Soar International for its annual Stuff-A-Stocking ministry to needy children in orphanages in Russia.

What a blessing to see the pictures of those children opening up the stockings and wearing the gifts we sent them.

Soar International reports that they were able to deliver over 2400 of these stockings (each filled with hygiene items, toys, school supplies, warm clothing, and a Bible). They said they "traveled by bus and train (and even by snow machine in eastern Russia!) to more than 25 different sites in central, northwest and eastern Russia." In some areas SOAR team members even added a clown costume, just for fun.

Pray for the churches and pastors in Russia who worked alongside SOAR and will continue ministering to these children. And pray, too, for the coming Easter Baskets of Hope (go to SOAR for more info) which will be going to Russia April 14-21st. And pray for the children of Russia to know the love of Jesus.

Foundational Work

2007-03-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

Back in November, a team of nine men from Chapel on the Hill set off for another missions relief trip to the still devastated-after-Katrina-but-rebuilding Gulf Coast of Mississippi.

Pastor Bill Breckenridge, Pat Arthur, Marc DiEdwardo, Scott Enchelmaier, Johnny Fabrazzo, Steve Hangge, Frank Scerbo, Mark Schoonfield, and Stan Zimmerman went to Lakeshore Baptist Church and this time they were able to begin building a home.

"Ms. Peewee" has been living in a FEMA trailer since Katrina hit, over a year ago.

Our men started to work,

to dig, put in cement blocks,

and mix and pour concrete.

They laid the foundation for a new home for her.

By the time they were done, the cement block foundation (with a little memorial "Chapel On The Hill" graffiti) was all in place.

The men prayed with Ms. Peewee, asking God's blessing on her and on the future He has for her in her coming new home.

The guys were also able to work on James' house - putting up drywall and spackling.

It was hard for them to leave - they wanted to continue, but time was up for this trip.

Now that they've been home for awhile, they've learned that other teams have come in and were able to build on their work. Another team came to put up the walls

and still more teams came to continue building this much-needed house.

As we look back on the several Chapel-sponsored trips to Mississippi and the Gulf Coast (Pastor Bill to Louisiana with Samaritan's Purse just a few weeks after Katrina hit, the first men's team in October of 2005, the second men's team in January of 2006, Pastor Bill and Donna-Jean's trip in March of 2006, the women's team in April of 2006, and now this trip), we thank God for the small part we had in helping those whose lives were so rearranged by this disaster. We pray that the foundation of their future is laid by putting all their hope and trust in Jesus Christ. We will not forget them.

(click on any picture to enlarge)

What's Happening at Chapel on the Hill

2007-02-14T19:20:00.000-08:00

God's at work - in our church, in our lives, in our hearts!

"New Beginnings" - Chapel's evening Bible study for women - started last week, and on the first and third Wednesday of each month, Pastor's wives Lois Anderson and Donna-Jean Breckenridge (yours truly) will be teaching on the Women of the Bible.

Our first session was to a packed house (Maria's, that is), where we studied Priscilla, her busy, stressful life, and her passion for making God's Word a priority. "That I may know Him" (Philippians 3:10) is our goal - so we each took the name of another woman there that night, and promised to pray for her each day, that she would draw closer to God and walk with Him more accurately and effectively. Our next study - February 21st - will be on Hannah, and what we can learn from her about prayer.

Not to be outdone, our men met together for a fabulous breakfast - with Lou and Joe and Scott cooking, it had to be great! Along with the great food, they had a time of study and planning - they are truly "Ironmen" (each praying for the other, Proverbs 27:17), "Minutemen" (ready to help, serve, and even go at a moment's notice...whether in Mississippi for Katrina relief or in our own building, with the reflooring they finished last week, or in helping one another), and "Workmen" (II Timothy 2:15 - workmen who don't need to be ashamed because they are rightly dividing the Word of truth). They're putting together ideas for their next way to 'bless' Chapel in a big way, and we're excited about it! (Ask one of them...)

Cross Culture continues to grow in numbers and enthusiasm.

We pray for the youth of our church, and we're grateful to Bethany and Nate and their continued desire to lead, befriend, and disciple them...

...even when they act a little zany.

Our "Friday Night Family Place to be" is Salt and Light Club. Officially for preschool through 6th grade, it's become The Place for anyone and everyone who loves the band, loves the kids, loves the study and movie devo time, loves the fun....

...and loves the Lord.

V-Clubs! That's Valor Club for boys, Virtue Club for girls. It's a complicated time to figure out who you are as a young man or young woman in today's world - and we want our Christian kids to know God's Word in this, and the support of their church family. So what times we've planned for them! The first night was memorable - the boys are still talking about it (ask one of them!) and the girls, too (read a bit about it here, at the end of the article). We'll meet again next week.

SHARON (weekday women's Bible study), Ladies Fellowship, Children's Bible Hour, Chapelccino,

Connections Bible Study (where we take time as a church family to dig deeper and pray more specifically for our church family, our missionary family, our community, our world), our Sunday morning time of worship and praise led by Paul (this week we'll join hundreds of churches across America and around the world in singing "Amazing Grace" in recognition of the 200th anniversary of Christian leader William Wilberforce's fight to end the slave trade...join us in this!), our choir's lifting up of the name of Jesus in song -

and some very wonderful news:

Chapel on the Hill is heading over to Oneplace.com! If you're new to Oneplace, it's the "leading provider of Christian audio content on the Internet" (a great place to go, you can listen to everyone there!) - and very soon, Chapel's weekly messages will be heard there, too (we'll announce it here as soon as we're 'up and running'). We hope to start with Pastor Anderson's message series on the Song of Solomon. It's worth waiting for!

God is so good to us.

Christmas Expectation

2006-12-21T14:01:00.000-08:00

That was the title for this Sunday's morning worship and celebration time: Christmas Expectation, for Christmas was just a week away.

Christmas is coming - are you ready? No, not are all your gifts bought and wrapped - but are you ready for the blessings God has for you this Christmas season?

And once again, our sanctuary was filled with song - "Canticle of Joy" (for each of these music links, scroll down the linked page to Audio Previews and click on 'full-length' to hear the song), "Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne",

and "Bethlehem Joy" ("Good news! Great joy! Mary's had a baby boy...").

Some of the Chapel kids and teens came to the front with me

and after seeing how they used to trim trees in the 'days gone by' (Pastor Bill's childhood Christmas home movie!)

we made our own version of a "Crismon Tree" - apparently it's the 50th anniversary of this tradition, but our first time at it, and so we had made "crismons" (Christ monograms - gold and white handmade ornaments that depict names of Christ or aspects of His life and power). Different women and girls in the church made each of ours in counted cross stitch

(there were no pattern books I could find anywhere - so I 'clicked to enlarge' the crismons shown here and figured out the patterns from looking at the pictures.)

The Chapel kids hung the crismon ornaments on two of the trees and added candy canes as well, to remind us of the shepherds who were the first to worship Christ.

Paul D'Angelo and the choir sang the moving song "Who Is This King?" -

Who is this King
That sets the captives free?
Who is this King
Who makes the leper clean?
Who is this King
who has the power
to forgive the darkest sin?
Jesus is His name...

as our hearts were softened to hear the Word of God preached with power and the anointing of God.

Our messages are rich - there is no other word for them. We have heard about the tetragrammaton - the holy name of God, and the hypostatic union - the complete divinity and humanity of Christ in which He retained all of His divine nature but humbled Himself and became poor (not royal, not even middle class, but poor), for us...totally human yet still totally God -

and Pastor presented these truths in such a way that young and old, visitor and Chapel family member, could thrill to them as much as to the music and the setting.

And when the service was over, we feasted!

Instead of our usual 'potluck,' we had a first-time Christmas Family Dinner catered by Eight Hills in nearby Verona. One hundred and fifty of us gathered downstairs for chicken savoy, roast beef, meatballs, penne vodka, salad, fruit and cheese platters and more. A banquet worthy of the occasion...

Chapel people brought desserts (what a spread that was!)

and we even had a special treat -

the cotton candy machine we had used that Friday for our Salt and Light Night at the Movies (we showed the kids "Best Christmas Pageant Ever" to cotton candy and popcorn)

- and everyone got into the act.

What fun we had...

Pastor and Lois, still romancing after fifty years of marriage...

Then it was time for the Salt and Light Band -

and Steve Kropa, Mark Schoonfield,

Matt Kenny and Pastor Bill played, while Bethany Abrams and the kids got us all singing.

* * * * * *

And it's not over yet. Each Monday night, the Chapel Choir has been rehearsing for these December Sunday Celebrations.

It's a lot of work, as Pastor, the sound guys, and the choir work together to prepare for these presentations. But something happens in these rehearsals. God meets in extraordinary ways. When the choir sang their songs for this Sunday, Marilyn Schmidt sang "Birthday of a King,"

and Stan Zimmerman and Paul D'Angelo practiced their powerful "My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation,"

the presence of the Lord was in that place. We could scarcely speak, we were so aware of Him.

This Sunday is something to look forward to - we can't wait to receive the blessing God wants to give us, and we can't wait to tell the story we must share.

Chapel on the Hill is located at 560 Ridge Road (across from the reservoir) in Cedar Grove, New Jersey - and our Sunday morning celebration will be at 10:30 a.m.

A Continuing Celebration

2006-12-13T06:15:00.000-08:00

Chapel on the Hill is continuing its week-by-week celebration of the Incarnation of Christ with song, drama, message, and food. On Sunday, the foyer was filled with the camaraderie of fellowship

as we ate together in our monthly "Chapelccino" coffee time (Sandra, Maria, and Dina),

and heard the strains of Christmas carols sung by Stan and Michael, with Phyllis accompanying.

When the service began, the 27-voice choir sang words that have lingered with us throughout the week:

Just to think such royalty would come the way He came,
In a dusty little town.
Born in such humility upon a bed of hay,
Certainly He laid His glory down.
Who would think this little child would be the promised One?
Certainly this was no birth place for the Son of God!
Isn’t it amazing the way He came? No crown, no throne, no big parade?
There were no fanfares played, no jubilant display.
Isn’t it amazing how He came?

Mark, David, and Nate dramatized the prophets Isaiah and Micah and the apostle John,

as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write, and the choir sang "The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us."

Pastor's message followed the lyrics he led the choir in singing:

"Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade.
To write the love of God on high
Would drain the ocean dry,
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky."

He spoke on the "river of reconciliation" that flows from the Old Testament books straight through the Gospels, and how Christmas has always been in the heart of God.

It's in our hearts now, too - and we look forward to this Sunday, to another Christmas Celebration, as we gather the children of Chapel in decorating a "Crismon Tree," sing the praises of our newborn King, and then have a Christmas Dinner together.

A Celebration

2006-12-05T11:03:00.000-08:00

At Chapel on the Hill, we have had a Christmas Eve service for many, many years. It's always been a spectacular night - with us attempting to offer our very best as gifts to the Lord in music, drama, beauty, and Christmas joy.

In the last year or two, though, we've had a harder time reaching the people we want to, due mainly to the hour. Christmas Eve around here has become a time for families to stay home. What we have is a message we want to share, not just keep to our selves. So - we adjust.

We've been planning for this for months. It usually begins some gloriously sunny summer afternoon at the family cottage on Lake Ontario - when the Pastor starts in with, "This is what I've been thinking about for Christmas," - and come fall, the choir begins their work of learning songs week after week.

The result is that this year, in lieu of one Christmas Eve night service, we will celebrate Christmas for all five Sunday mornings in December. To make it look like that special evening program, we've re-done the sanctuary to look like night-time - blocking the windows and creating the ambiance of that special night.

All day this past Saturday, we decorated. Many, many of our Chapel people were there. It was a busy place - with ladders, saws, strings of lights, wreaths, new ideas, and an ever-present pot of coffee brewing...

By afternoon, the effect was dazzling. There was Christmas in the air, as it was already in our hearts. But one moment stood out.

While some were covering windows to keep out the brightness, others wrapping strands of lights around the trees, and still others figuring out where to hang wreaths and other decorations, another family walked in to help.

Mark, Lenka, and twelve-year-old Elizabeth stood in the foyer, and as word spread that they'd arrived, one by one the workers went to them - to hug them in that strong embrace that often says more than any words can express.

Late the night before, after our Friday night Salt and Light Club where Mark played his guitar and sang, he received a phone call saying that his brother Drew, who lived a distance away, had died suddenly, leaving behind a wife and three young children. It was shocking news, and very hard to absorb. We had heard of it just that morning, and had been telling each one as they arrived.

Mark later said it made sense to not just sit home that day - that they wanted to be with their church family. And so, we all worked together - sometimes through tears, but always with love and understanding.

On Sunday morning, Mark, Lenka, Elizabeth, Mark's dad and his other brother David sat down front in church. Often there were tears - and not just when news of their loved one's death was announced at a point in the service. But they were there - with family, the family of God, receiving their support and prayers, and also demonstrating to them something Mark and Lenka had learned exactly four years before with the shocking stillbirth of their baby daughter Anna - that God is with us in our grief, and will be with us no matter what.

God with us. Sounds like Christmas.

Jesus Christ - the eternal second Person of the Godhead, as the Bible teaches - came to earth as a tiny human baby, so we could see and know - and be redeemed by - God.

He came to save us from our sins, yes. And He came to conquer death - the very death that steals families of fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, sisters and brothers.

Drew is with God - but God is with us. And that in essence is the Christmas message - that Jesus came so we could know God, and be with Him forever. Not even death can destroy that truth.

Tomorrow, one family will say goodbye to a dearly loved member. It seems an added grief to have to do that in the midst of poinsettias and little twinkling white lights. And yet - Christmas is the reminder that Jesus came, He wants to come into our hearts and lives, and He is coming again.

It's a message we will celebrate, we will share, in joy and in sadness, for all the Sundays of December, and every day of our lives.

The Reach of Our Hands

2006-11-21T20:52:00.000-08:00

The count is in for the knitted and crocheted scarves and hats for Soar International's Stuff-A-Stocking project for children in Russian orphanages.

The women of Chapel on the Hill made:

186 matched sets of hats and scarves
13 small hats and mittens
6 pairs of slipper socks
60 scarves
17 hats
31 pairs of gloves

More are coming in, and more are being given to Star of Hope Mission in Paterson.

"She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands...She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy." Proverbs 31:13,20

Prayer Alert!

2006-11-18T10:17:00.000-08:00

Leanne Cherry, a beloved member of our Chapel family, has received a call from Mount Sinai in New York that a kidney and pancreas are available to her. She is leaving immediately and will have an added blood test (the last one indicated this would be a match, but they have to be sure) - and the surgery could be as early as tonight.

Pray that her blood is a match, that the surgery is a success, that her body accepts the organs, that she is able to tolerate the immunosuppressive drugs, that she has perfect peace, and that she is a testimony in the hospital to the love and grace of God through Christ.

(Leanne has diabetes, which has caused her blindness. She has received kidney transplants in the past from her husband, Cliff, and from her mom, Nancy. She is a vibrant Christian, and has become the standard for victorious Christ-like living in our church community. "When I think of how Leanne handles her trials..." is a common encouraging word to us.)

The picture is from our morning service two weeks ago. Each Sunday during our weekly greeting-and-singing of "Family of God," Pastor Anderson brings up someone from the congregation to sing with him. Click on the picture to enlarge it.

UPDATE: Leanne just called. The donor's family has changed their minds (most likely, this was not on the person's driver's license, a family cannot override that). Leanne is upbeat, and still trusting the Lord, proving yet again to us what the Christian life looks like in the face of adversity. Thank you, Leanne. Know we continue to pray.

A P.S. from Leanne and Cliff:
"It is a huge blessing to know we are a praying church family...Cliff and I are so encouraged and honored to be a part of such a faithful family with a very faithful Father at their head...I know that God has His purposes even in the disappointment of this, and we also need to remember to pray for the family who has lost this loved one...God brought to mind how much we need to pray for their sorrowful time and for their possible need as Christ as their savior. One great thing to know too is that I must be at the top of the transplant list and, hopefully, those organs for me will come very soon. Thanks again."

Coffee, Praise, Gifts, and Our Team

2006-11-13T09:57:00.000-08:00

As usual, a lot's been happening around here...

Yesterday, our church had its once-a-month Chapelccino breakfast,

sang our praises as a part of the "Family of God,"

then poured out a desire to show children around the world the love of Jesus Christ in a tangible way,

by meeting and exceeding our goal of 100 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.

Sam and Miriam Armijos headed up our effort,

and when they led the children in with the abundance of gifts, we were overwhelmed.

There were 120 shoeboxes on Sunday, and more keep coming in.

Pastor led us all in prayer, and we rejoice in this opportunity.

We pray God will use these small gifts to bring many to know His love and salvation,

and to encourage our children in the blessing of giving to and praying for others.

AND -

our Mississippi Team is featured on another blog! Sharon is a librarian from Chicago, who after a few trips to help the Gulf, quit her job, sold her house, and headed there to help. She goes to my brother Chuck's church, Reunion, and that's how we connected with her and were able to point her in the direction of Lakeshore Baptist.

Sharon has some kind words about our team and a great picture of them here, standing in front of the steeple that was the only piece left from the church after Hurricane Katrina hit it. Go back and read her other posts and see her other pictures, it's a great chapter in the whole God's-people-and-Katrina story.

On their way again...

2006-11-08T20:28:00.000-08:00

After enjoying a beautiful candlelit Italian dinner at church - cooked by Maria and Chickie - the Chapel Men's Mississippi Team packed for their trip. Despite the rain, they got all they needed into the three SUV's heading to the Gulf.

Pastor Anderson prayed for protection and safety for the men as they drive through the night, for their time together to bring them closer to each other and to the Lord, and for them to be a blessing to those in Mississippi they are going to help.

Their send-off included wives, kids, parents, and several other Chapel members, promising their prayers and wishing them the best. The drive to Lakeshore is 1,300 miles.

Pray for our men. The team this time includes (left to right) Marc DiEdwardo, Pastor Bill Breckenridge, Steve Hangge, Mark Schoonfield, Johnny Fabrazzo, Frank Scerbo, Stan Zimmerman, Scott Enchelmaier, and Pat Arthur.

What's Happening

2006-11-06T19:52:00.000-08:00

The Chapel men are leaving for Mississippi again this Wednesday.

For some pictures and comments about it, click here.

This week, Chapel on the Hill fills shoeboxes with gifts for Operation Christmas Child, rehearses for our Chapel Christmas Sundays, and sends off our Mississippi missions team.

Stay posted - we'll share more from the men as they head out!

Like a Servant

2006-10-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we had our Missions Conference at Chapel on the Hill. Our church gave a Faith Promise to give $74,000 this next year toward the missionaries and missionary endeavors that we support all around the world - from Bible translation in Papua New Guinea, to children's work in Uganda, to a camp ministry in Haiti, to evangelists in the United States, to Christian radio in the Caribbean, to a small plane pilot who goes into Russia, to our own Katrina Relief, to Samaritan's Purse, to missionaries in a native American tribe in Mexico, to missionaries to a Hopi village, to a national evangelist in Indonesia, and more.

It was a great weekend in which we ate together, fellowshipped together, and learned more of what God is doing through our missionaries.

We also took on two new missionaries, for financial and prayer support. One was Ted and Sally Baker, serving God in a remote area of the Yukon (perhaps that's redundant, it sounds as though just about any area is remote in the Yukon). Ted and Sally have taken dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada, and their testimony in their village is that of compassion and Christlikeness.

(A funny story Ted told on himself...he's the identical twin brother to our own Dan Baker. When Dan couldn't get him at the airport and instead sent a friend from our church, Ted asked, "Do I need to have a sign with my name? How will he know who I am??" Dan paused for a moment, then reminded him, "Ted...we're twins, remember?")

The other missionary we took on is Cathy Wilson, who ministers to the Jewish community. Through dramatic portrayals and reminders of the Jewish roots of our faith, she stirred our hearts to pray for the peace - spiritually - of Jerusalem, and to be bold in our witness to our Jewish friends.

David Virkler told of what God is doing in his radio and evangelistic ministry here in the U.S., and David Clark showed pictures of what's been happening in the seminary in southern India where he and his wife have served for many years.

He was showing pictures of their recent graduation ceremony, and how the graduates don't wear the academic hood we use in the U.S., but rather a type of stole or fabric scarf that bears the school's colors. It is draped around the back of the neck and the two ends hang down in the front. I was listening to him tell of these young Indian men and women who would now go out into other parts of their country to tell the Gospel of Christ, when I was called out of the room for a few moments.

When I came back in, I noticed that on the picture up on the screen, the graduate had not only the academic scarf indicating a Master's of Divinity degree, he also had a green and white checked piece of material on his shoulder. It looked a little odd, and I wondered about it.

I whispered to my Mom, "It looks like he's wearing a dish towel!" Then she told me what I'd missed...

After the new graduate receives his degree, this dish towel is also placed across his or her shoulder. It is meant as a tangible reminder that he is to be a servant, to minister to others as Jesus did.

It was a wonderful weekend, and I will remember many lessons, many faces, many needs. Yet above all, the illustration of the dish towel has lingered with me. Jesus Christ wants me to be a servant - no matter my idea of my own talents, education, even my own desires.

The person God can use most in this world - is a servant.

The Work of Her Hands

2006-10-17T20:48:00.000-07:00

Chapel on the Hill's Ladies Fellowship has been busy.

The women's group meets the second Tuesday of each month; at their October meeting, they began much work for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Thanksgiving Boxes of Love have been assigned, and all the many specific food items will be brought in to church in another week. (Each box contains all the 'fixings' for a large meal). They will be given to Star of Hope Ministries in Paterson, to distribute to needy families, so they can have a special Thanksgiving.

The People With Aids project makes certain that all sorts of new items (bathrobes, underwear, toiletries, lap blankets, etc.) are provided and wrapped for our missionary in New York City to distribute at Christmastime. Other items are being sent to our retired missionary in Lousiana, for distribution in a nursing home there.

For Camp Elim in Haiti, bundles of wash cloths, toiletries, and hair ties are being sent, along with handmade lightweight blankets and children's clothes.

For Christmas gifts for needy children through Star of Hope Ministries, brand new board games are being bought and given (the mission's request this time), along with blankets.

And this year, handknit scarves with hand-crocheted matching hats are being sent to our missionaries in Alaska, the Pages, to be flown into Russia and handed out to children in orphanages there. At the October meeting, some of the women in Ladies Fellowship just learned - or re-learned - how to knit, specifically so that they could make these scarves and hats.

The Ladies Fellowship list of items needed for the fall ministries says,

"God gives us all we need so we can give to those in need!"

Praise God!

2006-10-02T20:41:00.000-07:00

We've been praying for many months for little Taylor Hutchcraft, the 10 month old son of our missionaries Doug and Anna Hutchcraft (go here to see an adorable picture of him). Here is a letter from Doug's sister with a report on baby Taylor.

Take a moment to read this report of a mighty miracle. We prayed - God heard, in His mercy, and answered. It will encourage you in your own life!

“. . . this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” John 9:3b

Dear praying friend,

My dear brother, Doug, said last night that he was “dancing in his heart like David”! He had hoped to write to you, but he is still at the hospital with his son, Taylor, and he wanted to update you much sooner.

I would like to spare some details, however God has been the great God of detail in the miraculous things He has done in Taylor’s body. We pray it will be an encouragement to you, of how God works in your own life when you pray, and in the lives of others!

Here’s the bottom-line history of Taylor’s short 10-month-old life. Time and again, when health professionals have gone to work on Taylor, expecting something terrible, they were shocked by what they found.
“He probably won’t be viable.” Changed to “He’s living!”
“It looks like there’s bleeding on the brain.” Changed to “There’s no bleeding
evident at all!”
“We’re looking for the defects we believe will be there.” Instead: “Those defects just aren’t there!”
After being taken to therapy for cognitive and social problems, they said he didn’t need to come back, since “it’s a place for kids with problems.”

And that brings us to yesterday.

Here’s a quick look back:

April 2006 – Taylor’s pulmonary artery is 2mm wide. Too constricted for healthy blood flow from the heart to the lungs. His oxygen level was lower – in the 80’s.

August 2006 – Taylor’s oxygen level remains low – in the 80’s.

September 21, 2006 –
Doctors hope to use a balloon in that artery, possibly put in a stent, and determine if he will need open heart surgery. Upon entering Taylor’s artery, one doctor looks to another and says, “How can this be?”

They are looking at an artery that “somehow” in the last couple of months has been stretched and is now more than double in size! We know Who did that stretching and expanding!! The doctors are “amazed, and cannot explain it!”

The doctors asked, “Are you sure it hasn’t been ballooned already?” - since the
artery was so much larger!

They did use a balloon just to “even out some areas”.

As for Taylor’s oxygen level – it was at 100% for the first time – even before the procedure! There’s a direct correlation between the size of the artery, and how much oxygen Taylor is getting!

After smoothing out that artery, and checking another one, the doctors moved over to check the hole in Taylor’s heart. In January (when Taylor had a pacemaker put in), this hole had been shooting blood where it shouldn’t. Well, as of yesterday, that hole is healing up, is very tiny now, and there is hardly any blood leaking!

Then the doctors moved to check where the original surgery occurred. Again, that
surgery was needed to build a wall between the blood with oxygen, and the blood without oxygen (truncus arteriosus).

During that surgery, usually artificial material is used to help create the missing
wall. In Taylor’s case, there “happened” to be a piece of tissue hanging there, so that was used to build the new wall in his heart. Well, we know Who put that tissue there!

Yesterday, the doctor (he did not do the original surgery) told Doug and Anna how
well that has healed, too, especially with it being artificial material. He said it was working well, but since it was man-made would probably need to be replaced in a couple of years.

Doug said, “Doctor, I’m glad that it’s working well, but it’s not man-made. That’s Taylor’s own tissue!” The doctor said that almost never happens – to have a piece of tissue there and to even be able to use it for that original surgery. He smiled and was just shaking his head in amazement!

Then Doug said, “Doctor, you know we’re a praying people . . . do you know what we’re hearing you say?” The doctor said, “I’m a believer, too.” God gave precious Taylor a wonderful Christian surgeon!

Then the doctor uttered some words that brought tears to all of our eyes: “Based on what I’m seeing today, I think Taylor’s going to live a very long life.”

We remember

2006-09-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

Chapel on the Hill is located just a few miles from New York City. 9/11 was a day we will never forget, and we remember today all those who lost their lives in the attack on our country. We pray for those left behind, and we ask God to give them comfort; we pray for those who fight for our freedom, and we ask God to give them success and safety; and we pray for those who lead us, and we ask God to give them wisdom.

Tonight, the twin lights are lit from Ground Zero, to commemorate this fifth anniversary.

Picture by Chapel member Joey Fabrazzo

Prayer for a special little one

2006-09-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

Chapel on the Hill missionaries Doug and Anna Hutchcraft, who minister to the Hopi nation, are asking prayer for their little son, Taylor Ronald (named for missionary Hudson Taylor, and his grandfather Ron Hutchcraft).

It's hard to believe, but Taylor Hutchcraft is almost 10 months old. That's 10 months older than some doctors thought he'd be with us!

Taylor isn't just surviving...he's thriving. He is exactly where he should be in his cognitive and social abilities. He is a little behind on motor skills, but that was expected because of his size (he's still a little under 13 pounds). Taylor's eating baby food now, smiling all the time, and just started to say "mama". He is almost crawling...he wants to so badly. It's just a matter of a couple of weeks, his daddy thinks.

I'm writing to you today because WE REALLY NEED YOUR PRAYER FOR TAYLOR! I am sorry I haven't given more updates until now, but I plan to change that. ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, TAYLOR WILL BE BACK IN THE HOSPITAL FOR HEART PROCEDURES. He has a pulmonary artery that is still too small. That is affecting the amount of blood that gets to his heart and lungs, which affects his overall oxygen level. His oxygen saturation level has decreased enough where the doctors feel like they need to put a balloon into his artery to make it wider.

As you can imagine, this can be a risky procedure for a baby. His artery is only about 2 centimeters wide! It's amazing what doctors can do these days, but it's not them we will be trusting. God has sustained and blessed Taylor every step of the way...many times through you.

WOULD YOU JOIN US IN PRAYING for Taylor's healing according to God's will and purposes, for doctor's wisdom, and that if the Lord doesn't heal Taylor before this procedure, that it would go perfectly? Taylor has come so far. Surgery complications could change that. Surgery failure could mean Taylor going to Heaven.

I hate typing that sentence. It brings a huge lump to my throat. But we so desire your prayers...we've got to let you know how potentially serious this is.

We are so encouraged that we have friends like you that love God, Taylor, and our family. THANK YOU for all you have done and your prayers now. We love you very much and thank our Heavenly Father that you are in our lives!

In His service,
The Hutchcraft Family

Be praying for the Hutchcrafts and especially for little Taylor.

Front Page, Above the Fold - and the Editorial Page, too!

2006-09-08T16:19:00.000-07:00

Chapel on the Hill members Bethany Abrams and Donna-Jean Breckenridge comfort hurricane victim Julia Leddy. Church volunteers cleared debris from Leddy's Waveland, Miss., property to make way for a FEMA trailer. The Cedar Grove congregation is planning another trip to the Gulf Coast in October.

Chapel on the Hill recently made the front page (above the fold) of the local paper, the Verona-Cedar Grove Times, with this picture and caption. In an article entitled "Communities still show compassion," Chapel on the Hill's trips to Katrina-battered Mississippi were highlighted.

The Chapel on the Hill team stop for a picture while cleaning out the Bay St. Louis home of John Roberts, who rode out the storm. Pictured, from left, are Donna-Jean Breckenridge, Chapel's director of ministries; Elisa Fabrazzo of Cedar Grove; Cody, Robert's nephew, of Bay St. Louis; Maria Hangge of Cedar Grove; Debbie Capolino of Little Falls; Arleen Zimmerman of Cedar Grove and Bethany Abrams of Parsippany.

We enjoyed being interviewed by Jennifer Blenner, who interviewed us back in the fall for a front page article about our first trips to Mississippi.

But it was the editorial page that was so unexpected.

It's titled "When $4 billion is not enough." It starts out like this:

No one should be surprised that the devastated Gulf Coast, slammed by Hurricane Katrina one year ago, is still, well, devastated. A strong Category 3 storm (its strength when it hit the coast) always leaves its mark for years, no matter where it lands. And this one performed a double whammy by breaking the levees in New Orleans, leaving about 80 percent of the city uninhabitable.

The editor wrote about the blaming over the slow response that followed - and still follows - the hurricane. And then this:

We bet if the federal, state and local governments - and other groups around the country for that matter - had half of the initiative as the local Chapel on the Hill mission, the Gulf Coast reconstruction, if you will, would be further along today. While many sent off their checks last fall, Cedar Grove church members have made several trips to the region, lending physical support to help those in need. Another trip is planned for October.

We thank God for the privilege of doing our part in this effort, and we are very grateful for the kind words about us by the Verona-Cedar Grove Times.

Back to School in Mississippi - and How You Can Help

2006-07-19T21:47:00.000-07:00

When the teams from Chapel on the Hill went to Lakeshore, Mississippi, to help in the relief-and-rebuilding efforts, they all saw a school on the same street as Lakeshore Baptist Church.

Gulfview Elementary School was in shambles - a boat upside down in the schoolyard, the classrooms looking like they were lifted and shaken and then dropped down in several inches of mud, the windows, doors, and ceilings broken and dangling. The water line reached several feet high, and the date - August 26, 2005 - of the Friday before Katrina hit was still visible on the whiteboard, frozen in time.

Ten months after the hurricane, Gulfview Elementary School is finally being demolished. But the children of the community will head back to class on August 14th, and this time it will be to schools 25 miles away. When they return in the late afternoon each day, for many it will be to the FEMA trailers they still call home.

In an effort to reach out to people of that area and to encourage them in the Name of Jesus, Lakeshore Baptist is holding a School Uniform Drive. (Yes, the public schools there have a dress code tantamount to requiring school uniforms - it's very strict, and very specific.) And Chapel on the Hill is going to help.

If you're a part of the Chapel family, bring the requested shirt/skirt/pants to church on or before Sunday, August 6th, so we can mail them down right away.

If you're a blog reader and would like to participate on your own, send your item to Lakeshore Baptist Church, 6028 Lakeshore Road, Lakeshore MS 39558. Please label as “School Uniform Drive.” Pastor Don Elbourne wrote about this on his blog here and here.

This is the actual dress code. Some of it does not apply, though, since the church is collecting just for elementary age for now. But see what you can do. I met people in that area of the Gulf who do not regularly attend church, yet they are very impressed by the compassion and help that churches are giving. God is doing something very unique there, and He is using things like school clothes for kids to draw people to Himself!

SHIRTS/BLOUSES

All shirts must be solid colors, white, navy blue, royal blue, or red.
Students may wear button down (Oxford/pointed collar or Peter Pan/Rounded collar), knit polo (2 or 3 button closure), or turtlenecks.
Shirts may be long or short sleeve, with or without pockets.
Shirts must have plain fronts without trim, lace, ruffles, pleats, etc.
Crop tops, Midriff shirts, or tight fitting shirts are not allowed.
Shirts may not carry visible trademarks, brand logos, writing, etc.

PANTS/SLACKS/SHORTS

All pants, slacks, and shorts must be solid navy blue or khaki (tan, beige, or similar).
The length of shorts must be mid-thigh or longer.
Girls may wear caprise.
Pants, slacks, and shorts may be pleated or un pleated, cuffed or uncuffed, with or without elastic, but must be hemmed.
Wash-n-wear or permanent press fabric only; Denim, stretch material/spandex fabric, velour or fleece is not allowed.
Cargo or carpenter styles or bellbottoms are not allowed.
Very small trademark or logo is allowed.

JUMPERS/SKIRTS/CULOTTES/SKORTS

Jumpers, skirts, culottes, and skorts must be solid navy blue or khaki (tan, beige, or similar).
The length must not be higher than four (4) inches above the top of the knee.
Jumpers may be V-neck or round neck.
Skirt style must be box pleat, knife pleat, A-line, kilt style or flared style.
Wash-n-wear or permanent press fabric.
Denim, stretch material/spandex fabric, velour or fleece is not allowed.
Cargo style skirts are not allowed.

INSIDE WEAR

Students may wear sweaters, vests,sweatshirts, or fleece in either cardigan-button down, pullover-scoop, or V-neck or zip up. styles.
Outerwear must be solid colors, white, navy blue, royal blue, or red.
Shirts may not carry visible trademarks, brand logos, writing, etc.

OUTSIDE WEAR

Coats and jackets may have hoods and may be any color.
Trademarks and logos are allowed.
Coat length is limited to mid-thigh,
Trench coats are not allowed.

Continuing to pray...

2006-07-09T14:24:00.000-07:00

We continue to pray for our missionaries, Mack and Doris, whose village home was burned down in Papua New Guinea. (The above picture is of the house that burned, taken at last year's house blessing.) We got more of the details in an e-mail from Doris.

The night our house burned, our neighbor, Anton, had built a fire in the wood stove. He normally sleeps in our house to protect it from break ins, but since he had cleaned everything up for our return, he went home to eat and sleep. When he realized the house was on fire he tried to open the front door and rescue the radio but the fire gushed out and knocked him down. Every stick of wood from floor to roof was burned and there is absolutely nothing to salvage. The cause will probably never be known.

We are so grateful that Anton wasn't in the house as he usually is, and as he pointed out, if our flight had been one day earlier as originally scheduled, we might have been in there when it caught fire. Unfortunately, the local people blamed Anton so they beat him with sticks and ransacked his house, stealing all of his things. Anton was sore but he showed Mack that God had protected him and that he didn't have a single bruise!

In the evenings Mack was able to read chapters from the book of Romans. He had just made six hard copies for editing and left all of them in the valley for people to use. "Did you bring Romans?" was actually the first thing one of the translation team asked. During the evening readings, the message of Jesus' death and resurrection being God initiated, God's gift and God's love to us was strong. The concept of God's love being so deep and wide that nothing can separate us from it, was breaking through.

Everyone wanted Mack to state definitively what we will do next but of course we don't know that. We would appreciate you joining in prayer for this. We are not upset or discouraged but we do seek God's face for the next steps. God gave 2 Corinthians 4 to Katie the night this all happened and it is a special word to us. For those who are praying, it is worth the read.

Please also pray for the people in the valley for whom Jesus died.

Thank you so much for your kind emails and very encouraging words. We know we are in a battle and we know who wins!

II Corinthians 4 is indeed "worth the read." The Apostle Paul says we are "hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed, we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed." His desire was for the Gospel message to be spread. He said that even in the midst of these things, we "do not lose heart."

That is our prayer for Mack and Doris, that God would continue to protect them, and that they would not lose heart.

In His Care

2006-07-05T20:11:00.000-07:00

The good news came first.

Mack and Doris have been supported as Chapel missionaries (out under Wycliffe) for many years. They serve in Papua New Guinea, doing Bible translation work.

The news came two days ago about the most recent progress. The book of Matthew was in draft form, and had been both village and consultant checked. Acts (chapters 1-15) was in draft form and had been village checked. The book of Romans was in draft form. The book of I Corinthians was also in draft form and had been village checked.

Doris wrote, "We will be heading back to the village in a couple of days with plans to village check Romans, finish Acts and edit the other gospels which have been published, but which we know can read better. We appreciate your prayers for these coming weeks."

She closed with a note about how thankful they were "for God’s constant care, for His light on our path, His healing, and for 25 wonderful years of marriage."

So it was startling to get the e-mail tonight which read, "Yesterday we flew out to the airstrip and could see that people were grieving by the mud smeared over their faces and bodies. We soon learned that our village house had completely burned down the night before. It appears to have been an accident and we are so thankful that no one was hurt. I returned to (our town) but Mack has stayed a couple of nights to grieve with the people and talk things through. Please pray for Mack as he represents the Lord to these broken people and of course we find ourselves at a new turn once again."

Doris signed the e-mail "In His care." We pray for Mack and Doris and their family, as well as for their village and its people. We thank God for His protection. We pray God will restore to them what was lost, and that their living testimony of faith in Christ will be evident to those who will soon be able to read about it for themselves.

Summer Thoughts

2006-06-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

Summer is a wonderful time at Chapel on the Hill. Some of our extra programs are on hiatus, but so much is still going on, and it's a great time for fellowship and for appreciating the gift this church is to us.

The beauty of our church has increased, thanks to Mark and David Schoonfield and their landscaping company.

The back of the church, which is actually where so many of us enter the building each week, has had a makeover, which extends the entire length of the building.

What a difference from this - the whole mess with the leaking oil tank that had to be removed. That's now just a dim memory!

We've also had a wedding here.

This picture of the wedding bulletin and the candy box Karen Enchelmaier made as favors for everyone is just the beginning. You can read all about it here. Bring your Kleenex...

We had our June picnic last week - what a great time!

The rain held off, and eighty-five people gathered for an evening of grilling and fun, on the Chapel grounds. We also celebrated Frank Scerbo's birthday - and rejoiced in one another's company! The kids played ball, the toddlers toddled, we laughed and joked and got to know more new people. And Pastor Bill apologized the following Sunday for not being able to count how many windows are on the left side of the sanctuary. (A quiz question. Can't win them all!)

When we left the picnic and headed home, we saw the sign everyone was talking about.

What a nice surprise! We gave permission for the Middle School, two doors down, to use our parking lot for their graduation. So glad they appreciated it...

Our Connections Bible Study continues in the summer. It's a terrific time to share needs, pray together, study God's Word, and get together.

We've outlined plans for Chapel Ministries for the coming year. There's a lot of excitement about all God is doing here, and all we believe He's going to do. So join us! The view from Chapel is one you don't want to miss.

We worship a loving God

2006-05-27T08:40:00.000-07:00

One new aspect of the ministry at Chapel on the Hill takes place during the Worship time each Sunday.

Paul D'Angelo and the Chapel Choir lead the congregation in singing songs of worship to God, and as accompaniment, the lyrics and some beautiful imagery is shown on the screen in the front of the church.

I have taken many of the pictures for it, and now others have shared photos for use there. Pictures by Joey Fabrazzo will be included this week. Dan Baker also works hard on preparing the visuals for this new part of our worship time.

I was at the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens this week - both to enjoy its beauty and to get more pictures for this Sunday - and I learned some important lessons while I was there, about God's care for us. The story, along with the pictures, can be found by clicking here.

Behind the Scenes

2006-05-23T22:39:00.000-07:00

"And another thing..."

Marc DiEdwardo was making an important point, as he and Johnny Fabrazzo replace a broken window setting with a brand new one.

Much of the work at Chapel on the Hill takes place behind-the-scenes. A special blessing is the way men of the church take responsibility for caring for the building and grounds.

As they work, they make it easier for future generations to meet here and continue to worship God. They are a model to the younger ones in the church. And it looks like it's catching on...

Mississippi Report

2006-05-16T18:25:00.000-07:00

The first write-up about the Chapel Women's Team's trip is up at Donna-Jean's blog, Liberty and Lily. She describes how the women were able to complete a job begun by the Chapel Men's Team, back in October, just after Hurricane Katrina hit.

Read the whole article - complete with pictures - by clicking here.

The Chapel Women's Team

2006-04-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

We had a God-blessed Easter Weekend at Chapel, and we'll post some pictures of it soon. In the meantime, here is a picture of the new Chapel Women's Team. We will be going to Lakeshore, Mississippi, to help in whatever way we can - we're headed there April 26th-30th, via a flight to New Orleans.

From left to right, we're Arleen, Debbie, Elisa, Donna-Jean, Maria, and Bethany.

We've joked about this being our last picture with makeup on - but that each woman has editing rights to the Mississippi pictures! Seriously, though, we've met together, prayed and planned together, and we're excited about what God has for us to do in His name. Pastor brought us to the front on Easter Sunday morning for a Prayer of Dedication, and we know our church is behind us in love, prayer, and support.

Thank you for praying for us...

The Weight of the Cross

2006-04-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

"The Weight of the Cross"

A multi-sensory musical will be presented at Chapel on the Hill tonight at 8 p.m. Chapel's 30-voice Chorale, along with images, drama, and poetry, will focus on the sights and sounds of the cross.

"The weight of the cross was the weight of my sin...not the weight of the tree that was carried by Him..."

Chapel on the Hill is located at 560 Ridge Road in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. 973-239-6064

Once Upon a Golden Time...

2006-04-09T16:04:00.000-07:00

It's a great story line.

Boy meets Girl. Boy gets Girl. Boy and Girl still love each other - 50 married years later.

Pastor and Lois just recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Such a milestone requires a time of rejoicing - so at Chapel on the Hill, we surprised them with our love, expressed in several ways. We gave Lois a recreation of her wedding bouquet (which was on top of the Bible she carried on her wedding day),

we had a church-family luncheon together, we displayed several wedding items including Lois' wedding gown and her sisters' bridesmaid dresses, and we showed pictures from the wedding and their 50 years together.

We also listened to a recording of Pastor and Lois saying their vows to each other - with the voice of Pastor's father, Dr. Charles Anderson, as he spoke to them.

Their married life and ministry is an inspiration and an anchor to the Chapel church family.

Their wedding invitation, along with an anniversary greeting from the White House.

Lois' pure lace wedding gown, as well as her sisters' gowns, were on display.

Lois (left) with her sisters Thelma and Gladys, along with their dresses.

Pastor usually does the speaking, but at the luncheon, Lois took the microphone to thank everyone for a very special day.

The Chapel Lamp Post

2006-04-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

Recently, Chapel on the Hill opened the doors to its first "Chapel Lamp Post" coffeehouse. Our theme was C.S.Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."

The decorations were set. Guests walked through the wardrobe and saw the Lamp Post, with its snow and brown packages. A few of us even wore fur coats, in the spirit of the evening! Part of the large room was designed to look like the frozen river in the Narnia movie, so that the kids who came could rollerblade under the disco ball. The Discoverers Sunday School classroom was set up like Aslan's tent, and inside it were two Play Stations, set up with Narnia games.

Food was in abundance, and of course, we served Turkish Delight. Our lounge area was made up like the Beaver's Dam,

and the adults relaxed and enjoyed wonderful fellowship.

Then the Salt and Light Band played and sang,

and Pastor Bill shared some important truths from God's Word with us all.

Narnia, Part Two: Saturday, April 8th, at 6:15 p.m., the Chapel Lamp Post will show the newly released movie, "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." Looking forward to another great night...

The Hands and Feet of Christ

2006-03-31T09:29:00.000-08:00

In October, Pastor Bill (Associate Pastor of Chapel on the Hill) went on his first relief trip to the devastated New Orleans region. As a representative of our church, he went with brother-in-law Chuck Anderson's Reunion Church, under the auspices of Samaritan's Purse.

Pastor Bill wrote about it here. And now, the homepage of Samaritan's Purse (which changes every few days) has this picture of Pastor Bill, with the title, "The Hands and Feet of Christ."

He just saw it - and told me it's very, very humbling.

Beyond the picture, there is a slideshow - that is powerful and stirring. You can reach it directly here.

One of the voices on the slideshow says, "I'm seeing the opportunity the church has to rebuild an entire city."

May we take that opportunity, and indeed seek to be the Hands and Feet of Christ, there, here, wherever we are.

Life at Chapel

2006-02-28T08:09:00.000-08:00

God has made us a church family - and we are so very grateful. There is a lot happening at Chapel on the Hill.

Some of the girls in the Explorers class - we're studying Colossians...

Our Pastor preaches, teaches, leads our choir, leads and pastors us, and sometimes pitches in on the piano...

Paul D'Angelo and our choir have turned our worship time into something very exciting each week...

The winning team at our recent Couples Fellowship (competition is alive and well)...

Pearl and Carol work their artistry in making Aslan's tent during Work Day for our upcoming coffeehouse, "The Chapel Lamp Post"...

The kids listen...

...and rejoice, at our weekly Salt and Light Club...

Chapelccino is our monthly time of coffee and fellowship...

And it's all based on our study of the Word of God. This is from our Thursday night Connections Bible Study and prayer time.

"I'm so glad I'm a part of this family of God..."

Dan - and us

2006-02-26T21:38:00.000-08:00

Some people would call it "a God thing."

A man in our church named Bill has done business for about five years with a guy named Dan. Dan works for a firm in Buffalo, New York, but actually worked out of his home on the Gulf coast in Mississippi.

When Katrina hit, Bill learned that Dan, his wife, and daughter, had evacuated and were OK, but that their home completely washed away in the storm surge. Just this past week, Bill (here in New Jersey) had business again with Dan, and asked him how he was doing (now working out of a FEMA trailer on his property in Mississippi).

In the course of their conversation, Bill spoke of our church's concern for the people of the Gulf, how we've sent down two teams of men, how this last team built storage sheds for people in the community, how we've sent down shipments for a Christmas 'store' there, as well as for other times, how much we just want to help those hit by this powerful hurricane.

Dan, normally a gregarious individual, become suddenly quiet. After a moment, he spoke in hushed tones.

"We just received a storage shed," he said. "And we went to that Christmas 'store' you spoke about, and got some things for our teenage daughter."

Dan went on to talk about Lakeshore Baptist Church. "It is doing more in our area than all the federal agencies combined, and now that those agencies are pulling out, it is still helping people."

When Bill told him that Pastor Bill and I would be traveling to Mississippi later this week, Dan asked if maybe we could come by and see him, so that he could thank us in person for what our church - through the Lakeshore Baptist Church - had done.

Pray for Dan, and others like him, all along the Gulf coast. God is working in people's lives, and it's vital that we continue to pray.

Operation Valentine's Day

2006-02-08T20:51:00.000-08:00

Every time we ask, the people of Chapel on the Hill pour out affection and concern in tangible ways. This time we asked them for candy, cards, and craft supplies for the Gulf coast...

...and it came in abundance. So we packed everything up in several boxes and sent it down to the devastated area of Lakeshore, Mississippi -

for their "Operation Valentine's Day." We pray for a time of renewed love and commitment there in families, marriages, the church, and the entire community, as each realizes what matters most, and all they've been through together. "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another..."

More of the Same

2006-01-31T19:45:00.000-08:00

One week ago, I returned from the Gulf coast with a team from my church. I've been to the region three times now, and it was our church's second relief trip, the other being last October. The journey this time was to the same spot, Lakeshore, Mississippi, and to work with the same church, the Lakeshore Baptist Church.

We saw many of the same people. The church is in the midst of the same, long, hard struggle to rebuild after losing everything when Katrina struck. The drive was the same grueling 1,300 mile journey leaving from the same place and using the exact same vehicles. Even the crew was nearly the same, with six of the eight men being veterans of the first round.

When we arrived in Lakeshore, we witnessed much of the same devastation as we saw on trip one. While some small progress had been made, the major difference was the addition of FEMA trailers everywhere. The area looked pretty much the same, with miles of ruins and debris.

But this time around, the only thing that was not the same was that we got to build instead of clean or tear down. We built and raised badly needed sheds in the midst of total carnage. It gave us opportunity to do something positive and something that would make life just a fraction better for a few families there.

But one of the most important aspects of this "same" kind of trip was that the hearts of the people at our church have remained the same! They have not gotten tired, bored, or insensitive concerning suffering people and fellow-believers in the Gulf. They have given the same, prayed the same, and wept the same over this trip as they did the first. They have shown God's love to strangers most of them will never meet and who have lost nearly everything they own.

This second trip was harder. The weather did not cooperate nor did the bugs that must have surely rivaled those mentioned in the Exodus chapter 8 plague.

But our guys gave the same sacrificial effort despite the difficult conditions.

And that, I believe, is because they went and worked hard for the same reason as before - because God laid a burden on their hearts and they said "yes." They said yes to the exhortation and challenge seen in I John 3:16-18:

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Thank you Chapel On The Hill for being the "same" and saying yes...for caring, giving, praying and going!

Absent from the body, present with the Lord

2006-01-28T15:59:00.000-08:00

A faithful friend to Chapel on the Hill, and the founder of a ministry we support, W. Claire Greiner has gone home to be with the Lord.

To read more about his life and impact, go here.

Back home

2006-01-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

The men of Chapel on the Hill are back home.

They went to a place awash in desolation and destruction (yes, it still looks like that...it could take a hundred years to make it all OK again) -

They did their part, one small victory at a time.

Jeff, Scott, Pat, Mark, Frank, Blaise, Pastor Bill, and Bill H...

They brought home Mississippi mud, a duffel bag of stories, and hearts touched yet deeper by the need of the people of the Gulf.

More to come...

Yesterday's News?

2006-01-21T13:15:00.000-08:00

The Chapel team put up sheds today for families living in FEMA trailers in Mississippi. The sheds are for washer-and-dryers.

Five months later, and it's an amazing thing to get a washer and dryer.

The devastation there was enormous. This picture was taken of the storm surge of Hurricane Katrina, somewhere in Hancock County. Forty-two feet of water, eighty miles wide, as far as six to ten miles inland.

It's going to take a long, long time to fix what Katrina did. Praying we can share the love of Jesus Christ there, doing the work of God, for as long as the Spirit leads us.

Pray for the Chapel men...

(ADDED NOTE: Special thanks to Debbie in Mississippi for sharing this picture with us. We're praying for you and your family. We won't forget you...)

Taking our hearts with them

2006-01-19T20:33:00.000-08:00

Last night, Chapel on the Hill in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, packed up an SUV and a truck pulling a trailer, and filled them with boxes of food, crockpots, and medicine, tools, sleeping bags, and duffel bags...and our men.

Pastor Bill, Jeff, Bill H., Blaise, Mark, Frank, Pat, and Scott. Six had gone before, two were going for the first time. A God-appointed team.

Many of our people turned out in the cold and windy night to send them off. We came inside the church building, and Pastor Anderson prayed in the circle - for safety, for protection, for effectiveness, for the Hand of God to be on our men, and on the people whose lives they touch.

And then it was time for goodbyes. It's never easy for kids to see their dads go.

But they'll learn much from the close example of a man who wants simply to serve God, and be His hands and feet in a hurting world.

Husbands, dads, sons, these are our men.

We sent them off into the night, and prayed, in the old-time language, for traveling mercies.

And God was indeed merciful. Our men arrived safely this afternoon in Lakeshore, Mississippi. So far, they say you can see a bit of change (an abundance of FEMA trailers this time, for instance), but that "it still looks like a war zone." The devastation was so intense, so complete, that nearly five months later, it still looks like something worse than this country has ever known before. Our men were met by Pastor Elbourne, Greg London (from Georgia, who supervises the work there), and James Bobbitt, who greeted the team like it was a reunion of close friends. Indeed... Praying for our men tonight, and for an important time for them on America's broken, recovering coast.

Ours

2006-01-18T12:04:00.000-08:00

The call went out: they need more food down there in Lakeshore, Mississippi. The FEMA POD line is done, other food providers are gone or 'iffy,' and Lakeshore Baptist's 'store' is the only place giving out free supplies in that area. And so, the people of Chapel on the Hill did what they always do - they gave in abundance.

On Monday night, the narthex was crowded with people, boxes, and food galore, as we sorted and packed up our donations to take on the trip today.

One pile was kept separate. It was the food and drink the eight men anticipated needing themselves. Whatever they don't need, they will add to the 'store' when they leave Mississippi. It was comical to hear each guy's likes and dislikes - which one was worried about the right number of coffee bags, how much peanut butter was enough, who craved the Pop-Tarts.

And instead of a detailed list of the contents in those separate boxes, Jeff simply wrote on them "Ours."

"Ours." Each of these men. Yes, they're Sandra's husband, Millie and John's nephew, Pastor and Lois' son-in-law, David's brother, Paul and Darielle's son, Michelle's brother-in-law, and so on...But they are "ours" in more ways than that. For to this church, they are our family, our body, our brothers in Christ.

We committed them each to the Lord this past Sunday, and today - as they leave to drive through the night and all day tomorrow (1,300 miles) - we will be praying for these men - Scott Enchelmaier, Frank Scerbo, Pastor Bill Breckenridge, Jeff D'Angelo, Bill Hodgetts, Mark Schoonfield, Pat Arthur, Blaise Wylie - because they are truly "ours."

Heading out!

2006-01-16T11:47:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is time once again for another relief team from church to head to the Gulf region. We leave on Wednesday and drive 1,300 hard miles through the night. And no, that is not the smartest thing to do for sure. But it must be done in order to make the most of what precious time we have to try and make an impact on something still far larger and more terrible than any of us can fully grasp.

We have several men returning and a few going for the first time. Like the last trip, I feel assured that the Lord has brought together precisely the right guys for what He wants done there. At this point, we have no idea what tasks await us. It may involve tearing down, cleaning up, or building new. It may include a little of each. We are not even sure yet exactly where we will rest our weary heads each night. But that does not really matter much since we are sure that God has placed a burden upon those who have said yes to serve both their Lord and their distant neighbors in desperate need. And we are equally sure that, just like last time, that we will return home with a new perspective on the blessings we share along with memories of an experience that will bond us together for a lifetime. We greatly covet and appreciate your prayers for our safety and the impact we can make on those the Lord brings into our path. And we thank all those who have given in other ways to make this trip a reality!

Pastor Bill

Chapel in the News

2005-12-29T20:06:00.000-08:00

We'll post pictures of our Christmas Eve shortly, but we just had to do this first: Chapel on the Hill is on the front page of the Verona-Cedar Grove Times this week. Reporter Jennifer Blenner wrote an excellent article entitled "Chapel on the Hill reaches out to Katrina survivors."

The article starts,

They sit in the pew of Chapel on the Hill on Ridge Road on a recent morning, laughing and crying at how giving and receiving go hand-in-hand and at how a call answered can change everything.

They fit comfortably side by side in the pew for hours as their stories pour out of them. She starts and he finishes. She recalls when Hurricane Katrina first struck the Gulf Coast.

“I was shocked and I thought, what can we do to help?” said Donna-Jean Breckenridge, director of ministries at Chapel on the Hill.

When the strong Category 3 storm hit the Gulf States in late August, Associate Pastor Bill Breckenridge and his wife, Donna-Jean, watched in horror as entire towns were wiped off the map. With pictures of the devastation in Louisiana and Mississippi everywhere, the Breckenridges, along with their entire congregation, got involved in the relief efforts.

Jennifer Blenner describes what Chapel on the Hill did in the early days following Hurricane Katrina, and then how we heard about Lakeshore Baptist Church and sent a team of men in October. She writes,

“Mississippi was in total devastation,” said Bill, describing the scenery. “It assaulted your senses.”

While driving through the area, he noticed trees strewn about the road, cars upside down, a large boat sticking out of a school and miles of nothingness.

“I took 500 pictures and it doesn’t show anything,” he said. “It looked like a third world country.”

During their weeklong trip, the Chapel men did backbreaking work: clearing fallen trees from properties, removing debris from flooded homes and running the Federal Emergency Management Agency Point of Distribution Line.

The volunteers spent one and a half days gutting a house down to its studs.

“We had a pile in the road, which if emptied was their whole life,” Bill said. “It included trophies, pictures, and you could see these pictures and realize everything was gone.”

Read the rest of the article here. The print edition also contains three pictures of the Chapel team and our donations for Christmas. Chapel on the Hill is sending another team of men to Lakeshore on January 18th.

It's here!

2005-12-24T08:02:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Eve -

and tonight, Chapel on the Hill will present "Christmas Cameos" - powerful and beautiful music, highlighted by drama, which will tell of the Saviour's birth.

It will be at 8 p.m. on 560 Ridge Road in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. And tomorrow morning at 10:30, we will worship with joy the One who left heaven and came as a little baby, just so He could lay down His life for us, and redeem us.

What joy!

Just Around the Corner

2005-12-16T15:09:00.000-08:00

Christmas is just around the corner - and Chapel on the Hill is getting ready!

The snow took care of outside decorations. But inside, there's lots of work to be done.

Beth and Maria sort through last year's boxes...

Stan and Bill start on the trees...

Johnny checks out the lighting...

and the guys figure out the stage changes...

The ladder's in use? No problem for Beth and Steve...

Chickie polishes pews...

and Ann, Lenka, and Pearl decorate the picture window (and yes, there's always coffee..)

And the choir rehearses, rehearses, rehearses...

It's going to be a beautiful Christmas! Chapel on the Hill's Christmas Eve Celebration will be Saturday, December 24th, at 8 p.m. And yes, on Sunday morning, Christmas Day, at 10:30 a.m., we will worship the Lord together.

A Great Day at Chapel

2005-12-06T15:24:00.000-08:00

Such heavy equipment is not typical at Chapel on the Hill, but having a leak in the oil tank is not a typical situation. We've lived with the hole in the ground - and the burden on our shoulders - for so many months now, it's hard to believe all that took place on Monday.

As Chapel church family member Ken Swatt wrote,

"As to the blow by blow they arrived at 8:00 and were gone by 4:00. The area of contamination fortunately did not go too much deeper than the original hole and the sideways creep was not in the direction of the building but rather parallel. The sidewalk was not undermined. Contaminated soil was excavated to a depth of 14’ and 6 truckloads were removed to Mt. Hope to be burned. The hole was filled with clean aggregate and then topsoil. Some of that will need to be re-excavated when the new tank is put in – no big deal. The lab will have the soil test results back to the environmental consultant in about 2 weeks. He prepares the report to the State, which requires a number of items to be collected. This takes 90 days. We can hope to receive a “No Further Action” letter from the State by the end of 2006. Yes that’s right - good government moves fast."

Thank you, Ken, and so many others, for your faithful work on this project. And we praise the Lord - thank you, Father! - for His mercy and for answered prayer. This could have been much worse and much more costly (the man who did the work at church said he had just been to one place where the soil contamination was so great that it cost $50,000!). Ours was fixed in one day, and the contamination was very limited.

Praise the Lord! (and thank you, Ken, for the pictures and the report)

Chapel in the News

2005-12-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

About a month ago, reporter Jennifer LaFleur of the Dallas Morning News called Pastor Bill and me both, and interviewed us regarding how Chapel on the Hill found out about the needs of the Lakeshore Baptist Church.

Her article - "Pastor finds Web of friends" - is now in print, and can be read in its entirety here.

It's a great story of how the internet, and specifically the 'blogosphere,' provided the route God used to connect churches across the country with Pastor Don Elbourne, and the needs of the devastated Lakeshore church. And here's the part about us:

For the crew from New Jersey, the opportunity to help Lakeshore provided something hands-on to do, said Donna-Jean Breckenridge, director of ministries for Chapel on the Hill.

"Instead of just sending money somewhere, which I know is needed, we really wanted to do something for people."

After finding a link to Mr. Elbourne's blog, she contacted him by e-mail. In October, a group from the church spent four days in Lakeshore.

From there, the word spread, as the volunteers blogged about their experiences helping Lakeshore.

"It has been 2 days since the Chapel crew pulled back into the church parking lot after the 1,300 mile return trip from Lakeshore, Mississippi, to Cedar Grove, New Jersey," Bill Breckenridge, pastor of Chapel on the Hill, wrote. "It has taken nearly that long to clear my mind enough to even begin to reflect on what I saw and did there."

Yes, Pastor Bill is the Associate Pastor - but otherwise, it's a great article! Read it, and thank Jennifer LaFleur for some terrific reporting.(jlafleur@dallasnews.com)

Must-See Pictures, and a Mississippi Blog

2005-12-05T16:17:00.000-08:00

Finding an up-to-date blog about what's happening along the Mississippi coast hasn't been easy - but I just found a terrific one. It's MSNBC's "Rising From Ruin" and it focuses on two towns, Bay St.Louis and Waveland (Lakeshore borders Waveland on the west, so it's like seeing Lakeshore). It includes citizen diaries, in-depth features, and daily dispatches.

It included a wonderful article about my new friend Pam Lackey's efforts at creating a Christmas for Lakeshore.

One thing I kept thinking when Pastor Bill and the men told us (here, here, here, and here)all about their trip in October (another trip is being scheduled for January), and when they showed us their pictures.... The devastation was clear. The pictures were stunning....

But what is it like for those who know what it's supposed to look like? We (whether there or in pictures) see broken trees, destroyed homes, water lines, or just a cement slab. They see woods, neighborhoods, stores, streets - all gone. On the Rising from Ruin site, a man named John Wilkerson has a series of Before and After pictures that are a must-see.

What God's love looks like

2005-11-30T05:24:00.000-08:00

But whoever has this world's goods,

and sees his brother in need,

and shuts up his heart from him,

how does the love of God abide in him?

My little children,

let us not love in word or in tongue,

but in deed and in truth. I John 3:16 and 17

Every time I thought the giving was complete, more of our church family walked into Chapel on the Hill with still more items for a Mississippi Christmas. It was short notice, but our people know how to shop - and how to give.

We had committed to 30 $25 giftcards to Old Navy. We got 34. We had committed to 30 $25 giftcards to Best Buy. We got 32. And we added 16 $25 giftcards to Walmart. We committed to 5 boomboxes, with batteries. We got 50. We committed to 30 Christmas CD's. We got 103. We committed to 25 plastic Christmas trays. We got 75. And we committed to 200 Christmas stockings. We got 325. And we even threw in some Christmas plates, napkins, candles, and a Monopoly game-gift, for good measure.

Even as we were packing up the items at church last night, our church family members were calling from the local mall, "Are you still there? Can I bring more stuff?"

Whether it's Thanksgiving dinner boxes for the people of Paterson, New Jersey (through our own Ladies Fellowship and Star of Hope Mission), shoeboxes for children around the world through Operation Christmas Child, new clothing gifts for People With Aids in the Village, sending teams of men (this past October, and planning now for January) to a hurricane-stricken Gulf, $80,000 a year for world missions through our own Faith Promise program, or meeting the needs of fellow church members and funding the dynamic ministry here in Cedar Grove, Chapel on the Hill is a giving, praying, going, doing, caring church. Two hundred people, committed to God and His Word and trusting Him to multiply their efforts, can change the world.

Praise God - for what He is doing in and through us! And please pray for the people of Lakeshore Baptist Church, their neighbors in that community, and the entire Gulf coast of America.

Sing for Joy!

2005-11-28T08:30:00.000-08:00

The music has stopped

and the pews are empty -

but that's not how it was yesterday. It's Monday - and the echo of yesterday's worship service reverberates in our hearts.

I keep hearing the choir's anthem, "Sing for Joy! Shout aloud to the Rock of our Salvation!" It's a refrain that plays over and over in my mind.

Sing for joy. God has given us so much. What a day we had! From Mike and Dona greeting everyone at the door, to the teachers and ushers and instrumentalists and sound men all ready to serve with gladness, to seeing Pastor (returned from a time of illness) leading the voices of the choir in excellence and soaring majesty...to Paul D'Angelo leading us all in song that now matches the exuberance of the choir...to Pastor Bill, taking us through the Word of God and focusing our hearts on the practical, logical extension of thankfulness:

"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name, but do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." (Hebrews 13:15-16)

And so, with gratitude, we are doing that - seeking the well-pleasing sacrifice to God. We as a congregation have gone and shopped for things to make Christmas in Lakeshore a little happier, a little brighter, for those who have lost everything. The final tally will be tomorrow night, when we package it all up - but we believe we will meet - and exceed - our commitment of 200 Christmas stockings, 25 plastic Christmas trays, 30 Christmas music CD's, 5 small boomboxes with batteries, 30 $25 giftcards to Old Navy, and 30 $25 giftcards to Best Buy. It's all part of our ongoing partnership in Lakeshore Baptist Church's relief-and-rebuild effort in that Gulf town, so completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. And we are blessed beyond measure to share in this, even just a little bit.

And Lakeshore Baptist Church made the Herald News in southern Mississippi. The article is here.

Yes, the sanctuary is quiet today - but our hearts still ring out, and our actions still carry on, as we sing for joy to the Rock of our salvation!

Chapel on the Hill pictures taken by Chuck Anderson III of NoPattern.

What We Can Do

2005-11-22T19:39:00.000-08:00

I've got a list, and I'm checking it twice...

It's for Lakeshore, Mississippi, and we need these items on or before Tuesday, November 29th.

We need:

200 Christmas stockings (empty)

25 plastic Christmas trays

30 Christmas CD's

5 (or 10!) small boomboxes, complete with batteries

30 gift cards to Old Navy, each in the amount of $25

30 gift cards to Best Buy, each in the amount of $25

I've written more about this on my personal blog, Liberty and Lily.

Leave a comment here or e-mail us at chapelonthehill@juno.com - and let us know what you can do so we can help give the Lakeshore community a little bit of Christmas this year!

A Mississippi Christmas

2005-11-18T10:33:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about what Christmas will be like along the Gulf coast this year. Our church will send a team again in January, but I keep thinking, and praying, there must be more we can do now.

God always answers a prayer like that. I've written up some details on what our church - and others - can do, on my personal blog here.

I'm going to talk to Pam Lackey, the coordinator of all this, this afternoon. Sounds like it's going to be an unusual Christmas for Chapel on the Hill, too, as we knit our hearts with the community in Lakeshore.

A Night to Remember

2005-11-09T09:26:00.000-08:00

Enjoying this picture of Pastor Paul and Lois Anderson with bestselling author, elegant lady, and sister in Christ, Jan Karon.

To read Donna-Jean's re-telling of this wonderful evening, click on her Liberty and Lily blog, here.

Author Jan Karon at our Chapel Book Event

2005-11-07T12:40:00.000-08:00

Chapel on the Hill is honored to present Jan Karon as the speaker for our Chapel Book Event, Tuesday, November 8th, at 7 p.m. Due to the anticipated crowd, we are holding this special night at Brookdale Baptist Church in Bloomfield. Everyone is invited to come - there are no tickets or costs.

We have held eight Chapel Book Teas - each one a labor of love and a work of art, a springboard to share the Gospel of Christ to our community. Just as "Light from Heaven" is the ninth and final of the Mitford novel series (and which will be released tomorrow), this is the final of our Chapel Book Teas for the Mitford books - and what a way to conclude them!

We've been told that TIME magazine will be there, to do a piece on Miss Karon. The author herself will appear tomorrow morning on CBS This Morning; she's scheduled to be interviewed at 8:47 a.m.

We're looking forward to a very special night...

Speaking of James...

2005-11-05T19:28:00.000-08:00

Cliff and Leanne, from Chapel, sent me this link from MSNBC about Lakeshore.

The announcer says,

"We are off the map in Mississippi. You have to be a local to find Lakeshore. At the local Baptist church, the only thing left is the steeple.
But faith is still strong. It is not moving mountains, but building homes, one at a time, starting with James Bobbit."

The article is encouraging, and if you click on the video box, you can watch it and see James and the new developments in Lakeshore. They've borrowed a saw mill, and they're turning fallen trees into 2 x 4's for rebuilding.

Chapel on the Hill will be back to help them. And we'll be praying in the meantime.

A Man Called James

2005-11-03T08:38:00.000-08:00

Part three of my reflection of the trip to the Gulf conjures up memories of a man called James. He, too, was a member of the local church where we stayed and worked. Upon our arrival we realized that James was in some position of leadership in the area's slow, painful recovery process. He apparently was instrumental in assisting those in this small community - which was just a fraction of something so vast, that still none of us can wrap our minds around it. It is difficult to imagine trying to take the slice of misery we saw and then attempt to multiply it by hundreds of square miles.

But James was seemingly everywhere. When we arose in the morning to fix a yummy "Fried Spam on White Bread" breakfast (displayed here by Jeff, and cooked by Mark), cooked on a small Coleman burner on the back of Mark’s pickup truck, James was soon there. He would often show up at job sites to see how things were going or to give details of the next project. At day’s end, he would be there too.

He even provided the crew with a very crude, cold, but welcomed shower on his property after a long dirty day. James, like the pastor of the church where he attended, had taken the time and talents given him by God to do whatever he could to serve those in need.

It was not until after we had completed a few jobs that we learned how unselfish this man really was. Another great guy, Greg, from a church in Georgia, was also helping in the recovery at Lakeshore. He, too, was invaluable as far as directing the work sites and supplying whatever needs we might have. At the conclusion of one day’s work, Greg informed us that we would now be working at James’ house. We learned that his large mobile home was damaged so badly that it would have to be destroyed.

It had been lifted up by a tornado, smashed against a tree, and then submerged by water which ruined everything inside. We also then learned that in the 7 weeks since the hurricane, James had done nothing to his own home and instead worked tirelessly for those around him.

(James, inside his broken home, with Frank, Blaise, Nate, - Jeff behind - and Cliff)
This man was a model of a selfless servant even though his needs were as great or, in some cases, greater than those around him.

The task at his home was simple while still heartbreaking. All he requested was that we strip his mobile home of whatever exterior sliding was not damaged. His plan was to use those materials to build a small shed to live in for the winter, and continue to help his church family and his community in their own recovery process.

With James it was all about "others" first. As I thought about the attitude of this one humble man, I was reminded of the attitude of a Creator God. I was reminded of the words of Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Serving comes in many forms and on many levels. There is a loving God who gave the ultimate sacrifice to redeem His lost creatures.

Then there is a James, himself redeemed through His Savior, and whose heart and actions evidence outwardly his salvation and that inward change. Thank you, James,
for your continuing service to others and for a powerful lesson of sacrificial living that we can all strive to duplicate as God gives us opportunity.

Giving Hope

2005-10-31T05:13:00.000-08:00

Over the next week or two I hope to reflect on several of the various aspects of our trip to Lakeshore, Mississippi, and the Gulf coast. Looking back, we can still recall the faces of those whose lives we interacted with and hopefully impacted in some small way while there.
Our first task brought us to the home of a husband and wife who had six children. The structure had been partially damaged by a fire not long before the hurricane. Katrina's winds and storm surge then swept through, submerging the entire home and destroying virtually everything inside.

Upon entering the living room area, we were just stunned at what we saw. Each room was piled high with wet, mildewed, and burned items, many of which were unrecognizable. The odor was unpleasant, to say the least. The damage was such that most of our guys wondered if attempting to remove the debris was even worth the effort, as the house itself appeared beyond rescue.

Despite the outward appearance, we were told by those directing our efforts there that the owners' greatest need was to be given hope. This was as crucial as our physical assistance, since their dream was to save the basic structure even though nearly everything inside was gone.

With that knowledge, we began to remove mountains of wet and burned garbage that used to be precious memories. We sorted through old ruined photo albums, smashed baby dolls, tarnished trophies and drenched Bibles, realizing that each one represented a special memory and something that could never be replaced.

After a full, and very hot, day and a half, we were able to strip the structure down to the internal wooden studs. We removed the walls, ceilings, insulation, wiring, vents and every single appliance into a huge mound in a long ditch near the street.

Our first glimpse of the woman of the home had been seeing her crying in her small car, overwhelmed at what her life had become. As we finished up our work, their FEMA trailer arrived and was installed in the front yard. This would give the husband and father the time he needed to rebuild the family home, which was now almost ready through what we had done.

It was only then when we saw that "hope" begin to appear on the face of this mother of six.

At our departure I took a group picture (the other seven of our team, plus the father and one son) and the family promised to send photos of the future reconstruction process.

We were also able to say goodbye and gaze upon the face of young Cody who perhaps also sensed that he would now someday soon return to the bedroom that had been suddenly snatched from him 2 months earlier.

Again words are not sufficient to relate an experience like this. But we pray that our actions that day gave that glimmer of hope to just one family. And we trust that we sufficiently showed the love of Christ in tangible way, as we sought to "weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice."

Reflections: Culture Shock

2005-10-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

It has been 2 days since the Chapel crew pulled back into the church parking lot after the 1,300 mile return trip from Lakeshore, Mississippi, to Cedar Grove, New Jersey. It has taken nearly that long to clear my mind enough to even begin to reflect on what I saw and did there.

I suppose the best term for what I experienced would be "culture shock." Normally that is applied to being exposed to life in another country. But this time I faced that odd sensation while being in our own!

This had nothing to do with a Northerner living in the context of the deep South. This was not about hearing accents unlike my own or seeing vegetation that cannot survive in a colder climate. This was not about the one or two instances of sampling local food (most of which was outstanding, that would never be found on the menu of a North Jersey Diner – like Alligator!).

No, this was a striking contrast between a culture that was all but totally destroyed, and one in the same nation that was not. This was about a group of fellow citizens, and some of them fellow Christians, who no longer take for granted things like a job, food, water and even a roof over their heads when most of us generally do. It was a culture shock not unlike what one might feel on a vacation to a foreign country. This was something that assaulted the senses from being with those whose whole world was taken cruelly and suddenly. And this was a culture shock that cannot be fixed by simply returning home and getting back to normal life – at least it won’t be for me and hopefully not for those who ventured there with me.

Last night I stood in line picking up a few items of food at our local Shop-Rite grocery store. We had prepared a short list, partly because I felt too tired to do a major shopping. But as I stood in line preparing to check out, my mind shifted back some 36 hours earlier to another "line." For parts of 2 days, members of the Chapel crew helped give out food, ice and water on a "POD" (Point of Distribution) which is a FEMA-run program.

As we stood there for hours we were able to see the nameless faces of fellow citizens driving through and getting the items to help them survive for the next day or two. Pastor Elbourne, whose church we were there to serve under, said in his message on Sunday that the POD there was the most pressing need in that community at the moment. Without those supplies, many there would have literally nothing in the way of the basic needs to sustain life.

This was just one small example of the "culture shock" I have been feeling since my return. There have been others, like watching a very healthy tree being pruned by a local landscaper on my way to work at church this morning. What a striking contrast to seeing tens of thousands of trees smashed like small twigs, many falling on homes, with the damage extending 100 miles inland!

Yes, I am in culture shock today as I look around me at a beautiful Fall setting and the soon coming preparations for the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. But somehow I suspect that this holiday time will be very different for me, and for those who can envision what life will likely still be for those we helped last week and for those we did not have enough time to assist.

I just pray that the Lord will raise up others to pick up where we left off. I pray that many more will take the time to experience "culture shock" in their own nation. I pray we can work out the time and means for our next trip. And I pray that this "shock" will remain as shocking to me six months from now as it did when I first pulled into the parking lot of where the buildings of Lakeshore Baptist Church used to stand.

Next, Pastor Bill continues the "Journey to Lakeshore, One Story At A Time," telling what it was like to reach the Gulf Coast with the Chapel Mississippi Team. (Note: Click on each picture to enlarge.)

Back...

2005-10-25T17:51:00.000-07:00

...from a broken Gulf.

Pray for Mississippi.
Pray for Lakeshore.
More to come...

UPDATE: Just adding the men's names. (click on each picture to enlarge) Left to right: Bill Hodgetts, Frank Scerbo, Pastor Bill Breckenridge, Mark Schoonfield (in back), Jeff D'Angelo, Cliff Cherry, Blaise Wylie, and Nathan Abrams. Starting tomorrow, Pastor Bill will be posting "One Story At A Time" - a journey to Lakeshore.

2005-10-23T16:47:00.000-07:00

2005-10-22T17:39:00.000-07:00

Where They're Staying

2005-10-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

On my blog, I've got some info on where the guys are staying, and more about the needs there. Go here to see the picture and read more.

I expect another audio blog today, so check back.

2005-10-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

2005-10-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

2005-10-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

"Heading Out"

2005-10-20T02:08:00.000-07:00

I wrote about the Chapel Mississippi Team leaving last night. You can read it here, on my personal blog.

"You Did It To Me"

2005-10-18T19:48:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I have the privilege of leading a team of men from Chapel on the Hill here in New Jersey. The eight of us will be driving 1,300 miles to go to help Lakeshore Baptist Church in Lakeshore, Mississippi. Pray for us...

But before I go, I wanted to tell a bit about my last trip. I linked up with a team from my brother-in-law Chuck's church. We left Chicago on Sunday afternoon, October 9th, and drove 16 hours, through the night, arriving in New Orleans around 6:30 a.m.

My first vivid memory of the trip was the sickening feeling as we drove past a very eerie sight - it was the Superdome, partially covered by the morning fog. I couldn't help but remember those terrible scenes that we all witnessed during that week following Hurricane Katrina.

After a short break, we went right to work for the rest of that day.

Ours was the first team on the ground there in New Orleans under the Christian relief agency Samaritan's Purse. We stayed at an old gymnasium facility, sleeping on air mattresses, in a town called Gretna, Louisiana, across the river from New Orleans. Gretna was not as hard hit as some areas, but it is still nowhere near normal.

Our team was there to place tarps on still-leaking roofs, and to remove trees and other debris from homes for the people who had just recently returned.

I learned that what we provided in the way of roofing for free under Samaritan's Purse was running about $2500 if done by someone else.

There were also about 40-50 others staying there with us who were the street evangelism teams. They did follow-up at homes where we did manual labor. Samaritan's Purse has a two-fold effort - material and spiritual. It is a successful strategy, since a person is more likely to listen to someone if a day earlier guys had been sent to help stop water from pouring into their bedroom.

After the first day, a few of us were wondering why we were working in an area not as bad off as many of the pictures we saw of nearby areas. We asked one of the members of the Samaritan's Purse about this, and the answer was simple. "Many of the buildings you saw on TV will likely be bulldozed. It's sad to say, but there is no reason to direct any of our precious assets in that direction."

On Wednesday, we decided to drive through one of those neighborhoods after our work day ended. (That work included the unusual task of removing a shed out of a tree. It wasn't even that man's shed!)

As we neared Lake Pontchartrain, that now famous huge lake next to the levees that broke, we were just stunned beyond belief at what we saw. And we also understood why we were not assigned to work there. It appears that much of what we saw is not salvageable.

The entire area was just covered in mud, and a brownish film. Every house had a water line, usually 6-10 feet high showing where the water had settled (it had been higher than that during the flooding).

That meant that every abandoned car there was totally submerged for who knows how long.

Trees were down everywhere, and many houses were still boarded up, as the owners have not come back yet. We hear that many probably won't. Those who are back can only work on their property (which is probably destined to be condemned) until 8 p.m., because a curfew is in effect, due to the danger that still exists after dark.

I spoke to a man whose house we were working on. He said three looters had been shot and killed by police, just down the street from where we stood.

One spot near a marina had literally hundreds of yachts just stacked on top of each other like a pile of little kid's toys. This kind of scene just went on for miles as we drove.

The bottom line is that this entire area is still devastated, and the physical restoration will take a lengthy and herculean effort for it to ever come near to normal again.

But as much as we focused on the material damage, I learned firsthand that behind it all, there is something more important - and that is the human element, and the stories that hide behind each broken structure.

On our last day, we did work on three houses next to each other on the same block. This gave us some rare time to linger, and get to know the people we helped out. After talking to them we nicknamed the street "Boulevard of Broken Dreams."

There was Leonard - a one-time hopeless alcoholic who was miraculously saved in a mission, and who finally got his life together - only to have Katrina roll in and put him out of work indefinitely.

There was Hazel - an elderly woman who, after we removed a tree from her garage, shared how she had lost all three of her sons in the last two years!

Then, too, there was Brian and his wife who - after our efforts at their home - handed us a newspaper about the legal trial they had just gone through as the hurricane swept in. Two years earlier, their 19-year-old son was brutally murdered - beaten beyond recognition, his throat cut, and his body thrown into a dumpster. Brian told me, as we stared at his still-boarded-up home, "I'd give this all up in a second to have my son back."

After we did the repairs, we were able to pray with them, and to give them a Bible signed by the whole crew.

There are times when you feel that the destruction and misery in such a place is so overwhelming that your effort is just a drop in a bucket, and doesn't really make a dent, especially with something the scope of a Katrina.

When I thought this, though, I was reminded of a verse in Matthew 25, where Jesus said something amazing, even about meeting the physical needs of those who are hurting. Verse 45 says,

"Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to Me."

What a mind-boggling concept - that when we minister to others, we are also doing the same to the Lord Himself.

If I had to summarize what struck me concerning the trip, it would be the (to me) much-needed and vivid reminders of...

-how much we all have
-how much we all take for granted
-how little all these material things really mean
-how quickly all of these things can vanish
-how precious all human life is
and lastly...
-how great is the responsibility for all of us to help (both materially and spiritually) those who are in need.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve with my brother-in-law and nephew on the team, and I ask your prayer for those in New Orleans, especially the names I've mentioned. And I truly would appreciate your prayers for our trip to Lakeshore, Mississippi, a place that was 'ground zero' for Hurricane Katrina. I'll send in audio blogs, and will keep you posted as often as I can.

Serving in New Orleans

2005-10-15T19:50:00.000-07:00

More to come...

2005-10-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

2005-10-12T15:39:00.000-07:00

2005-10-11T16:25:00.000-07:00

For Such A Time As This

2005-10-07T06:25:00.000-07:00

Pastor Bill leaves on Saturday to fly out to Chicago to join up with Reunion Church's team to New Orleans. They'll drive through the night Sunday to arrive sometime Monday.

Samaritan's Purse is just starting a base in New Orleans - after talks between Franklin Graham and Mayor Nagin. When they made the plans to go in, the Director for U.S. Disaster Relief asked Chuck Anderson, pastor of Reunion and my brother, to please come back with a team - though he'd only been home for their trip with Samaritan's Purse to Biloxi, Mississippi, for a few days. And Chuck called Bill - my husband - and asked if he could come.

I've heard people say they've been many places, and New Orleans is different - darker, more oppressive spiritually, more lost, if you will. For some, that's reason to dismiss it - to ignore its plight. But for those who have prayed for this city for years - much like many of us prayed for years for the former Soviet Union until communism fell - this is the time for action, with praise and gratitude, and godly boldness and love.

Samaritan's Purse will be doing ground-floor work this week, and Pastor Bill and Chuck and others will be the ones doing it. Pray for them. All they do, they do in the Name of Jesus. They may have opportunity to articulate it in a verbal witness. But all of it will be a physical witness of the Presence and the Love of Jesus Christ.

And in the future, when the immediate needs are met, and someone comes to explain the Gospel, it will have a face on it. It will have the face of Christians like my husband, brother, and nephew, and those from churches who dared to follow the call. And those hearing the Gospel - maybe for the first time - will say, "I remember your kind of people. They helped me in my most desperate hour. Go ahead, I'll listen."

Pastor Bill also hopes to meet Pastor Don Elbourne on this trip. We have six men from Chapel on the Hill who are planning to go to Lakeshore, Mississippi, on October 20th, to serve as a missions work crew for Lakeshore Baptist Church. Pray for Mark Schoonfield, Frank Scerbo, Nate Abrams, Bill Hodgetts, Cliff Cherry, and Pastor Bill as they prepare for that vital trip.

Lakeshore Baptist Church before Katrina hit

Lakeshore Baptist Church after

God is able. And we must pray, give, go, care - for such a time as this.

We'll keep you posted.

UPDATE: We now have eight men working on going. Blaise Wylie will be on the trip, and Jeff D'Angelo is working on getting the time off to go. Pray for these men!... Pray, too, as Pastor Bill drives through the night with the Reunion team tonight (Sunday). They leave this afternoon (Sunday) from Chicago to go to New Orleans, and should arrive there on Monday. It's a 20 hour trip...There is also a young woman from our church, Kristy, who is a college freshman. She is right now driving with a team from her school - Yellowstone Baptist College - from Montana to Biloxi, Mississippi, to serve on a missions work team. They have a 30-35 hour trip. Pray for safety on the roads, a passion for God in their hearts, and effectiveness in ministry when they get there.

Salt and Light!

2005-10-03T14:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's what we're to be in this world - salt and light. The 'light' part isn't all that hard to understand, though its meaning might suffer from over-use. (And there is always the danger of becoming 'lite' - a cheap replica, a less satisfying copy - and that's definitely not what we want.) The 'salt' part - in a world of hypertension and nutritional landmines - is much harder to explain.

But we hope to not only explain it but live it - starting this Friday night at Chapel on the Hill.

We're not so purpose-oriented that we have a statement for every program, a spelled-out set of objectives. Maybe we should. But we don't. Instead, we have a passion and a plan - and if we had to spell it out, it would go something like this:

-Tell of the love of Jesus in dying for us on the cross (and never get tired of telling it)
-Show the love of Jesus, in showing love to the children He loves so much
-Create a night that's filled with so much joy and excitement, that being at church is a phenomenal - and not-to-be-missed - experience
-Direct children and families to God's Word - and encourage them each week to read it together, memorize it together, and learn from it together

To do all that, we'll use the Salt and Light Puppets, the Salt and Light Band, the Salt and Light Players (well, they say kids enjoy repetition...), some visits by Swordman, an electronic Quizmania, the Awesome Activities (Professor Baker the Science Maker will start off the first week), a reward of take-home weekly Bible computer games, and Movie Devos. The Band was practicing last night, and the Puppets were working on building up their arm muscles.

It's Friday, October 7th, starting at 7 p.m. Come if you're near, bring someone if you can, and pray wherever you are. It's going to be a great night!

Report from Biloxi

2005-09-27T12:54:00.000-07:00

I got a phone call today from my brother Chuck, pastor of Reunion Church in Chicago. He is with my 20 year old nephew Chuck and 15 other people from his church on a work crew, ministering with Samaritan's Purse.

They're in Biloxi, Mississippi, an area that my brother says looks "far worse than anything" he could have imagined. It took them 18 hours to get there, driving through the night.

Once there, they went straight to work on a home just a block from the Gulf. Normally, it would have been a magnificent location - warm temperatures, sea setting - but instead it was a scene of devastation. The team worked for several hours in the heat, gutting a couple's house and helping to put a tarp on their roof (there had actually been a tree in their house).

The woman was so grateful. They did have a grill there, and she insisted that today when the team returned, she serve them lunch!

Chuck says that Biloxi looks

"like someone dropped a bomb. Imagine if you took all your belongings and dumped them out on the lawn. Then take an ax and chop up anything made of wood. Then take a sledgehammer and chop up what's left. Then douse it with water for seven or eight hours. That's what it looks like everywhere."

Years ago, Chuck went on a missions trip to Haiti. He said it reminded him of being there, when he kept waiting to see "the good part," only there wasn't one.

He described the drive down, when at one point they started to see the weird sight of trees being down. Then they'd see some damaged buildings. Then they'd see trees in buildings. Then they'd see half buildings.

He told me about one man he saw, standing in his driveway, sweeping it with a broom. What was bizarre was that there was a massive oak tree in this man's living room. Chuck thought of how the man must be shell-shocked, just needing to do something.

Each of the team members has had their own "meltdown moments," trying to absorb the enormity of the destruction. It feels insane, he says, to be pushing a wheelbarrow filled with the walls of someone's house - in a beautiful but lifeless setting (it's hot out, yet the trees - those that are left standing - are all brown and dead).

In the couple's yard were items that came from New Orleans! So imagine that the debris at each home is not just their contents - it includes things from everywhere, all mixed in.

The Samaritan's Purse workers have been there for many days. They need our prayer - that they will have physical, spiritual and emotional strength for this monumental task. Chuck's group is excited to be there, to be ministering in this way - and they are already talking about returning.

Keep praying for them - and for the entire Gulf Coast. God is faithful, He is workin through His people - and He answers prayer!

UPDATE: I just got an e-mail from my sister-in-law, Lauren - it was very good to hear from her and to hear how it's going 'on the homefront.' It reminded me to ask for prayer for all those who make it possible for a team like this to go - and who have to deal with things that go 'bump' in the night (only when the husband is away, right?), cars that suddenly have a problem, and all that sort of home-stuff. Pray a blessing on those who 'stay by the stuff,' as the Bible calls it, and that all will be well with them, as well.

Pray Without Ceasing

2005-09-23T11:51:00.000-07:00

It's almost too incredible. If it were the plot of a movie or a work of fiction, it would be discarded as simply not believable. But it's the truth - the same people who had to evacuate New Orleans are having to evacuate again. The same people who opened their city to evacuees are now fleeing their city. The same coast that was hammered by Hurricane Katrina is now about to be hammered by Hurricane Rita. It's happening all over again - now with a bigger swath of storm, now heading to Texas as well.

It would be easy to just sit, open-mouthed, at the news. But we can't.

We have a job, a responsibility.

We have to pray.

Governor Rick Perry said,

"So, be calm, be strong, say a prayer for Texas."

The work of prayer is not secondary or of lesser importance. It is the work of "First Responders" of the highest order. It is in prayer that we draw close to God, and hear His voice - of peace, of comfort, of conviction, of guidance, of strength, of sheer ideas of what to do next for Him.

Pray. For Texas, for Louisiana, for Mississippi and Alabama, for America.

We've got a job to do.

Inasmuch

2005-09-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, my Dad (our Pastor) frequently stopped to help people. He didn't take much thought for whether or not it was safe or wise, or if it would make us late for some scheduled event. He saw someone in need, and he just did something. And there was a word for it, an old-fashioned word he would utter, and we knew what he meant when he said it.

"Inasmuch."

It comes from the verse in the Bible where Jesus is talking to His disciples about the times when they fed him, clothed him, took Him in, visited him when he was sick. They are confused. When did we do that?, they ask Him. And He answers, "Inasmuch as you did it unto one of the least of these My brethren, You did it to Me." (Matthew 25:36)

So - inasmuch.

Chapel on the Hill has sent Bibles to the Seaborg family (check out their website for more stories and pictures; the above two are theirs - the first of Tim taking a package across a temporary bridge to a needy family, the second of the piles of debris everywhere. The Gulf can be seen in the distance), who survived the hurricane and is now spending their entire time delivering aid to people all along the Gulf coast.

Lori writes,

"Yes, I remember a box with Chapel on the Hill on it! Thank you so much. We hand out Bibles in every family care package that we make up, and we give them out to individuals when we feel that we should. Most Bibles wouldn't have survived the flooding, and since we are in the Bible Belt, they are welcomed!"

Chapel on the Hill sent blankets to Harvest Church in Tennessee, where three families had opened their homes to evacuees. Sheila Atchley, my dear friend and Harvest's "pastor's wife," writes:

Just to let you and your church members know....we rec'd all the blankets yesterday afternoon! (I'm typing this Saturday morning.) There was something deeply precious and spiritual (does that make sense?) about seeing three big boxes, all with the return address, "Chapel on the Hill".

It was tangible. It was three large parcels of care and concern from one church to another church, from people within your church TO Katrina evacuees.

These blankets will go to, not only "The Red Cross", not only to "the shelter here in our city's Civic Coliseum" - not only to charitable entities, in other words, but they will also to specific people with names.

This makes me think of the Jesus who could walk THROUGH a crowd, to touch and heal ONE specific person. Individuals matter intensely to God. He sees the victims of Katrina, not as huddled masses, but name by name by name. What a mystery it is, this fact that our God can hear all the many millions of prayers prayed in recent days, and yet each of us has had a very private, very personal audience with the God of the universe each time we prayed. We come to Him, and He receives us on a first name basis - knowing our needs.

Your blankets will go to "Jerry" and his Cuban wife. Jerry is a man with a huge smile, a thick Cajun accent, who lived in New Orleans, and who through the strangest twist of circumstances you ever saw, has come across our path here in Harvest Church. The blankets will go to "David" and "Cathy", and their aging mother who we call "Mother Reese", and another brother.

Interestingly, the things our local shelters here need most is women's underwear and...blankets. Each one you sent will be used, I expect, by a hurricane victim. Our city is playing host to hundreds of these precious people so far - we do not know how many will ultimately come to Knoxville, quite literally seeking shelter from the storms of life.

Tim and I thank you, Chapel on the Hill, for your willingness to help us help others, and for the sense of urgency with which you went about the task. Not only that, but you have offered so much more - laying yourselves open to us as a resource for further assistance! We do not think we will need any more help at this point - God has really rallied troops in our church and in our city - but what a testimony to YOUR corporate heart. Chapel on the Hill is a special place.

We have also sent several boxes of Bibles (about 75 or more) to Cindy Rushton, another friend of mine, in Alabama. Cindy is working with her church, Highland Baptist Church, in bringing in relief supplies, chainsaw crews, and ministry teams to southern Mississippi. Cindy wrote after her first trip into the area,

"I cannot express the deep need in the lives of these wonderful people. God is doing a mighty work. It is simply incredible...and overwhelming at the same time! So many needs...yet so many awesome ways that God is moving in the impossible! Just amazing!"

Cindy wrote me,

"This past time we gave out all that we had. The sad (or great! depending on your perspective) thing was that none of these people had ever owned their own Bible! Isn't it wonderful to be a part of giving God's Word to those in such need!

We saw FOUR professions of faith. It was awesome. Just needed MORE time! :)

We were able to pray with every person we came in contact with. They were crying out for someone to pray and hug them!" (The picture below is of Cindy with Anita, her new sister in Christ)

Cindy's team is returning on October 7th, and they'll be taking with them more Bibles we're sending, and the Personal Care Kits and Kids Kits we will be collecting tomorrow morning at Chapel on the Hill. (For information on where to send these kits and what they're all about, go here.)

On Sunday, Chapel on the Hill took up an offering for disaster relief. We were very encouraged by the size of the offering received. We support Samaritan's Purse (check out their website for a powerful video message by Franklin Graham), and we are thrilled (through prayer and finances) to be able to be a small part of the work that they do. Samaritan's Purse has sent several teams into the Gulf Coast, to spread the Gospel - the Good News of Jesus Christ - by being Christ's hands and feet. Franklin Graham says,

“I want these people to know that God loves them and cares for them. I want to do everything I can to help them in His Name. In a storm we all need an anchor, and I believe that anchor is Jesus Christ.”

We have also applied to Samaritan's Purse to be able to send down a work team to minister in the Gulf region. We are praying for other teams that are going - including one from Reunion Church in Chicago (pastored by my brother Chuck) that leaves on the 25th. And we are looking forward to sharing the love of Christ in person there ourselves.

And we're not done. We are in prayer every Thursday as a church body (and daily as individuals) for the needs in the southland of our country - and for revival in this nation. And it is in prayer that God reveals to us what else we can do. We're praying. We're praising Him for what He will do and for what He has done already. And we are looking for what He will do in us, as we follow Him.

Imagine if it were our church

2005-09-07T20:04:00.000-07:00

Don Elbourne is the pastor of Lakeshore Baptist Church.

But his church building is in shreds, and his people are scattered.

Pastor Elbourne lives - make that 'lived' - in New Orleans. His church is a few miles over the state line, in Mississippi. And there is nothing left.

All the people in his church lost their homes. And now they are staying in different places, different states.

You need to go and see the pictures here - and then read what he's written there. In an especially moving post, he includes the passage from Habakkuk,

"Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vine, though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food...Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." Habakkuk 3:17-18

I kept thinking, "What if it were Chapel on the Hill in those pictures?" - and suddenly I imagined our brick building demolished, our steeple tossed in the distance, and our people, hurting and grieving, scattered all over the United States.

In a sense, though, it is our church - because we are one in Christ. These are our brothers and sisters - and we need to be praying for them, and others like them. And we need to ask the Lord to show us what we can do to help them.

Because it could have been us. Because - due to our bond in the Lord - it feels as though it was.

We want to go...

2005-09-05T19:47:00.000-07:00

(You can click on the picture to enlarge. It is of a woman in Alabama who has already had Samaritan's Purse teams come and help her clear the hurricane debris around her home. She's holding the Bible they gave her.)

We got this comment on this blog:

On behalf of Franklin Graham, thank you for providing a link to Samaritan's Purse in your blog about the hurricane disaster. We are grateful for the assistance that individuals like yourself in the blogosphere are providing.

We want to do more.

This past Sunday, we presented a possibility to our people at Chapel on the Hill. We asked them to pray about the possibility of joining a team - of 5-15 people - to go down to the Gulf coast and help. We'd do manual labor, share the love of Jesus, pray with people, and give them God's Word. It would be for about three days - and we'd be sent to a place like Mobile, Alabama, or Biloxi, Mississippi.

Several people said, yes, they were interested, they really want to go.

So pray that this works out - that we coordinate the right time, and that people get the time off that they need.

We want to go. Our church supports missionary endeavors in the United States and around the world - and God has blessed us as a result. But we've not had the opportunity to go on a missions trip as a church in a long time.

Please pray.

For more ideas on things you can do, check here to read "Heal Our Land."

Pray for the Gulf

2005-08-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I don't have to tell you any details to ask you to pray for the horrific situation in the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. It's unspeakable to think of fellow Americans - being rescued from rooftops, having no home, no water, no food, no safety - and a future of possible disease and chaos.

Let's be praying together - for the flooding to end, for families to be reunited, for rescue workers to be courageous and kept safe, for lawlessness to be abated, for wisdom for local, state, and federal leaders, for comfort for the grieving, for Christians and church leaders there to be Christ to the broken-hearted, homeless, and suffering.

Also, we have missionaries in both Louisiana (Gene Boeker) and Mississippi (the Ambrosius family). Be praying for them, and for other missionaries and ministries, that they will be kept safe, and be able to serve "for such a time as this."

Pastor has said we will have a special offering on Sunday, September 11th, for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Be praying about what you can do. In the meantime, you can give directly to Samaritan's Purse.

UPDATE: We'll be having a special prayer meeting Thursday, September 1st, at Connections. Remember that prayer is a tangible thing - and a vital way to help those in need.

flood aid
hurricane katrina
instapundit

Connections

2005-08-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

There were 25 of us gathered together last night to study chapter 23 of Proverbs. It was a wonderful kind of 'reunion' - since some people are coming home from vacation, and you can tell that 'back to normal' is just around the corner. (Sad to see summer go - but it's a joy to see one another again.)

Connections meets every Thursday night at 7:30. There's lots of fellowship, food (yeah, we talked about gluttony last night - but decided it didn't apply to our Thursday nights! :-), sharing in prayer, and study of God's Word, with everyone having an opportunity to join in if they'd like. We look forward to more returning, and more joining us soon!

Connections - with each other, with God, with His Word.

Jan Karon!

2005-08-23T20:26:00.000-07:00

We have exciting news! Bestselling author Jan Karon is coming to the next Chapel Book Event!

It all started in January 2003. We had the idea of having a "Chapel Book Tea":

The Chapel Book Teas are bringing afternoons of beauty, inspiration, humor, and the love of Jesus Christ to the women of our church and the surrounding community. We are using Jan Karon's "Mitford" book series as the springboard for our teas, and our program is centered on these wonderful books and the stories they tell. Our goals are to introduce women to Jesus Christ, introduce women to Chapel on the Hill, introduce women to one another, and introduce women to a set of books that tell an eternal story in everyday ways.

Soon we were having three Chapel Book Teas a year, with detailed scene reproductions and true-to-the-book plays. You can see the pictures of our creative work here.

We had eight teas, including this past May's Christmas Book Tea for "Shepherds Abiding." The last, and final, book in the Mitford series, "Light from Heaven," comes out November 8th - so how would we be able to make sets, plan book-related activities, and write a little play for a novel that wasn't even out yet?

Enter the news of Jan Karon's Book Tour. We applied - even though our Chapel on the Hill's size would not meet the 1,500-seat minimum required for such an appearance. But God works in wonderful ways.

We were able to secure the sanctuary of a sister church - and so we are happy to announce that Chapel on the Hill is sponsoring Jan Karon's first Book Tour appearance for "Light From Heaven," to be held at Brookdale Baptist Church in Bloomfield. Our event will be Tuesday night, November 8th, at 7 p.m.

We plan to have a Powerpoint presentation of our past book teas, Mitford scene sets as decorations, Jan Karon speaking and also answering questions, the new Mitford book for sale, and a reception/receiving line. There is no cost for this event, and both men and women are welcome.

Mark your calendar. It's going to be a great night!

And to think it all began with this: "He left the coffee-scented warmth of the Main Street Grill and stood for a moment under the green awning." Nothing like a Mitford book. Nothing, that is, except a Mitford author and a Mitford book! Join us - and bring a friend.

A Godly Heritage

2005-08-22T15:22:00.000-07:00

Thought you might enjoy this picture of Pastor and Lois and their seven grandchildren (click to enlarge): (top row) Hannah, 9; Bethany, 19; Troy, 9; (front row) Paige, 13; Nathan, 12; Chuck, 20; Eric, almost 17; at Tibbetts Point Lighthouse on the St. Lawrence River.

"When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also...But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." II Timothy 1:5; 3:14, 15

Thanking God today for faithful parents and grandparents, who pray for their families, and live the life of Christ before them.

I recall a parents meeting we once held at church. We talked about the importance of passing the torch of godly blessing and teaching from generation to generation. When it came time to pray, one young mom said, "Lord, some of us haven't had the torch ourselves for very long..."

Whether you can count among your predecessors a whole host of godly people, or whether the idea of being a disciple of Jesus Christ is brand new with you, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)