Newsletter of Hamilton Bible Fellowship
January 2006
It’s the end of another year, the traditional time for retrospectives. This time I thought I’d do it a bit differently. So, looking back, thinking about ongoing realities and future prospects, I’ve compiled a list:
WHAT MAKES ME SMILE
(in no particular order)
Steady progress on the building . . . Jim in the role of jobsite superintendent . . . The Wedding! . . . Jordan during the ceremony . . . Nick, Geoff’s best man . . . Tim Hayes’ music at the reception . . . Lori! and her family . . . "A Veggie Tales Christmas" . . . Joe Evans . . . Phantasy Camp memories . . . Elizabeth Hodge becoming "Lizzy" . . . the "Marks" in the Colgate chaplains office . . . The people at Park United Methodist Church . . . the creativity offered in our worship service . . . all my "kids" at CCF . . . my adopted daughters . . . the Kahn family . . . the new Narnia movie (and the possibility of more to come) . . . music at the Barge . . . Washington, DC with the sisters . . . our family Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions . . . HBF’s Christmas dinner this year . . . doing things for the last time not in our building . . . school plays . . . HCS basketball . . . Carolyn and Lin speaking Chinese . . . Harvey D., Don M., and Ruth A. with the Lord . . . church bulletin nights at Syracuse Skychiefs. . . Colgate graduation . . . another Schindler graduation party . . . Suzanne, Becky, Tara and Ralph (and boys) at ‘00 reunion . . . Justin’s wedding . . . the Babcocks at HBF . . . free dirt, lots of it . . . 4th of July in Hamilton . . . Road trip to Cincinnati . . . first ever visit from my Canadian first cousin . . . "The Tempest" and "Hello, Dolly" in Stratford . . . Tom and Martha visits . . . acoustic instruments played well . . . Lessons and Carols at the Colgate Chapel this year . . . the doors for the new building . . . current Colgate seniors (while we still have them) . . . nine professional baseball games this past year in three locations . . . prayer and communion leaders on Sundays . . . upstate NY InterVarsity staff . . . students who have been a part of HBF and CCF over the past 20 years . . . Norm’s playfulness (is that what it is?) . . . watching the Nolen kids grow up over the past 18 years . . . baptism gatherings . . . church picnics (and those who host them) . . . Jeff, the "unofficial mayor" of Hamilton . . . Hamilton YoungLife . . . Cliff Eberhardt . . . the Hubbards . . . Linda Hoisington . . . the Cady sisters . . . the Pils sisters . . . the Burns Sisters . . .
Most of all, it is you HBFers who make me smile the widest. It is incredible that we have been here over 20 years, and that you have faithfully supported us and the fellowship over that span. God has reasons for HBF to be here. I’m excited about prospects and possibilities the new building will afford us. I’m confident that the collective creativity, insight and maturity of you all will be greatly used. HBF is coming of age this year (21!). I’m looking forward to more smiling.
NEWS AND PRAYER UPDATE:
Ruth Andrews went to be with the Lord in mid December, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. A memorial service was held on Dec. 27th; it was good but still hard. Pray for Jim, Gaye and family.
Dianne Button is looking for a potential live donor for a liver transplant. Risk is minimal and liver regeneration quick for the donor; blood type needs to be compatible. We are trying to widen the scope of potential donors - let me know of any and all ideas.
Pray for Don Cox, who continues to battle cancer. Pray for what we can do in this situation.
Pray for the incoming CCF leadership team, which includes Betty Jo, Sarah and Whitney from HBF.
THE QUOTE CORNER
We need hope for living, far more than for dying. . . .
Dying is a moment’s transition; living is a transaction
of years. It is the length of the rope that puts the sag in it.
Hope tightens the words and tunes up the heartstrings.
COMING EVENTS CALENDAR:
Small groups will resume the week of January 8th.
January 22nd will be Hamilton Churches "People Swap" Sunday. This was quite successful (and fun) last year, so these area churches are again participating: HBF, St. Mary’s Catholic, St. Thomas’ Episcopal, First Baptist, Park Methodist and Randallsville New Life. We’ll send one or two folks to each of the other churches and welcome one or two from each. Watch on Sunday for sign up!
If you would like to work at the church site, contact Jim Andrews. We are mostly working inside now - framing interior walls and doing electrical wiring.
January birthdays: 4 Elizabeth Pils; 6 Ben Murray; 11 Charlie Cady; 23 Barb Hipsley