Key Announcements for Jan. 23, 2010

This Sabbath's bulletin is ready for viewing at <http://www.thecollegechurch.com/ann_bul_cal.html>. Several key announcements are below. They are written as if you are reading them Sabbath morning. There will be additional important announcements in Sabbath's bulletin.

PRAYER FOCUS: 

• Health Concerns: Rick Trott, Randi Mason (Jonathan Siver's girlfriend), Stan Collins (Ed's dad), Biz Reynolds (Peter Christoph's cousin), Cliff Pope, Juliette Willoughby, Thor Montgomery, Elle Robinson (friend of Joan Lufkin), Michael Hayes (Phyllis Crand's son-in-law), Eugene Hernandez (Denbigh's brother), Laura Lee Williams, Suzie Ruiz (Danny Sierra's cousin), Jayne Baccus-Hurley, B.J. Behrens, Peggy Day, Amanda Bailey. 
• Bereavement: The family of Virginia Livermore, who died Thursday morning (this news did not come in soon enough to make it into the print version of the bulletin).

YOU CAN STILL give the office pictures for the new directory by today. And if you don't want a picture in the directory but would like your name, phone, address or email listed, please email it to Sif at themuchiuttis@gmail.com.

FELLOWSHIP DINNER: All are welcome to eat with us downstairs in the Fellowship Hall after the 11:00 service, sponsored by the Davis/Trott class. Members: if you attend, make sure to bring plenty of food to share. Next week we have an all-church haystack dinner. 

CANCER SUPPORT: This Monday at 5:00 p.m. 

TO THOSE WHO INVEST IN THEM, our Recalibration meetings are a huge contribution to ongoing growth in the Word. You're invited to discover the same thing this week at 10:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Our focus passage will be John 10:22–42.

NEWSLETTER SURVEY: We have created a survey to gauge opinions about and ideas for the church newsletter. Please go to <http://www.thecollegechurch.com> for more. If you would like a paper version of the survey, contact the church office.

FACEBOOK: The College Church is now on Facebook! Click this Facebook link, search on Facebook for the College Church of Seventh-day Adventists, or click the Facebook link on <www.thecollegechurch.com. Become a fan to receive updates on events.

Reminder: Communion is Tonight

The table is open tonight, Jan. 15. For this quarter only we will be holding our Lord's Supper event on Friday night. We'll begin the experience at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall and all are invited to be part of the blessing.

Haiti Relief

Tuesday evening a catastrophic 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti just outside the capital city of Port-au-Prince. It caused widespread devastation in this impoverished nation, with loss of life, homeless and missing persons, and estimates of over three million people affected. You can help by donating to:

The Haiti Disaster Fund
Atlantic Union Conference
400 Main St., PO Box 1189
So. Lancaster, MA 01561
978-368-8333

Adventist Development & Relief Agency
ADRA's Haiti site
ADRA's Haiti donation page

You can also mark your tithe envelope "Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund." Thank you for your support and your prayers for the people of Haiti in this crucial hour of need.

Atlantic Union Members Respond to Requests for Assistance in Haiti Relief Efforts

January 14, 2010

By Ednor A. P. Davison

Assistant to the President for Communication, Atlantic Union Conference

(978) 368-8333 ext. 3028; communication@atlanticunion.org

Atlantic Union Members Respond to Requests for Assistance in Haiti Relief Efforts

A massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti, on the afternoon of January 12, 2010, leaving massive devastation in its wake. It is said to be the strongest quake to hit Haiti in more than 200 years. As a result, the death toll continues to rise and thousands have been injured and left homeless. Damage to the infrastructure—homes, office buildings, churches, schools, hotels, phone lines, power lines, and more—has been severe.

Haiti has more than 335,000 Seventh-day Adventists worshiping in 470 churches. In addition to a hospital and university, the church operates dozens of schools there. According to Larry Evans, undersecretary for the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church, two of the largest Adventist churches near the presidential palace were destroyed. There are serious concerns for the children who were attending the school attached to one of those churches. One union worker was killed when a wall fell on him. Many have been sleeping on the lawns of the Haitian Adventist University and hospitals in Port-au-Prince.

Following news of the quake, administrators in the Atlantic Union and the six local conferences met individually and collectively to determine the most effective method of mobilizing members to assist the Haitian community. According to Donald King, Atlantic Union Conference president, "Union and conference administrators . . . have agreed to declare Sabbath, January 16, 2010, as a special union-wide Day of Prayer for the people of Haiti." (See www.atlantic-union.org/news_haiti-101210.html.)

Special offering days have been designated by conference officials to give members the opportunity to donate to the relief efforts. Local church leaders will be communicating information beginning, Sabbath, January 16, regarding what actions individual conferences are taking to assist in the relief efforts. In addition, the Atlantic Union Conference has designated Sabbath, February 6, 2010, as the Sabbath to collect a special offering for relief efforts in Haiti. All churches in the Atlantic Union are being asked to join together in taking a special offering on that day. "We solicit your prayers for the leaders of the country and people of Haiti as well as the leaders and members of our churches. As you may imagine, the needs are enormous, so we request your financial support in alleviating the suffering of the people," said Louis Metellus, vice president for the Atlantic Union Haitian Ministries." (See www.atlantic-union.org/news_haiti-101210.html.)

The more than 102,370 members in the Atlantic Union worshiping in about 562 churches and 62 companies are being asked to pray for the millions of people in Haiti affected by the earthquake, along with those involved in the search and rescue efforts, and the many Haitian members in the Atlantic Union Conference who are attempting to receive word about their families.

 

Information about the relief efforts will disseminated as it is received. If you have credible information you believe should be communicated contact the Atlantic Union Conference Communication Department at communication@atlanticunion.org.

For more updates about Haiti and related links, visit www.atlantic-union.org.

Key Announcements for Jan. 16, 2010

This Sabbath's bulletin is ready for viewing at <http://www.thecollegechurch.com/ann_bul_cal.html>. Several key announcements are below. They are written as if you are reading them Sabbath morning. There will be additional important announcements in Sabbath's bulletin.

PRAYER FOCUS: Health Concerns: Randi Mason (Jonathan Siver's girlfriend), Virginia Livermore, Stan Collins (Ed's dad), Biz Reynolds (Peter Christoph's cousin), Cliff Pope, Juliette Willoughby, Thor Montgomery, Elle Robinson (friend of Joan Lufkin), Francesca Mercurio (Paula's daughter), Michael Hayes (Phyllis Crand's son-in-law), Eugene Hernandez (Denbigh's brother), Laura Lee Williams, Rena Romero (Virginia Livermore's step-sister), Suzie Ruiz (Danny Sierra's cousin), Jayne Baccus-Hurley, B.J. Behrens, Peggy Day, Amanda Bailey.

FELLOWSHIP DINNER: All are welcome to eat with us downstairs in the Fellowship Hall after the 11:00 service, sponsored by the Sassone Sabbath School class. Members: if you attend, make sure to bring plenty of food to share. The Davis/Trott class will sponsor next week's dinner.

SHARE HIM/PERSONAL MINISTRY TEAMS 2010 jump-start meeting is today at 2:30 p.m. in the Chapel. Please come with updates on your team's plan for ministry next year as well as calendar planning. An update on current finances/other resources for next year will also take place. Your input is very important. Questions? contact Jackie Nosek, 978-365-4466, or Elaine Kennedy, 978-368-0603.

GAME NIGHT: Bring your snacks to share and games to play to the Fellowship Hall tonight at 6:00 p.m. The ping pong table will be up, so bring comfy shoes, too. Play games or just socialize. See you there! Social Committee

WE REALLY COULD USE SOME HELP upgrading our Earliteen Room. Skilled and those of us less-than-skilled could all be part of our workbee tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.

COMMUNITY CAFÉ: Help is needed to provide and serve food at the café tomorrow from 4:00–6:30 p.m. Please contact Nancy Broderick at 978-422-6826 if interested.

THE CHURCH OFFICE will be closed Monday for Martin Luther King, Jr. day.

WOMEN'S NIGHT OUT: 6:30 p.m. this Monday at the Creightons' home.

SCRAPBOOKERS: All are welcome to join us the 1st and/or 3rd Tuesday of each month from 7 to 10 p.m. at Tamara Terry's house. For more information, please contact Tamara at (978) 333-1801 or ycscmc@comcast.net.

ON WEDNESDAY we reset our Sabbath determination for the week. That's why we call our 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. meetings "Recalibration." This week we'll use Luke 13:6–17 as the tool for our readjustment in His ways. You're more than invited to join in the process!

Key Announcements for Jan. 9, 2010

This Sabbath's bulletin is ready for viewing at <http://www.thecollegechurch.com/ann_bul_cal.html>. Several key announcements are below. They are written as if you are reading them Sabbath morning. There will be additional important announcements in Sabbath's bulletin.

PRAYER FOCUS: Health Concerns: Virginia Livermore, Stan Collins (Ed's dad), Biz Reynolds (Peter Christoph's cousin), Cliff Pope, Juliette Willoughby, Thor Montgomery, Elle Robinson (friend of Joan Lufkin), Francesca Mercurio (Paula's daughter), Michael Hayes (Phyllis Crand's son-in-law), Eugene Hernandez (Denbigh's brother), Laura Lee Williams, Rena Romero (Virginia Livermore's step-sister), Suzie Ruiz (Danny Sierra's cousin), Jayne Baccus-Hurley, B.J. Behrens, Peggy Day, Amanda Bailey.

SNEC HAS DESIGNATED TODAY a day of prayer for Hartford, Connecticut. We ask all to pray for success in reaching Hartford with the everlasting Gospel. The loose offering will go for "Impact Hartford" on October 2, when SNEC youth and Pathfinders will converge on the city with outreach and community service projects. Please pray for the tens of thousands in Hartford who need to learn of Jesus.

FELLOWSHIP DINNER: All are welcome to eat with us downstairs in the Fellowship Hall after the 11:00 service, sponsored by the Robertson Sabbath School class. Members: if you attend, remember to bring plenty of food to share. The Sassone class will sponsor next week's dinner.

CLUB MEETINGS: Today at 1:15 p.m. in Primary 1. Little Lambs, Eager Beavers and Adventurers will separate into groups afterwards.

PATHFINDER CITRUS: You can pick up your orders tomorrow at the Community Service Center.

THE COLLEGE CHURCH PATHFINDER CLUB will hold registration for second semester and a meeting tomorrow from 5:00–7:00 p.m.

FINANCE COMMITTEE: This Monday at 7:00 p.m.

CHURCH BOARD: This Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

JESUS CONTINUES TO STRETCH US every mid-week—are you part of the process? You are invited to be as we are "Recalibrated" this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. (No morning meeting this week due to Pastor Pate being at SNEC meetings.) This week Jesus will use Luke 12:13–13:5 as His tool.

THIRD FRIDAY: The table is open this Friday night (1/15.) For this quarter we will be holding our Lord's Supper event only on Friday night. We'll begin the experience at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall and all are invited to be part of the blessing.

FDA advises women to avoid Nzu, traditional African remedy for morning sickness, because of health risks from lead and arsenic

Nzu, Traditional Remedy for Morning Sickness

Audience: Consumers, Obstetrical healthcare professionals

The Texas Department of State Health Services and FDA notified healthcare professionals and consumers, especially pregnant or breastfeeding women, to avoid consuming a product called "Nzu", taken as a traditional remedy for morning sickness,because of the potential health risks from high levels of lead and arsenic, noted on laboratory analysis by Texas DSHS. Exposure to lead can result in a number of harmful effects, and a developing child is particularly at risk of effects on the brain and nervous system. Arsenic is a carcinogen, and excessive long-term exposure to it has been associated with a range of adverse health effects, including cancers of the urinary bladder, lung and skin. Nzu, which is sold at African specialty stores is also called Calabash clay, Calabar stone, Mabele, Argile and La Craie. It generally resembles balls of clay or mud and is usually sold in small plastic bags with a handwritten label identifying it as "Nzu" or "Salted Nzu." Anyone who has been ingesting the product should contact their health care provider.

Any adverse events that may be related to use should be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program online [at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm], by phone 1-800-332-1088, or by returning the postage-paid FDA form 3500 [which may be downloaded from the MedWatch "Download Forms" page] by mail [to address on the pre-addressed form] or fax [1-800-FDA-0178].

Read the complete MedWatch 2009 Safety summary, including a link to the Texas State Health Services press release, at:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm196045.htm