O CTOBE R 2 00 9

V OL 10 I S S U E 1 0

Answers
Answers to prayers
Come in various ways,
Sometimes in minutes,
Sometimes in days.
And some take years
To fully unfold
The harvest of love
And blessings they hold.

Answers to prayers
Come in various forms,
Sometimes in sunlight,
Sometimes through storms.
And some blossom late,
But each one will flower -
Have faith and wait!
-Helen Inwood
in His Mysterious Ways

In this Issue:

Parson to Person ············ 2

Think about it ··············· 5
Getting to Know ············ 7
Church @ Work ·········· 10
 Did you ever stop to think that
after His resurrection, Jesus
came to the disciples and said, "Don't be
afraid, go and tell My brethren"?(Matt. 28:10) Just think of
it---while the mobs in Jerusalem were still filled with hate
and danger, He tells His closest companions not to be
afraid! They had every reason to be afraid---not only did
the people want Jesus' blood, but they wanted His follow-
ers' blood too! No wonder they were hiding out "for
fear."

What about today? We live in a war-torn, dangerous so-

ciety, full of fear of what's ahead of us! You don't need to
be told how difficult it is for so many to just get
along. People's financial situations have caused them to
wonder what's next!

Jesus' words of so long ago are still relevant today---He

still says to all who love Him, "Don't be afraid." He comes
to you in the hospital room, or during a family tragedy.

He comes to us when we're having an unsuspected busi-

ness crisis. He comes to us when we have a sudden physi-
cal problem that seems incurable. And still he says, "Don't
be afraid. I am alive. I am here to bring just the help you
need." Let's never forget that He still loves us and noth-
ing, no one can separate us from His love! After all, His
death proves that love! With Him there is no fear! Yours
for loving Him all the more, Pastor and Sharon Webb

Page 2 The Church Courier

 My Comfort

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

Psalm 119:50

When WWII broke out in Europe, the French composer Olivier

Messiaen (1908-1992) joined the army to defend his native land. He had
the misfortune of being captured in 1940 by the Germans while trying to
escape on an old bicycle. Among his few possessions when he was sent to
Stalag 8A were scores of Bach’s Brandenburg concertos and others by Bee-
thoven, Ravel, Berg, and Stravinsky.

Messiaen endured two long years in the prison camp, fighting off dis-
ease, starvation, and despair. His faith in God and his love of music gave
him hope, which he tried to share with the other prisoners. To bolster their
spirits, he arranged to have a short concert in the camp with the few instru-
ments they could find.

Desperate for a taste of culture, or anything to remind them of better

times, five thousand of the pathetic prisoners came to the makeshift stage.
There sat several of their own, a cellist who held a battered instrument hav-
ing only 3 strings, a clarinetist, and a violinist. Next to them stood a dilapi-
dated upright piano. They would soon hear that it was horribly out of tune
and many of the keys were broken.

Messiaen had composed the music for the event, and it bore the
apocalyptic title “Quartet for the End of Time,” which has been called one
of the most important pieces of modern chamber pieces. For many in the
audience, this would be the last music they would ever hear. Fortunately,
the composer was released the following year. But he never forgot that
performance, and Oliver Messiaen often asserted that his music had never
been listened to with such attention and understanding as on that cold day
in Stalag 8A.

Music has great power to comfort. Can you give a musical gift to someone
in need? Play, sing, or share a special recording
with someone who is lonely or ill?

Submitted by: Cathy Van Duinen

Vol. 10 Issue 10 Page 3

 Philip John Lopardo was born on July 20,
1939 in Brooklyn, New York. The oldest of
two children.

At 12 years old, Philip realized his life’s pas-

sion: jazz music! After hearing Count Basie
on the radio for the first time, he ran down to
Philip John Lopardo Pitkin Avenue, bought his first Count Basie
1939-2009 album, got his first set of drums and birthed his
lifetime musical journey.

In 1963 Philip became ill and was hospitalized. While recovering, he

saw a beautiful young nurse pass by his room; he left his room to chase
after her. When he caught up to her, he asked for her number and told
her he would love to take her out. She looked at him like he was crazy
and then refused. For the next few days, he waited for this nurse to
come by his room, where he would persistently ask her out on a date.
After much convincing, Audrey agreed…

Philip and Audrey were married in 1968 in Brooklyn, New York.

They were blessed with three daughters, Jillian Tara, Jacqueline
Tamara, and, Jeanine Tonnell.

Philip was a devoted husband and a doting father. During the last
eight years of his life, Philip lived life to the fullest! Philip was a won-
derful son, brother, husband, father and grandfather. He was a great
provider and protector for his family.

Philip is survived by his loving, devoted wife Audrey, his three daugh-
ters Jillian, Jacqueline, and Jeanine.

We know Philip is resting in Jesus, until that day when Christ will
burst the clouds and we’ll be reunited in eternity.

Page 4 The Church Courier

 PIXIE PIN-UPS
DO YOU KNOW ME?
If you think you know this church member,
submit your guess to us, either by phone or
email.
You can submit your baby pix by email or
directly to us. Photos can be black and
white or color and will be promptly re-
turned. For more information please contact
us.

September baby was: Sandra Bishop

Clue: This little girl came from the East
then the West.
Sandra was born in Pennsylvania; lived Clue: With hair or
there until she was 15, then moved to without hair it’s good
counting.
California until 2004.

Our winner was: Stan Getlinger

Thanks for participating!

Think about it…

• “Prayer is the place
where burdens change
shoulders.”

• “I cannot imagine how

the clockwork of the
universe can exist
without a clockmaker.”
—Voltaire

• “God’s answers are

wiser than our
prayers.”

Vol. 10 Issue 10 Page 5

 THE BIG ONE, THE BIG SIN! Part II
By Gary D. Grimes

We are sinners two ways. We are sinners by birth and by choice. First,
we are born with a sinful nature. Psalms 51:5 says, “Behold, I was
brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” Second,
we choose to live our lives apart from God. Lucifer chose to live his
life apart from God and became Satan. Isaiah 14:12-14. “. . . I will be
like the Most High.” The word “like” means be a false god living your
life apart from the true God of heaven. It does not mean living a God
like life in fellowship with the true God of heaven. Living your life
apart from, independent of and in rebellion against the true God of
heaven is the BIG SIN upon which all other manifestations of sin and
sins come from. Even our sinful natures are rooted in the Big Sin. Sa-
tan brought the Big Sin to earth and Adam and Eve fell for it. Genesis
3:1-8 says, “. . . and you will be like God. . .” It is uncanny how the
wording of Isaiah and Genesis are so similar.

So, if the root of all sin, the BIG ONE, is living your life apart from
Christ then the cure for the BIG ONE, the BIG SIN is living your life in
and with Christ. Your broken fellowship with Jesus must be restored.
This restored fellowship or relationship with God is mentioned through-
out the Bible as walking together, eating together, being reconciled to-
gether and having peace together. Early on Genesis 5: 22, 24 says,
“And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”
Enoch got so close to God that God caught him up to heaven early.
Want to go early? Than perfect your walk with God like Enoch did. The
last book of the Bible, Revelation says in 3:20 “. . . I will come in to
him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Enoch walked with God.
Jesus wants to eat with us. What better words to describe fellowship
and relationship than walk and eat.

As you can see we’ve now identified the BIG ONE, the BIG SIN as
living our lives apart from Christ and God. I’m going to have to write a
Part III to describe in a practical way how God wants to restore fellow-
ship and a saving relationship with you and me. Stay tuned, the salva-
tion saga continues on and gets better. GOD LOVES YOU!

Page 6 The Church Courier

So many new faces in our congregation fill us
with happiness, but get to know them much more.
Today you will have the change to meet one of the
new members of our Latino community.

Q: How did you get to know about the SDA

Church?

A: I used to be a SDA member at one time. I lost Eliezer Ocasio

my ways from the truth only to realize that I
needed Christ back into my life. As a kid and young man, I did not know
the meaning of being a SDA member, now I know.

Q: Talents that you would like to share with your church family.

A: God has giving me a lot of blessings and multiple talents but the most
important of all is to help anyone I can.

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: Reading, studying, preaching, missionary, teaching the word of God,

networking, online radio talk shows also, TV on the web, making
articles, making movie documentary's, music projects, video projects,
music editing, video editing, those are my hobbies.

Q: Tell anything that you would like our church family to know about
you.

A: I used to walk in the ways of men without the Lord in my life with
big dreams and illusions, living mislaid to my own wisdom; I used to be
a hip-hop and R&B music producer until God woke me up to see even
close at the time and the events that are taking place at this very moment.

Q: What do you like the most about the NPR Church?

A: I very much enjoy coming to the NPR Church, very peaceful and
organized church.

Thanks Eliezer for letting us get to know you a little better,

God guide you always!
Vol. 10 Issue 10 Page 7
 We want to welcome Art and
Margaret Berard and Wes and
Sheila Blevins, both couples
coming from Tampa 1st. SDA
Church.

Remember that now you can hear the sermons and

special music from each Sabbath on the church
webpage:
www.nprsda.org/sermons

Spread the good news!

Do you know me?

I would like to talk with you, for

I am part of your church life.
I may be a complete stranger to you, but
I can help you be a better Christian.
I like to go to worship on Sabbath, for
I help you to be Christ’s partner.
I am very small, but
I am the keystone of your church program.
I am a weekly reminder of your daily blessings.
I dare you to be as good to God as He has been to you.
I am only paper, but
I carry the full gift of a generous heart.
I am the only pocketbook you need on Sabbath, and
I promise not to be a burden.
I am your chance to preach, for
I am a silent sermon of your devotion.
I am your tithe envelope.

Page 8 The Church Courier

Explain this Benefits of
A recent study of heart patients
worship
revealed that those patients who
were prayed for had fewer complica- We go to church to be
tions in recovery. The Mid America with others who either
Heart Institute of Kansas City studied know God or wish to
990 coronary patients in one year. know God. The church
The first names of half the patients is a place of accep-
were given to religious believers who tance, friendship and
prayed for four weeks that they fellowship. It’s a place
would have a speedy recovery with
no complications. Amazingly, those
to honor and worship
who were prayed for had fewer com- our loving Creator who
plications than the others. The study accepts us as family.
was published in the American Medi-
cal Association’s Archives of Internal In church we pray to
Medicine. God, sing about God,
hear God’s Word for
The study suggests that prayer does us and find support
indeed facilitate healing. and direction for
—Reported in Religion Today, whatever challenges
October 27, 1999
face us. In church we
find comfort in our
sorrow, encourage-
ment in our struggles
and the Holy Spirit’s
assurance that “all
things work together
for good for those who
love God” (Romans
8:28, NRSV).

Come and join us next

Saturday! ☺

Vol. 10 Issue 10 Page 9

 If you can help with the
expenses related to our
fellowship meals,
Save the please put your offering
date...WOMEN’S in a tithe envelope and
MINISTRY, “Women mark it “Fellowship Meals.” This
of Spirit Day” April will help to pay for kitchen supplies
17th, 2010 at St. Pe- (i.e. plates, utensils, cups, etc.)
tersburg SDA Church.

For more information

contact Liz Montanez.
WE NEED YOU!

Mark your We are looking for writers in our

calendars: Church that like to submit articles
and poems.

International Also, we need baby pictures for the

Sabbath Pixie Pin-Ups (page 5).

We also love ideas. Have any of

March 13, 2010 those? Contact Omayra or Alex. ☺

Lifeline Screening

Our Church will once again be in-

volved in the LifeLine Screening
program for health. We have cho-
sen Wednesday, November 4 as
the date the Lifeline Screening
crew will come to our Fellowship Hall and offer five different
screenings that could save your life. We’ll have more to
share as the time draws closer.

Page 10 The Church Courier

From the Editors of the situation.

I forgot! I forgot Looking back at the

that the other day whole situation I
when I was worrying can see that God
about a difficult actually worked it
situation, I prayed out the best way
and asked God to possible even when I
take care of the was thinking that
problem, for me not my way was better. This newsletter
to worry about it is p u b lis he d
and I told Him that I All this made me monthly by the
trust Him. think that we should NPR SDA Church.
not only ask when If you have any
A few days later I we pray but we also comments to
found out that the need to wait and be
make about the
situation was re- on the look-out for
newsletter, wish
solved but not the His response. When
we pray, we ask to make a dona-
way that I
God to answer our tion, or wish to
wanted. I got frus-
trated and angry. I prayers so it is up to submit an arti-
could not believe us to wait and listen cle, please send
that happened and I for His response. it to the church
was disap- or to us.
pointed. Minutes May God make us
later I remembered better listeners!
that I prayed about
it and God took care Alex

Contact Us
Alexander Ortiz Omayra Rivera
727-365-2892 727-372-0052

nprcourier07@gmail.com
NPR Seventh-day Adventist Church
6424 Trouble Creek Road
New Port Richey, FL 34653
727-848-4567
www.nprsda.org/newsletter

Vol. 10 Issue 10 Page 11

NPR Seventh–day Adventist Church
6424 Trouble Creek Road
New Port Richey, FL 34653