ACC Presents Have You Heard . . . “Chris ---myth Busters ...

December 2011

A Communiqué of Anchor Christian Church

Have You Heard . . . ACC Presents

• Plan to attend our Christmas “Chris-myth Busters”
Musical, December 15, 16,
17, & 18 and bring lots of Discovering the Truth about Christmas. . .
guests. It’s free!
The Crosswards Company of Anchor Christian Church is presenting the
• Don’t miss our Candlelight musical production of Chris-myth Busters. It’s the story of a group of
Christmas Eve Service which young people who are shocked to learn that not everything they’ve al-
begins at 6:30 PM. ways thought about Christmas is true. But in the process, they do dis-
cover the greatest truths about why Jesus came.
• Ladies’ Bible Studies are held
every Monday at 10 AM This Broadway-style musical will be performed on December 15-18
and Tuesday evenings at at 7:30 PM here at Anchor. Admission is free,
5:30 PM. and all performances will be inter-
preted for the Deaf. Afterwards, we’ll
• Our sermons are on the Web! have refreshments and fellowship.
Check out our web site:
www.AnchorChristian.org Invite all your family and friends!
Take this great opportunity to influ-
• Looking for a ministry? We’ve ence the people around you toward
got opportunities where you Jesus Christ. For reservations, call
can make a difference in wor- 350-9327 or email:
ship, Christian education, [email protected].
youth work, missions, and
more. Don’t be shy! Contact
the church office to find out
more today!

Have You Met Our Newest Members?

Inside This Issue: 1 W e love it when we get to wit- Ashley (Howells) Bellis came
1 ness new births and hear to us a couple of years ago at the
Christmas Musical 2 people say they want to be a part invitation of a friend when she
Meet Our Newest Members 3 of our church family. And we was a student at Roberts
Guess Our Mystery Member 3 have reason to rejoice, because Wesleyan College. Soon she
Christmas Eve Service 3 since our last newsletter, we’ve brought her fiancé Andrew Bellis,
Christmas Day Service Times 4 grown by eight! Please welcome and they decided to get married
Harvest Banquet Review the following newest members: here at Anchor. Ashley and Andy
Chris’ Corner Andrew and Ashley Bellis, Eliza- serve in our Wednesday evening
beth Shaffer, Bruce and Mary children’s program. She comes to
Ann Robertson, Marilyn Bohan, us as an immersed believer, and
and Richard and Marjorie Span- we happily report Andy was bap-
genberg.
(Cont’d on p 2 as NEWEST MEMBERS)

Page 2 CrossWalk

Can You Guess Who Our Mystery Member Is?

T his month’s Mystery Mem- COLLEGE/WORK EXPERIENCE: HIS FAVORITES INCLUDE:
ber is an artist and was born When he was sixteen years old, • Book: Bible
and grew up in Rochester. our Mystery Member went to work • Food: Salmon
He says his father, too, was very for Wegmans. After graduation, he • Music: Jazz
creative because he built their attended RIT to study photography. • Movie: Dr Zhivago
house by beginning with a vacant He then went to work for Kodak
garage and hen house FAVORITE SCRIPTURE:
and then adding on to where he worked for 34 Romans 8.1
them with used lumber years. During this time, he There is therefore now no con-
and stones. earned his degree in Me- demnation for those who are in
chanical Engineering. He Christ Jesus.
Our MM is an only reluctantly retired from Ko-
child, and he graduated dak in 1991, when they of- HOW DID YOU END UP AT
from Charlotte High fered him an early retire- ANCHOR?
School. In high school ment package. However, he He and his wife met Caitlin Bacus
he loved photography and was still was able to work for them un- when she was working at the Leaf
able to assist with the school year- der contract up until five years ago! & Bean Café in Chili. Paul and
book. He also loved to draw. In 1995, our Mystery Member re- Caitlin invited them to Anchor.
Both his Art and English teachers turned to school to earn his teach- They accepted the invitation and
encouraged him to do art work. ing certificate at SUNY Brockport. soon became members.
His father encouraged his photog- For one semester he taught math
raphy by bringing home a Kodak and science at a Christian school in ANY CLAIM TO FAME?
camera and black-and-white de- Brockport. He has won several, local Sports
veloping kit for him to figure out Car Rally championships in New
how to use. Our MM was also INTERESTS: York State.
very creative, making his own December’s Mystery Member loves
enlarger from a coffee can, a golf, photography, and cars. He is WHO IS OUR MYSTERY
regular home light bulb, and a a member of the Chili Art Group, MEMBER? CAN YOU GUESS?
lens his father bought him. and specializes in digital art work.
(Answer on pg 3)

NEWEST MEMBERS Rochester. We were thrilled to of our church family!
welcome them into our fellowship Elizabeth Shaffer is Rhonda
(Continued from p 1) again on September 25, and have
been inspired by their immediate Sucy’s daughter. She regularly
tized into Christ on September 18. and enthusiastic involvement in worships with her mom and is ac-
Bruce and Mary Ann Robert- several areas of ministry. tive in our Sunday School and
youth group. We were very ex-
son have a unique history with Marilyn Bohan was intro- cited when she started asking
ACC. Mary Ann is one of our duced to ACC when she began to questions about having a relation-
charter members, having moved attend Brent Mackey’s home Bi- ship with Jesus Christ and began
to Rochester to help start the ble studies with her friend and studying the Gospel with John
church right after graduating from neighbor Debbie Slocum. This Hilts. On October 5, she was
Cincinnati Bible College. Years led to Brent baptizing her into joined to Christ in Christian bap-
later, after she and Bruce married, Christ. Then on October 2, tism by John.
we supported them in their mis- Marilyn decided it was time to
sion work in England. When im- make it official. She came for- Richard and Marjorie Span-
migration restrictions forced them ward to be included as a member genberg are neighbors of Chris
to leave that work, they eventu- and Rhonda Bacus. They knew
ally decided to settled back in

CrossWalk Page 3

Harvest Banquet a Success!
E very year I am amazed at our
Harvest Banquet! I am buffet tables; to Ed and Cynthia
impressed at how well it Lucas and Carol Schulz for the
drink table; Rhonda Bacus and her

Celebrate Christmas Eve comes together and how beautiful it helpers for table decorations and

W orship Minister Jerry Patter- looks. This year was no exception. set-up; Jerry Patterson and Steve
son is organizing a Candle-
light Christmas Eve Service for The cafeteria of the Churchville- SanFilippo for the sound system;
our church. It will be a quiet,
simple affair, with carols, some Chili Junior High School on the and to Rhonda Sucy, Luke and Lois
special music, and Scripture read-
ing. evening of November 13th was Mayo, Denise Enders, Elizabeth

We will begin at 6:30 PM, and filled with a wonderful spirit Shaffer, and Becca Gaffney
we’d love for you to share with us
in this beautiful celebration of our of joy, thanksgiving and en- who helped with childcare. A
Lord’s birth.
couragement. Over 335 huge “thank you” goes to
Join Us for Worship on
Christmas Day members and friends of An- Leonard Perry for shopping

8:15 AM Classic Worship Hour chor Christian Church made for all the supplies and

9:45 AM Worship Service up the crowd! hauling them to the school
Adult, Deaf, Youth Sunday
The food was delicious and we and back again! A special thank
School, and Nursery
were blessed to hear a solo from you also goes out to the many who
11:15 AM Worship Service
Adult, College/Career Nicole Ribis and a preview song volunteered behind the scenes in
Sunday School, Junior
Worship, and Nursery from our upcoming Christmas mu- preparation and clean up. Thank

sical, “Chris-myth Busters.” An- you all for making our 2011 Harvest

drew Paris, the preaching Minister Banquet another success!

from Sherburn Christian Church in Debbie Letson,
Flemingsberg, KY, was our guest Harvest Banquet Coordinator
speaker. He reminded us that only

Jesus is the answer to the stresses

and pressures of this life. SAVOR THE FLAVOR
Almost every family in our
(Continued from p 4)
church helped make the night a

great one by pitching in with food, the twinkling lights, and the pack-

help, and by bringing guests. A ages to see the Baby in the manger.

special thanks goes to Gail Strang Receive God with us, Immanuel,

and her kitchen crew for receiving Jesus!

food and the beautiful set-up of the

NEWEST MEMBERS

(Continued from p 3)

he was a minister and periodically
would hire the Bacus kids to do
odd jobs around their house. Last
year, since they were looking for
a church, they decided to give An-
chor a try. They have been com-
ing ever since! Neither had been
immersed and even though they
are in their eighties, they didn’t let
that stop them from obeying the
Lord’s call to be baptized. On
November 13, both gave their
lives to Christ and were born
again!

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Savor the Flavor of Christmas

Here is a story from “homeless looking.” I gravitated to As you move through to and
Rubel Shelly that him for some reason. Maybe it was through the Christmas week, maybe
served as a gentle the three bowls of soup he had eaten the story of a homeless man’s experi-
reminder for me. I hope or his rugged-but-neat appearance. ence will help you focus on positive
it will do the same for you as you things. In spite of the diagnosis,
celebrate Christmas this month. As I watched him opening his business reversal, or family crisis
present, I asked him if he wanted to you’ve had to face, there are still
Joe Carpenter was things for you to enjoy, savor, cher-
working with Room in use my pocket knife to ish. There will be moments you’ll
the Inn at our church a open his box. There was wish you could make last — make
year ago this week. It a deliberate moment of last forever. Don’t be frustrated that
is a project of many, silence — with me hold- you can’t. Life doesn’t work that
many churches that ing the knife in my hand way. Instead, be grateful. Be grate-
use our warm build- and him staring down at ful just for that special moment.
ings, restrooms, and kitchen facili- the box, with a piece of
ties to provided shelter for home- tape between his forefin- And be grateful for the things that
less people during the winter ger and thumb. He seemed to be in do last. Look past the loaded table,
months. It was Christmas Eve. slow motion as he turned his head to
Dinner had been served to a group me. His blue eyes squinted at me (Cont’d on p 3 as SAVOR THE FLAVOR)
of men. Then something happened through a smile that had infected his
that Joe shared with me — and whole face. A grown man suddenly Our Mission
that I’ve waited a year to share had the face of a little boy!
with you. “No sir. I don’t need a knife,” God has called us and leads us by
he said. “I’m taking my time be- His Spirit to live the love of Christ,
We passed out boxes of clothes cause I want this moment to last. I have the mind of Christ, and do the
that were, of course, wrapped as haven’t done this in a long, long
Christmas packages. I noticed one time.” work of Christ.
man who appeared to be having Joe smiled at the man and moved
problems opening his box. He was away without saying another word. The CROSSWALK is published periodically by Anchor
peeling away each piece of tape As he put it, he wanted the man to be Christian Church, 375 Beaver Road, Rochester, New York
with painstaking care. undisturbed with whatever memories 14624. All visitors are welcome to worship with us each
were flooding over him to take him Sunday at 8:15 AM, 9:45 AM, and 11:15 AM. The 11:15
He wore an old coat with a back to the world of the little boy Joe AM Service is interpreted for the Deaf. Bible Classes for all
couple of sweaters beneath it. He had glimpsed on his face. ages are offered at 9:45 and 11:15 AM. We also offer a
was neat and clean-shaven, not Deaf Bible Class at 9:45 AM. The church building is lo-
cated on Route 252 near Chili Avenue. Chris Bacus is
Senior Minister; John Hilts is Youth and Young Adult
Minister; Jerry Patterson is Worship Minister; Debbie
Letson is Administrative Assistant and Newsletter Editor.
Church office phone: (585) 889-2436.
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.AnchorChristian.org