THE CENTERPIECE

December, 2002

PITTSBURGH LUTHERAN CENTER FOR THE BLIND

535 NORTH NEVILLE STREET

PITTSBURGH, PA 15213

412-682-1800

Bob Mates, Director

The CENTERPIECE is a monthly publication of the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind

Terri Watson,

Editor

(You can also access this newsletter online by visiting

The Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind seeks to reach out to the blind of Pittsburgh, feeling their needs, and touching them with the love of Jesus, so that they may reach out to, and touch others with the love of Jesus.

From the Editor

A close friend recently E-mailed me a story entitled John 3:16. In this deeply moving story, a paperboy who was cold and snow-covered as he stood in the midst of a Chicago blizzard asked a police officer where a boy could go to get out of the,

cold.

The officer pointed to a modest structure and said, "When you knock on the door, say "John 3:16" and someone will let you in." The boy knocked on the door that the police officer had directed him to. "John 3:16", the cold tired boy said to the kind-looking woman who answered. Once inside, the woman led the boy to a chair which had been placed beside a warm, crackling fire. "I don't understand John 3:16", the boy said to himself "but it sure makes a cold body warm." The woman re-appeared and asked the young boy if he was hungry. Though the boy admitted to being only "somewhat hungry" he ate and ate while seated in the warm, spacious kitchen. When the child was so full that he could eat no more, he said to himself, "I don't understand John 3:16 but it sure feeds the hungry." After spending more time beside the fireplace, the kind, gentle woman led the boy upstairs and into a room where he saw a tub filled with water. The woman bathed the boy until he was cleaner than he had ever been in his young life. Feeling refreshed, the boy said to himself, "I don't understand John 3:16, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean." Finally, the woman led the boy to a room, placed him on a comfortable bed, and gently tucked him in with covers that reached up to his neck. As the drowsy boy drifted off to sleep, he thought, "I don't understand John 3:16, but it sure brings rest to the weary." What is it that John 3:16 says? In this frequently quoted Gospel passage, John tells us that "God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten son; that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." As Advent readies the way of the Lord whose birth we will joyously celebrate, may we so love each other that we bring warmth where there is cold; food where there is hunger, and rest where there is weariness. By making others Number One, we will be happy Number Two's as we evangelize by lifestyle and show God's love.

Blessings,

Terri Watson

(Note:) The wording in the above story is the editor's retelling of it. The original E-mail was sent to me by Aimee Yunt who is a sighted volunteer in the darts program at Pittsburgh Vision Services, Oakland.

NOVEMBER's EVANGELISM CLASS

On Saturday the 23rd from 4:00 to 5:00 PM, Bob Mates taught an evangelism class, the focus of which was "evangelizing by lifestyle." Topics of discussion included opportunities to witness, the status of Christianity in American society today, what it means to be a "goody two-shoes", and experiences participants have had witnessing. Class members also shared feelings and points of view about what it means to be a good neighbor from a Christian perspective--for example, being a good neighbor in a racially mixed community by welcoming a person of a different race into your home even though this would be unacceptable to most of your neighbors. "When the December evangelism class meets on Saturday the 14th, the focus will be "better understanding the Gospel and our faith in order to be better witnesses."

NOVEMBER'S MEAL AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

The evangelism class was followed by a delicious Thanksgiving meal which consisted of fruit cocktail, ham, macaroni and cheese, corn, rolls and butter, pumpkin pie with or without whipped cream, regular coffee, decaf coffee, regular pop, and diet pop. After dinner, Center Director Bob Mates welcomed first-time meal attendee Karen Good and long-absent participant Ellie Goldfon. Bob then thanked volunteers Sally Lydig, Jim Winaught, members of First Trinity Church's congregation, and persons from Pittsburgh Cares. (Though we weren't expecting Pittsburgh Cares volunteers until December's meal, they were able to start helping a month early. A very big THANK YOU!!) The next announcement from our dashing and dedicated director was the formats in which CENTERPIECE is available. While Braille copies of the newsletter were being distributed, Director Mates identified the variety of devotional materials that the Center's library contains along with their formats. (Director Mates, huh? Does that sound impressive or what?) Speaking of directors, our director reminded us to call him if we are interested in Adult spelling or Braille. Before he concluded by thanking everyone for coming, Bob presented a devotional entitled "Being Number One." The key points of this mini Bible study were our need to imitate Christ by "serving instead of being served" and "being the least in order to be first." (Philippians--one of the books mentioned in this talk--continues to be the book of the Bible we are studying on the first and third Thursdays of the month from 1:30 to 2:30

PM.)

BRAILLE CLASS UPDATE

In November's newsletter, Ayn Apelman was mentioned as the instructor of the Braille class that will take place if there is enough interest. Ayn will be unable to teach Braille, however, because she recently found a new job. This means that Bob, being the dedicated director that he is, will teach Braille. (Good job, Ayn, on getting a new job that we'll pray will be a good

job!)

BIBLE BITS

How many of the following questions can you answer? (answers immediately follow the questions.) 1. What angel appeared to both Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Zechariah? 2.

Who were John the Baptist's parents?

3. Who foretold the coming of the Messiah?

4. What function did Zechariah perform in Jewish society?

5. Who Was Israel's king when John the Baptist was born? ANSWERS 1. Gabriel is the angel who appeared to both Zechariah and Mary. When Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, he said, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John" (Luke 1:13). In Luke 1:30-31, we read, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now you will ... bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. (When the annunciation took place, Mary's cousin, Elizabeth, was in her sixth month of pregnancy with John the Baptist.) 2. Elizabeth and Zechariah were John the Baptist's parents. (See Luke 1:13.) 3. John the Baptist foretold the coming of the Messiah. Although Luke 1:14-15 and Luke 1:17 are all biblical references to John prophesying the Messiah's coming, Luke 1:17 tells it most clearly when it says that John will "make ready a people prepared for the Lord". 4. Zechariah was a priest (In Luke 1:13, Zechariah is described as a "man of God who lived blamelessly." More specific to his priesthood, however, it says in Luke 1:5: In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. 5. Herod was Israel's king when John the Baptist was born. (see Luke 1:5.) (All Bible verses were taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), 1989.)

PERSONAL PROFILES

Due to publication deadlines and a holiday vacation, the editor regrets being unable to interview Vicky Vaughan for this month's column. The editor will be interviewing Vicky for January's CENTERPIECE.

CONTRIBUTOR'S CORNER

Because the CENTERPIECE is YOUR newsletter, your contributions are always encouraged and welcomed. To contribute, call Bob Mates at 412-682-1800. (He'll "mate" sure that your words of wisdom "touch" Pittsburgh's blind community. Sorry! I just couldn't resist the pun.)

LOOKING AHEAD

October, 2002, Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind.)

A GIFT TO REMEMBER

by Bob Mates

Do you enjoy receiving gifts? If you're like most people, receiving presents is probably one of the favorite things you do!

Since it's almost Christmas time, with its emphasis on gift- giving, I thought we'd talk about gifts. Maybe, we'll jog your memory a bit, and maybe, we'll get you thinking, too.

First, think back to when you were a child. What was your most memorable Christmas present? A beautiful doll? A great- sounding car or truck? For me, it was a robot-type toy, named "Big Max." (No, he wasn't a robot black Labrador.) It was definitely a boy's toy--a construction gismo, with a conveyor belt and dump truck. I loved that toy, and used it until I wore it out. I sincerely hope that each of you has a similar memory.

Then, there was the gift you wanted, but didn't get. In my case, it was a pony. (If you're laughing, you're not alone; my parents laughed, too.) Back in the mid-'50's, it was the thing for kids to want a pony, an I was no exception. It didn't matter, that we lived in the heart of the city, and that the neighbors would have been, to say the least, rather upset to see a pony in our backyard; I wanted that pony! In fact, I even took to walking around the house, singing:

Pony boy, pony boy!

Won't you be my pony boy?

It didn't work; I didn't get the pony. (By the way, if you've heard "Pony Boy", you're old, like me.) The closest thing I got to a pony was a swing, with a wooden horse head on it. Such is life.

As we grow older, toys and games give way to more useful and practical items: clothes, electronics, and of course, money! These are all wonderful, but they are of no importance, when compared with the greatest gift ever given!

What is this gift? Who is it from? When was it given? How do we receive it? It's the gift of God's only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ! Two thousand years ago, it was He who, as the Nicene Creed

says: "...for us men, and for our salvation, came down from Heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man". God gave us this gift, because otherwise, we would have been doomed to death and Hell. Because Jesus was given as a Savior, we can now say that we have overcome sin, death and the devil. Whereas once, we were dead, we live; whereas once, we were on the opposite side of the fence from God, we can now call Him father; whereas once, we were strangers, now we're members of the family of God! Oh, what better gift could you ask for? And the good news is, you don't have to work for it--couldn't work hard enough for it; don't have to be good enough--couldn't do it anyway! Ephesians 2:8-9 sums the whole thing up:

For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; and not of works, lest any man should boast. Receive, and Enjoy!!!

Merry Christmas!

Amen.

DECEMBER'S GIFTS

A poem by

Terri Watson

December kisses autumn goodbye,

Then says "hi" to winter and snowy skies.

December is gift-wrapped in prayers for peace,

And ribbons of hope that violence will cease.

,December brought angels who sang songs of praise

to shepherds who tended the sheep where they lay.

December reminds us what those shepherds said

about a boy child on a manger bed:

A King sent from heaven to give us new birth and bring bits of heaven to a troubled earth. December's best gift to a world gone astray was Jesus who came to take sins away; a Savior who showed us God's heavenly

ways:

Yes, Christ is the reason for Christmas day!

PRAYER REQUESTS

1.For a rapid and comfortable recovery for Jerry Blum who recently had surgery after falling and cracking his right hip. (Jerry has been helping the blind community of Pittsburgh for the past twenty-seven years, especially through an organization called BOLD (Blind Outdoor Leisure

Development).)

2. For the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of Lutheran Center attendees, Lutheran Center volunteers, First Trinity Church members, and the Pittsburgh area blind community. 3. For a man who has been unwilling to seek help for his alcoholism. May God also bless his wife with serenity and wisdom. 4. For all of the ministries that are part of First Trinity Lutheran Church. 5. For continued good health for a friend's father. 6. Since there is such a wideness in God's mercy that he loves all of His creations, your prayers are being requested for Truman, Vicky Vaughan's sister's dog, whose injured foot seems not to be healing properly.

7. May God grant all of you a Christmas blest with holiness and a New Year filled with the riches of God's unfailing love!

A LITTLE HUMOR: VERY LITTLE

TOP TEN SIGNS THAT YOUR DOG GUIDE IS READY TO RETIRE!

10 Starts receiving mail from A.A.R.D.

9. has an un-controllable urge to listen to very old songs, such as "How

Much Is That Doggie In The Window?"

8. nods in agreement, when referred to as "old boy" or "old girl."

7. is studying social security law

6. refers to him- or herself as a "notch dog".

5. lies about its age

4. dyes its coat

3. keeps looking at its contract

2. pulls to the door of offices of realtors, specializing in retirement

living

1. Starts barking out the words to "Take this Job and Shove It!"

We hope you won't be retiring your dog soon, but, when you do, we'll be here for you! God bless.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

GUIDE DOG USERS GROUP:

First Thursday of each month

11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.m.

PRAYER SERVICE

First Thursday of each month

1:00 to 1:30 p.m.

BIBLE STUDY

First and Third Thursday of each month

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

LIFE GROUP: (Living in Faith and Encouragement)

If re-convened, will meet on Wednesdays

5:00 to 6:00

MONTHLY MEAL

Last Saturday of the month

5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

MONTHLY PRE-MEAL BIBLE STUDY

Last Saturday of the month

4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

NOTE: OTHER EVENTS WILL BE ADDED AS SCHEDULED. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL BOB MATES at (412) 682-1800.)

THE END