THE CENTERPIECE

October, 2006

The newsletter of the

Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind

535 North Neville Street

Pittsburgh, Pa 15213

PHONE: (412) 682-1800

E-mail: director@plcb.net

WEB SITE: www.plcb.net

Sherri Crum, Director

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

THE CENTERPIECE is available in Braille, large print, and on cassette tape. You may also read it online, at our web site: www.plcb.net.

Terri Winaught, Editor

THE CENTERPIECE,

October, 2006

FROM THE EDITOR

Beginning with the next issue, Terri Winaught will continue to edit this newsletter. Thanks Terri!

Welcome to the first issue of The Centerpiece for 2006-07, and the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind's eighth year. I'm happy to be with you. Our former director set a great precedent. Though I don't intend to make any broad sweeping changes, some things will be different. You may notice some slight changes at the meals, and some things about this newsletter may change as well. Kathy Susany will continue to contribute her very popular In Sickness and in Health column. We hope to continue the humor column and Bible Bits, as well. Although I was thinking that we would not have the previous meal reviews, I may have changed my mind. Let me know what you think. There will be a new column called Miscellany which will feature thought tidbits, poems, etc. that might be of interest. Again, let me know what you think. And my final point, here, is that this is your newsletter so please let me know what you like, or not; find helpful, or not; and please, feel free to share things that might be suitable for publication.


WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE SUMMER?

Just to get everyone up to speed I thought I would include a review this time. Over the summer we had our first ever Trivia Time contest and a Talent Show/Roast for our outgoing director.

TRIVIA TIME IN REVIEW
The Trivia Time was an afternoon full of questions and answers. Five guests put on their thinking caps. They were placed into two groups and the groups competed in answering 7-10 questions in several different categories such as Old Time Radio and Bible History. Mr. Mates did a great job researching the questions. Light refreshments were enjoyed by all, and at the end of the day everyone got a sweet treat.


FROM THE PITTSBURGH LUTHERAN SEPTEMBER 2006
Blind Center Roasts Former Director Robert Mates

OAKLAND—Many laughs and fond memories were shared by 35 individuals who attended a Talent Show/Roast at the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind. We had a talent show already scheduled. Then Rev. Douglas Spittel suggested we send Bob Mates (the former director of the Center) out in grand fashion.
The talent included anything from jokes to singing to piano playing. There was storytelling and much more. The weather was great, the two-month-old didn't cry and the six dog guides didn't so much as whimper.
"This is a bittersweet time..." said Mr. Mates when he was finally handed the microphone. We agree. We're sad to be seeing him go but we wish him all the best as he and Dorie begin their new life together.


And Finally: 
On Saturday, September 30, 2006, the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for
the Blind held the first meal of our eighth season of operation. The theme for
the day was the British Isles. We invited the Reverend Jonathan Naumann to
lead the Bible Study. The main entree of fish and chips was complimented
with several side dishes and finished with cream puffs topped with
chocolate. There was plenty of food to go around.
Reverend Naumann also
provided our guests with many laughs as he spoke some of the various
dialects which he mastered during his time abroad. To round out the day,
Pastor Douglas Spittel conducted the Vespers service.

All of our parish volunteer leaders were present for our first meal of the
season. Some new volunteers from other congregations also came to learn
about the mission. A group of girls from Abraxis in Wilkinsburg were on
hand to help serve the dinner.
We're ever so thankful to have a great group
of core volunteers and community service groups to help us continue to
share the love of Jesus with our guests.

Now you're all caught up on what has happened over the summer. And, so you won't miss anything, November's meal will be held on the 18th. I hope many of you are able to join us for a Thanksgiving meal.


A LITTLE HUMOR ... VERY LITTLE

I hope you get some chuckles out of the material I have selected for you this month.

A wise old Kentucky farm boy went to town to trade for a pickup truck he saw advertised in the paper for an unbelievably low price. After showing the salesman which truck he wanted, they sat down to do the paperwork. The salesman handed the farmer the keys and the bill, 
to which the Kentucky farm boy angrily declared, "This ain't the price I saw!" The salesman went on to tell the wise old Kentucky farmer how he was getting extras such as power brakes, power windows, special tires etc. and that made the final price higher.
The Kentucky farmer wanted only that truck and no other, so he begrudgingly paid the price and drove it home.
A few months later, the salesman called the Farmer; "My son is in 4-H and he needs a cow for a project. Do you have any good cows for sale?"
"Yep, I've a few good cows priced to sell at $500 each. Come on out and take your pick."
The salesman said he and his son would be right out. After spending a few hours in the field checking out all the farmer's cows, they decided on one and the salesman proceeded to write a check for $500.
"Now, wait a minute, that's not the final price of the cow. You're gettin' extras and you have to pay for those, too!"
"What extras?" asked the salesman.
"I think you'll find all you're gettin' listed here!"

BASIC COW -- $500.00
Two tone exterior -- $45.00
Extra stomach -- $75.00
Product storing equipment -- $60.00
Straw compartment -- $120.00
4 Spigots at $10 each -- $40.00
Leather upholstery -- $125.00
Dual horns -- $45.00
Automatic fly swatter -- $38.00
Fertilizer attachment -- $185.00
GRAND TOTAL -- $1,233.00


Woof! Woof!
The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.
Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. --Anonymous
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. --Ann Landers
There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. --Will Rogers
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. --Ben Williams
We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all.
It's the best deal man has ever made. --Josh Billings
Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate. --M. Acklam
I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. --Sigmund Freud
Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog. --Rita Rudner
If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. --James Thurber
Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul -- chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth! --Joe Weinstein
You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, "Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!" --Mark Twain
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. --Dave Barry
If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them. --Roger Caras
Women and cats will do as they please,
and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. --Phil Pastoret
Dog Philosophy The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. --Robert A. Heinlein
My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money.
A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down.
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
AND YOU SMELL GREAT!!


MISCELLANY

This is where the thought tidbits, quotes, poems, ... and other musings will be featured.

There are many times in my life such as, while waiting for a bus, waiting for shopping assistance, riding the bus, etc. when I want to keep my mind busy. During these times I like to play word games, or pray. Something new which I'm going to be working on is memorizing a list of Bible verses. I recently came across this in a magazine and thought I would share it with you. Below is a list of A to Z Bible verses--with a few exceptions.

A--All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
B--Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29
C--Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
D--Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8
E--Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:14
F--For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
G--God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
H--Him that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37
I--I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
J--Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." John 6:29
K--Knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
L--Look to me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! Isaiah 45:22
M--My grace is sufficient for you. 2 Corinthians 12:9
N--Now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2
O--Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. Psalm 119:18
P--Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
Q--Quicken me according to Thy Word. Psalm 119:154
R--Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7
S--Seek, and you will find. Matthew 7:7
T--The blood of jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
U--Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
V--Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. John 6:47
W--What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Mark 8:36
X--Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3
Y--You are not your own ... for you were bought at a price. 1 Corinthians 6:19:20
Z--Zealous for good works Titus 2:14


DEVOTION

I read this recently and thought it might lend itself quite nicely to a devotion.
Hey Pumpkin. Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff-- including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.
1 John tells us: 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1:6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all (or every) sin. 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. NIV
In these verses, the apostle John is very clearly proclaiming God's grace to Christians. 
So, what do we learn from this passage? Some of the things we learn include: "God is light," "the blood of His son Jesus purifies us from sin," and, "if we confess our sins He will forgive us and purify us."
So, no matter what pumpkin patch of life you find yourself in, keep that inner light shining bright.


PRAYER REQUESTS

As you lift up the following concerns, joys and intentions to a loving Lord and special Savior, may you, and the people you will be praying for know that you were fashioned, formed, minted and mined in God's unconditional and everlasting love.

1. For Lois Briggs who has been experiencing severe neck pain since February.

2. For Dorothy Locchetta as she faces a long recovery period.

3. For Joe Otts as he continues chemotherapy.

4. For Lisa Watts as she adjusts to the recent loss of reading vision. 

5. For the continued success of the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind.

6. For the health and well-being of all those who are associated with the Center, volunteers, guests, etc.

7. For compassionate care for all who are in nursing homes, and healing for all who are in hospitals.

8. For Mike and Betty as they adjust to a recent disappointment.

9. "Risen Christ, be present at all our meals where the menu is love and acceptance, equality, pardon and non-judgment. Thank You for showing us the way." --

THE END