Inside Faith Congregational · 2019-02-01 · chronic complainers probably don’t think it would...

Inside Faith MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FAITH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

AUGUST 2018

Congregational

PASTOR’S PEN

Your church leadership is already making plans for the “official launch” of

our church’s 5-year vision. I’ve mentioned its foundations to you in previous

newsletter articles. One of the key components is “Growing in Our

Relationship with Christ.”

Growing means changing. And not many of us like changing, right? Change is

uncomfortable, and growing is almost always accompanied by “growing

pains.” Any church that buys into its own vision for the future, especially if

that vision calls for “growth,” will go through times of discomfort and

dissatisfaction. It’s all part of the process.

With this in mind, I’d like to share an article with you on the topic of COMPLAINING (“Three Types

of Complaining” by Robert Biswas-Diener). Please know that we ALL complain. But there is “good”

complaining and “bad” complaining. If we are to enter a new season of church growth, we will likely

enter a season that contains some complaining. Remember, how much Israel complained on the

way to the Promised Land? It was a tough journey...and they needed to grow...a lot!

So, as we move forward to the place where God is calling us, let us commit ourselves to growth that

brings about positive change and growth that brings out the best in us. It may not be easy

sometimes, but we can do it!

Yours in Faith,

Pastor Rob Hunter

If complaining is so awful, why is it so prevalent? There is a growing body of research addressing

complaining: what it is, and when and why it happens. To begin with, complaining is simply expressing

dissatisfaction. This usually happens verbally and usually happens in the wake of a negative situation.

Traffic was worse than expected. The movie was disappointing. The contractor did shoddy work. The

city council should never have approved that new development. Of course, it is not just situations but

also personal factors that are involved. You’ll notice, for example, that some people tend to complain

while others hold their tongues. Indeed, there is a “complaint threshold” that must be reached before

someone decides to grumble.

This threshold is still being explored but it likely has many facets. One may be “locus of control,” or

how much control a person feels she has in a situation. If an airline misplaces your suitcase, for

instance, you are more likely to lodge a complaint because you feel that your notification of the

problem will help to solve it. There may be other personal factors involved as well such as tolerance

for conflict, age, and desire to present one’s self positively.

It is useful to understand that complaining (and—by extension—complainers) come in types. There

are those who never seem to be satisfied. These are known as chronic complainers. They have a

tendency to ruminate on problems and to focus on setbacks over progress. Some research suggests

that making a habit of complaint can “re-wire” the brain so that those particular thinking orientations

become ingrained. It is possible to re-wire this re-wiring to make it more positive, of course, but

chronic complainers probably don’t think it would work all that well.

A second type of complaint is the familiar “venting.” Venting is expressing emotional

dissatisfaction. It turns out that people who vent have an agenda. They tend to be focused

on themselves and their own—presumably negative—experience. By showing their anger,

frustration, or disappointment, they are soliciting attention from their confidantes. They can

feel validated by receiving attention and sympathy. Venters are particularly likely to discount

advice and proposed solutions to their problems. They aren’t looking to solve anything; they

simply want validation.

One unfortunate downside to both venting and to chronic complaining is that it can dampen

people’s moods. In one series of studies, researchers tracked people’s moods before and

after hearing a complaint. As predicted, listening to gripes made people feel worse. What’s

more, the complainer also felt worse!

The last type of complaint is known as the “instrumental complaint.” Unlike its wrinkle-

nosed conceptual cousins the instrumental complaint is all about solving problems. When

you confront your romantic partner about overspending on the credit card, that could be

instrumental complaining. Especially if you focus on the impact of the problem, the

importance of change, and cooperate to create a plan for change. One study suggests that

these types of complaints make up fewer than 25 percent of all complaints.

In one study, researchers found that happy people complain less. They also looked at the

evidence that the happy folks in their study were more mindful. They hypothesize that more

cheerful folks are likely to complain more mindfully—more strategically, if you will—and with

a specific goal in mind. When viewed this way a rough guide for complaining emerges:

Avoid dampening your mood by

complaining only rarely

Complain only in instances where

you believe it will effect real and

positive change

Consider whether affirmation or

some other strategy will work

instead of complaining

Limit your exposure to complaining

by limiting your exposure to

FAITH STAFF

Pastor

Rob Hunter

Choir & Music Director

Hazel Graham

Administrative Assistant

Frank Grieco

STEERING OFFICERS

President Marcia Steiner

Vice President Wilma Osterhoudt

Treasurer Kelly Phillips

Secretary Paula Akucewich

MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH

Community Outreach Ministry

Patty Hesser

Discipleship Ministry

Bob Santom

Property Ministry

Rich Pecho

Stewardship Ministry

Ron Knepshield

Worship Ministry

Carol McDonnold

Volunteers Needed to get…

See Patty Hesser or Sharon Ruzga

Back to school supply drive

• #2 Pencils• Glue Sticks• Composition books• Pocket folders• Facial Tissue

Sisters in Faith LuncheonSaturday, August 4 @ 12:00 Noon

Located on US 1 in PSL. All Ladies are invited.Sign up sheet in the lobby.

Have you experienced a significant loss?

Every 3rd Tuesday, 7:00 pm

at the Church

See Gladys Dolan for more info.

COMMUNITY KITCHEN VOLUNTEERS

NEEDEDTable Set-up Wait Staff

Drink Stations Bus Person

Greeters Dish room

Pick up Bread/Desserts

See Karen Overly or Patty Hesser

for more information.

Samaritan’s Purse—Operation Christmas Child:

Sisters in Faith is coordinating shoe boxes for the

Operation Christmas Child program again this

year. We have boxes available for those who

would like to get an early start. You can pick one

up the second Sunday of the month in the lobby

until October when we will have them available

every Sunday. For more information contact

Gladys Dolan.

Collecting Any ITEMS for children ages 2-14

that will fit in a shoe box.

2nd Sunday of each month

Please sign up for boxes…

See Gladys Dolan for more information.

READINGS FOR AUGUST 2018

August 1 Isaiah 18-22











August 12 Jeremiah 1-3
















August 28 Lamentations 1-3:36

August 29 Lamentations 3:37-5:22

August 30 Ezekiel 1-4

August 31 Ezekiel 5-8

11-Gary Mealy

13-Patricia Leader

14-Judy Luttrell

16-Charles Stracuzzi

17-Harold Wagner

17-Judy Byrne

22-Marcia Steiner

26-Brandon Burford

27-Dennis Dierksen

29-Shirley D’Andrea

30-Madilyn Joann Geraci

30-Sarah Lewis

13-Dee & Bill Davis

25-Deborah & Jim Tyger

29-Betty & Bob Gordon

31-Karen & Mike Overly

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

Bible Study 10 am

2 Community

Meal 5-6:30 pm

Bible Study

7 pm

3

4 Sisters in Faith Luncheon 12 pm

5 Worship 9 am

Sermon:

Is Your Bread Perishable?

6 7

8 Bible Study

10 am

9 Community

Meal 5-6:30 pm

Bible Study

7 pm

10 11

12

Worship 9 am Sermon:

How Did you Get Here?

13 1st Day of

School

14 No Stewardship

Steering 6:30 pm

15

Bible Study 10 am

16 Community

Meal 5-6:30 pm

Bible Study

7 pm

17 18

19 Worship 9 am

Sermon: Is Eternal Life in

You?

Shepherds 10:15 am

Choir Rehearsal 1 pm

20

21 Growing through

Grief 7 pm

22 Bible Study

10 am

23 Community

Meal 5-6:30 pm

Bible Study

7 pm

24 25

26 Worship 9 am

Sermon: Can You Accept

It?

27

28 PRIMARY

ELECTION

29 Bible Study

10 am

30 Community

Meal 5-6:30 pm

Bible Study

7 pm

31

Inside Faith Congregational · 2019-02-01 · chronic complainers probably don’t think it would...

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