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As many of you know I just spent a weekend at the 50th anniversary of the Penn Northeast Conference of the United Church of Christ. The theme of the meeting was “50 years of commas” and it was quite a celebration. I saw many friends there and met new ones. It was a good weekend – if one doesn’t mind coming home exhausted. Rev. Jane Hess from Hazleton, Rev. Steve Engelhardt from Bloomsburg, and I planned the worship service and designed the worship space for Saturday morning. PNEC Conference Minister, Rev. Allen Miller, Steve, and I had the honor of officiating at the service where many were honored for the work they have done for the conference over the past 50 years.
This Sunday our worship will be patterned after the worship that was held on Sunday morning. The young people are excited to be involved and I will use my notes that I took as Rev. Dr. Leonard Sweet spoke. He is an outstanding writer, lecturer, and lots of other things. You can “google” him to get information about him if you want. Hearing him speak was the feature of the meeting that I was really looking forward to and I was not disappointed. Thanks for the opportunity to hear him and to attend the meeting.
My only regret was that there were no lay persons from Emmanuel at the meeting. I know that it used to be an honor to be a representative for our church at these meetings. Over the years it seems that folks have gotten too busy to attend these events or to take part in conference committees. The conference does serve us in many ways. Sharon Moyer and I are going to a workshop on stewardship this coming weekend at which Rev. Kate Huey, Minister for Stewardship, Scripture & Discipleship, from our national office will be the leader. I am excited to go and hear her presentation. I pray that more of you would get involved in these enlightening offerings that are available for all of us.
I must say “thanks” to all who worked so hard at the turkey supper last week. It turned out to be very successful – both in the fellowship that was shared and in the financial aspect of the evening. And it was OOOOOOh! so good! Archie and I bought four tickets and ate turkey and dressing for three days – lunch and supper! I was ready for a hamburger after all that – no matter how good the turkey was! And I heard great things from the men we are housing this week who got the leftovers. They felt like they were having a family meal, which you can imagine would mean a lot to a homeless person.
April was a wonderful month with the awe and excitement of Palm Sunday and Easter, the sadness of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and all that goes along with the season – like the kids and Easter eggs. But what it’s really all about is JESUS IS ALIVE! We are to serve him each and every day in all that we do. And one way to do that is to make him the priority in our lives.
Four years at Emmanuel have gone by quickly for me. Archie and I truly enjoy being here with you. You have been a blessing to us and for that I say “thank you.” May God bless each and every one.
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We offer our sincere condolences to Judy, Stan and Jim Cybulski on the passing of Stan’s brother, Walter, on April 22. Walter had an upbeat personality and great smile which will be missed by many.
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The Easter Breakfast was a wonderful time for us to joyfully celebrate with each other. Thanks to everyone who helped prepare it and those who came to enjoy the fellowship. Jim Rinehimer
Thanks to everyone who helped out in any and every way with our Turkey Supper. It’s great to see the members and our Scouts working together and having fun. Yes, you can do both at the same time – just ask anyone who was there!! So, let’s hear it for the food prep crew, cooks, wait staff, clean up crew and diners. We couldn’t have this event without YOU! Denise Dean
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Hurry up and get your tickets
for our 3rd annual 300 Club fundraiser!
Mark your calendars and get ready for a great day of fun, food and prizes. On Saturday, June 16, we will hold our annual 300 Club. For tickets or to help out, please see Allen Dennis and Jim Rinehimer.
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A very grateful thank you to everyone who helped with the meals during the week of April 23 to 30 for the men who use the services of St. Theresa’s Haven (formerly V.I.S.I.O.N.). They appreciate our concern and willingness to help them as they work toward getting back into the mainstream of society. As we minister to these men, we are reminded of Jesus’ words, “As you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me.”
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We’re getting started with our plans for this year’s VBS and held our first planning meeting on Monday, April 30. We met at Faith UMC at 7 pm to review our plans for this year. We have opted to go with our own program instead of purchasing one. Our theme is the Bible and its stories and will center around songs that we have known for years, like the B-I-B-L-E and Zacchaeus. We’re looking for people to help plan the different lessons, activities, games and crafts and welcome your ideas. Denise Dean
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Thanks to everyone who buys Weis or Carone’s cards. You are really helping to build up our account so we can go on the mission trip. See Marc or let a Youth Group member know if you want some more!
Our Youth Group members have been working hard to make money for the mission trip to Gatlinburg, TN. They are hiring out for spring cleaning chores. Need a hand with some house cleaning or yard work? They’re available for everything from dusting to raking to gardening and only ask for a donation for their time. You can hire them by signing the sheets on the table in the Narthex. There’s nine people going on this mission trip so they’ll need to raise a lot of money. Let’s get them busy!!
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What a wonderful vacation Archie and I had. We totally took it easy. We did go to Ocean City, MD. But we left home two days later than planned and came home a day early. We just did what we wanted to do with no schedule. While there I did have a catch‐up lunch with my friend, Kay in Bethany Beach. The entire week was very relaxing and enjoyable.
Now – the really busy time begins with Palm Sunday which is also my fourth anniversary of being at Emmanuel, then Maundy Thursday, Good Friday (at Christ UMC – Mt. Top) and Easter – sunrise and 10:30. What a time for celebration we will have on the two Sundays. This is a very exciting season.
I just read an article that certain holidays just make people happy, and there’s no denying that when the Easter Bunny is involved people are excited to look for their rewards. Another exciting event I failed to mention earlier is the NCAA Basketball Championship. The teams I wanted to win got knocked out of the tournament one by one and I had to keep picking new teams. First there was VCU then Duke then NC State and then UNC. And now that the final four is in place I just have to chose a team I don’t really care about so I can cheer for a team. If you don’t know who or what I’m writing about or even care, it started me thinking about Easter.
Right here – right now – and all around the world we have the most exciting moment in history to celebrate – the Resurrection of Christ! WOW!! But how many people know Jesus but pick something else because it seems more exciting or because whatever they picked didn’t make them any happier or any richer or anything else. Those things, like spending Easter Sunday playing ball or going to the movies or partying on Saturday night or anything instead of celebrating the love that God showed us when he gave up his son to die for us. Amazing! How lucky we are to be involved in a community of faith that knows the “real” meaning of Easter and knows the reward we get is not a basket full of chocolate bunnies but salvation – eternal life. That’s a gift that no Easter Bunny could ever deliver.
Invite a neighbor or friend who might not know the love to Christ or someone who has forgotten the joy that a relationship with Christ can bring. Encourage them to worship on Easter and every Sunday.
See you soon! God love you!
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Letters expressing thanks for our continued support are on the bulletin board in the bell tower from Bethany Children’s Home and Phoebe-Devitt Homes. They gratefully acknowledge our monthly donations so that they can continue to support those they serve.
We received a letter from the VA Hospital thanking us for our donation of Valentines. They note that without our support, they could not provide the niceties that make hospitalization more bearable.
Donnie Myers sent a card, posted on the bell tower bulletin board, thanking everyone for their prayers and cards during his recovery from his operation.
Thanks to the Confirmation Class and Youth Group for making supper before our Lenten services on March 14 and 28. Thanks especially to Josh Cronce for saying grace on March 28. These kids really served up delicious food and it’s great to see them volunteering their time and talent.
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It is with sadness that we mark the passing of Alda Zindle on March 14, 2012. Alda was such a very active member of our church, from serving up veggies at church suppers to keeping the Memorial Gifts Book. She will be missed by many of us.
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Déjà vu? Spring Storms strike again
It hasn’t even been a year since we assembled clean up buckets for the storm-ravaged Southern states last May. Unfortunately, our country is again experiencing some of the worst storm disasters in years. On February 28 and 29, swarms of tornadoes hit hard through Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Tennessee, killing 14 people. Another series of tornadoes hit on March 2 and 3, tearing through Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Alabama, killing 39 people. We’ve heard the stories, again, of whole towns being wiped out.
Our Sunday School has taken on a mission project to provide as many hygiene kits as possible. We are asking for donations of the following items, in whatever quantities you wish, and the kids will assemble the packages. The cut off date for the donations is April 22. On Sunday, April 29, the kids will assemble the kits and they will be on our altar area for blessing.
These are the items needed to assemble the kits. Please understand that all the kits need to be identical, so we need to get these items in these sizes, only.
• One hand towel measuring approximately 16″ x 28″ (no fingertip or bath towels)
• One washcloth
• One wide-tooth comb
• One nail clipper
• One bar of soap (bath size in wrapper)
• One toothbrush (in original packaging)
• Six standard size Band-aids®
Place all items in a one-gallon plastic bag with a zipper closure, remove excess air from bag, and seal. Please do not add toothpaste to the Hygiene Kit. Cartons of toothpaste that have an extended expiration date will be added to Hygiene Kit shipments just prior to shipment.
In addition to the kits, our donations to One Great Hour of Sharing will extend past March 18, the official offering date, to April 29. In response to the recent tornadoes and storms, our offering will be designated for 2012 Storms and Tornado Relief which will ensure that 100% is used to help the recovery effort.
Thanks for your generosity and compassion.
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On April 5, our Maundy Thursday observance begins with supper at 6:00 pm prepared by Pastor Penny. After supper, we will gather for worship at 7:00 pm and recall the events of that evening as Jesus established the sacrament of Holy Communion at the Last Supper. Pastor Penny will reenact his humble act of washing the feet of his disciples.
Our Community Good Friday service on April 6 will be held at Christ United Methodist Church, Mountain Top, at 12 noon. This day is a true gift from God as he proves beyond the shadow of a doubt how far he is willing to go to reclaim us for his own. Even the agony of death could not stop him as he fought to bring us out of the darkness of sin. Can we accept his gift and all the gory details of Good Friday? Or do we just want to remember the pretty parts on Easter? As with any war, you need to fight the battle in order to celebrate the victory. Come, and witness the strength of will and commitment of spirit which will result in God claiming us as his own – children of the victorious conqueror.
Easter Offering
For many years our church has gathered a special offering for Easter which has been used to support our denomination’s local institutions: Bethany Children’s Home ($1,000), Lancaster Theological Seminary ($1,000) and Phoebe Devitt Homes ($1,000). Any amount over the amount needed to fulfill these gifts is used to offset our offering to Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) which we have budgeted at $1,500. Please notice that this is a special offering which is in addition to our regular envelopes which support our General Fund or Building Fund. With that understanding, we hope you will give generously to our church and also to the organizations we support.
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May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. — Romans 15:5-6 (NIV)
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Upcoming:
Emmanuel UCC Calendar
- Sunday, May 20, 2012
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- Tuesday, May 22, 2012
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- Wednesday, May 23, 2012
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- Friday, May 25, 2012
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- Saturday, May 26, 2012
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- Sunday, May 27, 2012
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- Monday, May 28, 2012
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- Tuesday, May 29, 2012
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