From the desk of Pastor Lori I found this interesting and want to share with you. From a fellow colleague Pastor Tim Dooner at Faith Presbyterian Church in Emmaus, PA….. One of the most influential children’s shows of all time was “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” which was aired on PBS from 1968 – 2001. The show was the ministry of Fred Rogers, a minister in the Presbyterian Church. Through the witness of his show, Mr. Rogers invited millions of children and their parents to look into their community and to extend the hospitable, graceful and ever-important invitation: “I’ve always wanted to have a neighbor just like you. I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you. So, let’s make the most of this beautiful day. Since we’re together we might as well say: Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won’t you be my neighbor?” These words have never been more important for the Church in America. A recent study by the Pew Research Center offered a sobering glimpse into the contemporary religious landscape of America. The largest growing religious group in our nation is the people proclaiming no religion. One in five Americans now freely chooses to live outside of any religious circle – 20% of all American adults are non-religious.
Even more sobering is the fact that the self-proclaimed non-religious demographic is growing even faster in the younger generations. 30% of Americans ages 23 – 31 and 34% of Americans ages 18 – 22 are unaffiliated with a particular congregation by choice. The non-religious population around us is growing exponentially, which means it is getting exponentially more difficult for a particular congregation to thrive (or even survive) simply by advertising worship times to the religious demographic within its local community. If our area exemplifies these statistics even somewhat, then we have lots of neighbors who have no church affiliation. If we take the call of Christ seriously, to go forth into all the world and teach the Gospel, then we have lots of work to do!! We can’t simply HOPE they come through the door… We are going to have to GO out there and invite them in. As we have been taking time to brainstorm and dream about the future of our congregation, we will also need to take the time to make things happen! What can you do to invite folks in? What could we do as a church family? What will our future look like? God only knows for sure but WE need to use our hands and feet to get us there!
Peace be with you, Pastor Lori UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER o April 7th – Special Musical Guest – Dorothy Beck on trumpet o April 14th – 3p.m. afternoon Communion – Bring a friend! o April 21st – coffee hour @ 10:10a.m. – DiMarco Baptism Blanket Sales for Mother’s Day o Christian Ed. – Tues. @ 6p.m. o April 27th – Saturday Work Day o April 28th – Red Geranium Orders for Pentecost o May 3rd & 4th – Rummage Sale o May 5th – Geranium Order Deadline o May 12th – Mother’s Day o May 19th – Pentecost Sunday – wear red o May 26th – Memorial Day Weekend – Trinity Sunday ***Remember – Father’s Day - June 16th our Summer Worship Schedule starts – 9:30a.m. – NO Sunday School for the summer – resumes September 8th.***
FLOWER/BULLETIN CHART available dates: $35 flowers / $10 bulletins OPEN DATES FOR 2013: May 5 – June 2, 30 – July 14, 28 - Nov. 3, Please let Candy know if you wold like to sponsor any of theses dates. SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS – CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: By the time you receive this letter we will have had our Egg Dyeing and Egg Hunt. Sure hope having the hunt during S.S. on Palm Sunday was okay, this way each S.S. child had a chance to participate. Nothing much going on in April. May we have Mother’s Day on May 12th. The children will be honoring mothers and all the ladies of the S.S. The 19th is Pentecost Sunday. Most of you know that Nikki Brodt is moving our West, the 26th will be Nikki’s last day with us. We all wish her well in her new adventure and adjustment as well as the rest of the family. A few dates to keep in mind: June 9th – Children’s Day – breakfast will be served to the children & they will participate in worship. This is also the last day of S.S. for the summer. June 16th – Father’s Day – church service is at 9:30a.m. no Sunday School. The children will be bringing their banks home in June for their summer offering. We really do well for the few that participate. Hope more of you remember to fill your banks – a little change goes a long way! There has been no date set for Choir & Teacher Appreciation Day yet. Also our high school & college graduates will be honored – date to be announced. Thank you to everyone who sold or bought candy bars to help the S.S. kids. The total amount is not in yet since we still have some money not turned in to the S.S. Please keep saving those soda tabs for us! Submitted by Lillian Ruch – Christian Ed. Committee
Worship Helpers:
APRIL MAY 7TH 5TH USHERS/LOCK-UP: Larry Rissmiller/Jim Hilton USHERS/LOCK-UP: Larry Rissmiller/Jim Hilton LITURGIST: Nancy Hower LITURGIST: Mikaylah Ott GREETER: Calvin Labar GREETER: Calvin Labar ACOLYTES: Kelsi Smith ACOLYTE: Courtney Smith 14TH 12TH USHERS/LOCK-UP: Bob/Cathy Engle USHERS/LOCK-UP: Larry Rissmiller/Jim Hilton LITURGIST: Mary Ann McEvoy LITURGIST: Bob Engle GREETER: Kermit Ruch GREETER: Paul Labar ACOLYTE: Nikki Brodt ACOLYTE: Noah Miller
21ST 19TH USHERS/LOCK-UP: Dave Jones/Pete Layman USHERS: Juztyn O./Tyler R. LITURGIST: Mikaylah Ott LITURGIST: Jim Hilton GREETER Paul Labar GREETER: Kermit Ruch ACOLYTE: Camryn Smith ACOLYTE: Juztyn Ott/Tyler Robuck LOCK-UP: Larry Rissmiller
28TH 26TH USHERS/LOCK-UP: Dave Jones/Pete Layman USHERS: Juztyn O./Tyler R. LITURGIST: Lisa Seiple LITURGIST/LOCK-UP: Larry Rissmiller GREETER: Charles Jones GREETER: Charles Jones ACOLYTE: Troy Miller ACOLYTE: Nikki Brodt
APRIL JULY 7th Kelsi Smith 7th Trista Artley 14th Nikki Brodt 14th Noah Miller 21st Camryn Smith 21st Tyler Robuck 28th Troy Miller 28th Juztyn Ott
MAY AUGUST 5th Courtney Smith 4th OUTDOOR SERVICE 12th Noah Miller 11th Trista Artley 19th Juztyn Ott & Tyler Robuck 18th Troy Miller 26th Nikki Brodt 25th Juztyn Ott
JUNE SEPTEMBER 2nd Trista Artley 1st Trista Artley 9th Noah Miller 8th Noah Miller 16th Troy Miller 15th Kelsi Smith 23rd Tyler Robuck 22nd Tyler Robuck 28th Juztyn Ott 29th Troy Miller
If you can’t serve on your assigned Sunday please call Larry @ 610-588-4669 or Lillian @ 610-588-4459! Please have your gowns on by 10:35a.m. - be upstairs and ready to go. NO ROBES JUNE 16TH-SEPTEMBER 1ST! Thank You, Lillian Ruch
Sunday School Perfect Attendance:
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER Jimmy Hilton Jimmy Hilton Trista Artley Trista Artley Tristan Jones Jacklyn Artley Jacklyn Artley Noah Miller Tristan Jones Noah Miller Troy Miller Noah Miller Troy Miller Mikaylah Ott Troy Miller Juztyn Ott Trista Artley Tristan Jones Jacklyn Artley Tyler Robuck
DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY Nikki Brodt Nikki Brodt Trista Artley Jimmy Hilton Jimmy Hilton Jacklyn Artley Trista Artley Tristan Jones Tristan Jones Jacklyn Artley Noah Miller Noah Miller Kelsi Smith Troy Miller Mikaylah Ott Tristan Jones Mikaylah Ott Jimmy Hilton Mikaylah Ott Trista Artley Tyler Robuck Juztyn Ott Jacklyn Artley Tyler Robuck
EGG HUNT WINNERS: AGES O-2ND GRADE 1ST – TRISTA ARTLEY 2ND – SONIJA SANTIAGO 3RD – JACKLYN ARTLEY AGES GRADE 3 & UP 1ST – KELSI SMITH 2ND – TROY MILLER 3RD – NIKKI BRODT
Thank you to the adult class for helping to hide the eggs and the teachers and Tyler for organizing the hunt. Thanks to all who donated eggs and those who turned out for the Egg Dyeing Party. We enjoyed pizza and drinks after we cleaned up.
APRIL 2013 S.S. @ 9:30AM WORSHIP @ 10:45AM
MAY 2013 S.S. @ 9:30AM WORSHIP @ 10:45AM
APRIL
BIRTHDAYS
APRIL 1st – Bobbi Jo Jennings 12th – Taylor Hitzel 3rd – Betty Leibig 14th – Sherry Heard 6th – Chelsea Moore 15th – Ambie Hower 7th – Sandy D’Alessandro 20th – Patricia Ann Snoddy 9th – Courtney Smith 22nd – Bob Engle 9th – Ruth Corley 29th – Jacklyn Artley 30th – Fred Reinhart ANNIVERSARIES 8th – Bob & Yvonne Humphreys
MAY BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES 5th – Jamie Rowe 21st – Cathy Engle 3rd – Bruce & Janna Kline 5th – Gabby Bentzoni 21st – Dan Ruggiero 23rd - Fred & Christine Hitzel 5th – Donald Kaiser III 24th – Lillian Ruch 30th -David & Sandy D’Alessandro 6th – Kermit Ruch 24th – Joseph DiMarco 11th – Rian McCaffrey 25th – Karen Corley 12th – Ann Ott 29th – Todd Ott 13th– Patricia Brown 31st-Rev. Lori Esslinger 21st– Anna Mae Becker 31st –Kansas Lanko
RECIPE CORNER – from Flicksville U.C.C. Members, present & past
CHOPPED BROCCOLI SLAW Diane Layman
1 lb. chopped broccoli slaw 1 pkg. ramen noodles – break in bag –
No seasoning used
½ stick butter 1/3 cup slivered almonds 2 Tbsp. sesame seeds Dressing: ½ cup oil ½ cup sugar ¼ cup white vinegar 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
HAMBURGER STROGANOFF
Charlotte Leibig
¼ cup margarine 1 onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, chopped 1 lb. ground beef ½ tsp. salt 1 8oz. can mushrooms 2 Tbsp. flour 1 10oz. can mushroom soup 1 cup sour cream Cooked noodles ¼ cup parsley, minced THANK YOU LADIESJ
PAIRS & SPARES NEWS: · Next meeting – May 5, 2013 @ 6p.m. · Spring pastie sale – last day to order May 12, 2013. Price $4.25. Delivery May 17th. · Tricky Tray scheduled for June 1, 2013 from 4-6p.m. Now is the time to start getting ideas together. Expanded food choices for dinner will be available that evening. · Thank you to everyone who donated to the children’s & shut-in Easter baskets. Thanks, Carol Hilton
FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE NEWS: · Meetings April 17th & May 15th @ 6:30p.m. · Rummage & Bake Sale May 3rd – 9-4 May 4th – 9-1 Set up starts April 15th thru April 30th – 9a.m.-4p.m. daily Evenings 6-8p.m. April 16-16-22-23-29-30 ----you may drop off items during the dates and times listed above ---we NO LONGER accept TV’s, bed pillows, mattress pads or mattresses of any size
We are asking everyone to please volunteer if able…..the future of our Rummage Sales depend on the effort of all….. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions 610-863-7332 Diana Ruggiero – Fellowship Committee Chairperson
GOOD NEWS From our congregation
Jim Hilton is an Eagle Scout!!! BABY OTT - Jace Calvin was born on Friday, March 22nd! Jonathan & Susan McEvoy are proud parents of a baby girl! Brad DiMarco is bringing his family from Florida to have his new daughter, Leandra Helen baptized on April 21st during worship @ 10:45a.m. - Come Join in this celebration!!! Jill Brodt is at her 100 pound weight loss marl - WOW! Nancy & Arthur Hower went on a Gospel cruise - Welcome Home Our friend, Mabel Howe turned 96!!! Mariann Bischoff is still in Florida enjoying the warm weather - we miss her!!!
“Where man sees but withered leaves, God sees sweet flowers growing.”
Resurrection by Emily May Young The promise of resurrection Is not only told in the Book; It is heralded in the springtime By every happy brook.
It is announced by violets And by the dogwood trees. It is chanted by the mockingbird And the buzz of myriad bees.
It is echoed every Easter By the lily’s perfumed breath, When every sleeping plant awakes, Triumphant over death.
To the Easter Lilies by Helen Elizabeth Williamson Beneath the winter soil you sit As servants in your humble tents, Til urgings, ah, benevolent, Uplift you from earth’s somber pit To bathe in warm spring days sunlit— Your guileless blooms magnificent, Their robes of white a testament Of loveliness that’s infinite.
Stately lilies, flower apostles, On Easter morn your trumpets ring With perfumed breath as they exhale, “The Lord is risen! Dance and sing.” Lift our hearts with peals colossal. Hallelujah! Life prevails.
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