Trinity Lutheran Church

Transcription

1 Trinity Lutheran Church Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ 106 W. Penn Street, Bedford, PA ~ ph: (814) Office Hours: Monday-Friday; 9:00 am - 5:00 pm trinitylutheranbedford@gmail.com website: Pastoral Emergencies after Office Hours: Pr Weinhold (410) * Pr Short (814) Parish Announcements ~ December 24 & 25, 2017 ~ Advent IV & Christmas Sunday (24) Monday (25) Tuesday (26) Wednesday (27) Sunday (31) Tuesday (2) Wednesday (3) This Week FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Holy Eucharist: ONE Liturgy at 10:00 am Sunday School & Adult Forum on recess CHRISTMAS EVE 6:00 pm Festival Candlelight Eucharist with Children s Homily & Kids Sing 8:30 pm Festival Candlelight Eucharist with Bell Choir 11:00 pm Festival Candlelight Eucharist with Anthem Choir & Brass Ensemble CHRISTMAS DAY 10:00 am (1 Liturgy) ~ Eucharist with Readings and Carols Free Community Dinner: Will NOT be served this week Christmas Church Walk: 6:00 pm beginning at the United Methodist Church Faith & Fun Club, Vespers, & Choir Rehearsals will NOT be held this week. Next Week FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS Holy Eucharist: ONE Liturgy at 10:00 am Annual Holiday Brunch to follow Free Community Dinner: Will NOT be served this week Faith & Fun (After-School Children s Ministry): Will NOT gather this afternoon. Bell Choir Rehearsal: 6:00 pm Vespers: 7:00 pm Anthem Choir Rehearsal: 7:30 pm Sunday Mornings, December 24 and December 31, we will gather for 1 liturgy, at 10:00 am.

2 This Morning s Eucharist is our Final Advent Observance. The Days of Advent bring us the wonderful invitation to hear, in a new way, the Lord s promise to come again, in glory, and lift up the broken, banish the darkness, and restore all creation. As we remember his promise and anticipate his coming, we reflect, in an intentional way, on our response to Christ s call to be a people of peace, a people of compassion, and a people of charity, and we strive to amend our lives to more-faithfully respond to His call to live as faithful disciples. Like a mini-lent, Advent is a time to pray more fervently, to worship more regularly, to share more generously, and to live more graciously, as we anticipate and long for earth s redemption. Christmas Liturgies O Come, Let Us Adore Him! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24 6:00 pm ~ Festival Eucharist, with Organ, Children s Song & Homily for Children 8:30 pm ~ Festival Eucharist, with Organ & Trinity s Bell Choir 11:00 pm ~ Festival Eucharist, with Organ, Brass & Trinity s Anthem Choir ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Christmas Day, Monday, December 25 10:00 am ~ Eucharist, with Organ, Readings and Carols Bedford Community Christmas Church Walk Wednesday, December 27; Beginning at the Bedford United Methodist Church at 6:00 pm Parishioners, friends and neighbors will gather for this annual tradition, coordinated by the churches of our downtown Bedford Community. This year s walk begins at the United Methodist Church (132 E. John Street). As we tour our downtown churches, we ll read the Christmas Story from the Scriptures and sing traditional carols. The Church Walk s final stop will be at the St Johns UCC, where we ll enjoy some light refreshments. Young and old alike have caused this event to grow each year. Please, as you are able, join us! 1 st Sunday After Christmas ~ Holiday Brunch and Church Council Installation Sunday, December 31 ~ 1 Liturgy at 10:00 am During the Holidays, we ll gather as a Parish Family for 1 Liturgy this Sunday Morning, share in a Rite of Installation, Blessing and Prayers of our 2018 Council Members, enjoy some special music by our Christmas Family Festival Choir, and, following the Eucharist, enjoy our annual Holiday Brunch, which will be served by the Women of Trinity. This is always a nice morning of worship and fellowship. Please pass the word, and plan to join us! And, if you have family visiting, be sure to bring them along! 2

3 Celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord Sunday, January 7; Eucharists at 8:30 and 11:00 am Epiphany Day Refreshments & Family Craft: 9:45 am We ll celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord with two festive morning Eucharists. Following each liturgy, we ll gather in the Narthex to observe the annual tradition of The Blessing of the Doors, as we share prayers and mark our doors with M+C+B, the traditional initials of the (3) Wise Men. A nice time of fellowship and refreshments will be held at 9:45 am, at which families, with children, can work together on a special craft. Worship & Music Ministries Bell Choir & Anthem Choir Rehearsals Wednesday Evenings: Bell Choir ~ 6:00 pm Anthem Choir: 7:30 pm Bell Choir rehearses at 6:00 pm and the Anthem Choir rehearses at7:30 pm every Wednesday. If you enjoy singing and making music, please offer your time and talents and join with our ministries! Please see Terry Osman or Susan Casteel if you have any questions. We will NOT gather for rehearsals on Wednesday Evening, December 27, due to the Community Church Christmas Walk, and will resume our regular rehearsal schedule on Wednesday, January 3. Vespers Wednesday Evenings; 7:00 pm Parishioners and friends are invited to gather Wednesday evenings as we sing Evening Prayers (aka Vespers ), an ancient, serene, and contemplative, candle-lit Monastic Order of canticles, readings, and prayers. If you are searching for a quiet time of reflection and prayer in the midst of a busy week, Vespers is just what you are looking for! Please pass the word, and join us. We will NOT sing Vespers on Wednesday Evening, December 27, due to the Community Christmas Church Walk, and will return to our regular pattern on Wednesday January 3. Children & Youth Ministries Sunday School ~ Please Join Us! Sundays at 9:45 am Sunday School, for our pre-school children through Sr High Youth, typically gather every Sunday to celebrate, explore, and grow in the Faith. We appreciate the dedication of a great group of volunteer leaders and helpers who make this all happen in a wonderful way! Please check with Liz Miller if you would like to join in the fun! We won t be having regular sessions on 12/24 (morning of Christmas Eve), 12/31 (Holiday Brunch) or January 7 (Epiphany Day Craft & Refreshments). We re looking forward to returning to our typical schedule on Sunday, January 14! 3

4 Youth Group Sunday, January 14, 2018; 2:00-3:45pm All youth are invited out for another afternoon together. We will try out a few new games and bring back some favorites. Once we tucker ourselves out, we will take a break with some great refreshments. Then we will wrap up with some good discussions and the choosing of a few new kiva partners. I hope you can join us! Please sign up in Trinity Hall. Faith and Fun ~ After School Ministry w/ Kids in Grades K-5 Wednesdays; 3:15-4:30pm Children and friends of the Parish explore Bible stories, work on crafts, and share in activities and games. We provide bus transportation from the Bedford Elementary School and the 2 Chestnut Ridge Elementary Schools, and a shepherd to walk the kids across the street from St Thomas School. Parents are asked to pick-up their kids, at Trinity, at 4:30 pm. Please see Liz Miller with questions. Please note that Faith & Fun Club will be on Holiday Recess, and will NOT gather on December 27 or January 3. We will resume our regular gatherings on Wednesday, January 10. Thanks! to our amazing volunteers and helpers! Adult & All-Parish Ministries Chicks with Sticks ~ Knitting & Crocheting Group Thursday, December 28; 6:30 pm in the Parish House If you knit or crochet (or are interested in learning), you are invited! Bring along a current project or plan to work on a shawl with the group. If you would like to learn more about our Prayer Shawls for parishioners and friends in difficult times, please check with Mary Ann Martz ( ). Trinity Book Club Tuesday, January 9; 1:30 pm The Trinity Book Club will meet on Tuesday, January 2, 1:30 pm, in the parish house. Our January book choice is The All Girl Filling Station Reunion by Fannie Flagg. Please contact the group s coordinator, Pat Macchiarolo ( ) if you can join us! Women of Trinity ~ Growing Compassion Thursday, January 11; 6:30 pm Enjoy our Bread and Soup meal which will be hosted by Linda Vensel in her home. As we remember those who have far less, we will share simple, nourishing food, good fellowship, and meaningful meditation. A sign-up sheet is posted in Trinity Hall for those planning to attend. Major Themes in St Mark s Gospel New Adult Forum Series Begins Sunday, January 14; 9:45 am St Mark s Gospel, though not the first in canonical order, is the oldest of the 4 New Testament Gospels. Through 2018, many of our Sunday Readings will come from this Gospel. Our 5 weekly themes will be 1/14 A Very Human Jesus, 1/21 The Centrality of the Cross, 1/28 Secrecy, 2/4 Proclamation of the Kingdom, and 2/11 Failures of the Disciples. Pr Weinhold & Pr Short look forward to leading these studies, and hope that you will join us! 4

5 Adult Nite-Out Fellowship ~ Dinner at The Twisted Trout Tuesday, January 16; 5:45 pm Parishioners and friends will be gathering for dinner and fellowship at the Twisted Trout on Tuesday, January 16, at 5:45 am. Tuesday night is the TT s wing night, but the full menu is certainly also available. There s a sign-up sheet in Trinity Hall, or call the Church Office to have your name added to the list. Please see Pr Short with any questions. Outreach Ministries Free Community Dinner ~ Ecumenical Ministry Hosted by Trinity and Served every Tuesday Evening; 5:30 pm Trinity hosts and coordinates the Free Community Dinner ministry which serves warm and nutritious meals to neighbors of our community every week. It is also a beautiful witness to our ecumenical and community friendships, as we work together with 5 other local congregations and one area business. Trinity s next turn to serve is Tuesday, February 13 (Fastnacht Dinner). A sign-up sheet will be posted in Trinity Hall a little closer to the date for parishioners and friends who can help prep & serve. Thanks!, for all the support so many parishioners and friends continue to share with this ministry! The Bedford Food Outreach December s Special Ministry Highlight and Appeal The Bedford Food Outreach is an incredible organization that serves over 375 low-income families each month, plus hundreds more at the (almost) weekly special fresh-produce distributions. Our financial gifts, shared during the month of December, will be used to purchase bulk foods at incredible savings. Cereal, for example, can be purchased for $0.20/pound! Please share your gift for this Ministry by using a special envelope. If you enclose a check, please make it payable to Trinity Lutheran Church. Volunteers are always welcome and needed to help with the BFO s work. Please check with Dan Kerr ( ) to learn more and/or volunteer. Pillow-Case Sewing Ministry Wednesday, January 24; 1:00 4:00 pm Parishioners and Friends are invited to gather in Trinity Hall to decorate pillow-cases and small quilts which are sent to the hospitalized kids and cancer patients. We re not meeting in December, but look forward to our first gathering, after the New Year, in January. Come and sew for a few afternoon hours as you are able. Please contact Doris Caldwell (814) if you have any questions or see Arlene Fluke, Leigh Ann Gronborg, or Miriam Peck. Trinity Recycles! ~ YOU can help! Recognizing the good gift of Creation that God has given us, we are always trying to build habits in ourselves and practices in our lives that care for such a precious gift. One way that we have done this at Trinity is by collecting various materials to be recycled rather than thrown in a land fill. Over the past few years, some wonderful volunteers have given a few minutes of their time each month to collect those recyclables and drop them off at the township building or put them out with their own recycling. If you would be willing to be one of these Recycling Stewards for one month in 2018, please sign up in Trinity Hall. 5

6 Updates and Other Notes Highlights from our 12/17/ th Annual Congregational Meeting We elected four new members to our Church Council: Alice Corle, Wayne Hullihen, Mary Lorah, and Carol Siegfried. We thanked our current Council Members, especially those who are completing their terms at the end of this year: Lois Boyer, Sue Prescott, Denise Steele, and Jeremy Vent. We received reports from our various Ministry Teams, highlighting the activities and ministries that have been offered and accomplished through the past year. We heard words of appreciation for our Council Members for all the support and encouragement they have received through the past year. We adopted a budget which includes $360,173 for the Worship, Learning, Fellowship, Service and Property expenses of our 2018 Parish Ministries. We approved the Altar-Nave Renovation Team s proposal to allocate $266,365 to provide for the restoration and renovation of the Nave and Narthex in preparation for our 250 th Anniversary Year. We approved the proposed amendments to our Constitution and Bylaws, which address the ministry of (ELCA) Deacons and specific issues of congregational administration. We heard about some priorities for 2018, which include the Council s annual Orientation, Evaluation, and Planning Meeting, The Work and Financing of the Altar-Nave Renovation Project, Preparations for the special events of our 250 th Anniversary Year Celebration, and the completion of our Constitution & Bylaws amendments. We received thanks from Pr Weinhold and Pr Short for the support and encouragement they have experienced and received through the past year. THANK YOU, to everyone for showing so much generosity to the ministries of Trinity, and for sharing in the work we accomplish together, to the Glory of God! The 2018 Altar & Nave Renovation Project.. A wonderful way to prepare for Trinity s 250 th Anniversary! After 2+ years of careful planning and consideration, the Altar-Nave Renovation Project was approved at the 2017 Annual Congregational Meeting. The project will include new flooring (hardwood, tile, and carpeting); the use of historic-period colors in the apse, on the walls, and the moldings; a new Altar Rail, with supportive safety railings at the steps; lighting and sound improvements; artistic highlights on the carved relief and borders; work on the doors; significant upgrades in the Narthex, and more. Most of the work will be accomplished during the summer months of The cost of this sizeable undertaking is budgeted at $266,000. Given the scope and expense of this project, please strive to share as generously as Goal: $266,365 possible and, if you ve not done so already, notify the Church Office of your Households: 67 intentions so that we can create an effective financing plan. Weekly, monthly, or annual commitments can be shared for the 3-year period of Pledges: $116, Please visit Trinity s website, for detailed images and descriptions of the project and its scope. And, thank you, for the support you ve shown the Christian Ministries of Trinity through the years! 6

7 2018 Altar Flowers, Sanctuary Lamp, Sunday Bulletins, and Lutheran Missionaries Parishioners and friends who would like to celebrate a special event or remember a loved one are invited to do so by sharing an offering to sponsor the weekly Flowers, Sanctuary Lamp, weekly Bulletins, and/or our Lutheran Missionary. Your gift is a great way to give thanks for a special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) or remember a loved one. Flower Sponsors have their choice of sponsoring 1 vase ($30) or 2 vases ($45) and the flowers are YOURS to take home (or deliver to a special friend of your choosing) after the 11:00 am liturgy. If you choose to leave them at the Church, they ll adorn the altar throughout the week. Please talk with Kathie in the Church Office with any questions about sponsoring the altar flowers, bulletins ($20), our Missionary to Africa ($25), or the Sanctuary Lamp ($5). Church Council & Ministry Team Notes President: Sue Prescott Vice President: Kevin Rizzo Secretary: Denise Steele Treasurer: Jay Cessna Worship & Music Ministry Team: Jennifer Bailey & Lois Boyer Children & Youth Ministries Team: Tammy Crawford & Lisa Hagenbuch Adult & All-Parish Ministries Team: Sue Prescott & Betsy Littlefield Outreach Ministry Team: Kevin Rizzo & Denise Steele Property Ministry Team: Wynn Leppert & Jeremy Vent Finance & Stewardship Ministries Team: Jay Cessna & Don Replogle Newly Elected, To be Installed on 12/31/2017: Alice Corle, Wayne Hullihen, Mary Lorah, Carol Siegfried Upcoming Ministry Team Meetings and More: o December 31 (Sunday); 10:00 am ~ 2018 Church Council Installation at Sunday Morning Eucharist o January 7 (Sunday); 1:30 pm ~ Church Council Orientation and Planning Meeting 5:00 pm ~ Council Dinner at Hoss s (reservations to Kathie, asap, please). Worship Attendance & Offerings Our Worship and Tithes are an out-pouring of our Gratitude for our Lord s Gracious Gifts of Life and Salvation. This Past Week ~ through December 22 Attendance: 253 Tithes & Offerings: $8, Year to Date: $314, Thank You for Supporting the Ministries of Trinity so Generously! 7

8 Please contact the Church Office to have family and/or friends included in the Prayers at Sunday Liturgies and on the Parish Prayer List. Please be sure to notify Pr Weinhold or Pr Short if you would appreciate visitations and prayers during hospitalizations or extended home-bound recuperations. For The Church Our Bishops and Pastors in Christ, Missionaries, Deacons, and all who labor for the Gospel. Parishioners and friends who serve on Church Council, as Teachers of our Children & Youth, and as servants on various Ministry Teams. The Ministry of the Bedford Food Outreach, especially those who serve, those who share gifts and resources, and those who are served and fed. The Ministry of the Salvation Army, those whom they serve, and those who donate their time to ring the bell! For Our Nation And All Peoples Of Creation Those who serve and lead in positions and offices of government. Police Officers, Fire-Fighters, First-Responders, and those serving in the Military. Victims of violence and terror, and refugees We Rejoice In A Birth A daughter, Brynn Elizabeth, to Justin & Jeanette Croner, on December 19 th For Parishioners, Family Members & Friends In Times of Special Need Howard Atkinson, Ann Bittner, Becky Bortz, Harry Clark, Rodney Pete Moser, Carmena Stoney Charlie Welsh, Sharon Wertz, Sandy Zembower (12/24) ~ Irene Holland (Jennifer Bailey s friend, Bonnie Schnably (Joe s cousin) (12/17) ~ Marian Lippert (Gretchen Fleischer s sister) (12/10) ~ Helen Rodfong (Fran Leibfreid s friend) For Those Who Have Died and Those Who Mourn ~ Rest Eternal Grant Them, O Lord Don Whitford (12/21 Friend from Christ Church), John Rosati (12/12 Victor s son), Galen Batzel (12/9 Fred s brother), Ray Nave (11/21), John Waugerman (11/15), Jane Gorman (11/8 Donna Zubak s great aunt), Robert Kerr (11/8),, Susan Moyer (11/3 Carol Siegfreid s friend), Members of First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, Texas (11/2), Sr Anna Mary (10/29), George Cassel (10/23 Howard Atkinson s friend) To The Glory of God Bulletins ~ In honor of Amanda Turner s birthday, love Peg. Missionaries ~ In honor of Hannah Stellfox s 1 st birthday by Gram & Pap and MeMe Sanctuary Lamp ~ In memory of his grandparents, Dr. John & Emily Riedel and Karl & Freda Nelson, by Mark Nelson. 8