ST. PAUL S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH April 2018 Newsletter. Pastor s Column Am I ready for this?

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1 ST. PAUL S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH April 2018 Newsletter Pastor s Column Am I ready for this? It s nice when Easter comes a bit later in April instead of on the first day. In the middle of the month Mother Nature more or less cooperates so that we don t have to worry about stomping through our grass with snow or mud on our shoes. (As a matter of fact, as I write this article for the April newsletter in March, of course, the weather people have once again announced some snow for tomorrow.) And if Easter falls a bit later in April we might also be able to wear all those bright spring clothes we have been itching to take off the hanger. Easter egg hunts won t have to be indoors. But this year, Easter comes on the first day of April, early, when many of us might not be quite ready to celebrate it. That however, is precisely how Easter came the first time! Even though Jesus had tarried to prepare his disciples for what was coming in Jerusalem; even though some of the gospels report that Jesus and his followers took the long, slow route to Jerusalem; even though Jesus gave advance warnings no one was ready for what was to come. I think it is often like that. Grief, though expected after a long illness, can overwhelm us in its intensity. Sudden good news sometimes make us utter I can t believe it or I can t take it all in. Surprises can throw us for a loop; and even good news that we have been waiting for can still sound unreal or otherworldly. With Jesus, life will always be like that. Now that we know that he is risen and can go anywhere He likes, He may pop up in unexpected places, at inconvenient times. Now that Easter has happened and Jesus is unleashed onto the world, he shows Himself to us when it suits Him instead of us, and He asks for things when He is ready and not when we are prepared. So Easter on April 1 is good training for what is to come: life with the Risen Christ. Watch out! 1

2 A Word about April Fools Day, Easter and Laughter So Easter this year just happens to fall on April 1, the day where we are to play good-natured jokes on each other. We are to tell fantastical stories that sound like they could be true nonetheless. We are to make each other laugh. I cannot think of a better day for the Easter celebration because that is precisely what happened on that first one so many centuries ago. The women told a fantastical story that was nonetheless true. God played the ultimate joke on everything that is evil and dead in the world. And God laughed. God laughed hard. That is actually what the Ancient Church said happened at Easter. It wasn t the sound of thunder after a spring storm; it wasn t noise of the boulder being rolled away from the tomb. It was God s raucous, joyous laughter that everything He had wanted for the world He loved really came to be. So, in order to honor this ancient tradition and, of course, April Fool s Day, here are a couple of Easter jokes for your enjoyment. He whispered back, I m in the secret service! What Is Easter? Three not so bright guys die and are at the pearly gates of heaven. St. Peter tells them that they can enter the gates if they can answer one simple question. St. Peter asks the first man, WHAT IS EASTER? The man replies, Oh, that s easy, it s the holiday in November when everybody gets together, eats turkey, and is thankful..... WRONG, replies St. Peter and proceeds to ask the second man the same question, WHAT IS EASTER? The second man replies, No, Easter is the holiday in December when we put up a nice tree, exchange presents, and celebrate the birth of Jesus. St. Peter looks at the second man, shakes his head in disgust, looks at the third man and asks, WHAT IS EASTER? The third man smiles and looks St. Pete in the eye. I know what Easter is. Easter is the Christian holiday that coincides with the Jewish celebration of Passover. Jesus and his disciples were eating at the last supper and He was later deceived and turned over to the Romans by one of his disciples. The Romans took Him to be crucified and was stabbed in the side, made Him wear a crown of thorns, and He was hung on a cross. He was buried in a nearby cave that was sealed off by a large boulder. Every year the boulder is moved aside so that Jesus can come out, and if He sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter. Secret Service A friend was in front of me coming out of church one day, and the preacher was standing at the door, as he always is to shake hands. He grabbed my friend by the hand and pulled him aside. The Pastor said, You need to join the Army of the Lord. My friend said, I m already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor. Pastor questioned, How come I don t see you except at Christmas and Easter? 2

3 The Renewal Project On March 10 our renewal team once again attended another learning and growing day with our fellow congregations and of course, Pastor Dave Daubert. He is leading the charge to get us out into the community with renewed spirit, energy and resources. This time the event was held at St. Matthew s Lutheran Church in York and for all of us this is quite a commitment of time and heart. We appreciate Dave Daubert s insight and teaching and each time we go we have quite a few aha moments. You already have experienced some of them. The vocational interviews for example help all of us make the connections between God and how we take Him with us into our workday world. Then there is the favorite hymn project that helps us practice talking about our faith and what s important about it. There is of course a lot more to come. This whole process takes 18 months of learning and growing. Please keep praying for us and also listen when we come back with stories and projects. The Garden Since no one has contacted Pastor Anne or Ken Getz about the garden we are running our advertisement for it once again. Please pray about this and consider it. We are calling all green thumb people, food lovers and servants of Jesus. Before we know it, the growing season will begin. We are looking for, need, desire several of you to take one of our garden plots and cultivate it for the summer. We would like to grow lots and lots of fresh produce for New Hope Ministries so that hungry people will have healthy food available to them. Please consider participating in this worthwhile ministry. Talk to Ken Getz or Pastor Anne to learn more. The season starts in late April, early May and runs through August. 3

4 Birthday Celebrations April Birthdays 04/05 Deb Stoner 04/08 Gerald Meek 04/09 Judy Cryder 04/09 Pastor Anne 04/11 Amy Early 04/15 Dorlene Morgan 04/15 Lisa Foore 04/19 Doris Trout 04/20 Mary Jane McMillan 04/20 Steven Casella 04/21 Todd Umbrell 04/27 Stewart Trout 04/30 Victoria Peck May Birthdays 05/01 Myriam Cooper 05/02 Debra Reeder 05/06 Kenneth Getz 05/08 Robert E. Diehl 05/08 Darryl McMillan 05/08 Logan Hunter 05/10 Robin Kramer 05/11 Heidi Getz 05/12 Michelle Thorn 05/13 Jaime Kowker 05/15 Gary Radabaugh 05/15 Kathryn Vardzik 05/16 Anna Keller 05/21 Trudy Getz 05/23 Claris Lutz Favorite Hymn For April None of you chose a hymn that would be good to sing on the Sundays in April. But keep at it and let us know which songs mean a lot to you and we will add them to our list. Hey, We are Having a Pancake Breakfast Yes, indeed. Yummy pancakes, great sausage and hot coffee are on tap on April 21, starting at 7AM and going until 10AM. We have a great crew organized and they are ready to serve you. A free-will offering will be taken up to sponsor our garden project. Don t miss out. There isn t a better breakfast to be had anywhere. 4

5 A BIG THANK YOU AND WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT TO DORLENE MORGAN ON HER RETIREMENT We are going to honor Dorlene for her long and faithful service of 21 years as the office manager of St. Paul s Lutheran Church. We are having a party. This is not to be missed. APRIL 15 RIGHT AFTER WORSHIP 5

6 St. Paul s Evangelical Lutheran Church 6839 Wertzville Road Enola PA St. Paul s Evangelical Lutheran Church St. Paul s Mission Statement: 6839 Wertzville Road Building Disciples Enola PA Growing in Faith Office: Serving in Christ s Name Web: stpaulsenola@yahoo.com Pastor: Rev. Anne Rose Reeves Phone: Cell: pastoranne@gmail.com Church Secretary: Dorlene Morgan Director of Music: Nicholas Cekovich Organist: Debra Reeder Custodian: Jack Yinger Council Members: Gary Stitzel, President Vickie Barnhart Chris Frampton, Vice President Steve Hoffmaster Mary Jane McMillan Scott Maier Tim Morgan Trudy Getz David Wood, Secretary 6