Friedens Lutheran Church, 301 W. Washington Ave., Myerstown, PA

Transcription

1 December Friedens Lutheran Church, 301 W. Washington Ave., Myerstown, PA Hello Friends Christian worship at Christmas is increasingly counter cultural and I believe this is a good thing! We attend to the evangelical proclamation, which John declares this way, And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father s only son, full of grace and truth (John 1:14, NRSV). I encourage you to set aside time in your busy lives to ponder this truth, to imagine its every day implications, and to ask for the measure of grace to apply it to your lives. The evolution of our modern holiday observances includes Clement Moore s poem in 1822, Charles Dickens beloved story in 1843, Coca Cola s Santa portrayal throughout the 20 th century, Norman Rockwell s iconic art work, television s Christmas specials, Christmas themed movies, catalogues in the mail and advertisement pop-ups on the computer screen. We might say, Jesus is the reason for the season, but when we over purchase taking the next six months to pay, over eat taking the next six weeks to reduce, or over function taking the next six days to rest, then what kind of witness are we offering neighbor and family. Our actions speak more loudly than our words. It seems to me that we do not need to get upset over whether a crèche scene can appear in the public square, or how a school concert includes selections from other religious traditions. Jesus did not say persons come to know the truth through advertising in the market place, rather through the witness of his followers in the midst of everyday relationships. In fact, there is evidence that shows our efforts to win followers for Christ through our fussing and fuming over whether or not Christian displays can appear here or there does far more to dissuade persons from Christianity than to attract followers of Jesus. Instead of illuminated crèche scenes, what gets attention and transforms lives happens through Angel Tree gift giving, visitation at the retirement home, Christmas dinner invitation to your lonely neighbor, exceptional financial gifts to those groups caring for the least among us, and a multitude of other ways where you show love to your neighbor likened to the love Jesus shows you. Friends, I am addressing myself as well when sharing these thoughts with you. Again, allow me to suggest that we each set aside at least ten minutes every day to think about the verse quoted above. In a sermon given in November, I also suggested we meditate upon the much beloved 23 rd Psalm and, in particular, the first verse that affirms, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Finally, please consider joining me on Friday morning December 11 th in the sanctuary from 9:30 to noon. During this time we will take part in guided reflection, quiet meditation, prayer, and dialogue as we invite the Spirit of God to prepare us to more fully receive the Christ child Together in Christ, Pastor Robert Wallace PS Cheri and I invite you to an open house at Peace Cottage the name we gave our home in Mount Gretna, 130 Valley Road, The day and time are December 26, Saturday afternoon, 1 pm to 5 pm.

2 Page 2 Friedens Lenten booklet for 2016 will be an Augsburg Fortress publication called Bearing Fruit. Bearing Fruit is a daily devotional based on the letter to the Colossians. Each devotion contains a reading from Colossians, a quotation to ponder, a reflection, and a prayer. One booklet per household/residence will be ordered upon request. Requests for large print will be honored. Print copies of Pastor Robert s recent sermons are available at the counter alongside the bulletin board in the corridor between the sanctuary and the social hall. Christmas Shopping? Are you shopping for some gifts that keep on giving? Consider a gift from the Missions gift box, found on the counter under the bulletin board, near the fellowship hall. Help yourself to a catalog, returning it after your use. Or, help yourself to an online shopping list, complete with many humanitarian gift suggestions.

3 Page 3 On Sunday, December 6, food will be collected for the Lebanon County Food Bank. All gifts are welcomed. There is a need for frozen hams, bottles of juice, canned meats and stews, canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned soups, peanut butter, towels/wash cloths, paper towels, baby wipes, and diapers. Saturday, December 19 at 3:00 pm is the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols featuring special music and congregational singing being held in the Friedens Sanctuary. I would appreciate if those people who are helping with the homeless shelter at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church between November 23 and December 6 would send me an to jbiever5543@comcast.net so that I have your address and so that I can in turn send you a copy of the master schedule. Thanks, Jim Biever Want to help at the homeless shelter but you can t be there? Consider making a monetary donation for healthy snacks that we will be providing to the guests each evening. With the money, we will buy granola bars, apples, bananas etc. to feed to the guests as they arrive at the site in the evening and before they depart in the morning. A container will be placed on the homeless table in the vestibule for any donations. Thank-you. OUR TITHES & OFFERINGS October 2015 % of Budget Current Budget Goal $27, Goal to Date $272, % $327, Rec d $20, Rec d to Date 228, Spang Crest Rec d Rec d to Date $ Hunger Rec d Rec d to Date $ 2,865.00

4 Page 4 DECEMBER 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 7 PM Worship Committee 2 7 PM Adult Choir 8 PM Handbell Choir AM Contemporary 10:30 AM Traditional 10:30 AM Youth Group PM Property Committee 9 9 AM Women Sew 10 7 PM Mass Choir 11 9:30 AM Advent Meditation AM Contemporary 10:30 AM Traditional 10:30 AM Youth Group 14 6 PM WELCA Christmas Holiday Dinner StoneRidge 15 7:30 PM Mass Choir PM Church Council 7:30 PM Mass Choir PM of Nine Lessons & Carols 20 9 AM Contemporary 10:30 AM Traditional 10:30 AM Youth Group AM Women Sew 7 PM Adult Choir 8 PM Handbell Choir 24 3:40 pm MusicalCelebration 4 PM Family 10 PM Recital 10:30 PM Festival of the Nativity AM Contemporary 10:30 AM Traditional 10:30 AM Youth Group PM Adult Choir 8 PM Handbell Choir 31

5 Page 5 The Coffee/Social time has started up. We ask that you consider hosting a Sunday to make the coffee and set up for social time. Coffee and snacks are provided. Team up with a friend and host together. The sign up sheet is in the social hall. If you have any questions please see Annette Beamesderfer, Carmela Deck or Susie Harper for help There is an urgent need for monitors at the homeless shelter that rotates throughout various churches in Lebanon City. The monitors are needed at the Shelter churches from about 10:00 P.M. until 6:30 P.M. Friedens is seeking to provide the monitors from November 23 through December 7. Male and female volunteers are needed. Please contact Jim Biever Cell or jbiever5543@comcast.net for more information. "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' "A Mass Choir is being formed for the of Nine Lessons and Carols here at Friedens on December 19. s will be Tuesday, December 15, and Thursday, December 17, both at 7:30. We hope participants can attend at least one of the rehearsals. (Also, for those who want more practice, the choir will be practicing the Nine Lessons music each Wednesday through December 9 at 7:00.) If you are interested, please see Mike Yeagley, call the church office, or use the Mass Choir link on Frieden's website. We look forward to seeing you there!" Many thank you's to the thoughtful people of Friedens Church for their prayers, cards, s, and telephone calls; the kind visits from Pastor Wallace, from Valarie Herron and Sister Janice Ruch for bringing The Lord's Supper, and Clara Grumbine and Janet Kehrli for bringing me the blessed-bymany-hands prayer shawl. I am thankful for the joy in all this caring support. I am doing well and looking forward to my last chemo treatment in December. All the best, Kate Ebner

6 Page 6 Friedens Lutheran Church, Myerstown, PA Church Council Meeting November 1, 2015 Jody Appleby, President called the meeting to order at 10:15 am. Present: Jody Appleby (President), Chris Heft, Valarie Herron, Jim Kneasel, Jon Koller, Sharon Riegel (Secretary), John Umberger, Excused: Frank Armstrong (Vice President), Janice DuBois, Elaine Lasch (Treasurer), Bev Levengood, Rev. Robert W. Wallace, Jr. (Pastor) Guest: Jonathan Zinn, Finance Chairperson 1. Council discussed the recent Finance Meeting of October 20, Finance Committee made the motion to Council to approve the 2016 Spending Plan (Budget). John Umberger seconded. Motion carried. 2. Congregational meeting to approve 2016 Spending Plan is set for Sunday, November 22, 2015 at 10:05 am in sanctuary. Copies of 2016 Spending Plan will be available for review beginning November 8, Members of Finance Team will be available in Parlor in between services on November 8 and November 15, 2015 to answer questions. Narrative Budget will be available at Congregational Meeting on November 22, Next regular Council Meeting will be held on November 19, 2015 at 7 pm. Janice DuBois will provide devotion/opening prayer. 4. Jon Koller made the motion to adjourn. Chris Heft seconded. Meeting adjourned at 10:35 a.m. Sharon Riegel Council Secretary We would like to thank everyone for all the love that has been given to us over the past three months. The prayers, cards, visits, meals and gifts have touched our hearts and strengthened us in this journey. It truly is a blessing to have such a wonderful church family. Round three of chemo is done, next step is stem cell transplant - sometime early to mid December - and then, hopefully, a full, uneventful recovery. With love and thankful hearts, Kerry and Tammy LEBANON COUNTY CHORAL SOCIETY Let the rafters ring with the sound of 60+ voices as the Lebanon County Choral Society presents Handel s Messiah on Sunday, December 13th at 3 pm here at Friedens. The choir presents this work once every five years; it was previously performed at Friedens with a near-capacity crowd in attendance. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. In addition to the memorable music, concert-goers will be treated to an array of holiday desserts and treats provided by the choir. Reserve your seat to hear the music, and look for people you know in the choir! Advance ticket sales are available from Annette Beamesderfer at

7 Page 7 Friedens Lutheran Church, Myerstown, PA Church Council Meeting November 19, 2015 Jody Appleby, President called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. Present: Jody Appleby (President), Janice DuBois, Chris Heft, Valarie Herron, Jim Kneasel, Jon Koller, Elaine Lasch (Treasurer), Bev Levengood, Sharon Riegel (Secretary), John Umberger, Rev. Robert W. Wallace, Jr. (Pastor) Excused: Frank Armstrong (Vice President) 1. Opening Reading/Prayer: Janice DuBois opened the meeting by reading a devotional & scripture. 2. Minutes/Reports/Communications: a. Janice DuBois made a motion to accept the October 15, 2015 Church Council Minutes & the November 1, 2015 Special Church Council Minutes. Bev Levengood seconded. Motion carried. b. Jon Koller made a motion to accept the October 2015 Financial Secretary s Report. Valarie Herron seconded. Motion carried. c. Janice DuBois made a motion to accept the October 2015 Treasurer s Report. Bev Levengood seconded. Motion carried. d. Pastor Wallace gave a verbal & written Pastor s Report. Janice DuBois made a motion to accept the November 2015 Pastor s Report. Chris Heft seconded. Motion carried. Permission was given to form two ministry groups: - A group to bring recommendations to the Council for revisions to constitution, by-laws and continuing resolutions. - A group to review & recommend infrastructure model: responsibilities, job descriptions. This model will incorporate a mission focus, permission giving and accountability. 3. Elaine Lasch reported Finance Committee did not meet in November Jim Kneasel shared a report of the Property Committee meeting of November Communications: a. Thank you from Living Water International for recent gift of $1,000. b. Thank you from Lebanon County Christian Ministries for recent gift of $10. c. Thank you from Myerstown First Aid Unit for recent gift of $750. d. Thank you letter, certificate & cut out of the campus Luther Statue from Gettysburg Seminary for renewing membership in the Bronze Level Leadership Circle.

8 Page 8 e. An advertisement was received from Lifetouch Church Directories. Council agreed this is a good idea for the near future, perhaps once a data base is established. 6. A Capital Campaign Report was available. As of October 2015 the Campaign Goal of $149,000 is short $1, Jody Appleby and Chris Heft of the Nomination Team for new Council Members in 2016 provided an update. 8. Council agreed to set Sunday, February 21, 2016 as date for Annual Congregational Meeting. Meal will be served at 11:30 am, following by meeting including annual reports from teams/committees & endowment budget. 9. The single worship service will take place on Transfiguration Sunday, February 7, 2016 at 10:30 am rather than on January 10. This switch is made to better accommodate the choir. Continental breakfast will be served on February 7 at 9:00 am. 10. Council reviewed the Foul Weather Policy. Elaine Lasch will confirm with Jim Biever that 11. appropriate connections have been made with WGAL. 11. Pastor Wallace made the motion to purchase Lenten devotionals for congregation. Number of regular print and large print to be purchased to be determined by Janice DuBois. Finances to be determined by Finance Committee. Seconded by Jon Koller. Motion carried. 12. Angel Tree coordinated by the Koller Family will be available the week after Thanksgiving. Council thanked Jon & Tammy for once again coordinated this service project. 13. Janice DuBois reported 2016 will mark the 10 th anniversary of the Mission Team s first trip to Long Beach, Mississippi. Plans are being made for a reunion of all the mission teams from the past 10 years. 14. Jody Appleby & Janice DuBois reported the recent fundraising efforts of the Children s Ministry 15. gathered $1,200+ for El Salvador. 15. Next Council Meeting will be held on December 17, 2015 at 7 pm. A person to be determined will provide devotion/opening prayer. 16. Jon Koller made the motion to adjourn. Valarie Herron seconded. Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Meeting closed with the sharing of joys & concerns and prayer led by Pastor Wallace. Sharon Riegel, Council Secretary

9 Page 9 Friedens Lutheran Church, Myerstown, PA Congregational Meeting Sunday, November 22, 2015 Jody Appleby, Council President, called the meeting to order at 10:10 am. A quorum was present. Jody Appleby, President, led the opening prayer. Those present received a copy of Financing the Faith 2016 narrative budget prepared by the Finance Committee. Jon Zinn, Finance Committee Chairperson, shared a power point presentation on the budget. The recommendation of Finance Committee to approve the 2016 Congregational Spending Plan (Budget) was approved by Congregational Council on November 1, The floor was open for discussion. Motion seconded by Jeff Gumpert. Call for vote was unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m. Meeting closed with prayer led by Robert Wallace, Pastor. Sharon Riegel Council Secretary CHURCH OFFERING ENVELOPES for 2016 are prepared and are on a table in hall outside the parlor. Kindly pick them up. In case your name has been missed, please contact the church office. ADVENT MEDITATION The weeks prior to Christmas can become a parade of shopping, baking, and social events that leave one exhausted by the time the 25 th arrives. What if we set aside a couple of hours for quiet reflection upon the awesome reality of the God who created the heavens and the earth taking upon human flesh, so that we might learn God intention for our everyday lives? Join Pastor Robert the morning of Friday, Dec. 11. Annual Congregational Meeting (with lunch) will be held on Sunday, February 21, 2016 at 11:30 am in Stauffer Hall. Annual Reports from Staff & Team/Committee Leaders are due to Janet Moyer, Church Secretary by no later than Sunday, January 24, Annual Report packets will be available for review beginning Sunday, February 14, END OF YEAR CONTRIBUTIONS The financial books of Friedens will close December 31, Persons who want their contributions to be credited to 2015 must have their offering in to the Financial Secretary on or before December 31.