Newsletter of Trinity Lutheran Church, Wernersville, PA

Transcription

1 Newsletter of Trinity Lutheran Church, Wernersville, PA Trinity Lutheran Church 130 South Walnut Street Wernersville, PA Facebook.com/trinitywernersville The Reverend Julie Osterhout, Pastor Carol A. Koch, Deacon Nancy M. Moyer, Organist/Senior Choir Director Jamie Black, Sexton Peter Schmehl, Treasurer Barbara Debiec, Financial Secretary We are Sent Please be seated so that we may hear how we are sent into the world this week has become a very familiar phrase that we hear on Sunday mornings. It works well as our final act of worship on Sunday mornings. We enter the building to be fortified, nurtured and strengthened in the bread, the wine, and the word. We are prepared to leave the building ready for mission, ministry and the work of the Holy Spirit in the world.

2 Being sent is the great commission to go into the world to baptize and make disciples of all peoples. And so here we are in the month of May. May is the perfect month to consider how we are sent. It s true. May is the month for graduations, weddings, spring concerts, and school performances. Vacations are planned and VBS programs are constructed. The weather is better, too. We move our lives outdoors where we go for walks, hike, bike, rake our yards and plant gardens of all varieties. Tress, bushes, and plants come into full fruition and the creatures of the earth give birth to new life. May is the month when we often get that spring cleaning feeling and so we shake off the dust and ret out the attic. In all of these things we find ourselves active and busy in the lives of our families, our places of employment, our schools, and among the people of our faith family. May is also the best time of year to begin thinking about how we can make a difference in our communities and neighborhoods how we can actively be Christ to others around us. As we are sent, we become a living testimony to God s work, our hands. Wherever we go and are seen, we will have an opportunity to be Christ in the world. There are many ways to do this the way we respond through words and actions to the people with whom we have relationships, how we treat others, and how we give of ourselves to help those in need. No matter where we go, no matter what we do, we are bearers of the light of Christ sent into the world to live lives as followers of Jesus. This summer some of us will be traveling on vacations to places near and far. Not only will this be a great opportunity to be faithful witnesses in new places, but as part of our Reformation 500 celebration we will offer people an opportunity to have some fun demonstrating their Lutheran identity to others as well. In the Narthex you will find some cardboard Traveling Luthers. You can pick up a Luther to take with you to wherever you travel this summer and fall. We ask that you take some pictures of Luther sightseeing with you. When you return to Trinity, we can post some of your pictures in the Narthex. There will also be a map for you to label the places you have taken Traveling Luther. If you would like to have your photos posted on the Trinity Facebook page, 1

3 simply them to Pr. Julie at We look forward to seeing where you and Luther have been. It is through our travels in the world that we are able to live into our calling of being sent into the world. Maybe someone will ask you about your Traveling Luther opening the door to conversation not only about what you are doing, but why. Don t forget to mention who you are maybe you ll get around to telling them you re a follower of Jesus, child of God, and you are sent. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Blessings, Pr. Julie Student Loan/Grants Applications for the Student Loan/Grants from the Endowment Fund are available now. We ask that applications be returned by June 30, 2017 so that we can evaluate the amount available for each student. Please contact Diane Klinger, Endowment Treasurer, for applications ( ). Mother s Day is May 14 th The children will be singing some special songs to commemorate the day. The Carolbells have a special number that they have been working on for several months. And ladies-don t forget your hat! Join the ladies of Trinity for a trip back to the s. Wear your best Sunday go to meeting hat. There are always extra hats available in the narthex if you don t have one. There are gifts for the mothers as well. We invite the men to dress up as well in honor of this occasion. 2

4 And then on Monday, May 15 6:30 PM the annual Mother-Child Banquet All the ladies of the churn and all children, male or female are invited. Chef Tedd Hickernell is preparing the meal and the menu includes: Chicken and stuffing, glazed carrots, salad and fruit salad. Homemade desserts by the men of the church Entertainment following provided by the Conrad Weiser High School Jazz Band. (3 of our members are involved in Jazz Band- Kevin Gemmell, Forrest Lamm, Jr. & Bethany Miller) Pink Sign up sheet is in the narthex. And stay tuned in June as we are going to have a special event around Father s Day for the fathers and children. Graduates Please let Carol Koch or Pastor Julie know if you or your child or grandchild is graduating from high school, college, graduate school, or any institute of higher learning. We would like to recognize them on June 11 th. Is the weekend of June 3 rd & 4 th The Saturday service will be a full liturgy service with Holy Communion/Organ/Joybells as we celebrate not only the gift of the Holy Spirit but also the confirmation of two of our young people, Ben Scheider and Paige Shannon. Please support these two young people and their families with your presence on Saturday night. 3

5 Geraniums will again be used to beautify the church on Pentecost and then be planted on the church grounds to provide beauty throughout the summer. Watch the weekly bulletin for cost and date sign up begins. And don t forget to wear red that Sunday to signify the fire of the Holy Spirit. Members from Trinity are planning a 1 day Mission Possible trip to the Brethren Service Center, New Windsor, MD on May 19 th. We will leave from the church at 6:30 AM. Volunteers as young as 14 typically stand or sit while assembling health, hygiene school, baby and cleaning kits to be distributed to areas worldwide in need. If you are interested, please contact Dan Nace ( ) or Kevin Kurtz ( ) with your phone number and for further details. There is also a sign up sheet in the narthex for you to indicate you will be going. We are being asked to help by putting toothbrushes and nail clippers in the basket on the back windowsill (keep them plain please-no patriotic or cartoon characters). Our Strawberry festival plans have begun! If you have any new or gently used stuffed animals that you would care to donate to our game stands, please contact Barbara Debiec or drop them off in the narthex. Your help is greatly appreciated. 4

6 Contact Pastor Julie if you are interested and/or send registration in ASAP. Deadline has been extended into early May. 5

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8 Please remember in your prayers: Members who are sick or recently hospitalized: Dawn Giangiacomo, and Ruth Rush. Members who are homebound or in care facilities: Ruth Bachman, Janet Dissinger, Ron Harman, Ardelle Heffner, Marlene Ochs, June Page, Jim Putt, and Mary June Yackera. The Military: Eric Alderman, Marie Rosati Clark, Kiley Ann Gring, Allison Rosati Martin, Justin Klinger, Eric Ochs, Nick Taatjes, and Jeffrey Troutman, Jr. Family and Friends: Michael Barber, Wanda Barnett, Larry Brossman, Carolyn Bryant, Joanne Debiec, Fred DeLong, Marge Dietrich, Karen Hollinger, Nicholas Hydock, Sam Jarsocrak, Hannah Kramer, Jake Powers, Patricia Prutzman, Kenneth Searfoss, Rodney Weiss, Jr., Beverly Wentzel, Jerry Zachousk, and Ann Zimmerman. Special Ministries: Our missionaries in Tanzania-Dr. Stephen Friberg and his family. Please let us know when our prayers are answered so we can keep our prayer list current. From our missionaries, The Fribergs Dear friends, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade I Peter 1:3-4. We thank God for rains that came in March and April to heal the grass, shrubs, trees, livestock, wildlife and people after a prolonged dry season. Naapok bead women celebrated the opening and blessing of their new property. (see following page). God intervened at our clinic in Arash on the Serengeti when a politician threatened to remove our clinic doctor. The local Maasai stood up, defended Dr. Nsimba, and forced the politician to back down. Pray for 4 young clinical officers (physician assistants) who have started their first assignments in village clinics. Our program is 7

9 training young Maasai to work among their own people in settings that they are already familiar with. We enjoyed having our daughter home with us for a month over Easter. She now is back at boarding school in Kenya. She enjoys friends, music, sports, science, and many other activities that could not be offered in home schooling out in the bush. Our sons are finishing their second year at the University of Minnesota. Thank you for connecting with our work in Tanzania and for the many forms of support that you give us. Blessings, Steve and Bethany After 15 years of working out of someone s house, Naapok Bead Project acquired a piece of land near Ketumbeine in Initially the artisans cleared the land and built two traditional Maasai homes. Later, friends of the project in USA and Austria donated funds and some even worked alongside the women to build a spacious pavilion, office and display room, toilets, and water tank. Recently, local church and village leaders, artisans families, and special guests celebrated with a dedication service to thank God and to pray for His continued blessing on the site and project. Through singing and speeches they acknowledged the crucial role of friends like you. ASANTENI SANA! 8

10 Easter Vigil Carly Kurtz, Kevin Gemmell, and Bethany Miller are Shadrach, Meshach, and, Abednego in It s Cool in the Furnace -one of the OT lessons. Easter Egg Hunt Pictures 9

11 Easter morning before worship

12 Flower and Bulletin Sponsorship The cost of sponsoring the bulletins is $ The cost of sponsoring the flowers is $ If you are sponsoring the flowers, please note that there are flower envelopes in the narthex beside the sign up list for altar flowers. Please put your check or cash in the envelope and place in the offering plate. The week you are an altar flower sponsor, please call the office, Nancy Moyer, or contact the altar guild person listed in the bulletin if you want to keep the flowers. Otherwise, the flowers will be given to the sick, shut-ins, or others in need. We need bulletin sponsors for 5/21 and 5/28. Please sign up on the chart in the narthex. Altar Flower Sponsors for May: 5/7-Carol Koch in memory of her mother, Kathryn Steer Marburger, 5/14-Betty Lou & Scott Franzen in honor of Benjen s 2 nd birthday, 5/21-Bob & Kathy Bashore in honor of Izannah s birthday, 5/27-Linda & Kirsten Weiss in memory of husband and father, Rodney Weiss. Bulletin Sponsors for May: 5/7-Joe & Sue Sickler in honor of Sue s birthday, 5/14-Karen Berkenstock in memory of her mother, 5/21 & 5/28-available. Helpers for May Communion Assistant: Kevin Kurtz Altar Guild: Barbara Debiec Greeters: 5/7-Anne Marie Rinehimer, 5/14-Diane Klinger, 5/21- Helen & Dick Hummel. Lay Readers: 5/7-Betty Lou Franzen, 5/14-Mary Nace, 5/21-Paige Shannon. Ushers: 5/7-Lawrys, 5/14-Bashores, 5/21-Kurtzes. Counters: 5/7-Debiec/Rinehimer, 5/14-Hummels, 5/21-Franzens, 5/28-Rapley/Pirl-Roth

13 Sound Technician: 5/7-Forrest Lamm, Jr., 5/14-Scott Franzen, 5/21-Stephanie Kurtz. Bulletin Assemblers: 5/4-Darlene Lundy, 5/11-Linda Weiss, 5/18- Ann Sentz, 5/24-Mary Nace, 6/1-Kathy Lawry. Newsletter Assemblers: Linda Weiss and Ann Sentz Children s Sunday School Teachers: 5/7- Monica Allen (preschoolers), Kathy Bashore (K thru 4 th grade), 5/21-Lori Shoumlisky (preschoolers), Megan Shannon (K thru 4 th grade). Church Council Members Susan Coleman Diane Klinger Forrest Lamm, Jr Laura Miller Pamela Moyer Mary Nace Kay Stout Wendell Byler, President Kevin Kurtz, Vice President Church Council Highlights for April 1. Identified questions surrounding an outdoor play area for preschool kids. 2. Need 2 delegates for Synod Assembly. 3. Going to invite a Mission Interpreter from the synod to share their work with us. 4. Need toothbrushes and nail clippers for Mission Trip on May 19 th. Birthday Milestones in May Jane Wilkinson will be 95 and Joan Kava will be 88. Happy Birthday Jane and Joan.