JULY 2013 FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH GREENSBURG, PA VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL BEGINS JULY 8 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

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1 FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 246 SOUTH MAIN STREET GREENSBURG, PA RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID GREENSBURG, PA PERMIT #436 FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 246 South Main Street Greensburg, Pennsylvania T: F: PASTOR... Jerry Nuernberger PASTOR...Marleen Griffith-Stull DIRECTOR....Marvin Huls CHURCH TREASURER.... Patti Sias OFFICE MANAGER.... Joanie Knobloch OFFICE SECRETARY... Ginger Shultz FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH GREENSBURG, PA PHONE FAX CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS Kathy Acita Kip Douglas Boggs Dean Cichetti Rick Druschel Elinor Giovannini Teresa Graziotto Gwen Irwin Charles Kaylor, Jr. Kim Nicassio Barbara Pascarella Wendy Piper Malcolm Sias WORSHIP WITH US President Secretary Vice President Sunday Church School 9:30 A.M. SCS does not meet in June, July or August Sunday Worship 8:15 A.M. & 10:45 A.M. Summer Schedule 8:15 A.M. & 10:00 A.M. Elevator and Hearing Assistance Available VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL BEGINS JULY 8 JULY 2013 Is faith important to your family? Would you love to see your child grow stronger in his or her faith? One way to nurture your child s faith is to join us for Vacation Bible School. This year we will travel to medieval times and learn about God s everlasting kingdom of love and mercy. Through baptism, we are made part of God s Kingdom. This year s will help your child learn how to stand strong as part of the kingdom of God! Every day our youth will experience Epic Bible Adventures, Chadder s Royal Theatre and Missions, Tournament Games, The King s Kitchen, and Medieval Crafts. They will learn about the gifts that God gives us to help us stand strong in our faith including our families, friends, the Bible, and prayer. will be held July 8-12 from 9 a.m. to 12 Noon here at First Evangelical Lutheran Church for youth from 4 years old through 5th grade.

2 JOIN US FOR A CELEBRATION LUNCHEON, SUNDAY, JULY 21 On Sunday, July 21, immediately following the 10:00 a.m. service, the First Family (men, women and children) are invited to join together for a Celebration Luncheon / Baby Shower in honor of Pastor Marleen and Don s impending new birth. The menu will include chicken and ham salad sandwiches, fruit salad, chips, pickles, cake and beverages. Please know that your presence is your gift, however, if you so desire Pastor Marleen and Don are registered at Target and Babies R Us. Registration forms will be included in upcoming worship bulletins. You may also make your reservation by calling the church office. There will be no cost for the luncheon. We rejoice with Pastor Marleen and Don as they embark on a new chapter in their lives! SMILE! YOU RE PHOTOGRAPH IS REQUESTED! Can you believe five years have passed since our church had a pictorial directory? Well, it has, and the Evangelism Committee has contracted with Lifetouch to photograph our members. Everyone photographed will have their picture included in the directory, plus, receive a complimentary directory and an 8x10 portrait free of charge. The following dates have been reserved by the photographers: August 1 and 2 from 2-9 p.m. and August 3 from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Please make every attempt to be available on one of these dates. Bring a canned good and receive $5.00 off your order. Sign up times will be available at a later date. See the insert for additional information. We hope to have 100% participation to make this a success! FIRLU HAS HEARD -that we will be having a memorial service at First Lutheran Church on Saturday, August 3, 10:-00 a.m. for Jane Holtzer. -that our summer worship schedule is in effect. Services will be held at 8:15 and 10:00 a.m. for the summer months. -that assistance is greatly needed the third Thursday of the month by 8:00 a.m. to unload the truck and sort groceries for Food Pantry distribution. We are especially in need of extra hands as we implement a new system of distribution. There will be more opportunities for those who are unable to lift. -that we have accumulated an assortment of clothing in our Lost and Found department. The clothing is hanging on the coat racks in the fellowship hall. Please check to see if any of it belongs to you; clothing will be donated after the end of July. -that the congregation is invited to a Pool Party hosted by Harrold Zion at the Youngwood Park and Pool on Sunday, August 11th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Cost is $3.00 per person. Drinks will be provided, but you are encouraged to bring snacks to share. Please contact the church office for further details or to make a reservation. -that Angel Food cakes (home baked or purchased) are needed the first Sunday of every month for Meals on Wheels. Bring your cake to the church office. Thanks! -that the church office will be closed on Thursday, July 4th in celebration of Independence Day. -that the deadline for the August newsletter is Friday, July 19. Please be prompt. You may submit your articles to jknobloch@felchurch.org. See you at worship, FIRLU

3 WOMEN OF THE ELCA NEWS Come and join us at Lutherlyn and Count Your Blessings (this year s theme)! The annual women s retreat will be September 20, 21, and 22. This is both an inspirational and fun weekend a good way to rejuvenate your body and soul. Join us for programs, workshops, recreational activities, fellowship and worship. For more information and/or registration forms, please contact Bonnie Zaccari at FELC Trivia Quiz #7 1. Who requested that Council Minutes be included in the monthly newsletters? 2. The German Cemetery needed one owner but neither church could afford the asking price of? 3. Actual sale price of the German Cemetery was? 4. The person who bought the German Cemetery agreed to what condition? 5. What did this benefactor promise First Lutheran Church? 6. The Maplewood property sold for what amount in 1980? 7. Roadman s Lake was the picnic site for what group(s)? 8. What major traumatic event occurred at the Maplewood parsonage in the late 70s? 9. Before it was demolished in 1959, what purpose did the two story building located on the corner of Main Street and Third Street serve? 10. How are the light bulbs changed in the lanterns hanging in the nave? Answers for FELC Quiz #6 Yes, on the West Wall or opposite the kitchen, $14,000, $35,000, the men of the church, Bangor, Pa., Black and White alternating tile, 4 floodlights just beneath the cross AND a floodlight on top of the Coulter Building, Reverend Schindler was German, Tri-State Roofing. (see June Newsletter for questions) Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, We live in a world where face-to-face contact is limited. We keep in touch with family and friends via facebook, , and texting with the occasional phone call. While it is good to hear a loved one s voice, there is nothing to compare to seeing someone. The times that we make to see friends and family in person become sacred moments for us. The church is one of the last places where people gather in person on a weekly basis. We do not come because we have to come. We do not come because we get paid to show up. We come simply to thank God in person for everything we have received that week. In the process, we get to see some of our brothers and sisters in Christ as well. When we come into worship, we see God through Christ face-to-face. We hear our Almighty Creator forgive our sins. We listen to stories about Jesus love and mercy. We are welcomed at Christ s own table in Holy Communion. We are reminded that God is never distant from us but is always right beside us. We are strengthened by the Body of Christ which surrounds us with prayers and love and who promised to support us the day we were baptized. Come to see God face-to-face this week! Come every week and gather with your brothers and sisters to be in the Lord s presence. There are many reasons to come, but knowing that we will encounter God every week is certainly reason enough to get up on Sunday and join the saints of every time and place! Give thanks that you are invited to be in your very Maker s presence every single week. Take advantage of this face time in our cyber world! In Christ s Love, Pastor Marleen

4 DEATH AND NEW BEGINNINGS Traditional youth groups are no longer working in most churches. We at First Lutheran have seen that our traditional youth group model has not been effective in engaging our youth in lifelong commitments to Christ. So it is time to do something new! Serving At First In July /7 7/14 7/21 7/28 ACOLYTES Drew Erdman Lauren Nicassio Jennifer McCanna Nick Nicassio Tyler Crosby Ian Deise Jordan Beaken Tyler Knatz Nick Silvis Julia Gogol Gabrielle Beaken Laura Miller One of the deciding factors in whether or not youth continue to be active in their faith lives is the personal connections they have to the faith community. The more active and sincere adults in their lives, the more likely a young person will continue to be active in the church in the future. Sue Boggs Amy Beaken Dennis Acita LECTORS Lauren Nicassio Mark Barnhart Rebecca Brunetta Dianna Marusko AV MINISTRY TEAM Liz Rowe Dwight Miller Sherry Menz Lynn Hochrein Jennier McCanna For the past few years we have had confirmation mentors work with our students. We want to thank everyone who has participated in this program in the past. This year, we would like to have a list of potential mentors for our youth before they begin confirmation. So if you would be willing to get together with a member in 7 th or 8 th grade a few times a year and share your faith, join Pastor Marleen in the sanctuary between services on Sunday, August 4 for additional information. Be part of our youth solution by reaching out to our confirmation students and being a key person in their lives! In the future look for other opportunities to share your faith with our young members! Gretchen Jack Rick Druschel Delivery Jordan Beaken Al Danilko Betty Mohney Judi Seanor Betty Mehan Cheryl Lucas Rocco Marusko ASSISTING MINISTERS Carolyn Hanzel Suzy Flory Pat Yost 8:15 USHERS 10:00 USHERS ALTAR GUILD Denny Blank-chief Becky Blank Sue Boggs Lou Shutt-chief Terry Keffer Doug Sedlak Art Smith Roberta Laciak- Coordinator Ann Copper Kimberly Woodley Evelyn Sager Dianna Marusko

5 CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATES! Hats off to those graduating this year. Graduating from area high schools are Andrew Craig (Greensburg Salem) attending Penn State Altoona; Emma Delisi (Hempfield) attending Slippery Rock University; Dylan DiRado (Greensburg Salem) attending University of Johnstown to study Business; Nathan Flory (Franklin Regional) attending Thiel College to major in Secondary Ed English and minor in Music; Dylan Leone (Hempfield) attending Georgetown University and will major in International Economics; Alex McCanna (Hempfield) attending Point Park University; and Mary Warren (Greensburg Salem). MEMORIAL GIFTS RECEIVED First Lutheran Church s Memorial Fund has received gifts given in memory of Tillie Cavanaugh from Diane Miller, Deborah Rusnock, Marguerite and Donald Kenney, Polly Shermar, James and Beverly Millen, Harry and Mary Anne Murtha, Al and Martha White, Bill and Ruth Hite, Annamarie Denis, Hempfield Area Education Association, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Perry, John and Priscilla Erickson, Erin Stauffer, and Kathryn Taylor. We are thankful for these and all gifts. CUSTODIAN POSITION OPEN AT FIRST A custodian is needed for the church. The position is approximately 34 1/2 hours per week, including Monday through Friday and Sunday mornings. If you are interested, please submit your resume to the church office or it to office@felchurch.org by July 10, DO YOU LOVE KIDS? If you have love to share with children, consider becoming a Christ Friend for one of our newly baptized members! This is an opportunity to share your faith with our youngest members and to help support their families. Our goal is to have enough caring adults to offer every newly baptized member a special Christ Friend for their journey of faith. We are looking for sincere, faithful, and caring adults who are willing to commit time to personally get to know our youngest members better and to encourage their families to be more active in the life of the church. If you love children and would like to be part of this ministry, join Pastor Marleen in the sanctuary between services (at 9:20 a.m.) on Sundays, July 21 and 28 to learn more about this new and exciting ministry. Be an active part of youth ministry here at First Lutheran Church! Share the love of Christ with our youngest and newest members! CONFIRMATION MEETING Parents and youth who will participate in this year s confirmation program will be meeting on Thursday, August 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the church parlor. Normally youth in 7 th and 8 th grade participate in confirmation ministry here at First. However, if you are older and have not been confirmed, you are welcome to join us as well! Pastor Marleen will give you an overview of our confirmation ministry at First Lutheran Church that evening. Come with your questions and your excitement for sharing the good news of Christ s love for you!

6 July 2013 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday FOOD/HEART :00 Cong. Council 7 8:15 W&S FOOD/HEART :15 W&S 15 10:00 Mary Martha Circle 16 10:30 Rebekah Circle 17 FOOD/HEART 18 FOOD PANTRY 19 NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 20 6:30 Finance 7:00 Christian Ed. 21 8:15 W&S 11:30 Celebration Luncheon 7:00 Youth Comm. 28 8:15 W&S FOOD/HEART FOOD/HEART 6:00 Property 7:15 Executive Wedding