The Friendly Flyer Ac k e r m a n v i l l e U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h

Transcription

1 Volume 3, Issue 5 September 2013 Ac k e r m a n v i l l e U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h From the Pastor s Desk Where there is no vision, the people perish: but those that keepeth the law, happy are they. Proverbs 29:18 (King James Version) Our eyes are incredible organs of our bodies. It is our eyes that allow us not only to see what is around us, but, through the focusing of the light in front of the retina, that allows us to make sense of the broad spectrum of light we encounter each day. Anyone who has ever had their eyes dilated or experienced soap in their eyes understands the blurriness that is possible even when the eye itself can still discern light. The eye needs all of the parts of the organ to work in concert together in addition to the brain to discern and assign meaning to what we have seen. It is the eye that identifies a red octagon with 4 white letters ahead of us on the road; and it is the brain that indicates that we must STOP at the sign. We need both organs to together in order to be able to drive. So, it is also with a church. We need the eyes of the church to discern what is transpiring, and the brains of the church to indicate meaning and purpose. Both the eyes and brains work in concert to discern how God is calling us as a church to serve God here in this corner of God s world. Visioning is this process in an organization that combines the gifts of the eyes and the brains. Visioning determines mission, vision, and strategic goals that a church community supports. Through the life of a congregation, visioning calls for a church to acknowledge losses, celebrate successes, and look at where God is calling them into the future. Visioning is a regular process, just like getting one s eyes checked annually. After a year in ministry together, we are moving through the process of getting to know each other. We are ready to move into answering the question: How will we be in ministry together? The verse at the top of this page can also be translated this way: If people can t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what God reveals, they are most blessed. (The Message paraphrase). Our visioning together will be celebrating how Ackermanville has been serving God in the past, how is Ackermanville serving God today, and how will Ackermanville serve God in the future, in one year, in five years, in twenty years. So, please set aside October 5 th for this important work. I am inviting the leadership of the congregation as well as anyone who has a heart for what God is doing in the future here. On October 5 th, we will gather at Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center (in Mount Bethel) from 9:00am-3:00pm. Lunch will be included. I will guide us through this process of visioning. Look for your invitation in the mail. In the meantime, be in prayer and open your eyes to where God is leading us ALL into the future! God of yesterday and God of today, God of the future and God of us all, we pray for your presence as we seek your will. We want to do your work for your people here in this place. Guide us. Open our hearts and our minds. Open our eyes to the needs of our community and the gifts that you have given each of us. We pray this in the name of the One who abundantly gifts and loves us, INSIDE: Thank You 2 Signs 2 Annual Conference 2 Farewell 2 Anniversaries 3 Birthdays 3 Counters 3 Greeters 3 Children s Corner 3 Wish List 3 Calendar 4 Chrarge Conference 4 Brandon 5 Emergency Resp. 5 Shopping 5 Clothing Swap 6 Help fill Cooler 6 Eastern PA Conf. 6 Spaghetti Dinner 7 Bible Study 7 Visit your Neighbor 7 Acolytes 8 Jr. Church 8 Liturgists 8 Men s Group 8 Crafty Crew 8 New Addresses 8 Back to School with the Master Teacher: Math and Jesus Parables Jesus teaches us in parables as a way for us to glimpse God s way. Let s refresh our math skills as we uncover the truths hidden in Luke s gospel September 8 th Calculation and Strategy: Luke 14:25-33 RALLY DAY September 15 th - Stastical Probablity: Luke 15: 1-10 Choir returns and BAPTISM September 22 nd Counting and Accounting: Luke 16:1-13 Hymn Sing September 29 th Risks and Figuring: Luke 16:19-31 Youth Sunday Whether you feel like this Join us! or like this

2 Page 2 Farewell and Blessings to Brandon We were delighted to have Brandon Allen with us for ten weeks this summer. We were blessed by his presence and encouraged by his engagement. He returns to Messiah College, in central Pennsylvania, for his senior year of college. He continues in his home church, Iona UMC in Lebanon, as a drummer in the praise band. He will be applying to seminaries in the fall. At this time, he will be pursuing candidacy for ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church. We look forward to following his journey. We give thanks to God for everyone who supported and interacted with Brandon. It is this hands-on experience that is helping him to discern a call to local church ministry. May God continue to bless him! Slate Belt Nursing and Rehabilitation On the first Sundays of the month, we offer worship at Slate Belt Nursing and Rehabilitation at 2:15 in the afternoon. We have been blessed by getting to know folks and develop relationships with them. Consider joining us to share the love of Christ with the folks at Slate Belt. TO: Lauranette Grubb for her continued and committed work on our website. If you have not looked recently, take a look at the information, pictures, and calendar on the website: Sharon Herman and Shelly Lees for six faithful years of directing Vacation Bible School. We give thanks to God for them and look prayerfully at who God is calling next to such an important ministry. Carl and Leoda Moosch for stocking and maintaining our kitchen supplies. When you notice supplies needed, please jot them down on the notepad on the side of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Ken Reto, Tom Mutton, and Jack Davies for faithful lawn mowing in the cemetery and at the parsonage on Thursday mornings. Walter Hopstetter for fixing our church office fan and putting together a bookcase for the church office. Meagan Ackerman for organizing and coordinating the BLAST Bags with the sermon series. To all who came out on our Trustee clean-up day on July 20 th. Progress was made! The closet in the Young Hall, the storage space below stairs, and the kitchen are much better organized as a result of your work. Look for another date up-and-coming. Greg and Sue Martin for hosting Brandon Allen, our vocational intern, for 10 weeks this summer. For everyone who treated Brandon to lunch and dinner as well as supported him through giving to the Vocational Intern stipend. If you would still like to make a gift to the stipend, please label your gift and place it in the offering plate. SIGNS Getting out the word, sharing the good news, and putting out signs are important ways in which we share with the world the opportunities to worship, fellowship, and grow deeper with God. Our signs (on 191 and in front of the church) have served faithfully these purposes. WOW! We have regularly had families join us in worship and at fellowship functions due to the information on the sign on Route 191. However, over time, the old signs are quite battered and damaged due to weather, storms, and cars and trucks running over them. We are in need of new ones. Please consider giving either two new four foot by four wooden sign boards or a more professional sign board with interchangeable letters. Please talk with Lauranette, our resident sign guru, or Pastor Monica, about this opportunity to give and share the good news! Thanks be to God for the generous gifts of the Christmas in July. We received kitchen supplies, tissues, toilet paper, stamps, gift cards, and much, much more. Your gifts give us the opportunity to serve the community in ministry and mission. We also received donations towards new white tables for the Young Hall. These lighter tables will make serving others easier. They will also increase the number of persons who can help set up and take down in the Young Hall. Thank you for serving God with your gifts! If you have not had a chance to bring in your gift, please feel free to bring in into the office or put it in the offering plate. Thank you! Report from Annual Conference Delegate Del Roberts Wholeness: Physical / Spiritual / Relational The conference was exciting, formative, and emotional. The resolution that would affect us directly, such as redistricting and going to cluster, from six to four districts - about 92 churches to 125 churches was defeated. Our Lay Delegate, Del Roberts, met a lot of people including former pastors and laity from other churches. Speakers were dynamic with great messages both for clergy and laity. Speakers included Bishop Thomas J. Bicketon (Africa), Bishop Violet Fisher (Faith - Stand Up for What We Believe) and Rev. Dr. Kirk B. Jones speaking on Burnout. Bishop Peggy Johnson, who is slight in structure, but has a big heart, led the conference with that Heart and Expertise. Bishop Johnson could be found at the Iron Pigs game and also the Phillies game on Methodist nights. The ordination service that was held on Friday evening was very moving. Pastor Monica has been appointed to Ackermanville United Methodist Church for the coming year. We want to keep in mind that she will prayerfully be ordained at our Annual Conference in We will let you know the date as soon as possible, so we, as a congregation, can make plans to be there with her.

3 Page 3 September Anniversaries September Birthdays September - Counters Pete Nell and Friend 7 Joan & Vincent Forino 9 Beverly & Walter Hopstetter Kay & Steve Beck 13 Tonia & Kyle Overfield 18 Diane & Sheldon Richards 28 Sue & Greg Martin Consider giving a Sunday to help count. 2 Erik Butz 3 Tiffany Lutz 4 Bill Zellner Joan Mutton Kaley Reid 6 Kevin Martin Alisabeth Guepet 9 Elsie Houck 11 Logan Lees 12 Bailey Jones 14 Steve Sanders 15 Robert Dailey 16 Mark Steinmetz 18 Andrew D Alessio 24 Pat Nicoletti 27 Donna Bright 28 Alice Butz 30 Jeffrey Sanders Help Wanted! Publicity If you have an event that you would like publicized, please contact Holly Sussick. HollySussick@pattwhite.com Phone: We give thanks to God for those who maintain and keep our church facilities in good repair. Some help is needed to continue those good efforts. We are looking for someone to gather trash (and recycling) and put it on Tuesdays (in anticipation for the pick-up early Wednesday morning). See Pastor Monica if interested. We are looking for help with the mowing, edging, and trimming on Thursday mornings. See Ken Reto if available. September Greeters and Ushers September 1 Janet Crafa & Shelly Lees September 8 Don Rafferty & Carol Berger September 15 Maci Herman & Kay Young September 22 Delores and Kenny Reto September 29 Dora Greenleaf & Bernice Bettini Walking For Fitness and Fellowship Join us on Monday evenings at 6:30 pm at the Plainfield Township Trail at Stockertown. We have had small groups some weeks and larger groups other weeks. Bring your dog, your kids, your bike. Walk, jog, ride, talk, and fellowship as we care for our bodies as well as our souls. Help Stamps Rubber Bands Worship banners (see Pastor Monica) I was glad when they said to us, Let us go to the House of the Lord Much pride and hard work goes into the stewardship of our church. Help us to continue to maintain that by taking a turn in cleaning the church. Can you run a vacuum, scrub a toilet, dust a shelf, or straighten a sink? Then you are just the person we are looking for! See Beverly Hopstetter to sign up for a slot. Children s Corner Children s Corner Back to School prayer God of our work and our play, we thank you for time off from school and for more time with our family and friends. We re grateful for all the fun we ve had, and all the fun we ll continue to have as we see old friends, make new ones, and learn new things. Bless us as we return to work and school, and thank you for keeping us safe. May this food and the coming year nourish us! Amen. (Peanut Butter and Jelly Prayers, page 23).

4 Page 4 1 SB Nursing 2:15 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 2 Office Closed Labor Day September :00 am-noon Choir 7:30 5 9:00 am-noon Crafty Crew 6-8:00 pm 6 7 Men s Group 7:00 at TK s 8 Rally Day - Pancake Breakfast - 8:30 6-7:30 pm Blast 9 9 am -Noon Walking 6:30 pm 10 Trustees 7:00 Ad Board 7: :00 am-noon Scouts 6:30-7:30 pm Choir 7:30 12 Office Closed Pastor at Conference Event First Day Sunday School 9:00 12:30 Community Cares Meal - First Church Scout Com. 5:00 pm 16 9 am - Noon Walking 6:30 pm Finance Meeting 7:00 17 SPRC 7:00 18 Office Closed Pastor at Provisional Meeting Bible Study 1-2:15 pm at Richmond Scouts 6:30-7:30 pm Choir 7: am-noon Crafty Crew 6-8:00 pm Bible Study 7-8: Sunday School 9:00 Blast 6-7:30 pm 23 9:00 am - Noon Walking 6:30 pm Worship 7: :00 am - Noon Bible Study 1-2:15 at Richmond Scouts 6:30-7:30 pm Choir 7: am-noon Bible Study 7-8: Cub Scouts 9:00 am Work on gardening Spaghetti Supper 4-7 pm 29 Sunday School 9:00 Youth Sunday 30 9:00 am - Noon We now have a Facebook page, Like, Ackermanville UMC for more information, pictures, and links! During worship, we have BLAST bags available for children in the sanctuary. These bags are changed regularly and coordinate with the sermon series. Please help your children see the connections! - Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings 9am noon Unless I am taken out of the office by meetings or emergencies. Please note that Friday is Pastor Monica s Sabbath day. She will return all non-urgent contacts on the next business day Deadline for October Friendly Flyer is September 16, 2013 Please submit all articles and news items to Joan at mutton1@rcn.com or by handwriting them and placing them in the office mail bin. Bulletin Information Weekly announcements for the worship bulletin can be sent to Bonnie at bonnie.commins@gmail. com Thank You!!!! LARGE PRINT HYMNALS, BULLETINS AND DEVOTIONALS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. Rally DAY Mark your calendars for Rally Day! September 8 th, we will get back into the swing of the school and pragmatic year. Join us from 8:30-9:30 am for a sausage and pancake breakfast. Worship begins at 10:00am Charge Conference Mark your calendars for Charge Conference on October 12 th at 3:30pm Ackermanville UMC. We will be hosting a cluster charge conference including Richmond UMC, First UMC of Bangor, and East Bangor UMC. Please join us for a celebration of the ministries taking place both in our congregation and with the other churches.

5 Page 5 From our Vocational Intern, Brandon Allen While thinking about something to write for the newsletter, I thought about our Bible study. I couldn t help but notice all of the different Bible translations that we use and how many possibilities there are to choose from. As some of you may know, I love learning new languages. Through my studies of languages and doing translations, there is one thing that I learned; there is never a way to translate something and achieve the exact same meaning in the original language. Words have meanings that are attached to them, which are usually tied into cultural aspects. The example of cool comes to mind for English. When we say something is cool, we could either be talking about temperature or how popular it is. That distinction would be difficult to capture in another language by using one word to translate it. I say all of this to point out that the same thing occurs within our translations of the Bible. A translation, especially of the Bible, is essentially a commentary. It is impossible to have a one-to-one correspondence translation of the Bible. This is why we have a plethora of English translations. Therefore, one way in which we can deepen our study of the Bible is to read and compare multiple translations. Whenever I have to do a textual analysis for school, I study at least four different translations. This helps me to see different perspectives of the passage at which I am looking. Therefore, I recommend, whenever you want to study the Bible, read multiple translations. A great website for this is; biblegateway.com. They have a wide range of translations to from which to choose. I hope this enriches your Bible experience. Happy studying! Brandon Allen Shopping on Line Planning to do shopping on-line? Shop and help the church at the same time. Look for details in the bulletin upcoming about UMC market. There will also be information on the website. Watch for this new way to shop and help the church at the same time. Emergency Response Team Being Formed If you are interested in giving of your time, talents, and heart, consider joining an Emergency Response Team who will be providing support and building in the Jersey shore area. This area is still recovering from the ravages of Hurricane Sandy. We are still gathering names and information. Please see Pastor Monica if interested. This will be a cooperative effort among United Methodist churches. Rev. Dave Goss, Pastor at East Bangor EMC, has indicated that he has received an from Lisa Park of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference advising that they are now accepting Emergency Response Team (ERT) mission teams for Hurricane Sandy cleanup. Our local United Methodist churches are considering an October date for serving those in need. Please see Pastor Monica if you are interested. Local Church Servant Training Are you considering a calling as a local church servant or Christ Servant Minister? This is an opportunity to serve in this congregation and beyond. Set aside the date of November 2 nd (2-6:30pm) Training will be available for both local church servants and Christ servant ministers. This will take place at Hopewell UMC (in Downingtown). This is Pastor Monica s home church. WIGGLY GIGGLY BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 5 th at 5pm. We will have a blessing of the animals outside in the clearing of the cemetery. Bring your furry friends and join us for a fun wiggly and giggly, blessed time! Ink Cartridges Thanks to everyone who continues to bring in their empty ink cartridges. This month we will receive $20 to be used at Staples. All of your donations help us with our office work. Please continue to bring in your cartridges to the box in the Sharing Center outside of Young Hall. We have been able to purchase a new bookcase for the church office.

6 Page 6 Clothing Swap a Success!! We give thanks to God for the many items of clothing that came in as part of our Clot hing S wap hel d concurrent with VBS. Families from VBS and our community brought in items and took items as they needed. The remainder of the items were picked up by Slater Family Network and will serve the larger community through the Slater Family clothing closet. Hands are needed to organize, sort, and fold clothes in the Slater Family Network clothing closets. See Dale Harris, if you can volunteer your time or call Prayer Chain We are blessed here at AUMC with a prayer chain. You can submit prayer requests through Pastor Monica. You can receive prayer requests through or phone. If you are not a part of the prayer chain and would like to be, please contact Pastor Monica for the portion and Janice Roberts for the phone portion. Please note that s will be received from Ackermanvilleumc@gmail.com. Please add that address to your safe senders. We give thanks to God for a community of pray-ers who support one another! Conference News Fulfilling Our Covenant Beginning our 228th year, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church has served the spiritual needs of the people of Eastern Pennsylvania a vibrant and diverse community, spanning 16 counties and 7 metropolitan areas. As we reflect on our past blessings, we have the responsibility to ensure a future even more dynamic than our past. Fulfilling Our Covenant is a Conference-wide stewardship and financial campaign that strives to raise a minimum of $3,000,000 in gifts and pledges. It is one tier of a three tier, $11 million Annual Conference Resolution (RESOLUTION# ) to address the Pre-1982 Clergy Pension liability obligation. Through this initiative, we seek to invite every member of every church to consider the impact of clergy in his or her lives. These men and women more accustomed to giving rather than receiving, to serving rather than being served - are worthy of our support. We prayerfully ask that you consider joining your brothers and sisters across more than 400 congregations to address an obligation to our past that will help shape our future. Together, as one family, we can honor those who have made a profound impact on our lives. Look for more information about this initiative in the future. This affects not only clergy who have previously served this congregation, but current and future clergy as well. Help Fill the Cooler!! We think most often of giving to food pantries at the holidays. As we are making our holiday feasts, we remember those whose feasts will be meager or those who may not celebrate at all. I give thanks to God for the generosity of folks around those times. Those are the times during which food pantries are the most well-stocked. However, during the summer when food pantries struggle the most to feed a growing population of hungry persons. With school out, free and reduced school lunch programs are not available for many who receive breakfast and lunch at school. This month, as you go to the grocery store, consider adding a few items to your grocery list to help those who depend on the generosity on others. Consider an additional gift of protein, fruits, vegetables, or complete meals to the food pantry. The cooler outside the Young Hall in the Sharing Corner waits for your donation. Backpacks On Sunday, August 25 th, we celebrated the blessing of backpacks as we prepared for the beginning of school the next day for many of our students. The chancel was filled with children, youth, and teachers with their backpacks and messenger bags. As we prayed then, we pray now; May God be known to them as they return to school. May the cross on their bag remind them of God s presence always with them! Many churches lament the loss of young people and wonder where youth and young adults are. We are blessed at Ackermanville to celebrate that many of our young people are in our pews. As our college students return to school, please keep them in our prayers. May God work within them and through them as they train, prepare, and explore the world!

7 Page 7 VBS - Working Together We give thanks to God for all of the children, youth, and adults who were a part of Vacation Bible School. Vacation Bible School included 49 children, 12 adults, who were part of the bible study of biblical parenting, and countless youth and adult volunteers who gave of their time and talents to serve. This year, we had two new ventures: the Clothing Swap and the stand-alone preschool classroom both were a hit! We particularly thank Richmond UMC for their support and cooperation. We look forward to the ways that we can continue to work together. Thanks be to God for a wonderful VBS! BIBLE STUDY RETURNS! Starting September 18 th, 2013 Wednesday Afternoons 1:00-2:15pm at Richmond UMC Thursday Evenings 7:00-8:15pm at Ackermanville UMC Look for more details in the bulletin insert. On July 14 th, we held UM101 at the parsonage after the church service. A group of 29 persons gathered over lunch to learn about some Methodist history. A good time was had by all and much learning took place. Requests have been made for another UM101 as well as UM 102! Watch for dates and details! Looking for a reason to visit your neighbor? As read in CHRISTIAN CENTURY (July 10, 2013): Long-lasting loneliness can make humans sick and even cause death. Emotional isolation and lack of intimacy is as high a risk factor for death as smoking. The diseases that can be caused or exacerbated by loneliness are Alzheimer s, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and even cancer. Loneliness is a feeling that wreaks havoc on the body and brain: and has become a public health crisis, says Judith Shulevitz (New Republic, May 13, 2013) Visit a Neighbor, Spend time with a Friend, Meet a Stranger, Share God s Love. Spaghetti Dinner All You Can Eat September 28, 2013 We will be serving from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Watch the Sunday Bulletin for all the opportunities available to help with the dinner!! We will also need baked goods for our super well-know dessert table!!!!!

8 Page 8 Join us on the web at: Ackermanville United Methodist Church 1410 Ackermanville Road Bangor PA The Rev. Monica B. Guepet, M.Div Church Phone: Parsonage Phone: revmonicaguepet@gmail.com Acolytes Junior Church Liturgists Sept. 1 Aubrey Tarr Kimberly Kurtz / Mia V. Bill Ruggiero Sept. 8 Mia Herman Sue Martin / Logan Paul Smale Sept. 15 Alisabeth Guepet Megan Ackerman / Christina Brittany D Alessio Sept. 22 Porter Sussick Tiffany Lutz / Maci Benjamin Hawes Sept. 29 Adriana Kurtz Amy White / Hailey Donna Bright To B.L.A.S.T Thank you so much for your help today! It meant the World to Helena! Thank you again you have helped her with the next journey she will be making in her life! We are truly Blessed to have a wonderful group of Youth! Love you all! Holly Sussick (The BLAST youth group gave of their time to help a woman in need move into her new home!) M e n s G ro u p The AUMC Men s Group will meet for breakfast, devotions, and a planning session on September 7, 2013 at 7:00 a.m. at TK s in Mt. Bethel. All Men Are Welcome!!! Changes As you change you address, please make sure to let the church office know. This will ensure that you continue to receive newsletters, prayer requests and updates. Thank you! CRAFTY CREW Bazaar & Bake Sale Our second Annual Bazaar & Bake Sale is scheduled for Saturday, October 12, 9:00 AM. to 2:00 P.M. The Crafty Crew has been diligently working to prepare for this day. You will find a variety of handmade items perfect for your home or your Christmas gift list. New, handmade articles would also be welcomed from the congregation. Also, donations for our baked goods table will be appreciated. After shopping the bazaar plan to stay awhile and purchase refreshments for your lunch including hot dogs, BBQ and home made soups. Mark your calendar: Saturday - October 12 See you there! Please - No flea market or rummage donations. NEW ADDRESSES: Lori and Josh Riggs 2309 Nation Avenue #6 Durham, NC Lula & Ernest Bartholomew 4100 Freemansburg Ave., Rm 135 Easton, PA Please don t forget those in need of our prayers. We will have an updated list in the bulletins each Sunday. Remember our members in Nursing Homes or Assisted Living Facilities Naomi Hahn c/o Slate Belt Nursing Home 701 Slate Belt Blvd. Bangor, PA Elsie Houck c/o Chandler Estates, Apartment 3A 1569 Teels Rd. Pen Argyl, PA Marilyn Osborne c/o Whitehall Manor 1177 N. 6th Street, Whitehall, PA Bernice Bettini Walden III, Unit 122, 325 N. Broadway Wind Gap, PA Evelyn Jennings 175 W. North Street - Apt. 414B Nazareth, PA Clara Schweitzer Walden III 325 N Broadway Wind Gap PA Please let Pastor Monica know if you or a loved one is in the hospital. She would love to support you and your family with a visit. She depends on you to share the information of which hospital the loved one is in. Please also let Pastor Monica know of any other pastoral needs. She is available in the Church Office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 9amnoon. The church phone number is You c a n a l s o r e a c h h e r b y e m a i l : revmonicaguepet@gmail.com. The parsonage number is for pastoral emergencies. If you do not reach her, please leave a message. Thank you!