FIRST CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN 455 TRUMBAUERSVILLE ROAD * QUAKERTOWN, PA PHONE: *

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1 THE BEACON FIRST CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN 455 TRUMBAUERSVILLE ROAD * QUAKERTOWN, PA PHONE: * QUAKERTOWNCOB@GMAIL.COM JULY 2017 VBS JULY :30-8:45 PM HELLO TO ALL THE SAINTS OF THE QUAKERTOWN CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN Oh you tell me you are not a saint or you wonder why I would address you as a saint. Well let me tell you. Perhaps you do a bit of recoiling at being named or recognized a saint. But hold on. If you are a baptized believer in Jesus Christ and you are seeking to live for him, you are one of the saints of the Kingdom of God. No, not in the traditional human sense, but in the context of the Christian faith. The Apostle Paul addressed the early Christians as saints because they were of the household of God. Examples: To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, call to be saints (Rom.1:7); To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints (I Cor. 1:2); To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ (Eph. 1:1b). So, what are the saints of the Quakertown Church of the Brethren doing this summer? Of course, some of you are taking vacation; some of you are simply lulling around; some are bathing in the sun (make sure you care for your skin before the sun kisses you too much); and most of us are working...working to earn a living, working to care for property or maybe some other reason. Whatever it is that you are doing, my challenge to you is that you would be living and walking in the way of Jesus Christ; living as redeemed people; living in a way that people meeting you will see a difference; walking in those paths that other people will want to walk with you. They will wonder why the glow on your face, why the genuine smile and the upbeat character. They will wonder What are you up to and you will keep them guessing until they see by your walk and by your talk that you have been with Jesus. Do this, not because you want to impress someone, but because that is who you are; for you are saints in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. (Now, do not go and tell anyone that you are a saint! That is not your assignment). But go forth and tell people about Jesus and His love and His plan of salvation. Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you your face, your character, your walk in every aspect of your person. Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with each of you. Pastor Levi Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

2 SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES: NURSERY (Age 3 through Kindergarten): Gather Round ELEMENTARY (Grades 1 through 6): Bible Stories JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH (7 th through 12 th grade): The Story DVD series ADULTS (in the Church Library): Jonah, Joel and Amos by Doug and Doris Haugen SR ADULTS (in the Chapel): MIRACLES: Signs of God s Glory by Douglas Connelly BIBLE STUDIES: ADULT BIBLE STUDY Wednesday mornings at 11:00 am; MATTHEW: Being Discipled by Jesus by Stephen and Jacalyn Eyre PRAYER & ADULT BIBLE STUDY Wednesday evening at 6:45 pm; Life Lessons: Books of 1 & 2 Peter by Max Lucado WOMEN S BIBLE STUDY -10:00 am Saturday mornings Living Beyond Yourself - Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit by Beth Moore MEN S BIBLE STUDY - 3 rd Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm; The Godly Man: Personal Studies for the Christian Man by Gene Warr PASTOR LEVI S HOURS Pastor Levi Ziegler will be in the office on Thursdays starting around 9:00 am until midafternoon. Please be sure to call first ( ) to make sure he is not out on visitation. Pastor Levi can also be reached by levijziegler@gmail.com or for more urgent matters you can call his home: NEWSLETTER DEADLINES: A great big thank you to everyone who contributed to the Beacon this month. The deadline for submitting articles is the third Wednesday of the preceding month, so the deadline for submitting articles for the August Beacon is Jul 19 and for the September Beacon it is Aug 16; but please feel free to put them in early, it really helps. Page 2

3 NEWS FROM HEAVEN S BOUNTY For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Matthew 25:35 As summer begins and temperatures climb, so do the challenges faced by Heaven's Bounty. In May we served 93 families consisting of 109 children, 144 adults and 40 seniors. Our volunteers logged over 317 hours. (This does not include time given to collections and fund raising.) With school out and children not receiving school lunches, the requests on the pantry increase in the summer. Even with local fundraisers and collections, it has been a challenge to keep the shelves stocked. A special thank you to all the Church "elves" who have left donations at the pantry door. As we wait for a new state allocation (notification after the budget is approved), we are in need of juice, jelly, cereal, and canned vegetables and fruit. Contact Diane or Benay if you have any questions. If you know someone in need and they live in the Quakertown School District you may refer them to Heavens Bounty for assistance. As always, Heaven's Bounty is run in compliance with all government guidelines. Don t confuse what can t be done with what hasn t been done. RECIPE SWAP BBQ CHICKEN SALAD INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup(s) canned tomato sauce 1 Tbsp honey mustard 1 Tbsp spiced seasoning mix, BBQ variety 2 tsp dark brown sugar 1 tsp onion powder 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 pound(s) uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast(s), pounded 1/4-inch thick 1/2 tsp kosher salt, or to taste 1/4 tsp black pepper, or to taste 6 cup(s) chopped romaine lettuce 2 cup(s) grape tomatoes, halved 1 medium sweet red pepper(s), chopped 1/2 cup(s) canned black beans, rinsed and drained 1/2 cup(s) canned yellow corn 1/4 cup(s) reduced fat ranch dressing 1/4 cup(s) semisoft goat cheese, crumbled 1/4 cup(s) uncooked scallion(s), chopped DIRECTIONS: 1. In a medium bowl, combine tomato sauce, mustard, BBQ seasoning, sugar, onion powder and Worcestershire sauce; set aside. 2. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook chicken, flipping once, until almost done, about 2 minutes per side. Next, baste chicken with reserved sauce a few times, flipping on grill while coating both sides with sauce, and cook until done, about 1 to 2 minutes more. Remove chicken to a cutting board and let rest for a few minutes before slicing. 3. In a large serving bowl, combine lettuce, tomatoes, pepper, beans, corn and dressing; toss to coat. Top salad with chicken; garnish with cheese and scallions. Yields about 2 1/2 cups salad, 3 ounces chicken, 1 tablespoon cheese and 1 tablespoon scallions per serving. If you would like to contribute a recipe, just put it in my mailbox or the church. Thanks, Judy Moyer. Page 3

4 THE CHURCH WILL BE CHANGING We have been notified by Verizon that they are leaving the business - many of you have received a similar notification. Effective June 25, 2017, Verizon will no longer provide verizon.net service for our church. So our new address will be: QuakertownCOB@gmail.com JULY :30-8:45 pm We're looking forward to making new friends at VBS again this year! We have a special week planned so we encourage anyone between the ages of 3 and 12 to join us each night for a new adventure! We will explore new bible stories, sing catchy new songs, create nifty crafts, and play games. We'll also have a snack each night to enjoy. Adults: If you have your child abuse and criminal clearances, please consider volunteering to help during the week. Call the church if you have any questions: If you would like to pre-register, please your child's name, age, grade completed, parent's name, phone, address, emergency contact info and any allergies to audhow560@rcn.com. Otherwise, you can register when you come. Please make the appropriate change to your address book and contacts directory. Getting out of a bad rut requires getting into a good one. Philippians 4:6-9 (NLT) Don t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Page 4

5 The Beacon Quakertown First Church of the Brethren Ice Cream Social & HYMN SING JULY 2017 WOMEN S FELLOWSHIP ATLANTIC NORTHEAST DISTRICT Women s Camp Camp Swatara August 20-22, 2017 Mark your calendars now awhile for a Sunday evening hymn sing and ice cream social in the pavilion on Sunday, August 6th. We will begin at 6:30 pm. Bring along your sweet tooth and a favorite lawn chair if you have one. Help us make a joyful noise in the outdoors. Start tuning up your voices now and bring your sweet tooth. Sue Gannon, Speaker A Radical Restoration Every woman is invited to attend this wonderful retreat! There will be opportunities for worship, Bible study, hiking, swimming, crafts and other interest groups. Mark your calendars now and register! Come and enjoy this time of fellowship and personal growth and renewal. IRON PIGS GAME FOR MORE DETAILS, SEE YOUR WOMEN S FELLOWSHIP REPRESENTATIVE OR GO ONLINE ( UNDER THE REGISTRATIONS MENU. YOU MAY ALSO CONTACT THE ATLANTIC NORTHEAST DISTRICT OFFICE AT Come on out far the Iron Pigs Game on Friday, August 11. The gates open at 5:45 pm and the game starts at 7:05. Coca Cola Park" is a beautiful park in Allentown/Bethlehem area and is very family friendly. Come and enjoy a funfilled evening with church family and friends; post game there is a beautiful fireworks display! The tickets are first come, first served. We will carpool from the church, or you may also go on your own. The tickets are $10.00 each, please see Judy Menszak if interested. Keep looking up, for that is when you see God smiling down at you. Page 5

6 CORNER OF INSPIRATION When I was in grade school there would be, from time to time, an unannounced desk inspection. Oh no, the dreaded desk inspection. I knew exactly what that meant. I sat, shaking in my shoes, as one by one the desks were inspected for neatness and tidiness. I cringed as the teacher approached mine. I just knew what would happen next: one look at my desk and she tipped it forward, dumping the contents into a heap on the floor. My mind replays the scene in slooow motion. The contents of my desk tumble ever-so-slowly - hitting the ground with a reverberating thud. It s the kind of thing that would only happen to Charlie Brown. It was embarrassing and humiliating. Gerald, a classmate, suffered the same fate. Apparently the contents of my desk was seen as clutter (?). The neatness / organizational part of my brain had yet to fully develop and kick in. Suffice it to say, I faced multiple dumpings. I didn t know how to sort things out -- what to keep and what to toss -- and how to organize what I kept. It was actually overwhelming. Perhaps that is why I carry a small purse with not much in it. Sometimes our minds and/or lives can be like our desks (or garages) -- filled to the brim (bulging) with things -- not all of them good. Filling our minds with the seemingly endless barrage of bad news and happenings around us can easily cause us to become frustrated, angry, disillusioned and cynical. Focusing on the negative is counter-productive. Negativity begets negativity. Focusing instead on the truths of God s Word, His blessings to us, and the good and positive things happening around us helps us live a more positive life. Christian music / radio and wholesome inspirational readings help too. And we all need encouraging positive people in our lives. Positivity begets positivity. Sometimes God wants to shower us with blessings, but we have no room for them in our lives. Our hands and our lives are full to Page 6 overflowing with the things we have chosen to keep. We need to evaluate, prioritize and reorder anything we put before God. Sometimes it is material things. The more we have the more we seem to want / need. Things require our time, energy and resources for their upkeep. Sometimes our things take away from our time with God. Our emotions and thought lives may also require sorting. There may be things to let go of. Emotional and/or physical pain we have experienced at the hand of others. Grudges and unforgiveness we carry with us that weigh us down. Disappointments and unrealized dreams. Betrayal. The voices from the past that tell us we are losers and failures (for one reason or another) and therefore undeserving of anyone s love -- even God s. God wants to give us an abundance of blessings, but we need to make room for them. We need to move out temporary, fleeting, earthly things to make room for Eternal Treasures. To relinquish and exchange what we have for the Grand Prize: God s Love, Mercy and Grace -- and a place in His Kingdom! When we give our life to God He can help us sort it all out. And then He does an amazing thing only He can do -- He blows our chaff and blesses our wheat so to speak. Somewhere along the line my organizational skills kicked in and I learned to keep a neater, tidier desk -- what to keep, what to toss, and how to arrange what I kept. Same with my spiritual life, I had a lot of sorting to do. I had to keep and focus on the positive truths of God s Word and disregard negative, unproductive things from my past. To relinquish the earthly for the Eternal. To allow God s blessing to flow in me like a breath of fresh air, and exhale (rid myself) of all those things preventing me from being who He wants me to be. Make room for God s Very Best for you. Let Him blow the chaff and bless the wheat of your life. Blessings on your way Philippians 4:6-9

7 I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40. It may seem like school has just ended, but now is the best time to stock up on school supplies for your OCC shoeboxes. We always try to take advantage of the wonderful back to school sales offered from July through September at stores such as Wal-Mart and Staples. School supplies are some of the most essential and appreciated items to include. Many countries will not allow children to attend school without basic supplies and many families simply do not have the resources to purchase them. We've heard stories about one pencil being broken into eight pieces so more children can attend school, and young students using a razor blade in lieu of scissors. We especially recommend including pencils and a sharpener, pens, erasers, scissors, crayons, and paper, but any items are appreciated and will be put to good use. There is a donation bin located near the Missions Workroom in the basement for contributions towards our boxes. Thank you for your support! There will be a meeting of the board immediately following this service, announced the pastor. After the benediction, the group gathered for the called meeting. All looked askance when a visitor who had never attended their church before joined them. My friend, asked the pastor, did you understand that this is a meeting of the board? Yes, said the visitor, and after that service, I m about as bored as you can get! For to be free is not merely to cast off one's own chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela SENIOR MOMENT It s better to grow old with a sense of humor than with no sense at all. The Men s Bible Study and the Sunshine Stitchers will be held the 2 nd Thursday, this month -- July at 7:00 pm. Page 7

8 WORDS NOT YET IN THE DICTIONARY AQUADEXTROUS (ak wa deks trus) adj. Possessing the ability to turn the bathtub faucet on and off with your toes. BURGASCAPE (burg uh scape) n. When a hamburger can t take any more torture and hurls itself through the grill into the coals. Annual Conference RISK HOPE 231st recorded Church of the Brethren Annual Conference Grand Rapids, MI June 28 - July 2, 2017 "Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful." Heb. 10:23 Oh my goodness - we are so trendy On Sunday, July 2, we are going to join the Annual Conference for their worship service. We will be live-streaming from Grand Rapids so we will start PROMPTLY at 10:15 am (Coffee Fellowship is first). We will be singing along and worshiping with all the folks at the conference. It will be like being there - but a much shorter drive! This would be a good time to invite any friends you have who may be curious about who the Brethren actually are and how we operate. Come along and be part of this community building event. DISCONFECT (dis kon fekt ) v. To sterilize the piece of candy you dropped on the floor by blowing on it, somehow assuming this will remove all germs. ELECELLERATION (el a cel er ay shun) n. The mistaken notion that the more you press an elevator button, the faster it will arrive. FRUST (frust) n. The small line of debris that refuses to be swept onto the dust pan and keeps backing a person across the room until he finally decides to give up and sweep it under the rug. PHONESIA (fo nee zhuh) n. The affliction of dialing a phone number and forgetting whom you were calling just as they answer. Faith is an investment that never loses interest. Page 8

9 BIRTHDAYS 3 Rebecca Waddell 8 Holly Kelly 8 Lisa Sassaman 8 Skye Swavely 12 Roberto Rivera 15 Jason Haring 15 Luis Junto 19 John Holsinger 23 Casey Kelly 25 Audrey Adams 26 Jazmin Martinez 29 Harry Bean 30 Dale Stutzman 31 Jose Montanez ANNIVERSARIES 01 Bruce & Judy Moyer 10 Paul & Anna Jacoby 11 Wendell & Audrey Waddell 11 Seth & Kari Sassaman 25 Stuart & Suzanne Zomberg 28 Scott & JoAnn Beard 30 Harry & Betsy Bean JULY CALENDAR SUNDAYS WEDNESDAYS 9:00 am: Sunday School 11:00 am: Adult Bible Study 10:00 am: Worship Service 6:45 pm: Adult Bible Study SATURDAYS 10:00 am: Women s Bible Study FOOD PANTRY OPEN TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS: 9:30 am to 2:00 pm 02 Sun 9:50 am Coffee Fellowship 10:15 am Webcast of the Annual Conference Worship Service 1:30 pm Quakertown Center Service 2:15 pm Belle Haven Service 04 Tue - - Independence Day 06 Thu 7:00 pm Missions Workshop 09 Sun 6:00 pm Youth Fellowship 15 Sat 9:00 am Men s Breakfast M-F 6:30-8:45 pm VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 13 Thu 7:00 pm Sunshine Stitchers 7:00 pm Men s Bible Study SERVICE SCHEDULES FOR JULY NARTHEX NURSERY HEAD USHER: Keith Do July 02 Ellen & Jenn DEACON: Denny July 09 Audrey & Juan SOUND ROOM: Kevin & Judy July 16 Hope & Melissa GREETERS: Judy & Denny July 23 Karen & Jenn July 30 Tina & Jenn DATE CHANGE LOOKING AHEAD: August 06 at 6:30 pm: Old Fashioned Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social August 11: Iron Pigs Game August 20-22: Women s Camp at Camp Swatara September 10: Rally Day September 24: Harvest Home Page 9

10 FIRST CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN 455 Trumbauersville Road Quakertown, Pa Phone: Web Site: address: SUNDAY SCHOOL 9 am SUNDAY WORSHIP 10 am HEAVEN S BOUNTY FOOD PANTRY Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30 am to 2:00 pm ADULT BIBLE STUDIES Wednesdays 11:00 am and 6:45 pm WOMEN S BIBLE STUDY Saturdays 10:00 am MISSIONS WORKSHOP 1 st Thursday at 7:00 pm YOUTH GROUP 2 nd Sunday at 6:00 pm MEN S BIBLE STUDY 3 rd Thursday at 7:00 pm MEN S BREAKFAST 3 rd Saturday at 9:00 am July :30-8:45 pm INSIDE: Food Pantry accepting food donations - page 3 The church has a new address - page 4 Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social - page 5 Iron Pigs Game - page 5 Sunshine Stitchers and Men s Bible Study rescheduled - page 7 Missions Workshop looking for school supplies - page 7 Annual Conference Worship Webcast - page 8 Each day is a gift from God. Have you thanked Him lately?