THE HERALD. December Sunday School at 9:00AM Sunday Worship Services at 10:15AM 2 nd Saturday Contemporary Service at 6:00PM

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1 THE HERALD December 2018 Sunday School at 9:00AM Sunday Worship Services at 10:15AM 2 nd Saturday Contemporary Service at 6:00PM Business Manager Hours: Tue 9-4 and Wed-Fri 9-3 EMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH Pastor Darian Hybl PO Box 396, 5000 Old Wm Penn Hwy Export, PA phone: (724) / fax: (724) elcnalc@gmail.com Church Web Page:

2 How can we trust you? In Jerusalem, Paul faced this very same question after his encounter with Jesus on the road where he received his new name. Previously Saul had persecuted the church, hunted down followers of Jesus Christ and even sought their leaders, because he was a good Jew. When Paul entered in the presence of the leaders, the Apostles, they doubted his intent and probably asked him, How can we trust you? Not only did the Apostles have to trust Saul, now named Paul, but only by sitting down with him, asking him hard questions and willingly placing themselves in the vulnerable position by trusting him, did they build a trust that helped the church to grow in relationship with him and with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It was a mutual opportunity that helped to ignite the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ and led ultimately to our being disciples of Jesus Christ. As the called shepherd of Emmanuel, in Word and Sacrament Ministry, I have the divine opportunity to minister to you the Saints of Emmanuel. Yet, like Paul, I may be asked the same question, How can we trust you? I am an unknown entity. I m not my predecessor and I m like everyone, uniquely gifted and have unique strengths. I lack the personal relationships with many in the congregation. I haven t buried a loved one. I haven t counseled families through crisis. There are many more I haven t expressions. The point is, like Paul, I operate at a clear disadvantage. The disadvantage I face is very few have wanted a relationship with me to understand who I am or what makes me tick. Therefore, I have felt like and evidently been an ineffective shepherd. This was why I tried to ask for an opportunity to visit and build a relationship. Yet, since its launch on September 1, 2018, only three visits have been requested. Two individual and one couple. Until we as Pastor and laity lovingly, purposefully and intentionally build mutual trust Emmanuel will not thrive and grow. We will continue to erode the road we travel upon, built upon mistrust, misinformation and only missing how God could unite us for an eternal purpose of building His kingdom here at Emmanuel. So I again ask you the people of Emmanuel to go to this link OR ( and help me by allowing me to answer the question How can we trust you? By pointing not to myself, but to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Yours In Christ, Pastor Darian L. Hybl

3 DECEMBER Lessons for Worship 12/2 First Sunday of Advent Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Thess. 3:9-13; Luke 19: /9 2 nd Sunday of Advent Malachi 3:1-7b; Psalm 66:1-12; Philippians 1:2-11; Luke 3: /16 3 rd Sunday of Advent Zephaniah 3:14-20; Psalm 85; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 7: /23 4 th Sunday of Advent Micah 5:2-5a; Psalm 80:1-7; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1: /24 Nativity of Our Lord/Christmas Eve Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2: /25 Nativity of Our Lord/Christmas Day Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 2; Hebrews 1:1-12; John 1: /30 1 st Sunday in Christmas Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 111; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40 Praying for YOU We continue to pray for several Emmanuel members at each worship service. Please keep these members in your prayers throughout the week. The members being prayed for this month are: December 2: Pastor Gregory & Angela Held; Katie Peterson; Vincent & Donna Berardinelli; and Anna Flood December 9: Dan & Cherie Wolovich; Dorothy McWilliams; William & Connie Stegman; and Sheri Maholage December 16: Steve Cehovin; Dana Fetter & Faith Palmer; Joseph Borgia; and Dana & Diana Hillman December 23: Scott & Carol Wilson; James, Bree, Mateo, & Talia Drenning; Irv Rittko; and Nolan Pepka December 30: Bill Rivardo; Dick & Sandy Lester; Karli Jones; and Danielle Hiener

4 12/02 Bill & Marion Weihe (68 years) 12/23 Roger & Pat Byford (42 years) 12/25 John & Kathy Jacoby (61 years) 12/28 David & Sheryl Vance (16 years) 12/01 Arlene Woodward 12/03 Michele Hiener 12/03 Wendy Zimmerman 12/05 Stan Casper 12/05 John Salava 12/06 James Kuczek 12/09 Danelle Jaszcar 12/10 JoAnne Visnic 12/12 Amy Ostrawski 12/12 Austin Vance 12/13 Bill Weihe 12/14 Bree Drenning 12/14 Les Graham 12/16 Faith Palmer 12/16 Norm Von Allmen 12/17 Donna Berardinelli 12/17 Nancy Zimmerman 12/23 Dorothy McWilliams 12/26 Joseph Borgia 12/27 Lois Lange 12/28 Angela Held 12/29 James Troxell If we have missed anyone, please let the office know so we can make the correction.

5 IT'S TIME!! It's that busy time of the year. It's time to mark your calendar and plan on attending the upcoming Altar Guild Workshops. THEY ARE: --Thanksgiving Cleanup/ Advent Setup Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 10:00AM --Christmas Workshop Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 11:30AM --Post-Christmas Cleanup Saturday, January 6, 2019 at 11:30AM All members of the Altar Guild are asked to attend at least one of these workshops. We especially need help at the Christmas Workshop and the Christmas Cleanup. ATTENTION CONFIRMANDS AND SPONSORS Have you been trying to think of a great activity for you to do together? How about a team decorating the Christmas tree for the holidays or a team to take down the tree and ornaments? The decorating will take place Sunday, December 2 nd at 11:30AM. The clean-up of the tree will take place on Saturday, January 6, 2019 at 11:30AM. Friends of the Altar Guild are welcome to join us. Any questions, please call Donna Berardinelli at

6 Youth Group Jr./Sr. Youth Group and W- DOGS will now be joint. Below is the updated schedule. Youth Group & W-DOGS Events 12/9 11:30AM Christmas ELC 1/20 5:00PM-7:00PM Epiphany ELC 2/17 5:00PM-7:00PM GROK w/ a ELC Weekly text reminders & devotions are being sent. If you and your friend(s) would like to attend youth events, please let Dan Plance, Youth Group/W-DOGS Leader, know at or plance92@gmail.com Youth Group and W-DOGS would like to thank the congregation for their generous donations towards the Meals on Wheels Emergency Food Bags. We are able to provide each client with a bag to use in the event meals cannot be delivered due to weather this winter.

7 Mutual Ministry Minute The Mutual Ministry Committee has recently been reconfigured with Dana Hillman Karen Kuczek and Ron Smith being new representatives. In recent years, our congregation has experienced several significant changes. While adjusting to these modifications, there has been something lost among our members. As Christians, each one of us is to promote the Gospel and live a Godly life. There have been breakdowns in communications and differing perceptions regarding how to achieve this goal. As we discuss and share our thoughts for arriving on the same page, this committee is charged with supporting and encouraging the Pastor in his ministry with ELC. Mutual Ministry wishes to have your input. This is too important not to share appropriately if our church is to grow. We will be privileged to hear your concerns and hopes, and seek to use them to strengthen our mission together. Please contact any individual committee member, or the collective committee, with your thoughts, concerns, and hopes. 1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brothers (and sisters) be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." Stewardship Benevolence Update During the church council meeting on November 19, Stewardship submitted a recommendation for council to: Instruct the Treasurer to set aside 5% of the general fund contributions and earmark it for benevolences; to be reviewed by council quarterly and dispersed quarterly as the finances allow, and at the discretion of the council. Council unanimously approved the recommendation with an added stipulation that a plan be developed for implementation. The first quarter of the fiscal year began in November 2018 and goes through January At the end of the quarter, council will determine the amount of the first quarter distribution to benevolences.

8 Christian Life Like all happenings in a year s time, things come to a conclusion the turkey is gone, and so we will have attended the last celebration of Christ the King sermon, the last Christmas Party of 2018, the last participation in 2018 of Murrysville s Night of Lights, a last magical Christmas Crafts luncheon, the last Women s Group Social featuring 2 hand bell soloists, the last committee night, the last Council meeting, the last gathering to attend Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, and the last printing of the Herald for Our Christian Life team, through the church, wants to grow and wants you to participate in all of the above activities. Come join join a committee, join and be part of the choir, join the Property committee, come, stitch a bit, join Sunday School, join ELC Women, join Altar Guild, join Social Ministry, be an Assisting Minister, be an historian, join Festive Bells, join, join, join, JOIN!!! THEN!!!!! a most special happening occurs where we will join in with each other to greet the Christ Child and sing hallelujah as we bow our heads and adore His birth. And then we begin again hoping to find activities that will delight and bring new activities and togetherness to our Church people. Come, join us

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12 Scouting Update Highlights from last month s activities... Cabin Camping at Camp Twin Echoes by Colin Burch, Scout Upcoming Activities 12/2 - High Adventure meeting 12/8 - Flight 93 Memorial visit 12/20 - Christmas Party From Nov. 9th to Nov. 11th our troop went cabin camping with 2 adults and 3 other scouts. We had a lot of fun cooking our own meals, fulfilling our requirements, and playing late-night monopoly, which Mr. Foust won. My favorite part was when we were playing Uno for very long matches as we would team up to make 1st place draw more cards. I had lots of fun and I think everyone else did too.

13 Word Search Search for vocabulary related to Advent in this puzzle.

14 December 2018 Schedules If you are unable to serve, please find a substitute and notify the office. (phone or elcnalc@gmail.com) Thank you to all who serve!

15 MINISTRY TEAMS/ORGANIZATIONS President: Mack Flood (5/18) Phone: (h) (c) VP/Secretary: MaryAnn Sinwell (5/18) Phone: (h) (c) Treasurer: Dan Hunter (5/18) Phone: (h) (c) Ministry Teams: o God's Property (Property)TBD (If interested, please contact Pastor or Mack Flood.) Christian Life (Evangelism, Fellowship, and Youth & Family) o Dorothy Datemasch Phone: (h) edmad1@comcast.net Youth Group(6 th 12 th ): Dan Plance W-DOGS(K 5 th ): Volunteer Needed Soul Life (Worship & Music and Christian Ed) o Howard Weigold - Phone: (h) (c) N/A Weighz06@windstream.net Acolytes: Volunteer Needed Altar Guild: Donna Berardinelli Assisting Minister: Volunteer Needed Festive Bells: Homer Adams Memorials: Dana Fetter Nursery: Donna Berardinelli Ushers: Dave & Mary Whipkey Wedding Coordinator: Donna Berardinelli Life Stewardship (Finance, Social Ministry, and Stewardship) o Bill Lavallee (5/19) - Phone: (h) (c) N/A lylad3@gmail.com Loaves & Fishes: Vince & Donna Berardinelli Safe Haven Coordinator: Volunteer Needed ELC Women: Pres. Jeanne Yargar Vice-Pres Susan Smith

16 STAFF Pastor... Darian Hybl Secretary... Amy Foust Youth Group Leader... Dan Plance Organist/Choir Director... Homer Adams FINANCIAL OFFICERS Financial Secretaries... Danette Hunter & Kyle Lysher Treasurer... Dan Hunter & Karla Gustafson COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President... Mack Flood VP/Secretary... MaryAnn Sinwell Treasurer... Dan Hunter Pastor... Darian Hybl The deadline for the JANUARY Herald will be DECEMBER 17 th ~ Thank you ~