TRINITY TOGETHER. Trinity Lutheran Church 357 West Main Street Kutztown, Pennsylvania December 2017

Transcription

1 TRINITY TOGETHER Trinity Lutheran Church 357 West Main Street Kutztown, Pennsylvania December 2017 Interim Pastor: The Rev. David Strobel Director of Youth & Family Ministry: Seth Noggle Editor/Administrative Assistant: Lisa Finke Church Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 AM 2:00 PM Website: Our Mission Statement Telling others of God s unconditional love through worship; Empowering discipleship through education; Leading others to this family of Faith as baptized believers; Calling all to follow Jesus example of servanthood. 1

2 Scrapings and Parings Advent again! The ever-circling cycles of time have brought us again to the beginning of a new churchyear. And, just as in our celebration of the calendar New Year, we reflect on where we ve been and anticipate where we shall be going, full of hope and expectation. For Trinity, the old year, the year past, was one of dramatic change. A beloved pastor retires; the congregation settles-in to the new reality of a pastoral vacancy; an old war-horse, retired bishop fills just a few of the gaps in the interim; the call committee awaits candidates to interview. All the while in the year past, we have followed Jesus with St. Matthew, the Evangelist, as our guide, making our pilgrimage on the same paths we travel each church year from Advent to Christ the King, but having heard afresh from Matthew the old, old story of Jesus and his love. The gospel in the midst of change: a special message for Trinity last year, to be sure, but still the gospel of Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8) Advent again! I find the poetry of T. S. Eliot in his Four Quartets so appropriate. For last year's words belong to last year's language And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning." (Little Gidding) Another voice : as Trinity goes through the call process, that phrase has a particular and very special meaning. A new pastor called and installed, with a new voice to lead the congregation in making a new beginning a genuine and realistic hope for the new church year. However the call process works itself out, there will be another voice for next year s words. St. Mark, the Evangelist, will be our guide in following and learning from Jesus in the church year to come. Mark will introduce us to his distinctive Jesus, the Christ, the anointed one. He is at the same time the Son of God and the Son of man. Again and again, Jesus demands that no one announce who he truly is: this is the Markan secret. He will be fully revealed as the King of Creation in his suffering, death and resurrection. Advent again! It is an end and a beginning: a new church year to explore with St. Mark as our guide. Once again T. S. Eliot: We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. (Little Gidding) Advent again! Pastor David Strobel 2

3 Schedule & Volunteers LAY READERS: Dec 3 8:00 AM Michele Zimmerman 10:15 AM Kris Tuerk Dec 10 9:00 AM Sue Mangold Dec 17 8:00 AM Kevin Stump 10:15 AM Bob Hobaugh Dec 24 9:00 AM to be determined 5:00 PM to be determined 7:30 PM Andrea Orwig Dec 31 9:00 AM to be determined ACOLYTES: Dec 3 8:00 AM Elena Graff & Colin Pape 10:15 AM Rachel Hoffman & Alyssa Heffelfinger Dec 10 9:00 AM Jarrett Noecker Dec 17 8:00 AM Elena Graff & Will DeVall 10:15 AM Taylor Greenawalt & Justin Diehl Dec 24 9:00 AM Rachel Hoffman & Jarrett Noecker 5:00 PM Alyssa Heffelfinger & Justin Diehl 7:30 PM Colin Pape & Aidan Pape Dec 31 9:00 AM Kendall DeVall & Will DeVall USHERS: Dec 3 8:00 AM Volunteers 10:15 AM Jim & Andrea Orwig Dec 10 9:00 AM Michele Zimmerman & Linda Geiring Dec 17 8:00 AM Volunteers 10:15 AM Trevor & Tracey Greenawalt Dec 24 9:00 AM Volunteers 5:00 PM Michele Dugan 7:30 PM The Esser Family Dec 31 9:00 AM Volunteers COMMUNION USHERS: Dec 3 8:00 AM Richard Miller 10:15 AM Tina Billig & Kurt Rohrbach Dec 10 9:00 AM No Communion Dec 17 8:00 AM Randy Heffner & Marsha Hoyer 10:15 AM Karen Raudenbush Dec 24 9:00 AM No Communion 5:00 PM No Communion 7:30 PM to be determined Dec 31 9:00 AM No Communion ALTAR COMMITTEE: Nancy Hildenbrand & Melanie Wessner FLOWER CHAIRPERSON: Nancy Hildenbrand BIBLE STUDY: Every Wednesday at 10:00 AM IMPORTANT DATES: Dec 3 First Sunday of Advent Advent Wreath Celebration Dec 10 Second Sunday of Advent Phase I Congregational Meeting Dec 17 Third Sunday of Advent Dec 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent/Christmas Eve Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 31 New Year s Eve Christmas Eve Ushers Needed We are in need of 3 volunteers to usher at the 5:00 PM service on Christmas Eve. If interested, please contact Lisa in the church office at office@trinitykutztown.com or Upcoming Newsletter Deadlines Because of the holidays the deadline for the January newsletter has been moved up. January Newsletter Deadline December 11 3

4 I wanted to ask everyone a favor for Sunday mornings. If you have any questions or concerns for me about the Sunday services or want to add someone to the prayer list please feel free to ask me. However, if you have something else an article for the newsletter, a question about an upcoming event, etc.please send me an , leave a note on my desk, or call and I will address those questions on Monday morning. I would like to spend Sunday mornings attending worship, holding Teddy, listening to Cassidy sing a song, and catching up with everyone else. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Congregational Meetings Phase I Congregational Meeting December 10 th, 2017 This meeting will be to elect new Council members and to approve the 2017 Budget. There will only be one service that day at 9:00 AM and the meeting will be held immediately after the service in the sanctuary. Phase II Congregational Meeting January 28 th, 2018 This meeting will be to review 2017 Committee reports. There will only be one service that day at 9:00 AM and the meeting in conjunction with a covered dish brunch will take place immediately after the service in the Fellowship Hall. A sign-up sheet for the brunch will be on the office door closer to the meeting day. Student Food Pantry at KU Thank you to everyone who has contributed time, groceries, and cash donations to this ministry. This pantry which is a satellite of Friend, Inc. started up for the new school year on August 30 th and it has been a busy year so far. If you would like to contribute food items please see the list below Peanut Butter Miscellaneous Snacks Knorr Side Dish Packets Instant Potato Packets Toiletries Soup Canned Fruits & Veggies Juice Crackers Cereal Breakfast Bars Mac n Cheese Tuna Pasta There is a box outside of the Parlor to put the items in. If you have any questions, please contact the church office. Hope s Table Trinity will be organizing several meals at Hope Lutheran Church in Reading. The date for the next meal is December 26 th, and we would like your help to serve food at this meal. The time involved would be approximately 4:30 PM to 7 PM that night. If you would like to help out please speak with the church office. Interested in making one-time or ongoing contributions from your own home? You can now do this online! Just go to the church s website ( and look in the sidebar on the left the link is near the bottom. If you have any questions please call the church office at

5 Looking ahead to the Christmas season: We will be decorating the sanctuary on Saturday, Dec. 9th at 9:00 a.m. and the Christmas tree on Saturday, Dec. 16th at 9:00 a.m. Please join us! Your help is always appreciated to prepare for the holiday season. Friend, Inc. Holiday Boxes Once again we will be participating in the Holiday Box Project that Friend, Inc. has every Christmas season. Below is a list of items that can be purchased for each box but this is a general guideline so if there is something you would like to substitute or add please feel free. Each family will receive a turkey along with the box. Also, if you would like to decorate the box or add the name of the organization that prepared the box you are encouraged to do so. Items that can be included are as follows: ELCA Youth Gathering: Houston, Texas June 27th-July 1st (Wednesday-Sunday) The Youth Gathering is only every 3 years and is done by the ELCA Lutheran synod. This is a huge nationwide church event, and is an amazing time. There are speakers, a mission element, a lot of activities, and chances to meet thousands of other High school students from all over the US. The cost will be $195, but then we'll all be tasked to raise the rest of the money which will help cover hotel and plane costs. This is a once in a life time opportunity, and I hope you all consider going. 2 CANS OF SWEET POTATOES 2 CANS OF CRANBERRY SAUCE 2 CANS OF DIFFERENT VEGETABLES LARGE CAN OF FRUIT JUICE BOX OR BAG OF STUFFING MIX BAG OF APPLES (may substitute applesauce) BAG OF POTATOES (may substitute canned potatoes or mashed potatoes) CAN OF FRUIT COCKTAIL COOKIES 1 CAN OF COFFEE OR COCOA HOLIDAY NAPKINS Christmas boxes need to be delivered to Trinity by December 10th Volunteers will take the boxes to Friend, Inc. for distribution. I need to know if you are able to come to this along with the 195 dollars no later than February 15th! 5

6 The Adult Sunday School Class welcomes you to join us in enjoying Faith in Action, a program that explores how God empowers ordinary people to live actively in faith for doing good in the world. Martin Luther pointed out that where there is active faith there is love for the neighbor. We will read extensively from the books of Daniel, James, the Acts of the Apostles, together with Paul s Letters to the Ephesians and Timothy. We will find that our acts of stewardship in the world are proof of faith because love for neighbor flows from faith and through faith we accept God s grace. We will rediscover that grace and faith come from God and that we as faith actors must never think that those who perform many acts are more faithful than those who perform fewer acts. Rev. Jeanette Bialas Strandjord, a retired ELCA pastor, has written this study to help us to recognize how God empowers us to do good in the world. Please join us Sunday mornings at 9:00 am in the Library for conversation, coffee and fellowship. Christmas Caroling at Cabela's in Hamburg for singers and instruments Saturday Dec. 16th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Join with carolers from Zion Lutheran Church, Shoemakersville. Please contact Bruce Rohrbach now to confirm your attendance and pick up music. Instrumentalists for Christmas Eve Willing to play an instrument for services Christmas Eve? Please see Bruce Rohrbach now for the music. We'll play December 24th for a hymn at 9:00 am; 4:30 to 5:00 pm preludes for the early service; and 7:00 to 7:30 pm preludes for the late service. All instruments are welcome. Usher Coordinator Needed There are many Trinity members who are willing to serve as an usher and the Worship Life Team wishes to thank you for your service. We would be grateful if we could find someone to serve as usher coordinator. This would involve devising an usher schedule for the 10:15 and holiday services. If you would prayerfully consider volunteering for this task, we would appreciate your willingness to serve. Please contact the church office to volunteer and if you have questions regarding this ministry. Open & Close on Sunday Mornings We are looking for a few people to open and close the church on Sunday mornings. If we had four different people to open in the morning and then four different people to close that would be great. A checklist has been created for anyone interested and hands-on instruction would be provided if needed. Please see the church office if interested. 6

7 Kutztown Community Choir Christmas Choral Concert The Kutztown Community Choir will present their annual Christmas concert on Sunday, December 10 at 3:00 PM, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 357 W. Main St., Kutztown. This year s concert will include a wonderful collection of cherished holiday music that runs the gamut of festive, fun, and inspirational seasonal favorites. Featured pieces include Christmas Day by Hoist, Almost There by Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith, Christmas Is the Best Time of Year, a medley of Christmas standards, the joyous Christmas spiritual We're Goin' Up to Bethlehem and Echoes of the Season arranged by wellknown local composer Carl Nygard. And in what has become an audience favorite, the concert will once again conclude with the Hallelujah chorus, from Händel s Messiah, in which the audience is invited to join the chorus. There will be a reception with light refreshments following the program and an art show featuring the local artists of Art in the Afternoon. The annual Christmas Concert has become a treasured tradition in our town, one that affords the community a time to come together and enjoy the sounds and spirit of the holiday season. Please plan on joining us for an afternoon that is sure to delight. The only blind person at Christmastime is he who has not Christmas in his heart. Helen Keller Advent Wreath Celebration This year we ll be having a special family event at Trinity an advent wreath-creating session ending with lighting the first candle in the Fellowship Hall of Trinity. This will be held on Sunday, December 3 rd starting at 5:00 PM. We will have a meal to start off the evening. Then following the meal we will have craft projects for the whole family, warm drinks and snacks along with some Christmas carols and a time to reflect on our Advent season. We are asking everyone coming to bring their favorite Christmas cookie/dessert to share with the group. If you have greens (pine, boxwood, holly, etc.) to donate for the wreath making please speak with Seth or Lisa. This will be a great time of fellowship and fun, and we hope that you take time to join us! Christmas Shoppe Are there items in your house that you have purchased or have been given as gifts but are still unopened? We are collecting those items to create a Christmas Shoppe in our Fellowship Hall to give those who struggle during the holiday season a chance to shop for their friends and family. You can bring in any new unopened items you have to the church office to add to our inventory. We will also be needing people to help wrap presents, etc., when the Shoppe is open. The Shoppe will be open Friday, December 15 th from 6 to 8 PM Saturday, December 16 th from 9 AM to Noon Proceeds from this will go to the Helping Hand Fund. If you have any questions about what types of things are being collected or how to help out, you can contact Valarie Kutz at

8 Ringing the Salvation Army Bell Throughout the year, Friend, Inc., as a Salvation Army Service Unit, distributes thousands of dollars to local families that are in danger of getting evicted, or having their heat or power shut off. Our kettle, set up at various locations brings in funds that directly go to these needs. We need your help to keep volunteers ringing the bell during the holiday season. The following is the schedule and locations for this year Dec. 1 st & 2 nd Dec. 8 th & 9 th Dec. 15 th & 16 th Dec. 22 nd & 23 rd Firefly Bookstore in Kutztown Boyer s in Fleetwood CVS Mall in Kutztown CVS Mall in Kutztown Holiday Senior Luncheon Save the date! We will be holding our annual holiday Senior Luncheon on Wednesday, December 6 th at 11:30 AM. The menu is shepherd s pie! A sign-up sheet is on the office door. Hope to see you there! Christmas Eve Schedule 9:00 AM Worship Service 5:00 PM Because Christmas Service 7:30 PM Christmas Eve Celebration Service with Holy Communion We hope you are able to join us for this joyous time of year! If you would like to help out, please contact Pastor Dennis Ritter at Thank you in advance for your help. We have received the following contributions to the Memorial Fund In memory of William J. Boyer, Jr. Robert Moyer & Cynthia Kohler Debra & James Kohler In memory of Cliff Salvesen Erma Bond & Leonard Dietrich 8

9 9

10 10

11 11

12 12

13 13

14 14