FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH GREENSBURG, PA APRIL 2014 HOLY WEEK AT FIRST LUTHERAN: THE CLIMAX OF CHRISTIANITY RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Transcription

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: felchurch.org FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH GREENSBURG, PA PHONE FAX PASTOR... Jerry Nuernberger PASTOR...Marleen Griffith-Stull ORGANIST & DIRECTOR...Marvin Huls CHURCH TREASURER.... Patti Sias OFFICE MANAGER.... Joanie Knobloch CUSTODIAN...Jaison Smith felchurch.org CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS Kathy Acita Joe Bartlow Kip Douglas Boggs Rebecca Brunetta Dean Cichetti Rick Druschel Bob Errett Elinor Giovannini Teresa Graziotto Gwen Irwin Barbara Pascarella Wendy Piper Vice President President Secretary HOLY WEEK AT FIRST LUTHERAN: THE CLIMAX OF CHRISTIANITY APRIL 2014 Once a year we gather to take our place in the events that changed all time: the finality of Jesus earthly life, and the beginning of Jesus victorious life. Make sure that you don t let anything keep you away from these life transforming events! WORSHIP WITH US 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 April 13 Palm/Passion Sunday 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. Celebration and confusion meet head to head as palm branches intersect with the cross. April 16 Corporate Confession 7:00 p.m. We lay our sins on the cross on which Jesus will silence their claim on us. April 17 Maundy Thursday 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. On the anniversary of its institution, Jesus invites us to his table to infuse us with his uniting grace.

2 continued... April 18 Good Friday 7:00 p.m. Where else would we gather on the day of Jesus crucifixion than at the cross? April 20 EASTER SUNDAY! 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. This is the feast of victory for our God! Jesus has reserved a place for you at his feast table. No RSVP needed! (You are also invited to First Lutheran s Breakfast table from 8:45-10:00 a.m. Reservations by calling the church office appreciated; your financial donation welcomed.) For those interested in community Holy Week Activities: Good Friday Community Cross Walk - Walk begins at Westmoreland Courthouse at 11:30 a.m. Service from 12 noon - 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church Community Easter Vigil Service Saturday, April 19, 8:00 p.m. Zion s Lutheran Church LENTEN MISSION PROJECT Feeding The World! This year we distributed coin/bill boxes for you to make your contribution to feeding the hungry through the ELCA World Hunger Campaign. (Additional boxes are available in the sanctuary.) Each Sunday we ll be looking at a different place on the globe and taking a look at their struggle to feed themselves and their families. The good news is that this is a struggle that we can bring to an end. When you come to church on Easter Sunday morning please plan to bring your box. FIRLU HAS HEARD -that a special thanks goes to Ernie Ott for conducting a CPR and AED training class for 20 members. Not only were proper procedures taught about the use of the AED and the technique for CPR, but an audit of first aid kits was also a topic of examination by the group. Thank you, Ernie! -that the Sacrament of Holy Baptism was given to Molly Lynn Evancho, daughter of Doug and Rachel, AND to Silas Kenneth Lucas, son of Matthew and Aimee. We rejoice in God s gift of new birth. -that the sermons were listened to by way of our website an average of 52 times a week. Given the weather conditions of January and February, the message was accessible even though the roads may not have been. -that the sympathy of the congregation is extended to the family and friends of Isabel Hochrein as they and we grieve her death. May God s promise provide comfort and hope. -that the Java Table will be open April 13 between worship services. Fair Trade coffees, teas, chocolate, and geobars will be available for purchase. -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. Come lend a hand if you are able! -that registrations are now being accepted for the term of the First Lutheran Preschool. Classes are offered for children ages 3 and 4. Please speak to Barb Krunszyinsky or call the church office for more information. -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 deadline for the May newsletter is Friday, April 18. prompt. You may submit your articles to jknobloch@felchurch.org. See you at worship, FIRLU Please be

3 ORDER YOUR EASTER LILIES Lilies will again decorate the church on Easter Sunday. You are invited to purchase a plant at a cost of $ 9.50 and lend it to the parish. Plants so purchased may be removed from the church by the donor following the 10:45 AM Easter Sunday Service. Any lilies not removed by the Wednesday following Easter will be given to Food From the Heart guests. Your purchase may be made in memory of or in honor of the person(s) of your choosing. Please indicate your preference and return this form with payment. The florist must have our order by Monday, April 7. In honor of By or In memory of By Amount enclosed ECO-PALMS PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT At First Lutheran we will once again be using Eco-Palms on Palm Sunday. These palms have been gathered in a way that allows the plant to keep growing. (In some areas the palms are over-harvested and more than half are discarded because of poor quality). Eco-Palms are processed and packaged by the communities themselves, allowing them to hold onto more of the profits. Additionally, five cents of every Eco-Palm sold for Palm Sunday directly supports projects that provide scholarships for students, pays a teacher s salary, and supports elderly members of the community. Celebrating Justice with Eco-Palms is a program of Lutheran World Relief. They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him shouting, Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! INTRODUCING THE GROUPS OF PEOPLE FORMERLY KNOWN AS COMMITTEES! This year we are going to try and prick our ears and our minds by renaming what we have previously called committees. Their new name will be ACTIVATING TEAMS. As Martin Luther tells us, some words hit our ears with no power or energy. Other words strike our ears and immediately stir us. Committee is a word that seems to have lost its energy and focus. The groups of people who take on the work of the Gospel at First Lutheran are meant to be those who activate (ignite, set into motion, heat up the flame) the power of the Holy Spirit so that God s grace and mercy might take hold of each of us and everyone in the world. These groups of people are not primarily information gatherers who meet to take minutes and make sure that everything is running smoothly. They are there to cause an explosion of God s power in our midst. Thus the new name, ACTIVATING TEAMS. If God has placed a burning in your heart in a particular aspect of what he has called us to do, don t let that fire go to waste.be part of one of First Lutheran Church s ACTIVATING TEAMS!

4 YOUTH NEWS. HOLY SATURDAY, APRIL 19, :00 A.M. All children are invited to come and hunt for Easter eggs at First Lutheran Church. Friend are invited to join you as well. Helpers are also needed at 9:00 a.m. Please call the church office at to register for the hunt. Please indicate if your child has any food restrictions or allergies. EXECUTIVE BOARD will meet on May 4th after church and July 8th at 11:30 at Paneras. In addition to the above, monthly circle meetings continue. Please feel free to attend. Your sister in Christ, Bonnie Bethesda Children s Home 2014 Designated Outreach for the Women of the ELCA WAYS YOU CAN HELP! FREE DAY AT CAMP LUTHERLYN! All ages are invited to join us for a free day at Camp Lutherlyn on Saturday, May 10. All of the fun of camp is offered in one day. Come and find out what camp is really like by trying gaga, the zipline, horseback riding, making crafts, hiking, biking or just taking a camp tour. Our members will travel together from the church parking lot. We will be leaving at 9:30 a.m. and returning at 6 p.m. (If you want to go but cannot carpool, we can get you directions to Lutherlyn.) Contact Pastor Marleen for additional information. YOUTH RETREAT Youth from 6 th grade to 12 th grade are invited to a retreat at Camp Lutherlyn from Friday evening May 16 through Sunday, May 18. We will be experiencing what it means to Be the Body of Christ, while we have a fun time together. It will be a great bonding time with fun challenges including using the camp s low ropes course! Registration is due April 6. Talk to Pastor Marleen for details! Friends are encouraged to join us. continued... Meadville Shelter Collecting Box Tops for Education Financial Donations / Gift Cards Various sizes of men / women underwear Socks S/M/L/XL sweatpants & sweatshirts Board games, playing cards Puzzles, puzzle books Drawing materials Hygiene products (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, body wash) School Programs Basic school supplies Pens, pencils, erasers Rulers, glue sticks, Elmer s glue Highlighters Colored pencils, markers Ruled notebook paper Spiral bound notebooks Composition books Pocket folder 3-ring binders Oversize drawing paper Monthly Birthday Bags Body Wash Deodorant Bath / Shower scrubbies Toothbrushes & toothpaste Word search puzzles Journals Bath & Body Works products Small picture frames (no glass) Small special items Erie Site Warm hats & gloves Supplies for after school programs Art supplies Craft supplies Young Mother Programs Baby formula Diapers & wipes

5 WOMEN OF THE ELCA NEWS... April is here with the promise of Spring and the good news of Easter - let us rejoice! Spring lifts our spirits and moves us to action, perhaps some of the following will move your spirit to action. EASTER BREAKFAST. We will be having our traditional breakfast on Easter Sunday April 20th. There will be notices within this newsletter and in future Sunday bulletins concerning menu and reservations. In order to have our breakfast, volunteers are needed. You will find a sign up sheet located on the bulletin board in the entrance way to the educational building. We have divided the work into 3 one hour sessions. Hopefully that will make it easier for you to volunteer. The sheet will be available until April 13th. Thank you in advance for your help. WE HAVE TWO UPCOMING PROJECTS. The first is our yearly drive for the synodical outreach. This year it is the Bethesda Childrens' Home. Serving children and families since 1919, their vision is to provide superior behavioral health and mental health services to children, youth and families. The type of services include day time education, after school programs, summer programs and residential treatment. Their goal is to fulfill the social, emotional, spiritual, and behavioral needs of their clients. They have locations in both Meadville and Erie, PA. A list of needed items is located on the following page. You may deposit your donations in the box provided. It will be located in the foyer of the educational building beginning April 27th. We will be starting this drive on April 27th and it will conclude at our annual picnic on June 11. Details of the picnic will be forthcoming. MAY 16, 17 - W.E.L.C.A. SYNODICAL CONVENTION. If you are interested in attending as a visitor, please contact me by April 7th. at JUNE 11 - ANNUAL PICNIC. We will meet at Sue Boggs' pavilion; thanks to Sue for again agreeing to host. We will be posting more details soon. OUR SECOND PROJECT FOR THE YEAR will be collecting items for, and the making of Personal Care Kits that will be distributed by Lutheran World Relief. We will begin to collect for this project in June and will culminate in September. All members of the congregation will be invited to attend a "meeting" on September 24th and at this time we will assemble, and package the kits for mailing. Details concerning this will be forthcoming. CAMPERSHIPS FOR CAMP LUTHERLYN The Youth Committee is offering $250 in camperships for every member who plans to attend Camp Lutherlyn this summer. We want to insure that any youth who wants to go to church camp is able to go. This is a great way for young members to grow in their faith. When you register for camp, let the church office know and we will pay $250 toward your registration fee. If you want to go to Lutherlyn but even with the campership the cost is too high, let us know because we want everyone who wants to go to camp to have that opportunity. Talk with Pastor Marleen for more details! WEIRD ANIMALS VBS 2014: JULY God filled the world with a lot of crazy creatures...including you! When kids feel weird, different, or even lost in a crowd nothing compares to the extraordinary love of Jesus. This is the lesson that our youth will learn at Vacation Bible School this summer. Join us from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every day that week to learn more about how amazing Jesus love is! Put the dates on your calendar now. Those who are able to make this year s VBS a success by lending a hand should contact Pastor Marleen. A DAY IN THE SUN This event is sponsored by the Southwestern PA Synod Youth Ministry Committee for kids on the Autism Spectrum or with ADHD. This family day will be on Saturday, May 3, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, McMurray Pa. from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To register, or for more information, contact Pastor Steve Broome at pastorbroome@comcast.net. Or continued...

6 ANNUAL ROADWAY CLEAN-UP SCHEDULED FOR MAY 3rd Come and join us for an outdoor environmental activity. Social Ministry will be sponsoring our annual roadway clean-up of the Union Cemetery/Bothwell Roads. The clean-up will be held on Saturday, May 3rd at 9:00 a.m. We will meet at the Dairy Queen on Rt. 119 North. We ask that you park across from the Dairy Queen in the Lynch Field public lot. Please mark your calendars and plan to participate in this worthwhile intergenerational activity. MEMORIAL GIFTS RECEIVED First Lutheran Church s Memorial Fund has received gifts given in memory of Ruth Bush by the Hochrein Family, Les Fink, and Nancy. Gifts were given in memory of Bill Kraus by Norman and Mary Jenkins, and William and Phyllis Straeffer. Gifts were given in memory of Isabel Hochrein by Les Fink, Nancy, the Dennis Fink family, Linda Pierce, Sam and Nancy McNaughton, Richard and Lois Tyler, Thomas Allshouse, the C. Glenn and Anna J. Fink family, Richard and Annette Zigrossi, Alan and Karen Stambaugh, Lucinda and Robert Radaker, Connie Varischetti, and the First Lutheran Church Choir. We are thankful for these and all gifts. CONGREGATIONAL MEETING ON SUNDAY, MAY 4th A special congregational meeting will be held on Sunday, May 4th at the conclusion of the morning services. The purpose of the meeting is the final ratification of our amended Constitution. The special congregational meeting on March 2nd resulted in a unanimous approval of the amended Constitution. However, the Constitution requires a second special congregational meeting for final approval and as required by the Constitution, it must be approved by at least two thirds majority of voting members before being sent to the Synod for their approval, the final step of a five year journey. THE LUTHERAN IN EVERY HOME THE LUTHERAN, the ELCA church magazine, is provided in every active home of the congregation (if desired) through the Every Home Plan. The magazine is useful in assisting members in their daily walk of faith and provides information to our witness throughout the nation and world. We are in the process of updating our current list. If you would like your name added or removed from our list, please call the church office. This plan provides a reduced rate of $7.95 per subscription. If you wish to help defray the expense to the congregation, use a gold pew envelope and mark your donation as such. Your gifts are much appreciated!

7 APRIL LIBRARY NEWS New in First Lutheran s library this month: Apostle Peter and the Last Supper (DVD) Relive the time Peter spent with Jesus, from the Great Commission to the life-changing Last Supper and the garden of Gethsemane. Set in Rome, AD 67. Two jailers at the ancient Mamertine Prison take custody of a famous criminal. He is Simon Peter of Galilee apostle, disciple, and personal friend of Jesus, also called The Christ. Condemned to death, the elderly Peter recounts his life as a simple fisherman who became one of the boldest figures in all of Christianity. As Peter prepares to depart this earthly life, he will make an unforgettable impression on his jailers through the saving power of the Gospel. For children: The Miracle Maker The Story of Jesus (DVD) The voices of an all-star cast bring an inspiring perspective to the greatest story ever told the life of Jesus Christ. A family is seeking help for their daughter, when they cross paths with an extraordinary carpenter named Jesus who is walking the countryside sharing the wonders of God. The father is loyal to the king but torn by his need for this Miracle Maker s help. Against the crisis of faith, the true meaning of Christ comes to life for all who come to hear his words and experience his love. Easter (DVD) From the Read and Share Bible, this story of Easter is an uninterrupted half-hour presentation of Jesus last week on earth. It is visually inspired by the charming watercolor illustrations of the original story Bible, with 3D animation and fun animals and with rich, detailed scenery. The Last Supper, Crucifixion, and Resurrection (DVD) from the Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible series, the story of Jesus death and resurrection is one of the most dramatic tales in world literature, and for Christians, it is much more, a ringing affirmation of God s love for mankind. The story of His final days has been brought to life through this beautifully animated film. SERVING AT FIRST IN APRIL /6 4/13 4/20 4/27 Drew Erdman Kiley Julian Tyler Knatz Emma Armstrong Nick Silvis ACOLYTES Brandon Armstrong Tyler Knatz Nick Nicassio Molly Krunszyinsky Nick Silvis 4/13: Torchbearers: Nick Nicassio, Lauren Nicassio, Laura Miller, Kiley Julian Crucifers: Jennifer McCanna, Molly Krunszyinsky Bible Bearers: Brandon Armstrong, Tyler Crosby 4/20: Torchbearers: Dane Leone, Jennifer McCanna, Julia Gogol, Jordan Beaken Crucifers: Emma Armstrong, Gabrielle Beaken Bible Bearers: Drew Erdman, Sawyer Rehak Maundy Thursday (7:00 PM): Julia Gogol Good Friday (7:00 PM): Jordan & Gabrielle Beaken Gail Armstrong Bob Errett Dennis Acita Al Danilko Sue Boggs Malcolm Sias LECTORS Lauren Nicassio Wendy Piper AV MINISTRY TEAM Drew Erdman Elise Etelamaki Delivery Dwight Miller Bailey DeTesta Mark Barnhart Alex Byers Liz Rowe Gretchen Jack Cheryl Lucas Betty Kraus Betty Mehan H.M. Flinner ASSISTING MINISTERS Rebecca Brunetta Pat Yost Dianna Marusko William Griffith 8:15 USHERS 10:45 USHERS ALTAR GUILD Dwight Miller-chief Brian Erdman Jeff Barnhart Dan Lucas-chief Amy Beaken Schultz Scott Hahn John Syner Bobbie Laciak - Coordinator Bobbie Laciak Mary Caldwell

8 April 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 6 8:15 W&S 9:30 SCS 10:45 W&S WORKSHOPS SUNDAY 7:00 Youth 7 7:00 Bible Study 1 7:00 Cong Council 8 10:30 Rebekah Circle 6:30 Personnel 2 FOOD/HEART 7:00 Midweek Lenten Observance 9 FOOD/HEART 7:00 Midweek Lenten Observance 3 6:15 Bell Choir 7:00 Choir 10 6:15 Bell Choir 7:00 Choir 7:30 Ruth Circle :00 a.m. Altar Guild Meeting WORKSHOPS SUNDAY APRIL 6 Workshops Sunday is being planned for Sunday, April 6, immediately following the 10:45 a.m. worship service. A light lunch will be served prior to the workshops beginning. Several members will share their gifts and talents by leading the workshops. 13 8:15 W&S 9:30 SCS 10:45 W&S JAVA TABLE 20 8:15 W&S 10:45 W&S 14 10:00 Mary Martha Circle 7:00 Bible Study 15 6:30 Finance 16 FOOD/HEART 7:00 Corporate Confession FOOD/HEART 24 FOOD PANTRY 11:00 W&S 7:00 W&S Stripping of Altar 18 NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 7:00 Evening Worship :00 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt For a list of the workshops being presented and/or to sign up, please see the sheets located on the bulletin board in the education building foyer. 8:45-10 a.m. Easter Breakfast 27 8:15 W&S 9:30 SCS 10:45 W&S 28 6:30 Priscilla Circle 7:00 Bible Study FOOD/HEART 6:00 Property 7:00 Executive