The New Lights in July

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... Larry Kemp DIRECTOR OF MUSIC....Marvin Huls CHURCH TREASURER.... Patti Sias OFFICE MANAGER..... Patricia Pluck OFFICE SECRETARY...Susan Woodcox CUSTODIAN... Jaison Smith CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS Merle Baker Rebecca Brunetta Bob Errett Suzy Flory Jeanne Kiss Dianna Marusko Joan Orr Sue Ross Brandie Saraceni Amy Schultz Kim von Schlichten Megan Zobb WORSHIP WITH US President Vice President Secretary 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 16 The New Lights in July felchurch.org JULY 2018 let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NRSV) Toward the conclusion of the order for Holy Baptism in our worship, I strike a candle and say these words to the one who is baptized. I said them on June 17 and look forward to saying them again on July 15 & 22 completing a string of 3 baptisms in just a few weeks. Those baptisms offer us a number of things. They give us new life in the Church. They remind us of the care we are to offer one another, particularly to the newly baptized. They remind us of the promise that God makes in each of our baptisms. They call us to be light so that others may know whose we are and who we are. As our light shines in July, we will also join our friends at Zion s to offer Vacation Bible School. In doing so, we show common Lutheran witness in the name of Christ in Greensburg. Finally, we have a new point of light this month. Beginning July 11, I will be offering a very simple worship service at 6 pm on Wednesday evening. It will be an abbreviated order without music and should be approximately 30 minutes in length. It will be offered for anyone, but especially for those who are unable to worship during the weekend, for those who may be looking to worship in a quiet setting or even for those who might be on their way home from work and would like to see a part of First s life. As God provides through the month of July, may we let our lights so shine before others to see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven! With You in Christ, Pastor Larry Kemp

2 FINDING GOD IN A PARKING LOT FIRLU HAS HEARD -that as of May 25th our offering receipts are $11,393; last year they were $10,830. -that the Sacrament of Holy Baptism was given to Lily Anna Mains, daughter of Jonathan and Amy Mains. We rejoice in the waters of baptism and God s gift of new birth. -that assistance is greatly needed the third Thursday of the month by 8:00 AM to unload the truck and sort groceries for Food Pantry distribution. One Sunday every month, a small group of Lutherans congregates in the parking lot of the Home Depot in Passaic, N.J., before services start at St. John Lutheran Church. They re not there to buy home supplies they re there to worship. Four years ago when St. John was looking for a way to become more integrated in its community, the congregation came up with the idea of a breakfast ministry. Their first attempt at breakfast after church didn t bring any visitors. Then a member suggested taking food to the Home Depot parking lot, as there were always day laborers who waited there to be picked up for jobs, and they could use a good breakfast. Sure enough, they welcomed us, said Jay Unzaga, the congregation s former pastor. From that Sunday on, St. John hasn t stopped going there in four years and feeds a hot breakfast to about 40 to 50 men every week. Continued 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 August newsletter is Wednesday, July 18th. Please be prompt. You may submit your articles to office@felchurch.org. WEEKLY S: Are you receiving the weekly blasts? If not, please call the office so we can add your name to the list. We will not add anyone to the weekly list unless they specifically request it even if we already have your address. See you at worship, FIRLU 15

3 WELCA SUMMER BIBLE STUDY with other Lutheran Churches at Zions Social Hall will continue Monday, July 16 and Monday, August 20. PRESCHOOL NEWS On May 24th, First Lutheran Preschool had 12 students graduate and receive diplomas and six students received Moving Up certificates. The evening began with an opening prayer from Pastor Larry. Entertainment included the following songs: Home on the Range, Zacchaeus, Jesus Loves Me, Who Built the Ark and Noah s Arky, Arky. The students performed a play, Noah s Ark with Noah and a collection of animals arriving two by two. Our preschoolers memorized lines, sang songs and bravely faced a live audience. Pastor Andy Yaremko (the grandfather of Kaleb, one of our preschoolers) gave a very special Blessing of the Graduates. And Pastor Larry ended the ceremony with a closing prayer. Following the ceremony, punch and cake were enjoyed by all in the Fellowship Hall. A very joyous end to another successful year of preschool! Finding God in a Parking Lot continued: In addition to sharing breakfast, the community worships together once a month. We do a holy service of Word and Sacrament in about 15 minutes right there in the parking lot, Unzaga said. They call the ministry Misión Pan de la Vida (Mission Bread of Life). The worship services are led in Spanish, and Unzaga always invites the men to take part by reading a lesson or helping serve communion. Imagine how hard it is to get a reader out of a parking lot when most of them didn t go past elementary school, he said. But the Holy Spirit always provides and these men do it for the glory of God. Holding worship in a parking lot brings an array of variables that can t be controlled whether it be interruptions when a van approaches to pick up some workers or if store security asks the group to move. To go to a parking lot and claim that as the house of the Lord is powerful and beautiful, especially in the dead of winter, Unzaga said. To share the cup of salvation with our immigrant neighbors in the snow is just a humbling and beautiful sight. To read more stories, visit ELCA.org/SOFIA and download a copy of Stories of Faith in Action. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, West Point. July 13 from 5 9 PM. Games, Dunk Tank, Bouncy House, Food, Face Painting, Fire Truck, Bake Sale. 14 3

4 MEMORIAL GIFT RECEIVED First Lutheran Church s Memorial Fund has received a gift in memory of Vonnie Fleegle by Mary Rosky. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL FIRST LUTHERAN & ZIONS LUTHERAN CHURCHES! Hero Central Discover Your Strength in God July 9-12, :30 8:00 PM At Zions Lutheran Church Do Good! Seek Peace & Go After It! Psalm 34 :14 After a great combined Bible School with our friends in Christ of Zions, we re combining with them again this year. Zions Lutheran will be the location. Also, we are having our VBS in the evening in the hope that people of all ages will be able to take part. Sections for kids and adults! Registration forms will soon be available at both churches. Registrations are helpful, but not necessary. Invite friends! And as usual..there is no cost to participants! Complete the registration on the next page and return to the church office. God s Work, Our Hands Labor Day, September 3, 2018 RSVP & Order Form If you would like to celebrate Labor Day (September 3, 2018) by delivering cookies to emergency responders who are working on the holiday, showing our appreciation for their work and who we are at First, please complete the following and return it to the church office or place it in the offering place. If you are ordering a T-shirt, please include payment with your order. Yes, I can help: bake cookies to be delivered deliver cookies on Labor Day, September 3 I would like to purchase a T-shirt for $7.75 Size: Name: Telephone Number: Address: Deadline for T-shirt Orders: July 23, 2018 Another opportunity to participate in God s Work Our Hands is offered by the Social Ministry Committee which is teaming with Habitat for Humanity on a local project. We are looking for volunteers 16 years of age and older to work on site. There is also an opportunity for others to volunteer at Habitat for Humanity s Thrift Shop. Details to follow. Please leave your name and address at the church office or contact David Cobb. 4 13

5 Labor Day, September 3, 2018 The Evangelism team is making plans to participate in the church wide day of service, God s Work, Our Hands. As noted on the ELCA website: This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God s grace. (ELCA s website) In addition to all we do for our neighbors at First, our plan is to celebrate that day on Labor Day, September 3, 2018 by delivering cookies to emergency responders who are working on the holiday and showing our appreciation for their work. To do this, the team needs your help, and you can do one or all of the following: 1. bake cookies to be delivered and/or 2. plan to join us on Labor Day to help us deliver the cookies We also are going to be ordering gold t-shirts with black lettering that say, God s Work Our Hands on the front and the name of our church with the ELCA logo on the back for you to purchase. If you are planning to purchase a shirt to wear on Labor Day or any other time we are doing work in the name of Christ, we need your order and payment by July 23, Return the order form on the next page to the church office. 12 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL FIRST LUTHERAN AND ZIONS LUTHERAN CHURCHES! REGISTRATION AND EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION Child s Name Male Female Last School Grade Completed Child s Birthdate Parent/Guardian Name Street Address City State Zip Home phone Parent/Guardian cell Parent/Guardian address Primary Emergency Contact: Name Relationship to child Phone number Any known food allergies Any other allergies or medical conditions Any current medications Signed Date 5

6 OUTREACH MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY FOR Members of First Evangelical Lutheran Church Help our friends at St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Versailles feed hungry people across the region and the world Saturday, September 8, 2018 at St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church, North Versailles from 9:30 AM to Noon. Help St. John s and Rise Against Hunger package up over 250 meal packets to be distributed somewhere in the world. RSVP to St. John s Church by August 12, 2018 by calling (412) and ask for Pastor Krug. Serving At First In July /1 7/8 7/15 7/22 7/29 Drew Erdman Mia Saraceni Ailanthus Hanzel Erik Hanzel Bradley Schmidt ACOLYTES Reese Woodley Erika Ament ASSISTING MINISTERS Drew Erdman Alyssa Tomb Haley Tomb Ailanthus Hanzel Erik Hanzel Cade Cavanaugh Erik Hanzel Suzy Flory Dianna Marusko Rebecca Brunetta Pat Yost Jean Miller Amy Schultz Kim Nicassio Suzy Flory LECTORS Kathy McMaster Pat Yost David von Schlichten Carol Baker Sue Boggs Beth Giglio AV MINISTRY TEAM WHO AND WHERE IS MY NEIGHBOR? The Evangelism Team is asking everyone in attendance on Sunday morning to be aware of those sitting nearby. If someone is new, please be sure to welcome him or her by introducing yourself and making an introduction to the pastor, if possible. If someone you know is missing, please take a moment through the week to give him or her a call or send an . Al Danilko Drew Erdman Dwight Miller Lexi Hahn Scott Hahn Helen Marie Flinner Delivery Betty Mohney Liz Rowe Tim Irwin Spencer Irwin Cheryl Lucas 8:15 USHERS 10:00 USHERS ALTAR GUILD Carolyn Hanzel - chief Liz Rowe William Poole Al Danilko - chief Amy Schultz Al Leppold Bob Errett Roberta Laciak - coordinator Ann Copper Evelyn Sager 6 11

7 SUMMER FOOD DRIVE During the summer months, the Social Ministry Activation Team will be collecting nonperishable items for our Emergency Food Cupboard. These items will be used to assist many individuals and families in our community. July is Carb Month. Suggested items are: Pasta / pasta sauce Pouch / Box sides (pasta/rice/potato/stuffing, etc.) Mac & Cheese Crackers (saltines, etc.) August is Canned Food Month. Items especially needed are: Soup Fruit Canned pasta (spaghettios, etc.) A box is located in the education building foyer for your donations. Please check the expiration dates before donating, as we cannot distribute expired items in the Emergency Food bags. Thank you! 10 NEW WORSHIP OPPORTUNITY AT FIRST IN JULY! Starting July 11, we will be offering a very simple worship service at 6 pm on Wednesday evenings on a trial basis. The service will be an abbreviated Sunday morning worship service with Holy Communion and no music. It is not intended to replace either of the Sunday worship services and is offered either as an additional worship opportunity for those who may not be able to worship with us on Sunday or those who might like an additional opportunity to worship through the middle of the week. THRIVENT FINANCIAL ACTION SCHOOL SUPPLIES & BACKPACK DRIVE July 1 August 5 In family emergencies, Westmoreland County Children s Bureau is contacted to make arrangements for children from birth to 21 years of age. Often times these children are removed from their homes with only the clothes on their backs and little if any personal belongings, such as school supplies. In 2017, there were 348 children in foster care in Westmoreland, an increase of 174% above the normal number of 200. One way you can help these children in need is to donate school supplies and backpacks. Collection boxes for the school supplies and backpacks will be located in the education building foyer, the narthex at the back of the church and the fellowship hall. 7

8 July 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 8:15 Worship OFFICE CLOSED 8 8:15 Worship FOOD/HEART CD DELIVERY 15 8:15 Worship 22 8:15 Worship 29 8:15 Worship 6:30 Zion s 16 7:00 WELCA Bible Zion s 6:00 Personnel 6:30 Zion s 17 6:30 Finance 7:00 Ch. Ed/Youth 6:00 Worship 6:30 Zion s 18 FOOD/HEART NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 6:00 Worship FOOD/HEART NEWSLETTER- FOLDING 6:00 Worship 6:30 Property 6:30 Zion s 19 FOOD PANTRY 7:00 Evangelism We are looking for individuals to deliver the CD s from Sunday worship to some of our shut-ins. This w o u l d b e approximately once per month. If you are interested in this ministry, please call the church office or use the backside of the prayer request card and place it in the offering plate. 6:00 Executive 8 9