Volume 27, No. 11 December, Pressing On Toward the Goal! Renovation Update By Pastor Lohr

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1 Envoy Volume 27, No. 11 December, 2016 Palmyra Church of the Brethren Pressing On Toward the Goal! Renovation Update By Pastor Lohr In the third chapter of Philippians Paul uses the imagery of a runner nearing the end of a race to describe his persistence and goal as a disciple of Christ. He writes:... this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. We can see the runner refusing to look to the right or the left or over the shoulder to check out the competitions, but instead focused, straining and leaning toward the finish line. Of course Paul is not talking about a building renovation project, but perhaps the renovation of his own life or of the world in which he lives. Maybe, however, there are connections. A church building is a tool that we use to for such higher purposes. So we invest, we build, we maintain, we repair and we renovate as needed. The construction part of Phase One is nearing the end. Imagine the contractors and volunteers all beginning to lean toward the finish line. Maybe by Christmas! We ll see. But even then, we ve got some cleaning, unpacking, set up and restocking to do. Stay alert for opportunities to help. We will soon be announcing plans for a dedicatory meal event that utilizes our new kitchen and remodeled fellowship hall. Stay tuned for those details as well. And, although the construction part of Stage One is nearing the end, we will still have the construction loan to pay down. The passionate runner nears the finish line not only leaning into the race they are in, but anticipating the next race too. Phase Two, when we get there focuses on and around our worship space. But again, these projects, and the building they concern, are just tools being used as we seek to faithfully lean into the upward call of God, through Christ, in our life and work together.

2 2 1st Sunday in Advent November 27 Christmas Eve Service Saturday, December 24 Traditional Candle Lighting Service 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary Christmas Day Sunday, December 25 9:00 a.m. Worship only! New Year s Day Sunday, January 1 Normal morning schedule Bread & Cup Communion Gifts in a Jar on sale for the Holidays! Thanks to everyone who donated canning jars & ingredients! All items will be available at the Christmas Open House on December 3rd and then during Fellowship 30 while supplies last. Proceeds go towards the youth fund.

3 3 Christmas Handbell Concert Come and delight in the sounds of the holidays as we welcome Eileen Smith on handbells accompanied by Evelyn Werner on piano. Sunday, December 18, 3:00 p.m. A good will offering will be collected to benefit PCOB s Capital Campaign Share Christmas Greetings With These Folks! Take a few minutes to join in this annual Christmas tradition by adding these names to your greeting card list. We ve included the names of folks who are homebound, who ve lost close loved ones during the last few years, and others coping with particular challenges. Please check the church directory for addresses. Don t be limited by the list though you probably know other folks who could use some extra holiday encouragement! Don & Dolores Bashore Leonard & Gloria Bashore Ray Bashore Fern Beam David & Kathleen Bradley Sarah Brandt Dorothy Brubaker Pauline Bucher Inez Cline Mary Conkle Adam & Kay Diebus Paul & Evelyn Dietz Lennie DiMatteo Helen Eckroth Mary Fackler Ruth Fair Jay & Evelyn Frantz Carl & Sue Garber Walt & Alice Ruth Gingrich Dick Groff Arlene Hartman Nancy Hartman John & Alma Heisey Ruth Ann Heisey Ray Hoke Erma Hott Martha Hunsicker Al Kaylor Jeanne Kelly Carl Kreider David & Carol Kulp Ellen Lebo Juanita Light Bill Longenecker Shirley Martin John & Mataline Nauman Miriam Runkle Ruth Smith Leroy Snoke Jean Steiner Tom Storm Mary Jane Walborn Ralph & Mary Weaver Craig & Linda Williams Margaret Wise

4 4 Jeff Clouser Publishes Article The recent issue of ChorTeach contains an article entitled Global Music in Worship written by our own Music Director, Jeff Clouser. ChorTeach is a periodical published by the American Choral Directors Association with which to share music ideas and techniques with choral directors nationally and internationally. Palmyra Church of the Brethren is very pleased to have Jeff honored by the academic music community in this way. As a congregation we have already been blessed to experience some of the fruits of these ideas and techniques in our own worship setting. On October 23, for example, we sang from our hymnal a Ghanian melody originally from the songbook Ghana Praise accompanied by African drums. We congratulate Jeff for this honor! District Conference Wrap-Up The forty-seventh Atlantic Northeast District Conference of the Church of the Brethren was held at Elizabethtown College, Leffler Chapel and Performance Center, on October 8. Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus was the theme. Moderator was Dennis Garrison, Pastor of the Hershey Spring Creek congregation. West Green Tree CoB served as host for this year s conference. A total of 183 delegates attended, representing 64 out of 76 congregations. Conference this year was one full day: Bible Study by Ronald Good, Gathering Music by Hershey Spring Creek Worship Team. Worship & Roll Call of Congregations and Fellowships. Followed by reports from District Board and related ministries. Recognition of Craig Smith s 19 years of service to the District. A Minister s Recognition Luncheon, hosted by the District Ministry Commission, was held at the KAV, Brossman Center. Four fifty-year Ministers, Jack Breidenstine, Hershey Spring Creek; Paul Heisey, Heidelberg; Ernest Reisinger, Chiques; and Paul Steiner, Elizabethtown were recognized, as well as newly ordained, licensed, placed ministers, interims and ACTS Graduates. Saturday afternoon service of worship and praise was attended by 316. Light of the Gospel and Hershey Spring Creek praise team opened the service. Keynote speaker Dr. Jeff Carter, President of Bethany Theological Seminary, presented an uplifting message on Looking Into the Curve. An offering of $2,553 was also given to the ANE Disaster Benevolence Fund. Saturday s business included the following: Approved a budget for 2017 of $628,633. Approved the following slate: Moderator-Elect Misty Wintsch; Program & Arrangements Donna Parcell; Gifts Discernment Mary Haldeman, Tina Kulp, Ed Liskey, Barb McNally; Standing Committee Mark Baliles; Alternate Standing Committee James Myer; District Board Vice Chair Robert Pickering; Church Development & Evangelism Margie Sebastiani; Ministry Karen Hackett, Joel Peña; Nurture & Christian Education Ryan Arndt; Stewardship Paul Pintarch; Witness & Outreach Tonie Roman, Matt Christ; Camp Swatara Jennifer Balmer, Jonathan Brenneman, Mike Myers; COBYS Eric Landram, Scott Moyer. Learned from the ANE District Displays Consecrated Glenn Martin, from the New Beginnings congregation, as the 2017 Moderator. Conference, next year, will be October 7, 2017 at Elizabethtown College.

5 5 The Caring Church - From Infancy to Primetime By Pastor Bill Cave In this month s article, I am turning my attention to the topic of building healthy families, families that are alive with Spirit. There is considerable evidence to support the notion that the quality of family life has a profound impact upon an individual s emotional and spiritual well-being, as well as upon the collective well-being of society. Unfortunately, our present 21 st century culture tends to not encourage nor promote the building of healthy families due in large part to the pervasive spirit of individualism which promotes advancing our separate lives and agendas. This happens at the expense of the collective well-being of our families, resulting in much emotional, psychological, and spiritual pain. Such pain leads to a sense of disconnectedness between all members of the family system. What follows is a listing of qualities which help define and shape healthy families, thus enabling them to be alive with Spirit. A suggestion accompanies each quality listed which is intended to serve as a springboard for further reflection. Healthy families show appreciation and affection. Suggestion: Practice saying thank you, please, and I enjoyed your (fill in the blank) on a daily basis. Healthy families build memories. Suggestion: Create times for celebrating birthdays and other important occasions. Consider using that time to talk about family heritage and history and to tell stories. Healthy families make time for each other. Suggestion: Identify household chores that could be completed more quickly with a team effort rather than being the responsibility of just one person. Upon completion of those chores, celebrate together the time saved. Healthy families share beliefs and values. Suggestion: Have each family member talk about an important value. Healthy families talk it over. Suggestion: Focus on listening and the unspoken language, and providing feedback in order to promote compassion, understanding, and harmony. Healthy families keep promises. Suggestion: Share ideas on the meaning of commitment. Reward in special ways promises that are kept. Families that are alive with Spirit can be likened to a deeply rooted tree with branches of different strengths all receiving nourishment from an infinite source. God is that infinite source whose great love grows healthy families, families that are clothed in harmony, compassion, kindness, and quiet strength. As a caring congregation, Palmyra COB is creating an environment wherein God s desire for healthy families can flourish, from infancy to primetime. ORDER YOUR COPY NOW! Bountiful Harvest Check out this collection of recipes compiled by the young adults of PCOB and many other helping hands. This edition features recipes from past church cookbooks as well as some new ones we know you ll love! Cover art is by Sarandon Smith. All proceeds will go towards Young Adult Ministries. Cookbooks are $15 each and are the perfect stocking stuffer! Fill out the order form below and give to Rachel Witkovsky or to any young adult. Please reserve copies of Bountiful Harvest for: Name: Phone:

6 6 Congregational Updates! Health concerns for: Marti Grubb, Miriam Runkle, Sue Garber, Don Kensinger, Russ Collins, John Heisey, Grace Warner, David Kulp, Bob Rhine, Gini Hallacher and Ray Bashore. Sympathy to: Robin & Greg Hartman on the death of Robin s sister, Colleen Miller. Family of Robert Martin Sr., who passed away on November 3. Family of Florence Light, who passed away on November 6. Congratulations! Erin Smith & Aaron Wachter were married on Saturday, October 15. By Jeff Clouser, Director of Music Advent, a time of expectation and anticipation for the coming of the Light of Christmas. The choral, bell, instrumental and praise team programs are graciously preparing to welcome this light into the world. We look forward to sharing the journey of Advent with you as we await the arrival of baby Jesus. Please be sure to join the PCoB Musicians in worship on December 18th for Christmas Music Sunday and then again on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Merry Christmas! Recruiting bell ringers for Christmas Day. No experience required. Easy ringing on a C scale as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and sing Joy To The World. Please see Eileen Smith if interested in participating in this exciting Christmas musical experience. Reminder that there is no music rehearsal the week between Christmas and New Year. Normal rehearsals will resume the week of January 2nd. The Men's Vocal Ensemble will sing on January 29th with rehearsals on January 11, 18 and 25 at 6:15pm in the choir room. We are recruiting vocalists from teens to adults for the praise team and for Chancel Choir. Praise Team is in search of a percussionist with experience using a drum set. Must be available for weekly Thursday night rehearsals and Sunday worship. Looking forward to Eileen Smith and Evelyn Werner performing their solo bell concert on Sunday, December 18th. Thank you for your musical ministry benefiting PCoB's Capital Campaign. Thank you to Maggie Wilson Granzow for her service to the bell program this season. It was a delight to have you share your talents with us. Thank you to Nancy Farber Kent for preparing last month's Children's Choir. For more information about the Music Ministry at PCoB, please pick up one of our Music Ministry brochures located outside the choir room at the bulletin board or visit the music page of the church website.

7 7 Health Ministry News By Teresa Keller, Parish Nurse I just can t believe that the year will soon be over so many changes especially that of the renovation of our church and how wonderful is that? Now I m writing about yawns this month the next time you're in a meeting, try this little experiment: Take a big yawn, cover your mouth out of courtesy, and watch to see how many people follow suit. There's a good chance you'll set off a chain reaction of yawns. So what's behind this mysterious epidemic of yawning? Yawning is an involuntary action that causes us to open our mouths wide and breathe in deeply. We know it's involuntary because we do it even before we're born. And while yawning is commonly associated with relaxation and drowsiness, your heart rate can rise as much as 30 percent during a yawn. Here are four popular theories that possibly explain why we yawn: The physiological theory: Our bodies cause us to yawn to draw in more oxygen or remove a buildup of carbon dioxide. This theory could explain why we yawn in groups. Larger groups produce more carbon dioxide, which means our bodies need to draw in more oxygen and get rid of the excess carbon dioxide. However, if our bodies make us yawn to draw in needed oxygen, wouldn't we yawn during exercise? This theory has been disproved in studies. The evolution theory: Some think that yawning began with our ancestors, who used yawning to show their teeth and intimidate others. I hope that s not why we do it now. The boredom theory: Although we do tend to yawn when bored or tired, this theory doesn't explain why Olympic athletes yawn right before they compete in their event, or why dogs tend to yawn just before they attack. It's doubtful either is bored! The brain-cooling theory: A more recent theory proposed by researchers is that since people yawn more in situations where their brains are likely to be warmer - tested by having some subjects breathe through their noses or press hot or cold packs to their foreheads - it's a way to cool down their brains. What does it matter if our brains are cold or hot? Studies have shown cool brains can think more clearly, so yawning might have developed to keep us alert. So now that we have some reasons why we do it, why does seeing someone else yawn make us yawn, too? Interestingly, while all vertebrates (including fish) yawn, only humans, chimps and possibly dogs find yawns contagious. And people don't find them contagious until they're about 4 years old. Recent studies show contagious yawning may be linked to one's capacity for empathy but no one has yet to find the actual cause of the contagion of a yawn! So now that you ve read this article, how many times have you yawned? I hope not too many! :o) Worship Service Cancellation In the event of inclement weather, please check the following media for notifications: 1. Church s website: at the bottom of the home page, look under Announcements. 2. WLBR, 1270 AM 3. WHP CBS 21 - continuous updates on the TV screen or on their website, and click on "Stormwatch" Tab.

8 8 Coming in 2017!!!! The Education Team has given its blessing to proceed with an educational initiative that was discussed during its October 11 meeting. It is in keeping with the congregation s desire to offer more options for adult education and faith formation that are different from simply adding additional Sunday morning study classes. The idea for this initiative was generated initially during previous conversations I had with Eileen Smith. Some years ago, there was a book club here at Palmyra COB which of course entailed interested persons reading a selected book and then gathering on a regular basis for discussion until the book was completed. The idea presented to the Education Team, however, departs from that model in that emphasis will be placed upon the creating of intentional conversation in response to interested persons having read a book that was mutually agreed upon and then committing to a one-time gathering at a later time for discussion, reflection, and learning. This format will create opportunity to move more quickly to the reading of a new book and a corresponding discussion/reflection gathering. Persons can thus choose to read whichever new selected book captures their interest and to participate in the respective discussion gathering as their schedule permits. There is no joining of a club as in a more conventional format. Pastor Dennis has encouraged the Education Team to promote this learning opportunity to the larger/surrounding community with Palmyra COB continuing to be the sponsoring body for purposes of coordination, location and hospitality. Opportunity will be provided on Sunday, December 18, during fellowship 30, for those persons interested in this new educational initiative to submit their names which, by the way, has been given the name, Page Turners. Keep watching and anticipating! come in the area of music ministry which has been reviewed by the Worship Team and given its blessing. Palmyra COB has a number of its good folk residing in long term care facilities and/or are homebound due to chronic medical conditions. We also have a number of gifted musicians, both vocal and instrumental. This ministry, which has been given the name, Musicians on Wheels, will involve arranging for these folks to visit individually or collectively in some cases with our institutionalized/home bound folks of their choosing, as their schedules permit. This will provide a wonderful opportunity to broaden our caring outreach, using the special medium of music that is faith based. It also represents an opportunity for those musicians who cannot commit to our regular musical groups to share their talents with folks who cannot be with us for Sunday worship but who still love to hear the variety of musical offerings that we are so blessed to enjoy every Sunday morning during worship. Keep watching and anticipating. Thanks for your interest in and support of these exciting initiatives that await us in Your partner in the caring ministries of Palmyra COB, Pastor Bill. Thank you for the prayers and cards of healing during my knee replacement. Grace Warner Thanks to our church family for the prayers, cards and the love you have shared with us. Ralph & Mary Weaver Another new initiative on the horizon for 2017 will

9 directory! Persons who haven t already contacted the church office are reminded to call Gail Wagner at or her at gwager@palmyracob.org with any address, telephone, or changes during Forms will be placed in all teams and Sunday school classes mail slots to be completed with their new organizational information no later than January 15. Date Serving In December Ushers/ Greeters Flowers Child Care Thank you! 12/4 Roy & Jean Summers Brenda Heisey Samantha Auer The Worship Team would like to thank those of you who assisted with our Clean the Choir Gowns project. Your support was much appreciated as about half of our Chancel Choir gowns have now been laundered. If you have no idea what this refers to, but would be willing to assist with working on the rest of the gowns, please contact Bonnie Rhoads , rhoads.mb@verizon.net 12/11 12/18 Cindy Groff Lorrie Long Elvin Hitz Mike Collins 12/25 No Flowers Cindy Groff Donna Fawber Via Deb Blouch Cindy Albaugh Betty Smith Shirley Spahr This year, The Caring Cupboard will be collecting personal care items to help our families during the holidays. For groups, families, and individuals who wish to adopt families for this holiday season, we can help you get pointed in the right direction. The Salvation Army in Lebanon has adopted some Palmyra families and the Palmyra School District is aiding as well. For more information, Shila at shila@caringcupboard.org or call The Caring Cupboard at Klick-Lewis will be hosting Santa's Workshop this year! This is an opportunity for children to shop for their parents and grandparents. We are seeking donations of gifts for the kids to choose from, as well as cookies, tins for cookies, scotch tape, and bows. Items may be dropped off at Klick-Lewis or The Caring Cupboard. The Caring Cupboard has a reverse advent calendar that we have put out this year to be a guide for items that we are collecting. We'd like to distribute one of the boxes to every family who shops with us. Advent calendars often include a small tchotchke or candy for a child or person revealing each day of December leading up to Christmas. This is a way for you to be the giver instead of the receiver.

10 Trunk or Treat & Barn Party

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