Come Celebrate Bethany s Ordination! Sunday, February 10

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1 Envoy Volume 30, No. 1 January 2019 Palmyra Church of the Brethren Come Celebrate Bethany s Ordination! Sunday, February 10 We first met Bethany Clark (now Hoffer) in June of 2009 when she became our Ministry Summer Service Intern. She was a Junior at Manchester College (now University), majoring in Religion. She had been encouraged by her pastor, Pete Kontra, her youth pastor, Jon Keller, and her home congregation, Oakton (OH), to apply for a summer ministry internship. She wanted to explore Youth Ministry, so she was placed with our congregation. We invited Bethany back for a second summer in Anticipating her graduation from Manchester in the Spring of 2011, we offered Bethany a half time position as our Director of Youth Ministries, along with our financial support for her enrollment as a half time student with Bethany Theological Seminary. Bethany accepted our offer, joined our staff, applied for licensing, and began seminary, taking most of her courses via online class connections. Then she settled in. Bethany worked, studied, balanced, contributed, blessed, grew and accomplished. She also fell in love and got married along the way (Thanks Andy! and baby Victor makes three!) She graduated from seminary in May of 2017 with a Master of Divinity degree. Over the past few months she has been reviewed and approved for ordination by our district Ministry Commission and Board, and a few Sundays ago received the unanimous vote of our congregation for ordination. On Sunday, February 10, 2019, during our Sunday morning worship service, which begins at 9:00 a.m., we get to ordain Bethany Hoffer! What does that mean? Ordination in the Church of the Brethren is not a solitary decision or act. It can t be done by filling out an application and paying a fee to an online ordination mill. It requires the naming of gifts and a call to ministry by others. It requires deep and prayerful discernment with others. It requires exhausting study and the successful completion of demanding assignments. It requires a deep love for God that goes beyond the rewards of ego and personal satisfaction. It requires and openness to God s spirit and a love for God s people that brings blessing to all. All these things, but none of them possible alone. It requires the love, support, encouragement, companionship, wisdom, joy, grace and gratefulness of the congregations that call and are served by the ordained pastor. Bethany journey is our journey too. Bethany s call to ministry is an expression of our own calls to ministry. Bethany s ordination is a celebration of God s work in her home church, in our church, and throughout our denomination and the larger church - all who have had a part in her call and nurture, and are blessed by her ministry. Come, join us, as we lift, bless, consecrate, ordain and celebrate! February 10, 2019, 9:00 a.m.

2 2 Bread & Cup Communion... January 6 Installation of 2018 Teams... January 13 Annual Hearts Party... February 9 All Church Appreciation... February 17 Friday, January 18 6:30 p.m. In The Youth Room Free Admission!

3 3 Make of Note of It By Jeff Clouser, Director of Music Ministries I would like to pass along my appreciation and gratitude to all the PCoB musicians, guest musicians, AMP Team, worship planners, teams, and participants who helped us Wait In Hope, Prepare For Peace, Witness in Love, Welcome With Joy, and Rejoice In Christ in this Christmas season. May the Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy of Christmas be with you now and all through the year. Reminder that there are no musical ensemble rehearsals the week between Christmas and New Year. Canticle Bells will resume rehearsal on Wednesday, January 2nd at 7:15 p.m. Chancel Choir will resume rehearsal on Thursday, January 3rd at 6:00 p.m. (special time this week only). Praise Team will resume rehearsal on Thursday, January 10th. We are recruiting vocalists, especially tenors, from teens to adults for Chancel Choir, Men's Ensemble and Women's Ensemble. A Film-Tastic Fundraiser During the months of January and February the youth will be distributing empty film canisters (35 mm) on Sunday mornings to anyone willing to help out the youth fund. If you take one, all you need to do is fill it with quarters and return it. This is a great way to empty out your purse of all the change! Baskets of empty canisters will be placed at the entrances of the sanctuary. Baskets for returning filled canisters will be on the table in the Welcome Center. This is a simple and easy way to contribute to the ministry of the youth in this congregation. If you wish to receive credit for your offering, please include your name or offering envelope number on the canister. Thank you We want to thank all of you for your phone calls, cards, prayers, and concern shown Steve Scriniere during his recent illness. Sincerely, Carl & Nancy Scriniere. 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. Canticle Bells is recruiting bass bell ringers and substitute ringers for all positions. Opportunities to be in Community: Sunday, January 6th, 3:00 p.m. - Palmyra Community Band Epiphany Concert Wednesday, February 27th, 7:00 p.m. - PCoB Musical Concert at Londonderry Village Sunday, April 14th, 7:00 p.m. - Taizé Service Thursday, April 18th, 7:00 p.m. - Love Feast Sunday, April 21st - Easter Sunday, May 19th - Music Appreciation Sunday during 9:00 a.m. worship. Sunday, May 19th, 3:00 p.m. - Lancaster Brass Quintet in Concert Annual membership drive that helps to purchase healthcare equipment for residents in nursing care is this month. Annual membership is by donation. Lifetime membership is $100. Make checks payable to Londonderry Village Auxiliary and give to Carolyn or Jay Buffenmyer by the end of January. Evening Program: The Ridgeway Brass, Sunday, January 20, 7:00 p.m., DiMatteo Worship Center.

4 offering envelopes will be distributed to mail slots. Please contact Carol or John Grace, if you would like envelopes or to adjust the number of envelopes you received year end team reports need to be to the office by January 15th. Please keep your reports brief. The 2019 flower chart is on the bulletin board at the office entrance to sign up for the date you wish to donate flowers Church Directory will be published the last week in January and will be distributed to mail boxes. Names of 2019 team officers and appointments need to be to the office by January 15. Serving In January January 6 January 13 January 20 January 27 Head Usher John Rhine John Rhine John Rhine John Rhine Offering Usher Robert Rhine Robert Rhine Robert Rhine Robert Rhine Greeter Dino & Lori Faiola Dino & Lori Faiola Dino & Lori Faiola Dino & Lori Faiola Flowers Nancy Bucher NA Dave & Deb Lohrer NA Worship Nursery Lori Faiola Michele Gottshall Shila & Derek Ulrich Michele Gottshall Samantha Auer Elaine Hoffer Sharon Smith Worship Childcare Brenda Heisey Samantha Auer Lori Walmer Donna Fawber Via Jeanie Small Sherri Baiocchi Betty Smith Shirley Spahr Sunday School Nursery Melanie Hartman Jeanine Houff Cindy Bortner Cindy Weatherholtz Michele Gottshall Andy Hoffer Shila & Derek Ulrich

5 5 Congregational Updates! Contact Changes will be printed in the 2019 Directory that will be published the last week of January. Please extend sympathy to Ginny Hallacher on the death of her husband, Duke Hallacher on December 8. Please pray for the health concerns for the following persons: Betty Brandt, Sam Brandt, Sarah Brandt, Paul Dietz, Judy Jurell, Shirley Martin, and Art Zellers. Worship Service Cancellation Check the following media for notifications: 1. Website: - bottom of the home page, under Announcements. 2. WLBR, 1270 AM 3. WHP CBS 21 - continuous updates 4. Our Facebook page 5. Church Behind the Drama: The Old Testament You Missed Our reading of the Old Testament is colored by dramatic texts in which God acts in extraordinary ways, calling and saving God's people through fire and flood. But too often we focus on these familiar stories alone and ignore the seemingly unimportant parts, or avoid altogether the hard parts we don't understand. Join the LIFE class as we explore a few of these scriptures--some overlooked, some troubling--and look for how God works in and through everyday situations and conflicts to bring hope and faith to ordinary lives. We'll be challenged to consider our own journeys too, and to see God at work amid the possibilities and problems of daily life in our world today. Learn along with us! This 10-week study begins January 6. We hope to see you Sundays at 10:30 in the parlor. The Welcome Center gets an added feature! A Keurig hot beverage dispenser was generously donated to the church. The Welcome Center is now home to the beverage station which includes coffee, tea and hot chocolate. It will be available throughout the week but not on Sundays as Fellowship 30 will be available for refreshments. Yoga with Emily Kimak is starting back up on Thursdays in January and February, in the Fellowship Hall. Chair yoga - 5:45-7:00 p.m. and Yoga Foundations - 7:15-8:30 p.m. $20 /$15-1 st month for new students - pay by the month! Register by contacting Sharon Smith, smsdrs440@msn.com or Little Explorers Early Learning Classes begin soon. FREE Preschool (ages 3 5) classes with stories, activities, crafts, lunch; Wednesdays, January 30 - March 20 from 10:30 a.m. 12 noon; in our children s Multi-Purpose Room. Call the library, or missamy@lclibs.org for more information.

6 6 Library News Now that the temperatures are dropping, you might find yourself staying in more. And if you are, you might want to find some new reading material to occupy your time. We can help you with that in two ways. 1. Visit the Welcome Center in January. There you'll find a display of books which are not part of the library collection. You are invited to help yourself to any titles you'd like to keep. And if you feel like making a small financial donation, we wouldn't refuse! 2. Visit our Library across the hall from the Fellowship Hall for these titles that have recently been added to our library collection. Nonfiction: The cost of Following Jesus: Devotions for Ash Wednesday Through Easter by J.D. Glick Rebels and God by Scott Libby Just Hospitality: God s Welcome in a World of Difference by Letty Russell Atlas of the Bible by John Rogerson The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren 31 Degrees of Blessings by Patricia King Grateful by Diana Butler Bass (recommended read from Annual Conference) Seven Secrets to Power Prayer by Jane Glenchur The Second Coming of Jesus by Oliver Greene Celebrations of the Heart by Helen Steiner Rice (for lovers of poetry) Loving Promises Especially for You by Helen Steiner Rice (for lovers of poetry) Inglenook Desserts from Brethren Press (includes insights from Sandi Smith & Karen Haldeman), gift of Sandi Smith On the Journey: Meditations and Reflections by Fellow Travelers from the Kairos Community - from Kairos School of Spiritual Formation (includes writings by Karen Haldeman), gift of Karen Haldeman God in Between by Sandy E. Sasso, gift to the children of the church by Tom & Sandi Smith s family Fiction: The Four-Volume Sensible Shoes Series by Sharon G. Brown, (the following review is by Karen Haldeman) What do a 40-year-old pastor on forced sabbatical, a young overachieving graduate school student, a stay-at-home mother of teenagers in an abusive marriage and a widow haunted by her past have in common? Not much, it would seem. But as these four women are drawn together during a spiritual formation retreat, Hannah, Charissa, Mara and Meg begin to form close friendships. Join the Sensible Shoes Club as they are challenged to deepen their trust in God and as they encourage each other amid broken relationships, unexpected medical diagnosis, unfulfilled dreams, a rekindled romance, and shifting expectations. Along the way, use the author s suggested meditations and spiritual practices to explore your own journey of faith.

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10 Palmyra Church of the Brethren Continuing the work of Jesus. Peacefully Simply Together North Chestnut Street, Palmyra, PA Office: STAFF Lead Pastor Dennis M. Lohr Coordinator of Congregational Care Bill Cave Director of Young Adults Ministries Rachel Witkovsky Director of Youth Ministries Bethany Hoffer Director of Children Ministries Missy Thompson Director of Music Ministries Jeff Clouser Office Administrator Gail Wagner The mission of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren is to invite, welcome, nurture, disciple, equip, empower and inspire all persons to live and to serve in the way of Jesus. Envoy is the official publication of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren. It is published 11 times a year. Deadline for the February s Envoy is January 11, articles to: envoy@palmyracob.org Please include the month the article is to be published.