Envoy. Palmyra Church of the Brethren. Volume 25, No. 3 March Ash Wednesday... March 5. 1 st Sunday in Lent... March 9. Egg Hunt...

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1 Envoy Palmyra Church of the Brethren Volume 25, No. 3 March 2014 Ash Wednesday... March 5 1 st Sunday in Lent... March 9 Egg Hunt... April 5 Palm Sunday... April 13 Love Feast... April 17 Good Friday... April 18 Easter... April 29 ON ICE Now that spring is soon here, let s take some time to reflect on wintertime caring opportunities! As I write, many folks still feel the effects of the ice storm of February 5. Some face days without electricity in this freezing weather. Others look toward weeks of cleaning up broken trees and fallen branches. In our last Congregational Support Team meeting, we discussed the condition of the church parking lot after winter storms. Sadly, due to the shade, the main lot holds its snow and ice cover longer than most places. The uneven surface limits the effectiveness of snow plowing. Folks who require access to the elevator face a treacherous walk. It sounds to me like we have some great opportunities to help each other survive the wintry conditions, both in our neighborhoods and at church! Those of us with strong bodies can move snow and ice from cars and sidewalks. Those who cook can offer hot soup. Those with generators can share the power and open our homes. Those who have working four-wheel-drive vehicles can share rides. Put on your nice warm thinking cap and lend a hand!... Audrey Finkbiner, Coordinator of Congregational Care Reminder! Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 9 at 2:00 a.m. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday evening! See everyone wide eyed on Sunday morning!

2 2 One Great Hour of Sharing During the Christmas season, instead of giving traditional gifts, we were challenged to donate to Church World Service's Typhoon Haiyan relief. This March 16, we will have another opportunity to support Church World Service's work in the Philippines and around the world as we team up with seven other denominations in the annual One Great Hour Of Sharing offering. Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines and Vietnam last November, flattening cities and causing 6,200 casualties. According to the United Nations, 13.2 million people were affected and 4.33 million people were displaced. Additionally, Brethren Disaster Ministries Associate Director Roy Winter estimates that it could be years until many fishers and farmers in the region will be able to return to their livelihood. In response, Church World Service (which includes Brethren Disaster Ministries as a partner) hopes to raise $750,000 to assist in rebuilding these communities. While that number may seem large according to our checkbooks, when churches have come together on this offering, over 20 million dollars has been raised in years past. Help us to show once again what can be accomplished when we work together this March. For more information on Haiyan and other Brethren disaster relief work in South Sudan and Honduras go to March Team and Staff Reports There won't be a Congregational Council meeting this winter year end team & staff reports will be delivered to the mail slots and available outside the church office Directories Are Out Please pick up your copy in your mail slot. There are additional copies available outside the church office for those who don t have mail slots or for delivery to shut-ins. A box for old directories is outside the church office so we can recycle the binders. Please the church office if you would like a digital copy. Table Talk with Dennis Mark your calendar for breakfast and conversation with Dennis Lohr on Thursday, March 27, from 7:30-9:00 a.m. at Hometown Restaurant. Register by calling the church office or on our website on the homep age under announcements.

3 3 Thank You Thank you to our church family for your prayers, cards, visits and calls of encouragement during Paul's health issue. Sincerely, Paul & Ruth Bucher To my very precious friends at the Palmyra Church of the Brethren. Thank you for the love and support during these days of recuperation after my eye surgery. Your cards, prayers and phone calls have meant so much to me during this difficult time. Thank You! Thank You! I can t wait to be seated in the pews with you! Lennie DiMatteo March Health Ministry Article So, what do garden gnomes, daffodils, warmer weather, buds on the trees and kids sneaking outdoors without wearing coats have in common? You guessed it they are signs of spring! Add to the mix, a sore throat, runny nose, frequent sneezing and/or coughing, and you know your child (who snuck outside without a coat?) has a cold. Or is it? Could it be seasonal allergies starting early? How do you know the difference? Does your child have a fever? Fever is never a symptom of allergies. A runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, and coughing are common symptoms of both but colds usually are accompanied by general body aches, too. Is your child coughing up phlegm that is cloudy/yellow/greenish? Most likely he/she has a cold or sinus infection. The phlegm of allergies is clear. How long do your child s symptoms last? If the answer is a week to 10 days, it s probably a cold. Allergy reactions usually occur as long as the child is exposed to the allergen. Once away from it, the symptoms disappear. Does your child have dark circles under his eyes? Kids with itchy, watery eyes from allergy reactions rub them continuously and then develop what s known as an allergic shiner dark circles under the eyes. How quickly did the symptoms come on? Cold symptoms usually develop over the course of a few days; allergies come on relatively fast. Cold season typically hits its peak mid-winter (for us that s around January or February); allergies are more common in spring, summer, and fall (but don t forget those daffodils might be coming out!). Allergies are estimated to bother more than 50 million people in the US, so if you suspect your child may have allergies, or has cold-like symptoms that don t want to go away, consult with his physician. And, as always, consult your child s physician before symptomatic treatment with any medications including those sold over-the-counter to be sure they are right for the symptoms and right for your child. And remember, these symptoms affect adults the same way! Congregational Tidbits HEALTH CONCERNS: Ruby Barb, Lennie DiMatteo, Jessica Baker, Bob Teets, Joyce Rosborough, Sue Garber, Mary Zellers OUR SYMPATHY TO: William and David Longenecker on the death of Elizabeth, wife and mother.

4 4 SERVING IN MARCH Date Greeters Ushers Flowers Child Care 3/2 Marilyn Baker 3/9 Marilyn Baker Brenda Heisey Tara Garber Donna Fawber Via Allison Mattern 3/16 Marilyn Baker 3/23 Marilyn Baker Steve Gottshall, Elvin Wagner, Dale & Jacob Smith Jeanie Small Sherri Baiocchi Maya Smith Betty Smith Shirley Spahr 3/30 Terry Baker Steve & Elaine Hoffer Everyone Invited to the Spring Fling! Lebanon Valley College Sports Complex March 22, 4:00-6:00 p.m. $3.00 per person Enjoy Swimming and Gym facilities Refreshments provided Bring friends Contests/prizes

5 5 Lunch 'N Learn will be on March 20, at 12 noon in the Board Room. Dr. Sandra Dackow will present "Adventures with Music." Dr. Dackow is the musical director of the Hershey Symphony, has published works for orchestras and has had articles appear in major publications. She is an international guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician. Bring a lunch or order a boxed lunch for a minimum charge. Call for reservations at ext Lebanon Singing Cedars will be in concert on Sunday, March 16, at 7:00 p.m. in the DiMatteo Worsh Center. Did You Find Your Nametag? What if there were a big party happening at your church and on the beautifully decorated tables in fellowship hall there were name tags for everyone but you? Would you feel hurt? Would it any better if someone said, Oh it s ok if you come as long as you sit in the back and don t say anything? Would you wonder why? What would you want to tell the organizers of that party or the leaders of that church? How would you begin to talk about it? If you were a church member, how would you make sure excluding someone from full participation does not happen in your church? Beginning April 6, the New Beginnings and IHS Sunday School Classes will be attempting to model gracious conversations as we consider what it might be like to become an inclusive church. How do we relate to all people who might come through our doors at 45 N. Chestnut Street? Are there some people who do not feel welcome among us? Is that like not having a nametag for them? Why might that be? What can be done about it? If you are intrigued by these questions, please join us in fellowship hall for April Sundays from 10:30-11:30 a.m. for a new study unit. Presenters will be Sondra Simmons, Terry Baker, Martha Shaak and Marlin Houff. Saturday, April 12th will be the annual Cub Scout Pack 477 and Boy Scout Troop 477, All You Can Eat Spaghetti Dinner. We will be serving from 4:30-7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The meal will include salad with dressing, spaghetti with meat balls, dessert, and beverage. We ask you to bring your own containers for take outs. For tickets see Devin Gearhart or Dave Wagner. Tickets also available at the door.

6 6 Beginning on Tuesday afternoons on March 4. All kids in grades 5-8 are welcome each Tuesday in March and April for games, study, activities and dinner. Our theme this year is Blessed are the Peacemakers. Our weekend trip to New York City is scheduled for April Registration brochures are on the church website under announcements Annual Conference Columbus, OH, from July 2-6. Delegate and non-delegate fees will remain the same for 2014, but new this year is no registration fee for children and youth, high school age and younger. Early registration for non-delegates begin February 26. The cost is $105 for adults who register for the full Conference, with a daily fee of $35 available, and discounts for young adults post high school through age 21 and active Brethren Volunteer Service workers. After June 3, non-delegate registration is only available onsite for an increased fee. Details are available: Live as Courageous Disciples 2014 Annual Conference Theme Live as Courageous Disciples, this year s Annual Conference theme, comes from the beginning of our denominational vision statement, which is: Through scripture Jesus calls us to live as courageous disciples in word and action. This theme is our 2014 Annual Conference Moderator s hope for the church. When there is a spirit of love for the sisterhood and the brotherhood, as Elder John Kline reminds us, then we can gather together in trust, seeking the mind of Christ for our lives as disciples in this world. Through the Spirit s power we can overcome obstacles of fear and pain that would keep us from gathering around the Word together as our Brethren ancestors did. Moderator Nancy Sollenberger Heishman believes we can trust God s Spirit to inspire, challenge, correct, and lovingly guide us in the midst of our searching of God s precious word. Nancy grew up in rural Lebanon County, was nurtured in the Annville Church of the Brethren and is the daughter of Bob and Verna Sollenberger.

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