The Messenger April 2016

Transcription

1 The Messenger April 2016 Senior Pastor: D. Marie Tribble Organist: Mary E. Snyder Administrative Assistant: Jessica E. Spicher FunnelCake Fest April 9th from 6-8 PM We will have soup and salad followed by FUNNEL CAKES!! Bring your favorite card or board game and join us for a fun evening! This is an outreach event, so bring a friend or neighbor. The more the merrier! We hope to see you there. First Christian Church Disciples of Christ 442 Hummel Ave, Lemoyne, PA M 8:00 am 3:00 pm W & F 8:00 am 2:00 pm Inside This Issue Pastor s Page & Flower Sale 2 Events 2-3 Board Update 3 Outreach 3-5 Thank Yous 4 Serving Schedule & Prayers 5 Finance, Mark Your Calendar & Fundraising 6 Calendar 7 Young Adult Article 8 Hershey Park Discount Tickets Girl Scout Troop will be attending Hershey Park on July 19th (rain date on July 20th). So, we are offering Members and Friends of our Congregation to join us that day OR buy tickets to use any time during the regular season. Ticket Prices: Ages 9-54: $38.50; Ages 3-8 & 55-69: $29.50; Age 70+: $22.95 and Meal Tickets: $15.00 Sign up forms are on the Welcome Table. Please return the form along with payment by April 15th to Diana Onstott. Checks should be made payable to: Girl Scout Troop All You Can Eat Spaghetti & Meatball Dinner Fundraiser Join us on Saturday, April 30th from 4-6 PM eating all the spaghetti, meatballs, salad and rolls your stomach can handle. Your $6.00 donation will pay for your meal. If you make a donation to one of the supporting ministries of First Christian Church, you will be welcome to partake in the offered dessert. You can pre-order tickets before April 20th for $5.50/each by calling the or contacting Diana Onstott. The proceeds of this event will support the ministries of the Church that include the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and the West Shore Prosperity Center. Invite your friends and family and take the night off from cooking to join us for a nice evening of fellowship with Members of our Church and Community. See you there! Next Mat Making Workshop April 24th after Please join us after to indulge in a Potluck lunch followed by our Mat Making Workshop that will run from 12-3 PM. There are jobs for everyone, you don t have to be able to crochet to participate! Mats benefit homeless men and women in Harrisburg and surrounding areas.

2 Pastor s Page/Events (cont) Pastor s Page Spring is in the air everywhere we look around! When many of us think of Spring we immediately begin preparing for sunnier days, the smell of fresh flowers, and the bright and bold colors we know are associated with this season. Spring brings forth an expectation and excitement of newness and growth! There are times when the thought of something new can be intimidating, however when it comes to Spring most of us are eagerly waiting and anticipating the new things we believe God will manifest in our lives. Many of us have no problem professing our readiness and openness to any unforeseen blessing we believe is headed our way. Spring brings forth feelings of hope! When we look around at the beautiful flowers that will blossom during the spring, we must remember they are the manifestation of a long process that took place in a prior season. Spring is the time where we have the privilege of seeing the manifestation of all of the hard work and preparation that took place before we reached this moment. Spring brings forth the manifestation of hard work! release. We must allow ourselves the freedom to release and relinquish anything we may be carrying into our new season unnecessarily. Sometimes we hold onto things God has designed for us to have closed because of fear, regret, and guilt. This year take your time and free yourself so your mind and your heart can be open to the new things God has already planned to spring form in your life season. Spring is in the air everywhere we look around! Pastor D. Marie Short Board Meeting, Potluck & Bowling Outing: April 17th After, join us in the Fellowship Hall for a potluck lunch and a special board meeting. The meeting will be to discuss Pastor D. Marie Tribble s position. Her contract is for a 6 month interim position with the option to hire as our permanent Pastor. This will be the only topic on the agenda. All are welcome to attend. After the short board meeting, please stick around for a pot luck lunch. We ask that you please bring a dish to share! Then we will travel to Trindle Bowl in Mechanicsburg to bowl from 3:30 5:30 PM. We asked for RSVPs to be due on 4/3, so we were able to reserve enough lanes. If you did not have a chance to RSVP and would like to sign up, please call the Church office as soon as possible. Thank you! However as we prepare for the new things God has planned in our lives. We must remember, as with everything in life, the beginning of something new oftentimes follows a necessary ending or conclusion to something else. I have learned many of us do well at anticipating receiving something new into or lives but sometimes find it difficult in the moments requiring us to bring necessary closure in certain areas of our lives. Before we enter a new season it is likely there will always be something needing to be released to make room for what God is about manifest in our lives. Spring brings forth necessary release! Over the next few weeks we must be intentional to do our due diligence to make sure we are preparing ourselves for spring. Beyond the feeling of excitement, hope, or the anticipated reward of our hard work, we must do inventory of our actions, relationships, and mindsets and engage in necessary 2 Memorial Day Geranium Sale On Sunday, May 29, First Christian Church will decorate its sanctuary with RED geraniums. If you would like to participate by ordering a geranium, in honor or memory of loved ones and friends or service members, please use the form in your bulletin to make your selection, attach your payment and then place in the offering plate or mail to church office. Flowers are provided by Royer s. Orders are due by May 1st. There are 2 choices to choose from: 4 1/2 pot = $ pot = $8.75

3 Congregational Meeting Board Update/Outreach/Events (Cont) We will meet after worship on May 1st to vote on the one item that was discussed during the short board meeting on April 17th. We discussed Pastor D. Marie Tribble s contract with the Church and bringing her on as our permanent Pastor and no longer our Interim Senior Pastor. All Members are encouraged to attend, ask questions and vote on the one issue on the table from the April 17th Board Meeting. Please don t miss this important meeting. One of the many outreach projects First Christian Church has become involved in is providing books to members of the community for free! This began as a Girl Scout Silver Award project. This is a world wide initiative to make reading material available for everyone. I m sure you all have seen our beautiful Church library outside in front of our building. This library is well used by community kids and their families. In fact, every week we are adding 10 to 15 books for children and teens to swap or borrow books. However, our library is in need of specific types of books, Christian and faith based books for children would be appreciated (however, we will take any children s books). Additionally we are looking to collect teen bibles for availability in our Little Free Library. Books should be in good condition. Please bring them to Church any Sunday. This will be our Giving Basket Campaign for the 2nd quarter of To learn more about Little Free Library go to: Update from Holy Week: What a special season that we just concluded. From celebrating through weekly Lenten Lunches, special services on other days than Sundays, to a Sunrise service on a very special Easter Sunday. We especially wanted to thank everyone who participated in any and/or all of the season s activities. Countless hours were spent by Church volunteers to make this a memorable season. Maundy Thursday Service We especially wanted to share with you how special our Maundy Thursday service turned out. It was a unique and biblical experience and all who participated were deeply blessed by this significant and simple action of feet and hand washing. In John 13:14-17, the bible states, 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." I wanted to give a special thank you to Pastor Delores for washing Savy s feet. For me, personally, it was one of the most beautifully, moving things I have ever witnessed. I cannot begin to explain the feelings I had when you knelt down before a small child and washed her feet. I know people may say she did not understand the significance, but never underestimate the innate knowledge of children and their love of God. The act was humbling, beautiful and beyond what words can express! Thank you. Article submitted by: Diana Onstott 3

4 Outreach Ministries/Thank you s Reaching out...partnering with others.to serve our community Girl Scout Corner! Activities and events we have done in the past month COOKIES, COOKIES, and more COOKIES! We collected over 150 boxes of cookies. 75 will be sent to service men and women overseas and the remaining 75 boxes will be going to Bethesda Mission! Thank you for your support during our cookie sale season! We helped support First Christian Church by working the Pancake Breakfast, which raised over $800 for our Outreach ministries of the Church With the help of Nic (a volunteer), we were able to clean the stove and relight the pilot lights. They are now fully operational. With as much as we use the stove, it simply needed a really good cleaning and some mechanical know how! Thank you Nic! The PowderPuff Pinewood derby was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who helped! Dear Church Family, I wanted to thank you for making Joan s memorial service and luncheon so special for me and my family. I was grateful to be able to celebrate her life with all of you, her friends and our families. I wanted to specifically thank Mary Snyder for playing some of Joan s favorite hymns on the organ. And, Jane Welsh, who prepared a lovely lunch. Diana Onstott who made the day a little easier to handle by taking care of some coordination with the funeral home and the Church. And, our Pastor, Pastor D. Marie Tribble, who delivered a wonderful message of celebration for the life of my dear wife. Words cannot express my gratitude for my Church Family. There are many others that contributed to the day, and if I didn t list your name specifically, please know that I appreciate all you did for the service and celebration. She will be interred in Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery on Monday, April 11th at 11:00 AM. Thank you, W. David Prediger The Progressive Lunch is back on! We realize there have been multiple changes regarding our progressive lunch that is planned for Sunday, April 10th. However, the lunch is now back on. Lunch will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church (across the street). The change to this lunch is that it is no longer progressive in nature. All courses will be held at Trinity. The menu is the same and the cost is still FREE! So, please join us at Trinity after their Service which ends by 11:45 AM for a time of fellowship with several churches in the local ministerium. The Mayor will still join us for a conversation about what we can do to contribute to our local Lemoyne Community. So please consider forgoing your lunch plans and join us for a nice lunch of chicken devine, bread and butter and dessert. 4 Thank you...to Robin Goudy for donating food items that are used for people who come to the throughout the week that are in need of food. We have people coming weekly asking for food, and these types of donations are always appreciated. So, thank you to Robin for donating many non-perishable items that will feed many! to Jane Welsh for all the food coordination and meals she has prepared for a variety of events at the Church....to the FCC Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts who helped to make the pancake breakfast fundraiser a success....to all of our Volunteers who spend countless hours pouring their hearts into the events that take place at the Church. Your help does not go unnoticed!

5 Scheduling/Prayers/Outreach (cont.) April Serving Schedule April 3 Elder: Linda Runkle Diaconate: Ken Onstott & Glenn & Lois Haagen Communion: Lynne Weber & Diana Onstott Greeter: Harold Turner & Joan Kain April 10 Elder: Rev. Ed Arbogast Diaconate: Jane Welsh, Joyce Arbogast & Kelly Manning Communion: Lynne Weber & Diana Onstott Greeters: Loyetta Quinn & Dottie Michels April 17 Elder: Lois Miller Diaconate: Lois Haagen & Ken & Debbie Holler Communion: Joyce Arbogast & Lois Haagen Greeters: Velma Hughes & Dottie Michels April 24 Elder: Diana Onstott Diaconate: Ken Onstott, Kelly Manning & Jane Welsh Communion: Jane Welsh & Lynne Weber Greeter: Dottie Michels Thank you for your faithful service! Deb Catterton Prayer Requests Dick Shatzer (L. Miller) William (Hen) Miller (L. Miller) Twany Thomas (M. Snyder) Katie (J. Kain) Adam Goudy (R. Goudy) Martha Perry (M. Snyder) Patti Cleary (M. Snyder) Janet Preble (M. Snyder) Christopher (J. Kain) Bob (D. Anderson) JoAnn (J. Kain) D. Folk (J. Spicher) Olivia Fruitiger (J. Spicher) Ken s Mother (D. Onstott) Dave Prediger & Family Kieth Putnam (B. Eldridge) all Military men & women Scott Boltz Goudy/Frey Family FCC Please Note: As of Monday, April 11th, Mary Snyder will no longer utilize her land line. Her only contact number will now be her cell phone which is Her home number, , will no longer be in use. Free Computer Lab West Shore Prosperity Center The Church will be open on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:00 PM, by appointment only, for individuals who do not have access to computers, internet, or to job search, create a resume, check , enroll in state or health insurance benefits, etc. We will be utilizing 4 laptops and a printer given to us through the United Way and will have a volunteer each Tuesday evening to help those individuals who could use this FREE service. To make an appointment, please call the Church office at

6 Mark Your Calendar: Finances/Mark Your Calendar/Fundraising 5/1: * Memorial Day Mum Orders Due to Church Office * Special (short) Congregational Meeting to vote on one agenda item. Members, please plan to attend. * Ministry Planning Team Meeting after 5/8: * Happy Mother s Day! * Special Pentecost Offering 5/14: * 9 AM to Noon: Church Spring Cleaning and outside yard work. Please come and help even if you are unable to help the entire time. * 11 AM Pastor D. Marie Tribble s graduation from Lancaster Theological Seminary 5/15: * 9 AM Finance Meeting * Special Pentecost Offering * Graduation Party for Pastor D. Marie Tribble after in the Fellowship Hall 5/22: * Board Meeting and Elder Meeting after * 12-3 PM Potluck lunch and Mat Making Workshop in the Fellowship Hall 5/29: * Memorial Day Mums; please plan to take yours with you at the end of 5/30: * Closed Happy Memorial Day! Flower Sign Up Help us make the Church even more beautiful by signing up to donate flowers for Sunday mornings. The cost of flowers remains $ They are provided by Royer s. Please contact the Church office to reserve the date of your choice or simply sign your name on the flower chart in the back of the Sanctuary. Days are available for April. Grocery Store Card Please remember to support your Church by getting grocery store cards. Karns, Giant and Weis cards help us meet our Church budget by providing small, but steady fundraiser income. You may place orders in the offering plate or give to Diana Onstott any Sunday morning. The Church receives $50.00 every time we purchase $1, worth of cards. Remember to give generously and purchase an extra $25.00 gift card for the Church to use for those in need. We receive requests weekly! If you are on Facebook, please like our Facebook Page: First Christian Church, Lemoyne!!! Income and Expenses Month of January Congregational Offerings Received $3, Fundraisers $ Bibles $75.00 Total $3, Bills Received and Paid $7, Thank you for your continued support! Income and Expenses Month of February Congregational Offerings Received $3, Fundraisers $ Week of Compassion Offering $ Misc $ Total $4, Bills Received and Paid $8, Thank you for your continued support! 6

7 April 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT AM 2 PM 9 AM Noon: (Parlor) Cub Scout Blue & :15 AM: Scout Sunday Ministry Planning Team Meeting after 4-7 PM: Girl 8 AM 3 PM 1-4 PM: MIYP Tax Prep (Parlor) 6:30 8 PM: WSPC Computer Lab 6:30 8 PM: Cub Scouts 6:30 8:30 PM: (Parlor) 6:30 8 PM: (4) Girl Scout Troop Meetings (Snoopy, GS RM & FH) 9 AM Noon: (Parlor) 6-8 PM: Funnel Cake Fest (FH) :15 AM: Finance Meeting after Progressive Lunch at Trinity after 8 AM 3 PM 1-4 PM: MIYP Tax Prep (Parlor) 6:30 8 PM: WSPC Computer Lab 6:30 8:30 PM: (Parlor) 6:30 8 PM: (4) Girl Scout Troop Meetings (Snoopy, GS RM & FH) 4-7 PM: Girl :15 AM: Special Board Meeting & Potluck Lunch after 3:30-5:30 PM: Trindle Bowling Party 8 AM 3 PM 6:30 8 PM: WSPC Computer Lab 6:30 8 PM: Cub Scouts 6:30 8:30 PM: 6:30 8 PM: (4) Girl Scout Troop Meetings (Snoopy, GS RM & FH) 4-7 PM: Girl Scouts (GS RM) :15 AM: Elder Meeting after 12-3 PM: Mat Making Workshop after 4-7 PM: Girl Scouts (GS RM) Jessica Out of the Office 6:30 8 PM: WSPC Computer Lab April Birthdays: Lois Haagen: 8th Red Sprecker: 17th Jordan Frey: 19th Dave Prediger: 20th Howard Cates:29th: 6:30 8 PM: (4) Girl Scout Troop Meetings (Snoopy, GS RM & FH) April Anniversaries: Ken & Diana Onstott: April 21st Frank & Velma Hughes: April 25th 4-6 PM: Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser (FH) 7

8 First Christian Church Disciples of Christ 442 Hummel Ave, Lemoyne, PA PH: April 2016 A Special Message from our Newest Member: Dori M. Onsott (age 17): On Sunday, April 3 rd I joined First Christian Church. I have wanted to do this for a while so that I can begin to serve my Church in new ways, other than just being a kid who cleans up communion cups, lights the Christ candle and helps with dinners and other activities. Those things are very important, and I am honored to have the opportunity to participate in them, but I am older now and am ready to begin serving Jesus in new ways. I have learned a lot from the Members of First Christian Church. One very special Member has taught me not only about Jesus, but about being a good person, being a strong woman and thinking for myself. She has listened to my problems with boys, listened to me when I am sad, and has always remembered me on special days. I love her more than she knows. Another member has taught me so much about commitment which means doing what you say you will do, even if you don t want to or if it is hard for you to do it. He is always there, and I have never heard him once not help someone who asked. He just keeps working and working and I think people don t know what he really does. He does it because he loves Jesus, his Church and lives what he believes. He is a wonderful example to me. Of course there are so many others that I have grown to love. I am excited about being a full Member because now I can participate in other Church activities, help and serve on committees and help make decisions for the Church. I look forward to continuing my Christian education and learning more about what it means to follow Christ. I know I will continue to learn from everyone here, continue to take time for meditation and reading the Bible on my own, and receive the support I need to continue to develop my personal relationship with Christ. 8