The Sower. NUMBER 3 Aug /Sep2018 VOLUME XXVII. From the Pastor s Desk

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1 The Sower Planting seeds of faith and fellowship in East Cocalico Township and beyond. The SOWER is a ministry of the East Cocalico Church of the Brethren P. O. Box 288, Reamstown, PA (4Bunker Hill Road, Stevens, PA 17578) Web Site; NUMBER 3 Aug /Sep2018 VOLUME XXVII From the Pastor s Desk Over the weeks of August our Wednesday evening class will be looking at the Divine Conspiracy video-based class. What is a Divine Conspiracy? One meaning of a conspiracy is that of a negative secret plan. A Divine Conspiracy is a positive secret plan for humankind. This God Conspiracy is a relationship so close, that you can communicate without saying a word. You begin to see, feel, and watch God changing the world all around you. It is God s purpose to be that close with each of us. Sometimes, we hear the whisper of Jesus in our hearts. Sometimes, we see the hand of God ordering events that eventually lead to new beginnings. Sometimes, we find God as we read scripture. God is always breaking into human history. God is already here among you and me. God is constantly inviting us to join him in his work. Does your life have troubles? This is the primary way that God helps us to grow in character. When you go through hard times remember that the Kingdom of God is Near. Only one thing is necessary. We must join God in this conspiracy. We must constantly let God in. We must come to the place where we can say God, whatever you want. Then, the powerful conspiracy is on! May God bless you as you partner with him in your appointed tasks of serving him! ELEVATOR PROJECT UPDATE The elevator committee has been very busy over the past year. Drawings were presented on the July 22 informational forum. These drawings included the back of the sanctuary, the basement view, and a view of a new vestibule to enter the elevator from the outside. On Sunday September 9, there will be a brief Forum after worship sharing final pricing and giving an opportunity to contribute to the project. Thank you for all of your support. Pastor Steve On page 2 you will see some drawings of the project.

2 . Inside Sanctuary Outside parking lot New Vestibule Inside Vestibule Downstairs in Fellowship Hall 2

3 Wednesday Summer Evening Class s 7-8 pm Conference Room The Divine Conspiracy By Dallas Willard Aug 8 Becoming a good person Aug 15 Treasuring what matters most Aug 22 A community of prayerful love Aug 29 Living as a disciple of Jesus Come join us to learn to be HAPPY in the LORD!! Also learn to enjoy the Heavenly Kingdom here on earth! Parish Nurse Cyndy Wright R.N Are bees summertime PESTS? Some of the most beneficial and yet highly feared insects are bees. Many people just don t like how they look (rarely does one hear them described as cute!) and most people REALLY don t like the fact that most can sting! But are they really pests? Here are the facts. There are nearly 20,000 known species of bees worldwide (3500 indigenous species in the USA, mostly in the Southwest, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.(Wikipedia) ] Bees are extremely beneficial to man in that they pollinate both crops and plants. They produce beeswax which is used for candles, in lip balm, cosmetics and medical creams, as well as for lubricating needles and thread, waterproofing for shoes, fish line and clotheslines and beeswax is used on skis, toboggans, instrumental bow strings and furniture. Propolis is a sticky substance that bees collect from the buds of trees. It is used to weatherproof the hive against drafts or in spots where rain might leak in. In recent years, scientists have discovered the anti-bacterial properties of propolis for use in the medical field. However, along with these good things, bees have some negative qualities: Bees can be destructive. Carpenter bees can tunnel in siding and roofing for up to 10 feet in order to lay their eggs. Some bees are aggressive and territorial, attacking and chasing people and animals if they feel that their habitat is being threatened. People can inadvertently step near or on a bumblebee hole in the ground and end up with several nasty stings. Bee stings can be either annoyingly painful or deadly, depending on if the victim is allergic to the venom. Non-allergic victims will almost always develop local reactions to bee stings at the site. Redness, swelling, and pain are all common reactions. The pain will usually go away fairly quickly, but swelling may last for a day or more - ice should be used to reduce swelling at the site. However, if the victim has a known allergy to bees, check to see if he/she is carrying an EpiPen and help them to use it. If not, call 911 immediately! Although rare, people have died from a single bee sting - do not wait for symptoms to appear, especially if the person is short of breath or is having trouble swallowing. So... you decide. Maybe bees can be both beneficial and pests at times. Just remember to keep your eyes open so you see them - before they see you! 3

4 DISTRICT NEWS FAMILY CAMPING CENTER BENEFIT AUCTION at Camp Swatara will be on Saturday, September 3 at the East Lodge. Great items and gift certificates will be available for auction with all funds benefiting the ministry and facility's needs at camp. Delicious food, creative crafts, and fun family fellowship will be available for the day!. If you have items you would like to donate, please deliver them to the East Lodge by Friday September 2. The Children's Auction will begin on September 3 at 9:30 am and the main auction will begin following the children's auction. COBYS BIKE & HIKE SEEKS TO EXTEND GROWTH STREAK TO 20th YEAR The 22nd annual COBYS Bike & Hike is set for Sunday afternoon, September 9, at the Lititz Church of the Brethren. The event includes a three-mile walk, 10- and 25- mile bicycle rides, and the 65-mile Dutch Country Motorcycle Ride. A silent auction runs throughout the afternoon. Donations of door prizes and auction items will be welcomed until the week of the event. The Bike & Hike is COBYS signature fundraiser, having raised more than $1.3 million for COBYS ministries, since its inception. Last year, the Bike & Hike grossed $136,669 and attracted more than 600 people. Participants included 306 walkers, 129 bicyclists, and 166 motorcyclists on 104 cycles, along with some additional friends who stopped in to visit and participate in the silent auction. Bike & Hike income has grown for 19 consecutive years. Planners are seeking to make it 20, while also setting a new attendance record. We are off to a great start this year, with record business support already in the bank, said Director of Development Don Fitzkee. Now we just need walkers, riders, and donors to get us the rest of the way. Walkers and bicyclists donate a $25 registration fee, obtain support from sponsors, or both. Motorcycles are $35 per cycle, plus $25 for an additional passenger. Those who pre-register by September 5 receive a $5 discount. Individuals who raise $25 or more in pledges do not need to pay the registration fee. Each participant receives a free t-shirt, ice cream and refreshments, and a chance to win a door prize. Those who raise certain levels of support earn additional prizes. Junior and senior high youth groups who raise $1,500 or more earn a gym and pizza night. A WJTL radio personality will provide live reports from the event. For more information, visit To arrange a silent auction or door prize donation, contact Development Associate Anne Stokes at or anne@cobys.org. September 8 10am-4pm Lancaster CoB A day filled with worship, workshops, and enhanced opportunities to strengthen relationships among members of ANE urban and multi ethnic congregations. Leadership will be provided by gifted congregational leaders and District Staff. Worship Teams will provide a variety of musical offerings to include, contemporary, traditional, and instrumental praise. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate in this inspirational and educational event. 4

5 EAST COCALICO NEWS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Will be Tuesday, August 7 th, 6-9 pm. Volunteers are needed to help out that evening (even if it is for an hour or so). Donations of pipe cleaners, old fingernail polish and pompons any size are needed as well Any QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL Tina Dill CAMP CONQUEST AUGUST 1Oth, the Missions Team will be serving breakfast and lunch to Released Time campers at Camp Conquest. We are in need of monetary donations to cover the cost of the 2 meals. Please see the display table in the Narthex for more info and for envelopes designated for donations that may be placed in the offering plate or in the Missions Team mailbox In the Fellowship hall. Please see or call Rity Aflague ( ) if you have any questions or want more information. CHURCH PICNIC SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2018 at Snyder park located along Clay School Road, adjacent to the Clay Elementary School. We welcome everyone to come out and enjoy the evening of Fun, Food and Fellowship. The Meal will be served at 4:30 pm.the Meat will be provided. Please bring along picnic food, lawn chairs and lawn games you would like to share with others. We will have the guessing games for both children and adults. Also there will be games for the children to enjoy. It is a great evening to be together and have great fellowship. DENVER FAIR September Volunteers will be needed to hand out bottles of water. There will be a sign up sheet in the narthex in August. The Missions Team would really appreciate a couple hours of your help! DISASTER RELIEF AUCTION SEPTEMBER 21 & 22. E.C.C.O.B. will again be selling candy to benefit Brethren Disaster Relief. We will have a table to sell candy. Volunteers will be needed to sell during the fair, and also Tuesday evening, September 18 at 6:30 pm we will be packing candy here at the church. LADIES BIBLE STUDY Every Thursday morning from 9:30 am to 11:00 a.m. our ladies Bible study meets here at the church (Oasis room). We would like to invite all the women of our congregation to come out and join us. We begin with coffee and the snack and good Fellowship. Each week we discuss a different topic. The topic we use comes from The Upper Room devotional. It is not a continuing lesson, so if you can't be with us every week just come whenever your schedule will permit. The first Thursday of the month, after our Bible study, we go out to lunch (Lunch Bunch). We choose a different local restaurant each month. Come join us at both or one of the above activities. You will have good Fellowship, serious discussions, and many laughs. 5

6 East Cocalico Church of the Brethren 4 Bunker Hill Road P.O. Box 288 Vision statement vision. We are told to be Christ-centered servants. We seek to share God's love by creating a caring atmosphere that reaches into our community. We are committed to extend the saving grace of Jesus Christ by providing Biblically-based experiences and fellowship opportunities for families and individuals of all ages. We endeavor to equip believers for ministry, mission and evangelism.