MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ST JOHN S REFORMED CHURCH MAY 2017

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1 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ST JOHN S REFORMED CHURCH MAY 2017 Gallup recently published results of a survey that asked respondents why they go to church (or some other place of worship). Fifteen hundred adults across the nation were asked to which degree these seven things were important to them: 1. Sermons or talks that teach you more about scripture; 2. Sermons or lectures that help you connect religion to your own life; 3. Spiritual programs geared toward children and teens; 4. Community outreach and volunteer opportunities; 5. Religious leaders who are interesting and inspiring; 6. Social activities that allow you to get to know people; 7. A good choir, praise band, cantors or other spiritual music. The results are on the next page..

2 Ron Man offers this reflection: When Christians gather for corporate worship, it is logical that the Word of God should play a central and dominant role. For since worship involves focusing on our thoughts and hearts and voices on the praise of God, in response to his self-revelation and his gracious saving initiative, we of course need that view of God which the Word gives us if our worship is to be in truth (John 4:23-24). Our worship can only duly honor God if it accurately reflects what he reveals about himself in his Word. Food for thought, Learning To Pray How is your prayer life? Strong? Weak? Fickle? Do you consider yourself a man or woman of prayer? James was a man of prayer. He even received the nickname Camel Knees because of his hard, calloused knees the result of long hours of prayer. James began his letter encouraging Believers to pray for wisdom when they needed it. He ended his letter with a call to pray about all situations. We, as Christians, are called to pray, whatever our needs, whatever our circumstances, both privately and publicly. Real prayer penetrates every aspect of our life - both the good and the bad. Please join us as we delve more deeply into the final passage of the Book of James. We ll spend an evening of Bible study, prayer, and great fellowship as we learn together how to improve the use of our spiritual knees. We ll meet on Wednesday, May 3rd, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Hope to see you then! Blessings, Sue Weisman The prayer of a righteous man is power and effective. James 5:16 Stephen Ministry Compassionate Father, There are those among us whose hearts are heavy and who are facing their struggles alone. Yet You have called us, Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest, and You ve promised us the peace that passes all understanding. Help those among us who are hurting, recognize they need not struggle alone - that You created us to be in community, to hear one another s burdens. Give the silent sufferers the courage to seek the help they need so that we can make Your promises real to them and bring comfort and healing to their hearts. In Jesus name we pray, Amen Please contact Sue Weisman ( ) if you or someone you know are in need of a Stephen Minister. It s a gift that will cost you nothing!

3 Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay him for his deed. Moment for Missions This month s Moment for Missions is Phoebe Berks Heath Care. Phoebe Berks is a community of Phoebe Ministries, a non-for-profit that holds a rich legacy of caring for older adults. Founded over 110 years ago, Phoebe has expanded from a single skilled nursing community to an organization offering care and services to these older adults. The Phoebe name has been synonymous with compassionate, faith-based care for over a century. Phoebe Berks has an outstanding reputation for nursing, clinical, and rehabilitative care. All residents of Phoebe Berks have a priority status for services and admission to skilled nursing, rehabilitation and personal care. Collection for this mission focus is taken on the second Sunday of May but you can make your contribution anytime this month. Thank you for your prayerful contribution. Thank you! Family Promise Update We hosted Family Promise the week of Easter. Thank you to all 37 volunteers who took time out of their busy holiday week to make a difference for somebody else. We will host again in September. Watch for sign ups in August. There will be a ladies invitational golf tournament on June 20th with shot gun at 8:00 a.m. at Willow Hollow which will support Family Promise. Get a foursome or part of one and call Vicki Sproesser or Kathy Nester. Thank you to all who assembled, donated or delivered the 14 Easter boxes to local needy families! Easter Basket Thank You! We assembled 50 Easter Baskets to be donated to Berks Women in Crisis, Opportunity House, Mary s Shelter and Children s Home of Reading. Thank you to Rebecca Erb for donating the baskets to fill and to all who filled the baskets. Baskets change lives! Good Shepherd Mission Fundraiser There will be a Kauffman s Chicken BBQ on Tuesday, June 6 at Walgreens in Shillington, 2:00 6:00 p.m., to support the Good Shepherd Mission in Puttur, India. The Good Shepherd Mission is a Christian orphanage, hospital and AIDS clinic in a Hindu nation. Wilson Area Food Pantry Thank you, once again, you ve been so faithful with supplying non-perishable foods to the Wilson Area Pantry each month. Outreach and the staff of the Pantry are so grateful! Please bring your donations of non-perishable items to the church on the fist two Sundays of each month and place them in the bin under the coat rack area under the balcony. Needs are great! Here are examples of what to give: Cereal, Juice, Spaghetti Sauce, Pasta, Boxed Macaroni/Cheese, Peanut Butter, Marshmallow Fluff, Canned Meats, Canned Vegetables, Canned Fruit. Thank you! - Outreach

4 Children s Ministry Update Coming in May! Family Glow Bowling at Berks Lanes on Sunday, 21st, 3:00 5 p.m. Cost per bowler is $ Please sign up at the Welcome Center. Questions? See Yeardley. J.A.M. (Jesus And Me) Dates for May: May 4th, 11th, and 25th at 4:30 p.m. Egg Hunt Thank You! Thank you to all of the volunteers that helped throughout Holy Week and on the Saturday of the Egg Hunt. Thanks also to Bonnie s Office volunteers for helping stuff the eggs, to those who helped pass out door hangers, helped with set up, and volunteered in the various stations at the Community Egg Hunt. Your help was greatly appreciated! See some pictures from the Egg Hunt below and also on St. John s Reformed Church page on Facebook and on the bulletin board in the rear hallway of the church.

5 41+ Aged to Perfection Update: Lunch at Heidelberg Our senior citizen group is set for lunch at the Heidelberg Restaurant on Tuesday, May 16th at 11:00 a.m. We will order from the menu. This group of senior citizens is a great group! Sign up at the Welcome Center. Let us know if you need a ride on the sign up sheet. we ll see that you ll get there and get back to the church. Contact Bonnie Keffer with your questions: Americana Journey Photos On this page are several pictures from the Americana Journey bus trip the seniors took last month. More pictures will be on the bulletin board across from the Coffee House. More to Come for 41+! Dale Sallade, our trip advisor, is planning another bus trip in July. See the next page for details.

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7 Welcome Center St. John s members, friends and guests are all invited and encouraged to stop by the Welcome Center before or after Sunday s worship. Come and see what s happening in the life of St. John s Reformed Church. Sign-up sheets and specific information about all church activities and needed donations are available to you. Church volunteer opportunities are needed to serve and support. Functional membership means you come, you serve, you give and share. Ask God how he wants you to be serving Him in light of your gifts and start serving somewhere. The Welcome Center also provides a place for conversation with friends as well as the opportunity for meeting and welcoming someone new. In a recent sermon, Rev. Ziehmer taught us that God places a very high premium on hospitality. The Church of Jesus Christ is to practice hospitality. Hebrews 13:2 Don t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done so have entertained angels without even realizing it. This is an awesome scripture! How well are we practicing hospitality? How good are we at welcoming the stranger? Every church member is a host. Tell people you are glad they are here. Pray for them throughout your week. Practice making people feel special and what you give to others will return to you. ST. JOHN S REFORMED CHURCH A Church Family that will. Love You Build You Send You Blessings, Karen Muenz Choir Sunday On May 21st at the 9:00 a.m. service, the Senior Choir and Senior Bell Choir will celebrate Choir Sunday. We hope you will join us on this day that is set apart to recognize the commitment of the dedicated members of the choirs and their accompanists. Carol Keffer Senior Choir Director Thank you for the mark you left on our lives. Till we see you again. Due to timing we didn t have a photo. We promise we will have one for the June newsletter. Harold M. Moyer Lee Earle Duncan Dawn Kissling Born: April 23, 1924 Born: September 7, 1930 Born: January 21, 1933 Died: April 9, 2017 Died: April 5, 2017 Died: April 25, 2017

8 Church Brunch At our last brunch you requested another one. So here s your chance! Come join us for brunch in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, May 7th, between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Sign up sheets are at the Welcome Center. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Adam. Children s Choir Sunday Children s Choir Sunday will be celebrated on Sunday, May 14th at the 9:00 a.m. Worship Service. Please join us as the Angel and Youth Bell Choirs sing and ring the story of Noah and the Ark. It should be a lot of fun for all! Kauffman Chicken BBQ Our Annual Kauffman Chicken BBQ is planned for Saturday, May 6 th, 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Price is $8.00 and includes ½ chicken, baked potato, apple sauce. Baked goods and pepper cabbage will be available for sale. Spread the word! Attention ALL Golfers! Attention ALL Golfers! Friday, June 2 nd at 8:00 a.m., St. John s is having a Golf Outing at Willow Hollow Golf Course (619 Prison Road, Leesport). Get your foursome/ better ball friends together for this fun outing. Lunch will be in a pavilion at the course immediately following the event. Cost, including lunch, is $65.00 per person. Proceeds will go toward a new church sign. Sign up at the Welcome Center. Need more info? Contact Vicki Sproesser or Bill Semko. Vacation Bible School Attention! The 225th Anniversary Committee is selling embroidered kitchen towels as a usable commemorative of the church. Lots of colors are available. We ll be selling them for $8.00 each in the Coffee House. Sunday, June 25th - Thursday, June 29th 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Adults study starts Monday, June 26th Interested in learning about the program join our Facebook page at: St. John s Reformed Church s VBS or contact us at: stjohnsreformedchurchvbs@gmail.com

9 Return Service Requested 4001 Penn Avenue, Sinking Spring, PA Non-profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 115 Reading, PA Senior Pastor: Rev. Robert Ziehmer Church Phone: Assistant to the Pastor: Susan Weisman Director of Children s Ministry: Yeardley Burns Director of Youth Ministry: Anna Berzins Senior Choir Director: Carol Keffer Bell Choir Director/Contemporary Worship Leader: Pam Van Luvanee Children s Choirs Director: Diane Krueger Organist: Mary Muenz Piano Accompanist: Dee Parmer Inside/Outside Custodian: Joe Carey Outside Custodian: Charlie Carey Secretary: Bonnie Keffer A Church family that will Love You Build You Send You JOIN US SUNDAYS! 9 AM Traditional Worship 10 AM Adult Sunday School 11 AM Contemporary Worship 4 PM Third Sunday ~ VIP Worship Check out our website: to hear Rev. Ziehmer s sermons and find out ways you can be a part of our St. John s Family We serve as a Stephen Ministry Church ~ God s Blessings!