ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

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1 ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH MAY 2011 NEWSLETTER I Was So Ready This year, Easter came as late as it could come and Mother Nature more or less cooperated this time of year so that we didn t have to worry about stomping through the cemetery with snow on our shoes. This month we also were able to wear all those bright spring clothes. And Easter egg hunts didn t have to be indoors because of cold and snow. But waiting for Easter this long and late in the season was also a bit strange and in some ways anticlimactic and not at all how Easter came the first time! Even though Jesus had tarried to prepare his disciples for what was coming in Jerusalem; even though some of the gospels report that Jesus and his followers took the long, slow route to Jerusalem; even though Jesus gave advance warnings, no one was ready for what was to come the way we were when April 24 rolled around. I think it is often like that in life. Grief, though expected after a long illness, can overwhelm us in its intensity. Sudden good news sometimes make us utter I can t believe it or I can t take it all in. Surprises can throw us for a loop; and even good news that we have been waiting for can still sound unreal or otherworldly. With Jesus, life will always be like that. We, who already know that he is raised also know that He can go anywhere He likes. He may pop up in unexpected places, at inconvenient times. When Easter happened and Jesus was unleashed onto the world, He showed Himself to us when it suited Him instead of us. And now He asks for things when He is ready and not when we are prepared. Watch out! Jesus is on the loose. Happy Easter every day. Pastor Anne

2 Tent Troupe is Coming. to St. Paul s Lutheran Church. The only travelling summer tent theatre will be on our lawn on June 29. Young people will grace us with stories, folktales and dancing and we will delight in their gifts. Tent Troupe is a ministry of St. Luke Lutheran Church, Silver Spring, Md and has been in existence since Check them out on the web- put the date in your calendar. Don t miss out. Kumbuka My friend Kumbuka Mwasanguti is the visiting pastor from the Konde Diocese in Tanzania and studying hard to get his Master s Degree in pastoral care and counseling from Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary. He has been here almost two years and on May 13 he will be receiving his degree and finally go home to his lovely wife Veronica and his four children. Kumbuka has been at my house many a weekend and I have learned a lot about his culture and why he was sent. Did you know that even though by law women have equal rights in Tanzania, the old patriarchal traditions still rule the roost? When women become widows, often the husband s family takes everything away, including the children. Women are left destitute both economically and emotionally. They cannot support themselves because the culture will not help, and sometimes they are literally left by the side of the road to die. This cultural tragedy is why Kumbuka was sent. The Lutheran Church in Tanzania is working hard to change old attitudes and old ways. When he returns, Kumbuka will try to help the widows and the orphans, have a women s desk at the diocesan office, go around to counsel the women and teach within the culture that life needs to change and can change for the better. Kumbuka s friends here have been working hard to help him make that possible and the Social Ministry/Stewardship committee at St. Paul s has supported the efforts with a generous gift. Thank you so very much and celebrate that we are transforming the world by what we do. Pastor Anne All kids between pre-k and 4 th grade May 7- Mother s day tea June 18- Father s day lunch During the Sunday School hour except for special occasions or outings Questions: Heather Thorn

3 LUTHERAN NIGHT AT THE SENATORS: Harrisburg Senators vs. R-Phils Friday, May 6th 7:00PM Gametime New stadium on City Island - Fireworks after the game! $9.00 per ticket ($4.00 of each ticket goes to help support Camp Nawakwa and Kirchenwald) See Cheryl Gilbert if you have any questioins or cheryl4gib@msn.com May Birthdays 05/01 Miriam Cooper RaeAnn Diehl Falicia Witmer 05/02 Debra Reeder 05/06 Kenneth Getz 05/08 Robert E. Diehl Darrell McMillan Logan Hunter 05/10 Howard Locke Robin Kramer 05/11 Heidi Getz 05/12 Michelle Thorn 05/13 Nancy Miele 05/13 Clara Keeports Jaime Kowker 05/14 Edwin Harne 05/15 Gary Radabaugh Kathryn Vardzik 05/16 Anna Keller 05/20 Stephanie Lehman John Keeports 05/21 Trudy Getz 05/23 Claris Lutz 05/29 Chase Hitz 05/31 Scott Oyster. May Wedding Anniversaries 05/07 Drew & Joan Kugler 05/11 Edwin & Carol Harne 05/12 Steven & Denise Casella David & Clara Keeports 05/18 Lance & Miste Diehl 05/27 Donald & Dorothy Foore

4 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL This year s Vacation Bible School will take us to on a camping adventure at SonRock Kids Camp. We will learn that we are protected, accepted, saved, and forgiven so that we can live for Jesus. The children will enjoy music, crafts, snacks, games, and Bible stories with our camping theme. Our VBS will run from 6-8:30pm from June th. The closing program will be on June 19 th from 10:30-11:30am followed by a kids bake sale to benefit New Hope Ministries. Come join us for our kick-off event on Sunday, May 22 nd from 10:30-11:30am and register your child for a fun filled week of VBS. Any questions contact Lana Stitzel ( ). NEWSLETTER NOTES are due in the Church office by the 10 th of each month. You can put a written copy in secretaries mail slot in narthex or them to stpaulsenola@yahoo.com. PASTOR REEVES OFFICE HOURS: Pastor Reeves is in the office most mornings Monday thru Thursday. Her day off is Saturday. If you would like to meet with her, please schedule an appointment if possible. Her home number is Her cell phone number is ATTENDANCE & ENVELOPE GIVING March 6 Attendance: 9:00 72 Giving: General Fund $ Building Fund $ March 9 (Ash Wednesday) Attendance: 7:30 50 Giving: General Fund $874.0 March 13 Attendance: 9:00-70 Giving: General Fund $ March 20 Attendance: 9:00 80 General Fund $ Building Fund $25.00 March 27 Attendance: 9:00 86 General Fund $ Building Fund $25.00 Expenses for March $22, General Fund Income - $11, Over Spent - $11, (due to expenses from Pastor Mackie)

5 BE A SPONSOR Altar Flowers: Altar flowers beautify the sanctuary for worship, and can be given by congregation members in honor of or in memory of loved ones. The price is $17.50 for one vase or $35 for two vases. If interested in sponsoring weekly altar flowers, please fill out the Flower Chart in the upper Sunday School room on bulletin board. Bulletins: Sponsors for bulletins are also accepted. The cost is $15.00 per week. These can be in honor of or in memory of loved ones or to the Glory of God. If interested you can fill out the Flower/Bulletin Chart in upper Sunday School room. You will be notified via a postcard usually the month prior to your sponsorship. UPCOMING ANNUAL CHURCH CAMPOUT June 10, 11, & 12 is the annual Church Picnic & Campout in Perry County. At 8:00 p.m. free hot dogs. Bring your fishing rod and ball glove. Camp fire every night. Need more information call Don Foore ( ) or Keith Gilbert ( ). This will be our 28 th year. If you plan on camping please let us know. Have you checked out out Web Site lately? Please do so We now have a gallery of pictures, bulletins, newsletters, and many more items of interest. Check it out and let us know if you have any additions, comments or would like to see something else there too. Please call the church office ( ) with your comments. HONOR OUR GRADUATES: On May 22 nd we would like to recognize those in our congregation who have graduated in the past year. If you or a family member has graduates this year or will graduate in spring, please contact Wendy Cekovich at or at wendy.cekovich@verizon.net. CHURCH MUSIC SUNDAY will be held on May 22, 2011 at the 9:00 a.m. Worship Service.

6 PASTOR REEVES INSTALLATION will be on May 22 nd at 4:00 p.m. Rev. Gwenn Trout will conduct the Installation Worship Service. There will be light refreshments following the service. ANNUAL REPORT UPDATES BARRETT, JUDIE 5665 Wertzville Rd. Enola PA address: BARNHART, VICTORIA 33 Lee Ann Ct. Enola PA BROOKS, DENISE 106 Franklin Sq. Mechanicsburg PA CLAWSER, ERNEST III 1341 Old Willow Mill Rd. Mechanicsburg PA Home: Cell: LUKOSKIE, KEVIN 106 Franklin Sq. Mechanicsburg PA (changes are in Bold print) MAIER, SCOTT 5475 Westbury Dr. Enola PA address: MCCURDY, JUSTIN 544 N. Locust Point Rd. Mechanicsburg PA Cell: address: STITZEL, GARY & LANA 20 Wetherburn Rd. Enola PA address: SWEGER, NEVIN G. AK-8498 Box A Bellefonte PA THORN, HEATHER 544 N. Locust Point Rd. Mechanicsburg PA Cell: address: my3angelscja@verizon.net UMBRELL, TODD & MELISSA 6838 Wertzville Rd. Enola PA

7 Pictured from left to right are: Bruce Dennis, Gary Dolbin, Pastor Reeves and Gina Stanton. TOUR OF NEW HOPE MINISTRIES MECHANICSBURG -- By Gary Dolbin On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 23, Pastor Reeves, her husband Pastor Randy Barr, and I were given a tour of the newly opened Mechanicsburg location of New Hope Ministries. New Hope Ministries, originally founded in 1983, also has locations in Dillsburg and Dover. The Mechanicsburg center was previously located on State Road, across the street from the Trindle Spring Lutheran Church. This new center, on East Trindle Road, was officially opened and dedicated in June of New Hope Ministries, as a Christian social services agency, provides emergency crisis assistance - including food, transportation for job purposes, financial assistance for utilities, counseling, and referral services - to local, low income families and individuals. There are also structured after school and summer programs for underprivileged children and youth. The New Hope Mechanicsburg West Shore Center, in addition to serving the Mechanicsburg community also provides services to the residents of Enola, Wormleysburg, Camp Hill, Lemoyne and New Cumberland. Our tour was conducted by Gina Stanton, who serves as a community liaison for New Hope, and Bruce Dennis, a volunteer who assists in the management of the food storage warehouse as

8 well as the food distribution programs. We also had the opportunity to meet with Joel Giovannetti who directs the children and youth programs. Our hosts gave us a very comprehensive tour, provided valuable information about the operation of the center and answered our questions. Highlights of the tour included the large warehouse, food pantry, dock area, cold storage facilities, reception area, community general purpose areas and office suites. A majority of food is stored in the warehouse where newly installed shelving includes a product conveyor system to facilitate food handling and distribution. The loading docks are supplied with pallet jacks and fork lifts to receive truck loads of purchased and donated items. In addition to numerous refrigerators and freezers, there is also a large refrigerated room as well as a spacious walk in freezer room. There are portable shelving units in the food pantry where clients can select from a wide variety of food items to meet individual and family needs. The reception area is staffed by volunteers who greet visitors and receive telephone calls. It has a friendly atmosphere, is well lit, and has comfortable seating. Private counseling offices are directly across from the reception area. It was interesting touring the facility with Pastor Reeves and husband. I could tell from the questions they asked and their conversations with the New Hope Staff, that they both have extensive knowledge and experience in the operation of food pantries as well as providing human services to those in need. I learned that Pastor Reeves helped develop a food pantry at her previous call, Grace Lutheran Church in Red Lion. Over the 14 years she was there the food pantry that started out from a small operation that fed 30 families about 4 times a year, grew to one that now regularly feeds over 250 families and has about 40 volunteers. The Grace Food pantry also distributes clothing, household goods, transportation vouchers, school supplies in the fall and helps the needy with medications, rent and utilities. Pastor Barr s church, Zion Lutheran in Dauphin, has a food pantry that distributes food every other week. His church also operates a Meals on Wheels program. For many years St. Paul s has provided food donations, financial and prayer to support the Ronnie Powley Center, Enola. Now this center has been incorporated into New Hope Ministries with expanded human services that serve a larger geographic area and help an increasing number of individuals and families. Pastor Reeves and I had an opportunity meet following our tour and are excited about the role we at St. Paul s can play in helping New Hope Ministries fulfill its mission of - Sharing Christ s love by meeting human needs

9 WALK FOR HOPE: Standing L to R: Cheryl Gilbert, Keith Gilbert, Deb Stoner, Mike Stoner, Lana Stitzel, Gary Dolbin, Katy Holderbaum. Front: Wendy Cekovich, Nick Cekovich, McKenna Stitzel Thank you to all those that walked from St. Paul s Lutheran Church. TABLES & CHAIRS if you are interested in the tables or chairs that used to be in the lower Sunday School area, please contact a member on the Property Committee. Members are: Tim Morgan, Ernie Clawser, Joe Eslinger, Don Foore, Keith Gilbert, Barry Harbold, Drew Kugler, Dorlene Morgan or Stewart Trout.

10 Serving at St. Paul s Evangelical Lutheran Church During May 2011 If you cannot serve please trade with someone else and/or call the church office. If you see something you would like to try or do, contact the Church Office at (717) May 1 May 8 May 15 May 22 May 29 Minister Assistant Steve Casella Lector Seana Miller Acolyte Nicole Hoffmaster Communion Cups Gabriel & McKenna Stitzel Ushers - *Tim Morgan, Dorlene Morgan, Judie Barrett, Sue Dolbin Communion Setup Dorlene Morgan Communion Cleanup Charolette Getz Minister Assistant Helen Wood Lector Wendy Cekovich Acolyte Open Communion Cups Hayley Diehl & Mason Miller Ushers - *Tim Morgan, Dorlene Morgan, Judie Barrett, Sue Dolbin Communion Setup Ann Gilbert Communion Cleanup Darrell & Mary Jane McMillan Minister Assistant Nick Cekovich Lector Judie Barrett Acolyte Mason Miller Communion Cups Ava Clawser & Kylie Hunter Ushers - *Tim Morgan, Dorlene Morgan, Judie Barrett, Sue Dolbin Communion Setup Kris & Trudy Getz Communion Cleanup David & Helen Wood Minister Assistant Judie Barrett Lector Freda Smart Acolyte Open Communion Cups Kaylin Vardzik & McKenna Stitzel Ushers - *Tim Morgan, Dorlene Morgan, Judie Barrett, Sue Dolbin Communion Setup Ruth Radabaugh & Catherine Yeager Communion Cleanup June Hess Minister Assistant Keith Gilbert Lector Ann Gilbert Acolyte Nicole Hoffmaster Communion Cups Ava Clawser & Hayley Diehl Ushers - *Tim Morgan, Dorlene Morgan, Judie Barrett, Sue Dolbin Communion Setup Diane Frampton Communion Cleanup Charolette Getz 10

11 CALENDAR OF EVENTS MAY 1 ST TO MAY 30 TH May 1 9:00 am - Service of Holy Communion 10:30 am - Sunday School 11:15 am - Cherub Choir Practice May 3 8:00 am - Sewing Memorial Bldg. Basement 7:00 pm - Stewardship Social Ministry Meeting May 4 7:00 pm - Adult Choir Practice May 5 7:00 pm - Finance Ministry Meeting May 7 11:00 am - Mother s Day Tea May 8 9:00 am - Service of Holy Communion 10:30 am - Sunday School - St. Paul s Kids Youth Meeting 11:30 am - Worship & Music Committee Meeting May 10 8:00 am - Sewing Memorial Bldg. Basement 7:00 pm - Council Meeting - NEWSLETTER ARTICLES DUE IN OFFICE May 11 9:00 am - Enola Girls + 1 (Claremont Home) 2:00 pm - Enola Girls + 1 (Forest Park Home) 7:00 pm - Adult Choir Practice May 15 9:00 am - Service of Holy Communion 10:30 am - Sunday School 11:15 am - Cherub Choir Practice May 17 8:00 am - Sewing Memorial Bldg. Basement 7:00 pm - Christian Education Ministry Meeting May 18 7:00 pm - Adult Choir Practice - SANDWICH ORDERS DUE May 22 9:00 am - Service of Holy Communion Church Music Sunday & Honor the Graduates 10:30 am - Sunday School 4:00 pm - Pastor Reeves Installation Service May 23 8:00 am - Sewing Memorial Bldg. Basement May 24 6:30 am - Make/Deliver Sandwiches 8:30 am - Willing Workers Meeting 7:00 pm - Evangelism Ministry Meeting May 25 9:00 am - Enola Girls + 1 (Claremont Home) 2:00 pm - Enola Girls + 1 (Forest Park Home) 7:00 pm - Adult Choir Practice May 29 9:00 am - Service of Holy Communion 10:30 am - Sunday School May 31 7:00 pm - Property Ministry Meeting REMINDER TO COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Please let Church Office know if you are changing your meeting date or time. 11