WYOMISSING UCC JUNE 2017 NEWSLETTER A Note from Pastor Selina. Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, The time is quickly approaching when we will say good-bye to each other as I take leave of this community and my role as your pastor. I am so grateful for the time we have spent together and all of the ways we have grown in faith and all that we have learned throughout these five years. Since I shared the news of my resignation in April, I have been touched by your graciousness. I am grateful for the many ways you have continued to work with me and care for me as your pastor and fellow Christian. From the depths of my heart, thank you. I am also grateful and hopeful for the ways you have continued to look ahead and work for the future of this church. The Consistory has been working hard, with the help of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference, to plan and prepare for the next steps this congregation will take together. I trust that God has a plan for Wyomissing UCC, and I will keep praying for you as you continue on your journey. Pentecost Sunday, June 4 th will be my last day as your pastor. That Sunday we will give thanks for this church s heritage and the many people who have made Wyomissing UCC what it is, including the members who have been part of this church for fifty years or longer. We will give thanks for the future of this church as we celebrate a confirmation. And we will give thanks for our time together, as we say our farewells. After that service, I will no longer be your pastor. With that change comes some important changes in our relationship, boundaries that are recommended by the United Church of Christ Pastoral Ethics Code and that are agreed upon by many denominations. These include: I will no longer be in a pastoral relationship with you. I will not be able to provide for pastoral emergencies or spiritual care. I will not attend worship or church events unless officially invited, after at least a year s absence and the installation of a new, settled pastor. I will not return to officiate at funerals, weddings or baptisms. I will not discuss church business or happenings with you. I will no longer receive internal church communications or be a member of Wyomissing UCC Facebook groups. These guidelines can feel abrupt and cold, but they are grounded in the wisdom of the church s experience and in my care of you. After June 4 th, it is important for you to connect with your interim pastor and after that with your next settled pastor. Simply put, I need to get out of the way so that you will be ready to accept and welcome a new minister with the kind of excitement you showed when you welcomed me. These guidelines are designed to protect the health of the church and the well-being of individuals (both laity and clergy) and so out of my love and care for you, I will faithfully follow them. You, the people of Wyomissing UCC, will always hold a special place in my heart. I give thanks to God for the blessing of our time together. In Christ s Peace, Pastor Selina Inside this issue: Consistory Corner 50+ Years Members Sunday School Happenings Save the Date Music Notes Hilltopper s Social Ministries Acoyltes Birthdays Consistory Greeters Stewardship Ushers 2 3 4 5 6 Kids Corner 7 June Calendar 8
Page 2 WYOMISSING UCC Consistory Corner The Consistory met with Rev. Sharon Morris, a Conference representative, who presented information packets to the Consistory members outlining our steps on securing a new pastor. Rev. Morris mentioned several options to the Consistory which provides for one full-time pastor to serve two congregations. Obviously, since these scenarios were thrown out to us without any facts, the Consistory must obtain more information to present to the congregation. The Consistory has postponed the part-time/full-time pastor vote decision while they obtain more facts on the options. There will be several congregational meetings/ discussion times before a new date is set for a vote on the type of pastor we pursue. As you know and heard, the new organ has been fin- tuned and been in use. We thank the Choir and United Fellowship for their generous donations toward the organ cost. Their donations, along with everyone else who contributed, has put us over the half-way point in our fund drive. On June 4th, we will also be paying tribute to all those who are 50-year members of the Wyomissing Church. It will be an honor to present them with a certificate of appreciation during the service. The June 4th service will also be the last service and day that Pastor Selina Hamilton will be our Pastor. Her formal departure will take place during that service. We all wish her well as she embarks on serving a new congregation in the Fall. We extend our thanks for her service to our congregation, as well as, our love to her and her family. Pastor Christine Pifer-Foote will begin to serve as a supply pastor starting on June 25th. She is not new as she was with us for twelve weeks during Pastor Selina s maternity leave. She is excited to get started as she will be doing more than just preaching on Sunday mornings. Should any person need pastoral care, please call the church office or contact Bob Mohn at 610-775-0406. It is my trust in God that our church will be alright. As I said before, the survival of our church is the responsibility of each and every one of us as members to keep Wyomissing UCC the GREAT church it is.
Page 3 50+ Year Members Member s Name Year Joined # Of Years Henry Shirk 1942 75 Marjorie Gehman 1944 73 Earl Matz 1944 73 Solomon Mohn 1945 72 Paul Mosser 1947 70 Marion Shirk 1948 69 C. Kenneth Artz 1949 68 Daniel Boone 1949 68 Ferne Slichter 1949 68 Shirley Artz 1952 65 June Fink 1954 63 Mahlon Fink 1954 63 Doris Mohn 1954 63 Eleanor Mosser 1954 63 Arletta Reisch 1954 63 Liane Rinehart 1954 63 Charles Bealer 1956 61 Janet Blimline 1956 61 Raymond Eckenroth 1956 61 Agnes Sweigart 1956 61 Mary Jane Keehn 1957 60 Gloria Brendle 1958 59 Lillian Glase 1959 58 Ronald Reisch 1959 58 Kenny Blimline 1960 57 Robert Mohn 1960 57 Rosalie Welder 1960 57 Peg Richards 1961 56 Nancy Bealer 1963 54 Bill Showalter 1963 54 Joan Texter 1964 53 Judith Diedrich 1965 52 W. Richard Diedrich 1965 52 Joyce Goshert 1965 52 Peggy Mohn 1965 52 Lewis Disque 1966 51 RuthAnn Disque 1966 51 James Holtzer, Jr. 1966 51 Janet Bohn 1967 50 Robert Bohn 1967 50 Alfred Glase 1967 50
Page 4 SUNDAY SCHOOL HAPPENINGS WYOMISSING UCC GOUGLERSVILLE S GOT TALENT SHOW Sunday, September 10th (prior to Worship) Dance, Sing, Instruments, Juggle, or any talent you wish to share with everyone! Participation prizes will be awarded. Entries need to sign up by August 27th; there will be a run-through on August 27th of all entries to practice. There will be a sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board of the Educational Bldg. (lower level near rear parking lot of church). OUTDOOR SERVICE AND PICNIC WILL BE HELD ON JULY 9TH. Thanks to everyone who helped and supported our Shoo-fly Pie Sale. A special thank you to everyone who helped in making the pies! It was another huge success! If your child is interested in attending Vacation Bible School this year, we will be joining Trinity Lutheran for their program. It will be June 18-22 from 6-8:30 pm. Sign-up sheets for those that are interested are posted in the Narthex and Education Bldg. bulletin board.
Page 5 MUSIC NOTES Thank you to everyone who helped with the Chicken Corn Noodle soup prep and also to those who helped purchase and sell. It was a great fundraiser! SOCIAL MINISTRIES Have a safe and Happy Summer! The next meeting will be on September 12th at 10:00 am. Social Ministries will be collecting items for Hygiene Kits over the summer. More information will be available in the July/August newsletter and upcoming bulletins. Congratulations on your Confirmation Sarah Ulrich! Hilltopper s Annual Picnic will be held on June 1 at 11:30 am at the Mohnton Park. Lunch is served at 12 noon. Congratulations to all College & High School Graduates! Dennis Swartz, Jr. Alvernia Univeristy B.A. Criminal Justice Brandon Fisher Penn State University Organ Fund envelopes are located in the Narthex, for those who wish to donate to this fund. To date, $38,431.00 has been received towards this fund! Cozy into a hammock. It s a great way to spend a summer day!
Page 6 USHER SCHEDULE JUNE 2017 6/1 Sarah Colamarino 6/3 Lewis Disque 6/6 Mary Fisher 6/11 Mackenzie Caron 6/13 Lisa Uhland 6/15 Arletta Reisch 6/16 Agnes Sweigart 6/19 George Rinehart 6/19 Ryan Hill 6/21 Brenden Reisch 6/24 Harvey Ebersol 6/27 Rosalie Welder June 4th Bob Mohn, Bob Hartman, Kathy Hartman, Daryl Showalter, Sherrie Taylor, Stephanie Ulrich June 11th Daryl Showalter, Kenny Blimline, Harvey Ebersol Sally Colamarino, Tammy Ebersol, Daryn Ebersol June 18th Janet Blimline, Kenny Blimline, Dennis Swartz, Archie Ulshafer, Jim Turner June 25th Richard Diedrich, John Weitzel, Daryl Showalter, Stephanie Ulrich, Daryn Ebersol ACOLYTE SCHEDULE 4th - Rachel Ulrich CONSISTORY GREETER June 4th & 11th Bob Hartman June 18th & 25th Daryn Ebersol 11th - Dillon Taylor 18th - Brandon Taylor 25th - Katie Ebersol April Stewardship Monthly Budget Guideline $ 11,739.00 April Offerings $ 6.557.00 April Monthly Difference $ -5,182.00 April Average Attendance 73 Summer Worship Schedule (9 am) starts on June 11th.
KID S CORNER.. Page 7
JUNE 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 11:30 am Hilltopper s Annual Picnic at Mohnton Park 2 3 National Trails Day! 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10:30 am Worship Communion Confirmation 50+ year Member Recognition 7:00 pm Consistory Meeting Best Friends Day! After Worship Luncheon 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Summer Worship Schedule Starts 9:00 am Worship Sewing Machine Day! Newsletter Articles Due (July/August) 18 9:00 am Worship 19 20 21 Go Skate Day! 22 23 24 9:00 am Worship 25 26 Forgiveness Day! 27 28 29 Waffle Iron Day! 30