Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 33 S. 11th Street, Reading, PA 19602 God s Responsive people Acting out our faith by Committing ourselves to reach out to Each and Everyone in God s vast creation. *********** EPISTLE OF GRACE *********** April 2017 Journey with Us Through Worship schedule is on pages 4-5. As We Anticipate the Promise of New Life 1
Pastoral Reflection April 2017 As we conclude our Lenten journey and prepare to enter the new life of the Easter season, I want to share with you one of my favorite Easter reflections. This is a poem by artist and author Jan Richardson, and as I read it, I am reminded of Luke 24:5, "...they said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.'" If you enjoy this poem, you can find more, with corresponding artwork, at paintedprayerbook.com. Peace be with you, Pastor Marsha Easter Blessing If you are looking for a blessing, do not linger here. Here is only emptiness, a hollow, a husk where a blessing used to be. This blessing was not content in its confinement. It could not abide its isolation, the unrelenting silence, the pressing stench of death. 2
So if it is a blessing that you seek, open your own mouth. Fill your lungs with the air that this new morning brings and then release it with a cry. Hear how the blessing breaks forth in your own voice how your own lips form every word you never dreamed to say. See how the blessing circles back again wanting you to repeat it but louder how it draws you pulls you sends you to proclaim its only word: risen risen risen. 3
LENT & HOLY WEEK 2017 Grace, St. John s, and Christ Theme: Building Bridges We Continue with Our Wednesdays in Lent: 6:00 p.m. Soup, bread, and dessert 6:45 Worship Theme: Building Bridges Each week, we will invite a guest speaker from a sometimes marginalized group to be a part of our simple worship service. They may bring friends and community members. Wednesday, March 29 at Christ, 1301 Luzerne Street Building Bridges with Muslims in our community Bring a dessert to share Wednesday, April 5 here at Grace Building Bridges with Jews in our community We will provide the soup and bread If you want a ride to Wednesday evening worship or for Holy Week services, please call the church office 610-375-3961 before noon on Wednesday. Dan Tranovich will drive the van for those requesting transportation to any of the three churches. 4
Palm/Passion Sunday April 9 Grace, St. John s, and Christ will each hold worship this day 10:30 a.m. at Grace Worship with Holy Communion and the Stripping of the Altar Maundy Thursday April 13 St. John s Lutheran Church 521 Walnut St. 5:30 8:00 p.m. Community Meal during Food Pantry with Prayer and Communion Stations Good Friday April 14 Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 33 S. 11 th St. No meal 7:00 p.m. Worship Easter April 16 Grace, St. John s, and Christ will each hold worship this day 10:30 a.m. Worship at Grace Offering during mid-week Lenten Worship Envelopes will be given to the designated congregation. Loose offering will be given to the groups represented by our guest speakers on Wednesdays. 5
February 2017 Highlights FEBRUARY: INCOME: $7,596.90 EXPENSES: $12,089.20 GENERAL FUND: Balance February 28, 2017 was $ 4,127.24 BUILDING FUND: Balance February 28, 2017 was $ 3,107.74 MEMORIAL FUND: Balance February 28, 2017 was $ 4,040.06 Worship and Music: Settings were changed at the start of Lent. New black folders for the choir were purchased with Memorial Fund monies. Apple Dumpling Gang: 63 pounds of Easter candy was sold. Candy can be picked up at church on Palm Sunday, April 9. Affirmation of Welcome Statement The people of Grace ELC embrace and seek to celebrate the beautiful, amazing diversity of God s creation and affirm the dignity and worth of every person created in the image of God. We believe God loves us all and calls us into community to share the good news of God s love. In covenant, as members of Christ s Church, we celebrate God s love for people of every race, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, faith, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, and physical, mental, and emotional ability. We believe it is time for our church to open its doors to the movement of God s Holy Spirit and to be open and affirming of all people, wherever they find themselves in the journey of life. At the same time, we recognize that there remain differences of opinion among us. We do not seek to erase our differences. We welcome all in our journey together in faith toward greater understanding and mutual respect. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15:7 6
Reconciling in Christ "Corner" A series devoted to our process of becoming a Reconciling in Christ congregation This month, as part of our journey to more fully welcome our LGBTQ neighbors, we will hear a few LGBTQ folks respond to the question, What do you think God thinks about you being LGBTQ? God knew I was gay before calling me to ministry, even though I didn t. And God called me to know (and love) myself, that I may know and love God and God s creation. Jean Hay, seminary graduate, Burnsville, MN I think God might think People sure are funny the way they try to label everybody. the Rev. Steven Wilco, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Amherst, MA It sounds cheesy but honestly I believe God made me just as God intended and thinks I m beautiful. My own and other people s perceptions are what gets in the way and my sense is that God is saddened and kind of mystified by that. Marissa Sotos, seminarian, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago I believe God mourns when the gifts God gives (in the case of my sexual orientation, gifts of desire, identity, community, pleasure, among many others) go ignored or untended, and I believe God rejoices when they are cultivated and celebrated for the good of the world! Joel Bergeland, Intern, St. Paul s Lutheran Church, Santa Monica, CA I think God created me beautiful, including my sexual orientation. It is just one of the many gifts God creates in us. And, then, God moves on. God says get over it it is not the defining aspect of who you are as a child of God. Lauren Morse-Wendt, diaconal minister, Mission and Ministry Developer, Edina Community Lutheran Church, Edina, MN 7
April Worship Assistants Greeters Lector Communion Assistants April 2 Fifth Sunday in Lent Pat Tranovich Claire Ruth Ernie Mengel April 9 Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion Mae Quire Lynn Reed Barb Seidel Dennis Spolski Elaine Bachman April 16 Easter Sunday Scott Reeser Lois Miller Betty Shaw Pat Tranovich Rita Wilk April 23 Second Sunday of Easter Louise McCloughan Bobbi Weidner Dan Tranovich April 30 Youth Youth Third Sunday of Easter / Youth Sunday Sponsors Needed Will you sponsor the altar flowers, sanctuary lamp, and/or bulletins during April? A sponsorship is a wonderful way to remember or acknowledge a family member or friend. There are many sponsorships still available: Flowers, 2 vases: each Sunday in April Sanctuary Lamp: April 9, 23, and 30 Bulletins: each Sunday in April Cost for sponsoring a vase of flowers, lamp, or bulletin is $15 each. Sponsor sheets are available in the back of the nave or by calling the church office. Forms should be returned to Louise McCloughan. 8
Easter Lilies Please use this form to order Easter lilies for the church. The lilies will be displayed in the sanctuary on Easter morning and can be taken home following worship at 10:30. Cost is $8.50 per plant. Deadline for ordering is Sunday, April 9. Payment must accompany order. NAME: ADDRESS: PHONE: # of Easter lily plants X $8.50 each = $ IN LOVING MEMORY OF: GIVEN BY: IN LOVING MEMORY OF: GIVEN BY: IN LOVING MEMORY OF: GIVEN BY: IN LOVING HONOR OF: GIVEN BY: IN LOVING HONOR OF: GIVEN BY: IN LOVING HONOR OF: GIVEN BY: 9
March 19, 2017 Dear Members and Friends of Grace & St. John s, Kathy and I would like to apologize for not serving breakfast on March 19th. We feel really bad about it. We are both fine now, but I did have a medical emergency on Friday afternoon that was not resolved until Saturday. I really thought we were only at the second Sunday of the month and wouldn t have to cancel breakfast. Kathy s thoughts were only on getting my medical needs addressed. I d like to blame the pain meds I was on, but if I want to be honest with myself and to all of you, I need to take the blame for not realizing what weekend it was. Again, we really apologize to everyone at Grace and St. John s. We look forward to seeing you at breakfast on April 9th (date change due to Easter being on the third Sunday of April). Peace to all of you, Ernie Mengel Palm Sunday, April 9, 8:45 a.m. 10
Congratulations Diane Ohlinger and Grow in Grace Tutoring! Diane Ohlinger is this year s recipient of the Volunteer Award at the annual breakfast of the Ready.Set.Read! literacy program held at the Crowne Plaza on March 16. Diane was honored for her work in directing Grow in Grace Tutoring, which uses the Ready.Set.Read! Program to assist children from Amanda Stout and 10th and Penn Elementary Schools improve their reading skills. Thanks to the many volunteers who come to Grace each Tuesday afternoon to help the children become better readers and achieve greater success in life. Their commitment helps the children know Grace as a safe place in which they can grow while having fun. 11
Spring Fling 2017 Saturday, May 20, 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Country Barbecue Corner 1/2 Rotisserie Chicken, $6.00, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. See any committee member to purchase tickets. We are in need of CLOTHING (no shoes!), BOOKS (no magazines!) and WHITE ELEPHANT ITEMS (small appliances must be in working condition). These items will be accepted starting now and can be brought to the church any weekday morning or on Sunday mornings. The FOOD ITEMS on the bottom of this form will be accepted the day of the Spring Fling. HOMEMADE BAKED GOODS are in great demand; we never have enough of those great goodies! We ask that all food donations be at the church by 9:00 a.m. on May 20. There will be hot dogs, hamburgers, and beverages for those who need a lunch pick-me-up. If you can work all or even part of the day, please sign-up below. We need many volunteers to have a successful SPRING FLING! 2017 Spring Fling Donations & Volunteers Name: Phone: I will work at the Spring Fling: Set-up ( ) Clean-up ( ) Stand: I will donate a raffle prize:. I will donate the following food items: Baked goods: Pepper Cabbage Cole Slaw Macaroni Salad Rice Pudding Potato Salad Red Beets / Eggs Baked Beans Pasta Salad Deviled Eggs Chili Soup Other: 12
Berks County Meals on Wheels Needs Delivery People! Will you volunteer 60 to 90 minutes once a month, once every two weeks, or even weekly to bring a meal and support to homebound senior citizens who rely on the Meals on Wheels program for a weekday nutritious meal? Volunteers are needed at all locations, but most especially in the downtown Reading area. The meals are packed and ready to be picked up Mondays Fridays, between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at 40 North 9th Street, Reading. The best way to deliver is to have two people on a route so that the driver remains with the car and the runner takes the meal to the door. You may volunteer with a friend to form your team of two, or Meals on Wheels can supply a runner for you. If a driver would like to have mileage reimbursement, Meals on Wheels will provide this as well. If interested, please contact Elanore Herbst, Reading Center Meals on Wheels Coordinator, at 610-374-3195 x236. Be Part Of The Great American Clean-Up In Our Neighborhood Everyone who lives, visits, works, or worships in the city of Reading, is invited to join in the city's 24th Annual Great American Cleanup on Saturday, April 22. We at Grace will start at 9 am and clean around the outside of the church, including parking lot and alleys. As in previous years, after clean up we meet at Riverfront Park for a celebration which includes all participants of the city clean up. Supplies for clean up will be provided by the city. There is a sign up sheet located on the table outside the Fellowship Hall near the library. Please join us for this event and sign up no later than Sunday, April 2. Miss Diane will register our church with the city. This a national initiative of Keep America Beautiful and will not only beautify our environment but assists in building our community. Thank you! 13
April Birthdays 4 Dottie Belinski 10 Pat Tranovich 12 Pam Washington 17 Michael Reed, Tyler Washington 23 Kathy Mengel, Donna Mull 25 Sue Ortiz 29 Brian Ballantine If you would like to add your birthday to our birthday list, which is published in the newsletter each month, please contact the church office at 610-375-3961 or office@readinggrace.org. 14
Parental Leave Pastor Marsha is away on parental leave until April 18. During her absence, Pastor Sonja Ware of St. John s and Pastor Katie Lyon of Christ will take turns providing pastoral care for us. If you are in need of pastoral care during this time, please call our church office so the appropriate pastor can be contacted. Contact information for the on-call pastor will also be included in the Sunday bulletin and on the church answering machine message. Please do not call Pastor Marsha s cell phone during her absence. Thank you! Easter Candy Orders Pick up your Easter candy on Palm Sunday, April 9, after worship. Newsletter Deadline Deadline for submitting articles for the May newsletter is Monday, April 24. Looking Ahead Hello Summer Picnic June 25. Feeling Ill? Going to the Hospital? Please call the church office at 610-375-3961. This is the only way to be sure that the pastor will know. Transportation is Available for Sunday Worship! If you are in need of a ride to church on Sunday mornings, make a reservation by calling the church office at 610-375-3961 between 9:00 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday. Messages are not checked between Friday noon and Sunday worship. 15
Church Staff Marsha Anderson, Pastor Kathy Yenser, Church Administrator Jane Battaglieri, Organist/Choir Director Diane Ohlinger, Christian Education Woody Turner, Sexton Office Hours: Mon-Fri. 9:00 AM Noon Telephone number: 610-375-3961 Fax Number: 610-375-1982 Web Site: www.readinggrace.org E-mail: glcrdg@comcast.net Or Office@readinggrace.org For Pastoral Emergencies Call the Church Office 610-375-3961 Like us on Facebook! A Member of The Reading Lutheran Parish IN THE CITY FOR GOOD! 16