The Messenger Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors. Volume 64 March 2017 Issue 3
the Pastor s PAGE Lenten Lunches This year the Lenten Lunches will be held in the Carey Center. This is our first opportunity to host the Lenten lunches since the Carey center was built. We are excited about showing the center off to the community. The lunches begin at noon on Wednesdays. Various churches will provide the lunch, and one of the area pastors will share in a time of devotions. The first Lenten lunch will be Wednesday March 8, and they will continue through Wednesday April 5 th. Since our church is hosting the lunches, it will be our responsibility to set up table and chairs, provide paper products, and to supply beverages for the lunch. We will be asking for help from our members to be able to do a good job in hosting the event. Thanks for your support and assistance. The Season of Lent Lent is one of the seasons on the church calendar that we observe as Christians. Lent is a forty day period leading up to Easter. There is nothing in the Bible that mandates that we observe Lent, but Christians through the ages have found it helpful in their Christian walk to observe Lent as a way to prepare for the Easter celebration. The period of forty days is found several times in the scriptures. Jesus went out into the wilderness for forty days as he prepared to begin his ministry. He was tempted by the devil, and found strength to resist those temptations and commit to doing the Lord s will. So, Lent was established as a time of prayer, fasting, and soul-searching. It is a time of reflection, as we seek to repent and remove from our lives anything that hinders us from living fully for the Lord. It is a time to recommit our lives to the will and ways of God. I trust you will use this time to reflect on your service to the Lord. I know that it will be a time that I will use to reflect on my upcoming retirement, and seek the Lord s will in how He wants to use me in the future. In Christian Love, Pastor Dave
EASTER FLOWERS INSERT You will find information and an order form enclosed in the Messenger. If you would like to order flowers for our Easter Service, the deadline is Sunday, April 2. An order form will also be in the bulletins on March 12, 19 and 26. LENTEN LUNCHEONS The Monaca Ministerium is sponsoring the 2017 Lenten Luncheons, which will be held here at Monaca UMC on Wednesdays during Lent. The meals will be served at 12 pm. The first luncheon will be held on March 8. Each week following the luncheon, an inspirational message will be presented by a different member of the Monaca Ministerium.
ASH WEDNESDAY Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, falls on March 1 this year. The Ash Wednesday service will be held at 7 pm. DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME Don t forget to Spring Ahead one hour on Sunday, March 12, at 2am OR if you don t want to stay up or wake up, remember to change them Saturday night. SUPER SOUP SUNDAY Come one and all on Sunday, March 12, 2017. Soup, beverage and dessert will be provided in the Carey Center after church. A sign-up sheet is on the table in the lobby of the Carey Center to donate bread, crackers, or soup. Please sign up by March 5. FOOD PANTRY March Food Pantry date is Tuesday, March 14. Please remember our food pantry. There are so many in need, and we appreciate your love and concern for all God s children. We are now serving around 30 families each month. Look for the Food Pantry Offering basket on the table at the rear of the Sanctuary. Items needed: Spaghetti sauce (cans) Spaghetti Crackers Cereal Tuna or canned meat Canned or dried fruit Canned vegetables Macaroni & cheese Rice Dinners Hamburger Helper Peanut Butter (Sm or Med) Monetary donations designated for Food Pantry
The need in our community continues to grow. Thank you for your support. JAN. 29/FEB. 12 OFFERING Jan. 29 $1,812.00 Feb. 5 $2,081.00 Feb. 12 $2,926.50 Received 2017-to-date $13,495.50 Thanks for your faithfulness! Note: detailed Account Balance Reports are available to any who wish to examine them. MARCH MEETINGS Finance Committee March 8 7 pm Trustees March 15 Admin Council March 22 7 pm 7 pm CHANCEL CHOIR Chancel Choir Practice Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. MARCH ANTHEMS March. 5 - O Lord Most Holy March 12 - He Became a Lamb March 19 - Contemporary Service March 26 - His Will Was Done ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017 The fourth Sunday in Lent, provides major support of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which provides immediate assistance in the wake of disasters and helps support ongoing ministries of food, shelter, health and peace. One Great
Hour of Sharing allows 100 percent of designated gifts to be used for specified disaster response or other ministry.
PRAYER CONCERNS Pray for our shut-ins: Nicole Hesser, Paul Rowse, Pat Brandt, Thelma Sochor, Bonnie Sanders, Gladys Goodrich, Jack Ralston. In February we have also been praying for: Tee Mamula, Bob Cook, Robert Trumpeter, Lori and Jack Davis, Tanya Heidel, G. Heidel, Shirley Doutt, Mary L., Ann M, Pat Celeste, Lisa Moore, Toni Pushinsky, Mac, Joe Haney, Amy Hartwick, Dorothy Johnston, Ryan Peters, Eric & Maureen Milbert and family, Will Childs, Jack Ralston, Gail Wolfe, Ashley Goodrich, Cheryl Maze, Jordan and Austin Miller, Ruth Graham, Penny Hart, Gene Wolfe, Caroline Wolfe, Bob Graham, Debra Strouse-Hurte, the family of George J. Vaughn, Michael Shane, Betty Dierdorf, Shirley Hollister, Carol Pisano, Alex Andrews, Marian M., Mary Taglieri., Adam Revelant, Jesse Snyder, Ed Zupsic, Tom and Carol Zupsic, Josie Iuele, Pat Celeste, Amy Hartwick, Dorothy Johnston, Jim and Karen Rogers, Larry and Vivian Nash, Ron, victims of tornadoes and winter storms., Ron Vogler, Toni Pushinsky, Rae, Allison Berg Farmer, Sandy Vaughn, Dan Householder, Chuck Wetzel, those affected by the Oroville Dam situation. MUMC PRAYER CHAIN If you are interested in joining our church Prayer Chain, please contact Nancy Beringer at 724-775-5331 or Bobbie Dierdorf at 724-774-5487. HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THE HIPAA LAW HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) concerns the right to privacy for patients under medical care. If you want us to know when you or a loved one enters the hospital, you must notify Pastor Dave (724-242-5587), &/or the church office (724-775-6702). If you wish prayer during your hospitalization or recovery, please notify Nancy Beringer, 724-775-5331 or Bobbie Dierdorf at 724-774-5487 to have your name on the Prayer Chain. TREE OF LIFE A new leaf has been added to the Tree of Life in memory of Doris John.
MARCH BIRTHDAYS Margie Sargeson 2 Linda Doughty 3 Cindy Kibler 3 Cheryl Lako 8 Julie Kramer 10 Thelma Mamula 10 Gregory Evans 11 Richard Suman Jr. 12 Ruth Shawger 25 Sophia Bozza 26 Martin McCullough 28 Antoinette Basalyga 31 Birthdays are good for your health. Studies have shown that people who have more birthdays live longer. Birthdays are nature s way of telling us to eat more cake. There are two great days in a person s life the day we are born and the day we discover why. William Barclay Forget the past; look forward to the future, for the best things are yet to come. We have to be able to grow up. Our wrinkles are our medals of the passage of life. They are what we have been through and who we want to be. Lauren Hutton MISSED YOURS? If we missed your birthday or anniversary, please give us a call so we can include you in the future. If there are any corrections, please let us know about them, too. Thanks. Monaca United Methodist Church 813 Indiana Ave., Monaca PA 15061 Phone: 724 775 6702 Email: monacaumc@gmail.com Web Page: monacaumc.org Office Hours: Tues & Thurs 10:00am 3:00 pm Adult/Youth Christian Ed 9:30 a.m. Children s Christian Ed 10:45 am Sunday Worship: 10:45 am Sundays Pastor: Rev. David Vaughn Home Phone: 724 242-5587 - Email: rev.davon@gmail.com Organist: Norma Coast Choir Director: Kay Carrier Secretary: Jane Lee Custodian: Sean Bunney
Monaca United Methodist Church 813 Indiana Avenue, Monaca PA 15061