On the Journey at St. John s July 2017 St. John s United Church of Christ 538 E. Thomas St. Coopersburg, PA 18036 610-282-3310 Volume 18 Issue 7 RANDOM ITEMS AND THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR HAPPY JULY! SAFE TRAVELS AND REST FOR ALL THOSE VACATIONING THIS MONTH! As you are probably well aware COB Community Outreach Event is this month! Please participate and spread the word. There are flyers in the church lobby to give out to family and friends. I know I am already lobbying to have my granddaughters come and join the fun. And as a point of reference I am scheduled for the dunk tank volunteer/sacrificial lamb in the mid-afternoon! Here is your chance to let me know how much you love me! (She types with a smile) We also have several restaurant nights scheduled. Please take advantage of them and help support our benefit! Baked good items are needed for COB. Please speak to Jane Ticknor if questions. Book Study is wrapping up and we will take a break till September. I would like to hear from you--- do you want to do traditional bible discussion or another book in the fall. I am open to both but would like to start planning. Second idea- I am thinking in the fall of getting a women s and a separate men s groups started. What are your thoughts on that idea? Your opinion matters. To be honest, emailing me, or just writing a quick note would be the best way to share your ideas. Prayer Partners when is the last time you reached out to your partner? Today is the day to be a blessing in someone else s life!!! Our first movie night was a success! You missed a great movie and great fellowship! The next movie night is scheduled July 16 th. We are watching the movie Collateral Beauty. Along with soda, popcorn, and pretzels, the Pastor is making Walking Tacos! Come join the fun. Bring your own chair or use one of ours. Thanks largely to Bob Wuesthoff s family we are having a part of the church painted. The family donated a large part of the bill, leaving us with $1700 to cover out of our operating budget. If you would like to donate to offset this expense please feel free to make your donation and clearly mark your envelope. Finally, I am looking for donations of new or gently used Bibles. We are going to have a Free Prayer Booth at both COB and Coopersburg Community Day. I need adult and children s Bibles. I am asking that you stay away from the King James Version (KJV) only because it is more difficult to read, especially in the children s Bibles. Okay, one more thing.. Please keep praying for this church; we are on a new journey and your prayers are the energy that keeps us going. Summer Blessings, Pastor Teresa
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NEWS I am about six months into the duties of Council President. The business of St. John s is on-going. And while I am busy, it is really the church folks who get things done. I never like to think I take it for granted things will happen just because it always seems to. But I do. Do we expect the church to be clean? Yes, and Robin Wambold does a great job, often cleaning up after an event. Do we get a great spread for fellowship to include concert events and Vespers? Absolutely. I know it will happen, I just rarely say thank you. We advertise child care during worship. About five minutes before the start of each service I walk back to the nursery and Samantha Bamberger or Grace O Brien is standing there ready to go. COB happens every last Sunday of July. Enough said. Betty Lou s Pantry is manned thanks to Elaine Trexler s posse. Jerry Trexler had just finished 17 months on Search and Call and yet volunteered to service on council. Also, thanks to Jean Hanville, Bill Knittle and Neil O Brien for doing the same. Each Sunday a tech is scheduled to help with the worship slides. Just happens, right? Nope, Marc Bamberger, Darlene, Marlene, Doug Davis and Bill Knittle man the laptop. Clean-up day comes and goes with people showing up, materials in hand. This year brought Marlene, Harry, Anne and John Schubert with the girl scouts led by Chris Bamberger. Craig Thatcher steps up to the plate for COB, Vespers, and the annual Christmas Concert. It is no coincidence with Craig s name on the marquee St. John s draws the biggest crowds insuring the best financial returns. The bell before each service is rung, Patrick is ready with the Prelude, the correct altar trappings are in place. Ushers, Greeters, and the folks who sort and count the envelopes happen each Sunday. We thank you all. Lastly, there is someone who most people never see. That would be our Church Secretary Miss Rock Steady Carol Kelly. She is professional, thorough, and as pleasant a person you could ever meet. Fortunately for me, Carol is also very patient and forgiving. Seems I have a habit of meeting the newsletter deadline two minutes before the hour. That reminds me. All the articles are proofread. For that I need to offer special props to Betty Bamberger. St. John s is very fortunate to have such dedicated people, certainly, no less thankful than me. Grace and Peace John Ruby Council President Page 2
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ST. JOHN S! On July 23rd, we are celebrating our Church Anniversary. Service will be at 9:30 am with Holy Communion. Afterwards we are having a coffee hour to celebrate. Bring your favorite brunch type food to celebrate with us!! See you then! MOVIE NIGHT AND DISCUSSION St. John s UCC 538 E Thomas Street Coopersburg PA 18036 DATES AND MOVIE July 16 th Collateral Beauty August 27 th -- The Case for Christ Time 5 pm Free Admission- popcorn and soda available 50 cents each You are welcome to bring your own snacks and beverages to enjoy during the movie. After each movie there will be a chance for discussion. Event held in air conditioned room! Bring your own comfortable chair or use one of ours. Call church office for more info (610) 282-3310 or check out our Facebook page and website- St. John s Coopersburg. Nursery care is available but we ask that you make a reservation by calling or emailing Pastor- RevTeresaMartin@outlook.com IN MEMORIAM VERNON ZWEIFEL Vernon "Mike" G. Zweifel, 85, of Coopersburg, passed away on Thursday, June 8th 2017. He was the son of the late Vernon and Clara (Barthold) Zweifel. He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy in 20 15. Mike was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving during the Korean War. He was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxillary, Easton Flotilla, St. John's UCC and the Masonic Lodge 469. Coopersburg. Survivors: Children; Michael Zweifel and his wife Linda, Debbie Stauffer and her husband Clayton, Mary Crafcheck, Judy Henderson and her husband Kevin; sister, Dolores Keppel; and nine grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren. Page 3
HAPPY BIRTHDAY July 2 Tom Bamberger 4 Bill Knittle 5 Silas Humphreys 9 Harry Hanville 16 Cheryl Urmy HAPPY ANNIVERSARY July 11 Paul and Linda Belke Please help keep this listing up-to-date by contacting the office with additions and/or corrections! Thank you! Gentle Morning Yoga at St. John s Wednesdays 9-10:00 a.m. begins July 19 $5 class RSVP: Carol 610-428-1236 Page 4
Alan Miller is retiring after serving the Penn Northeast Conference for 15 years as PNEC's Conference Minister We want to say "thank you" so we are having a banquet in Alan's honor. To make reservations: call (610-826-3113) email BarbaraJ@pnec.org Sunday, July 23, 2017 4:00 p.m. Gathering & Fellowship 5:00 p.m. Dinner Northampton Memorial Community Center 1601 Laubach Avenue, Northampton, PA Cost: $25 per person for the banquet Please make all checks payable to: "PNEC" and mail to 431 Delaware Avenue, Palmerton, PA 18071; Attn: Barbara. Dinner reservations are due June 30, 2017. Here are two important opportunities for you to express your gratitude for Alan's ministry among us these past 15 years: 1. You or your congregation (or even both) can make a contribution to a "love offering" that we will be presenting to Alan on behalf of the churches and members of the Conference in gratitude for his service and leadership. (Checks should be payable to PNEC and mailed to the Conference Office, 431 Delaware Avenue, Palmerton, PA 18071.) 2. Send in a card, letter, or story about your experiences with Alan. These cards and letters will be included in a "Memory Scrapbook" which will be presented to Alan at the banquet. Page 5
JULY 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2 9:30 a.m. Worship 9 9:30 a.m. Worship 16 9:30 a.m. Worship 5:00 p.m. Movie Collateral Beauty 23 9:30 a.m. Worship Church Anniversary Communion & Coffee Hour 30 9:30 a.m. Worship COB Block 3 6-7:15 p.m. Yoga 10 6-7:15 p.m. Yoga 17 6-7:15 p.m. Yoga 24 6-7:15 p.m. Yoga 31 6-7:15 p.m. Yoga 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 Council Meeting COB fundraiser 3:30-9:00 p.m. Ecco Domani 18 COB fundraiser all day - Coopersburg Subway 19 9-10 a.m. Yoga 25 26 9-10 a.m. Yoga 13 14 15 20 21 22 27 28 29 FUNDRAISERS FOR COB Wed, July 12 3:30-9 Ecco Domani * Tues, July 18th all day at Coopersburg Subway Wed, Aug 2 5-9PM Inside Scoop * Tues, Wed and Thurs, Aug 8,9,10 Bella Ristorante 639 Main St., Hellertown No flyers or mention of COB are needed for these fundraiser venues. A percentage of your purchase will be donated to COB. 1 Page 6
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COB CORNER Sunday, July 30 1-7PM COME TO COB! VOLUNTEER FOR COB! ADVERTISE FOR COB! BRING A KID TO "KIDS COME FIRST" HOUR! DONATE TO COB! Volunteer: Martha Helverson marthahelverson@gmail.com or 610-965-8868 *Please note that Phyllis Wenhold has withdrawn from being a 2017 COB recipient due to personal reasons. We are still helping Jeanine Greco, Donna DeSautels and Emily Armstrong. FUNDRAISERS FOR COB Wed, July 12 3:30-9 Ecco Domani Tues, July 18th all day at Coopersburg Subway! Wed, Aug 2 5-9PM Inside Scoop Tues, Wed and Thurs, Aug 8,9,10 Bella Ristorante 639 Main St., Hellertown 10% of your check will go directly to COB! No flyers or mention of COB are needed for these fundraiser venues. A percentage of your purchase will be donated to COB. Simply enjoy! We thank these establishments for their generosity to COB and hope that you will support them and COB by participating! FRIEDEN'S PEACH FESTIVAL August 19 2-6 p.m. Benefits COB! Lisa Kurtz is looking for volunteers to help! Please call her at: 484-225-6432 or dlkurtz4@verizon.net Frieden's has been putting on this event for years and has chosen to help COB for years--let's give them a hand! All of their profits go to COB! Page 9
St. John s United Church of Christ 538 Thomas Street Coopersburg, PA 18036 www.stjohnsucccoop.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED OUR MISSION: To know and share the love of God through worship, fellowship and outreach to the community. Page 10