Beaver Lutheran Church COMMENTARY Vol. 28, No. 4 The Seasons of Lent and Easter April 2014 Sunday School 9:00 a.m. www.beaverlutheranchurch.org Holy Communion 10:15 a.m. Ham & Dandelion Dinner Means Spring is Here! By Dan and Kim Rigel The 3 rd Annual Dandelion Dinner was very successful again this year. We think we have perfected the potato, and having gone from 75 to almost 150 pounds of spuds consumed, we think the response is in favor of this style! Our very special thanks goes to Vince of The Fresh Wave, for supplying us with the dandelion greens again this year. We appreciate the potatoes from our friends at Ira M. Middleswarth & Son, Inc. in Middleburg, Etzler s Meats for the donation of the bacon ends, and Beavertown Fire Co. for the use of their fryer. Kim and I are most touched by the outpouring of everyone who participated in the preparation, delivery and clean-up of this meal. More work goes in to this meal than most because of the steps involved. We ve not kept track, but I m certain that at least 200 hours of time went in to this event. It s true that the result of these events is to help offset expenses of the church and to support our various mission, but there is another benefit. Bringing everyone together for a common cause, spending time together, having fun and getting the job done. Thanks to all! The fellowship hall was filled to the brim with folks partaking in their long-awaited spring meal. A total of 177 meals were served to those who attended and our homebound members. As of March 25, following expenses, $721.99 was brought into the church for its ministry. Doors opened at 4:00 p.m. and there were plenty of people waiting. Beaver Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 167, Beaver Springs, PA 17812 Page 1
Guests fill their plates. Greta Wagner gets cakes ready for the dessert table. Bill Peters and Joe Feehrer get things ready for delivery to our homebound members. Carole Morgan and Evelyn Lepley welcome Carla Kreamer to our feast. Joe Mattern, Joe Feehrer and Dee Hockenberry make sure the roasters are full. Beaver Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 167, Beaver Springs, PA 17812 Page 2
Annual Easter Egg Hunt Our annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, April 19 at 1:00 p.m. Refreshments will follow the egg hunt. In order to have an egg hunt though, we need candy donations! If you would like to donate a bag or two of Easter candy, please bring it to the church by Sunday, April 6. The candy should be individually wrapped and be able to fit in a normal-sized plastic Easter egg. Youth Group to Meet The Youth Group (all post- Confirmation high schoolers as well as the current Confirmation class) will meet following worship on Sunday, April 6. The Youth Activities Committee will provide a cookout for the kids. The main item on the agenda will be a discussion on the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering which will be held in Detroit, Michigan July 15-19, 2015. Youth entering 9 th grade in 2015, or who have just graduated 12 th grade, are eligible to attend. The teens will soon need to decide if they are planning on attending the Gathering. It is an amazing opportunity. The theme for 2015 is Rise Up Together. Mother/Daughter Banquet The Annual Mother/Daughter Banquet will be held Sunday, May 18 at 6:00 p.m. Once again, the men of the church will prepare and serve the meal. The St. Nicholas Choir, under the direction of Jennifer Baker- Trinity and accompanied by Renee Beaver, will perform for the ladies in attendance. Altar Guild Help Volunteers are needed to help out with the altar guild. It is not hard and only requires about an hour or so each week for one month a year. If you are interested in this important part of our worship, please see Bryon Beaver or Pastor Nathan. Still Room to Sign Up! The 2014 Altar Flower Chart is ready and waiting. If you wish to place flowers in the church, please sign up today! Coming up April 6 is still available as well as May 4. There are a few open dates throughout the summer months and several this coming fall and winter. Information to be included in the bulletin must be submitted to the secretary no later than the Thursday before your flowers are to be in the church. Cost for 2014 is $35. Please make sure you include your name on the altar flower envelope located in the narthex so your payment may be credited to the correct account. You may also wish to pay Country Flowers directly. Bring Your Own Easter Flowers The deadline has passed to order Easter flowers from the church. However, never fear you may still purchase your own flower and bring it into the church by 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 19 to adorn the chancel of the church on Easter Sunday, April 20. In order for your name to appear in the bulletin, your information must be into the secretary no later than Tuesday, April 15. Please make sure that your flower is wrapped in foil and your name is attached. Beaver Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 167, Beaver Springs, PA 17812 Page 3
Contemplative Holy Communion during Lent On April 9 we will celebrate a simple liturgy known as Contemplative Holy Communion in place of Evening Prayer. Since we are mindful of many that must work on Sunday mornings, this mid-week moment of rest offers the same gifts of God and fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ as Sunday morning. A half-hour service, it incorporates the same spirit and many of the same songs from the much-loved Holden Evening Prayer. Even more, plan to come early for soup and bread! The Singing Thing Not too long ago, a regular worshipper at Beaver told me something that is so simple but so easily forgotten. He mentioned that he sings better when he is sitting near others that are singing. When your own breath joins those around you, when you can hear others singing, you are encouraged to sing. In his book The Singing Thing, John Bell, a pastor from Scotland and internationally-known leader of singing says this: If people sit more than four feet away from each other, they won t sing in case they are heard. If they sit less than four feet away from each other, they will sing because they hear others singing. It is as simple as that, and has to be taken seriously. I encourage you to remember this advice when you are coming to worship and considering where to sit. If the pastor asks you all to move forward and come together, it is for the health of our singing. You will be so glad that you did, because you will hear and feel the support of those around you. Peace in Christ, Jennifer One Story, Many Voices We share a common story the story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As has been our tradition for several years now, every year on Passion Sunday (April 13 this year) we speak together the story of Jesus final days from one of the gospels, a story that concludes with his death on the cross. This year, you are invited to speak one of the eight leading roles. We ll practice it twice during Sunday School, at 9 a.m. on April 6 and April 13. A sign-up sheet is located in the narthex, along with a script to take with you. Palm Procession April 13 Hang on to your palm branches when you leave worship on Passion Sunday this year, because we re going to have a parade! The Middlecreek Valley Ministerium is sponsoring their firstever Palm Procession through the streets of Beaver Springs. We ll gather at Haines Park at 3:00 for prayer and singing, followed by an afternoon walk that will witness to our faith. And don t forget to wave your palm branches! Thursday, April 17 7:00 p.m., Worship with Foot Washing. Friday, April 18 7:00 p.m., Worship with Adoration of the Cross. Saturday, April 19 7:00 p.m., Easter Vigil with Lighting of the Fire and Holy Baptism. Sunday, April 20, Resurrection of Our Lord 10:15 a.m., Holy Communion. Beaver Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 167, Beaver Springs, PA 17812 Page 4
You Belong to Christ In Holy Baptism, we are reborn children of God and joined forever to Christ s death and resurrection. Please join us in praying for Vaughn, Laine, and Lincoln Phelps all of whom will be baptized at the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening, April 19. God of tenderness, source of all goodness, your Son took children up in his arms and blessed them. Hold Vaughn, Laine, and Lincoln in the strong arms of your love. Look with kindness upon them and their family as they prepare for their baptism. Bring them to new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and sustain each one of us in the gift of baptism, so that together we may praise you and carry your word into all the world; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. AED Training Class For those of you who are interested in learning how to do CPR and properly use the AED, Bobbi Leister has agreed to teach a class to train you. A sign-up sheet is located on the bulletin board for those that are interested. Dates and times will be determined later. Red Cross Blood Drive at BLC Beaver Lutheran Church and the Beavertown Women s Club, will host a Red Cross Blood Drive Tuesday, April 8 from 1 to 6 p.m. at our church. In order to give blood, you must not have given blood in the past 56 days. You must be healthy, be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. Please consider donating. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. World Malaria Sunday is April 27 Every year, millions of people around the globe observe World Malaria Day on April 25. The ELCA Malaria Campaign is turning this day into a special week, observing World Malaria Sunday on April 27. World Malaria Day is an opportunity to remember those who have died from malaria, honor those who live with the daily realities of the disease and renew our commitment to join the global movement of people who are making malaria history. The ELCA s goal is to raise $250,000 enough to start malaria programming in Namibia. And when you give a gift between April 25 and May 2, your gift will be matched. Special offering envelopes will be made available. Save the date, join the movement and observe World Malaria Day on April 27. Pastor s Vacation The pastor and organist will be on vacation beginning Sunday, April 27 and running through May 1. Pastor Kris Brown, along with Michelle Bixler, will be with us on Sunday, April 27. Missed the Valpo CDs? If you were at the Valparaiso Choral concert in March and didn t get a chance to purchase one of their CDs, you are in luck! Pastor Nathan and Jennifer will be traveling to Valparaiso at the end of the month and will pick one up for you! If you would like to see what is available, please go to https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?retail=vuca for a list of items. Pastor Nathan has many of the Chorale s CDs and is willing to let you borrow them before you make up your mind. Beaver Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 167, Beaver Springs, PA 17812 Page 5
WELCA s new meeting night The Women of the ELCA have changed their meeting night to the second Monday of the month. The next meeting of WELCA will be Monday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. Final plans for the Mother/Daughter Banquet will be discussed. Looking for a Great Gift? If you are looking for a mother s day gift for mom, momin-law, sister, aunt, daughter, grandma, or neighbor we ve got a great idea! Why not a collection of wonderful down-home recipes put together by the women of our church? Cost of the book is $15.00. Please see a member of WELCA before or after worship if you are interested in purchasing a copy. You may also call the church office at 570-658-2001 to place your order. Checks may be made out to Beaver Lutheran WELCA. Media Release Opt-Out Form Available In this digital age, the church takes many pictures of various church events. We use these pictures to record, to promote, and to celebrate our church ministries. Some persons may choose not to have their photos, or photos of their children, used and we respect their wishes. Therefore, we are providing an OPT-OUT form for individuals, or families, who prefer NOT to have photographs of themselves used by the church, including through the internet. You may pick up this form today, or you may pick it up at the church office anytime. IF YOU HAVE NO OBJECTION TO CHURCH USE OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPH, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SIGN OR RETURN THIS FORM. We re Now Online! Go to www.beaverlutheranchurch.org to check out our new website! Though still under construction, you ll find links to our monthly newsletter, calendar, and lay assistant schedule. You ll also find a link to our Facebook page! Also, remember that we have been sending out weekly emails, News from Beaver Lutheran Church, which give you a glimpse at Sunday s worship and upcoming events. If you currently do not have your email address registered with us at the church office, and would like to receive those weekly emails, please let us know. March Council Highlights Church council met on Tuesday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. Highlights of the meeting include: The Treasurer s Report indicating a positive balance of $2,129.57 in the Current Fund (general operating expenses) as of February 28. Outstanding bills as of March 11 totaled $13,900.50. Discussed purchasing a vault to store vital and historical documents. Discussed long-term options for our financial future and the draft of a letter to the synod explaining our drop in mission support dollars. Authorized immediate disbursement of the All Saints (endowment) Fund 2014 donation to Kathryn s Kloset in order to take advantage of the Raise the Region matching dollars. New regular meeting time: second Tuesday of the month at 6:30. Next regular meeting is Tuesday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. Full minutes of the meeting will be approved at the April council meeting and posted outside the church office. Beaver Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 167, Beaver Springs, PA 17812 Page 6
Happy Birthday! DOES ANYONE REMEMBER WHEN this picture was taken? Under the Big Top was the theme for the Mother/Daughter Banquet. Council Members in Charge Council members are responsible for being the money counters during the month. They must find a non-family member to help with the counting. Counting guidelines are posted in the office work room. Please contact Crystal Wray of the Finance Committee if you have any questions. The Council member in charge for the month is also responsible for calling servers for worship services. Please encourage the servers to find a replacement if they are unable to serve and have them inform the secretary. Those attending the last Council meeting chose their months, which are: April: Joe Feehrer. October: Bryon Beaver and Bobbi Leister. The following members of the Beaver Lutheran family will celebrate birthdays in April: Donald Watson, April 1. Rylan Feehrer, Emilee Wagner, April 3. Andrea Schuck, April 4. Alec Klose, April 12. Darren Shultz, April 15. Mitzi Saylor, April 16. Linda Romig, April 17. Dallas Klingler, April 18. Mona Dutrow, Helen Frey, Jake Plummer, April 19. Greta Wagner, April 22. Michael Frye, Isabella Furgison, Sandy Haines, Fred Krebs, April 23. Howard Benner III, April 26. Daniel Edmiston, Weston Shultz, Jerre Thomas, April 27. Those celebrating wedding anniversaries in April are: Matthew and Ann Zerby, April 14. Gary and Mary Narehood, April 26. Donations for our Friends WELCA is collecting items for our friends at Conewago-Snyder. This is an ongoing project. Needed are: men s and women s socks, body wash, lotion, deodorants, shampoo, bath soap, shaving cream, disposable razors, hand cream, lip balm, face wash. Please place your donations in the box outside the church office. Beaver Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 167, Beaver Springs, PA 17812 Page 7
From the Pastor s Desk Baptism. What s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear that word? A beautiful baby dressed in white? Water gently dabbed on an infant s forehead? Mom and Dad and the whole family dressed up in their Sunday best? These pictures of baptism might lead you to think of baptism in these ways: A new birth. Adoption into God s family. The promise of life beyond the grave. If that s what you picture, you re right! Baptism is certainly all of these things. But did you know that the Bible paints yet another picture of baptism? It s one that s very different from those mentioned above. It is, in fact, the most important picture of baptism that the Bible gives us. Baptism is death and resurrection. It is dying and rising. It is drowning and saving. As you may suspect, this is about much more than what happens at the end of our lives. This is about our spiritual death and resurrection that happens every day. Martin Luther called our physical death merely the little death. Our spiritual death, the death of baptism, Luther called the big death. Daily dying to sin and rising to do God s will. Daily dying to serving ourselves and rising to serve our neighbors. Daily dying to desperation and rising to live in hope. This is the daily gift of death and resurrection that baptism offers to us. Such dying and rising is a lifetime project, only to be completed in our death. This is why our baptism is not merely one-time event. It is also a lifetime event. Our baptism is one-time event that takes a lifetime to complete. But it s not we who are in charge of daily dying and rising. It s God who is in charge. It s God who daily convicts us of our sin and daily forgives us. This is why we baptize as early and as often as we can. Because God s promises are for everyone, whether we re newly born or at death s door. And God s promise of death and resurrection is this: no matter how many times we screw up, we are forgiven. Baptism is an inexhaustible spring that we can return to as many times as we need! So where do we find this inexhaustible spring? We see it most clearly in the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. It s a story we re joined to in our baptism. As Paul writes in Romans 6, If we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be reunited with him in a resurrection like his. We are now upon that time of year called Holy Week, the time to hear again the old, old story. From Passion Sunday to Easter Sunday, we journey with Christ. We wave palm branches in his honor. We follow his example by washing each other s feet. We stand at the cross and lament our sins. We hear Jesus final words, It is finished. But then, we light a new fire. We hear again the ancient stories and promises. We fill our empty font with water and baptize new members. We hear the promise of the empty tomb, the promise of the resurrection: I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20) Every year during Holy Week, we journey together from death to life. Once a year, we are called to put our whole lives in perspective in a way the world cannot. Once a year, we are joined most fully to a story that will not and cannot fail us. See you at foot washing on Maundy Thursday. See you at the cross on Good Friday. And see you at the empty tomb on Saturday at the Easter Vigil as we light the new life, baptize three beautiful children, and eat the resurrection meal together. Beaver Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 167, Beaver Springs, PA 17812 Page 8