FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH 6567 Glades Pike Somerset, PA 15501 www.faithlutheransomerset.org faith@faithlutheransomerset.org Sunday Sunday Church School 10:30 am RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Somerset, PA 15501 PERMIT NO. 6 Faith s Blessings 6567 Glades Pike Somerset PA 15501 (O) 814-443-3179; Pastor Winger 814-691-5235 From the Pastor... May 2015 Each Sunday morning, as the community of Faith, we gather to give God praise, hear God s Word, return with thanksgiving what God has first given us, remember our baptisms, and are fed at God s holy meal of bread and wine. Yet, in order to gather, it takes time, and time is a rare commodity these days. For the most part, it rushes by so quickly that we wonder where it went and what we did during that time. Sure, there are those periods when time becomes interminable times when the days and hours go by so s-l-o-w-l-y that we are almost burdened by the moments that pass. Many times they are connected to times of sorrow and pain in our lives. However, more often than not when I ve listened to people talk about their days and their time, I ve heard them say things like: I m so busy that I almost can t think straight. I can t add another thing to my plate. I don t know where my time goes! By the time, I get the children off to school, do a couple errands, and a load of laundry they re back and we re off to dance rehearsal, soccer games, and baseball practice. I don t have time for myself or my family!! I hurry into work, rush around to get things done, and by the end of the day, I m exhausted. I don t have enough time to get the job done!!! It seems like just yesterday that my children where at home, but now it s filled with voices and laughter of my grandchildren. Time goes so quickly!!!! As I listen, a recurring question echoes in their voices, where does my time go? And, while I do not profess to have very many answers to life, particularly on the subject of time, in the midst of the busy-ness around us, I might suggest that time goes exactly to the places God wants it to go for the service of our neighbor to the glory of God. Imagine that: time spent to glorify God and to serve our neighbor. All of time - the time used amidst the frantic pace of a parent s life; the time committed to the constant demands of an unrelenting job; the time spent raising a family and enjoying the fruits of our children; the time that goes to fill our overflowing plates ; even, the time even goes to mourn our losses and experience our pain; God takes those times, our tasks of daily living, and makes them fruitful for the sake of God s presence in the world. Yet, if we, as God s baptized children, yield only to those things that take up our time, I believe that we lose sight of what God desires of us. Often, our time seems fruitless and futile. Yet, time spent being fed and nurtured by God gives new meaning to time and the tasks of our daily lives. Thus, I encourage you as time flies by to pause to see God working in your life and to see how God uses you. I ask you to take time to pray and study Scripture. And, I invite you to come to gather as God s people. Yours in the name of our risen Savior, Pastor Winger
Faith s Blessings Page 2 Faith s Blessings Page 11 Call Committee Reminder Call Committee members are reminded that we will meet on Sunday, May 3 at 3 pm to complete and review our Ministry Site Proposal to present to council. Hope to see you then. During the month of April, we lifted up these individuals who were in special need: Judy Brant, Diane Delancey, family and friends of Rodney Fieg, Jonathan Ohler, Sam Shawver and Tanner Friedline. WOW! 100 years young Bernice Deaner (sister of Paul Mosholder) will be celebrating her 100th birthday on May 11. Help her celebrate this milestone by sending a card. Her address is Bernice Deaner The Patriot, Room 326 495 W. Patriot Street Somerset PA 15501 Thank you for helping make this day extra special for her! Richard Sanchez 5-1 Loretta Weyant 5-1 Whitney Custer 5-3 Fred Will 5-3 Mike Trevarrow 5-6 Emily Helmick 5-7 Karen Walker 5-7 Zac Friedline 5-8 Gene Hillegas 5-8 Tony Latuch 5-8 Jacob Sheeler 5-8 Stephanie Walker 5-9 Bernice Deaner 5-11 100 yrs. old Joan Walker 5-12 Fred Rhoads 5-13 Earl Lohr 5-16 Ricky Saylor 5-16 Rodney Schrock 5-18 Joe Walker 5-18 Cathy Smeak 5-19 Darren Walker 5-21 Don Golby 5-22 Dennis Rhoads 5-23 Logan Gilbert 5-24 Alexus Miller 5-24 Charles Burk 5-25 Taylor Latuch 5-25 Garen Black 5-26 Clay Cramer, Jr. 5-29 Linda Golby 5-29 Brenda Maust 5-30 Butch Dill 5-31 Tanya James 5-31 Jay & Darleen Zerfoss 5-6 49 yrs. Bill & Debbie Nist 5-10 40 yrs. Ryan & Brenda Maust 5-16 34 yrs. Brian & Joeleen Everett 5-18 30 yrs. Fred & Barb Will 5-18 47 yrs. Don & Mary Snyder 5-22 44 yrs. Joe & Gennette Swank 5-24 18 yrs. Dan & Angela Klotz 5-25 19 yrs. Assistant to the Bishop Visit Pastor Paula Schmidt, Assistant to the Bishop, will join us for worship and study on Sunday, May 24. Ebola Update Gifts from ELCA members and others helped ensure that the isolation unit at Phebe Hospital and School of Nursing in Suakoko, Lieberia, meets World Health Organization standards. As of March 2, ELCA members gave a total of $801,295 for the ELCA s response to the Ebola outbreak. ELCA funds have also helped provide food aid, prevention education, sanitation and hygiene help, support for orphans and more. In the Works In the upcoming months, plans are in the process for Lay Communion Visitors and Altar Guild members to meet and elementary communion classes to be held. Watch your bulletins, future newsletters and your mailbox for details.
Faith s Blessings Page 10 Faith s Blessings Page 3 Allegheny Synod Assembly The 2015 Synod Assembly will be held Thursday, June 4 th through Saturday, June 6 th at the Altoona Convention Center. We need 2 additional individuals to represent the congregation and serve as voting members. Please contact the church office if you are interested. Operation Christmas Child We are well under way with our collections of items for our shoeboxes. The item being collected for the month of May will be small balls. Remember, we have set a goal of packing 75 boxes this year. Thank you for continuing to stuff the box with our wish list items! May 2nd Offering The second offering for May (to be collected May 10) has been designated for Guatemala Mission Trip. Jane Ohler and Dave Pugh will be traveling with the Friedens Lutheran Church and are going back for their 2nd mission trip. In addition to the monetary donations, they are also accepting donations of undies for all ages. Thank you for supporting this special program! Upcoming at Sequanota Spring Work Day May 2 from 9 am until?. Cost is free and includes lunch. Adult Day Workshop May 7 from 9 am-2:30 pm. Cost $10 includes lunch. Mother s Day Banquet May 10 either 11:30 am or 1 pm. Free will donation. Call the Camp at 629-6627 for more information or to make reservations. MARCH 2015 Council Minutes Council met March 12, 2015 with 8 members and Pastor Winger present. Ryan Maust had opening devotions. Council minutes, Treasurers report and Pastors report were reviewed, motion made and 2nd for each and approved. Committee Reports Finance Social Worship Education Property Youth Call Committee Tally sheet reviewed No report Will meet after Lent No report Back middle switch in fellowship hall needs fixed Easter breakfast plans are underway Met Feb. 21, surveys returned and compiled. Looked at top 5 things important to congregation, will meet again March 15 OLD BUSINESS Platform w/theatre chairs has been removed. Boys & Girls Club contacted, no response. The seats will be offered to the congregation. Still working on new computers for the office. Parish Registry; current records are on the computer but need a little work. Oldest records are the problem. Records could be archived at Gettysburg to conserve them. Sexton job description was rewritten and discussed. Will check about the job being a bid position or a salary position. Front doors are not locking properly. Somerset Glass came out and looked at them and suggested insulated windows and a Continued on page 4
Faith s Blessings Page 4 Faith s Blessings Page 9 COUNCIL MINUTES (cont. from page 3) Old Business single 42 door. Concern that it would not be big enough for caskets, a double door would be needed. New weather seal is needed and new threshold is needed. Received an estimate for new windows and 42 door; $8295. A new estimate will be needed with double doors. New Business Money raised from the pancake supper and Easter breakfast will be used for a youth activity and Camp Sequanota Wish List. Relay for Life ad $130 for same ad as last year; motion made, 2nd and approved. ALSM has requested a donation to help support their Senior Care Services. Motion made, 2nd and approved for a 2nd Sunday offering for ALSM. Synod Assembly, will check on how many voting members we can send. Kenya Motorbike Challenge; we will put a bank in the narthex to collect money for a dirt bike. Week of Christian Service May 16-24, will be discussed at committee meetings and will try to involve the youth. Sequanota Day Camp June 29-July 3. Conference wide Easter ad cost is $50; motion made, 2nd and approved. Summer Ministry Assistant Proposal for 2015 was presented. PA Mandated Child Clearance Workshop recommendations were presented. Motion made, 2nd and approved to pay for clearances for our volunteers. Items that need attention: Parish Register, office computers, flower cross, child clearances. Good of the Order Next council meeting will be April 9, 2015. Tomalee Will has devotions. Motion, made and 2nd to adjourn. Closed with the Lord s Prayer. Kathryn Hill Sequanota Day Camp Faith will again host Day Camp. Mark your calendars for June 29-July 3, 2015. Registration forms are available from the office or on the table in the narthex. Camp will run from 9 am - 4 pm each day. Invite your friends and neighbors and join us for a week of learning, games, crafts and song. We are even going to feed you! Allegheny Synodical Women s Organization On Saturday, May 2 the 28th Annual Convention will be held at St. James Lutheran Church in Altoona PA. If you would be interested in attending or would like more information, please talk with Karen Young. Maybe we could have a few ladies who would like to attend! Child Protection Clearances If you are 18 years of age or older and desire to serve as a volunteer responsible for the welfare of a child or having direct contact with children, you will be required to complete the clearance. Details about them and procedures for obtaining them are available through the church office. Be sure to stop in the office and get the necessary papers signed in order to obtain your clearance! These clearances must be completed and in the office by June 1, 2015! We do so not only because it is the law but because as a congregation we seek to provide a safe and secure environment for children who participate in our programs and activities. Council has approved to cover the cost of clearances for our members who fit the above guidelines.
Faith s Blessings Page 6 Faith s Blessings Page 7 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2ND OFFERING IS FOR GUATEMALA MISSION TRIP MAY 2015 1 2 Alleg. Synod Women s Org. Conv. Altoona FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH 2015 TREASURER'S REPORT 2015 Previous MARCH Totals Month INCOME Current 10,680.51 25,265.12 6,255.36 Benevolence 1,177.00 2,323.00 538.00 Missionary Support 260.00 565.00 145.00 Building/Maint. 785.00 1,619.00 411.00 Misc. In/Out 736.43 922.41 78.95 TOTAL INCOME 13,638.94 30,694.53 7,428.31 3 Easter 5 4 Committee Night 5 6 7 8 9 2015 EXPENSES Proposal Total Ministries 115.15 2,292.88 9,550.00 Operating 2,114.81 3,316.57 18,000.00 10 Easter 6 2nd off (Guat. Mission Trip) Mother s Day 17 Easter 7 (Baptism) Newsletter deadline 11 WELCA 12 13 Adult chimes 18 19 20 Royal Ringers 14 Council 15 16 21 22 23 Payroll Taxes 133.07 402.11 2,000.00 Total Payroll 5,854.01 20,182.58 103,841.88 Outreach Benevolence 169.00 2,277.00 9,000.00 World Hunger 15.00 60.00 0.00 Missionary Support 145.00 1,105.00 2,000.00 2nd Offering 354.00 830.00 2,850.00 Other 130.00 1,660.10 0.00 Food Pantry 0.00 0.00 0.00 Chamber Dues 0.00 0.00 150.00 Total Outreach 813.00 5,932.10 14,000.00 Maintenance 1,837.11 5,783.20 19,000.00 Misc. In/Out 317.93 625.91 0.00 TOTAL EXPENSES 11,052.01 38.133.24 169,391.88 24 Pentecost - - - - - - - - - - - - 31 H. Trinity 25 Office closed Memorial Day 26 Plant Geraniums 6 pm 27 Adult chimes 28 29 30 ASSETS General Checking $4,390.05 Savings (Pastors Disc. Fund) $1,097.70 Somerset Trust CD (60 mo.) $5,000.00 Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund $15,153.31 FNB CD (9 mo. Flex) $4,060.38 Memorial Funds $15,877.62 Camp Scholarship $8,847.60
Faith s Blessings Page 8 Faith s Blessings Page 5 Family Banquet Make plans now to join us for the Family Banquet on Saturday, June 6. We will once again have the banquet at the Berlin fire hall. Ticket prices are $10 for adults; ages 4-12 are $5 and for children under 4 the cost is free. Tickets will be available before and after worship Sunday mornings. Mark you calendar and we hope to see everyone then! Geranium Sunday We will observe Pentecost by once again wearing our red and bringing red geraniums to worship on Sunday, May 24. Then plan on joining us on Tuesday, May 26 for a planting party when we will place them around the outside of the church. Allegheny Synod Kenya Motorbike Challenge This summer a group from the Allegheny Synod is going to visit the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church. The need for motorbikes to efficiently travel on the roads of Kenya to outlying congregations is needed. Estimated cost of a motorbike is $5000. Bishop Rhyne, has lifted up the Easter Kenya Motorbike Challenge to raise funds for at least one, if not two, motorbikes. The challenge begins on Easter and runs through the Allegheny Synod Assembly on June 4-6. If each congregation in the Allegheny Synod could raise at least $50, we could purchase one motorbike. Imagine what could happen if we raised more! A motorbike and bank are on the table in the narthex for you to deposit your spare change during the 50 days of Easter. THANK YOU! In Ministry in May We thank the following people for their ministry assistance this month. May 3 Altar Guild Mabel Revello and Acolyte Will Brant Janet Anderson Reader Cindy Miller Assisting Minister Jane Ohler Bulletins Annalina Brant Greeters Dave and Cindy Miller Cups Darren Walker Council Person David Pugh Jim Rayman May 10 Altar Guild Tomalee Will and Ruth Williams Acolyte Nicole Keller Assisting Minister Darren Walker Reader Dave Walker Greeters Tresa Keller and Bulletins Dakota Weyant Cathy Smeak Cups Dylila and Elmer Plum May 17 Altar Guild Mabel Revello and Acolyte Jack Loeffert Janet Anderson Reader Sandy Pyle Assisting Minister Brenda Maust Bulletins Arianna Ohler Greeters David Pyle and Cups Richard Sanchez May 24 Altar Guild Ken Will Arianna Ohler Tomalee Will and Ruth Williams Acolytes Adam, Steven, Tony Assisting Minister Katey Hill Latuch, Dylila Plum Greeters Donna and Jackie Rhoads Joe Swank Cups Elmer Plum and Dakota Reader Jackie Rhoads Weyant Bulletins Alexandra Swank May 31 Altar Guild Mabel Revello and Janet Anderson Acolytes Billy, Brock Bowers, Assisting Minister Dave Pugh Brexton Weyant, Will, Greeters Karen Walker and Annalina Brant Dee Custer Bulletins Darren Walker Cups Brexton Weyant and Reader Rich Walker Brock Bowers