F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H N E W S L E T T E R N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 8 Our mission: Embrace our community with God s love Make disciples to share in doing simple things for God s kingdom EAST DISTRICT CHARGE CONFERENCE; SATURDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2018 Location: Christ UMC; 1020 S. Valley Forge Road; Lansdale, PA. Time: 10:30 AM to Noon. HARVEST HOME 2018 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ~Deuteronomy 15:10 Harvest Home kicks off on Sunday, November 4th! Each week throughout the month of November, we will request donations of varied items to be brought to church. Week One (Sunday, November 4th,): Canned peas, corn, carrots, potatoes (canned or boxed), sweet and regular variety. Week Two (Sunday, November 11th): Cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy Week Three (Sunday, November 18th): Desserts Brownie mix, cake mix, pie fillings, pie crusts, pudding, Jello. Week Four (Sunday, November 25th): Paper Towels, plates, cups, coffee and tea. Bring the above to the designated table in the rear of the Sanctuary. On November 26th, the collected items will then be presented to God, so we can fill the F.I.S.H. pantry. Please consider giving generously, as the need is so great. For the 2017 Harvest Home drive, over 200 lbs. were collected and given to F.I.S.H. DON T FORGET! Daylight Saving Time Ends on Sunday, November 4th, at 2 AM. Be sure to turn your clocks back one hour before bedtime on Saturday, November 3rd. ALL SAINTS DAY SERVICE SUNDAY NOVEMBER 4TH During the worship time on Sunday, November 4th, we will remember persons from our First Church family who have gone home to be with the Lord within the past year. All are invited to come to church that morning, and place white carnations in a vase to remember each person. We will also celebrate Communion that morning (non-intinction). Choir Notes If you don t want to commit to singing in the choir fulltime, come out and join us for the Advent/Christmas season. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 7:00pm. If interested, please see Robert.
NOTE FROM THE PASTOR Greetings friends, As we enter November, you are probably thinking that my message will relate in some way to Thanksgiving. Although I was tempted to explore our need to give thanks, I decided instead to discuss November 19th. This coming November 19th will be the 155th anniversary of Lincoln s Gettysburg Address. As I considered what I would write, I wondered whether very many people know that one of our nation s greatest speeches was given on this day. Our family took a day trip to Gettysburg National Military Park this past summer and thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the battlefield and museum. We took a bus tour through the battlefield and were immersed in history and, more importantly, our American heritage. We should have made it a two-day trip! As I prepared this article, I reread the Gettysburg address and was struck by Lincoln s ability to summarize in ten sentences the meaning and purpose of the nation. In case you haven t read it in some time, I want to include it here: Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. As I reread Lincoln s words from long ago, I could not help but think about the words, They gave the last full measure of devotion. They sacrificed their very lives for our freedom. They certainly didn t die in vain. I am reminded of Isaiah 25:6-9 in which we are called upon to look to the future with faith in God and thanksgiving for removing the shroud of sin and iniquity from our hearts: On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-matured wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death for ever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Perhaps, our Lord is calling us to give a little more measure of devotion to Him, to sacrifice a bit of our time and pray for a new birth in the church and community. We are thankful for the men and women who went before us, who waited upon the Lord in tireless prayer in these hallowed halls and gave their all for this church. Their sacrifice will never be in vain. Out of that terrible battle 155 years ago came a new beginning a new birth of freedom. In our daily lives, we too can find a new birth of freedom in our journey of faith to do the work that our Lord left for us to do. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Blessings, Pastor Scott 2
REPLICAS OF WHERE CHRIST WAS BORN CHRISTMAS NATIVITIES We invite everyone to join us and experience Replicas of where Christ was born Christmas Nativities on Saturday, December 1st from 4:30 PM to about 8:30 PM. More than 100 Nativities will be displayed. Stop in on your way to the 109th annual Perkasie Tree Lighting or stop by after the tree lighting. We will also have live music in the form of carols being played and sung. The Nativities will also be on display after worship services on Sunday, December 2nd. Refreshments will be served. 3RD ANNUAL FUMC NATIVITY MUSEUM OUTREACH We will again be opening First Church to the community to display the Christmas nativities on Saturday, December 1st. The museum will also be open on Sunday after services, December 2nd, along with refreshments. Please contact Bernie DuBois at the beginning of November to arrange for your nativity to be displayed. Just a reminder that the displays will not be handled unless they are specified as child friendly. Please contact Bernie to make arrangements to have your nativity scene picked up or received at the church by Monday, November 26. The nativities will be returned long before Christmas. VETERANS DAY RECOGNITION NOVEMBER 11 There will be a special recognition of Veterans on Sunday, November 11th. We invite all veterans as well as their loved ones, so we as a church family can give thanks for your service, and recognize your sacrifice. MITTEN BASKET The mitten and scarf basket is in the rear of the Sanctuary! Help us get a jump start on a cold winter by bringing your donations of new caps, scarves, gloves, and mittens to the Mitten Basket. The items will be donated to F.I.SH and to where we see a need. Thank you, J.O.Y. Circle. F.I.S.H. DELIVERY & PANTRY LIST Our weekly pantry totals are nearing the 1600-lb. mark! PANTRY LIST: Rice Mixes; Canned Peas; Stuffing; Corn; Spaghetti; Dried Mashed Potato Flakes; Broth and Gravy; Canned Milk; Cold Cereal; Juice (64 oz.) or Juice Packs; Meal Helpers; Canned Pasta. F.I.S.H. is out of everything except Canned Pasta. NEED FOR LITURGISTS We are in need of liturgists for our 10:30 AM Traditional Worship service. The time commitment is minimal. We only ask you to lead worship one Sunday per month, or every other month. Please contact the church office if you are willing to serve in this ministry. DONATE TO FIRST UMC PERKASIE Giving is an act of worship. To donate online, click Give Online at the top of the site on the banner. All transactions are secure. Thank you for your generosity. 3
A LOOK BACK CROP WALK 2018 (from Pastor Wayne Nitzsche at Perkasie Mennonite Church) There were over 100 walkers who participated in this year s CROP Walk back on Sunday October 14th. On that day, $15,000.00 was raised in donations. That number is still growing. Over 600 lbs. of canned food was collected and donated to F.I.S.H. Special thanks to Courtland Gardner, Pastor Scott Dorn, and everyone else who participated in CROP Walk, or attended the October 9th fundraiser, or even prayed for its success. FIRE DEPARMENT OPEN HOUSE Despite the less-than-ideal weather conditions, and competing with a Thursday night Eagles game, the Perkasie Fire Department Open House had a great turnout on Thursday, October 11th. First UMC members, along with hundreds of people from the community, were in attendance. Everyone enjoyed great food, First Church brochures were distributed, and prayer was offered up for some folks on the spot. Thank you to everyone who participated in, or prayed for, this great outreach opportunity. (See pg. 7 for photos. B a p t i s m at F i r s t U M C c A RT E R S C O T T YAT E S Born April 8, 2018 Baptized Sunday, October 21, 2018 4
UM STUDENT DAY SUNDAY NOVEMBER 25TH UM Student Day is one of the special Sundays authorized by the General Conference to be observed with an offering on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The purpose of United Methodist Student Day is to call upon the denomination to support United Methodist students as they prepare for life by adding knowledge to their faith. The funds received from the offering go into the United Methodist Student Loan Fund to underwrite scholarships for United Methodist students. The fund is administered by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. United Methodist Student Day is one of six churchwide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church. United Methodist Student Day calls the church to support students as they prepare for life in uniting faith with knowledge. The special offering provides scholarships for qualified United Methodist applicants. DONATION IDEA FROM F.I.S.H. FISH serves many individuals who experience homelessness throughout the year. Your donation of any of the following items would be so helpful to these individuals and families who often find themselves residing in motels and campgrounds until more stable housing can be acquired. There is a designated container in the rear of the Sanctuary for your donations: New washcloths Can openers Toiletries, lip balm, nail clippers and nail files, feminine hygiene products Toothpaste, toothbrushes, denture cleaner, floss Small containers of laundry soap Plastic storage containers with lids Microwave safe bowls and plates Mugs, cups, cutlery Portable water bottles Microwave safe casseroles and mixing bowls for cooking in motel rooms Small containers of Instant Coffee Pop-top canned food items Blankets, towels, other bedding 5
SHARE THE SANCTUARY We are excited that our beautiful Sanctuary is going to be used for all services at First Church. GOAL! You can be part of growing First Church by donating to this Share the Sanctuary campaign in memory of or in honor of a loved one or a special occasion Share the Sanctuary We have provided space for our First Service worshippers to move to the main Sanctuary and we will be upgrading the Sound System and Space. Donations should be designated for Share the Sanctuary Supported by: The Memorial and Honor Fund Committee NOVEMBER LITURGISTS 11/04 (Communion): Diane Holler 11/11 (Veterans Day): Fran Keller 11/18 (26th Sunday after Pentecost): Pat Stauffer 11/25 (Last Sunday after Pentecost): Amelia Dorn BAPTISM Carter Scott Yates Date: Sunday October 21st Parents: Nicole L. Yates and Brian M. Yates Godparents: Chris Formica, Jr; Amber Yates (See pg. 4 for photos) 6
P e r k a s i e f i r e d e p t. o p e n h o u s e T h u r s day, O c t o b e r 1 1, 2 0 1 8 7
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 501 Market Street Perkasie, PA 18944-1467 Sunday Worship Schedule Church Office Hours 9:00 AM 10:30 AM Contemporary Worship Traditional Worship Tuesdays through Fridays: 9 AM to 1 PM Closed Mondays Pastor Scott Dorn Jac Filer Lay Leader Robert Creager Organist/Choir Director Melinda Krpata Worship Leader Alanna Jones Administrative Assistant Edmund Schonheiter Custodian N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 8 h i g h l i g h t s In this issue: Charge Conference 11/3/18; Christ UMC, Lansdale Harvest Home 2018 All Saints Day 11/4/18 Veterans Day 11/11/18 3rd Annual Nativity Museum Outreach Preparations Baptism at First UMC Outreach at Perkasie Fire Dept Open House Our mission: Embrace our community with God s love Make disciples to share in doing simple things for God s kingdom 8