FEBRUARY 2018 PASTOR S MESSAGE INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Dear Friends in Christ, In turning the calendar to the month of February this year, I m struck by the way the secular and the sacred are intertwined, the human and the divine. Valentine s Day, a day to remember and celebrate the relationships that warm our hearts with love, is on February 14. Ash Wednesday, also on February 14 this year, is the day when we remember just how great God s love is for us, the day we begin our forty-day journey toward the cross and the resurrection. Not only that, Easter falls on April 1 and this is no April Fool s joke! This year, we will again be participating with other area churches in community Lenten services on Wednesday evenings (see schedule under Worship News). The theme for the series is Into the Wilderness. Its focus is on Jesus forty days spent in the wilderness between his baptism and the beginning of his ministry, when he experienced hunger. The ministerium chose this series to prepare us spiritually for our 2018 Day of Service, which will take place after Easter, on April 21, and during which we will join together to feed the hungry in our community and beyond. Considering Jesus, fully human and fully divine, brings the secular and sacred together in his person, it makes a lot of sense that we would contemplate both physical and spiritual hunger this particular Lent. Christian Education 2 Missions R Us 3 Adult Education 4 Birthdays 5 Reminders 5 Calendar 6 Worship Opportunities 6 Worship Team Leaders 7 SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: LENTEN SERVICES FASTNACHTS! VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES I invite you to come to one or all of the Lenten services and stay tuned for the Day of Service sign-up!! These are opportunities to grow in faith and deepen fellowship, times of making new connections and strengthening old with God and with one another. All are welcome : ) Pastor s Office Hours: Blessings and Peace, Pastors s Contact Information: Pastor Deb Church: 215-234-4941 Wednesdays 10am 1pm Cell: 610-207-6478 Email: pastordschwartz@gmail.com
Page 2 RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS We will be receiving new members during worship on February 18! If you have also been considering this possibility, please speak with Pastor Deb by February 4. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION The Sunday school children began the new year making Guiding Stars, inspired by the magi and their search for the newborn king. The children s stars reflect their hopes in serving The Lord in the coming year. Ask them what they hope to do as God s servants at Friedens. What do you hope to do? One way that you can serve the Lord, and Friedens children as well, is by volunteering to serve as a Sunday school helper or teacher. There are still many Sunday s open. Please consider sharing just a couple of hours in your week to support the Christian Ed program and Friedens children. We are grateful for the busy and fruitful Christmas season that offered opportunities for both rich fellowship, shared learning, outreach, and service at Friedens through our Advent Social, Children s Christmas Play, Parents Day Out, Angel Tree gifts, and Christmas Caroling. Thank you to all that took leadership in these events and all that participated. We look forward to the year ahead with renewed hope for the future of Friedens Christian Ed programs. All are invited to share in visioning and planning for 2018 at our first committee meeting of the year on February 18th following worship (around 11:15AM). The Christian Ed Committee has begun to gather a Core Leadership Team to vision, plan, and implement our Christian Ed program for children and adults at Friedens. We have 3 people that have committed to the team already and have space for a few more. Of course anyone is welcome at Christian Ed meetings and invited to lend a hand, but this core group will be charged with the leadership work of the committee. If you have a passion for sharing God s word with others in an educational setting, love working with children, and have ideas to share to enrich and help grow this important ministry, please let Pastor Deb or Pam Morris know. We would love to have you as part of the Christian Ed Leadership Team! FASTNACHTS SALE AND HELP NEEDED IT S FASTNACHTS TIME!! Friedens Famous Cooks will be making authentic Pennsylvania Dutch Fastnachts again!!! Look for signup sheet in narthex for help on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Get your orders in early!! Deadline for orders is Sunday, February 4th. Order forms are in the narthex, or call Ronda 215-234-4969, Church Office 215-234-4941 or email: friedensucc@verizon.net to place an order. Prices are: $10.00/dozen and $5.00/half dozen. Plain, powdered, or granulated sugar coatings are available. Pick up your orders on Monday, February 12th, 3-7 PM or Tuesday, February 13th, 8-11AM. This fundraiser supports Friedens Current Fund.
Page 3 MISSIONS R US NEWS The first Trinity Meal will be served on January 30. Future TRINITY MEALS dates are: March 13, May 1, June 26, July 31, September 11 and November 13. Let Chris know if you can help. The first DRIVE THRU meal will be on Saturday, March 10. The chicken pot pie meal will include a vegetable, applesauce and a homemade dessert. All for $11. The FIRST MONDAY MEALS schedule for Friedens is April 2 at Pennsburg UCC, August 6 at Open Link and on November 5 at Open Link. We will need the help of volunteers beginning at 3 p.m. Reminder: Pick up your SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY SOUP AND HOAGIE orders on February 4 following worship. LENTEN SERVICES All Lenten services will begin at 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services will be held by Friedens, at Friedens. The community Lenten services will be hosted as follows, with worship at 7 p.m. and refreshments afterwards: February 21 Friedens UCC February 28 Palm Schwenkfelder UCC March 7 Pennsburg UCC March 14 New Goshenhoppen UCC March 21 St. Paul s Lutheran PUB THEOLOGY ADDRESS UPDATES Erin Moyer s new address is 2A Perkiomen Avenue, Schwenksville, PA 19473 Ron & Shirley Long s new email address is R.Long1822@comcast.net
Page 4 ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY One year into my ministry with you, I see many gifts among you. And I have been wondering how I might help you develop your gifts. I have come across a resource called Unwrapping Our Gifts. It is an 8-session series that focuses on the biblical vision that all Christians are ministers, each in their own way in their everyday lives. The 8 sessions are: Valuing Our Spiritual Journeys What is Ministry? The Little Gift Discerning our Gifts Advocates of One Another Ministries in the Home Ministries in the Workplace Ministries in the Church and World According to course materials, This course will energize you and your faith in wonderful ways! You will discover hidden ministries you didn t know you were doing in your workplace, relationships, home or world. You will experience a level of Christian community and group support that is rare. You will feel the excitement and adventure of being an activated disciple of Christ. At this point, a leader s manual and one sample participant workbook have been ordered. Please let Pastor Deb know if you might be interested in this 8-week series! We will then order a workbook for you and determine a meeting schedule among those participating. The Open Link The Open Link is looking for drivers for two programs: Meals on Wheels and for those who need rides to doctor appointments and the like. If you are able to help, please contact The Open Link at 215-679-4112 or info@theopenlink.org Grandview Hospital Grandview Health is in need of volunteers in several areas. Training is provided for all volunteer positions. Those interested can contact Volunteer Services at 215-453-4371. Lay Chaplain: provide spiritual support, talk and pray with patients and families Information Desk: greet visitors, forward phone calls to patients, deliver flowers and mail Emergency and Short Procedure Units: change bedding, assist with discharging patients and run errands Supply and Distribution: distribute and replenish hospital supplies Food Surveyor: get patients feedback about the hospital food Friendly Visitor: chat with patients and offer magazines and crossword puzzles Golf Cart Drivers: provide a transport/valet service between the parking lots and hospital
Page 5 FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS FEBRUARY 3 Cindy Pedersen FEBRUARY 4 Bob Gray Judy Miller FEBRUARY 6 Destiny Bigler Daniel Alex Bernhart FEBRUARY 7 Benjamin Bernhart FEBRUARY 9 Susan Hess FEBRUARY 10 Denise McKinlay FEBRUARY 12 Cathy Goodwin FEBRUARY 16 Connie Schwenk FEBRUARY 17 Alicia Coughlan FEBRUARY 22 Keri Danasko FEBRUARY 23 Evelyn Hagenbuch UPCOMING EVENTS AND REMINDERS QUIET DAYS at New Goshenhoppen UCC~Tuesday, Feb. 6th (9:30 am 1:00 pm) ANNUAL REPORTS FOR 2017 due Sunday, February 11th. FASTNACHTS!~Help needed on Sunday, February 11th, beginning at 12:30 p.m., Monday, February 12th beginning at 8 a.m. Donations of flour, sugar, Crisco and Wesson oil will be appreciated. REMEMBER. SOUP AND HOAGIE orders pick up after worship on FEBRUARY 4th BREAKFAST BUNCH on FEBRUARY 6th at 9AM at the Valley Café located in Shady Nook Shopping Center (on Rt. 663) in Pennsburg. DEADLINE for articles for the March Forum is FEBRUARY 11th. ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE on FEBRUARY 14th at 7PM. COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICE AT FRIEDENS on FEBRUARY 21st at 7PM.
Page 6 February 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 HOLY COMMUNION SOUP & HOAGIE ORDERS PICK UP AFTER WORSHIP 5 6 9:00 AM BREAKFAST BUNCH MEETS AT VALLEY CAFÉ IN PENNSBURG 6:00PM ELDERS MTG. 6:30PM CONSISTORY MTG. 7 8 9 10 11 12:30 PM FASTNACHT MAKING BEGINS 12 8:00 AM FASTNACHT MAKING 3:00 PM TO 7:00 PM PICK-UP FASTNACHT ORDERS 13 8:00 AM TO 11:00 AM PICK-UP FASTNACHT OR- DERS 14 7 PM ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 7 PM COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICE 25 26 27 28 WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FEBRUARY 2018 DATE OPPORTUNITY LECTIONARY February 4 Fifth Sunday after Epiphany Lay Reader: Chris Hoffman Isa 40:21-31 Psalm 147:1-11, 20c I Corinthians 9:16-23 Mark 1:29-39 February 11 Sixth Sunday after Epiphany Lay Reader: Gail Stevens 2 Kings 2:1-12 Psalm 50:1-6 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9 February 18 First Sunday in Lent Lay Reader: Barry Stevens Gen 9:8-17 Psalm 25:1-10 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:9-15 February 25 Second Sunday in Lent Lay Reader: Linn Woodward Gen 17:1-7, 15-16 Psalm 22:23-31 Rom 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38
FRIEDENS UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST PO BOX 268 1011 CHURCH ROAD SUMNEYTOWN, PA. 18084 Phone: 215-234-4941 Fax: 215-234-9964 E-mail: friedensucc@verizon.net The Beacon on the Hill WE ARE ON THE WEB @ http://www.friedens-sumney.org LIKE us on Facebook WORSHIP TEAM HELPERS FEBRUARY 2018 Date Acolyte Greeter Ushers Offering Stewards Children s Sermon Lay Reader February 4 Sarah Steinman Charles Hartzell Rich/Trina Parke Cindy Dise/Bill Yoder Trina Parke Chris Hoffman February 11 Jace Barr Pat Detweiler Fred/Pam Morris Lisa Bernhart/ Bob Tipping Tony Manfredi Gail Stevens February 14 Brady Bernhart Pam Morris Bob Tipping/ Betty Yerger Judy Kulp/ Barry Stevens N/A Lisa Bernhart February 18 Kelsey Bernhart Kelly Miller Bill/Allison Pierson Betty Yerger/ Judy Kulp Kelly Miller Barry Stevens February 21 Ben Bernhart TBD Joe/Missy Seasholtz Joe/Missy Seasholtz N/A Ronda Gray February 25 Charlotte Pierson Carol Beard Judy Miller/ Chet Yanus Barb Yoder/ Teri Hoffman Chris Hoffman Linn Woodward ALTAR GUILD: Ronda Gray