Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 33 S. 11th Street, Reading, PA 19602 God s Responsive people Acting out our faith by Committing ourselves to reach out to Each and Everyone in God s vast creation. *********** EPISTLE OF GRACE *********** May 2015 Saturday, May 16 8:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. All proceeds benefit the community 1
Pastoral Reflections May 2015 Join the Conversation! When I became your pastor a couple of years ago, I learned very quickly that this congregation has the gift of gab. You all can talk a pastor's ear off! Most of the time, that's a very good thing. I love hearing about how you are doing and what you think about different aspects of our life together. Lately, I have been inspired, encouraged, and challenged in positive ways by conversations that we are having around the church, and I want to share some of those conversations with you. In our Saturday Adult Education class, "Church Talk," we have been surprised and intrigued by all that we have learned in our study of Islam. But the conversation doesn't stop there. Beyond that, we have found ourselves having deep discussions about race relations, the Bible and human sexuality, Holy Communion, and more. Sometimes we learn just as much from our tangents as we do from the topic at hand. And we are not only learning about these topics, we are getting to know each other on a deeper level. In Adult Sunday School, we just began a study of the book of Revelation, and we are already energized and excited about this material. We are learning that this intense book of the Bible is not what we thought it was. Again, while we learn about the Bible, we learn about each other, and we laugh so much along the way. In our recent Council meetings, we've had "Visioning Conversations" during which we've discussed the future of our congregation. We have spent that time brainstorming ideas for evangelism, 2
talking about our hopes and dreams and fears, and trying to think outside of the box. I'm thankful for those who are a part of these conversations already, and I invite all of you to join us! Drop by a class one week to see what it's like, or come to a council meeting to sit in and offer your thoughts. The more, the merrier! We want your voice to be a part of the conversation. Peace be with you, Pastor Marsha APRIL 2015 COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS MARCH : INCOME $10,945.87 EXPENSES $12,193.94 GENERAL FUND: 3/31/15 balance was $27,563.53 BUILDING FUND: 3/31/15 balance was $ 3,661.25 MEMORIAL FUND: 3/31/15 balance was $ 2,950.00 PROPERTY: We have received a check from the insurance company to start work on the roof. Scaffolding will go up sometime in April. An insurance adjustor inspected the leak in the narthex and a claim was submitted to the insurance company. We discussed if we want to lock the gates to the parking lot again due to some neighbors not moving their cars when we have services. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: Diane Ohlinger is researching a new curriculum for the September 2015 to May 2016 Sunday School year. Revisions will be made to social events, such as dates and different activities. OLD BUSINESS: Ooma phone service has been ordered/ installed. The service will save a significant amount on our monthly phone bill. Our prior service was through Verizon. The Evangelism Team is still being formed. More volunteers are needed. 3
Worship Sponsorships Needed Will you help by sponsoring the altar flowers, sanctuary lamp, and/or bulletins for Sunday worship? Sponsorship is a wonderful way to remember or acknowledge a family member or friend. And it is a great way to provide for worship while offsetting costs for Grace. We still have sponsorships available in May: Flowers: May 3 and 10: one vase; May 17: two vases Sanctuary Lamp: May 3, 10, 24, and 31 Bulletins: May 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 Cost for sponsoring flowers, lamp, or bulletin is $15 each. SPONSOR SHEET FOR ALTAR FLOWERS, SANCTUARY LAMP, AND BULLETINS Name of Person Filling Out Form: Phone #: Date of Sponsorship: Sunday, In Memory / In Honor of: (Please circle Memory or Honor) And given by Check One: Bulletins Flowers Sanctuary Lamp Return completed form to Louise McCloughan. 4
New Evangelism Team Outreach - Invitation - Hospitality Do you have ideas about how Grace can reach out to our neighbors? Is hospitality one of your talents? Are you creative? Do you get things done? If so, please prayerfully consider serving on Grace's new Evangelism Team! Church Council has had several "visioning conversations," and from those, there has come a strong feeling that we need a team of people to lead us in Evangelism, or "sharing the good news." The possibilities are wide open. Perhaps the team will help us to start new programs, or find new energy to invite our neighbors, or make sure we are welcoming to visitors. If you would like to help shape these efforts, please consider serving! Contact Pastor Marsha if you are interested. Join Us at the Roast Turkey Dinner/Mother-Child Dinner Sunday, May 3, at Noon ROAST TURKEY, MASHED POTATOES, GRAVY, VEGETABLE, SALAD, APPLESAUCE & DINNER ROLL $7.00 ADVANCE SALE $8.00 AT DOOR $4.00 6-12 YEARS OF AGE FREE- 5 & UNDER For tickets and/or information contact Louise McCloughan or Janet Bampton. 5
Spring Fling Saturday, May 16, 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. We will have used CLOTHING (no shoes!), BOOKS (no magazines!) and WHITE ELEPHANT ITEMS (small appliances must be in working condition). These items will be accepted starting now and can be brought to the church any weekday morning or on Sunday mornings. The FOOD ITEMS on the bottom of this form will be accepted the day of the Spring Fling. HOMEMADE BAKED GOODS are in great demand; we never have enough of those great goodies! We ask that all food donations be at the church by 9:00 a.m. on May 16. There will be hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled pork sandwiches, and beverages for those who need a lunch pick-me-up. If you can work all or even part of the day, please sign-up below. We need many volunteers to have a successful SPRING FLING! 2015 Spring Fling Donations & Volunteers Name: Phone: I will work at the Spring Fling: Set-up ( ) Clean-up ( ) Stand: I will donate the following food items: Baked goods: Pepper Cabbage Cole Slaw Macaroni Salad Rice Pudding Potato Salad Red Beets / Eggs 6 Baked Beans Pasta Salad Deviled Eggs Chili Soup Other:
May Meetings Choir Rehearsal in the sanctuary each Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. except May 13. Church Talk: Saturday, May 2, 10:00 a.m. noon. ChAOS: Sunday, May 3, 11:30 a.m. Personnel Committee Meeting: Monday, May 4, 10:00 a.m. Grow in Grace Tutoring closing program: Tuesday, May 5 at 3:00 p.m. WBMD Spring Assembly at Hope Lutheran Church: Thursday, May 7, at 7:00 p.m. Altar Guild: Sunday, May 10, after worship. Christian Education: Monday, May 11, at 6:00 p.m. Church Council: Celebrate Ascension Day with the WBMD; Worship at The Highlands on Thursday, May 14, at 7:00 p.m. Staff Meeting: Wednesday, May 20, 6:00 p.m. VBS Meeting at St. Paul s: Wednesday, May 20, 7:00 p.m. NEP Synod Assembly at Santander Arena: May 29-30. Church Talk Join us for vibrant, engaging discussion of topics related to faith, religion, and life. This group began by exploring what it means to be Lutheran, and now we have begun exploring other religions as well. We are currently learning about Islam, which is really expanding our horizons! In coming months, we will have a guest speaker, Rubina Tareen, who will speak to us from a Muslim perspective. In learning about others, we also learn a lot about ourselves. Next meeting: Saturday, May 2, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon 7
Memorial Day Geraniums Please use this form to order geraniums which will decorate the church on May 24. The geranium plants may be taken home following 10:30 a.m. worship. Cost is $5.00 per plant. Deadline for ordering is Sunday, May 17. Payment must accompany order. NAME: ADDRESS: PHONE: # of geranium plants X $5.00 /each = $ IN LOVING MEMORY OF: GIVEN BY: IN LOVING MEMORY OF: GIVEN BY: IN LOVING MEMORY OF: GIVEN BY: IN LOVING HONOR OF: GIVEN BY: IN LOVING HONOR OF: GIVEN BY: IN LOVING HONOR OF: GIVEN BY: 8
Vacation Bible School 2015 A joint ministry of Grace and St. Paul s Churches July 20 24, 6:15-8:30 p.m. At St. Paul s Lutheran Church, Reading Transportation for VBS children will be provided. What s cool about VBS? YOU!!! Each evening for five days you can volunteer. Our theme this year is Bible stories about Moses. We need helpers for classroom, kitchen, van transportation, and teachers for classroom. No experience needed. If interested in helping in any way, please contact Diane L. Ohlinger at 610-207-6057 or dlo555@verizon.net, or contact the church office, use pew cards, or speak with the Pastor. VBS meeting date is Wednesday, May 20, at 7:00 p.m. PLEASE find time in your busy schedule to help with VBS! Note: Due to time frame on securing clearances, deadline to sign up to volunteer is May 19. 9
May Birthdays 5 Alyssa Newmoyer, Angel Gring-Velazquez 7 Dick Gottshall 8 Daphne Cleary 11 Wayne Dauber 15 Nasir Allison 18 Linda Reed 23 Joe Ricci, Debbie McCullough 27 Josephine Battaglieri, Donna Sherry, Diane Ohlinger, Lynne Denunzio 28 Robert Schwenker, Joshawa Szerszen 29 Nasiah Allison 31 Sabrina Szerszen 10
The Church Office Will Be Closed Monday, May 25, for Memorial Day Friday, May 29, for the NEP Synod Assembly Newsletter Deadline Deadline for submitting articles for the June newsletter is Friday, May 15. FEELING ILL? GOING TO THE HOSPITAL? Please call the church office at 610-375-3961. This is the only way to be sure that the pastor will know. Transportation is Available for Sunday Worship! If you are in need of a ride to church on Sunday mornings, make a reservation by calling the church office at 610-375-3961 between 9:00 and noon, Monday - Friday. There is never a need to call a taxi or ride the bus to join us for Sunday worship. The van drivers are more than happy to pick you up and take you home each week. Please Note All calls to the church must be made before Friday noon in order to request the van for Sunday. Messages are not checked between Friday noon and Sunday worship. Join Us to See Joseph on September 12 This fall, we will travel to Sight & Sound Theatre in Strasburg, PA to see their production of Joseph. The cost for bus fare and show ticket is $118 per person. Lunch is separate. Payment plans are available. Contact Barb Seidel at 484-794-0857 for more information and to sign up. 11
Church Staff Marsha Anderson, Pastor Kathy Yenser, Church Administrator Jane Battaglieri, Organist/Choir Director Diane Ohlinger, Christian Education Sandy Bocian, Sexton Office Hours: Mon-Fri. 9:00 AM Noon Telephone number: 610-375-3961 Fax Number: 610-375-1982 Web Site: www.readinggrace.org E-mail: glcrdg@comcast.net Or Office@readinggrace.org For Pastoral Emergencies call 484-332-3303 Like us on Facebook! A Member of The Reading Lutheran Parish IN THE CITY FOR GOOD! 12