June & July
2008 Congregational Council
|
Donna Treaster Susan Shawver |
Worship/Music Worship/Music |
|
David Yoder, Jr. |
Property |
|
Allen Mengel |
Treasurer/Finance |
|
David Borland |
Vice President/Personnel |
|
Sherry Felmlee |
Social Ministry |
|
Steven Burk |
Cemetery |
|
Theresa Snyder |
Youth/Stewardship |
|
Winston Libby |
President |
|
Mary Barr |
Christian Ed |
|
Allison Yoder |
Evangelism |
|
Larry Niemond |
Christian Ed./Personnel |
|
|
Christian Ed. |
|
Andrew Thierwechter |
Stewardship |
|
LaDonna Smith |
Evangelism |
The Congregational Council is the official decision-making body of our parish, comprised of fifteen active, confirmed members and the pastor. Each year at the Annual Meeting of the Congregation, five persons are elected to a three-year term. The group meets regularly on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Minutes of the meetings are posted in the office and at the entryway to the church.
From the Pastor
This year we started a couple of new groups in the congregation, two of which are mandated by our Constitution, but which haven’t been part of our on-going life as a congregation. Our constitution states (C13.04) that there shall be a Staff Support Committee. The duties of the committee are not spelled out in our constitution, but are generally to be exactly what its name implies: a committee that is not under the direct supervision of the church council, that listens to staff concerns, encourages their growth, and helps to mediate any problems that might arise between them and members of the congregation. They are also folks the congregation can go to when they have a concern regarding the staff, when they cannot work out the problems on their own. They are not there to listen to general or anonymous complaints, or to be a “dumping ground” for problems members may have with staff. Our constitution is clear about the process people are to use if anyone has a staff concern: first they are to take it to the person involved. If they do not find a resolution, then the Staff Support Committee can be used to mediate. If the problem persists, it can be taken to the Council. We thank Pam Logan, Pam Tressler and Joe Shirk for serving on this committee!
Our constitution also says that we are to have a Nominating Committee of six members of the congregation, including two outgoing members of the Council. You may be hearing from some of these folks in upcoming months, as they prepare the ballot for the election of next year’s Church Council and Synod Assembly representatives.
Along with these, we have formed a Memorial Committee, consisting of Ginny Libby, Sue Phillips and Scott Price. The purpose of this committee is to solicit memorial gifts, make sure they are appropriately noted and celebrated, and to develop a list of potential memorial gifts. A list of potential Memorials and Endowments is located on our web site. Follow the link to “Memorials and Gifts.”
Finally, we are investigating the possibility of setting up a Parish Nurse Program. We already have several people interested in the possibilities, which might include monthly blood pressure checks, home visitors to help people recently home from the hospital, or people who need someone to sit a couple of hours with a loved one so that they can get a break, and other ministries like these. If you are interested in this ministry, please see Pastor Roth or Barb Henry.
As you can see, there is a lot going on at
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Roth
One
Service?
The Worship Committee, after studying the recommendation for one service, has concluded that we will continue to hold two services in the fall and winter months. The idea of moving to one service was brought forward because of declining attendance, particularly at the 8:00 a.m. service. It was felt, however, that both services meet particular needs of different groups of people in the congregation, and should be continued, along with the 1:30 p.m. Communion service on the first Sunday of the month.
Worship
June 1 Pentecost 3 David Treaster, liturgist and guest speaker
June 8 Graduate Recognition Romans 4:13-25
June 15 Pentecost 5 Donna Treaster, guest speaker; David Treaster, liturgist
June 22 Pentecost 6 Romans 6:1b-11
June 29 Pentecost 7 Romans 6:12-23
July 6 Church Picnic Romans 7:15-25a
July 13 Pentecost 9 Romans 8:1-11
July 20 Pentecost 10 Romans 8:12-25
July 27 Pentecost 11 Romans 8:26-39
August 3 Pentecost 12 Conference Pulpit Exchange
*Worship notes: You are invited to take home a copy of the green hymnal, Lutheran Book of Worship. Some copies are still available in the office area.
Throughout the summer, we will have one worship service, at 9:00 am. There is no Sunday School during the summer months. Our fall worship schedule will begin on September 14, with services at 8:00 and 10:15 am, and Sunday School at 9:00 am. “Favorite Hymns” recently gathered by the Worship and Music Committee, which were not used in the service on May 25, will be sung during communion in the summer months.
Beginning June 1, white grape juice will be available during communion for those who cannot tolerate wine, or wish to have an alternative. We also offer gluten-free wafers for those who are allergic to gluten. White grape juice is available from the tray that contains the cups for communion. If you require gluten-free bread, please see Pastor Roth before the service, and let your need be made known to him.
Graduate Recognition Sunday is on June 8! We will honor our recent graduates from high school and college, with a small gift and reception after church.
Throughout the summer, we will have a Fellowship Hour after worship. Individuals and groups may sponsor our Fellowship Hour by signing up at the Church Office. Sponsors are asked to provide a light snack (fruit, dessert, etc.), set up and clean up afterward.
At the end of June, we will switch to the former Setting 5 from With One Voice (in our new hymnal, it is “Service of the word,” beginning on page 210). We have had many people who said they miss this setting, so we will use it for the remainder of the summer. The Worship and Music Committee have also heard you voice concerning singing the Lord’s Prayer – we will continue to sing it in worship.
Our summer focus in worship is on Paul’s great Letter to the Romans. No one knows exactly the occasion for this letter – perhaps it was to introduce himself to a church he had not founded (the Roman church was founded by Peter), but was planning to visit. Unlike his other letters, which were generally directed at particular issues in congregations he had founded himself, this letter lays out the heart of his theology: “Justification by grace through faith.” It was in this letter that Luther found the “pure Gospel” that became the heart of the Reformation movement. The Letter to the Romans is still a revolutionary document, helping us to understand the God who loves sinners, and the radical ethic of love which breaks down all barriers. I hope you will take time to read the whole letter through, in preparation for this summer series!
Don’t forget our
Congregational Picnic, July 6, at Derry Township Park Green Pavilion. Worship begins at 10:00 a.m., followed by lunch,
games, fun and fellowship! The children
who attended
Contemporary Worship?
Every Sunday we have a special worship hour especially for kids Grades K-6 during our 10:15 am worship service! After the children's message, the children can leave the Sanctuary with an assigned adult and go to the chapel for instruction time, music and crafts. On Communion Sundays, the children will return to the Sanctuary in time for communion. On other Sundays, parents can pick them up in the Sunday School wing.
Polling
the Church
This fall, we will participate in two studies of our congregation: the first is the national Harris Poll on church attendance and beliefs. We will take the poll on September 28 at the conclusion of worship. The other study is being done by our synod’s Evangelism team, to help us identify needs and strengthen ministries in our congregation and community. A date has not yet been set for this study.
Pastor's
Class
The Epistle to the Romans
Every Tuesday, 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Beginning September 9!
This is an in-depth
course on Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
We will look at Paul’s letter (see the introduction, above), using tools
of modern scholarship, but with an emphasis on life application. Paul did not write his letters just for an
opportunity to “talk theology,” but to address real-life concerns of
congregations. As we look at this
letter, we will see what application it has to our life.
Worship
Sponsors
You can sponsor the bulletin, flowers or communion elements, either in memory of someone you love, or to honor someone special to you. Call the church office for details. We are also still accepting donations for the new hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship. If you would like to sponsor a hymnal, call the office.
New Bibles?
The Sunday School is in need of new Bibles, geared to the ages of our pupils. If you would like to sponsor one or more Bibles, contact the church office.
Youth Happenings
On Friday, July 4, our
young people and their sponsors will be embarking on a Mission Trip to the
Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Browning,
Summer
Carnival
The Third Street Summer Kick-off Carnival was a bigger success than ever! On June 14, several churches, including our own, set up booths and offered activities, food and games as a way of reaching out to our community, and to help us get to know our brothers and sisters in Christ a little better. Our congregation gave out a lot of free ice cream, with thanks to the Barnabas Brothers, as well as overseeing games. Thanks especially to Larry Niemond, who has helped to spearhead the project!
Summer
Camp!
What’s summer without
Summer Camp? The theme at
Camp Mount Luther will
hold a Quilt and Craft Auction on Saturday, November 8, and is inviting quilters
from around the area to donate quilts of all sizes and varieties. Crafters are also invited. If you are interested, please call the camp
office to give us an idea as to how many donations we will have.
Christian
Education
It’s not too early to begin planning for the fall! Rally Day is scheduled for September 7 at the 9:00 am worship service. This year we will have a “Blessing of the Bibles” as part of the service. Last year’s event was a great event, followed by a nice brunch. Mark the date on your calendar – we’ll see you in September!
This year, the Third
Street Churches extended their
Angel
Food Ministry
The Angel Food Ministry now has 235 families participating! Please continue to get the word out regarding this ministry, which provides a discounted package of quality foods (a $60 value for only $30), and supports our local food pantry, “Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard.” Each month the menu is different, consisting of both fresh and frozen items, including meats, fruits vegetables, eggs and desserts. Everyone is eligible! It’s both a blessing and a bargain, to assist with balancing budgets and to combat rising fuel bills. Fliers are available from the Church Office or from bulletin racks in the nave.
Have you Considered
the Ministry?
Have you thought about a career either in the ministry or in
teaching? Not sure what vocation you
would like to pursue? The Fund for Theological
Education is a leading national advocate for excellence and diversity in
Christian ministry. Their work supports the next generation of leaders among
pastors and scholars. They provide fellowships and a network of support to
gifted young people for both undergraduate and graduate work, from all
denominations and racial/ethnic backgrounds—encouraging those with gifts for
leadership to consider vocations in ministry and teaching and nurturing them in
their exploration and study. For more
information, go to http://thefund.org/ on the web!
Speaking of Christian
Vocation:
Project Connect is web of
connections among many and various parts of the church in the East—seminaries,
colleges, camps, campus ministries, pastors, lay leaders, congregations, social
ministry organizations, volunteer organizations like Lutheran Volunteer Corps
and Lutheran Student Movement, and, particularly, young adults—that works
together toward a single important goal: to involve young adults in programs
and projects and retreats and discussions about how God is calling them to
build a life, providing programs of vocational discernment for college-age
adults that take our understanding of who God is and what God calls us to be
and do seriously.
Identify programs include various
discernment events, college courses about vocation, and a variety of
opportunities for people in the network to identify young adults who might be
interested in this project.
Nurture programs focus on deepening the
discernment by making connections with outdoor ministry programs, with colleges
and campus ministries, with Lutheran Volunteer Corps, with seminaries.
Sustain programs dig deeper still by
offering opportunities for immersion experiences in congregational settings and
mini-grants that will explore fresh ideas in congregational ministry.
For more
information, go to their web site, http://projectconnect.org/
Faithful Journey
The third part of the Lutheran study on sexuality is now available online at www.elca.org/faithfuljourney. Copies are also available on disk from Pastor Roth, and a paperback copy is available for borrowing from him as well. The study invites participants to moral deliberation on human sexuality from the perspective of Paul's letter to the Galatians and Martin Luther's essay, "On the Freedom of the Christian." Responses to the study will help shape a social statement being prepared by the ELCA to be brought before the Churchwide Assembly in 2009.
The ELCA on the Net!
Videos about the ELCA are now available on the Net! 87 videos have been posted in the last six months, and the number continues to grow! You can "Open the Door to Luther," view an introduction to the New Testament, learn about Islam, learn about "prayer scrapbooking," walk through the Luther lands, listen to messages on important topics from Presiding Bishop Mark Hansen, experience the ELCA Youth Gathering in San Antonio, and much more! Just go to youtube.com or video.google.com and type "ELCA" to see what is available!
Charitable Giving Opportunities
The Pension Protection Act of 2006 includes a variety
of charitable giving incentives, most notably a version of the long-awaited
“IRA Charitable Rollover.” Individuals 70½ years old or older may make a
qualified charitable distribution outright to charity in an amount up to
$100,000 per year directly from an Individual Retirement Arrangement
(“IRA”). Under prior law, these distributions would be taxable to the IRA
owner, but under the Act, the distribution will be excluded from the donor's
taxable income. The IRA Charitable Rollover is only available in 2006 and
2007. Another benefit of the IRA Charitable Rollover is that the charitable
distribution may be used by the IRA owner to satisfy a portion or all of their
annual minimum distribution requirements. For more information, or to
learn about giving through you will, charitable gift annuities, or other giving
vehicles, contact the ELCA Foundation office at 1-800-638-3522, ext.
2970. Also available are the publications, "Why Do I Need a Will?"
"What Will Your Legacy Be?" "Will and Trust Workbook." For Memorial Gifts and Endowments to
"Simply Giving"
The Simply Giving® program is a reliable, safe way to move your stewardship plan into action. It allows you to share your gifts through planned giving and activates your generosity into ongoing stewardship. Because your gift is given consistently, you won’t need to play “catch-up” at year-end or worry about forgotten checkbooks or missed Sunday offerings. But you’re not the only one that benefits. Your congregation benefits from steady, more predictable revenues throughout the year, more efficient bookkeeping, and greater confidence in meeting its financial commitments. Simply Giving® is sponsored by Thrivent for Lutherans, but is available to all members of Lutheran congregations. To enroll, call the church office, or stop by the "Simply giving" booth on May 20.
New in our Library
New in our Library: Prayer:
Does it Make Any Difference? by Philip Yancey. An excellent book on prayer,
by the author of two other very good books:
What's So Amazing About Grace and The Jesus I Never Knew. Philip Yancey takes a fresh and no-holds
barred approach to a subject that is central to Christian life, but often
neglected and misunderstood. Yancey's
books are well-written, well-reasoned, and offer a depth not usually found in
popular Christian literature. In this
latest book, he describes prayer as "keeping company with God." If prayer is important to you, and
particularly if you struggle with prayer, this is a "must read! Also new are Amazing Grace by Kathleen
Norris, an account of her gradual conversion, offering believers and doubters a
perspective for finding faith in the contemporary world; The New Testament
Story, by David Barr, a college-level introduction to the writings of the
New Testament, integrating historical information, and stressing vital elements
in the lives of real persons; and Great Songs of Faith, by Robert Brown
and Mark Norton, containing devotions for an entire year, based on popular
hymns.
Shut-In Visitation
We call on members in nursing homes in the area, and on shut-ins on a monthly basis, through our "Friendly Visitor" program! Many of our shut-ins already have a visitor - if you know any one who would like a regular visit from one of our members, please call the office. We can also use folks who would like to make phone calls to our shut-ins once or twice a day, just to make sure they are o.k., for our Telephone Assurance program.
Scouting
Our Scout Troops are a wonderful way to have fun, learn about the outdoors, and build character and long-term friendships. You can help, too - our Scout Troops are looking for more helpers and board members! Call the church office for more information.
The Pennebaker
Trust
In her will, Mrs. Irene Pennebaker established the
Irene Pennebaker Trust, for the care of members who
worship or worshipped at
See what's going on at Gettysburg Seminary this summer!