FaithUCC Newsletter - April 2012

WORD OF FAITH APRIL

2012Faith United Church of

Christ1120 Drexel Hills

BlvdNew Cumberland, PA 17070-

1700

Rev. Denise Clark-Jones

Phone: 717-774-2633

Email: f a i t h u c c o f f i c e@ v e r i z o n . n e t

Web site: faithuccpa.org

Search Faith UCC on facebook.com

Consider joining us on Sunday mornings!!

9:30 am – Sunday School Music Director: Krista Hildebrand

10:15 am – Fellowship Time Organist: Bob Bonner10:30 am – Worship Service Pianist: Jim AndersonChild Care Provided Secretary: Jackie Shaffer

******************************************************************

PALM SUNDAY –April 1st

We will celebrate Palm Sunday with communion and the baptism of 2 of our Youth Group.

*****HOLY WEEK SERVICES

MAUNDY THURSDAY – April 5th

A Mediterranean Dinner will be served @ 6:00 pm

Please sign up or call the church office if you would like to participate.

mailto:[email protected]

Our Communion worship service will begin @ 7:00 pm

*****GOOD FRIDAY – April

6th

New Cumberland Church of God will host the Community Service will be held @ Noon.

*****

EASTER - April 8th

The Community Easter Sunrise Service will be held in Boro Park @ 6:30 am.

Our communion worship service is scheduled for 10:30am. Plan to bring along a fresh flower (or

2) to put on the cross on the front lawn to remind everyone know that it is Easter Sunday!!

APRIL CELEBRATIONS

Happy Birthday to…. Jean

Pepperman….1st

Marty Gutzweiler….9th

Isabelle Bolinger….18th

Marjorie Bonner….20th Betty

Leader….21st

Dorothy Bryce….21st Harriet Watts….24th Sara

Nahf….28th

Chris Edwards….29th

Happy Anniversary to…. Bob & Famie Chase….6th Bob & Patti Kiehl….22nd

Dave & Judy Thompson are excited about the arrival of their new

grandson Conner Snow who arrived on Sunday, March 4th. Sonya and

Lance, big brothers Tyler and Logan are well. Congratulations to all!!!

GREETERS AREA

Are you having trouble finding the greeters on Sunday mornings? We have decided to locate them across

the hallway from the sanctuary doors. Here they can “freely” greet you without causing a “jam up” for

those entering the sanctuary. Also,

from this position, the greeters can see visitors entering from any direction and

greet them warmly.

CONSISTORY MEETINGThe April meeting of our

consistory will be held on April 12th @ 7 pm.

APRIL SCRIPTURES

Apr 1st - Palm Sunday

Mark 11:1-11

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

*****Apr 8th – Easter

SundayActs 10:34-43 or Isaiah

25:6-9Psalm 118:1-2, 14-

241 Corinthians 15:1-11 or Acts

10:34-43John 20:1-18 or Mark

16:1-8*****

Apr 15th – 2nd Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:32-35

Psalm 133

1 John 1:1-2:2

John 20:19-31

*****Apr 22nd – 3rd Sunday of

EasterActs 3:12-

19Psalm

41 John 3:1-

7Luke 24:36b-

48*****

Apr 29th – 4th Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:5-

12Psalm

231 John 3:16-

24John 10:11-

18

LOOKING AHEAD

There are several flower and bulletin sponsor openings for the month of April. If you have a special date to

celebrate/honor, contactthe church office with your

request.

THANK YOU TO….

Cathy Snavely & Jackie Shaffer….for purchasing an area rug for the Greeters to use before worship.Jim Haney….for installing new, brighter light covers in the hallways.The Strawser Family, Shannon & ClaireShaffer, Jim Anderson, Jeanne Snavely, Caitlin & Becca,….for painting the Lenten Banners that were displayed in thesanctuary.Shannon & Claire Shaffer….for painting our new Easter Banners.Bob Brandis….for replacing the thermostat in the church office. I don’t miss the “sauna” heat!!! And for hanging the Lenten banners. Jim Anderson….for his hard work, talent & knowledge in getting our new website upand running. It looks great!! Anonymous….those who see that things need to be done around the church and just do them!!Bob Brandis….for fixing the lock on the big refrigerator.Jon Fisher….for the many electricalprojects he has & plans to update around the building.Bob Brandis….for putting the parking lot logs into place for mowing & for doing the 1st mowing of the season.Yuriko Wight….for filling the pews with prayer & visitor cards.Jon Fisher….for repairing the gutter on the shed & cleaning out the dirt/leaves.Bob Brandis….who has been seen weeding

the flower beds recently.The Mid-Week Ladies….for stuffing plasticEaster eggs for the children’s egg hunt.

THANK YOU FROM…….

“Thanks you for the cards of sympathy, your prayers and acts of kindness that was shown to our family on the death

of Bud – husband, father and grandfather. – Harriet, Mark, Karen,

Jon & Curtis

If you haven’t taken the time to thank Jon Fisher for all the work he’s been doing around the building since coming onto consistory – be sure to

do so!! Jon hasupdated & repaired some electrical problems, taken care of the shed

gutters, investigated electrical concerns & much more.

If you haven’t seen the shelf he made for

Pastor Denise’s desk, ask her for a “tour”. It’s nice to have a new set of

eyes around the building to see what needs to be

repaired & updated.

You are awesome, Jon!!!

MENTORS NEEDED FOR HOMELESS SINGLE MOTHERSFor 20 yrs. The Brethren Housing

Association provided apartments & tangible, loving support to homeless women & their children as they work

toward their goal of moving from homelessness to stability and self-

sufficiency. They are looking for volunteers interested in participating in

their support network for these families. Volunteers can participate for a one year commitment or by providing

specific services to one or more participants as needed.For more

information check their web site @ www.b h a- p a .o r g . There is also a brochure on the bulletin board.

http://www.bha-pa.org/

SAVE THE DATE

The annual Chicken BBQ – Bake Sale – Yard

Sale date has been announced.

July 14th.

Plan to come help make this annual event even more successful than

last year.

ELECTION DAY – April 24TH

It’s time to vote & also order pretzel sandwiches once again. An order form is included with this issue.

If you like to have a sweet treat after your

lunch, consider buying your treat from the

Election Day bake sale.

If you like to bake, consider making a sweet treat to sell during the election hours. Watch for a sign up sheet for

bakers and/or workers soon.

TIME TO GET DIRTY

We are planning to have a mulching party to “spruce up” the beds around the building. If you would like to be a part of a mulching crew on a Saturday

in April, contact thechurch office.

5th SUNDAY HYMN SING COMING The Music/Worship committee is

planning a hymn sing during worship service on April

29th. We will share a light lunch following the service. Plan to come

and”Sandwich some Songs into your

Sunday.”

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR AREA

EVENTSUCC Homes announces The 2012

Helping Hands Dinner & Auction Fund Raiser is set for May 5th.It will be held at the Holiday Inn

Harrisburg East. Honorable Chairperson will be Valeris Pritchett

from ABC27 news.If you would like to help support the

event, contact the Development Office @ 303-1502.

*****Concert of Hope to benefit the Christian Churches United Prison

Action Committee is being held on April 28th, from 4-6:30 pm. It will be

held at the Harrisburg Brethren in Christ Church on Derry Street. For more information, you can call 230-

9550.Check the brochure & flyer on the bulletin board to learn more about

this committee.*****

Blood Drives are scheduled in area churches during the month of April. Check the bulletin board for more

information orcall 866-326-3276 for eligibility

concerns &

to set up your appointment.

*****HEALTH SCREENING

SITETrinity UM, in New Cumberland, will host a Life Line Screening on May

21st. If you would like to participate, check the flyer on the bulletin board

or Life Line @ 800-897-9177 ext

1648.

APRIL CALENDARSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesda

yThursday Friday Saturday

1 COMMUNION

9:30am-Sun Schl10:15am-F’ship10:30am-Worship

PALM SUNDAY

2 37pm-SLAA Mtg7:30pm-AA Mtg

411:30am-SA Mtg1pm-Bible Study6:30pm-Bell Choir7:30pm-Chancel

56:00pm-Mid EasternDinner7:00pm-Worship Svc

MAUNDY THUR

6Noon: CommunityService @ NC Church of God

GOOD FRIDAY

710:30am-Train Club

8 COMMUNION


EASTER SUNDAY



126-9pm-Train Club7pm-Consistory Mtg

13 1410:30am-Train Club




196-9pm-Train Club



23 24ELECTION DAY

7pm-SLAA Mtg7:30pm-AA Mtg


266-9pm-Train Club



30

COMPASSION IS DIFFICULT TO GIVE AWAY BECAUSE IT KEEPS COMING BACK.*****

ARE YOU WRINKLEDWITH BURDEN?COME TO THE CHURCH FOR A FACE-LIFT

APRIL SERVICE SCHEDULE

Palm Sunday Communion Prep: Judy & Karen Griffin Assisting Elder: Cathy SnavelyEaster Sunday Communion Prep: Caitilin & Becca Roemer Assisting Elder: Shannon Shaffer

DUTY APRIL 1ST APRIL 8TH APRIL 15TH APRIL 22ND APRIL 29THUSHER Don Fickes

Roland CopeBrad ShafferBill Kerman

Bill WilliamsKaren Fisher

Bob BrandisJudy Owen

Dick LundvallJim Haney

TELLER Cathy SnavelyRoland CopeBob Brandis

Merv ShafferMeg McKnightBill Kerman

Joanne StineM SentiwanyDave Leader

Chuck MassicDick LundvallJim Anderson

Bob BrandisJudy OwenJim Haney

ACOLYTE Drew Hildebrand Matt Strawser Darren Shaffer Shelly Williams Brittany Strawser

GREETER Sis HoffmanJeanne Snavely

Strawser Family The Nyes The Leaders M & J Shaffer

FLOWERS Leader Family Jeanne Snavely Bob Bonner ??? Joanne StineBULLETINS Leader Family Judy Owen ??? ??? ???NURSERY Shannon Shaffer Karen Fisher Karen

CumberledgeCaitlin Roemer Jackie Shaffer

OPENER Shannon Shaffer M Sentiwany Dane Hildebrand Joanne Stine Judy OwenLAY READER Phil Gold Karen Fisher Lynnette Snyder Liz Owen Cathy SnavelyDRIVERS Jeanne Snavely

Sis HoffmanKrista HildebrandJoanne Stine

Jeanne SnavelyDave Leader

Bob BrandisKaren Cumberledge

Dick Lundvall

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

God loves everyone – But probably prefers “fruits of the spirit” over

“religious nuts!”

Faith UCC Pretzel Sandwich and Sub Fundraiser

Faith UCC Election Day Pretzel Sandwich and Sub Fundraiser – April 24th

Once again, it’s time to place your sandwich orders to be available on Election Day.Cost: $4.00 per sandwich & $5.00 for a 12” sub Orders Due: April 15th

Pick Up: Apr 23rd – after 4 pm OR all day on Election Day

Pretzel Pretzel Pretzel Pretzel Sub 12”

Name Ham & American Ham & Swiss Turkey &American Turkey & Swiss Italian Total

Attention All Bakers!!!!During polling hours, we will also sell baked goods.

WATCH FOR: Sign up sheets to bake and/or work a shift on Election Day.

From Your Pastor…

Last month during a meeting of the Music and Worship Committee some suggestions were made concerning the bulletin. Yes, the bulletin is a trivial matter in the purpose and mission of the Church. The format of the bulletin, the size of the paper, the way it is folded, the size or type of print font are all insignificant in the kingdom of God. However, the conversation brought to light an issue that I do believe is important, and that is understanding how and why we worship as we do. One person, who did not grow up in Faith Church or in the faith tradition of the United Church of Christ, asked about the meaning of some of the words we use in our bulletin.

In the course of teaching our church’s youth in Sunday school, I have been teachingabout our worship. It occurred to me during this recent meeting that it might be helpful to talk about this to the whole congregation. Like most churches today, we have people attending our worship service that either grew up in another Christian tradition or were previously, “unchurched.” So, for the next few months my “Pastor’s message” in the Word of Faith will address how and why we worship as we do on Sunday morning;

I’ll start with the bulletin items, Prelude, Announcement, Call to Worship and Opening Hymn.Upon finding your place in the Sanctuary, you are invited to briefly greet those near you, and then begin preparing yourself for the service. This time is set aside to help you center yourself and prepare for an encounter with God in Christ. During this time the organist or another musician plays an instrument or sings. One suggestion that came out of a recent meeting of the Music and Worship Committee was to use the term, “Gathering Music,” instead of “Prelude,” as we have done in the past.

During the Organ Prelude or Gathering Music, please continue your prayer and meditation as the musicians lead us in prayer. This is more than mood music–it is the beginning of corporate worship. The music has been carefully chosen to reflect the season, lessons, and themes of today’s service. The acolyte and I often struggle with finding a clear path to process to the chancel, dodging people as they move across thecenter aisle. Perhaps we should reclaim the ancient tradition of having an Introit -- some type of formal announcement that the worship service has begun. In Jesus’ time a ram’s horn, a shofar, was blown to announce the start of worship in the synagogue or temple. Later, Christian churches rang chimes.

After the Prelude, or “Gathering Music,” the pastor or worship leader greets the congregation with a “Salutation,” which is the ancient Christian greeting: “The Lord be with you,” In these words we link ourselves with centuries of other Christians who have exchanged these same words at the beginning of worship.

Next we move to the Announcements. Some churches have the announcements during another part of the service, usually sometime after the sermon. However, the problem with this placement is that it interrupts the flow of worship, which is carefully crafted to take us from the opening hymn, through the confession, reading and hearing the Word and into the response to the Word in the offertory and the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. The best place seems to be at the opening of the service before we really begin the liturgy.

What is liturgy? The “Goggle Dictionary” I searched defines liturgy as: “A prescribed form or set of forms for public religious worship.” The word comes from the Biblical Greek word, leit, meaning work combined with “ergon” meaning work. Thus, liturgy is the “work of the people.” In Latin the word developed to mean “public service.” The liturgy of the worship service consists of the words we use in our public, corporate, worship of God. Sometimes this “work” traditionally requires standing. The asterisk in the bulletin indicates that t h ose w h o a r e a b le t o d o so are to stand.

After the announcement the pastor begins the worship service with a Call to Worship. The worship leader or pastor leads the congregation in the Call to Worship using words of scripture proclaiming who God is and what God has done, reminding us that Christian worship centers on God and not ourselves. In simple words from the Bible, the pastor or worship leader reminds us of the very reason we are the Church … that is, to participate in the liturgy of Word and Sacrament as the corporate body of Christ on earth. “This is the day which the Lord has made … we will rejoice and be glad in it!”(Psalm 118) Most often I use the Psalm that is assigned for our Scripture readings for the day according to the lectionary.

The Call to Worship is followed by The Opening Hymn which is sung in procession. This hymn brings everyone in the worshipping community together in song for the first time in the service. It is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving to God and to proclaim God’s greatness, love and goodness. In some churches the choir and other worship leaders process behind an uplifted cross as reminders that we are a people formed and redeemed by God’s living Word, Jesus Christ. All that we do in this service will be done in and through him. This opening hymn, as are each of our worship hymns, is carefully selected each week to try to convey the spirit of what will be coming during the service. Sometimes we are not able to match the hymn quite as exactly as we have today, but it is always chosen with care to reflect the worship that is to follow. When you participate in the opening hymn, remember it is there to help set the stage for the worship to come … to bring your heart and mind to the place where you are ready to hear the Gospel proclaimed and to receive the Sacrament. Sing with your whole being!

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FaithUCC Newsletter - April 2012