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June 2016 NEWSLETTER
NOTICE OF CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
This is a revised notice of the introductory weekend
for the pastoral candidate, Rev. Anne Cormier. Due to
a conflict with the Pottstown Relay for Life. The can-
didate weekend has been moved from June 5 to June
19. The scheduled events include an informal meet
and greet with Rev. Cormier on Friday, June 17 at
7:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall. This will be followed
by Pastor Anne preaching and conducting the Sunday service on June 19 at 10:15
AM. Following the service will be a congregational meeting to review the terms
of a call of Rev. Cormier and a vote by the membership to approve her as our
next settled pastor. Pending a positive vote, it is expected that Pastor Anne will
start June 20. Thanks, Rich Fiedler
CONTACT THE CHURCH
321 South Limerick Rd. Limerick, PA 19468 610-489-0990 www.stjames-ucc.org
Pastor: Brad Haws [email protected]
Minister of Music: Donna Pinto [email protected] (610) 792-1679
Office Assistant: Sandy Chang Mon. & Thurs. 10am-2pm [email protected]
for Newsletters: [email protected]
Betty Lou Wilson-Sexton [email protected]
2016 CONSISTORY
Nancy Ewing, President Wendel Koenig, V. President Kristen Serina, Secretary Sandie Fetterman Bob Walters Ellie Wellman Jay Smith Diane Raspen
officers: Tom Mogel, Financial Sec. Ruth Borneman, Historian Jay Smith, Treasurer
“Like” us on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/stjamesucc
WHAT’S UP
▪ Calendar………….2
▪ Cong’l Life…….3-5
▪ Birthdays ........... 3
▪ Prayer Concerns 7
▪ Household
Prayers…...….....7
SUMMER WORSHIP
We will be moving out to the pavilion on July 3th. Summer
worship will be outside through September 4 starting each
Sunday at 9:15am. Please remember to dress appropriately
for the weather so that you are comfortable during outdoor
worship. The weather will be checked at 8:30am each Sun-
day (to allow time for set-up), using the Limerick Golf
Club data. Temperatures at 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher; humidity at 90% or
higher; or heavy rain will send us back inside for worship. Otherwise (even if it’s
sprinkling!) we’ll stay in the pavilion. It can get surprisingly cool and breezy in
the pavilion, so bring a jacket or sweater just in case!
Pottstown Relay Weekend
Saturday morning, June 4th till Sunday morning. Please come and visit the
Great Strides team at tent sites 87 and 88 on the Pottsgrove HS track. We will
have food, crafts, games and raffle baskets. Come sit in our tents, or walk the
track, and be inspired by how the community joins together to fight can-
cer. Please consider purchasing a luminaria bag for $10 to remember, or honor,
a loved one and light the Pottstown night with hope (see Linda or Patti)! Also,
we could use a few more hands for tent set-up on Friday afternoon (around
3:30pm) and tear-down on Sunday morning (around 8:00am). If you can help,
please let Linda or Patti know.
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PAGE 3 June 2016 NEWSLETTER
JUNE
BIRTHDAYS
3…...Jack Focht
6…...Jerry Brunk
6…...Zachary Sarfert
11….Jenna Cibulsky
11….Suzanne Lightcap
12….Elizabeth Wines
15….Betty Himes
15….Amanda Friemann
22….Miranda Swinehart
27….Darlene Brunk
ANNIVERSERIES 2…...Steve & Mary Barnaik
6…...Bill & Patricia Earnshaw
6…...Jon & Heather Myers
6…...Keith & Jennifer Schell
10….James & Amy Friemann
15….Edward & Susan Myers
17….Jim & Dottie Cossaboon
18….Ben & Lisa Hendricks
21….Jeffrey & Charry Schubert
CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
FELLOWSHIP MEALS
Another year of wonderful
offerings of Fellowship meals
has closed for the season. We
are grateful to the Hospitality
Committee here at the church
for the many expressions of
good food throughout the year when we meet
monthly. We also remember their dedication to
the post worship mixers in the Fellowship Hall
every Sunday, as well as many other meals they
cover. So a BIG THANK YOU is definitely in
order!
THANKS SO MUCH!
The St. James family has been so supportive during
these last few months of Barry’s illness. We both
appreciated all the cards, prayers, visits, and offers
of help. Your concern and love was evident in all
that you did for Barry and I. Thank you again and
may God bless all of us as we continue in His loving
care. Nancy
FROM THE KITCHEN
On behalf of myself (Betty Lou) and the rest of the
kitchen crew, I want to send out a big "Thank You"
for all who have attended our Wednesday Night
Fellowship Meals this past season. Everyone
seems to enjoy the meals, and also have a good
time . We try hard to find new choices for meals,
and if any one has any suggestions for a meal,
please let us know. We will be taking a few months
off, but look forward to starting up again in
September. We hope every one has a great sum-
mer, and hope to see you all back in the Fall.
The Kitchen Crew
Cora Smith, Betty Himes, Sandy Fetterman,
MaryAnn LoPardo, Betty Lou Wilson
CALLING ALL TALENT
We are looking for people to volunteer to
provide the special offerings spot in the service during
summer. Since the choir does not meet in the summer-
time, it's an opportunity for anyone who has a special
talent to share it with the congregation during the ser-
vice. This can include singing, playing an instrument,
solo or group activities, readings, or liturgical dancing.
Contact Donna Pinto at [email protected] or (610)
792-1679 to schedule a date.
FOOD DELIVERIES
April 20th was our last night for this winter season to
deliver a breakfast meal to our Mission Partner, Minis-
tries at Main Street, in Pottstown. Throughout the win-
ter, the generous folks at St James provided egg casse-
roles each month to the five churches where our home-
less friends were sheltered. The food deliveries also
included breakfast cakes, fruit juices, coffee and cocoa.
Sometimes we added donations of cereal and sugar.
Many thanks to the following who helped to provide
the delicious breakfast every month: Charlotte and
Rich Fiedler, Mae Mogel, Betty Himes, Rugene Cald-
well, Cindy Valerio, Donna Serina, Ellie Wellman, Sue
Myers, Adrien Cibulsky, Mary Ann Lopardo, Nancy
Ewing, Nancy Dunning, Lillian Widener, Cora Smith,
Jay and Gail Smith, Pam Marino, Anita Rogers, Di-
anne Savitsky and Sandy Koenig.
PRAYER TEAM MESSAGE
HAVE FAITH, BE THANKFUL
God gave me today, it is a gift
God lets me choose what I want to do
I may entertain angels or God himself
How can I know? I can’t. I believe
So I will give away many smiles
A helping hand or friendly hello
I will hug my children and grandchildren
My forever friends, my special friends, family
I will tell them all, “I Love You”
I will pray for family, friends and strangers
Prayer is powerful and free-never cease
God hears my prayers large and small, day or night
God patiently awaits me to seek him each day
I seek him with worries and celebrations
I hear him say, “My child I am always here for you”
I thank him constantly aloud and silently
For health, family, friends, critters to love
Starry nights, rain showers, rainbows, and snow
Spring, summer, fall and winter
God gives me unbelievable beauty to enjoy
God whispers, “Slow down child, look and listen”
God is everywhere, his handiwork always visible
He walks beside me, he holds my hand
Without him I am nothing, I have nothing, he pro-
vides
With him I have wings, I can fly
Thank you, God, for giving me this day
Prayer Team
CONGREGATIONAL LIFE CON’T
PROJECT OUTREACH
Save the dates - June 23, 2016 and October 13, 2016.
All are welcome to come and help package and dis-
tribute bags from 9am to 12pm on our scheduled
dates at the Royersford Food Pantry, 4th and Wash-
ington Streets.
Check out our new website - spring-
fordprojectoutreach.org. Also recent happenings and
upcoming events can be found on Facebook/Spring-
Ford Project Outreach.
PAGE 4 June 2016 NEWSLETTER
A BIG THANK YOU!
Thank you to all those who helped on the clean-up
day at the church. We got a lot accom-
plished, with the group who helped. Our
roof replacement should be started short-
ly, and our funding is almost to our goal.
A BIG thank you to all of you for your
contributions to this most important project. The
Property Committee.
GOD’S BEAUTY
The weather is now getting nice to be
outside and to enjoy God's beau-
ty. Some people find that they feel
close to God in being in nature and
easy to pray as they take in all his
beauty. Some people get that same
type of feeling also as they walk our
labyrinth. It is a quiet time to reflect
and pray as they slowly walk the
path to the center and spend time with God. We
hope people take some time to walk the labyrinth
now that the weather is getting warmer and spend
time to listen to what God may say to you.
We know the labyrinth is in need of some
repair and we are looking into what kind of
paint to use, so it holds up for a longer peri-
od of time.
Charlotte Fiedler
A Reminder
June 5th, we will be having a meeting for our up-
coming Chicken Barbecue, to be held August 20th. It
will be here before we know it. We welcome any
newcomers to join us. Everyone's part, whether big
or small is much appreciated, and makes things flow
so much easier.
CONGREGATIONAL PICNIC
JUNE 26
All are welcome for our annual picnic with games
for all ages after service! The main dish, drinks,
plates and utensil’s will be provided. A sign up sheet
will be posted on the bulletin board for you to bring
a dish to pass for our potluck (don’t forget the sun-
screen!).
PAGE 5 June 2016 NEWSLETTER
GRADUATES Congratulations to Anthony M. Murray
he graduated from Slippery Rock Uni-
versity. He is the great nephew of Anita
Rogers.
CONGREGATIONAL LIFE CON’T
CONSISTORY NOTES
Our May meeting was mainly spent meeting and interacting with our pastor candidate, Anne Cormier, who met
with us to introduce herself and entertain questions or thoughts from our Consistory. Rich Fiedler also attend-
ed the first half our meeting as chair of the Search Team to present Anne to the Consistory.
Anne was very personable with us and shared a bit of who she is and how she sees herself ministering with the
congregation.
We also discussed the process and schedule for receiving and voting on the pastor candidate.
This is the schedule of events:
▪ Friday, June 17 @ TBD: Dessert Meet-and-Greet with Pastor Anne.
▪ This is a drop in event where all are invited to come for fellowship and an opportunity to personally meet
and introduce yourself to Pastor Anne
▪ Sunday, June 19 @ 10:15 am worship: Pastor Anne will be participating in our worship, providing her
“Trial Sermon”
▪ After worship: Congregational meeting for our vote on accepting Rev. Anne Cormier as our Pastor
▪ The week of June 19 will be Pastor Anne’s beginning time with us. Here roles and hours and other
specifics of her position will be outline then
Also discussed and approved was the tenure of Pastor Haws. Upon his request and our discussion it was
approved that
▪ Pastor Brad’s last service with us will be Sunday, June 12
▪ Pastor Brad will continue in our employ through the end of June (the 30th)
▪ Pastor Brad will be available the week of June 19 to help with any transition needs with Pastor Anne, and
use most of the week and the week of June 26 as due vacation to finish his time.
It was reported that the Roof Fund is being well supported with the fund being about $5,000 shy of the goal.
The hope was expressed that any amount that exceeds the goal could be considered for seed funding for a simi-
lar fund/campaign to likewise raise resources for necessary blacktopping and resurfacing of the parking lot.
Work is being done and encouraged to be even more proactive in securing background checks and clearances
for all who work with children and youth in the congregation. This is State and Conference-wide mandate
with an expected deadline of July 1.
Our summer worship schedule will begin Sunday, July 3 and continue through Labor Day weekend Sunday,
September 4, with worship being moved outside in our pavilion (weather permitted) and the time of worship
moving from 10:15 to 9:15 am
PAGE 6 June 2016 NEWSLETTER
LETTER FROM PASTOR CANDIDATE ANNE CORMIER
Dear members of St. James UCC in Limerick:
Blessings of grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am so grateful to be your candidate as pastor in ministry with you and for this opportunity to
share a little more about myself. One of my favorite lines from the movie “Forrest Gump” is
“Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.” So this is my at-
tempt to describe what you’re going to get with me.
As we serve the Lord, establishing a relationship of mutual respect and trust is of utmost im-
portance to me. I am gladly willing to earn your trust and will receive it as a precious gift to be
nurtured and tended. As pastor and as a fellow disciple in Christ I strive to embody the Spirit
of Christ to the best of my ability; unconditional love and acceptance, grace, forgiveness, joy, a
healing and listening presence, and resurrection hope are all qualities that I hold as central and
core to that embodiment.
I have a collaborative leadership style, and want to know what you value most in your Chris-
tian walk and what it is that you are thirsty and hungering for in your spiritual journey.
I value honesty and integrity and I am endowed with courage.
I have a pastoral presence and the capacity to meet others in places of deep pain and to cele-
brate with them in the joys of life.
On a personal note, I am toward the middle on the introvert, extrovert scale. I am not the least
bit stoic and will cry with you and laugh with you. Jesus and the Spirit of God excite me and
beckon my exuberant spirit to come forth. I have been told on numerous occasions that my
speaking voice is very calming and soothing. However, this is not the case with my singing
voice. I am very good at lip syncing.
My husband, John and I will be married for 24 years this year. We have seen each other
through some struggles, personal loss, and triumphs and are now in the thralls of teen years
with our daughter, Tiana, who often thinks I’m weird.
I love art and being creative, and love outdoor activities.
What I have gleaned from your profile, my encounters with the search committee and those I
have met on the St. James consistory is that as a body of Christ, you are serious about your dis-
cipleship. I have also noticed a wonderful respect and caring for one another, a great down to
earth quality and a sense of being family. I look forward to learning more about your collective
story as a congregation and about your individual stories, your hopes and dreams, your strug-
gles and triumphs in this beautiful thing we call life, in Christ.
Blessing of joy! I can’t wait to meet you!
Pastor Anne
PRAYER CONCERNS
For our friends Pearl Reinhart, Mary Ann Stonelake, Janice Moore, Betty
Wines, Pat McFarland, Mary Barnaik, Doris Frain, Pauline Ebersole, Heather
Yates, Frances Major, Melissa Moore, Ellie Donofrio and others who are in
long term care or unable to leave their homes. We pray for comfort, peace,
healing and companionship for each of them.
For our friends Sandy Fetterman, Melissa and baby, Andrea and Bev,
Bridgette, Steve, Mary, Fran, Benjamin G, Sara S Joshua P, Gene T, Stephen, James H, Anna H, Pat M, Angie
C, Kim S, and others with ongoing health concerns and challenging life circumstances, we pray for caring
hands, hope to live each new day, and the reassurance of God's presence through the support of our congre-
gation.
For our friends Mark, Thelma M, Cathy, Jeanette F, Harry B, Bonnie D, Tony G, Kathy, Barbara S, David P,
Bonnie D, Chet, Bonnie F, Megan, Tom, Beth M, Jessica H, Wilmer Alderfer, Debbie H, Paul C, Megan F,
Gill T, Iris K, Joe M, Vinny D and all cancer survivors, we pray for treatment where it is possible and release
from suffering where it is needed.
For our friend Jesse Alderfer and all militants, Lord we ask that you be with our military men and woman as
they put their lives on the line to protect us and all the foreign lands they may be in. Keep them safe, that they
may return home to their loved ones.
For the friends and family of Barry Ewing and for all who grieve at the deaths of those they deeply love and
dearly miss, we ask that they might know the comfort God offers through the community of faith as we sur-
round them with our prayers.
Lord we thank you for your many blessings you have given all of us. We continue to pray for all those on
our prayer list for healing and wholeness. We know that it must be your will for each of these people and we
accept what ever that will may be. We thank you for the healing that has taken place for many that have
been on our prayer list. We also pray for wholeness of mind, body and spirit for all your children. We ask
that you continue to guide our congregation in the selection of a new spiritual leader. Amen
We ask that any prayer requests during our church service be put on the cards at the end of the pew and
placed in the offering plate.
Please note that we will remove names on the prayer list after one month, except for homebound and hospital-
ized members. Let us know if you would like to add or renew a request by office phone or email.
PAGE 7 June 2016 NEWSLETTER
Household Prayer: Morning
Merciful God, your Word declares that your mer-
cies are new every morning and that your faithful-
ness is great. My eyes open, blood pulsating
through my veins, and breath coming in and out of
my lungs are proof of your mercy, for you have giv-
en me a new day. May this be a day in which I now
see and experience and declare the rest of the
promise: that your faithfulness is indeed great.
Help me to know your great faithfulness and rejoice
in it all day long. Thanks be to you, O Lord. Amen.
Household Prayer: Evening
Faithful God, I silence my mind and my body in prep-
aration for rest, but do so aware that you have again
given me the privilege of joining you in this gift of
life. This day that I have lived, was like no other day
before or to come, and yet it was like every day you
promise; for as in every day, you have been here,
moving in and through my life. Fill my heart and spir-
it with reminders of your presence from this day, and
lead me to rest in the certainty of your unconditional
and uncompromising love for me because of Jesus, in
whose name I pray. Amen.
DAILY PRAYERS FOR THE MONTH
PAGE 8 June 2016 NEWSLETTER
FROM A MINISTER TO THE MINISTERS
The Apostle Paul begins his final remarks in his first letter to the Corinthians with these words:
“Stay awake, stand firm in your faith, be brave, be strong. Everything should be done in love.” (16:13)
Likewise, the Apostle Paul concludes his second letter to the Corinthians with this:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, good-bye. Put things in order, respond to my encouragement, be in harmony
with each other, and live in peace – and the God of love and peace will be with you. . . . The grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (13:11,13)
I’d like to put those two farewells together as my final written remarks to you as a minister to you, the minis-
ters: Stay awake, stand firm in your faith, be brave, be strong. Everything should be done in love.
Finally, brothers and sisters, good-bye. Put things in order, respond to my encouragement, be in harmony
with each other, and live in peace – and the God of love and peace will be with you. . . . The grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
“Stay awake”
I have seen a very wakeful and fitful congregation here at St. James. There is more life in you than I suspect
many of you think you have. I trust too that God has brought us together and used me to help wake us all from
a slumber that perhaps your past few years of strife led you to think you deserved and needed. Sometimes life
is too much, the conflicts too strong, and weariness creeps in, and, yes, rest and sleep seem necessary and war-
ranted. But our time together has been one of awakening and delving back into life in Christ and life together.
Don’t go back to sleep . . . Stay awake; see and participate in what God is going to do next.
“Stand firm in your faith, be brave, be strong”
I have tried to fulfill what I have come to believe was God’s mandate to me among you, the mandate of re-
minding you of who you are in Christ, what it is to be Church, what it is to be first and foremost the Body of
Christ himself. That is our faith. That is our trust, that we are Christ’s Body here on earth, today, two thou-
sand years later. St. James is not a social club; St. James is not a potluck meal gathering; St. James is not a
historical society maintaining history and a building. St James IS A BODY OF JESUS CHRIST, reflecting
Christ to this community. Stand firm in your faith in the Christ whose name you carry. In doing so, in putting
your trust and faith there, you WILL be brave and strong.
“Everything should be done in love”
And this indeed is how we reflect Christ and what it is, in fact, to BE CHURCH: LOVE. It has been the ex-
pressed and underlying theme of virtually all my sermons for these 14 months: LOVE. It’s not love of affec-
tion and romance. It’s the LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST: the sacrificial giving of self for another; the looking
out for others because I know I’m already taken care of. It is that which is the very foundation of the Church
and who we are as Christians: LOVE; the love shown to us from a cross; the love demonstrated with taking up
our cross, denying ourselves, and following Christ. Everything, Everything, Everything, EVERYTHING
should be done in love. If it’s not, then St. James is not a “church,” it’s not a gathering of Christ followers, and
it’s not the body of Christ. But surely that’s who you are; so do everything in love, from fellowship to mission
to worship to service to committee meetings to working in the kitchen . . . everything should be done in love.
“Put things in order”
We have been sorting out what the “order” of St. James truly is. Ultimately, I’ve tried to teach and influence
you to consider that regardless of how anything shapes up here among the activity and ministry of this congre-
gation, the top priority, number one on the list, the first order at all times is to follow Jesus, to, again, love as
Jesus loved. To put things in order truly means to put Jesus first. Jesus himself said, “Seek first and foremost
God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all else will be given to you as well.” Jesus is God’s kingdom
and righteousness in human form; follow him, reflect him, and all else will be put in order.
“Respond to my encouragement”
Like Paul with the Corinthians, I came here to help provide encouragement to a church that the Conference
(Continue page 7)
Initiated by St. James Prayer Team, each Sunday
two church families are being included in the
Sunday worship prayer time. You are invited to
include these members and their families in your
prayers throughout that week.
PRAYING FOR ST. JAMES MEMBERS
June
5 Anita Rogers
Joan Rosen
12 Joy Rubeo
Richard, Amy, Leisel & Zachery Sarfert
19 Dianne Savitsky
Keith, Jennifer, Anastasia & Avery Schell
26 Jeffrey, Charry, Ryan & Bradley Schubert
Margaret Schweitzer
PAGE 9 June 2016 NEWSLETTER
knows to be a strong, wonderful group of believers, but a group who had taken a lot of hard knocks along the
way. I came here to help show you that you are loved by God and that there is surely love amongst each other,
and from that love there is still quite a lot God wants to do in and through and with St. James. I came to help
us all regain the breath of God’s Spirit. I came seeking to encourage you in God’s love and God’s relationship
and calling of you. You have responded with enthusiasm and increased support and encouragement of one an-
other while I’ve been here. Don’t let that stop. Instead, increase those things. Show each other and those
looking at St. James that what is happening here and what will be happening here is about God . . . period!
Respond to my encouragement, increasing the same with one another.
“Be in harmony with each other”
I’m sure where there’s about 100 people who are part of a group – church or any community entity – there will
always be pockets of conflict and clashing. But while I’ve been with you, you have repeatedly and consistent-
ly demonstrated a harmony that has resulted in a very consistent gathering of folks in worship, fellowship, and
service, a gathering that has been one of unity and respect; in other words, gatherings of harmony. Again, you
are about Christ, first and foremost. And it was Jesus himself who prayed to his Heavenly Father these words
(this was Jesus’ prayer/desire for his followers then and now): “I pray they will be one, Father, just as you are
in me and I am in you. I pray that they also will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me.” Je-
sus prayed that we would be one – unified, harmonious. Why? “So that the world will believe that you [God]
sent me [Jesus].” Our lack of harmony, our quarreling and conflict in church does little more than damage our
witness to who Jesus Christ was as the Son of God the Father. You are the Body of Christ, living testimonies
of who Jesus is. That testimony holds up only as you are in harmony with each other.
“And live in peace”
The very gift Jesus promised and gave upon his resurrection: PEACE. The very promise we declare to one
another every Sunday morning when we pass it around: PEACE. The very need we all share in this life of
faith, hope, and love: PEACE. Live in peace.
Mindful of these things, know that the God of love and peace will be with you.
I thank you one and all for the PRIVILEGE and HONOR to serve you as pastor, to share God’s Word with you
and worship God with you, to minister to you and walk beside you, to love and be loved in the presence of our
Lord. You have truly been a wonderful group of disciples and I thank God for the experience and for the sto-
ries you have shared with me and invited me and my wife, Becky, to join you in making as you have BEEN
and continue to BE CHURCH, CHRIST’S CHURCH, at St. James.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.. .
. Finally, brothers and sisters, good-bye.”
Pastor Brad
June 2016 NEWSLETTER
Notes & Reminders
Materials for the July Newsletter are due on June 16, 2016.
St. James United Church of Christ 321 South Limerick Road Limerick, PA 19468
NURSERY
June Schedule
June 5 Laura Walters
June 12 Amy Friemann
June 19 Mary Ann Lopardo
June 26 Nancy Ewing
If you would like to volunteer to help with the
nursery, please contact Nancy Ewing at
SAVE THE DATE - BLOOD DRIVE
The summer blood drive with
Miller-Keystone is scheduled for July 17th, Sunday,
from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Collections will be made in
the outside coach which will be located in the park-
ing lot.
