Would you like to designate flowers for the altar 2018? Pick a Sunday and let us know the wording for the bulletin. Simply find a yellow form called “Altar Flowers for 2018” on the kiosk (located between the glass doors). Fill it out, and submit it in the offering plate with a check for $35. Call the church office if you have any questions.

February 2018

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Lenten liturgical season begins early this year. Ash Wednesday falls, ironically, on February 14, Valentine’s Day. The alignment is a gentle reminder that confession and forgiveness need to begin close at home.

On Ash Wednesday, we will offer two worship opportunities. At noon, we will gather for a 30-minute spoken service with the imposition of ashes. At 7pm, we will gather for a traditional liturgy with imposition of ashes and Holy Communion.

On subsequent Wednesdays during Lent, we will offer 30-minute worship opportunities at both 12 noon and 7pm. The title for the midweek Lenten sermon series is Biblical Perspectives on Suffering. During this series, we will look at several of the questions most often raised by persons who are suffering. We will examine them in the light of specific biblical texts. We will also explore how the gospel story of the death of Jesus on the cross sheds light on our experience of suffering.

I hope you will find a way to make these worship opportunities a high priority during the 40-day season of Lent.

Your brother in Christ, Pastor Dan Whitener

Souperbowl of Caring February 4

Please bring a can or cans(!) of soup to church and deposit them in the soup pots at the entrance of the sanctuary. The collection will be delivered to the Interfaith Food Alliance in Morrisville.

Interfaith Food Alliance sponsors the Family Backpack Center located at Morrisville United Methodist Church advocates and educates about local hunger.

Please join us in making this Sunday a super Souperbowl of Caring!

Janet Nordberg and Chris Tidd, Coordinators

Designer Bag Bingo • February 9, 7:00pm Preschool Fundraiser

God’s Love Christian Preschool is hosting a B I N G O night in Fellowship Hall on Friday, February 9. Tickets are $30 for 10 games.

Doors open at 6:15pm and games begin promptly at 7:00pm. All funds raised will benefit the preschool students, teachers, programs and facility.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the preschool office at 215-497-0506.

February 14 Spoken Service at Noon

Holy Communion at 7pm Imposition of Ashes at both services

Thursdays February 22 – March 22 at 8:30am in the lounge

led by Pr. Dan

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December 31 January 7 January 14 January 21

Worship Attendance 2018

NEW! Fellowship Dinner Saturday, February 3 5:30pm

Join fellow church members for an evening of fellowship at Villa Rosa Restaurant, 661 Heacock Rd in Yardley. Sign up in the commons or email andiwebber@comcast.net.

Sundays at 10am in the Lounge

Adult Faith and Life will continue our series entitled “A Christian Response to Poverty”

February 4: Mission and service opportunities, led by Beth Meyers

February 11: Reviving a passion for social and economic justice, led by Susan McDonnell

God’s Caring Stitchers

We have some exciting projects going on and if you would like to help or learn a new craft, we would be happy to teach you. We are making baby blankets, lap robes for several organizations, newborn hats, prayer shawls, and chemo hats. This is a great time to meet fellow crafters and have some fun while making items for neighbors in our community.

Please join us on Friday afternoons at 1pm on February 2, 9, 16, and 23 in Room A1/A2.

Questions, contact Cindy Sundstrom at 215-493-2484, or email cscrafter1@verizon.net

Valentine’s Day “Meatless” Potluck Supper February 14 at 5:30pm in Fellowship Hall Ash Wednesday Service follows at 7:00pm

Start the Lenten season in a whole new way with this special dining experience hosted by the Pet Ministry. Come with an open mind, a hungry belly, and a vegetarian or vegan dish to serve 6 – 8 (desserts included). Vegetarians eat everything except meat, poultry, and fish, but they do consume animal products such as milk and cheese whereas vegans do not. The motivation of both groups ranges from concern for health to ethical protest against animal cruelty and environmental degradation

Puzzled about what to make? No doubt, you are currently making more vegetarian dishes than you realize. Google to find new recipes or check out Sandy Anthony’s favorite vegetarian recipes at the Pet Ministry table.

Guest speaker Karen Winkler from the Bucks County SPCA will join us to explain more about the benefits of these diet options and how to implement them. All are welcome for this fun and educational evening and a delicious meal that may even turn your life around!

Bone Marrow Registry Project • February 18 and 25

Please consider participating in the upcoming Bone Marrow Registry drive, hosted by Emily Guth (daughter of Pat and Gary Guth) in partnership with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults. A simple swab of the inside of your cheek is all you will need to do to be added to the national Bone Marrow Transplant Registry. If you are a match to a patient in need of a transplant, you will be contacted and given the opportunity to donate. You are in no way committed to doing so. Check with Emily if you’d like to learn of other ways to help

The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults is a non-profit organization that specializes in helping cancer patients between the ages of 15 – 39. They do everything from providing educational resources for patients and their families to granting scholarships for patients to continue their education during and after treatments, and they just broke ground on their first “group home” that will allow young adults to live free of charge while they undergo their treatments. For more information visit www.ulmanfund.org or chat with Emily while she’s here.

February’s highlighted collection will benefit Advocates for Homeless & Those in Need (AHTN).

On “Code Blue” nights when the temperature drops below 26°, AHTN volunteers provide overnight shelter at Lower Bucks area churches. Items we are collecting are men’s L and XL thermal pants, thermal shirts, sweatpants and jeans; men’s L, XL, or XXL winter coats; women’s boots size 6, 7, or 8; sleeping bags and heavy blankets; gloves (waterproof preferred); single-use hand and foot warmers; and $5 gift cards to Wawa, Walmart, 7-11, or McDonald’s. It is OK if some of these items are gently used. Please see the poster in the Service Ministry corner for additional details. Donations are due by February 25.

During the month of February, the ongoing non-perishable food collection will benefit the food pantry of the Bucks County Housing Group in Penndel.

Please put your items in the collection box in the Commons.

Ministry Resources

The resource table in the Commons will be updated for Lent 2018!

Come by and check out on-loan resources for the Lenten season, which will focus on the topic of God and suffering. Lenten devotional booklets (including large-print editions) are also available for each household.

Caring for God’s Creation – New Ministry Possibilities Saturday, February 24 at 9am The Pet Ministry will host an exploratory meeting to brainstorm ideas for new ministries focused on caring for God’s creation. The idea is for our congregation to expand the efforts of the Pet Ministry to extend concern to all living creatures and to the environment that supports life on this planet. One topic of discussion will be the formation of targeted satellite groups that would identify problems that we could realistically address and take action to bring about change. (Some examples include sustainable practices at church, healthy personal habits, global environmental concerns, etc.) Caring for God’s creation is a major ELCA focus, and various essays and position papers are posted at elca.org. All are encouraged to attend the meeting to learn more and provide input and ideas! A light breakfast will be served. Diana Pazicky, Coordinator

Senior Saints’ Lunch Monday, February 26 at Noon

Seniors are invited to meet in Fellowship Hall on Monday, February 26 at Noon. Enjoy a delicious hot lunch prepared by our chef, Amy Carr.

Please bring a $6 offering to defray food costs.

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”

This year’s theater ministry is happy to announce that they will perform “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Saturday, March 17 at 7pm

Sunday, March 18 at 1:30pm

Tickets will be available soon.

We are still in search of elementary school age children to help us out in a children’s chorus. We will meet Sundays from Noon – 1:00pm beginning February 11.

Please contact Chrissy Reddy at chrissyreddy@gmail.com if you have any questions.

1. Interfaith Housing Visions (formerly part of Interfaith Housing Development Corporation) Rebecca Newman, President Thank you for your donation to Block Blitz 2017. Your gift of $1,000 helps us fulfill our mission of providing low-income housing.

2. ELCA Lutheran Disaster Response Daniel Rift, Director of Disaster Appeal thanks us for gifts throughout 2017 [Our congregation sent $3,232 directed to hurricane relief.]

3. Family Service Association of Bucks County sent a thank you to our congregation for donating all the gifts we collected on St. Nick Day. This year we have been able to share the holiday spirit with our “shoppers” and to brighten the holidays for more than 600 children and teens. [St. Nicholas Day was on December 3.]

4. The Emergency Relief Association of Lower Bucks Linda McGowan, President, appreciates the support they receive from the community. Thank you for your generous gift of 534 pounds of food during the 4th quarter 2017.

5. The Christmas Campaign Committee Cheryl Gill, Executive Policy Director, thanks you for all the gifts you collected for the children and families at Bethanna on St. Nick Day. Christmas was much brighter because of your generous donations.

6. Advocates for Homeless & Those in Need Penny Martin, President, sent a thank you letter on January 5. Thank you for your gift of $600 for our Code Blue fund. The cost of insurance, maintenance of our bus and fuel are some of our largest expenses.

7. Bucks County Housing Group Trish Rowen, Food Pantry Coordinator writes, “It is through your incredible kindness and generosity that we are able to provide toys and gift cards to over 273 children during the Christmas season. The Board of Directors and staff thank you!”

Spring Property Cleanup March 24 in the morning

Vacation Bible School * August 6 –10 * 9am to 3pm * Registration forms available in May

Lutheran Church of God’s Love 791 Newtown-Yardley Road Newtown, PA 18940 215.968.4335 www.godslovenewtown.org

Rev. B. Daniel Whitener prdanw@verizon.net

Kay Rozolis gods_love@verizon.net

Susan McDonnell lcglnewtown@gmail.com

Pray for Worship Leaders January 28: Larry Zetterberg February 4: Bob Loven February 11: Andy Senft February 18: Todd & Carol Stranahan February 25: John Shultz

January 29: Eileen & Ruth February 5: Janet & Nancy February 12: Joyce & Ed February 20: Fran & Kathy February 26: Eileen & Bud

Frosty’s Winter Picnic: To celebrate the color white, the 3s made stuffed sock snowmen and enjoyed a white picnic of cheese sticks, marshmallows and vanilla ice cream

February is a month to show our love! We love to read and we have filled the hallways listing names of books the children have read. We show our love for each other by exchanging Valentine’s Day cards. In addition, we show our love for others through service projects.

The 3s will assemble Breakfast Bags for Aid For Friends. The 4s and Pre-K children will participate in the annual Sue Heinze Memorial Hop-A-Thon to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Sue was the first director of the preschool and we miss her dearly, but her spirit and enthusiasm live on in our hearts.

Registration for the 2018 – 2019 school year is underway! For the first time we are offering a weekly class for 2s with an adult. We continue to offer classes for 3s, 4s, and Pre-K. For more information or a tour, please call the office at 215-497-0506, email the school at glcps@verizon.net, or visit the church website at www.godslovenewtown.org

February 2018

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 Knit & Crochet 1pm

3 Fellowship Dinner at Villa Rosa 5:30

4 Worship 9am Education Hour 10am Worship 11am Theater Noon

GO EAGLES!!!

5 Counters 9:30am

6 Rejoice 7:30pm

7 Bell Choir 6:30pm Adult Choir 7:30pm

8

9 Knit & Crochet 1pm Preschool BINGO 7pm

10 Synod Bible Study 10am to Noon

11 Worship 9am Education Hour 10am Breakfast Bags 10am Worship 11am Theater Noon

12 Counters 9:30am

13 Rejoice 7:30pm

14 Spoken Service Noon Potluck Meal 5:30pm Ash Wednesday 7pm Adult Choir 8pm

15 Church Council 6pm

16 Knit & Crochet 1pm

17

18 Worship 9am No Education Hour Worship 11am Theater Noon

19 President’s Day OFFICE CLOSED

20 Counters 9:30am Mutual Ministry 7pm Rejoice 7:30pm

21 Spoken Service Noon Bell Choir 6:30pm Lent Service 7pm Adult Choir 7:30pm

22 Book Club 7pm

23 Knit & Crochet 1pm

24 Caring for God’s Creation 9am

25 Worship 9am Education Hour 10am Worship 11am Theater Noon

26 Counters 9:30am

Sr. Saints Lunch Noon

27 Rejoice 7:30pm

28 Spoken Service Noon Bell Choir 6:20pm Lent Service 7pm Adult Choir 7:30pm

I pause in my busyness and move outside

my own concerns to worship you and

receive whatever you have for me,

dear Lord.