March 2012 Glad Tidings

From

Zions Evangelical Lutheran Church

Welcoming in Christ, Growing in Faith and Love, Caring for our Community

335 Third Street Weatherly PA 18255 Telephone (570) 427.4113

Blog: zionslutheranchurchweatherlypa.wordpress.com E-mail: zions2@verizon.net

Volume 56, Edition 3

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From the Pastor’s Desk

I’ve told you before that I’ve been learning about God and Jesus since I was four years old. I first heard about them in Bible school and was intrigued. I wanted to find God, who is invisible. While I

couldn’t see God, I could enjoy the creation God had made; in the sun, the rain, the moon, the flowers and trees. I wanted to find Jesus who was also unavailable. But he did live in the love that was in my heart. So when you’re told this at the age of 4, you relate it to what you know. The ruler of the world was my Dad, who was like God to me at the age of four. He could do amazing things! He was strong and powerful. As a farmer, he always knew when to plant the fields and when to harvest them. He knew, somehow, that rain was coming and the hay needed to be baled and brought in today! Where did he get all this knowledge? How did he know what to do and when to do it? Because I was always searching for this elusive God in my concrete world, I never felt like I belonged. The pieces of my life just didn’t fit together. The other kids at school seemed so organized, they knew what they believed and they would speak out about it; war, hunger, protests, the fact that the community should do more for the youth. At the time, I didn’t know that these were called opinions or agendas or even your parent’s politics. I really thought that my classmates knew more about the world than I did. They really seemed to have their act together. I’ve always wondered if the world confused other people as much as it did me. And one day, I read about someone who seemed to be just as confused as I was. It was one of those middle of the night prayers, you know those kind, when the world is dark and everyone is asleep and it’s just you and God talking. It’s when all defenses are down and God, who can see right through your false bravery and loves you anyway, waits to hear your confession of fear and failure. And because you’re tired of holding up that brave front for the world and tired of pretending that you’re someone that you’re not, you say, Help me, God, I don’t know how to live. What a relief to find that other people are also feeling lost and alone and abandon and insecure. And that’s when God becomes real and becomes the loving God that the apostle Paul talks about in Romans 8:31-39. It’s a standard reading for funerals, a reminder of God’s promise to those left behind, as the family creates a new normal for their lives in the future. God promises to always be with us and love us. That’s a good place to end, with the reminder that God loves us, as a child of God and part of God’s creation. And God will always love and be with us as we walk our own faith journeys. God will be waiting patiently for us until the day that we give up our earthly life, take Jesus’ hand and walk with him into eternity. Peace, Pastor Dawn Richie

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Upcoming Events…..

Holiday Roll Fundraiser Holiday rolls are being sold to help support our children’s Bible School, after/no school ministries. The rolls cost $7.50 each; poppy seed, nut, prune, apricot, cheese or raspberry are available. Money is due with the order and can be dropped off at the church office. Deadline is March 18 . Pickup will be Good Friday, April 6th at the church. Orders can be placed with Lori DeMoor at 427-8481 or the church office. First Communion Class Receives Palm Sunday Five children have completed First Communion instruction and are eligible to receive their First Holy Communion on Palm Sunday: Hailey Coxe, Samuel Hoffman, Derek Houser, Mason Podgers and Deanna Stolpe. Congratulations to our students. New Members Class Jennifer Coxe and Mary Beth Gilroy-Schertrumpf have completed new member’s instruction. They will be welcomed as new members during the Palm Sunday service. ANNEX COMMUNION CHANGE Please note that the annex communion service scheduled for Saturday, April 7 has been cancelled. There will be a special annex communion service the week before on March 31 st instead. This means that there will be two annex communion services in the month of March and none in April. The regular first Saturday schedule will resume in May. This change was made at Pastor Richie’s request due to Holy Week. Thank you for your cooperation. CONFIRMATION DATE CHANGE Please note that the date of confirmation for our students will be May 20th, instead of May 27th. The change was made because Pentecost falls on a holiday weekend. Students are in the process of completing their confirmation program requirements. NEW 4—6 GRADE SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS! By request, a new class for fourth through sixth graders has been created in our Sunday School as the church continues to provide Christian Education for children baptized here. Thank you to Crystal Hoffman, who is ready and anxious to begin teaching immediately. Parents, please bring your children. Their Christian education is the promise you made at their baptism. New Hymnals Memorial to Lois McCluskey At a recent council meeting, Bill McCluskey offered the church council a generous gift in memory of his wife, Lois McCluskey and the council gratefully accepted the gift. New hymnals, called Evangelical Lutheran Worship, were purchased for the church to be used for worship starting this spring. The books contain much of the material from both the green and blue books, in addition to material from the four new supplements that the choir often uses. There are ten settings and 750 hymns, ranging from contemporary to old familiar hymns. This is a wonderful gift to remember Lois’ lively contribution to the congregation and the ministry she carried out in the name of the Lord she loved. Thank you to the family for your generosity.

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Bookmarks Our new hymnals will require special bookmarks so the bindings of the books are not broken. Special new bookmarks can be purchased for $5 each. If you’d like to purchase one or more, please place your notated donation in the offering plate. We hope to purchase these before the hymnals are dedicated on Palm Sunday, Apri 1st . Thank you for your donation. Bear Creek Camp Coming Events Bear Creek Camp, located just up the turnpike on Route 115, opens for their new season starting on April 21st, with a work day that anyone is welcome to attend. It’s time to make repairs necessary for the summer campers, so please mark the date and ask Pastor about details. The following weekend, April 27-29, is Wild Women of Bear Creek, a three day retreat for women only. Spa treatment, high ropes, hikes and massages have been part of the weekend, with campfires and devotions in between. Talk to Pastor for more information or check out Bear Creek Camp on the web. Re-Creation will be appearing in the church Sunday, April 29 th at 6:00 PM . They are a group of dynamic young people who present both religious and family oriented music. The public is invited to attend. Admission is free, but a free—will offering will be received. Light refreshments will be served after the program in the annex. This appearance is sponsored by the Busy Bees. Synod Invitation On May 5th, the Scranton Wilkes Barre mission district invites us to a festival at the Fatima Center in Dalton PA. The program includes worship, a Bible study led by Bishop Zeiser and a dialog on Sacramental Practices featuring Bishop Zeiser and a rep from the Scranton Diocese. On April 28th, you’re invited to celebrate our faith through the Arts at the Lutheran Center in Allentown. This is a celebration of the arts, something we’re not always attentive to in worship. Mark your calendar or check the synod website www.godslove.org for more information. Mission District News/Synod Assembly The Hazleton Lehighton Mission District meeting will be Sunday, April 22nd at Zion Stone Church, off Rt. 309 below Tamaqua. The meeting will be 2:30-4:30 and we need a female and male delegate for this meeting as well as for synod assembly on June 15 and 16 in Reading. Book of God Study Begins The long awaited Book of God study will meet at 10 am in the parish house on Feb 29, skip the next week because of Pastor’s vacation, meet again on March 14,21,28. This will cover the Unit on Abraham and Sarah. At the end, we will discuss when we will meet again to begin the next section. Pastor’s Vacation Pastor Richie will be away on vacation March 5-11;Pr Tom Cvamman is covering emergencies and Richard Hinkle is supplying on Sunday. Pastor will also be away a few days after Easter, April 9-13, returning on Friday. Please call the church office with any messages and Tracey will make the contact.

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March Worship Server Schedule

Assisting Ministers Greeter(s ) Mar 4 – Ginny Houser Mr. & Mrs. Maurice Kunkel Mar 11 – John Hart Connie Feaster and granddaughters –

Morgan Mengle & Paige Stelea Mar 18 – Harry Sipler Mr. & Mrs. Earl Davis Mar 25 – Stacie Bray Judy Cooper

Acolytes Crucifer(s)

Mar 4 – Bree & Crystal Hoffman no crucifer during Lent Mar 11 – Sam Hoffman & Tyler Fisher Mar 18 – Robert Keller & Olivia Sipler Mar 25 – Lauren & Jennifer Meyer Mar 28 – Lauren & Jennifer Meyer {Mid Week Lenten Service}

Please contact the church office at 427-4113 if you are not available to be acolyte/crucifer.

Communion Assistants Mar 4 – Tracy Madden

Altar Guild – Communion Set-up Mar 3 – Charlie Hettler {Annex} Mar 4 – Jack & Jean Frable

Ushers Mar 4 – Matthew & Bruce Hoegg, Bob Richie, Larry Smith Mar 11 – Susan Stritz, Roy Gower, Morris Hinkle, Charles Hettler Mar 18 – Don Weston, John Gower, Rick & Donna Miller Mar 25 – Eva Labanoski, Donna Meyer, Lynn Walters, Judy Cooper Mar 28 – Matthew & Bruce Hoegg, Bob Richie, Larry Smith {Mid Week Lenten Service}

Please contact John Gower at 427-8754, if you are n ot available to usher.

Sound Technicians Mar 4 – Don Weston Mar 11 – Bob Richie Mar 18 – Bruce Hoegg Mar 25 – Don Weston Mar 28 – Todd Gimbi {Mid Week Lenten Service}

Please contact the church office as soon as possibl e, should there be any problems with the Worship Schedule. Thank You!

Please note that event(s) are subject to change wit hout notice!!!

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Busy Bees News

March meeting is scheduled for March 5 th at 7PM. Re-Creation will be appearing in the church Sunday, April 29 th at 6:00 PM . They are a group of dynamic young people who present both religious and family oriented music. The public is invited to attend. Admission is free, but a free—will offering will be received. Light refreshments will be served after the program in the annex. This appearance is sponsored by the Busy Bees.

Attention Redner’s Save-A-Tape Customers: � � � � � � � � �

We appreciate all receipts turned in from Redner’s, but we can only use those receipts which have Save-A-Tape printed at the bottom. In order for this, you must present your Save-A-Tape card at check-out time. If you do not have a card, just ask the cashier and they will get one for you. Zions Nursery School appreciates your participation in this program. Nursery School also collects the Campbell’s Label on soups and other products.

Flower Club

Meeting will held on March 1st at 7PM. Thank you.

Please have your April Glad Tidings information in the

church office by March 20h.

Thank you in advance for you cooperation!!!

Choir Practices are held Sunday’s following Worship . Thank you always to the Choir and John Simkovich, Director for their spiritually uplifting voices. The choir could always use voices. If you are interested in joining the choir contact John Simkovich. Music & Worship meeting is scheduled for April 16 th @ 7PM.

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� 2012 is HERE. We still need Sponsors for the Glad Tidings Newsletter to help offset the costs. Sponsors can be more than one person or family and can be in honor or memory of someone. The sponsors will be contacted for more information. The cost is $50.00 per newsletter or $25.00 per family if two families wish to participate for one month. A sign up sponsor chart is hung in the vestibule. Contact Edith Thrash at 427-4366 for more information . Thank you in advance for your sponsorship.

Just a friendly reminder that if you are sponsoring flowers for the Altar and you wish NOT to take them with you at the end of the worship service, please let Eloise Hinterleiter or another member of the Altar Guild know. The flowers will then be distributed to someone "shut in" or a patient at a local hospital or a resident at an assisted living facility or nursing home. The Altar Guild will attach a beautifully written prayer card to the flowers so the recipients will know what church the flowers came from. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Saturday Communion Services

On Saturday, March 3 rd at 4:00 PM there will be a service of Holy Communion in the church annex. This service makes Holy Communion available to anyone who is unable to receive it in the sanctuary or for anyone who would like an additional opportunity for worship and to celebrate Holy Communion. The annex is handicapped accessible and all

are invited to attend. Annex communion will also be held on March 31 st instead of April 7th, due to Holy Week. Thank you for your cooperation.

Zions After School/No School program is in effect from 2:30 pm –

6 pm Monday through Friday for children in kindergarten through

6th grade. Contact Ginny Houser at 427-2331, if you are interested

in enrolling your child in this much needed program.

Zions Lutheran Afterschool Program is still collecting empty Capri-

Sun pouches. For each one collected we will receive 2 cents. The

pouches are used to make pencil cases, backpacks and other

products. Pouches may be dropped off at the afterschool program or

the church office. Thank you in advance for your support!

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Please remember the ministries of Zions in your fin ancial planning decisions, wills, trusts and charitable gifts. There are seve ral financial planning professionals in our congregation to help you with these strategies

Chairpersons Committee List

After School – Barry Gangwer 427-4812 Altar Guild – Todd Gimbi 427-8979 Christian Drama Club – Eva Labanoski 427-4727 Christian Education – Ginny Houser 427-4618 Church Office – Tracey Willis ~ Monday – Friday 9AM – 2PM 427-4113 Council President – Todd Englehart 427-4169 Council Vice President – Barry Gangwer 427-4812 Decorating – Todd Gimbi 427-8979 Finance – John Gower 427-8754 Financial Secretary – Beverly Kunkel 427-4182 Nursery School – Edith Thrash 427-4366 Organist/Choir Director – John Simkovich 427-4113 Pastor – Rev. Dawn Richie 427-4429 Property –Harry Sipler 427-8094 Sexton – Ginny Houser 582-9973 Stewardship – Bill McCluskey 427-4119 Summer Food Program – Ginny Houser 427-2331 Treasurer – Ann Gangwer 427-4812 Worship & Music – Barry Gangwer 427-4812 Youth Ministry –

Special Gifts & Notes

March Glad Tidings is sponsored by Earl & Doreen Davis

God Bless our pastor and all the volunteers!

Thank you for your Sponsorship!

Thank you to William McCluskey for the gracious gift in memory of Lois McCluskey.

Thank you to Joan Leininger for the gift in memory of her brother John W. Leininger.

Congratulations to the following Council Members who were installed on February 12th. Todd Englhart, Council President , Bradon Pugh, Matt Hoegg, Donna Miller. Stacie Bray and Todd Englehart were re-eclected and returning members.The following were coming off: Edith Thrash, Benny Heater and John Hart. We thank you and appreciate your time and dedication you have given to the church.

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Shepherd House Food Pantry Schedule January 10 February 14

March 13 April 10

May 8 June 12

July 10 August 14

September 11 October 9

November 13 December 11

The Pantry will be open the SECOND TUESDAY FROM 2 - 4 PM of each month, unless other wise noted. In case of emergencies, please contact Charles Hettler at 427-8981. If no answer please leave your name and phone number on the answering machine and I will get back to you.

ATTENTION SENIOR CITIZENS: Seniors who get the Commodity Supplemental Food Program Box at the end of each month, you must come and get your box or have someone pick it up for you.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Shepherd House Food Pantry is always in need of the following items. These items cannot be purchased out of appropriated money from the government. Dishwashing Liquid, Laundry Detergent (Liquid or Po wder), Cleaning Detergent, Paper Towels, Toilet Paper, Deodorants, Soap (Bar or Liquid), Sug ar, Flour, Cereal

Thank you in advance for your donations….

Volunteers are Needed!!!!

IT IS TIME to THINK about VBS. Volunteers are needed. Please contact Ginny Houser at 427-2331 if you able to help. Your time is greatly appreciated.

Volunteers are NEEDED for the Summer Food 2012 Program. Without your help this VITAL community program will not happen. Ginny needs your help, she can not do this alone. Please contact Ginny at 427-2331. Thank you in advance for your MUCH NEEDED assistance.

Baptisms On January 8, 2012 we celebrated the baptisms of Nicole Ann Schertrumpf, Alicia Marie, Schertrumpf. They are the daughters of Paul and Marybeth Schertrumpf, who were also their sponsors. They also have a sibling named Ryan And Hailey Rose Coxe also received the sacrament. Hailey is the daughter of David and Jennifer Coxe. She has a sibling named Brenna. Hailey’s sponsors were Stephanie and Richard Stolpe. On February 19th we celebrated the baptism of Angelina Ann Gregory. She is the daughter of Brad and Angela Gregory. Angelina’s sponsors were Deana vonFrisch and Blake Gregory. We welcome them into the Body of Christ and celebrate their new birth in Holy Baptism.

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A Polka Dance benefit will be held at the Citizen’s Firehouse on March 25 th from 2—5 pm. The talented local polka band Just Us will be playing and procee ds

will go directly to the Weatherly Shepherd House Fo od Pantry. So come on out and enjoy the music and dancing while sup porting your local pantry.

2012 Lenten Schedule :

February 29th Our Lady of Lourdes Church 6PM Soup and Sandwich 7PM Worship—Rev. Fredricka Beauchard

March 7th Salem United Church of Christ 6PM Soup and Sandwich 7PM Worship—Fr. Floyd Caesar March 14th First Presbyterian Church 6PM Soup and Sandwich 7PM Worship—Pastor Charles Englehart March 21st St. Matthew’s Church 6PM Soup and Sandwich 7PM Worship—Rev. Dawn Richie March 28th Zions Lutheran Church 6PM Soup and Sandwich 7PM Worship—Rev. Glenn Hueholt April 6 th Good Friday—1PM at Waterfalls Park then processing to Centenary Methodist If Weatherly School District is canceled due to in climate weather, the Lenten Service that evening wi ll also be cancelled.

Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead…

Day light Savings Time begins on March 11 th

� � � � � � � � � Spring is March 20 th

March Wind

March wind is a jolly fellow; He likes to joke and play. He turns umbrellas inside out and

blow men’s hats away. He calls the pussy willows and whispers in each ear, “Wake up you

lazy little seeds, Don’t you know that spring is here.”

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2012 Easter Memorials and Gifts Form must be into the office by March 28th

Late Submissions will not make the Easter Bulletin Thank you for your cooperation!!

The space below is for you to fill out if you are purchasing an Easter flower that will help decorate the church. The information provided will be included in the Easter Sunday bulletins. Flowers must be at the church by 10 AM Saturday, April 7 th. You can put this form in the offering plate or mail it directly to the church office.

Please Print Clearly

In memory of ____________________________________________________________________(Flower)

By ____________________________________________________________________________

In honor of _____________________________________________________________________(Flower)

By ____________________________________________________________________________ ������������������������������������������

If you would like to give an Easter Memorial or Gift please fill out the information below and submit it to the church by putting it in the offering plate or mailing directly to the church office by Wednesday, March 28 th . Late submissions will NOT make the Easter Bulletin.

Please Print Clearly

A Gift in memory of ________________________________________________________________

By______________________________________________________________________________

A Gift in memory of ________________________________________________________________

By______________________________________________________________________________

A Gift in memory of ________________________________________________________________

By______________________________________________________________________________

A Gift in memory of ________________________________________________________________

By______________________________________________________________________________

A Gift in honor of __________________________________________________________________

By______________________________________________________________________________

A Gift in honor of __________________________________________________________________

By______________________________________________________________________________

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