Volume 3, Issue 1 March 2013

The Friendly Flyer Ac k e r m a n v i l l e U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u rc h

INSIDE: Anniversaries 2 Birthdays 2 Counters 2 Greeters 2 Community Meals 2 Thank You 2 LIbrary 2 Goals 2 Wish List 2 Calendar 3 HIlltop 3 Lenten Lunches 3 Lillies 3 Acolytes 4 Jr. Church 4 Liturgists 4 Men’s Group 4 Crafty Crew 4 Pocono Plateau 4 Easter Vigil 4

From the Pastor’s Desk

“Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18

So, how is it going, praying every day? Are you finding yourself up to the challenge or struggling? Have you

been able to take advantage of the prayer resources offered to you? Are connected to our prayer chain, either

through the phone or the email? Did you receive a copy of our Lenten devotional, Prayer in Six Words?

I was talking to someone recently and they said to me,” I don’t pray; I just talk to God.” YES! That’s right, prayer is just that. No

special words needed. Marjorie Suchocki, author of In God’s Presence, says “Prayer is the act of bringing our moment-by-moment

connectedness to God in our consciousness.” That moment-to-moment conversation is prayer. When we beg and when we question,

when we praise and we cry – all of this is prayer.

Prayer is not only a request that demands an answer. While we can pray for a specific request and seek a particular response, when

this is our only language for prayer, we miss the fullness of connection with God. “Prayer is not like a true/false quiz, restricting God to

yes or no” (Again from Suchocki’s In God’s Presence). Instead God has many more possible ways of response and interaction then we

can imagine. Imagine the possibility of depending on God’s possibilities, instead of just leaning on the concepts we can theorize.

As we approach Easter, as we wade through the forty days (excepting Sundays) of Lent, we continue to practice, we continue to

work at our commitment to prayer. This commitment is not intended to be just another thing on the to-do list. Instead, prayer is the

recognition of how we are already connected with God as well as to celebrate and nurture being in God’s presence. Join your brothers

and sisters in Christ in prayer! Loving and Ever-present God,

We give you thanks for the incredible gift of your connectedness to us. Help us, Guide us, Mold us to find ways of cultivating our

connection to you. We praise you for the gift of your son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen.

March 3, 2013 - Psalm 63:1-8 - THANKS March 10, 2013 – Luke 15 - PLEASE

March 17, 2013 - John 12: 1-8 - WHAT?

Psalm Sunday, March 24, 2013 - Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29, Luke 19:28-40 – WOW

Maundy Thursday, March 28, 2013 – John 13 – WHY?

Holy Week and Easter Worship Palm Sunday, March 24th, 2013 9:00 am Sunday School for all Ages 10:00 am Worship with Palms Maundy Thursday, March 28th, 2013 7:30 pm Worship Service with Holy Communion

Good Friday, March 29th, 2013 7:00 pm 611-191 Corridor Community Service at Trinity UCC (632 South Delaware Drive (Rt. 611), Stone Church, PA 18343)

Saturday, March 30th Wiggly Giggly Easter Vigil Service, 6:00 pm with Wiggles and Giggles. A Full Interactive Easter Service for our Children and Families.

Easter Sunday, March 31st 7:00 am –Sunrise Service in the Cemetery 8:00 am – Light Breakfast 9:00 am – Sunday School 10:00 am Worship service featuring our Easter Cantata, STAND IN AWE: An Easter Suite created and

arranged by David T. Clydesdale Sunday, April 7th, 2013 9:00 am Sunday School 10:00 am Worship with Holy Communion After Church - After Easter Easter Egg Hunt 7:00 pm – STAND IN AWE Reprise - coffee hour to follow As we gather with the other 611-191 churches to remember Good Friday, there is an opportunity to have a

joint choir to sing together. The music will be available ahead of time. There will be a rehearsal before the

service on March 29th . Please see Del Roberts or Pastor Monica for more information.

Sermon Series for Lent - ONE WORD PRAYERS

Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013 – John 20:1-18 – YES!

Page 2 The Friendly

March - Counters March 3 Barry Young & Donna Bright March 10 Barry Young & Terri Brescancine March 17 Barry Young & Donna Bright March 24 Barry Young & Amy White March 31 Barry Young & Patty Lessig

March Greeters and Ushers March 3 Janet Crafa & Shelly Lees March 10 Aubrey & David Tarr March 17 Nadine & Ridge Hughes March 24 Maci Herman and Kay Young March 31 Holly & Porter Sussick

1 Walter Hopstetter 2 Carter Davis 3 Christopher Hopstetter 4 Cheryl Grubb 10 Zaden Lutz Justin Bauder 12 Pete Nell Ruth Hahn 13 Justin Ott

15 Kermit LaBar 17 Wade Traviss Jean Ackerman 19 Bruce Ott 21 Linda Pasko 22 Bernice Bettini 26 Greg Martin 28 Evan Johnson

22 Jack & Viola Davies

24 Bill & Donna Bright

March Birthdays March Anniversary

District and Conference News Saturday, March 9, 2013 - EPA Evangelism

Workshop rescheduled with Dr. Eddie Fox, head of the World Methodist Evangelism Council, at Bethany in Wescosville.

Community Meal As reported in our last newsletter, coordination has

begun for the community meal that will be offered at

First UMC, Bangor by various churches in the community. We

will host our first meal on April 21st, 2013 at 12:30 pm. Mark

your calendars to help. Details are being worked out. If you are

interested, please let Barry Young or Pastor Monica know.

ACKERMANVILLE UMC STRATEGIC GOALS for 2013 UPDATE 1. GOAL: Deepen General Spirituality of Congregation by

offering Bible Studies PROGRESS: Names of God: Getting to Know You Bible Study is being held. Our first session had 16 people present. Bible Study will continue throughout Lent.

2. GOAL: Begin Wiggly Giggly Service for Christmas Eve and Easter

PROGRESS: Wiggly Giggly Easter service will be held on Saturday, March 30th at 6 pm. Invitations to our church, community, and the general public will be made. Invite a friend!

3. GOAL: Outreach to Community by partnering with other UMCs for feeding program PROGRESS: We will share feeding our community on the third Sundays of the month with Richmond UMC. Our first Sunday will be April 21st.

4. GOAL: Move Towards Financial Strength through Stewardship Electronic Recording of All Giving to Church – Electronic Statements Move Towards Electronic Recording Expenditures PROGRESS: We had purchased QuickBooks from the United Methodist TechShop to begin learning and using. It helps to have a plan and follow it! God is moving here at

Ackermanville! Let us continue to follow God’s plan.

From our District Superintendent, Dr. Rev. Irving Cotto: “First of all, Ackermanville Church's adult choir made a fantastic and inspiring presentation by way of two well selected musical pieces.” From Janet Crafa: “Thank you Pastor Monica for your visits. Thanks for the cards and

prayers during my recent hospital stay and recuperation. Hope to see you soon!”

From Barbara Steinmetz: To AUMC Members and Pastor Monica, “Thank you for all the cards, prayers, and concerns during my injury and surgery. Also for Mark’s injury and surgery. Please keep Mark in your prayers. He still needs another procedure and at least one more surgery. Thank you all so much.”

To Carl Moosch for refinishing our white columns used in worship.

All Who Served and Participated at the Soup Bowl. Barry Young for Offering a Rousing Message on February 24th

as Pastor Monica taught our children about Baptism. Shirley Bruch for making a prayer shawl.

Stamps

Snow Shovels for the church

Help “I was glad when they said to us, ‘Let us go to the House of the

Lord’…” Much pride and hard work goes into the stewardship of our church. Help us to continue to maintain that by taking a turn in cleaning the church. Can you run a vacuum, scrub a toilet, dust a shelf, or straighten a sink? Then you are just the person we are looking for! See Beverly Hopstetter to sign up for a slot.

Library Update Have you ever wondered from where the policies and regulations of the General United Methodist Church come that govern Ackermanville UMC as a local church? The Book of Discipline and The Book of Resolutions are both reviewed and adapted every four

years by the General Conference of the United Methodist Church. The latest versions are now available in our library. We thank Linda Osborne for this donation. The Book of Resolutions also includes all of the official positions of the church on everything from putting children and families first (page 125) to Bringing Justice to Gatumba Genocide (in Burundi) (page 788) and much more. Take a look!

Names of God: Getting to Know You Monday, March 4th, 2013 – ‘El

Monday, March 11th, 2013 – Yahweh

Monday, March 18th, 2013 – I AM

Monday, March 25th, 2013 - MANY NAMES

Join us for a feeding of our bodies and our souls as we get to

know God better during this Lenten season.

Ink Cartridges Thanks to everyone who has brought in empty ink cartridges,

the church received a credit of $85.30. This credit will be used to get a shredder and a book shelf for the church. Please continue to bring in the cartridges and drop in the box in front of Young Hall.

The Friendly Flyer Page 3

March 2013 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

2 AUMC Men 9:00 am

Save the Date

VBS 2013

July 28-August 1

3 SS 9:00 Church 10:00

Cantata Practice

S B Nursing 2:15

4 Office Hours

9:00 am - Noon

Bible Study 6-7:30

5 Noon Lenten Luncheon - Trinity Lutheran

6 Office Hours

9:00 am - Noon

Cub Pack 45 6:30-7:30

Choir 7:30

7 Office Hours

9:00 am-Noon

Crafty Crew 6-8:00

8 9

10 Time Changes

Set clock 1 hour ahead SS 9:00 Church 10:00 Cantata Practice 5 p.m. - confirmation

BLAST 6-7:30 pm

11 Office Hours

9:00 am - Noon

Bible Study 6-7:30

12 Noon Lenten Luncheon - Trinity Lutheran

13 Office Hours

9:00 am - Noon

14 Office Hours

9:00 am - Noon

15

16

17 SS 9:00 Church 10:00 Cantata Practice Scouting Committee

18 Office Hours

9:00 am - Noon

Bible Study 6-7:30

19 Noon Lenten Luncheon - Trinity Lutheran

20 Office Hours Cancelled

For Ministerium

Cub Pack 45 6:30-7:30

Choir 7:30

21 Office Hours 9:00 am - Noon

Crafty Crew

6-8:00

22

23

24 Palm Sunday

SS 9:00 Church 10:00 w/Palms

Cantata Practice Confirmation 5:00

BLAST 6-7:30

25 Office Hours

9:00 am - 10 am

Bible Study 6-7:30

26 Noon Lenten Luncheon - Trinity Lutheran AUMC hosting

27 Office Hours

9:00 am - Noon

Cub Pack 45 6:30-7:30

Choir 7:30

28 Office Hours

9:00 am - Noon

7:30 Worship Service With Communion

29 700 pm Community Service Trinity UCC

30 6:00 pm Wiggly Giggly Service

31 Easter Sunday

7:00 am Sunrise Service in the Cemetery

8:00 am Light Breakfast

9:00 am Sunday School

10:00 am - Worship featuring Easter Cantata

“We now have a Facebook page, Like, “Ackermanville UMC” for more information,

pictures, and links!”

April 6

Hilltop Auction Fundraiser

Office Hours - Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings 9am – noon Unless I am taken out of the office by meetings or emergencies. Please note that Friday is Pastor Monica’s Sabbath day. She will return all non-urgent contacts on the next business day

Deadline for April “Friendly Flyer” is March 15, 2013 Please submit all articles and news items to Joan at

mutton1@rcn.com or by handwriting them and placing them in the office mail bin.

Bulletin Information Weekly announcements for the worship bulletin can be sent to

Bonnie at bonnie.commins@gmail. com Thank You!!!!

LARGE PRINT HYMNALS, BULLETINS AND DEVOTIONALS ARE NOW AVAILABLE.

Hilltop Auction Sale Saturday April 6th VOLUNTEERS NEEDED This is one of our largest fundraisers for the year and a wonderful opportunity for fellowship.

Mark your calendars – we will need help on Thursday and Friday nights and on Saturday.

If you are interested in helping, please contact Barry Young for more information.

BANGOR LENTEN LUNCHES 2013 12 Noon at Trinity Lutheran Church Come for lunch, fellowship, worship and devotion

March 5: speaker and host: Trinity Lutheran Church

March 12: speaker and host: East Bangor United Methodist Church

March 19: speaker and host: 1st United Evangelical Congregational Church

March 26: speaker and host: Ackermanville United Methodist Church

Cost: $2.00

It’s

Time to Order you

Easter Lilies!! Lilies will be $10.00 Each

Look for order forms in your Sunday

Bulletin.

Join us on the web at: www.ackermanvilleumc.org

Ackermanville United Methodist Church

1410 Ackermanville Road Bangor PA 18013

The Rev. Monica B. Guepet, M.Div

Church Phone: 610-588-7818

Parsonage Phone: 610-588-1537 revmonicaguepet@gmail.com

www.ackermanvilleumc.org

Page 4 The Friendly Flyer

Acolytes Junior Church Liturgists March 3 Alisabeth Guepet Tiffany Lutz / Aubrey Pete Nell March 10 Hailey White Tiffany Johnson / Grace Sharon Herman March 17 Maci Herman Suzanne Hawes / Benjamin Jeff Sandercock March 24 Aubrey Tarr Donna Hopstetter / Matthew Barry Young March 31 Mia Herman Sue Martin / Sarah Jane Ruggiero

Please don’t forget those in need of our prayers.

We will have an updated list in the bulletins each Sunday.

MEN'S GROUP A new men's group - AUMC Men's Group held its first

meeting on Saturday, February 9, at 9 am in Young Hall. We look forward to seeing better weather and more men at our

next meeting March 2. If you have any questions call Bill

Ruggiero at 610-863-6297.

Please let Pastor Monica know if you or a loved one is in the hospital. She would love to support you and your family with a visit. She depends on you to share the information of which hospital the loved one is in. Please also let Pastor Monica know of any other pastoral needs. She is available in the

Church Office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 9am-noon. The church phone number is 610-588-7818. You can also reach her by email: revmonicaguepet@gmail.com. The parsonage number is 610-588-1537 for pastoral emergencies. If you do not reach her, please leave a message. Thank you!

Soup Bowl and Tricky Tray Many thanks to all who helped make the B.L.A.S.T.

Youth Group’s Soup Bowl Saturday a huge success. Your

contributions will help fund various outreach functions.

CRAFTY CREW”

March 7 & 21 - 6:00-8:00 p.m. Even though we are still having our share of winter weather,

it is not too early to begin preparing for our annual Bazaar and

Bake Sale. The date has been set for October 12, 2013. That

date will be here sooner than we think! The Crafty Crew has

been meeting and has some projects already started. We always

welcome donations from the congregation, either new craft Items

or baked goods, so-o-o, get out your knitting needles, your paint

brushes or your recipe books and put your talents to work. We

look forward to another successful bazaar.

Update on UMCOR grants to Superstorm Sandy survivors (as of November 29, 2012)

The Methodist Church of Cuba – $10,000 North Carolina Annual Conference – $10,000

Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference – $10,000 Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference – $10,000 Greater New Jersey Annual Conference – $60,000 New York Disaster Interfaith Services – $10,000

New York Annual Conference – $60,000 These funds help rebuilding homes and lives!

Thanks for giving!

On March 10th, 2013 – We will be taking an offering for One great hour of sharing.

For more than 50 years, United Methodist congregations have been taking part in a special One Great Hour of Sharing offering, laying the foundation for UMCOR’s ministry of relief and hope.

Donations UMCOR receives through this offering, along with other undesignated gifts made throughout the year, cover our costs of doing business. They make it possible for UMCOR to use 100% of all other contributions on the projects our donors specify, instead of on administrative or fundraising costs.

UMCOR doesn’t receive United Methodist World Service or apportionment funds, so without these offerings, UMCOR would not exist. Because we keep operating costs under 10% of our total budget, undesignated gifts may actually exceed UMCOR’s administrative needs. When that happens, they are channeled to under-funded programs, where they’re most needed. They also may be used to allow UMCOR to respond to disasters immediately after an event and before funds can be raised. Look for the special envelope in the bulletin and give to help others serve.

Prayer Chain We are blessed here at AUMC with a prayer chain. You can submit prayer

requests through Pastor Monica. You can receive prayer requests through email or phone. If you are not a part of the prayer chain and would like to be, please contact Pastor Monica for the email portion and Janice Roberts for the phone portion.

Please note that emails will be received from Ackermanvilleumc@gmail.com. Please add that email address to your safe senders. We give thanks to God for a community of pray-ers who support one another!

What is an Easter Vigil? From the United Methodist Book of Worship: “In the

earliest centuries…celebrated as a unity in an extraordinary single liturgy that began on Saturday night and continued until dawn of Easter Day.” (page 369)

The tradition of celebrating Christ’s birth as soon as the sun sets has roots in the Jewish understanding of the day ending and night beginning a new day as well as the excitement of celebrating Christ’s resurrection at the earliest possible moment. It is also traditional for baptisms

at this time, so that newly baptized persons may be in full communion for Easter celebration.

Pocono Plateau Camp and Retreat Center If you would like any information on Summer Camp

Opportunities, please see Pastor Monica.