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Shenkel UCC Feburary Newsletter
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Shenkel United
Church of Christ
SHARINGS AND CONCERNS
February 2010
SHENKEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
1580 Shenkel Road
Pottstown PA 19465
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Shenkel United Church of Christ’s “The NEWSLETTER” is a monthly publication prepared, edited, and mailed by the leadership and staff to all members and friends of the church. It communicates news about our life, purpose, and mission as a Church of Jesus Christ. Information related to our partnership as a member of the United Church of Christ and wider church/community out-reach is included on a regular basis. The Church is located at Unionville & Shenkel Roads in North Coventry Township.
February 2010
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
Quilters 9:30 AM Consistory Retreat 6:30 PM
3
Agape 7 PM
4
Community Lunch Bunch 11:30 AM
5 6
7
Winter In-quirer’s Class after 10:45 worship
8 9
Spiritual Council 7 PM Consistory 7:30 PM
10
Confirmation Class 7:00-8:30 PM BOCE 7 PM
11 12 13
Family Bingo Night 6 PM
14
Healing Prayers Winter In-quirer’s Class after 10:45 worship
15 16
Quilters 9:30 AM
Fastnacht Day
17 Prayer
Shawl Ministry 9:30 AM
7 PM
18
Healing Prayer Service 9:15 AM Prayer Shawl Ministry 7-9 PM
19 20
Confirmation Re-treat at Lancaster Semi-nary
21 Baptism
Ella Clair Woodman 10:45 with reception fol-lowing service
Peace Service 7 PM
22
Community Meal 12 Noon
23 24
Confirmation Class 7:00-8:30 PM
25 26 27
28
1580 Shenkel Road, Pottstown PA 19465 610.326.3535
Email: [email protected] www.shenkelucc.org
PAGE 3
The Pastor’s Pen
Pastor Bonnie L. Moore
484.524.8280
Monday—Sabbath Day
Office Hours:
Tues., Wed., Thurs
9:00 AM—1:00 PM
CONSISTORY
OFFICERS
President
Kimberly Yocom
Vice President
Barry Miller
Secretary
Sandy Rowe
Treasurer
Ken Bevan
Financial Secretary
Doug Allen
Assistant Financial
Secretary
Lori Scharneck
Elders
Glen Hoff
Carol Lykens
Barry Miller
Sandy Rowe
Wayne Klein
Deacons
Barbara Burhans
Richard Golden
Vera Hoff
Claire Faust
Kim Yocom
Secretary: Judy Embriani Newsletter Editor: Kim Metzger Assistant Editor: Betty Kreiger
The refrain from the Disney song, ―It’s a Small World After All‖ has been running through my
head a lot this past week. After all, I was sitting on the beach of one of the countries included in
the tsunami watch for countries bordering the Caribbean Sea (thankfully, the watch was can-
celled the next day) when I first heard the news about the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
I immediately thought about Bryan Sirchio and his friends and ministry in Haiti, and I wondered
how the children we raised funds for last year through the What If? Foundation were doing. In
her 1/19 blog, Margaret Trost wrote, ―The cooks are planning to resume the food program to-
morrow. They are preparing to serve as many people as possible, far more than the 1500 chil-
dren and adults they served last Tuesday just before the earthquake struck. Using supplies that
have been trucked in from the Dominican Republic, plate after plate of rice and beans will be
passed out. The plates will be washed and filled again. I imagine there will be an endless flow
of people all day.‖
When I returned home, I received an email from Katie Eames, who had received this email from
a Haitian friend she worked with in Limerick, ―Unfortunately, my family was directly affected
by this disaster. I recently found out that two of my great-aunts were killed. Another aunt made
a phone call to family indicating that she was trapped and her legs were broken; however, we
don’t know if she was ever rescued. My cousin, his wife, and kids also live in Port Au Prince,
near the collapsed capital building, and we have yet to hear from them.‖
The UCC Wider Church Ministries reported, ―Our Global Ministries partners in Haiti, Patrick
and Kim Bentrott, had just returned home with their infant son Solomon when the earthquake
struck. They were able to descend from their third floor apartment to join others on the street
who lived in the building. Though the building's first floor, stairwell and balconies collapsed,
no one was harmed.‖
It’s a small world – Haiti does not seem so very far away. One of the blessings of being part of
the UCC is that we are literally already there, ministering with our ecumenical partners to offer
help, support and care for both emergency relief and long term recovery in multiple forms
(check out www.ucc.org for details). Your prayers and your contributions (checks made pay-
able to Shenkel UCC and marked ―Haiti‖ will be quickly forwarded to our ministry partners in
Haiti) really can make a difference – it’s a small world, after all!
Be God’s,
Pastor Bonnie
Are you interested in motivating others to share in the life and
work of the church? Sharing your time and talents to fulfill the
larger mission of Shenkel United Church of Christ in the com-munity, conference, denomination and the world?
If so, please join several members of the church and Pastor Bon-
nie for a workshop at St. Paul’s UCC in Amityville on Saturday,
April 10th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. You will become energized about the dynamics
of giving. For more information, contact Kim Yocom at 215-519-4861. Hurry…. We need to register by the end of February.
PAGE 4 SHENKEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
EARLY
LATE
2/7
Jessie and Barbara
Painter
NEED SPONSOR
Carol and Ron
Pearson
2 Ushers needed
Wayne Klein
Barry Miller
Carol Lykens
Vera Hoff
2/14
NEED SPONSOR
NEED SPONSOR
Bill and Carolyn
Baseley
Forrest and Betty
Kreiger
2/21
NEED SPONSOR
NEED SPONSOR
Lynn and Mary Sue
Moyer
Andrew and Linda
Foss
2/28
NEED SPONSOR
NEED SPONSOR
The
Terrell Family
The
Gray Family
In church each Sunday, you can sponsor altar flowers, bulletins, or “Flours.” “Flours” is a collection of pantry items or a monetary donations to the pantry. If a cash donation to the pantry is made, a wheat arrangement will be placed on the altar. Altar flowers are $30.00 and bulletin dedications are $6.50. Food Sculptures are also gladly accepted.
Look for the pretty new envelopes in the narthex for you to use to make your dedications. The yellow one is specifically to order altar flowers/”flours” or to announce donatation of a food sculpture. The green one is to be used only for bulletins. Hopefully, this will simplify the process.
But please, do not submit payment without an envelope. This makes it difficult for proper bookkeeping. When your envelope is completed, you should then sign your name on the chart in the narthex by the appropriate date and put your envelope either in the collection plate or drop in the secretary’s mailbox on the wall next to the office door. Thank you!
Healing Prayers
We have healing prayers during both services on the second Sunday of each month. It is our hope that you will use this opportunity to participate. During the collection of the offering, anyone who desires prayer for themselves or on be-half of another is invited to go to the back of the church, where a prayer team will join you for prayer. A prayer team will also be available in the front of the church at the conclu-sion of the service. Healing prayers are also offered the third Thursday of every month at 9:15 a.m. in the sanctuary. Anyone in need of prayers for themselves or on behalf of another is welcome !
PAGE 5
FOR YOUR INFORMATION….
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL Every Sunday at
9:30 a.m. in the social room
Coming to the Adult class in the month of
FEBRUARY:
PASTOR WANDA CRANER
“A TREE FULL OF ANGELS:
SEEING THE HOLY IN THE ORDINARY”
Based on the book of the same title
By
MACRINA WIEDERKEHR
Feb. 7 … ―LITTLE-GREAT ONE, COME HOME‖
Feb. 14 … ―FRAIL AND GLORIOUS‖
Feb. 21 … ―GATHER UP THE CRUMBS‖
Feb. 28 … ―A TREE FULL OF ANGELS‖
Or
"FINDING GOD IN THE MAILBOX‖
Everyone is welcome!
WINTER
INQUIRER’S CLASS
Are you, or is someone you
know, interested in learning
more about Shenkel UCC?
Our Winter Inquirer’s Class, scheduled for Sun-
days, February 7 and 14 following the 10:45 ser-
vice of worship is a great way to learn about the
theology, mission and ministry of both the United
Church of Christ and our unique congregation.
Church membership is an option, but not a re-
quirement, for those who complete both sessions.
Please contact the church office at 610-326-3535
or [email protected] to register. Childcare may
be available upon request.
World Day of Prayer, a worldwide ecumenical movement, will be celebrated on Friday, March 5th, at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, corner of Grace and Franklin Streets at 2 p.m. sponsored by Pottstown Church Women United. The theme is "Let everything that has breath praise God". The women of Cameroon,West Africa invite us to their country through slides, worship and song. They remind us that, with every breath, we re-new the gift of life, and for this we praise God! Everyone is welcome!
Board of Christian Education Requests:
We are in need of a second
teacher/assistant for the Pre-K
Sunday School class. What a
great way to share your love and
talents with the younger members
of our congregation! If interested,
please contact Sunday School Su-
perintendents Linda Foss at [email protected] (610)
741-6949 or Tracy Dise at mrsfuzzy-
[email protected], (610) 323-1575.
--We would like to capture the ―Kodak moments‖ of
Shenkel’s Sunday School and many educational/social
events and are in need of a camera. Please contact
Chris Gray, [email protected], (610) 970-
2793 if you have a digital camera that you are
no longer using and would be willing to donate
to the church. The camera will be available for
use by ALL areas of the church. Thanks!
Accompanying Him with Singing
Lent 2010
During Sunday worship this Lent,
we will be using Psalms, the
church's oldest hymns, to accom-
pany Jesus from the time he
shares his final Passover meal
with his disciples to his solo
prayer on the Mount of Ol-
ives. We will have
the opportunity to reflect in
greater depth on portions of the
passion narrative that we nor-
mally hear only on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and
Good Friday as we pair portions of Luke 22 with the ancient
words of the Psalms.
Join us from February 21 - March 14 as we accompany Je-
sus to the cross with singing.
Homeless Ministry Update
After being notified in mid December that North Coventry
Township was going to be considering passing an amend-
ment to the Zoning Ordinance to provide for temporary shel-
ter, our lead attorney, Lou Moffa, recommended we wait for
the outcome of the Township’s 12/28 meeting before de-
ciding on a course of action. The amendment was adopted;
we are awaiting the advice of our attorneys before taking
our next steps.
December and January Consistory Highlights
December and January Consistory Highlights
Received a thank-you from the North Coventry Food Pantry for the donation of toilet
paper, and thanked Jody Sweinhart for her leadership of our ―TP Party‖
Approved looking into hosting a seminarian again for the 2010-11 school year
Approved a bid from Todd Miller Landscaping for snow removal this winter
Elected officers for 2010: Kim Yocom, President; Barry Miller, Vice President; Sandy Rowe, Secretary
Received a thank you from the PSEC for our 2009 OCWM contributions of $11,669, and from Lancaster Theo-
logical Seminary for our donation of $248.
Learned that the insulation of the parsonage attic has been completed (thank you, Keith Baker and Mike De-
Vito)
Planned a Consistory Retreat for Tuesday, February 2 to review Shenkel’s Safe Church Policy
Complete copies of Consistory Minutes are available from the church office upon request.
ADMINISTRATIVE NEWS…. Page 6
DO YOU HAVE NEWS FOR THE
BULLETIN OR THE NEWSLETTER?
Just a reminder that all bulletin announcements should be
at the church office by each Tuesday at noon to be in-
cluded in that week’s bulletin. Newsletter articles must be
submitted by the 15th of each month to be included in the
next issue.
SAVE-A-TAPE PROGRAM
This is one of the easiest ways to help our church
financially!
Just ask for a Save-A-Tape card at the cus-
tomer service spot at your local Redner’s
store, show your card at the register when
you check out, then bring your register
tapes to church and deposit them in the
box in the Narthex. These tapes are col-
lected routinely, presented to the store, and Redner’s do-
nates a percentage of your total purchase to the church.
Be careful to bring your tapes in regularly instead of sav-
ing them at home, as they do expire if not redeemed
within a certain time period. Also, please return the en-
tire register tape. Redner’s will not accept any register
receipt that has any part of it removed.
Thank you.
as of December 31, 2009
YTD Current Fund O.C.W.M
Budget 136,395.02 11,000.00
Actual 135,993.15 11,210.50
Difference (401.87) 210.50
If you have a computer, you can save
paper and trees…..Just ask to have
your church newsletter e-mailed!
Please call Judy at the church office
at 610-326-3535 or e-mail her at
[email protected] to request the change.
You should have received your
2009 annual giving statement
by now. If have not received it,
please contact the Doug Allen
at 610-326-1519.
MORE INFORMATION….
AND DON’T FORGET….
The Pottstown Cluster Food Bank
collection at Shenkel is the 1st Sunday of each month. Please place
your items in the large plastic bins in the narthex.
AND...Please bring in your used cell phones and
empty ink cartridges and place them in the box across from the nurs-
ery, or in the box located on the coat rack shelf across from the office.
These cartridges are re-cycled to Staples, and the church receives
credits toward the purchase of office supplies. In December and Janu-
ary, the credit from your donated cartridges paid for all the office sup-
plies we need for the next couple months.
Thank you!
The used cell phones are given to the police department to
be distributed to abused women.
The Pottstown Cluster Outreach Center is now open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM -12:00 pm for client services and to accept donations.
News from the Pottstown Cluster – February 2010
Pantry Needs: Laundry and dish detergent, All purpose Cleaner, Shampoo, Ensure, Unopened Diabetic Test Strips and Infant Formula.
Clothes Closet Wish List: Towels & Washcloths, Sheets – (full size), Ladies and Kids Socks, Ladies Underwear, Kid’s Winter Pajamas & Sleepers, Boy’s Jeans – Size 7-18, Baby’s Winter Jackets (size newborn- 2T), and Girl’s Tops (Size 24 mo.- 2T) Diapers (size 4-6), Baby wipes, Diaper rash cream, Baby Oil, Baby shampoo, and Large Print Bibles.
From Barbara Wilhelmy, Director of Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities:
A note of thanks to all of our delegates and worship centers for your generous and faithful support throughout the year. Despite the struggles with the economy and the increase in need we saw in the building, your support has continued to be strong. For that, we are very grateful.
Volunteers needed: Volunteers are needed at the Food Pantry at the Cluster every Tuesday, Wednesday and
Friday 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Also Clothes Closet Sorters are needed every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 12 pm.
The Cluster is currently in need of a receptionist — volunteers are welcome.
Please contact the Cluster at 610 970-5995 if you are able to help. Visit the website: www.pottstowncluster.org.
Page 7
IN CASE OF ICE OR SNOW…
Shenkel's Sunday wor-ship services are NOT
cancelled (some people, including Pastor Bonnie, can always walk to church!) but please use your judgment about whether it is safe for you to drive. We encourage you to plan to attend the 10:45 a.m. service rather than the 8:30 a.m. service to allow extra time for plowing the parking lot and shoveling and salting the sidewalks. For other church events, such as choir prac-tices, youth events, etc., please contact the event leader for cancellation or re-scheduling information.
.
During the month of February, we will be accept-ing offerings for Mensch Mill Camperships. This offering provides scholarships for children and youth from Shenkel who are attending camp at Mensch Mill this summer. Please give as generously as you can.
Thank you.
BULLETIN BOARD…. PAGE 8
The Community Lunch
Bunch Thursday, February 4th
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m..
Program: ―The Button Lady‖
Ruth Fisher, of Coventryville, will
talk about the history of buttons.
Please bring any old buttons you may have. The ―Button
Lady‖ may be able to identify them.
All participants are asked to contribute $6.00 to cover the
cost of the lunch. Please sign up on the sheet in the nar-
thex or call the Shenkel UCC church office at 610-326-3535
by the Monday prior to the program to reserve your spot.
For more information, please call
Ruth Klein
at 610-326-4520
Family Bingo Night All Ages Welcome! On Saturday, February 13 Shenkel Kids Club will be sponsoring a Family Bingo Night which is open to the entire church. Bring your special valentine (spouse, child, mother, father or sibling) and join us for a fun night of regular Bingo and even some games of Valentine Bingo.
Please bring a wrapped (tissue paper and newspaper comics work great) Bingo prize val-ued at under $5.00. Make sure to mark the gift for a boy or girl and for what age the prize is appropriate. We also ask that each family bring a dessert to share with the group.
The evening will begin at 6:00 PM and run until 8:00 PM. There will be an offering plate avail-able to collect funds to benefit the victims of the Haiti earthquake. This will be the "admission" cost for the evening.
Please sign the chart in the narthex so we have enough supplies. Any questions, please call Linda or Andrew Foss at 610-741-6949.
THE SHENKEL
QUILTERS….
are proud to announce that our beautiful
quilt is finished! On Tuesday, February
2nd at 9:30 a.m., we will celebrate with a
little party in the social hall. At that time,
we will meet with the machine quilter to discuss the final step —
the actual quilting of our masterpiece. When quilted, the final
product quilt will be raffled off, and the proceeds will be donated
to a charity yet to be determined. We will continue to meet
every other Tuesday morning to begin a new project and enjoy
each other’s company. Anyone interested in quilting is encour-
aged to join the group. February’s meeting dates are the 2nd and
the 16th.
Wait till you see our work of art!
The Community Lunch Bunch is
planning a bus trip to the
Dutch Apple Dinner Theater in
Lancaster on Wednesday, March
10 to see RENT. The cost of $75
includes transportation from Shen-
kel, lunch, and the show. Cash or
checks payable to Sam Armbruster will be due by
February 4. All are welcome to join us. See Con-
nie Armbruster with any questions. A signup sheet
is in the narthex.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets
every third Wednesday morning at
9:30 and every third Thursday eve-
ning of the month from 7-9 PM. The
dates for this month are February 17th and 18th.
Our labors of love are available to anyone of any
age or circumstance who requests a shawl. If
you know of someone who would benefit from
having a prayer shawl for any reason, or if you
are interested in joining us, please contact June
Hartung at 610-323-5617.
Fund…. Do you know that Shenkel
has a Help Fund that is specifically for
helping members and neighbors with
emergency needs? In the past, funds have been used
to help with mortgage payments, medical bills, utilities,
food and clothing. If you, or someone you know needs
financial assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact
Pastor Bonnie. All requests and disbursements are
held in strict confidence.
PAGE 9
STEWARD’S CORNER L- O –V- -E……LOVE!
L –O V – E… LOVE!
This is why we are so happy –
Because of L-O-V- E ….LOVE!
That’s a song the children sang in the church where I used to
live.. I always liked the song and especially the words and
their meaning.
I looked up the word “LOVE“ in my dictionary and found lots of information.
How about this one:
“LOVE” is
a. “God’s benevolent concern for mankind”;
b. “ Man’s devout attachment to God!”
c. The feeling of benevolence and brotherhood that people should have for
one another”!
That all sounds like what Shenkel Church is all about…loving God, being loved by
God, and loving one another.
There is a song in the hymnal that says
something about that idea:
BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS OUR HEARTS IN CHRISTIAN LOVE;
THE FELLOWSHIP OF KINDRED MINDS IS LIKE TO THAT ABOVE
WE SHARE OUR MUTUAL WOES, OUR MUTUAL BURDENS BEAR,
AND OFTEN FOR EACH OTHER FLOWS THE SYMPATHIZING TEAR!
February is the LOVE MONTH – A SPECIAL time and opportunity to live up to its
meaning and to be thankful for LIFE and LOVE, FAMILY and FRIENDS.
LOVE,
Shenkel UCC celebrates the sacrament of Holy
Communion at both services on the first Sunday of each month.
Each time communion is served, some of the bread and non-
alcoholic wine that has been consecrated at the altar will be saved
in a traveling communion kit, ready to go to the homes or hospital
rooms of members who were unable to be present, and would like
to receive the sacrament. Please let Pastor Bonnie know if you, or
someone you know, would appreciate ―distance-communing‖ with
their Shenkel Church family!
AS ALWAYS AT SHENKEL…
Ash Wednesday
Worship Wednesday, February
17, 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday marks
the beginning of the sea-
son of Lent, a period of
forty days (excluding
Sundays) set aside by Christians since the
fourth Sunday of the Christian era as a time
of penitence and renewal, and of prepara-
tion for the high point of the Christian year –
Easter.
Plan to join us for worship on 2/17 to begin
your observance of a Holy Lent.
02/04 Jesse Painter
02/04 Barry Miller
02/04 AUSTIN ATKINS-DWINCHICK
02/08 RONALD CHRISTMAN
02/08 CHRISTINA M. FAUST-HERD-BEALER
02/08 Anna Shenk
02/10 Nicole Miller
02/11 Doug Allen
02/12 Georgina Heimbach
02/15 LORI SKULSKI
02/15 RACHEL LLOYD
02/16 Eden Richard
02/17 Sherri Dushanko
02/18 George Ellis
02/18 SETH DAWICKI
02/22 JACOB DWINCHICK
02/25 EMILY LLOYD
02/26 Gary McDermit
02/26 AMERIC MCCULLAGH
02/26 Isheunesu Chidawu
02/27 Kathy Iezzi
OUR CHURCH FAMILY AND FRIENDS….
2/7 Carole, Henry and
Stephanie Bailey
Michael Yannick
Nancy, Peter, Jane, Lucy,
and Olivia Body
Julie, Michael, Madison and Jonathan Miller
Rebecca Nester
2/14 Barbara and Jesse Painter
Ann Baccari
Sarah and Justin Hardy
Robyn, Michael, Hannah and Noah Apgar
Yvonne Strom
2/21 Laurie and Kurt Painter
Tammy, Jeffrey and Ethan Graef
Amy, Craig, Nina and Anna Shenk
Jessica, Brandan and Gavin Knauer
Cole Bevan
2/28 Kailyn Painter
Jennifer and Jeffrey Dyott
Sharon and John Sabo
Linda and John Jonides
To all our friends at Shenkel ,
Thank you for the cookies and flowers delivered to our home on December 20th. We are grateful for the love and friend-ship from Shenkel.
God Bless you all. Karl and Janice Metka
Ella Clair Woodman will be baptized on Sunday, February 21st, at the 10:45 worship ser-vice. Her parents, Sharon and Bobby Woodman, cor-dially invite you to join in the celebration of this joyous sac-rament. There will be a re-
ception in the social hall immediately follow-ing the service for everyone who would like to meet and greet little Ella (otherwise known as our precious Baby Jesus on Christ-mas Eve).
Welcome to our church family, Ella.
Page 10