“We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another.” 1John 3:14

Dear Friends,

I’m writing to you on the warmest day of the year so far. The warm breath of spring is blowing upon

us as we continue to celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord. The fifty days from Easter to Pentecost are, in

the Northern Hemisphere, always a season of flowers and growth, warming temperatures and good rains.

These seasons point us toward a hopeful, life-filled future.

This spring when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, we expect Brood X cicadas. They will crawl

out of the ground and begin to make an awful racket. Our dogs will try to catch them, they will gross us out

when they crash into us and the noise. It is life that has been underground come into the world. It would be

easy to make an analogy between cicadas and the three day lapse between Jesus’ death and resurrection.

A harder, but far less disgusting image is bees. I noticed last weekend at our daughter Sara’s a

wooden box in her garage filled with wooden panels with plastic centers with hundreds of diamond shapes

imprinted upon them. She had built a beehive. In a week or so she will receive a swarm of bees to put in her

hive. They will enjoy pollinating the flowers, plants and trees she has in her huge yard and probably the

neighbors’ farms as well. Sara is looking forward to their thriving and filling the hive and the many panels

with honey.

I don’t know very much about bees, but they sure seem more a5ractive and quieter than cicadas. And

they are be5er flyers.

I recently read The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri. It is about a beekeeper in Aleppo, Syria as the

civil war starts. The beekeeper and his family struggle through much difficulty and tragedy as they suffer

through bombings, decide to flee and eventually arrive in the U.K. Throughout the novel, the trauma of the

keeper is interrupted by images of his beekeeping days – the gentleness of the bees, the productivity and

community life of the bees. The keeper is dependent upon his community to make the journey and rejoices

when he finds in England a type of bee that was thought extinct. His new life in the UK includes teaching

beekeeping to the Syrian immigrant community and becoming part of the beekeeping community in England.

I don’t really know anything about bees, so I’m sure an analogy between bees and Easter is not

perfect. But bees, like the resurrection are future oriented. The bees are a hope for life as they spread pollen

and enable the growth of 25% of our produce. We look for that day of future abundance because of bees.

The bees are willing to sacrifice and work for the good of the beehive. Their hope for the future frees them to

give on behalf of the whole hive. Similarly, the promise of the Resurrection of new life in Christ frees us to

put aside our own concerns to love our siblings in Christ. “We know that we have passed from death to live

because we love one another.”

The Resurrection of Jesus allows us to be free enough from concern about our own deaths to bring

love and life to others.

Blessings,

Kevin Stainton

The Pastor’s Letter The Pastor’s Letter The Pastor’s Letter The Pastor’s Letter

H e r i t a g e P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h

May 2021

Stay connected to Heritage Presbyterian Church!

HPC Website: www.hpcmason.org

Weekly Worship at 10:15am Sundays

In Person Worship is by RSVP only; masks and social distancing required.

Live-streamed on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HPCMason

Live-streamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=hpc+mason

Children & Youth private Social Media Group pages: ---

Children’s Ministries: www.facebook.com/groups/heritagechildrensministries

Heritage ‘Tweens: www.facebook.com/groups/heritagetweens

Heritage Youth Groups:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/hpcmasonyouth

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/youth_group_hpc

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Youth_Group_HPC

Zoom Virtual Meeting Contacts:

Susie Faas susie.faas@hpcmason.org, or

Patty Schnetzer pschnetzer5@gmail.com

Adult Christian Education

Lectionary Learnings Zoom & In Person Meeting: Sunday Mornings at 9am

This class examines the Lectionary reading for the day.

Those meeting in person will be in the Youth Room.

Contact kevin.stainton@hpcmason.org for an access code.

Men’s Bible Study Zoom Meeting: Wednesdays at 7:30am

Contact kevin.stainton@hpcmason.org for an access code.

Adult Bible Study: Thursdays at 11am: led by Susie Faas

Contact susie.faas@hpcmason.org for an access code.

Last Session of Purpose to Practice, May 2nd, 2pm-3pm

If you registered for Purpose to Practice, please don’t forget to join us for the last Sunday afternoon

session on Sunday, May 2nd, facilitated by Daniel Hughes and Troy Bronsink of the Hive. The goal

of this process is to provide clarity around Heritageʹs purpose, expectations, and next steps for creat-

ing a committee, campaign, initiative, or organization.

2 Bella Steverson

4 Jason Batsche

4 Luke Jacob

4 Trudie Pringle

5 Doris Heffron

6 Agnes Crutcher

7 Aaron Hoxie

7 Henry Schumm

7 Justin Jensen

7 Troy Pra0

8 Chris Stemmler

8 Tracy Stewart

9 Michael Fehrenbach

10 Danni Tymi5

10 Evelyn Huang

10 Stacy Dykes

13 Max Stainton

14 Allyson Hill

14 Andrew Taggart

14 Chris Rought

14 Dave Juelg

14 Kaylea Dykes

15 Douglas Hamann

16 Andrew Juelg

16 Drew Fisher

16 Jerry Marks

18 Sam Webb

20 Alana Plessinger

21 Ryan Peischl

22 Kevin Peischl

23 Larry Andrews

23 Sco0 Tullis

24 Emerson King

May Birthdays

Continued Prayer List

Do0ie Birt,

Gert Ramp,

Steve Ri5,

Be0y Weaver

May Prayer Families

Sheri Miller

Greg, Rhonda, Timothy, Kevin &

Ryan Peischl

Al & Bonnie Reeves

Jeremy, Michelle,

Henry & Margaret Schumm

Graduate Recognition Graduate Recognition will be Sunday, May 9th during worship. Church

members who would like to announce their high school or college graduates

are asked to email Pa5y at youth@hpcmason.org with the following infor-

mation by May 5th: graduates name, high school or college they are graduat-

ing from and future plans. For college graduates please include the degree

received. We will be compiling a video of photos of our graduates. If possi-

ble, please include one photo of the graduate. Congratulations on such a

milestone! Your HPC family is proud of you and we look forward to blessing

whatever’s ahead for you during the worship service on May 9.

“FOR NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD” Luke 1:37

The world is changing daily, yet God continues to be in our midst, and Jesus has given us a mission

to complete! Gather your family, save Wednesday nights this summer, and be on the lookout for

MISSION POSSIBLE.

WHO: Heritage Presbyterian members, families, and friends of all ages are called to be Secret

Agents. Children must be accompanied by an adult, to help ensure physical distancing.

WHERE: Outside in the HPC Parking Lot (Rain? In the gym)

WHEN: Wednesday Nights, June 9, 16, 23, 30, July 7 and 14 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

WEEKLY MISSIONS: Each week, we will work on a different mission project for one of HPC’s mis-

sion partners. You will have the opportunity to share your time, talents, and resources as we learn

about each mission, and prepare an item that each mission has requested.

WHY: To be in community with our neighbors, in a safe manner

To provide love, care, and resources to neighbors in need.

To have safe fun together, after a long season of quarantine.

REGISTRATION: You are invited to come as you are able. A5end all the missions, or a5end just a

few. Each week you will be asked to register through the SIGN-UP GENIUS link that will be availa-

ble through our weekly bulletin and by email.

DONATIONS: Some weeks your donation can be a specific item for our project, other weeks your

donation can be monetary.

QUESTIONS: Contact susie.faas@hpcmason.org or call the church 513-398-7671

HPC NewsHPC NewsHPC NewsHPC News

Sign Up to Dedicate Sanctuary Flowers

There are two easy ways to sign up to give a Sanctuary Flower

Arrangement in 2021.

• Go to: h5ps://www.hpcmason.org/flowers.html to signup

electronically on the church website.

• Mark your name on the Flower Poster in the Atrium at church.

There are many weeks in 2021 open for dedications!

Troop 750 Report

In April the troops continued to meet outside at church, welcoming new

scouts to our troops and brushing up on basic scout skills. The boy’s troop

had their annual BSA 101 campout in Loveland on a cold and rainy week-

end. Despite the weather, everyone had a great time working on scout

skills, merit badges, and playing games. The girl’s troop had a trade skills

campout that same weekend where scouts had the opportunity to work on

Cooking, Leatherwork, Metalwork, Painting, and Welding merit badges.

Both troops came together at the end of the month for a court of honor cer-

emony to celebrate their achievements over the past 6 months and recog-

nize the previous Scoutmaster for the boy’s troop, John Gormly, for his 7+

years of service to the troop.

In May both troops will participate in a survival-themed campout at a local prop-

erty. Scouts will have their skills challenged in first aid, fire building, knot tying,

navigation, signaling, and other essential survival skills. There will also be a 10-

mile day hike at John Bryan State Park and a 25+ mile hike Memorial Day week-

end.

The troop’s annual mulch fundraiser is ongoing through the end of May, with options to order six

different types of mulch in bulk. For more information, visit our website at mason750.org.

Thank you to Heritage for your continued support of the Scouting program.

HPC NewsHPC NewsHPC NewsHPC News

Though the school year is winding down, things certainly have not slowed here at HPP! When we

returned from spring break, each class had a new addition: caterpillars!! We are enjoying watching

them develop as we learn about the life cycle of bu5erflies. At the end of the school year, we will re-

lease our bu5erflies outside in the garden. The children spent a lot of time learning about the changes

animals make when spring arrives. We learned about worms, bees, frogs, ducks, caterpillars and life

on the farm. Children were planting seeds and learning about ways to care for our earth.

The month of May will be just as busy as classes prepare for the end of the school year. The children

will be busily working on some very special gifts and many of our 4 and 5 year olds will prepare for

their big graduation day!!

Looking ahead to the 2021-22 school year, we do have limited spots available for 3, 4 and 5 year olds.

If you know of any families who could benefit from our program, please have them contact the pre-

school office at 513-445-2670 or visit our website at heritagepreschoolmason.com

HPC Preschool NewsHPC Preschool NewsHPC Preschool NewsHPC Preschool News

Thank You for Teaching All God’s Children

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.

Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away,

when you lie down and when you rise.”

Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Each year, we take time to honor and thank our Sunday school teachers; those in our congregation

who have taught, led, and mentored us, as we learn about Jesus and deepen our faith.

This year’s pandemic has certainly reduced the number of those who had the title “Sunday School

Teacher”, but the quarantine has also encouraged each of us to adopt the role of TEACHER and

FAITH FORMATION LEADER in our own homes.

We offer a virtual “Thank You” and “Bless You” to each of you who has shared time, faith, and cre-

ativity to guide faith formation in your own homes.

We also offer a sincere THANK YOU to those who taught and led classes through weekly ZOOM

and socially distanced in-person gatherings this past year. Our teachers will be honored in worship

on May 16th.

Kids of the Kingdom and Tweens: Debbie Hamann and Morgan Perkins

Youth Group Advisers: Alicia Fehrenbach and Steve RiZ

Lenten Small Group Leaders: Nelson and Suzanne Kennedy, Sue Monteith, Jeremy and

Michelle Schumm, Karen Stine

Staff: Kevin Stainton, Pa5y SchneZer, Susie Faas

Children’s Ministries Children’s Ministries Children’s Ministries Children’s Ministries

Children’s Ministries ContinuedChildren’s Ministries ContinuedChildren’s Ministries ContinuedChildren’s Ministries Continued

SAVE THE DATE!

Heritage Presbyterian Church VBS July 26 - 30 6:00 – 8:30 pm

In Proverbs 16:9, we hear the words, “The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.”

Over the year, we have certainly made many plans, cancelled plans, postponed plans, and then

created new plans…always listening for God’s direction for our steps.

It is impossible to know exactly what this summer will look like, in terms of COVID vaccinations

and group safety, yet the Children’s Ministry team is thinking optimistically to begin to plan a

version of Vacation Bible School for the week of July 26 – 30. The VBS format may look different

than past years, and we have pushed back our traditional VBS dates a month, into July, to allow

for more vaccinations.

There are many ways to be part of VBS!

A0end: Registration information coming soon!

Donate: Look for a wish list of supplies posted online at www.hpcmason.org

Volunteer: We will need helpers before, during and after VBS!

If you want to help, we will have a way for you to serve.

How do you want to be a part of VBS?

Contact: susie.faas@hpcmason.org

Mission Commi6ee Activities The Mission Commi5ee continues to respond to the changes in needs for mission work even as the

pandemic starts to (hopefully) wind down. Many of the in-person mission activities are still on hia-

tus, such as the overnight Interfaith Hospitality Network activities. Many of the social assistance or-

ganizations we work with are still in need of monetary donations or food and/or supplies.

Mary Haven Mary Haven is a facility for troubled youth. We are making monthly

visitations every third Tuesday of each month, but we need volun-

teers to help. Please contact Leslie Dauer-Creek at 513-313-4597 if in-

terested in helping or if you want to learn more about this mission.

Our Daily Bread Sandwich Mission Our Daily Bread continues to serve the needy community by providing bagged lunches with sand-

wiches. We are helping in preparing and providing these sandwiches. HPC has continued to assist

with the Thursday need with our congregation’s help – we are now providing 100+ meat (with or

without cheese) sandwiches by each Wednesday at 6pm to be ready for pickup. The Mission Com-

mi5ee asks if you are willing and able to make some sandwiches for this mission (usually in

amounts of 10s), consider doing so and contact Nelson Kennedy (513-470-1279) to sign up for a week

or two (or more if you can). Please ensure that the sandwiches are marked with what kind of sand-

wich they are, especially if containing ham. It is preferred that the sandwiches be on white bread.

Please mark on the kitchen counter sheet when you place the sandwiches in the refrigerator (on the

shelf or just below the shelf marked for Our Daily Bread) with the number of sandwiches you have

put in by your name, then text or call Nelson Kennedy. This is expected to run through at least July,

and we will periodically evaluate the continued need.

HPC MissionsHPC MissionsHPC MissionsHPC Missions

HPC MissionsHPC MissionsHPC MissionsHPC Missions

Faith Emergency Services Needs Food Donations!

FES has a “Community Cupboard” where local needy families can get food (mostly canned or

boxed) that they can take home to prepare. Your Mission Commi5ee has agreed to a request from

FES to take our turn and stock the Community Cupboard in the month of May, 2021. Please help by

donating items on the “ Updated Priority Wish List” below, to our FES Food Table located in the

Atrium.

Faith Emergency Services is an organization created by a group of seven Mason churches

(including HPC) to provide emergency help to area families who in emergencies need help with:

rent or housing, utility bills, food, and medicines. A complete list of items needed is available.

Below are some of the items that are needed the most:

Updated Wish List: (priority items are bolded)

IHN News Save the Date #1!

Saturday, 7/3/21: The 15th Annual Run 4 Home will be happening! It will

either be actual, or virtual like last year, depending on guidance from the

Ohio and Warren County Health Departments. See www.ihnwc.org for

an entry form.

Save the Date #2!

Thursday, 7/31/21: A fun event! New school clothes and supplies are gifted for kids who

“graduated” from IHN-WC over the past year. Details will depend on the weather and on guid-

ance from the Ohio and Warren County Health Departments. See www.ihnwc.org.

• Canned Peas

• Rice a Roni

• Minute Rice

• Canned Peaches, Pears, Mixed Fruit, Ap-

plesauce

• Cups of all fruit

• Instant Oatmeal

• Cereal

• Granola Bars

• Crackers

• Peanut Bu5er Cracker packs

• Assorted Kid Snacks

• Peanut Bu0er

• Jelly

• Baby Food

• Baby Formula

• Baby wipes

• Assorted Diaper sizes

• Clorox wipes

• Bar soap

• Toothbrushes Adult & Kids

• Shampoo Adult & Kids

• Toothpaste Adult & Kids

• Lotion

• Laundry Sheets

• Paper Towels

• Toilet Paper

• Gently used Kids Books (A great way to en-

courage children to donate!)

Family Promise of Warren County Linda Rabolt, our wonderful Executive Directory of IHN-WC (Interfaith

Hospitality Network, Warren County) wants the world to know:

IHN-WC or “Interfaith Hospitality Network of Warren County” is

the network of churches that provides lodging for homeless families

on a rotating basis.

IHN-WC is the major component of another organization called

“Family Promise-Warren County”. Family Promise includes IHN-

WC as well as HCRC (Homeless Crisis Response Center); Heaven and Hearth (a furniture and

supply support system); and TAY (Transitional Age Youth) a program for person who are

homeless on their 18th birthday.

With all of its components, Family Promise-Warren County is doing God’ work and appreciates

your support.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Update

HPC MissionsHPC MissionsHPC MissionsHPC Missions

Heritage Presbyterian Church Address Service Requested 6546 S. Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason, Ohio 45040

h5p://www.hpcmason.org

Office: 398-7671 Fax: 573-9722

email: office@hpcmason.org

Rev. Kevin Stainton, Pastor

Worship Time: 10:15 a.m.

Don’t want to hassle with your

checkbook or mailing in your church contribution ?

Scan this QR Code with your phone’s camera to make a donation to HPC!

In Person Worship by RSVP and

Facebook & YouTube Online Worship

at 10:15 Sunday Mornings