The Town Line

Lutheran Town Line Lutheran Church, Alden, New York

Sunday Worship Services April 2014

8:30 and 11:00 am

Sunday School Our Mission 9:45 – 10:45 am “Called to Be a Servant Community”

Celebrating Holy Communion is a vital part of our

life as Lutheran Christians. If we grew up as

Lutherans, we might wonder why we celebrate

Communion more often now that we did years ago.

This is because over the last 30 years, our

Lutheran Church has tried to reclaim our Lutheran

Christian heritage. Christian heritage. The early church celebrated

Communion (the Lord’s Supper) every week when

hey met together. they met together. This practice continued through

many hundreds of years to the time of Martin Luther, the

founder of our church. When the Lutheran church was formed, communion was

offered every week at worship.

This changed when our nation was settled. The decision on how often

to have communion was made because there were not enough pastors to serve

the churches. Pastors would then travel from community to community: offering

communion, baptisms, confirmation and weddings when they were there. This

would usually happen once a quarter. As our nation grew and seminaries

(schools that train pastors) were formed, more pastors were available and

churches who had their own pastor moved to having communion once a month.

In the last 30 years, many Lutheran congregations have moved to offering

communion every Sunday in an effort to reclaim the true intent Jesus had for us

with this sacrament.

Communion is how we receive God’s love and forgiveness. Every time

you come to the altar to receive communion, remember that you are eating and

drinking God’s love and forgiveness. You do not need to take communion every

time it is offered at worship, but why wouldn’t you want more of God’s love and

forgiveness in your life?

FROM OUR PASTOR Dear Friends,

Do you have anyone in your life who is loyal? A loyal person is someone that will always be there for you. They are people who will stick up for you when no one else will. They are people who will stay by your side, no matter what. Many times parents can be this way for their children, or as parents age their children can be loyal to them in their old age. I would hope that you have had at least one person in your life who is loyal, maybe they aren’t perfect at it all the time, but they try to be.

There is a wonderful book in the Bible about a loyal person whose name was Ruth. Her book is called Ruth, and it is found in the Old Testament after the book of Judges. Ruth is a great example of a loyal person, and who she picks to be loyal to may surprise you.

Ruth is married to a man and her husband and brother-in-law both die. Naomi, mother of these two men and a widow herself, is left with just her daughter in laws: Ruth and Orpah. Naomi decides to return to her homeland and she tries to send Ruth and Orpah back to their families so they can find a new life. Orpah goes back to her family but Ruth does not. She says these words to Naomi; “Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge, your people shall be my people, your God shall be my God.” She pledges her loyalty to Naomi, and again and again in the book, she shows her loyalty to Naomi.

What is surprising is who Ruth is loyal to. Traditionally, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have problems getting along, but not this time. Ruth is loyal and faithful to someone she doesn’t have to be loyal and faithful to, her obligation ended when her husband died. What else is surprising in this book is that Ruth’s life could have been so much easier if she had left Naomi and found a new husband. Ruth does not take the easy way, she follows what she believes God is calling her to do.

Ruth can be a model for us in so many ways. The rest of the book tells the story of how Ruth takes care of Naomi and eventually takes care of both of them by marrying Boaz. The book ends with a genealogy that shows us that Ruth is the great-grandmother of King David.

This is an easy book to read, and short (only 4 chapters), but if you have any questions (especially about the threshing floor scene!) please let me know.

Happy reading!

God’s peace,

Pastor Serena

Sunday School News

3rd Grade Bibles On Sunday, March 30 these children received Bibles on Bible Sunday: Cassidy Bauer, Jacob Dulski, Jonathan Mollenkopf-Grill, Matilynn Schmidt, Riley Streit, Josephine Wild.

1st Communion classes: 2nd grade and above are invited to attend First communion class on Saturday, April 26, 1 – 3 pm. The children will take their first communion with their families on Sunday, April 27st during worship. Want to be an acolyte? All children who have taken first communion are eligible to be acolytes (2nd grade and above.) We will have acolyte training during Sunday school on Sunday, May 18th at 9:45 am. We are collecting canceled postage stamps for the Alliance Stamp Ministry. Trim your envelopes so the stamps have a third of an inch of paper left around them and drop them in box provided in gathering area The proceeds go toward publishing Spanish language Sunday school materials and distributing them to churches in Latin America.

Weekly Bible Study On Jonah

Wednesdays, May 7 – 28th @ 10:00 am

NURSERY SCHOOL NEWS

We’re getting ready for Easter in our

Nursery School. The children are coloring

and decorating Easter eggs and making

Bunny baskets for our Easter Party. Our

Easter party will take place on Thursday,

April 10. Activities will include an Easter

Basket Hunt and a visit by the Easter

Bunny’s helper.

Spring Vacation will be from April 12-21. School resumes on the

22nd.

We sincerely thank Thrivent Financial members who have directed

their Thrivent Choice dollars to Town Line Nursery School. Thank

you, also, to all who purchased candy bars or donated to our

recent Candy Bar Fundraiser. We appreciate it very much.

Registration has begun for the fall semester. One class will again

be offered for 3 and 4 year old children. The class will meet on

Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9 – 11:30 am. Please call

Lois 937-7503 or Diana 937-8222 for information about our school

or registration forms. You are also cordially invited to attend our

Open House to be held on April 9 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.

TOWN LINE NURSERY SCHOOL

OPEN HOUSE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9

6:30 – 7:30 PM

Come take a look at our facility and meet the teachers

and Nursery School Board.

Naomi Circle will meet on April 8 at 12:30 pm.

Come join us for Bible study and friendly conversations. Bring a bag lunch. Dessert and drinks will be provided. All woman of Town Line are invited!

Pairs and Spares

Our Pairs and Spares group at Town Line consists of any age, either a couple (Pair) or single (Spare). Join us Tuesday, April 22 at 11:30 am for lunch and fellowship. Bring a dessert to share. Lunch will be provided.

The QUILTERS – The Quilters will meet on Monday, April

14th, April 28th and then on Monday, May 12th (at the usual time of approximately 9:15 am until 1:00 pm). Feel free to join us to see what we do – simply bring your lunch and enjoy good fellowship and conversation. We will discuss maybe meeting once-a-month possibly in June and July to make up for those days we had to cancel due to the winter weather. We were able to

donate thirty quilts to Buffalo City Mission/Cornerstone Manor this past month. If you have any questions, please call Lois Stutzman at 683-2782.

Town Line Book Club The Town Line Book Club

meets the 3rd Monday of the month at 7pm. We have refreshments that are connected to the story as well as

interesting discussions about the book and related topics. In the future we are considering hosting a movie night and showing the movie version of one of the books that we have read. Everyone is invited!

April "The Winner" David Baldacci May "The Secret Lives of Bees" Sue Monk Kidd June "Running With Scissors" Augusten Burroughs July "The Hiding Place" Cory Tenboom August "Half Broke Horses" Jeannette Walls Please email/call Jeanette Dickinson at: jcdickinson66@yahoo.com or call 681-3966 with any questions

Sundays in Lent “I've been Changed”: Stories of

Transformation for Lent. We will be hearing in worship stories from the Bible of people who have been changed by God. We hope you will plan to join us!

Mid-Week Lenten Worship: Making Change

Join us Wednesdays April 2 and 9th at 10:30 am “Change for the Future” Special offering for Lent. This Lent we are collecting money for the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, where people learn how to minister in our world. You are invited to bring your lose change (paper money works well too!) and place it in our wishing well in the sanctuary. You may also give in your offering envelope, make sure you label the amount: “change for the future.”

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

Palm Sunday Worship

Touched by the Christ” by Lloyd Larson Presented by Town Line Lutheran Church

Sunday April 13th @ both services Please feel free to invite family & friends

for a very moving experience!!

Monday, April 14: Plant dedications due at the Church office

Maundy Thursday Worship April 17 at 7:00 pm

Good Friday Worship April 18

10:30 am and 7:00 pm

Saturday, April 19 - Plants to church by 10 am

Easter Sunday

Sunrise worship – 6:30 am Continental breakfast following

Worship: 8:30 and 11:00 am

with Holy Communion

Plant Dedications for Easter We will be decorating the church with plants on Easter. If you would like to place a plant on our chancel for Easter, please have them here by Saturday, April 19 at 10 am. Use the sheet found in the gathering space for your dedications or memorials or email/call the Church office by Monday, April 14. These dedications are put into the Easter Sunday bulletins.

If you order your plant from the youth, please fill in a sheet with dedication/Memorial. Thanks.

MUSIC NOTES…

Please invite family & friends to attend…

“TOUCHED BY THE CHRIST”

By Lloyd Larson

Sunday April 13th @ both services

A muscial experience of song and narration

Come and walk the last days of Jesus’ life through the music

& the voices of those who knew Him.

And then join in the celebration of

the resurrection on

EASTER SUNDAY!!

6:30 am: Our youth & Creation Youth Choir

will lead worship with skits, special music &

acting out the Easter story

8:30 am: Our Chancel Choir & Bell Choir will lead worship

& reflect the joy of the season in music!

Chancel Choir rehearses Wednesdays @ 7:30 pm Bell Choir rehearses the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month @ 6:15 pm Creation Youth Choir (grades 1-12) rehearses Sundays @ noon

Come and experience the joy in music!

YOUTH NEWS…

Town Line Youth aren’t afraid to take a LEAP of faith!

Thanks to everyone who supported and worked at the Valentine’s brunch. It was a great success and nobody went home hungry!

Our Cabin Fever Reliever was a great success as well!. We had four different kinds of soup, homemade bread, yummy desserts and a lot of fun with everything from bowling to Operation! Thanks to everyone who pitched in to help!

Our Youth will be leading worship for the 6:30 am Easter worship service. Practice will be held, Sunday April 13th 12:00-2:00 Bring a lunch! We will be voting on next year’s Fairy Tale Theater during lunch!

Don’t forget the Easter breakfast, Easter morning @ 7:30 am. Come & enjoy the yummy food & joyful conversation celebrating the Risen Lord! Donations of food are still needed. Please sign up in the gathering space

Kids In Christ (KIC) our youth group for grades 3-6 will have their next event Sunday April 27th 12:00-3:00 Bring a lunch and join in the fun! Games & new ways to think about your faith!

Coming soon… Town Line youth car wash & baked goods sale May 10th 10:00 am-2:00pm Come get your mom’s car washed (or your own) & grab a goody for Mother’s day dessert!!

Our Youth continue to sell Tops Gift cards. If you’re interested see Paul Schuler or Kate Snyder & we’ll get you what you need!

*If you’re interested in any of our youth programming please check out the youth bulletin board in the Gathering Space or speak with Kate Snyder.668-5610

27th Alden Prayer Breakfast April 26, 2014 9 – 11:30 am

“Journey of Faith”

Presentation by Kulli Childress

At age 10 she came to accept Jesus. The year was 1988 when Estonians, after being under Russian occupation and Communistic

rule, were first allowed to celebrate Christmas. Now a Pastor’s wife, mother of 3 young children,

she comes to tell us her Story of Faith.

St. John’s Catholic Church 2021 Sandridge Rd. Alden

Presale tickets until April 21st Charity: City Mission Donation $4 Contact: Barb Sims 683-3134 Ellie Donnelly 864-3004

Join us for

“A Spring Fair” (Formerly Ladies Day Out)

May 10, 2014

11 am – 2 pm

Town Line Lutheran Fellowship Hall

Vendors and Baskets for raffle are needed.

Thank you to all my church friends who helped me celebrate my 83rd birthday. The cards, gifts and well-wishes were gratefully appreciated. I was overwhelmed by your generosity. Thanks again and God bless you all. Joyce Kalle

Thank you to the youth and kids in Christ for the St. Patrick’s Day surprise card, picture and well wishes. It was so thoughtful of you to remember me. Thanks again and may God bless you always. Ray Kalle

Thank you Town Line Lutheran for the lovely Altar flowers and handmade card and photo the little ones were so kind to send me at Brothers. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. John Crafferty.

Thank you to everyone for their prayers, concern, words of support and offers of help during this difficult time. Special thanks to Pastor Serena for her hospital visits, words of comfort and special church service for my husband Bob. Also, thank you to Kate for her wonderful musical contributions to the service. It is truly a great feeling To have such family and friends here at Town Line Lutheran. Regards, Brenda Wells

Thank you to everyone who sent me cards and kept me in your prayers. Thank you Pastor Serena for your visits also. Thank you to Ellie for the Altar flowers they were very nice. June Smith.

We would like to thank our Church family for the beautiful flowers and Ellie Donnelly for delivering them to us and visiting with us. Bill and Thelma Dabb

Thank you to all the members at Town Line Lutheran and friends in the community for supporting our Annual Fish Fry Dinner. The funds that were raise will be used towards Summer Camp 2014 at the Schoellkopf Scout Reservation.

A huge thank you to the volunteers who come to help setup, serve and clean-up for our Funeral luncheons and thank you to all members for responding to the emails/calls for dish donations for our Funeral luncheons. We couldn’t have this ministry to our grieving families without all the hard work of few volunteers.

Work Day at Town Line Lutheran A Work day is planned for Saturday, April 5th at the Church from 9 am – 2 pm. Lunch will be served. Please join our Church Council as they clean our church before the Easter Season. Dusting and changing light bulbs are a few of the tasks for the day. There is much to do. Many hands make the work load easier.

The Church Council is interested in receiving names of persons

interested in the position of Substitute Janitor for Town Line Lutheran Church. Names and resumes will be accepted at the Church Office until April 30, 2014. This position will be hourly and will be for approximately 30 hours yearly. Prior experience is not

necessary.

Please be a part of our Church Family Photo Directory! We are creating a new pictorial directory as an important ministry tool to help connect with one another, assist new families in getting to know us and celebrate the ministry of our congregation. Photographs will be taken: Tuesday, April 8 2:00 – 9 pm Tuesday, May 20 2:00 – 9 pm Sign-up by one of the following convenient ways:

1. Sign-up on-line at www.townlinelutheran.com 2. Sign-up after church on Sundays 3. Call Robin Gilbert at 810-2719

Bring a canned/dry good

item and you will receive

a coupon for $5 off your

portrait order!

The Town Line Lutheran Here are your choices on how you can get your newsletter

1. Email: drop an email to Diane at the office to receive your newsletter electronically. The church email is townlinetllc@aol.com.

2. Pick up paper copy at church: Paper copies of the newsletter will be available for you to take home the last Sunday of every month.

3. Download from the church website: www.townlinelutheran.com

If none of the above work we can mail it to your home

If you have a change of address or phone number, please email the Church and let us know

Email addresses are needed: If you would like to have your email added so we can contact you in this way, please email the Church: Townlinetllc@aol.com.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE:

Townlinelutheran.com

Friend us on facebook!

Church Cancellation: Due to inclement weather please check Channel 2 for Town Line Lutheran Church closings. BEWARE! Please use caution when during the winter months in the parking lot, near the paper box and on the sidewalks as conditions can become slippery.

How can you help others or get help? Here are a few local agencies Alden Pantry collection You can bring items for the Alden Food pantry to church any Sunday. There is a blue box located in the Coat room.

Alden Meals on Wheels is in need of volunteers. Call 937-7105 for more information

Hearts and Hands “Faith in Action” A Neighbor helping neighbor” volunteer program Call: 542-2226 www.heartsandhandsfia.org

Ronald McDonald House Charities Become a friend of Ronald: Find us on Facebook.

Suicide Bereavement support For immediate help/support call 24 hours a day: (585)202-2783 Erie County Crisis Services (716)834-3131

Lutheran Charities www.wnylutherancharities.org 716-632-2623

Alzheimer’s Association of WNY 24/7 Helpline 1-800-272-3900 Program.wny@alz.org 2805 Wehrle Dr Suite 6 Williamsville, NY 14221

Hospice Buffalo 225 Como Park Cheektowaga, NY 14227 716-686-1900 Essential Care for Children, a program of Home Care Buffalo 225 Como Park Boulevard Cheektowaga, NY 142270-1480 (716) 686-8006 Caring Hearts Perinatal Program 150 Bennett Road Cheektowaga, NY 14227 (716) 359-8056 Life Transitions Center, Inc. The Mary & Ralph C. Wilson Counseling Center 150 Bennett Road Cheektowaga, NY 14221-1480 Phone: (716) 836-6460 Caring Hearts Home Care 892 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14202 (716) 686-8300

Church Council 2013-2014 President John Wild 716-937-8894 Vice President Mark Casell 716-983-2468 Secretary Elli DeFilippo 716-937-7953 Treasurer Susan Angielczyk 716-937-8911 Financial Secretary Michael Dewitt 716-937-3453 Benevolence Treasurer Barbara Sims 716-683-3134 Trustees: David Luderman 716-481-8319 Craig Sims 716-937-6239 Deacons: Harry Mandris 716-937-0322 Robin Gilbert 716-810-2719 Music and Worship: Edie Sims 716-937-6239 Parish Education: Janet Klein 716-870-5109

Church Staff Information Ministers: All the People of God in this place Pastor: The Rev. Serena Mollenkopf-Grill Cell: 716-510-2939 Email: pastorserena@gmail.com Pastor Emeritus: The Rev. Merlin H. Knauff (retired) Church Council President: John Wild Phone: 937-8894 Visitation Pastor: The Rev. Charles Biegner Jr. Secretary: Diane Casell Office: 684-1467 Sexton: Ann Stanek Music Director: Kate Snyder: 668-5610 Nursery School: Lois Stutzman

Church Office Days Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

If you need assistance outside of these office days, Call Diane 716-713-3149 or Pastor Serena 716-510-2939

Thanks for your cooperation.

Facts and Figures

Sunday Attendance Offerings March 2, 2014 136 $3,748 March 9, 2014 147 $4,477 March 16, 2014 134 $4,492 March 23, 2014 136 $4,508 Needed Weekly $4,523

Worship Assistants for April

Ushers Early Late Bryce Blair Charles Turner Jeweliet Blair Larry Turner Howard Randall David Baehre Jack Sturdivant Mark Reddy Mike Thore

Acolytes Early Late 6 Victoria Wild Taylor Tyburski Erin Bliemeister Jon Mollenkopf-Grill 13 Chris Klein Haley Tyburski Samantha Wild Ali Reiner 20 Erin Bliemiester Tony Muscoreil Adam Dulski Anna Jegierski 27 Victoria Wild Paige Jegierski Chris Klein Justin Mason

Communion Set–up 6 Elli DeFilippo 8:30 am 13 Paul and Beth Quenzler 8:30 am Tricia Phillips 11:00 am 17 Maundy Thursday – Barb Sims 20 John Wild 8:30 am Marcie Mason 11:00 am 27 Mark and Jody Reddy 11:00 am

Altar Flower Delivery 6 Annette Fitscher 13 Lorraine Zink 20 Diane Lechowicz 27 Elli Donnelly

.

April Wedding Anniversaries April 11 44 years Lois and John Stutzman April 12 34 years Beth and Bob Brinson April 17 32 years Jody and Mark Reddy April 18 55 years Carolyn and David Hodan April 19 34 years Cory and Richard Dussault April 26 42 years Joan and Jack Sturdivant Did we miss your special Anniversary (10, 20, 25 and over 30 years) If so, please let us know at the Church office.

Death Called to the Church Triumphant on March 7, 2014 was our member Arlene Eaton. A Memorial Service will take place in May. Our sincere sympathy is extended to her family and friends.

In Sympathy: Our sincere sympathy is extended to:

Brenda Wells at the death of her husband, Robert on February 27, 2014. A Funeral service was held on March 6th at 10 am at Town Line Lutheran Church.

To Joyce and June Smith at the death of aunt, Irma Trautman

To the Peters family at the death of Joan Peters on February 28, 2014.

To Doris Whittingham and family at the death of her mother, Mary Stolzman.

To Denise Schutt and family at the death of her mother, Lois on March 17, 2014. A Funeral service was held at Town Line Lutheran Church on March 23rd.

Memorials To the Town Line Lutheran Church Memorial Fund In memory of Florence Marks by Jennifer and Paul Reichert Jim Heinrich Naomi and Gerald Aldinger Donna Stutzman

To the Town Line Lutheran Church Memorial Fund In memory of Peggy Turner by Edward and Maryjane Heinrich Cheryl Fallon Judy and Gordon Griffith Jim Heinrich Rev. Merlin and Kate Knauff

To the Town Line Lutheran Church Memorial Fund In memory of Shirley Striegel by Donna Stutzman

April Birthdays 1 Susan Angielczyk 2 Lisa Arnott 2 Judith Griffith 2 Richard Klee 2 Carol Subsara 3 Janet Bartnik 3 Emelia Hart 3 Bette Maines 4 David Hodan 4 Melanie Lafornara 4 William Sobieraj 5 Gail Cieszki 5 Matilynn Schmidt 6 Eric Honeck 6 John Landahl 7 Russell Allan 7 Kristen Hamm 8 Jenna Horn 8 Riley Streit 11 Marci Kramer 11 Rachel Lewczyk 11 Christopher Preusch 12 Marie Bliemeister 12 Alexandria Burdett 12 Paul Ribbeck 12 Jocelyn Whittingham 13 Jessica Reddy 13 John Seitz 14 Adam Bauer 14 Carrie Rosenthal 16 Brian Peebles

16 Jeffery Smith 16 Ricky Smith 16 Kevin Sweeney 17 Jerry Hinsken III 17 Ashley Hoerner 18 Grace Blaufuss 21 Kristine Cole 21 Roger Hofmeier 21 Thomas Hofmeier 21 Patti Nowicki 22 Tyler Noel 24 Veronica Burdett 24 Kevin Kwietniak 24 Abigal Mandris 24 Megan Randall 25 Alex Barbaro 25 Samuel Grant 25 Dan Ives 26 Robb Overhoff 27 Zacharias Armitage 27 Gerald Cook 27 Cameron Stoldt 28 Robin Heverley 28 Emily Hodge 29 Mark Menge 29 Joseph Muscoreil 29 James A Stutzman 30 Joshua Abell - Gabner 30 Paul Quenzler

Did we miss your birthday? If so, please contact the Church office, 684-1467

.

TOWN LINE LUTHERAN CHURCH 1159 Town Line Road Alden, New York 14004-9590 A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ELCA.org Living in God’s Amazing Grace

Church office: 716-684-1467 Church Fax: 716-683-1664 Pastor: The Rev. Serena Mollenkopf-Grill Cell: 716-510-2939 Email: pastorserena@gmail.com Pastor Emeritus: The Rev. Merlin H. Knauff (retired) Church Email - Townlinetllc@aol.com Church Website: www.Townlinelutheran.com