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TLC News
Sunday School 9:00 a.m. February 2017 Worship 10:30 a.m.
Our Mission: “To become more like Jesus, reaching out to our community with God’s love.”
THE ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL
REPORT for 2016
Trinity’s Annual Congregational Report reviews
our ministry and finance for the previous year. The
Annual Congregation Report for 2016 will be
available to all members of the congregation at
church starting Sunday, February 12th. If you
would like the Annual Congregational Report
mailed to you, please send an email to
[email protected] or call 570-658-2262
and leave a message.
LENTEN SOUP SUPPER AND STUDY
Trinity’s annual Lenten Soup Supper and Study will
be held on Wednesdays at 6 pm starting March 8th
and continuing through Wednesday, April 5th. All
are invited to enjoy breaking bread & sipping soup
together. This year’s class will feature DVDs on
the places in the Holy Land where different parts of
the Bible took place. If you can’t travel to the
Middle East to see these sites in person, why not
come to Soup Supper and Study and see them there!
Volunteers are needed to provide a kettle of soup,
loaves of bread, and/or to “set-
up” and “clean-up” for our
Lenten soup suppers on
Wednesdays during Lent.
Please sign up at the
Information Table. Thank you!
LENTEN DEVOTIONALS
On the Information table are free Lenten
devotionals for individuals and families. Please feel
free to take one and use them to add to your
worship and understanding of this Lenten season.
FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE NEWS The Fundraising committee will be making Peanut
Butter & Coconut Cream Thursday’s at 9:30 am.
We will need helpers to coat and package the candy.
If you can help please contact Sandie Snook.
Fundraising’s “Olde Fashion Christmas” took in
$378.00; this amount was matched by Trinity’s
Special Gifts fund. All proceeds were donated to
the “Meals for Mustangs” program, which provides
meals for students in need at the Midd-West School
District. Thank you all!
FAITH MILESTONES PRAYER PARTY TO
BE HELD on FEBRUARY 26
The 3, 4 and 5-year-olds of Trinity will be attending
a Prayer Party on Sunday, February 26, during the
Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. The event will include
games and crafts, special gifts, and learning more
about praying to God. And just as Simeon and
Anna were both present at the Temple when Mary
and Joseph brought the baby Jesus there for his
presentation, there were elders in faith—people who
could pass on their love of God to others. Our 3, 4,
and 5-year-olds will be partnered with their own
Annas and Simeons of our congregation who are
willing to be prayer partners with some of our
littlest members. Watch for invitations in the mail!
Their prayer partners are also invited to the Prayer
Party!
Then during worship on February 26, in our 10:30
am worship service, the 3, 4, and 5-year-olds and
their prayer partners will come forward as we
celebrate the Faith Milestone of Prayer in their life.
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“From the Pastor’s Desk”
The month of February begins with a "holiday"
which started here in Pennsylvania, Groundhog's
Day, the day when a furry rodent prognosticates
whether there will be an early spring or six more
weeks of winter. Almost 25 years ago, there was a
movie named after our Pennsylvania holiday and
that movie is now considered an American comedy
classic.
The plot of the movie, "Groundhog's Day," revolves
around Phil Connors (played by actor Bill Murray).
Phil is a weatherman who is assigned to cover
Groundhog's Day in Punxsutawney. Connors
makes no bones about how much he hates the
assignment, the town, and the townspeople, whom
he considers "hicks." When a blizzard strands
Connors in Punxsutawney, he becomes stuck in a
"time loop" in which every morning when he wakes
up, it's Groundhog's Day again. It's a cycle Phil is
doomed to repeat until he comes to some
realizations about himself, his attitude, and what he
can do to make life better, for himself and for
others. Naturally, these realizations do not happen
overnight; in fact, it is quite a while until Phil
realizes this.
Like the Christmas classic, "It's a Wonderful Life,”
the theme of "Groundhog's Day" is one with which
people identify. What makes this movie resonate
with us is the thought of what we would do, and
how we would feel, if we were stuck reliving the
same day over and over until we got it right. Or, at
least, made some realizations about our own
attitudes and what we can do to make life better for
ourselves and others. Since we are Christians,
imagine if you will a Christian version of
"Groundhog's Day."
Imagine if you had to live February 2 - or any other
day - over and over until, as a Christian, you got it
right, obeying God's Laws completely. You can be
sure that having to re-live a day until it was sin-free
would make us a lot more aware of the ways in
which we do sin, both the obvious ways and the
not-so-obvious ways. If, like weatherman Phil, you
were stuck in a time loop, how long would it take
you to realize the depth of your sinful nature?
How long would you be in a "time loop" until you
got it right?
Moreover, how long would it take until you
realized, and really understood, what Jesus did for
you when He was crucified for your sins. When the
Son of God died for us on the cross, after living
perfectly sinless every day of His life, He ended any
time loop that we might have had to undergo. In
fact, it was because God knew that we couldn't get
it right - that it would take forever for us to obey
His Laws - that He sent His Son as the perfect
sacrifice for our sins.
The "holiday" that is Groundhog's Day is one in
which we try to predict the end of winter and the
beginning of spring. And, while each season is a
blessing from God to which we should look
forward, we are even more blessed that we do not
need to go through even one day trying to be perfect
according to God's Law. Praise be to God who has
ended the winter of our sin and brought us to the
spring of new life in His Son, Jesus Christ, our
Savior and Lord!
In Christ's Name,
Pastor Lisa
Pastor Lisa’s Office Hours:
At the Parsonage study:
-- Tuesday & Wednesday evenings,
6:30-8:30;
-- Wednesday & Thursday mornings,
9 – 11 am;
Or, by scheduling an appointment at your
convenience, contact her at: 658-2040 or by email:
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FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
Pastor Lisa Schuster 2/2
Diane Roush 2/4
Ace Weaver 2/5
Janet Walter 2/6
Cathy York 2/6
Rufina Mitch 2/6
Louella Ritter 2/7
Angela Ulrich 2/12
Lori Worrell 2/13
Robin Randolph 2/14
Andrea Amu 2/16
Keith Seler 2/17
Tim Benner 2/23
Travis Weader 2/25
Lisa Shirk 2/27
Zachary Brittain 2/27
FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES
Missy & Tim Moyer 2/7
Harold and Florence Reitz 2/14
BAPTISMAL ANNIVERSARIES
Glenn Folk 2/1
Edna Laub 2/3
Corey Flood 2/8
Geraldine Flood 2/10
Ace Weaver 2/12
Audrey Ritter 2/21
Heidy Oldt 2/27
Tanya Schreffler 2/27
WELCA FOOD BANK
OFFERING
February’s WELCA Food Bank
offering is: Soup, crackers,
peanut butter and jelly and all
other non-perishable food items.
Those in need of food should
call Beaver Lutheran, 570-658-
2001, to arrange to a pick up; there is a one-bag
limit at the Beaver Lutheran Food Bank (one-bag
limit).
STAYING SAFE, STATISTICALLY
SPEAKING!
Where is the safest place to be in the world today?
1. Avoid riding in automobiles because they are
responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.
2. Do not stay at home because 17% of all
accidents occur at home.
3. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16%
of all accidents involve these forms of
transportation.
4. Avoid walking on the street or sidewalks because
14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians.
5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in
hospitals. So, above all else, avoid hospitals.
You will, however, be pleased to learn that only
.001% of all deaths occur in worship services in
church, and these are usually related to previous
physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the
safest place for you to be at any given time is at
church! Bible study is safe too. The percentage of
deaths during Bible study is even less!
So... attend church and read your Bible - it can save
your life! And your life hereafter. God, bless you
and keep you safe!
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FEBRUARY WORSHIP LEADERS
February 5
Assisting Minister: Dave Weader
Greeters: Schreffler Family
Ushers: Keith Seler
Jenni Boonie
Lector: Dave Weader
Nursery: Denise Boonie
Treasury Asst: Edwin & Diane Weader
February 12
Assisting Minister: Dave Weader
Greeters: Ange Ulrich & Family
Ushers: Karen Segall
Sandra Snook
Lector: Ange Ulrich
Nursery: Jan Gilbert
Treasury Asst: Edwin & Diane Weader
February 19
Assisting Minister: Dave Weader
Greeters: Toby & Melanie & Ava Stoner
Ushers: Bonnie Jones
Martha Wert
Lector: Dave Weader
Nursery: Ange Ulrich
Treasury Asst: Edwin & Diane Weader
February 26 Transfiguration of Our Lord
Assisting Minister: Dave Weader
Greeters: Steve & Erma Knarr
Ushers: Ange Ulrich
Janet Walter
Lector: Denise Fike
Nursery: Jennie Boonie
Treasury Asst: Edwin & Diane Weader
*Please note that when you are scheduled to be a
greeter, you are also an usher for that Sunday. If for
any reason, you are unable to serve at your appointed
time, please secure a replacement and notify the church
secretary prior to the printing of the Sunday bulletin.
FEB. WORSHIP SUPPORT CHAIRPERSONS
Greeters/Ushers/TA: Karen Segall
Lectors: Ange Ulrich
Acolyte: Tayla Schreffler
Flowers: Vickie Seler
Bread: Jenni Boonie
Set-up: Tom Pheasant
Take Down: Jim & Bonnie Jones
Please remember the following people in
your prayers…
Gene Knepp, Ronald Henry, Diane Hallinan, John
Ritter, Robin Randolph, Alfred Kahley, Sure Bair,
Jane Freed, Tanna Snook, Debbie McGill, Judy
Renninger, Erdnal Laub, Marian Laub, Pete Swab,
Mandy & Dan Baxter, Giselle Miller, Harold Reitz,
Stanford Kline, and the families of Frances Erb, Lisa
Beiler and Sylvia Joy.
Our College Students: Kayla Fisher, Jarrett
Hassinger, Cassie Oldt, and Danielle E. Ulrich.
Military Personnel in Our Prayers: Joe Haskins
(USA), Craig Hassinger (USAF), Dylan Holmes (US
Army), Brooke Seler (USAF), and Kelly Weader
(USN).
Also, pray for our friends at Conewago-Snyder, near
and far, and all the residents and workers at Beacon
Light.
OUR SHARED MINISTRY
--BY THE NUMBERS—
Our Worship Attendance:
Nov. 27: 58 Dec. 25: 95 Jan. 22: 53
Dec: 4: 71 Jan. 1: 50
Dec: 11: 65 Jan. 8: 63
Dec: 18: 59 Jan. 15: 47
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2017 INCOME THRU JANUARY 22ND
Our Offerings (by envelopes, loose, Sunday School)
Envelopes: $ 7,927.00
Loose Plate: $ 244.25
Sunday School: $ 53.00
Total Income: $8,547.75
Total Expenses: $3,838.11
Line of credit: $7,942.83
STAYING SAFE, STATISTICALLY
SPEAKING!
Where is the safest place to be in the world today?
1. Avoid riding in automobiles because they are
responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.
2. Do not stay at home because 17% of all
accidents occur at home.
3. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16%
of all accidents involve these forms of
transportation.
4. Avoid walking on the street or sidewalks because
14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians.
5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in
hospitals. So, above all else, avoid hospitals.
You will, however, be pleased to learn that only
.001% of all deaths occur in worship services in
church, and these are usually related to previous
physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the
safest place for you to be at any given time is at
church! Bible study is safe too. The percentage of
deaths during Bible study is even less!
So... attend church and read your Bible - it can save
your life! And your life hereafter.
God, bless you and keep you safe!
WELCA FOOD BANK
OFFERING
February’s WELCA Food Bank
offering is: Soup, crackers,
peanut butter and jelly and all
other non-perishable food items.
Those in need of food should
call Beaver Lutheran, 570-658-
2001, to arrange to a pick up; there is a one-bag
limit at the Beaver Lutheran Food Bank (one-bag
limit).
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
The deadline for the March newsletter will be
February 20th. If you have any information to
contribute, please place on the desk in the office or
email it to the church at [email protected].
Thanks for your help!
FAITH MILESTONE -
ANNIVERSARY OF BAPTISM
At our worship service on January
8th the congregation of Trinity
celebrated the “baptismal
anniversaries” of Bucky Wright, Mason Swope,
Isaac Stuck, and Justin Fisher, who were baptized
on March 27, 2016. As part of the family of God,
we rejoice with these young men and their families!
OUR FINAL NICKEL
SUNDAY UPDATE
The last Nickel Sunday
offering taken in
December 2016 was
$48.18. Your nickels and a generous donation
have paid off the Clinic mortgage! Glory to God!!!
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DECEMBER COUNCIL
MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
The Council meeting for December was held on
Monday, December 12th in the Social room at
Trinity. The following are highlights from that
meeting:
-- Need for an assistant Council secretary was
discussed and agreed upon. This would be someone
from Council who would “sub in” for the Council
secretary when absent;
-- The Halls will be ending their Communion wine
ministry this year so Trinity will need to supply
wine for weekly Communion. Pr. Lisa is checking
prices at the PA State stores and Shade Mountain
Winery;
-- The 2017 Spending Plan was approved and new
Council members Cindy Graybill, Annette Knarr,
and Dave Weader were elected at the Sunday,
December 11th Congregational meeting. Denise
Boonie was also elected to a three-year term on the
TLC Ministry Fund;
-- The Clinic committee will be meeting with
Reliance Therapy owner, Pat Gay, on Wednesday,
December 28 at 2 p.m.
-- The Fundraising Committee’s Olde-Fashioned
Christmas was a success; it was well-attended and
raised $378.00 for the Meal for Mustangs program.
(Trinity matched this amount for a total donation of
$756.00.);
-- The Children’s Christmas program, “O, Come All
Ye Faithful,” will take place on Sunday, December
25th during worship;
-- BSA Troop #408 will hold an Eagle Scout Court
of Honor for Eagle Scout Blake Gudonis, on
Saturday, January 7, 2017 at Trinity.
A hard copy of the Council minutes for this meeting
is available in the Trinity notebook on the
Information Table. The next Council meeting will
be held on Monday, January 16th at 6:30 p.m. in the
Social room. All are welcome to attend.
JANUARY COUNCIL
MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
The January Council meeting was held on Monday,
January 16th at 6:30 p.m. in the Social room at
Trinity. The following are highlights from that
meeting:
-- Officers for 2017 were elected: President Karen
Segall; Vice President Janet Walter; Secretary
Cindy Graybill; Assistant Secretary Jenni Boonie;
and Treasurer Jim Jones.
-- Council voted to that a 10% tithe to the Special
Gifts/Matching Fund be made from every donation
to Trinity which has not been allotted for a specific
purpose. The Special Gifts/Matching fund is the
fund from which Trinity matches all charitable
donations that the church makes;
-- The offering of $785.00 taken at the Candlelight
Christmas Eve service went to the General Fund;
-- The Love Offering for January will be donated to
Lisa Beiler, a mother of 5 who has been diagnosed
with pancreatic cancer;
-- The Hospitality committee served a meal after the
funeral service of Trinity member Betty Shawver in
December. The committee has decided that a set
menu will be offered for future Remembrance
meals. The meal will be: ham, baked beans,
macaroni salad, applesauce, pickles, cake, coffee,
punch;
-- The Clinic committee met with Pat Gay, the
owner of Reliance Therapy, and Doug Knepp on
Wednesday, December 28th about leasing the Clinic
building. They will be in contact with Trinity in a
few weeks to discuss the lease agreement and
possible renovations for the building;
A hard copy of the Council minutes for this meeting
is available in the Trinity notebook on the
Information Table. The next Council meeting will
be held on Monday, February 13th at 6:30 p.m. in
the Social room. All are welcome to attend.
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COMMUNION WINE After many years making the wine for Holy
Communion, JoAnn & Sam Hall have decided to
put aside this ministry. We are so thankful for their
many years they have provided "the blood of
Christ" to our congregation!
Wine for Holy Communion will now be purchased
from Shade Mountain Winery at the cost of $15.00
a month. A Communion Wine fund has been set up
for the sole purpose of purchasing wine for worship;
anyone who would like to donate money to this
fund may do so by placing your contribution in your
offering envelope and marking it "Wine" on the line
provided or by giving a contribution to our
treasurer, Jim Jones.
NICKEL SUNDAY JARS
The nickel jars for the Clinic mortgage have been
removed because at the end of December, an
anonymous donor paid off the Clinic mortgage.
Another sizable donation was given to Trinity from
James "Sonny" Bickel in memory of his wife,
Dolly. Let us thank God for these blessings and
pass on to others the blessings which He gives us!
Look for the Nickel jars to return soon for another
opportunity for ministry at Trinity.
“O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL”
The children singing at worship on Christmas Day
in the Christmas program, “O’ Come, All Ye
Faithful.”
WE GIVE THANKS…
We give thanks to God and to those who have
carried out ministry to the church here in McClure
and in the world within the past few months,
especially for those who:
-- helped with the Bean Soup Parking Lot fundraiser
for the Youth, & the Fundraising Bake Sale Stand at
the Fair;
-- support others who are grieving;
-- are in WELCA and helped with the WELCA
Christmas supper & shared their Christmas
reminiscences;
-- made the church look beautiful for Advent and
Christmas, especially Edwin Weader, Ned Boonie
Jr., Janet Walter, and Pam Weaver and all the
helping hands from Conewago-Snyder;
-- sing in the Choir all year and Annette Rager,
Trinity's Choir director;
-- were involved in "O, Come All Ye Faithful," the
Christmas Children's Program, including Heidy
Oldt, Jenni Boonie, Diane Weader, & the Sunday
School teachers;
-- served on Council including outgoing members
Jim Wert & Betty Rager;
-- volunteered to run for Council & to those newly
elected to Council, Cindy Graybill, Annette Knarr,
& Dave Weader;
-- are raising their children and grandchildren (and
great-grandchildren) in the church;
-- are members of the TLC Ministry Fund
committee, especially outgoing member Steve
Knarr & incoming member Denise Boonie;
-- visit our members who are no longer able come to
church;
-- pray for all people including their "enemies".
Thanks, be to God for all the blessings which He
gives to Trinity Lutheran and its members and how
He enables us to continue to share those gifts with
others.
BUMPER STICKER OF THE MONTH
Coincidence is when God chooses to
remain anonymous.
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CONTACTING THE PASTOR Just a quick review on the best way to contact
Pastor Lisa:
Calling the parsonage, 570-658-2040 until 10 p.m.,
is the quickest way to get in touch with the Pastor,
unless she is out on a visit or attending a meeting.
If you can’t reach her at the parsonage, please leave
a message on the parsonage answering machine or
with Pastor Matthew. You can also call the church,
570-658-2262, and leave a message but it's not
necessary if you’ve left a message at the parsonage.
Pr. Lisa’s cell phone number is 570-204-2219,
however, she is not one who is “married” to her cell
phone so the best way to get in contact with her is
by leaving a message at the parsonage.
In case of an emergency, call - or have a family
member call - at any time, including Fridays. *
Upon admission, hospitals may ask for church and
pastor’s names, however, HIPA laws prevent
hospitals from calling pastors and informing them
when a member is in the hospital. In addition, some
McClure residents receive information about
emergencies through emergency scanners and pass
that information to the Pastor. In those situations,
Pr. Lisa immediately prays for the person and their
family but she does not go to the hospital or start
the Prayer Chain until receiving a call from a family
member or close friend requesting her to do so. In
addition to respecting current privacy laws, the
Pastor considers a call from a family member or
close friend as the signal that her presence is
needed.
(* Friday is the Pastors’ day off; please limit calls
on Fridays to emergencies.)
AN OLDE-FASHION CHRISTMAS
The Young-at-Heart room at Trinity was turned into
a Christmas cookie station during events at the Olde
Fashion Christmas on Saturday, December 10th.
EAGLE SCOUT COURT of HONOR
An Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Blake Gudonis
of Troop #408 was held on Saturday, January 7th at
Trinity. Blake is pictured here with his father and
mother. Congratulations, Blake, for earning the
highest of Scout awards!
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