a place at the table: recap - constant...
TRANSCRIPT
September 2016 First United Methodist Church
Lancaster PA
A PLACE AT THE TABLE: RECAP On behalf of the Pastors and Staff Members at the First United Methodist Church of Lancaster, THANK YOU to ALL who participated in our VBS: URBAN MARKETPLACE, 2016 – A PLACE AT THE TABLE!
The children who attended Vacation Bible School, URBAN MARKETPLACE, 2016 – A PLACE AT THE TABLE, experienced something unique – a taste of what life could be like in a city like Lancaster. They discovered how to create JUSTICE and JOY in the name of Jesus Christ. They learned about the Beatitudes – Jesus’ words of blessing for all people. In all experiences, the children understood that we are truly blessed to be a blessing to others.
Kids of all ages learned Bible stories that teach that our hearts need to be open to truly understand the words of Jesus and that ALL are welcome and have a place at the table of our Lord. “Jesus Blesses All Children,” “The Ser-mon on the Mount & The Woman at the Well,” “Nicodemus Talks to Jesus,” “The Good Samaritan,” and “We Re-member Jesus at the Last Supper” were just some of the stories that supported the dramas, urban arts workshops, and other work of the Bible school.
There is no doubt that our children will remember how our Bible school community of faith came together to help a neighborhood in a time of change and work toward a very important goal: to bring a breakfast program to a downtown church to feed anyone in need. Does this sound familiar? Alone, the job would have been very hard, but together, we were able to do so much! Change is not easy and we can help one another learn and grow to help our neighbors the way we would want to be helped.
Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers! They freely offered their gifts of time, talent, and love. We couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you to the families and children who participated in this fun, meaningful event!
May God’s blessings surround each and every one of you. We pray that the Holy Spirit guide you, protect you, and lead us all to live our lives like Jesus. Amen.
YOU’RE INVITED
To a musical
journey to include
Broadway classics,
light jazz, and
contemporary
selections. This
event will be held
in the Celebration
Center. Event
details soon to
come!
Joe Anthony
29 East Walnut Street
Lancaster PA 17602
Phone 717-394-7231
Www.EngageGodFirst.org
Nonprofit org
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Lancaster City
Permit No. 1223
Our Mission
Connect people to Jesus
Christ
Grow Disciples
Relieve Suffering
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
A Word from Pastor Joe…………………………………………………………………….3
Family of Funds………………………………………………………………………………..5
Small Groups…………………………………………………………………………………….7
Music Events: Kids Corner…………………………………………………………………5
REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN at DCP!
It’s Time to Register for the 2016-2017 School Year at the
Discovery Corner Preschool!
Spread the News! If you, or anyone you know, is seeking a preschool experience for a child under the age of 5 years, please send
them our way! Discovery Corner Preschool offers an integrated,
faith-based curriculum assisting parents in the academic,
social, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth of their children.
We offer a 1, 2, or 3 day program for 2 year olds
(9 – 11:30 a.m. OR 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.),
A 2 or 3 day program for 3 year olds (9 am. – 1 p.m.),
and a 2 or 3 day program for Pre-Kindergartners (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Scholarship help is available.
Welcome and Back-to-School Nights: September 6, 7, & 8, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
The First Day of School: Monday, September 12
To schedule a private tour and find out more about DCP, please contact the church or DCP Office. Registration
forms are available online and in the office.
(www.engagegodfirst.org; 717-394-7231, ext. 355; [email protected])
SMALL GROUPS McCaskey Breakfast Club returns on Fri-
day, September 9th led by Tyler Coder,
Elena Harnish, and Kate Beiler. Our goal is
to focus on building community with
McCaskey Youth through food, fellowship,
and theological conversation. Beginning in
October, the 'Gal Pal' small group gathers
6th-12th grade girls, and the 'Boy Brigade'
serves 6th-12th grade boys. They meet
once a month in designated homes with oc-
casional outings. Parents are always wel-
come to join and participate in small
groups! Details on group studies are an-
nounced later this month. If you are inter-
ested or have questions regarding the
Breakfast Club, contact Kate Beiler at
YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
KICKOFF
“Create” is the theme for InsideOut
(IO) Youth Ministry this school year.
IO kicks off the Youth Fellowship year
with a Back-to-School Highlighter
Dance Party on September 11 from
6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Youth Wing.
This is open to all youth 6th-12th
grade. The IO leadership team is en-
couraging youth to wear white or flo-
rescent colored shirts. This event is a
great way to bust a move with old
friends, meet or invite new friends,
and praise God through dance. IO
Leaders hope to see lots of youth there
rockin’ their shades!
Dear Members and Friends of First Church,
As you know we have been searching for a new Discovery Corner Preschool (DCP) Director. I am pleased to let you know that Amy Williams Costa has accepted the position of Director at DCP. Amy is from Lancaster County and currently resides in Elizabethtown with her husband, Mark, and their 14-month-old daughter, Lila. Amy grew up at First Church and has been a member of the church since her confirmation.
Amy has an excellent history of working with children and a variety of experience in education and early childhood education. Here are some of the things that qualify Amy for this position.
She holds two Bachelor of Science Degrees from Millersville University in Elementary Education & Early Child-hood Education.
She is a certified elementary school teacher in grades K-6.
She ran and wrote the curriculum for the Preschool Playground program at the Hempfield Rec Center.
She shares an inspiring passion for children’s ministry and for the success of Discovery Corner Preschool.
Amy is very excited about joining the preschool. We ask that you keep Amy in your prayers, and look for an opportunity to welcome her to the team at First Church and DCP.
Garnet Sofillas Pastor Kerry Leeper
DCP Board Director Staff Liaison to the DCP Board
KOREA SERVICE LEARNING TRIP
First Church has deep histori-
cal ties to the development of
Christianity in South Korea.
Youth Minister Kate Beiler has
dreamed of creating a 'service
& learning' trip to South Korea
for the youth to experience
First Church’s community
roots across the globe. Pastor
Joe is excited to see our youth
on mission to Korea. The trip
will likely take place late June
2017. The destination is Seoul,
South Korea and is open to
adults as well as youth. Adults
and youth will share time to-
gether in addition to their age
appropriate activities. Current-
ly, the Korea Planning Team is
looking for a member to join
the leadership team to help
oversee the budget and finan-
cial portion of the trip. Our
hope is to begin registration in
the next few months. Contact
Pastor Joe at jdipao-
Kate Beiler at
additional information
INSIDEOUT YOUTH NEEDS YOUR HELP
We are looking for willing and eager adult volunteers, 20 years or older, with a heart for working with
teens. IO needs assistant Sunday morning Christian Formation teachers and substitutes during the 9:30
hour. We are seeking a few adults to be present and disciple youth during IO Fellowship events. Book
donations to expand the youth library, games for Nintendo Wii or Playstation 2, and monetary support
for scholarships and supplies are all appreciated. If you would be interested in going on an IO weekend
retreat like the Sr. High Danger Retreat (November), Youth Rally (January), or 30 Hour Fast (April);
help is always needed. Please contact Youth Minister Kate Beiler at [email protected] with
questions and to learn more about how to support our youth.
On Sunday, September 11 the Christian Formation year kicks off. The 2016-2017 youth year theme is "Create". Open house is from 9:15-10:45am. Parents and youth are in-vited to come meet teachers, see classrooms, enjoy coffee, treats, and help create our new youth mu-ral by adding graffiti with Brian Lehman.
The 6th-7th-graders meet in the red room with middle school teachers Susan Seavey and Teresa Sakrudkar. This year’s 8th-grade Confirmands are meeting in the
green youth room with teachers Joe Reed and Marge Kuhn. Please note that the official parent meeting for confirmands happens the following weekend on September 18 at 9:30.
The 9th-12th Senior High class will meet in Room 1 with Paul Richer, Wayne Betty, the Beilers and a variety of other teachers. A new "Fearless Conversations" study will also begin this fall. Please di-rect any questions about the youth 9:30 formation classes to Kate Beiler or Susan Seavey.
SUNDAY MORNING YOUTH FORMATION THEME: CREATE
A WORD FROM PASTOR JOE
Among the most important cultural values of our age are inclusiveness and tolerance. On one level, these are im-portant gospel values – indeed, I’d argue our culture derived them from the gospel: God’s gracious love was for all the world, John 3:16 tells us, and everyone may be included in God’s kingdom, if they re-spond to his grace. And tolerance may well be one way to describe Jesus’ gra-ciousness and forbearance toward sinners, his refusal to coerce people into following him, and his emphasis on love even for persecutors and enemies.
The problem comes in when these values are absolutized; when tolerance means everything is okay, and nothing may be judged negatively. Similarly, inclu-siveness runs amok when it means not on-ly including everybody but everything – every attitude or behavior. Biblical teach-ing can be quite exclusive and downright intolerant. Commandments #1 and #2 are clear that God is not tolerant of rivals, for we are to worship him exclusively (Ex. 20:2-6). Jesus was intolerant of self-righteousness and hypocrisy (Matthew 23:13-36!). Not to be reborn by God’s Spirit is to be excluded from the kingdom (John 3:3-5, 18). Practices or attitudes op-posed to God’s will, and incompatible with life in Christ and his community, are con-demned, such as hatred, jealousy, evil-speaking, sex outside the covenant of mar-riage, theft and the occult (1 Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 4:20-32).
In a 1762 pamphlet, subtitled “Christ Stabb’d in the House of his Friends,” John Wesley took aim at a similar mindset in his day, known as “antinomianism” (from
anti, “against” and nomos, “law;" meaning against law, or lawlessness). Antinomian teachers argued that salvation by grace meant that, since Christ has satisfied the demands of the law, there is no more mor-al law for Christians: we can basically do anything we want. Wesley, however, re-sponded, “Christ is no Savior to you un-less he saves you from your sins; and that unless it purify your heart, faith shall profit you nothing. O when will ye under-stand that to oppose either inward or out-ward holiness, under cover of exalting Christ, is directly to act the part of Judas, to ‘betray the Son of Man with a kiss’?”
We are indeed saved by grace, put in right relationship with God as a sheer gift, which no acts of ours can ever earn. Yet we are also called to holiness, increasingly living out of that grace in ways that con-form to God’s will. To seek God’s grace only for forgiveness, and not to live a new life, is like wanting to marry someone, but not intend to live any different than you did when single. In an old sermon entitled The Sin of Tolerance, Billy Graham said, “Christ was so intolerant toward sin that He died on the cross to free men from the power of sin.” The grace of God in Jesus Christ is enough, not only to cleanse us from guilt, but to transform us, so that we might live and love as Christ did – and that means driving sin and evil out of our lives, and being exclusively devoted to the Lord. In such a morally permissive age as ours, it is critical that we seek to live holy lives, even as we exhibit God’s gracious love to all.
As a city church, we have the privilege to in-vite, welcome, and care for our community; spe-cifically community skateboarders. Youth Minister, Kate Beiler, is trying to find ways to cultivate relationships and present boarding opportunities. As we show love and respect
Kate believes that community skateboards will aid in caring for our com-munity. Our goal is to the find a time to reserve the parking lot for boarders on a Friday evening this month when it becomes cooler, and again later in the fall. These opportunities allow for an open, safe place to skate and for us to be a light in their lives. Help is needed to hand out water bottles and snacks and simply fellowship with the skaters. Contact Kate at [email protected] ASAP if you're interested. More information is soon to come via email blast and the church bulletin.
SKATEBOARDERS
“WHATEVER YOU DO, DO WELL. FOR WHEN YOU GO TO THE GRAVE, THERE WILL BE NO
WORK OR PLANNING OR KNOWLEDGE OR WISDOM.“ ECCLESIASTES 9:10 NLT
BOOK CLUB: DESTINY OF THE REPUBLIC
DESTINY OF THE REPUBLIC: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and Murder of a Presi-dent by Candice Willard. James Abram Garfield was one of the most extraordinary men ever elected president. Born into abject poverty, he rose to become a scholar, a Civil War hero, a renowned congressman, and a reluctant presidential candidate who took on the nation's corrupt political establishment. But four months after Garfield's inauguration in 1881, he was shot in the back by a deranged office-seeker named Charles Guiteau. Garfield survived the attack, but become the object of bitter, behind-the-scenes struggles for power—over his administration, over the nation's future, and over his medical care. Meticulously researched, epic in scope, and pulsating with an intimate human focus, The Destiny of the Republic brings alive a forgotten chapter of U.S. history. You are welcome to join the discussion on Friday, September 16 at 9:30 in the Appenzeller Library.
FAMILY OF FUNDS A VALUABLE TOOL FOR MINISTRY AT FIRST UMC
The Family of Funds (FOF) at First Church provides a valuable resource for new minis-try opportunities as well as existing minis-tries. The Special Ministries Fund is one such fund within FOF.
The purpose of the Special Ministries Fund (SMF) is to fulfill the mission of First UM Church by providing financial support to ministries that impact both the local church and the larger community. To that end, at least 50% of the funds are to support ministries beyond the local church building, and first consideration of those projects is given to Lancaster City and County. The emphasis of SMF is on new and innovative ministries.
In the past 5 years, SMF has support-ed ministries such as music and art produc-
tions that specifically reach out to the city and county. Christmas and Easter musicals in Celebration Center and the Easter Eve concert were funded by SMF. SMF has sup-ported some new technology and lighting projects in Celebration Center which will be a spring board to more creative concerts in the future. The thrift shop, which helps families in need of clothing, began with funds from SMF. SMF funds also supported the 2016 Nicaragua Mission Trip.
We are blessed at First Church to have the Family of Funds and Special Ministries Fund which enhances our ability to fulfill our mission of connecting people to Jesus Christ, growing disciples, and relieving suffering.
KIDS CORNER: MUSIC EVENTS
A great, big shout out of thanks to Dr. Brian Norcross for inviting the children and youth of FUMC to attend an Allegro Chamber Or-chestra rehearsal at the Ware Center on Wednesday, August 10th. 18 children, youth and adults attended the rehearsal and were wowed by Gershwin’s – Piano Concerto in F, featuring William Wright on piano. Thanks again, Dr. Norcross!
The Carol Choir season kicks off Wednes-day, September 7 at 7pm. Carol Choir is for grades 3 through 6; rehearses each Wednesday for an hour and sings at the con-temporary and 10:45 traditional about once each month. We will continue the tradition of a Children’s Sunday on April 23rd.
This year we are looking forward to a massed chil-dren’s choir per-formance and Youth Art Show during 1st Friday on February 3rd.
The Cherub Choir season will kick off on Saturday, Oc-tober 1st from 10:30 to 11:30. Cherub Choir is for children 4 years old through 2nd grade and rehearses every Saturday. We sing at the contemporary service and 10:45 tradi-tional service about 6 times a year.
If your child is interested in making a joyful
noise to the Lord, please contact Jan Betty
@ 717-653-9537 or [email protected]
Pastor Kerry is asking you to consider volunteering your time to help
Ross Street United Methodist Church. They need several volunteers
to help make approximately 1,500 to 1,700 crab cakes for their Annual
Crab Cake Festival.
You are needed on Wednesday, September 14, and Friday,
September 16. On Wed., Sept. 14, 8-10 helpers are needed from 9:00
am - 4:00 pm (you can volunteer in 2 hour increments). This time
will be used to prepare the crab cakes. No experience is necessary.
On Fri., Sept. 16, 7 helpers are needed from 3:45 pm - 5:45 pm and
from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. During this time, you will sell crab cakes,
dish out soup, and do various other jobs to make the festival a success.
During the final time slot clean-up will be part of the job.
You can sign up on the web at sign up genius
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0849ada92aa6fd0-crab
CRAB CAKE FESTIVAL HELP