from the pastor’s pen - denmark manor united church of ...€¦ · from the pastor’s pen . . ....

Front Cover

VOLUME 17, ISSUE 1

Our Church Family News

Denmark Manor United Church of Christ

From the Pastor’s Pen . . .

Lent begins somewhat late this year, because Easter is not until

April 16. The word “Lent” comes from the old English,

“lencten," which means “spring." A similar word in German

means “the lengthening of days,” noting that with the end of

winter, the days get longer.

The season of Lent is the 40 days of penitence and fasting, ask-

ing for God’s forgiveness and abstaining from something that

we particularly enjoy. Sundays are not included in the count be-

cause Sunday is always a feast day. The number 40 is a sacred

number in the Bible. There was rain at the Great Flood for 40

days and 40 nights. The Hebrew Children wandered in the wil-

derness for 40 years. Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights on Mt.

Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. The prophet Jonah

preached to the sinful city of Nineveh for 40 days (and they re-

pented.) There are many important examples of the use of 40 in

the Bible, and as we begin Lent we will hear the story of Jesus

in the wilderness, when he spent 40 days and nights fasting and

being tempted by the Devil.

The first day of Lent, “Ash Wednesday,” is when we are marked

by ashes because in ancient times, if you were truly sorry, you

dressed in an uncomfortable fabric made of goat’s hair and sat

in ashes (and put ashes on your head.) The Ash Wednesday ser-

vice is March 1 at 7:30PM. Our Lenten observance is not just

about enjoying fish on Fridays at the many wonderful fish fry

opportunities in our area, it is a time of introspection that is, in-

specting our interior, our hearts and minds. It is a time of

(continued inside)

See Page 5 for your

invitation and

registration for the

Beef Dinner on

Saturday, April 29 Please return yours by

Saturday, April 1!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE for SPRING 2017

From Our Pastor cover & p. 2

March Worship Schedule p. 3

Ladies’ Lunch & Laughter p. 3

Saturday Bible Study p. 3

Becoming a Member p. 3

Pastor’s Report p. 4

BEEF DINNER, April 29 p. 5

One Great Hour of Sharing p. 6

April Worship Schedule p. 7

eGiving p. 7

Thank-You, Photo Policy, Remembering

Our Church Family p. 8

Easter Flower Order Form p. 9

Our Child in Palestine p. 9

HOSS’S DAY April 30 p. 9

March & April Calendars p. 10 & 11

LADIES’ LUNCH & LAUGHTER—insert

Back Cover

Coming in March & April

Contact and Schedule Information

From the Pastor’s Pen . . . deciding our priorities in life, a time of healing our relationships with God and with one another and a

time of rebooting our priorities.

Here are some suggestions on how you might want to accomplish this.

1. Read the Bible daily. If you don’t know where to start, prepare yourself for the upcoming Sunday by

looking at the worship schedule (included) and reading the scripture for that Sunday. Pick out words

or sentences that speak to you and contemplate them, perhaps even writing them down. Writing helps

in considering why these words and sentences have your name on them. There is enough material in

every Sunday’s scripture for a week’s study, and you may just find one word or phrase that speaks to

you over and over again.

2. Observe a digital fast. You don’t have to give up all of your electronic devices, but you may choose

not to check your messages or e-mails while you are eating or at some other time during the day.

3. Make a list of 5 or 10 things that you are thankful for each and every day, and remind yourself of these

things throughout the day.

4. Commit to reading a devotional book or booklet such as “The Upper Room.” These are available in the

back of the sanctuary, or if you are homebound we can send you one. The Women’s Fellowship pro-

vides these as a gift to the congregation. Large print versions are available.

5. Don’t just pray for those you love, but for those who you find difficult to love.

6. Be generous. Most of us are generous during Advent. Try applying that same generosity to Lent.

7. Find some other Lenten discipline that is particular to you. Share your Lenten discipline with a trusted

friend. Whatever discipline you practice, sharing it gives you accountability.

All of this prepares us for a true celebration on Easter, the day of our Lord’s resurrection. This is the holi-

est day of the year. This year, we are going to change our Easter tradition by holding only ONE SER-

VICE at 10:00AM (instead of our usual 8:00AM and 11:00AM). Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity

to experience in word and song the story that reveals of the power of God to overcome evil, darkness, and

death. On this day, let our alleluias ring more joyfully than ever because we have persevered in our Len-

ten practices.

Pastor Meredith Hutchison

We have several peo-ple in our Congrega-tion who attend regu-larly but are not mem-bers. If you would

like to become a member, please see Pastor Meredith.

MARCH WORSHIP SCHEDULE Your Invitation to the Resurrection Season at Denmark Manor United Church of Christ -

Join us for Worship this Lenten Season!

March 1 Ash Wednesday-7:30PM Service of Penitence, Ashes and Holy Communion March 5 First Sunday in Lent Communion Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11 Sermon: “Wilderness Temptations” March 8 Cluster Gathering-Noon

Emmanuel Reformed Church (Hill’s Church) 3618 Hills Church Road, Export Beginning with lunch, the topic of conversation will be “A Brave New World.”

March 12 Second Sunday in Lent Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9 Sermon: “Missing the Moment” March 19 Third Sunday in Lent Scripture: John 4:5-42 Sermon: “Thirsty” March 22 Cluster Gathering 7:30PM

First UCC in Harrison City, 1008 Harrison City-Export Road, Harrison City at 7:30PM. The topic of conversation will be “Changing World, Changing Church.”

Light refreshments will be served. March 26 Fourth Sunday in Lent Scripture: John 9:1-12 Sermon: “Was Blind, but Now I See”

Ladies’ Lunch & Laughter on May 20!

In the time until the Fun of the

Lunch & Laughter arrives the

week after Mother’s Day (May

20), we would be most grate-

ful for anyone willing to do-

nate $1-$3 items for door priz-

es. You may have something at

home that you’ve never used,

or found something new &

unique that you think someone

else might enjoy. Items that

you think could be included in

Gift Baskets would also be a

big help. Thanks for consider-

ing and looking! Items can be

left at the office.

Saturday Morning Bible Study We meet at the Murrysville Panera at 9:00AM. We can al-ways find room for a new member and no previous Bib-lical knowledge is required. Check your Calendar and Bul-letin for scheduling. You may consider making the Bible Study your Lenten discipline.

Pastor’s Report to Consistory February 6, 2017

In January and into the beginning of February, I planned the Lenten season, beginning with Ash Wednesday on March 1, with worship at 7:30PM here at Denmark Manor. I also met with the pastors of our Cluster and we agreed upon our common Lenten activities utilizing a re-source, “Reimagining Church.” Last year, we had better attendance by having fewer gatherings, and we are doing the same this year. Instead of meeting every Wednesday night, we will have three gatherings that will be discussions with only one worship service (at the final gathering). Note that the times for the get-togethers vary. March 8-Noon. Lunch at Hill’s Church. The topic will be “A Brave New World”, looking at how the world has changed since the 1950’s-80’s. March 22-7:30PM. First UCC in Harrison City with light refreshments. The topic will be “Changing World, Changing Church”, how the church has changed since the 1950’s-80’s. April 5-6:30PM. Dinner gathering at Denmark Manor United Church of Christ followed by worship with The Rev. David Ackerman, preaching. The topic will be to address the question, “Where do we go from here?” thank you to Don McIlvaine who is coordinating the dinner. The conference that I attended on January 26-27 was very enlightening and gave me some wonderful ideas in regards to faith formation. The leader was Rachel Hackenberg, who is an author and works for MESA (Ministry Excellence, Support and Authorization) in the United Church of Christ. It was also a good oppor-tunity to do some networking with other clergywomen. Thank you, consistory, for allowing me to attend. I have been meeting regularly with my clergy coach, and we are addressing issues of leadership and change in our congregation. I find it very useful to have someone to help me to clarify my role in helping leaders to lead this congregation into the future. I have also been doing follow-up pastoral care with several our members. I find that the conversations that I have before worship on Sunday morning are most helpful. This month we have welcomed John and Susanne Bell into our worship as well as two of the residents of the group home where Allen Latherow lives. They are Valerie Catalano and Michael Anthony. They came the first time to see Allen ring the bell, which along with acolyting, is Allen’s job on Sunday morning. The resi-dent supervisor who accompanies them is Holly Lape. Valerie is learning American Sign Language and I have asked her to learn how to sign the Lord’s Prayer so that she can lead it some upcoming Sunday, which we have yet to schedule. A reminder to all that the Worship Team decided that this year we would have only one worship service for Easter and it will be at 10:00AM. This was announced at the Annual Meeting, but we are getting the word out now, so that people can plan accordingly. There will not be an Easter Breakfast. The Women’s Fellowship is planning an event for May 20, “Ladies’ Lunch and Laughter”, which will be a luncheon with 3 church-women comediennes. We are currently gathering gathering donations from busi-nesses for basket prizes. This was an idea initiated by Rheba and I thank her for her creativity. Respectfully Submitted, Meredith Hutchison

We welcome you to our Worship.

Denmark Manor is part of the

United Church of Christ in

which congregations make the

decisions about the operation

and faith stance of the Church.

We believe in freedom of

conscience, and do not tell

others what doctrine they must

accept. We affirm the work of

the Trinity, the authority of the

Bible and that God is still

speaking in this world.

Worship continues each Sunday at

11:00AM through the end of May,

ecept for Easter Sunday, April 16,

when Worship will be at 10:00AM.

Beginning June 4, we worship at

10:00AM throughout the summer,

and until the end of August 2017.

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 11:00AM

Beef Dinner on April 29!

My DMUCC Beef Dinner Reservation

Name(s) _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________ Total cost: _____________________

Number attending: __________ Check Number _____________

Phone: ___________________________ #Eat-In #Take out

Mailing Address correction: _______________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

No reservations will be confirmed without a check. Mail to: DMUCC,

2003 Denmark Manor Rd., Export, PA 15632 by Saturday, April 1. If you’d

like ticket(s) sent to you, please include a Self-Addressed

Stamped Envelope (SASE).

on Saturday, April 29 4 to 7PM (as usual!)

Please fill in your information & mail with your check to the Church by Saturday, April 1, in the enclosed envelope to reserve your seat(s).

We expect to sell-out, only 500 will be sold. Take-outs available.

NO MEAL CAN BE SERVED WITHOUT A TICKET.

$13 Adults

$6 Children 6-12 5 & under Free

Please call 724-744-4218 with inquiries or to modify your order.

Your Invitation to the 2017 Denmark Manor United Church of Christ

Beef Dinner! 2003 Denmark Manor Road, Export, PA 15632

Each Sunday, Denmark Man-

or United Church of Christ

lights the Candle of Remem-

brance in honor of all our

Military and First Respond-

ers, especially those in

harm’s way. If you have a

special Veteran or First Re-

sponder in your life and

would like to light it in her or

his honor, please notify the

office at 724-744-4218.

Banks for Your Gifts are available the First Sunday of Lent, March 5 Please return on April 2.

SHARING CALENDAR Banks for your Gifts are available the First Sunday of Lent, March 5 - Please return your bank on April 2.

eGiving To make your stewardship easier,

you may want to consider on-line

giving. Our church now offers elec-

tronic giving or e-giving, either

through bank transfer of funds, or

through your credit card. It is now

available through our web site, den-

markmanorchurch.org , or bay sign-

ing up via the forms available in the

back of the Sanctuary. If you wish,

we can mil you a registration form—

just call the office at 724-744-4218.

You do NOT have to give elec-

tronically. We still accept cash

and checks! We are offering elec-

tronic giving for the convenience of

our members who pay many of their

bills though automatic withdrawal or

by credit card. Your private infor-

mation will be kept confidential and

will not be shared.

If you become an e-giver and

still want to put something in the

offering plate, there are cards in

the pews that you may use, that

say, ‘Part of my worship is giving

back to God-with joy and gratitude-

from all that I have received. I

have already given for this period,

so today I celebrate this commit-

ment, using this card as a reminder

of my act of giving.’

For more information on e-

giving, go to our website: http://

denmarkmanorchurch.org/. You can

also scan the QR Code here.

Page 7

APRIL WORSHIP SCHEDULE Your Invitation to the Resurrection Season at Denmark Manor United Church of Christ -

Join us for Worship this Lenten Season!

April 2 Fifth Sunday in Lent Communion Scripture: John 11:38-45 Sermon: “Are We Bound and Dead?” April 5 Cluster Gathering-At Denmark Manor UCC Dinner 6:30, Worship with Holy Communion 7:30

(in Fellowship Hall) Preaching, the Rev. David Ackerman Topic of conversation will be “Where Do We Go from Here?”

April 9 Palm Sunday Palm Procession The Passion According to Matthew April 13 Maundy Thursday Simple meal of soup and bread-6:30 Communion in the Fellowship Hall following a procession to the sanctuary. Tenebrae service-7:30 April 16 Service at 10:00AM Easter Communion Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10 Sermon: “Go and Tell!” April 23 Second Sunday of Easter Scripture: John 20:19-31 Sermon: “Body Language” April 30 Third Sunday of Easter Scripture: Luke 24:13-35 Sermon: “Recognizing Christ”

Denmark Manor United Church of

Christ Photo Policy Denmark Manor United Church of Christ

will be using candid pictures taken at any of

our events in our publications, including but

not limited to the Denmark Manor Website,

brochures and newsletters.

Names or any other personal information

will not accompany any photographs.

If you do not want your photos used in our

church publications, please notify the

church office in writing at either: Denmark

Manor UCC, 2003 Denmark Manor Rd.,

Export, PA 15632 or

[email protected].

Page 8

Remembering Our Church Family . . . This issue of our Hilltop Echoes remembers Congrega-

tion members and friends who have gone on to eternal

life.

Craig E. Anderson (November 11, 1951—February 9, 2016)

John Gilbert Duffy (October 28, 1935-March 30, 2016)

Sheila Rebecca Brinker Sharatz

(October 16, 1927—March 31, 2016)

Robert Roy Saul (February 17, 1931—April 22, 2016)

Leona Ridinger (June 14, 1924-July 9, 2016)

Doris E. Galko (August 14, 1932—July 9, 2016)

Thelma L. Simons (March 17, 1936—August 6, 2016)

Joseph A. Florek (November 9, 1939—September 16, 2016)

Annie Branthoover (May 28, 1922—October 10, 2016)

Jesse Steven Spahn (May 23, 1987—December 27, 2016)

Ж

To help with Funeral Luncheons please call

Lynn Zimmerman at 724-523-8909. Thanks to all throughout the year who have

comforted others in this Ministry.

Thanks to Elaine

and Mike DiFranco,

Dorothy Martin and

Allen, Joni and Matt

Mattei for their labor of love in bringing us

the beautiful Christmas decorations that

adorned our Sanctuary! We also thank the

crew that disassembled the decorations.

Thanks so very much to Dave Conner and

Allen Mattei for setting up our outdoor Na-

tivity Scene this Christmas 2016.

Thank you to our Congregation for your gen-

erous giving to our general fund and mis-

sions.

Thanks to the 2016 Consistory for their

wise leadership of the church. Members

were: President Don McIlvaine, Past Vice

President Evelyn Valesky and Interim Vice

President Dan Walk, Elder Robin Brautigam,

Trustees Allen Matteri, Mike DiFranco and

Barry Kistler, and Deacons Trude Hayes,

Dave Conner, Maureen Dumbaugh, and Bon-

nie Malovitz.

Our 2017 Consistory Members are:

President and Elder Dan Walk, Vice Presi-

dent and Elder Robin Brautigam, Elder

Brian Long, Deacons Dave Conner, Bonnie

Malovitz, Cathy Herrod and Fred Hayes,

and Trustees Mike DiFranco, Barry

Kistler, and Allen Mattei. Our Financial

Secretary Joni Mattei reports monthly on our

financial status for Consistory and Rheba Sa-

lac continues as Secretary/Treasurer. Pastor

Meredith sits on Consistory as an ex-

officio member.

mailto:[email protected]

Our Child Sponsorship at Rawdat El-Zuhur School in Palestine Written in early 2013, Dear Friends at Denmark Manor Church School, Thank you for your support of Malek

Mohammad Saiid. He will be 4 years

old. He has two sisters, and is named

for his father, Mohammad; his mother’s

name is Muna. The family lives in Jabal

Al-Mukabber near Jerusalem in a two-

bedroom rented house. His father is a

driver, and his mother is a housewife.

Malek’s health is good and he will be

graduating Nursery class.

Again, thank you for your care and love, and for your support. God bless you all, Mrs. Rana Qutob Time has passed. Malek is now 7 years old, and we are happy to contribute to his education. There is a large loose change jar in the back of the Sanctuary for this.

Page 9

Please give your Order and Payment to Elaine DiFranco or the Office by Sunday, April 2

Last Day to Order is Sunday, April 2!

Bring your friends and family in to Hoss’s in

Murrysville anytime on Sunday, April 30, for

a great lunch or dinner, and don’t forget to clip

and use your Denmark Manor HOSS’S CARD

here — our Church receives 20% of your check.

Thanks for helping!

Denmark Manor HOSS’S DAY is Sunday, April 30

BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID

CLARIDGE, PA 15623

PERMIT #1

Denmark Manor United Church of Christ 2003 Denmark Manor Road Export, PA 15632 724-744-4218 eMail > [email protected] Online > denmarkmanorchurch.org POSTMASTER: Return Service Requested

Coming in March . . . 11:00AM Worship

Wednesday, March 1 Ash Wednesday Worship Service

7:30PM, Choir Afterward

Thursday, March 2 - No Choir

Saturday, March 4 - Bible Study 9AM, Panera’s Murrysville

Sunday, March 5 - Communion Sunday, 11AM

Monday, March 6 - Consistory, 7PM

Wednesday, March 8 - Cluster Gathering - Hill’s Church at

Noon with Lunch

Thursday, March 9 - Choir, 7PM

Saturday, March 11- Bible Study 9AM, Panera’s Murrysville

Daylight Savings Time - Set your Clocks ahead 1 Hour!

Sunday, March 12 - Worship 11AM


Saturday, March 18- Bible Study 9AM, Panera’s Murrysville


Wednesday, March 22 - Cluster Gathering - 1st UCC,

Harrison City, 7:30PM


Saturday, March 25 - Bible Study 9AM, Panera’s Murrysville



Coming In April. . . Worship at 11:00AM

Saturday, April 1 - Bible Study 9AM, Panera’s Murrysville

Sunday, April 2 - Communion Sunday, 11AM

Monday, April 3 - Consistory, 7PM

Wednesday, March 8 - Cluster Gathering - Denmark Manor

UCC with Dinner at 6:30PM; Rev. David Ackerman preaching

Thursday, April 6 - Choir, 7PM


Sunday, April 9 - Worship 11AM, Palm Sunday

Thursday, April 13 - Maundy Thursday Simple Meal 6:30PM

& Tenebrae


* Sunday, April 16 - Worship 10AM, Easter Sunday *



Sunday, April 23 - Worship 11AM


Friday, April 28 - Preparation for Beef Dinner

Saturday, April 29 - Beef Dinner 4-7PM, No Bible Study

Sunday, April 30 - Worship 11AM

DMUCC Hoss’s Day, All Day Long, Church receives 20%

OFFICE HOURS are Mon. and Thurs., 9AM - 3PM § WORSHIP SERVICE Sundays (June thru August) 10AM

WORSHIP SERVICE Sundays (Sept. thru May) 11AM § www.denmarkmanorchurch.org

See Page 5 for your

invitation and

registration for the

Beef Dinner on

Saturday, April 29 Please return yours by

Saturday, April 1!

from the pastor’s pen - denmark manor united church of ...€¦ · from the pastor’s pen . . ....

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