march 2016 page 1 - st. peter's (lischey's) united … illuminator...march 2016 page 2...

March 2016

As the winds of March blow upon us, we find ourselves in the middle of the season of Lent. This is the time of the year where we intentionally try to turn ourselves from the materialism of this world - to turn away from the everyday distractions in our lives - and reconcile ourselves with the Spirit of our Living God. The aim of Lent's reflective time is to grasp the intense significance of the crucifixion of our Lord and the powerful joy of His resurrection on Easter Sunday. To assist you in preparing your hearts to receive the wonder of Jesus' resurrection, you are invited to attend our Wednesday evening fellowship and book study workshops. We are exploring the Gospel of John using author Adam Hamilton's book "John; The Gospel of Light and Life." We are looking to gain an understanding of who Jesus is. John's Gospel teaches us about Jesus' life and mission from a perspective that is different from the other three Gospels. Even though the group is underway, please consider joining us. We always have room for one more! Holy Week is the last week of Lent, the week immediately preceding Easter Sunday. The purpose of Holy Week is to reenact, relive and participate in the passion of Jesus the Christ. Palm Sunday sets off the commemoration by recreating the joyous waving of palms that occurred during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Jewish Passover meal with His disciples and where He instituted for us the holy sacrament of communion at this Last Supper - the last meal they shared together. On Good Friday we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. The week starts out festive on Sunday and ends with grief on Friday. But the story doesn't end with a tomb and death. The story climaxes with an empty grave - one that could not hold Jesus. With joyful music, beautiful flowers and words of Jesus' promises, we celebrate Easter Sunday. We celebrate that Jesus' victory over the grave demonstrates that we too are offered eternal life with Jesus. I hope you will join together with your church family in these meaningful commemorations of Jesus' acts of love. Blessings,

Rev. Kathy

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,

“return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

and rend your hearts and not your garments.”

Return to the Lord your God,

for he is gracious and merciful..." Joel 2:12-13

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion_of_Jesus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvary

March 2016

It's another potentially snowy day and instead of my usual start of a Monday morning sitting at the organ, I needed to rearrange my day. So I sat down to start the music article for the March newsletter...hmmm, what to say?

I had my church calendar and the lectionary by my side, and then I noticed one single piece of music sticking between the pages of my resources. I recognized it as a potential anthem I had pulled from the file and wanted to remind myself to research the calendar and find an appropriate Sunday to schedule it as the special music. I read the words, and then read them again! As I read I began to feel uplifted and my work reaffirmed. The words were simple but seemed to be exactly the right ones for right now!

Earlier in the morning, I was thinking about this being the first week of Lent and we will begin our Wednesday evening reflection, and studying about the gospel of John. We'll be talking about the miracles Jesus did in order for us to believe He is who He says He is. We will be reminded that His Deity is revealed through the many titles He has been given as we discuss the chapter "I Am". By trusting in Him, we can gain an open mind to understand God's message and learn to fulfill His purpose in our lives!

That brings me back to the song, "10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)" by Jonas Myrin and Matt Redman. It speaks of our purpose to worship Him all of our days! I know that on a Sunday morning as we sing the anthem you may not always grasp all the words. So I'd like to share these words for you to read and think about. May the words uplift you, and may you find your purpose, or reinforce your purpose as we start our spiritual journey through this Lenten season.

"The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning, it's time to sing Your song again. Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes. Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul; worship His holy name. Sing like never before, O my soul; I'll worship Your holy name. You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger; Your name is great, and Your heart is kind. For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing ten thousand reasons for my heart to find. Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul; worship His holy name. Sing like never before, O my soul; I'll worship Your holy name. And on that day when my strength is failing; the end draws near, and my time has come; Still my soul will sing Your praise unending ten thousand years, and then forevermore! Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul; worship His holy name. Sing like never before, O my soul; I'll worship Your holy name.

God must have had a reason for directing me in this article. I hope next time you hear the words, they will be sung and hopefully you will be blessed by the music! With God's love,

Darlene

(continued on next page)

March 2016

P.S. nature report...just a short nature report this month. We all heard Punxsutawney Phil's forecast of an early spring this year! Well as I am watching it snow right now I wanted to tell everyone that he was wrong! A few days after our big snow storm and the snow had not begun to melt, Steve and I looked down across the field in front of us facing Rt.116. We saw something move in that deep and drifted snow. We confirmed with our binoculars that it was a crazy groundhog, and the sun was shining! The next week on Groundhog Day the report was given from the groundhog with the extremely long name that he did not see his shadow and we would have an early spring! I told Steve then that our groundhog who I immediately baptized "Menges Mill Bill" saw his shadow and we were going to have 6 more weeks of winter! Note...it is snowing as I type this!

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March Rehearsal Schedule Sunday, March 13th & 27th 9:30 a.m. Joyful Singers Thursday, March, 3rd, 10th, 17th, 31st 6:30 p.m. Chime Choir 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Orchestra Rehearsal Monday, March 21st 6:30 p.m.

March Special Music March 6th Sanctuary Choir March 13th Sanctuary Choir March 20th Palm Sunday

Chime Choir Sanctuary Choir & Congregation March 27th Easter 6:58 a.m. Sanctuary Choir 10:30 a.m. Joyful Singers Sanctuary Choir Orchestra

March 2016

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Feb 28

Sunday School 9:30 AM

Joyful Singers 9:30 AM

Worship Service 10:30 AM

Feb 29 March 1 March 2

Supper 6:00 PM

Book Study 7:00 PM

March 3

Chime Choir 6:30 PM

Sanctuary Choir

7:00 PM

March 4 March 5

6



7 8 9

Supper 6:00 PM

Book Study 7:00 PM

10

Chime Choir 6:30 PM

Sanctuary Choir

7:00 PM

11 12

13




14

7:00 PM

15 16

Supper 6:00 PM

Book Study 7:00 PM

17

Chime Choir 6:30 PM

Sanctuary Choir

7:00 PM

18 19 Easter Egg

Hunt 1:00 PM

20



Ecumenical Cantata 2:30 PM

(harp prelude 2:00 PM)

21

Orchestra Rehearsal 6:30 PM

WIMPS 7:00 PM

22

Ladies of Lischeys

Easter Flower Delivery

23 24

Maundy Thursday Service

(includes a light supper)

6:00 PM

25 26

27

Sunrise Service 6:58 AM

Breakfast 8:00 AM




28 29

Soup Kitchen 8:00 AM

30 31

Chime Choir 6:30 PM

Sanctuary Choir

7:00 PM

April 1 April 2

March 2016

Thank you to our Volunteers!

March 6

4th Sunday in Lent

March 13

5th Sunday in Lent

March 20

Palm Sunday

March 27

Easter Sunday

Ushers Dave Wiker & Kim DeGroft

Altar Guild Lois Nelson

Lectionary

Joshua 5:9-12

Psalm 32

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Isaiah 43:16-21

Psalm 126

Philippians 3:4b-14

John 12:1-8

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

Luke 19:28-40

Acts 10:34-43

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

1 Corinthians 15:19-26

John 20:1-18

Altar Flowers curly willow curly willow curly willow Pam Kiser

Memorial Vase

Acolyte Mikayla Gebhart Cole McKowen Ryan McKowen Joe Crisamore

Worship Leader Blaine Breeden Dave Wiker Don Carl Kim DeGroft

Lay Reader Diane Breeden Julie White Nancy King Kim DeGroft

Greeters Donald, Dawn, & Taylor

Senft Jim & Joan Messinger Dick & Julie Myers

6:58 AM Jim & Joan Messinger

10:30 AM Pat McKowen

Anna Moul

Nursery

Children’s Portion

Jess Waltersdorff Julie White Melisa Altland Rev. Kathy

Special Music

Money Counters Mondays @ 10 AM

Bill Waltersdorff Joanne Hoffman Jim Messinger

Kim DeGroft Lois Nelson

Sandy Lehman

Elvin Myers Betty Thomas Janet Brown

Darlene Miner Joanne Hoffman Jim Messinger

March 2016

HARVEST OF HOPE FOOD PANTRY needs the following items for their Easter meals: Hams (2-6 lbs.), Cake Mix, Frosting, Boxed Stuffing, Gravy, Boxed Mashed Potatoes. They also have the following ongoing needs: Canned Pasta, Canned Beef Stew, Canned Soups (Chicken Noodle, Tomato or Rice), Boxed Macaroni and Cheese, Spaghetti Sauce, Helpers (Hamburger, Chicken or Tuna), Peanut Butter, Boxed Rice, Boxed Potatoes, Canned Fruit, Pork and Beans, and Vegetarian Beans. If you are able to donate any of these items, please place them in the box in the bell tower vestibule.

A GOLF OUTING is being held by The Hartman Center to support their summer camping program on Saturday, May 7th at Fairview Golf Course, Quentin (Lebanon), PA, and starting at 1:30 PM. Flyers are available in the overflow room with more details.

Mrs. Maybelle Altland Crosskeys Village/TBHC Room 4920 2990 Carlisle Pike, PO Box 128 New Oxford, PA 17350 (717) 624-2563 Dana & Jennifer Lecrone 744 Mill Rd. Spring Grove, PA 17362

Our Members: John & Maybelle Altland, Mabel Baer, Lily Mae Bakner, Karen Bathgate, Mary Jo Bollinger, Barry Brown, Lisa Crisamore, Dale Danner, Clara Eisenhart, Jeff & Kathy Flickinger, Allen Hoke, Betty Hoke, Pam Kiser, Helen Klinedinst, Grace Kraft, Gladys Leese, Sandy Lehman, Marie Luckabaugh, Cole McKowen, Lois Nelson, Allison Orchowski, Pat Parks, Donny Pasmore, Linda Pentz, Ruby Ruth, Brenda Starner, Norma Strausbaugh, John & Ruth Yohe. Friends of the

congregation: Janet Betlyon, Joe Crisamore, Johnny Davis, Janet Eichelberger, Clarence Fritz, Michelle Gemmill, Susan Howes, Wayne, Theda, & Tim Jacoby, Hailey & Logan Kehoe, Sharon Krout, Judy Luckabaugh, Mary Jane Lynch, Caleb Martz, William Mazol, Carissa McComas, Carol Melhorn, Diane Moul, James Mummert, Keith Myers, Bo Rhodes, Kurt Riser, Jackson Salemme, Mindy Shively, Sandy Shultz, Donna Spinelli, Larry Sullivan, Teresa Tenne-Smith, Irene Walker, Deb Warner, Karen Wintrey, Vicki Zanni, Mike Zohrbaugh. Our friends at home who we want to know are missed, yet are always in our hearts. The men and women proudly serving our country: Josh Barday, Phillip Hammond, Kody Lauchman, Joey Myers, Brandon Shepard, Shane Warner.

Wednesdays, March 2, 9, 16 Supper 6:00, Book Study 7:00 PM

Saturday, March 19 - Easter Egg Hunt 1:00 PM Sunday, March 20 - Ecumenical Cantata, St. Paul’s

Lutheran, Rt. 616, 2:30 PM Thursday, March 24 - Maundy Thursday Service

6:00 PM (includes a light supper) Sunday, March 27 - Sunrise Service 6:58 AM, Easter

Breakfast 8:00 AM, Sunday School 9:30 AM, Worship Service 10:30 AM

Directory Changes

March 2016

Maundy Thursday Service ... Join Us! Luke's Gospel gives us insight to the love Jesus had for his closet friends. Luke writes, "...Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this meal with you before I suffer... And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'" Jesus wanted to give them a symbol that would remind them of this intimate moment. He wanted a way these disciples could return again and again to this time and place and remember the love He shared with them. And so, He served them a meal - a simple meal of bread and wine - that we still use today to remind us of the sacrificial love Jesus expressed on our behalf. On Thursday, March 24 we at St. Peter's Lischey's UCC will reenact the experience Jesus shared with his disciples in the Upper Room. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall and share a simple meal together - soup, cheese, fruit, and bread. Like the disciples and Jesus did, we will join our voices together in song and prayer thanking God for His loving gift. Partaking in the sacramental meal Jesus that instituted, we will feast together remembering the words Jesus gave to us on that holy night. The evening will conclude with a Tenebrae service. Through scripture readings we will follow Jesus from Gethsemane, through His trial and conviction, until finally He takes His last breath on the cross. All the while we will slowly distinguish candles to represent the Light of the World growing dark. It is our hope that you will come away with a deep understanding of the love Jesus has for you as He willingly gave up His life on a cross for your sake. This evening service will require a bit of planning. There will be tables to be put in place and meals to prepare. To ensure the spacing and supplies are adequate, we are asking that you let us know you are coming. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex for this purpose. Or you can call the church office to reserve a place at the Table.

MANY THANKS and praise to our awesome church secretary, Michele! She saw an opportunity to enhance the children’s programming here at St. Peter’s Lischey’s and she ran with it! Michele wrote a letter to Community Aid seeking a grant in which to purchase an electric, retractable, overhead screen for our sanctuary. It was conveyed to them that we were currently using a bed sheet as a projector screen during our VBS programs, and we would like to enhance our programming with an overhead screen. We asked them to consider helping with the funding of this endeavor. Several months later a letter was received, and we got word that the church had indeed been awarded grant money to proceed. Praise the Lord! With Council’s approval, the Music and Worship committee was given the task to research information about overhead screens, and procure an estimated cost of installing the screen. The measurements were taken, and a 9 ft. by 9 ft. screen was decided upon. It will be an electric, retractable screen with a locked, on/off switch. The screen will be installed by June 1st in anticipation of using it for this year’s VBS program! We feel this is a small step forward in keeping our children and youth engaged in the Word of Jesus Christ as we delve into their electronic world. It is our hopes that by reaching out to them by using the most modern technology possible, our children will establish a strong faith foundation - a foundation that can be built upon. We hope it will help to build, in each one of them, a faith that will translate into many years of worship, praise and service to our Living God .

March 2016

Anniversaries

** - married 50 years or more

Bill & JoAnn Kirkwood** March 12, 1960

Jim & Joan Messinger** March 14, 1964

Donald & Marie Luckabaugh** March 17, 1956

Dennis & Diane Kimball March 20, 1971

Brian & Melisa Altland March 23, 1991

Birthdays

* - denotes 80 or older

March 2 Raymond Heindel IV

March 4 Betty Thomas*

March 7 Julie Myers

March 8 Blakelyn Sanders

March 9 Stephanie Neiderer

March 17 Hyon Ho Hildebrand

Sandy Lehman

March 18 Gladys Leese*

Bill Hersh

March 20 Grace Mensinger

March 22 Dennis Kimball

Bev Kiser

March 23 John Altland*

March 24 Allen Hoke*

March 25 Don Carl

March 26 Skyler Brown

March 28 Mike Neiderer

March 30 Tammy Wetzel

COMMUNITY EASTER SERVICES Saturday, March 26th @ 9:00 PM Saturday Night Vigil Mt. Zion UCC, Spring Grove Sunday, March 27th @ 6:00 AM Ecumenical Dawn Service Christian Missionary Alliance park at the bank/bring a lawn chair

OUR 12TH ANNUAL BINGO

will be held on Friday, May 6th.

March 2016

YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL ROOM RENOVATIONS - Plans are underway with the Sunday School redecorating project. Both rooms will get a fresh coat of paint. New age, appropriate furniture, rugs and lamps are being sought for both rooms. A smart TV has been purchased for the older student's class, and we have been trying it out in out at the Lenten Book Study Workshops. The funds collected during our Lenten services will be designated for this project. If you would like to financially contribute mark "Sunday School Rooms" on your giving envelopes. In the near future we will be calling you talented painters and carpenters to see this project to completion.

LADIES OF LISCHEY'S will deliver their Easter flowers to our shut-in, sick and over 80 members on Tuesday, March 22. The flowers will be at the church by 9:00am for delivery. Delivery can be according to your schedule. Help is needed. Please let Lois Nelson know if you will help.

SOUP KITCHEN - MARCH 29 - 8:00 AM Volunteers are needed to cook 6 turkeys (provided). The cooked meat needs to be cut into small pieces and placed either in plastic bags or containers. The broth needs to be in a separate container. Help is also needed on Tuesday when the casseroles are made. There are many jobs to be done: peel and dice 100 pounds of potatoes, cook the potatoes, make and roll pie dough, and then wash and dry the many pots and pans. We meet at 8:00 am (some at 7:00). We need to be done no later than 10:30 in order to get the finished product to the Soup Kitchen by 11:00 am. Let Joan know if you will cook a turkey.

THE WIMPS will be holding an Easter Egg hunt on Saturday, March 19th at 1:00 PM. There will be a few activities prior to the egg hunt and a snack following it. There will be no need for anyone to bring colored eggs as we will be using only plastic eggs. We would appreciate contributions of an assortment of miniature candies to be used in filling the eggs. There will be a box in the overflow room to accept the candy. Additional information will follow in the bulletin and the March newsletter! Please mark your calendars now and save the date for fun!

DONATIONS FOR THE SPRING GROVE MINI-THON are being collected by Cole McKowen. Any amount is appreciated. All collections are due before March 19th. Thanks for helping support kids with childhood cancer.

FIRST CAPITAL GROUP WORKCAMP is looking for applicants of low income, elderly, or disabled homeowners who need some home repairs done. Applications are in the overflow room if you know of someone who is interested.

March 2016

March 2016

Sundays



St. Peter’s Lischey’s United Church of Christ 5671 Lischeys Church Rd. Spring Grove, PA 17362

If you are spiritually weary and in search of rest,

If you are mourning and you long for comfort;

If you are struggling and you desire victory;

If you recognize that you are a sinner and need a Savior -

God welcomes you here in the name of Christ.

To the stranger in need of fellowship,

to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

And to whoever will come -

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