1

their ability to speak many lan-guages, facilitate trading, and translate texts. Muhammad considered Jews and Christians to be “People of the Book” because they followed Scriptures that Muslims also considered to be important (the Old and New Testaments), and Mus-lims therefore created special laws of tol-erance for them which were frequently (although not always) observed.

This book contains wonderful anec-dotes and historical nuggets, such as an account of the Third Crusade, where the Muslim emperor Saladin’s and the Chris-tian leader Richard the Lion-Hearted’s armies fought to a standstill, camped near each other, and often took time out from combat to fraternize with conversation and storytelling, and invite each other over for dinner. That Crusade ended with generous peace proposals from both sides, and Richard even trying to marry off his sister to Saladin’s brother (Richard’s sister was less than en-thused about this idea).

Another nugget contained the book is an account of the brilliant and pro-found Muslim theologian Ibn Arabi from Muslim Spain. Ibn Arabi plumbed the depth of the human expe-rience of feeling separated from God. He concluded that creation is defined by unity between us and our Creator, and that “God is the mirror in which you see yourself, and you are His mir-ror in which he contemplates Him-self”.

As Christians, we can realize that Je-sus’ command to love others begins with learning about them, understanding all of history (not just selected parts of it) and by appreciating how others might view themselves. If we do this, then perhaps others will seem a little more like us, per-haps tolerance and acceptance will in-crease, and then, just maybe, a little more “peace” will be spread in this world. Peace be with you (Shalom and Salaam, too!)

From the Pastors

In this time of Jews and Muslims bat-tling in the Gaza Strip, and Muslim terror-ists attacking Christian villages in Nigeria, it important to realize that, from a histori-cal perspective, things have not always been that way between these three reli-gions. The book by Zachary Karabell enti-tled Peace Be Upon You: The Story of Muslim, Christian and Jewish Coexistence is an account of the often under-reported part of history where these three major religions coexisted side by side with toler-ance, cooperation and collaboration. Yes, there have indeed been many other eras of violence and warfare between these three religions, and these periods are easy to find in any history book. But all too often what is omitted are the times (just as fre-quent) where quite the opposite is the case. Peace Be Upon You tries to set that histo-ry straight.

The book takes it title from the fact that Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths (which trace their beginnings back to the same ancestor – Abraham) all have a core tradition of peace. Christians greet one another during worship by saying. “Peace be with you”. Muslims greet everyone by saying “Peace (Salaam) be upon you” and respond with “And upon you, peace”. And Jews begin and end every conversation with the related word Shalom, which means “peace”.

The book does not shy away from accu-rately portraying accounts of oppression and warfare between the faiths, such as during Muslim’s conquests and Christian’s crusades. But the valuable contribution of this book is that it also highlights exten-sive periods of history where the cultures cooperated and where there was near-total freedom of religious expression, such as for the Christians and the Jews under Mus-lim rule in Spain. The author points out that, for the most part, Jews under Muslim rule generally enjoyed much less persecu-tion and more acceptance than they ever did under any type of Christian rule. Jews often served in high positions in the courts of Muslim emperors, and were valued for

MUDDY CREEK LUTHERAN w w w . m c l c h u r c h . o r g 3 3 6 - 2 7 7 0

S pe c i a l po i n t s o f

i n t e r e s t :

Summer Food Needs

Church Picnic

Habitat Build

Choral Ensembles

Worship Helper

Schedule

Calendar

I ns i de t h i s i s s ue :

Ways to Serve 2

Fellowship and Learning

3

News and Notes 4

Birthdays 5

Worship Helpers 6

Miscellaneous 7

Calendar 8

A ug us t 2 0 1 4

2

Ways to Serve

Hunger continues to be a problem for our children even when school closes for the summer..

The Social Ministry Committee asks that you help thru your donations, to fight hunger in our local area. Each month during the Summer, the committee will set out food collection baskets to donate to the local Peter’s Porch Food Bank.

August is designated for assor ted dry pastas.

The food collection baskets will be located at all the exit doors of the building for your donations.

Please consider helping us to fight the ongoing battle of hunger.

Thank you to everyone who donated in June and July, which have been given to Peter’s Porch. Your continued support is greatly appreciated!

Social Ministry Committee.

Habitat for Humanity

Fall Build

September 26—27

Muddy Creek will join with the other CALM 5 churches in September to frame a Habitat home. Together we will frame a house that will provide a home for a deserving family. The build will be held at Faith United in Denver. Skilled workers are needed on Friday evening and everyone, of all ages, is invited to help Saturday morning.

More details will be coming in Septem-ber, but be sure to mark your calendars now for this wonderful opportunity to serve.

Sunday Morning Volunteers

Please consider being a part of the many won-derful and dedicated people who assist on Sun-day morning at Muddy Creek. Currently, we particularly need help in the following areas:

Altar Guild Coordinator

Nursery Coordinator

Altar Guild monthly volunteers

Nursery weekly volunteers

Please contact the office, the pastors, or the Worship and Music Committee if you are interested or would like to find out more.

Food Donations Needed:

Singers Wanted:

No experience necessary

All singers, of any experience level, are invited to be part of a one-time singing opportunity dur-ing August. The ensembles will sing in worship and rehearse one time for 1/2 hour before wor-ship.

Women’s Ensemble, Sunday August 3

Men’s Ensemble, Sunday August 31

Meet at 8:30 a.m. in the church. Hope to see you there! Questions, contact Greg Gehman.

3

Fellowship and Learning

Church Picnic

Sunday Aug. 17

Everyone is invited to the annual church picnic at Muddy Creek Grove. The fun will begin imme-diately after 10:30 wor-ship.

There will be games for children and adults. Drinks and paper products will be provided.

Please bring:

A dish to share (main, side, or des-sert)

A small , inexpensive gift if you plan on playing “Now You Have It Now You Don’t”

A lawn chair

Hope to see you there! Friends invited too!

Follow Muddy Creek

on Facebook

Following Muddy Creek on Facebook is a great way to follow upcoming events, see pic-tures of happenings at the church, and connect with other members. You don’t need to have a Facebook account to view our page.

You can like our page to receive instant up-dates or simply go to our page anytime to keep in touch and see what is happening.

Thanks to all who have already “liked” our page!

You can also keep up with events and see pic-tures on our website: mclchurch.org.

Sunday School

for

Children, Youth , and Adults

Resumes September 7, 9 a.m.

Muddy Creek is blessed with some amazing teachers who are dedicated to helping us learn and grow in our faith. Mark your calendars now for another new year of learning, fellowship, and fun!

We will begin the year with a special opening for all ages at 9 a.m. and then we will head to the classrooms and meet your teachers. New friends are always welcome and encouraged.

Some things that are in the works for the Fall are a trip to the corn maze, Reformation Bingo, and a special offering project.

4

News and Notes

Thank you to all who attended and helped

with the Crankin’ Good Time Ice Cream Festi-

val! The weather was perfect and we raised

$632.00 toward the Habitat for Humanity

Build we will do in the Fall. Check out the

Muddy Creek Facebook Page and the website

for some fun pictures of the event!

Thanks to Muddy Creek for your support and

participation during our Jungle Safari Vacation

Bible School. The weather was awesome, the

food delicious, and the help great. We

watched kids from all ages getting to know

God as their Creator, Provider, Protector,

Savior, and King. We served close to 50

people each night for dinner, with 35 children

and over 40 volunteers of staff throughout

the week. A special thank you to Greg,

Audrey, and Terry for sharing their time and

talents. Working as a team really provided a

fun and wonderful week for everyone.

See you all in 2015 at Muddy Creek Lutheran

Church for another great year.

—Peace UCC

Thank you to Brenda Shreiner for the

generous donation of the new microphones

and other badly needed repairs/adjustments

for the sound system.

Congratulations to Leroy Berger for receiving

the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award through

his work in the Lions Club.

Special thanks to Jim Redcay who has taught

the adult education class for many years. We

sincerely appreciate his dedication, his teach-

ing, and the connections he has fostered be-

tween those who attend the class. Jim has

decided to “retire” from teaching the class and

he will be missed.

Thank you to Sharon and Cindy Frankhouser

who have faithfully coordinated the church

nursery for quite some time. They are no

longer able to continue in this role, so we want

to thank them for the care and time they have

given to this important ministry.

Social Ministry

Central Penn Blood Bank blood mobile will be at Muddy Creek on Monday November 24

The Senior Luncheon for members 75 and older will be on Saturday October 18. Hazel Fry will be the speaker.

Discussion was held regarding Muddy Creek’s support of the Power Packs program which provides

nutritious food for children and families.

Worship and Music Committee

Coordinators are needed for Altar Guild and Nursery. Additional volunteers are also needed to help .

Christian Education Committee

Sunday School will resume September 7. Thankfully many teachers will return as teachers this year. Jim Redcay has asked to retire from teaching the adult class, so the pastors will teach that class.

Communion Classes will be held in the Fall.

Discussion of an evening or noon Adult Bible Study Classes was also held, with a possible timetable of the beginning of 2015.

Council and Committee Highlights

5

August Birthdays

A Special Happy Birthday to our “Over 80” Members

Brenda & Friends Tours

August 30, 2014 –President Lincoln’s Washington DC

Sept 12, 2014 -”Star Spangled Spectacular” Baltimore

Sept 20-21, 2014 –Tangier Island

Sept 27, 2014—Bronx Zoo

Oct. 4, 2014 –Apple Harvest Festival

Nov 8, 2014 –Cowboy Christmas at Antietam Rec

For more info contact Brenda at 336-6886 or

bergerb@dejazzd.com.

More info also on hallway table outside church office.

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2

4

6

7

8

9

Lynne Hassler

Donald Walmer

Dean Witmer

Kimberlee Blatt

Robin Engle

Zachery Aungst

Shane Geissel

Catherine Kochel

Mackenzie Eckert

Jill Youndt

Mary Zerbe

Brenda Berger

Jean Hummel

Gene Johnston

Eric Fritz

Mildred Bordner

Virginia Frankfort

John Shreiner

Dorothy Hiester

Anita Lutz

Wanda Hertzog-Grant

Jennifer Rideout

Jane Rutt

Kathleen Ebling

Harry Fetter

Sharon Frankhouser

Erik Nussbaum

William Lausch

Deborah Ramsey

Mary Jane Carvell

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18

19

20

21

23

25

26

Lauren Brubaker

Kyle Ueberroth

Damien Branch

Kathleen Hainley

Harry Roseboro

Renee Bougher

Natalie Eshleman

Wayne Goodman

James Kuhlman

Dylan Bordner

Beatrice Ebersole

Matt Hildenbrand

Ted Bare

Ashley Wenger

Marylin Zimmerman

Tyler Gehman

Erin Wise

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11

12

13

14

15

16

Devan Eckert

Shelva Witmer

Lucas Bearinger

Aileen Kulp

Johanna Patterson

Hannah Roth

Bruce Spangler

Sidney Hurst

Zoey Nussbaum

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28

29

30

31

08/06/1923 Catherine Kochel

Age 91 176 Willow Street,

PO Box 425

Adamstown, PA 19501

08/07/1931 Mary Zerbe

Age 83 671 Gehman School Rd

Denver, PA 17517

08/13/1926 James Kuhlman

Age 88 85 Scenic Drive

Denver, PA 17517

08/17/1928 Virginia Frankfort

Age 86 PO Box 696, 243 Willow St

Adamstown, PA 19501

08/29/1932 Aileen Kulp

Age 82 90 Cocalico Creek Rd

Stevens, PA 17578

08/14/1925 Beatrice Ebersole

Age 89 188 Ebersole Rd.

Ephrata, PA 17522

08/12/1934 Harry Roseboro

Age 80 725 Poplar Street

Denver, PA 17517

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Worship Helpers

Coffee Ministry

August

3 Needed

10 Millie Shober & Kathleen Ebling

17 None - Church Picnic

24 Nedra Bearinger & Charles Leid

31 Brenda Shreiner & Michelle Walzl

Money Counters

August

3 Nancy & Sid Hurst, Jane Wenger

10 Lori & Mike Martin, Josephine Martin

17 Linda & Tim Fritz

24 Gail & Ted Bare

31 Jeanette & Mike Leid, Philip Weaver

September

7 Connie & Rick Harding, Diane Leed

14 Marie & Walter Buohl, John Schutter

21 Gloria Aseli, Brenda Berger, Audrey Noll

28 Kim Eshleman, Carl Schenskie, David Sensenig

Acolytes

August

3 Tyler Cloud

10 Natalie Sukanick

17 Service in the Grove

24 Ryan Brubaker

31 Brandon Walzl

September

7

14

21

28

Bulletin Folders

(Friday unless noted)

August

1 Janet & Charles Frantz & Pat Artz

8 Lynne Hassler & Mickey Jones

15 Joanne & Carl Schenskie

22 Linda Berger & Nancy Beck

28 Gloria Aseli & Audrey Noll (Thursday)

September

5 Joyce & Ernest Litzenberger

12 Helen Stender & Susan Siegel

19 Kathleen Ebling & Peggy Leid

28 June & Neal Leid

Lay Readers

August

3 Connie Becker

10 Marjorie Cloud

17 Jeff Brubaker

24 Nancy Beck

31 Brian Zwally

September

7 Haley Leed

14 Anne Brubaker

21 Laura Vedder

28 Brad Rauch

7

One worship service at 9:00 a.m. through August 31. Beginning Sept 7, worship services will be held at 8 and 10:15 a.m. with Sunday School at 9 a.m.

First Sunday of the month is Communion

Children’s Church, led by the Pastors, is held each Sunday for children during the sermon time. Children will have music, stories, and puppets.

Sunday August 17, there will be only one service held at 10:30 a.m. in the grove followed immediately by the church picnic.

Ushers

August Team 6, Church Council

September Team 1 Julie Emrhein &

Jane Wenger, Co-Capts.

Altar Guild

August Audrey Noll & Pat Brendle

September Marie & Walter Buohl

Greeters

August

3 Carl Schenskie & Leroy Berger

10 Millie Shober & Darlene Weidman

17 William Wood & Laura Vedder

24 Church Council Members

31 Jim & Barbara Youndt

September

7 Connie & Rick Harding

14 Doris & Brad Rauch

21 Carol & Roy Becker

28 John & Sandra Schutter

Worship Helpers

Summer Worship

June 29 113

July 6 125

July 13 111

July 20 83

For more detailed information please see the bulletin board outside the office.

Income

Expenses

Total Net

June 2014

20,007.69

33,794.97

(13,787.28)

Year to Date

108,054.70

100,080.83

(25,814.90)

Attendance and General Fund Financial Report

NEWSLETTER ARTICLE SUBMISSION DEADLINE: August 24, 2014.

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