The first day of March is also the first day of Lent in 2017. Lent is the sea-son in the church calendar that starts with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. The season of Lent is set aside as a time for Christians to reflect, repent, and pray as a way of preparing their hearts for Easter. So how should we observe Lent? Some Christians choose to give up a habit or behavior during Lent as an exercise in prayerful self-denial. This might range from something as simple as not drinking soda during Lent to a full-blown program of fasting. I would give up coffee for Lent, but I don’t think I would be very pleasurable to be around. Giving up a favorite food item for Lent is an excellent way to practice self-denial. Per-haps the money you save could be put in your Lenten Offering. Some Christians commit to a special devotional activity during Lent—for example, daily Scripture reading, regular prayer for a specific person or topic throughout Lent, or volunteer work in their community. The idea is to abstain from pleasurable activities and instead use the time and energy usually spent in those activities to focus on taking stock of one’s own spiritual condition and re-penting for spiritual failures. The choice to observe Lent is a personal one. The whole point of giving up something for Lent is to focus your heart and mind on Jesus during the journey to Easter so that you will experience the joy and power of Christ’s resurrection more powerfully. I will be leading a Bible Study series during Lent here at Redeemer’s, and attending this series on a regular basis could be a good way to focus your heart and mind more on what God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are seeking to do in our world today, and in your life. You can find out more information about the series on page 2 of this newsletter. May our journey together towards Easter be life transforming. Yours in Christ,

Lenten Luncheon 11:30 am

1

Ash Wednesday Service, 7:30 pm

1

Buildings & Grounds/Safety

6:30 pm

7

Finance Mtg. 6:30pm

9

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME

BEGINS

12

Consistory Mtg. 6:30 pm

13

Newsletter Items Due

19

Newsletter Prep. 10 am

23

Called to Care 6:30 pm

28

Volume 3-2017 Issue 3

Inside this Issue:

Committee Meetings

Birthdays &

Anniversaries

Easter Flower Order

Form

Lenten Luncheon

Schedule

Lenten Bible Study

REDEEMER’S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

THE CORNERSTONE

March 2017

Church Office Hours Tues/Wed/Thurs

8:30-2:30

Calendar of Events:

Volume 3-2017 Issue 3 Page 2

L E N T E N B I B L E S T U D Y

Pastor Sterling will be leading a six-week Bible Study during Lent. It will be held on Wednesday evenings, March 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, April 5th and 12th, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Senior High Classroom or in the Sanctuary depending on the number of participants.

In the six-session Bible study, "All the Places to Go," bestselling author John Ortberg explores what it looks like to recognize the doors God is opening in our lives, and what it means for us to walk through them to embrace all of the extraordinary op-portunities that await. Sprinkled across Scripture are pictures of God-inspired opportunities. God still offers these boundless opportunities to us every day. Very rarely in the Bible does God command someone to “stay.” He opens a door, and then he invites us to walk through it into the unknown. How we choose to respond will ultimately determine the lives we will lead and the people we will become.

March Lectionary Readings

March 1st, (Ash Wednesday) Psalm 51, Joel 2:1-17, Isaiah 58:1-12, Matthew 6:1-21

March 5th, (Lent 1) Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11.

March 12th, (Lent 2) Genesis 12:1-4; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17.

March 19th (Lent 3) Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42.

March 26th, (Lent 4) 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41.

*Please contact the office if your

name has been omitted or incor-

rectly listed so that we may up-date our records! Thank you!

Page 3 Volume 3-2017 Issue 3

3/01- Ray Clabaugh

3/02- John Snoke

Carl Bible

John Sell

3/03– Noah Bermejo

3/05- Sydney Crouse

Stephanie Haifley

3/06- Jean Ferris

Cindy Strickler

3/10- Jay Bucher

3/12- Randi Bucher

3/13- Chad Haifley

Felicia Haifley

3/14- Kenneth Pyles

3/15- Ruth Stambaugh

3/17- Vicki Rinehart

3/21- Clifton Bittle

3/22- Lenny Bucher

3/23- Colin Swan

3/29- Michael Strickler

3/31- Linda Clabaugh

John Study

Amanda Ruhlman

Consistory Prayer

We thank you Father, that You bless us so we may bless oth-ers. Help us to see the needs around us, and help us to do our part to meet those needs. Thank You that there have been people who have helped us along the way. With Your help, we want to do the same for others. Amen

Tina Keplinger, Deacon

3/19- Stanley & Candee Waite

3/22- Chester & Rebecca Ripple

3/31- Ted & Wanda Bowers

2017 Consistory Members and Officers:

Deacons: Elders: Brenda Bucher Angie Bradner, Secretary Tina Keplinger Kathy Bucher Shirley Marshman Lenny Bucher, President John Roser Gail Roth Sandi Snoke. 1st V.P. Lee Ann Study, 2nd V.P. Paula Spatz Tracey Willet

Dear Redeemer’s, I would like to thank you for your

hospitality and for recognizing my Eagle Scout rank. The cere-mony was enjoyable and I am glad I was able to be a part of it. Above all else, thank you for the keepsake box. It looks great and I will always treasure it.

Sincerely, Ian Miller.

Volume 3-2017 Issue 3 Page 4

Altar Flowers

5 Alma Straley

12 Open

19 Nicole LeGore

26 Open

Kim Heininger

Bulletin Sponsor: Bruce and Nancy Robinson, in

honor of their children.

Newsletter Sponsor needed. Will you sponsor the

newsletter? Please sign up in the Narthex.

March 1 Ash Wednesday,

7:30 pm

March 5 March 12

March 19

March 26

Acolytes Ella Bradner Isabelle Haifley Felicia Haifley Wendi Snyder Olivia Study

Greeters Candee Waite Chris Bittle Charles Kump Pam Klunk Tina Keplinger

Ushers

Peggy Roser John Roser

Wanda Goulden Lenny Bucher

Lee Ann Study John Roser

Lenny Bucher Tracey Willet

Ella Bradner Fifi Haifley

Olivia Study Wendi Snyder

Andy Bucher Chris Bittle Tim Kinard

Charles Kump

Sophia Strickler Lindsey Snyder Marley Bradner Isabelle Haifley

Communion Preparation and assist

Pastor

Angie Bradner

Offering Counters

Wanda Goulden John Roser

Tracey Willet Charles Kump

Tina Keplinger Gail Roth

Sandi Snoke Brenda Bucher

Alma Straley Tom Dutterer

Website Sponsor needed. Will you sponsor the web-

site? Please sign up in the Narthex.

*FOOD PANTRY ITEM:

Laundry Detergent

Volume 3-2017 Issue 3 Page 5

Help a Scout Go to Camp this Summer!

Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are selling discount cards to earn money toward

Summer Camp.

Buy a card for $5 that has a value of over $200 in discounts! All of the proceeds go to local scouting and our scouts get 50%

to pay for camp!

Some of the stores offering discounts on the card are: McDonald's, Papa Johns, Sweet Frog, El Rodeo, Jiffy Lube, Dick's Sporting Goods, Hair Cuttery, Grocery Out-

let, Hickory Falls, and more!

If interested, please contact any Scout, Barb Hanna at 717-359-9774, Charlie Kind at 717-398-6386, or Dot at the church office.

Coming Soon ! 2017 Summer VBS Program

We Can Trust God! The Bible is full of stories of people who

have shown incredible faith in God. Kids will learn about these exam-ples of faith as well as learn some cool science experiments to help

them remember each story.

VBS will run each Sunday morning during the Sunday School hour, from early June through the first Sunday in September.

Helpers are Still Needed for Sunday School. If you are not available every Sunday, that is ok. Every little bit helps.

Please contact Kathy Bucher for more information.

Volume 3-2017 Issue 3 Page 6

Wednesday, March 1 Redeemer’s UCC (107 E. King St.) Hymn: In Christ Alone

Wednesday, March 8 St. Aloysius Catholic Church (29 S Queen St ) Hymn: O Sacred Head Now Wounded

Wednesday, March 15 Bart’s Centenary UMC (50 E. King St.) Hymn: In The Garden

Wednesday, March 22 St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (53 W. King St.) Hymn: Were You There?

Wednesday, March 29 St. John’s Lutheran Church (665 St. John’s Rd.) Hymn: What Wondrous Love Is This?

Wednesday, April 5 St. Luke Lutheran Church (330 White Hall Rd.) Hymn: Crown Him With Many Crowns

Wednesday, April 12 Christ Church (131 Christ Church Rd.) Hymn: Nothing But the Blood of Jesus

The 2017 Littlestown Ministerium Lenten Lunch Schedule Lunches are each Wednesday, at 11:30 am, at a different Littlestown church during the season of Lent. Each event will begin with a worship opening and message from the host pastor, and then the group will enjoy a simple meal of soup and bread together. Price is $5.00 per person.

The topics for each lunch event will be based on hymns.

Inclement Weather Policy: If Littlestown School District is closed the day of a lunch event, it will be cancelled.

113 E. King St. Littlestown (owned by Redeemer’s)

Lovely 1st level, Furnished 1-Bedroom, 1-Bath Apartment

Eat-in-Kitchen w/stove, microwave, refrigerator. Family room. Utility room w/washer and dryer. Basement storage. Front and rear entrance w/shared front porch. Includes: water, sewer, trash disposal, and off-street parking.

No pets/no smoking.

$750 per month, $750 security deposit. Call (717) 521-7165

Stamp Program,

We found a new source to donate cancelled stamps.

The Brethren Home is collecting them, so we have another source to make the donation.

If you have been saving cancelled stamps, please bring them to the church and drop them in the container located by the office.

This special offering provides funds for community development in many developing countries, immediate

disaster relief anywhere in the world, and refugee assistance.

An offering envelope will be provided in the bulletin on Sunday, March 26.

Redeemer’s 12th Annual Souper Bowl RESULTS

You helped us collect 447 servings of food!

Cans of soup will go to New Hope Ministries and other single serve items were taken to Ruth’s Harvest Littlestown

Items were counted differently this year since items other than cans of soup were collected. For instance, we counted an 8 pack of Lance crack-ers as 8 servings.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this ministry.

Mark your Calendars for our 5th Annual

Saturday, May 20, 8 am-2 pm

More information will be available soon.

2017 Lenten Offering Envelopes

Envelopes will be available in the Narthex.

This year the Lenten Offering will be distributed 50 / 50 to

Ruth’s Harvest and

CWS Disaster Relief Kits Program.

Suggested amount, $20. (any amount is appreciated.)

Thank you for your support of these programs.

Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Hanover and Spring Grove, Inc. is now accepting applications for the

Florence de Haven Stick Memorial Scholarship

Any person living in the areas surrounding Hanover or Spring Grove or any part of Ad-ams County is eligible. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited nursing program or accepted for classes beginning in the fall for a career as an RN or LPN. Several scholarships will be awarded.

Applications are due by Friday, March 17. They may be obtained at www.hanovervna.org, or by calling Amy O’Leary at 717-637-1227 or 1 800 422-3197, ext. 292.

Volume 3-2017 Issue 3 Page 7

Page 8 Volume 3-2017 Issue 3 Volume 3-2017 Issue 3 Volume 3-2017 Issue 3

Hya

cin

ths–

5 B

loo

m 6

” p

ot,

$1

1 e

ach

T

ulip

s– 8

blo

om

, $1

1 ea

ch

Pu

rple

___

__P

ink

____

_Wh

ite

____

Ye

llow

____

Pu

rple

__

__ P

ink

____

Aza

lea

s– 1

gal

. po

t, $

11

eac

h

Ea

ster

Lili

es-

6 b

loo

ms,

$1

1 e

ach

___

__

Red

___

___

Pu

rple

__

____

Pin

k _

___

_

Ea

ster

Mu

ms-

6”

po

t, $

11

eac

h

Hyd

ran

gea

s- 5

Blo

om

s, $

11

eac

h

Ye

llow

___

Wh

ite

___

La

ven

der

__

__

A

sso

rted

co

lors

___

__

___

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

__/_

___

____

___

____

____

____

____

____

__

In H

ON

OR

Of

Pre

sen

ted

By

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

/__

____

____

____

___

____

____

____

____

_

In H

ON

OR

Of

Pre

sen

ted

By

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

/__

____

____

____

___

____

____

____

____

_

In H

ON

OR

Of

Pre

sen

ted

By

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

__/_

___

____

____

___

____

____

____

____

In

MEM

OR

Y O

f

Pre

sen

ted

By_

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

__/_

___

____

____

___

____

____

____

____

_

In M

EMO

RY

Of

Pre

sen

ted

By

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

__/_

___

____

____

___

____

____

____

____

_

In M

EMO

RY

Of

Pre

sen

ted

By

Tota

l Am

ou

nt

Encl

ose

d $

___

____

___

___

___

*Ple

ase

pla

ce o

rder

s b

y Su

nd

ay,

Ma

rch

26

.

Flo

wer

s m

ay b

e t

aken

fro

m a

ltar

on

Eas

ter

Sun

day

fo

llow

ing

the

sec

on

d s

ervi

ce.

Flo

wer

s le

ft a

t th

e ch

urc

h w

ill b

e u

sed

to

gra

ce

the

chu

rch

lan

dsc

ap

e.

Card Shower for John Sell

Please consider sending John a birthday card along with a few words of encouragement for getting well soon.

He will be celebrating his 58th birthday on March 2.

If you wish to send a card, please mail it to:

John Sell 589 Quail Run Road Sherman TX 75092

Please place your Easter Flower orders in the offering plate or church office mail slot by Sunday, March 26. Thank you.

Page 9 Volume 3-2017 Issue 3

Hymn History, part 1

This month I am going to write about two beloved hymns of the church which feature the cross of Jesus Christ in their lyrics.

"The Old Rugged Cross" is a popular hymn written in 1912 by evangelist and song-leader George Bennard (1873–1958). George Bennard was a native of Youngstown, Ohio, but was reared in Iowa. After his conversion in a Salvation Army meeting, he and his wife became brigade leaders before leaving the organization for the Methodist Church. As a Methodist evangelist, Bennard wrote the first verse of "The Old Rugged Cross" in Albion, Michigan, in the fall of 1912 as a response to ridicule that he had re-ceived at a revival meeting. The completed version was first performed on June 7, 1913. Published in 1915, the song was popularized during Billy Sunday evangelistic

campaigns by two members of his campaign staff, Homer Rodeheaver and Virginia Asher, who were per-haps also the first to record it in 1921. It always appears in lists of the top 100 hymns and is often request-ed for funerals and memorial services.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suff’ring and shame; And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it someday for a crown.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, Has a wondrous attraction for me; For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above To bear it to dark Calvary. (Refrain)

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, A wondrous beauty I see, For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, To pardon and sanctify me. (Refrain)

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true; Its shame and reproach gladly bear; Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away, Where His glory forever I’ll share. (Refrain) ******************************************************************************************************

Hymn History, Part 2, on next page

Mission Trip to Appalachian South Folk-Life Center in Pipestem, WV August 6 – August 12, 2017.

Members and friends of Redeemer’s UCC are invited to participate with St. Mary’s UCC in Silver Run, MD in this mission trip. A planning meeting will take place on Sunday, February 26. 12-3 pm. If you are interest-ed, please attend, or contact Pastor Sterling at 359-4019.

The center is roughly 400 miles southwest of Littlestown and would take about 5-6 hours to reach by car or van. It sits on a 60-acre campus with a chapel, library, a natural amphitheater, playground, and a picnic shelter. You can learn more about the center at their website, http://www.folklifecenter.org .

The center holds up to 50 people and is equipped with dorm-like housing and a full service kitchen. They are dedicated to service and learning about southern Appalachian culture, ecology, and life. They preach dignity and respect for everyone. The projects coordinated by the center usually include: basic construc-tion, painting, and repair on homes as well as some involvement with food pantries and other ministries.

The center is open for anyone age 13 and older. The cost is $225 plus transportation, food, etc. We will be doing fundraising to help offset some of the cost. Again, if you are interested in learning more about this mission opportunity, please contact Pastor Sterling at 359-4019.

Hymn History, part 2:

The writer of the words to the hymn, “Beneath the Cross of Jesus,” Elizabeth Cecilia Douglas Clephane was born in Scotland in 1830 and died in 1869. The daughter of a county sheriff, she lived most of her short life near Edinburgh. Even though during her 39 years on this earth she struggled with poor health, she found the strength to help the poor and sick in her town. The townspeople of Melrose, Scotland referred to Elizabeth as “the Sunbeam.”

“Beneath the cross of Jesus,” focusing on the shelter of the cross, was first published three years after the author’s death in 1872. The hymn is full of comforting, and perhaps paradoxical language, about the cross, after all, an instrument of the cruelest torture. These include “the shadow of a mighty rock,” which alluded to a passage in Isaiah that speaks of “the shade of a great rock in a weary land” (Isaiah 32:1-2), “a home within the wilderness,” and “a rest upon the way.” This hymn was promoted by the well-known American musical evangelist and songwriter Ira D. Sankey

(1840-1908), who published it in his Sacred Songs and Solos (1873). Though Sankey composed a tune for the song entitled CLEPHANE, the almost universal pairing is with ST. CHRISTOPHER, composed by Bristol, England, musician and organist, Frederick C. Maker (1844-1927)

Beneath the cross of Jesus I long to take my stand, the shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land, a home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way, from the burning of the noontide heat and the burdens of the day.

Upon the cross of Jesus, my eye at times can see the very dying form of one who suffered there for me. And from my trite heart, with tears, two wonders I confess: the wonder of his glorious love and my unworthiness.

I take, O cross, your shadow for my abiding place; I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of his face; content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss, my sinful self my only shame, my glory all, the cross.

Volume 3-2015 Issue 3 Page 10 Volume 3-2017 Issue 3

Ira Sankey &

Elizabeth Clephane

CONSISTORY from the February 13, 2017 Meeting

Scout Sunday -There was a great response from both the congregation and Scouts. Worship Banners - Brenda Bucher has worked on 6 banners so far to supplement our current banners. Boilers are installed and working. Davidson H & C suggested we replace our current thermostats. We need to replace 5 of them at an

approximate cost of $1000. Programmable thermostats would allow the Sexton to make fewer trips to the church, saving us funds in the Sextons wages. A motion was made and approved.

Consistory approved moving forward with the brick repointing project, in its entirety. Next meeting-Monday, March 13, at 6:30 pm.

Red

eem

er's

Uni

ted

Ch

urc

h o

f Ch

rist

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Bo

y S

cou

t T

roo

p 5

01

a

t 3

pm

D

ais

y &

Bro

wn

ie G

S

ever

y T

ues

da

y, 6

pm

Len

ten

Bib

le S

tud

y, 6

:30

pm

Ch

an

cel

Ch

oir

7:3

0 p

m

Cu

b S

cou

ts e

very

Th

urs

da

y, 6

pm

.

1

Len

ten

Lu

nch

eon

1

1:3

0 a

m,

at

Red

eem

er’s

2

Cu

b S

cou

ts,

6 p

m

3

4

Ita

lia

n D

inn

er

Sn

ow

Da

te

5

6

7

Bu

ild

ing

s &

Gro

un

ds

/ S

afe

ty

6:3

0 p

m

8

Len

ten

Lu

nch

eon

1

1:3

0 a

m,

at

St.

Alo

ysiu

s

9

Fin

an

ce 6

:30

pm

10

P

inew

oo

d D

erb

y

Set

up

, 6

pm

.

11

Cu

b S

cou

t

Pin

ewo

od

Derb

y

8 a

m -

4 p

m.

12

Dayl

igh

t S

avi

ngs

Tim

e B

egin

s

13

C

on

sist

ory

Mtg

.

6:3

0 P

M

14

15 L

ente

n L

un

ch

eon

1

1:3

0 a

m,

at

Ba

rt’s

Cen

ten

ary

UM

C

16

R

uth’s

Ha

rves

t,

2 p

m a

t S

t. P

au

l’s

17

18

19

New

slet

ter

Item

s D

ue

20

21

22

Len

ten

Lu

nch

eon

11

:30

am

, a

t

St.

Pa

ul’

s L

uth

era

n

23

New

slet

ter

Pre

p

10

am

24

Go

od

Fri

da

y

Cro

ss W

alk

,

10

:30

am

25

Blu

e a

nd

Go

ld

Ba

nq

uet

,

8 a

m -

4 p

m.

26

On

e G

rea

t H

ou

r o

f

Sh

ari

ng

Off

erin

g

Ea

ster

Flo

wer

O

rder

s D

ue

27

28

Ca

lled

to C

are

,

6:3

0 p

m.

29

Len

ten

Lu

nch

eon

1

1:3

0 a

m,

at

St.

Jo

hn’s

Lu

ther

an

30

31

Off

ice

ho

urs

th

is w

eek

: M

onday

-Wed

nes

day

, 8:3

0 a

m-2

:30 p

m.

Off

ice

Clo

sed

Th

urs

da

y.

Dated Materials

“The Cornerstone”

Is published monthly by Redeemer’s United Church of Christ

March 2017

Rev. Sterling Fritz, Pastor Editor: Dot Decker, Administrative Assistant

—————————–——— Deadline for copy: The 3rd Sunday of

the month, prior to publication. Editor reserves the right to edit for con-

tent and space.

REDEEMER’S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

107 East King Street Littlestown, Pennsylvania 17340-1613

Phone/Fax– 717-359-4019 E-mail– redeemers@embarqmail.com

Website-www.redeemersucc.org

If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, check here____, and return to your mailbox. Thank you, and God Bless!

Join us for our Sunday Services:

Worship 8:15 A.M. (March 5 and 19 only)

and 10:30 A.M.

Sunday School for All Ages 9:15 A.M.

“Gracious Gifts” Cookbooks

are now available. They are $12 each.

Come and purchase yours during office hours: Tuesday—Thursday, 8:30 am –2:30 pm.

Littlestown Ministerium

ANNUAL CROSS WALK Good Friday, April 14, at 10:30 am

Starting at Redeemer’s

Come as you are, and join us for a memorable walk.

HELP CARRY THE CROSS WITH CHRIST AND CELEBRATE HIS LOVE, TOGETHER.