THE TRINITY NEWS September 2014

The Newsletter of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hecktown, 323 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18020

MISSION STATEMENT

We, the people of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, gather to proclaim the Word of God through worship, Christian Education, and community outreach, while supporting and serving others through the ministries of our congregation.

CHURCH STAFF

The Rev. Dr. Christian Eichorn, Pastor

Mrs. Kathy Sigley, Coordinator of Events

Mr. Gerald Butz, Sexton

Mr. David Ruhf, Cantor Parish Administrator

CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL

Melissa Boandl

Steve Carr, Secretary

Frances Faust

Tara Fleureton, Financial Secretary

Sara Flyte

Warner Jones

Larry Lewis

Kristine Mannix

Ron Nicholson, Vice-President

Lynda Parrish

Bron Sheriff, President

Contacting Us:

Office: 610 759 6377

E-mail: trinityhecktown@gmail.com

Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 10 am – 3 pm

Website: www.trinityhecktown.org

www.facebook.com/trinityhecktown

In the event of a Pastoral Emergency, please contact Pastor Eichorn directly at 610 434 6259. The firm deadline for the October Newsletter is September 15th.

Sunday School Rally Day – September 7th God’s Work, Our Hands

When is Rally Day? Rally Day is a celebration of the return of Sunday School. It happens on September 7th, at 9:00 am, so mark the date! Who can come? Everyone! Children and their parents and every member of the church is invited to celebrate Rally Day. We want to make sure that parent’s and adults remember this motto: Sunday School - It’s Not Just For Kids. What’s going to happen? We will gather in Fellowship Hall to start the festivities. Of course, we will have some breakfast goodies for everyone, and we’ll sing a song, say some prayers and see all our friends and maybe make some new friends and meet our teachers. But we will also be using our hands to do God’s work. Can I invite a friend to come with me? Of course, like we said, everyone is welcome to Sunday School.

See everyone on Rally Day!

PURPOSE STATEMENT

Trinity Church, with God’s Spirit, welcomes all, nourishes our faith, and joyfully

shares Christ’s work with our community.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. • We praise God with joy and thanksgiving through meaningful worship and prayer. • All people are important to God. •

The Holy Spirit empowers us to be instruments through which God’s work is accomplished. • We are sent forth to care for and serve others.

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Couples Celebrating Anniversaries in September

September 1st Leo & Diane Fink

September 3rd Gary & Lynette Greenawalt John & Cindy Onulack

September 4th

Ron and Ramona Nicholson

September 6th Noel & Christine Kratzer

September 10th Don & Val Cunningham Ken & Clara Eberts

September 13th Larry & Lois Hahn

September 14th Bill & Kristine Mannix

September 16th Todd & Robin Lahr

September 18th

Harold & Carolyn Lahr

September 19th Richard & Deanna Filipovits

September 28th John & Grace Marko Louis & Joanne Marano

PLEASE CALL US: If you’ve been hospitalized. HIPA law continues

to evolve, and we often DO NOT receive patient notifications. You may reach us during church office hours at 610 759 6377, or after hours at 610 434 6259. THE TRINITY NEWS is published monthly by TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH (Hecktown), 323 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem PA 18020-9601, under non-profit Organization Bulk Mailing Permit #562

Individuals in Need of Our Prayers

Please call the church office (610.759.6377) to add or remove a name from the Intercessory Prayers, the bulletin and the newsletter. To include a name on the confidential list of our Prayer Chain, please call Gladys Millheim (610.837.0436) or Oraine Roth (610.759.0923 or oar@enter.net). Call both numbers to be included in the Intercessory Prayers and the Prayer Chain list.

Jared Baylor Barbara Bethman Mae Bender Arlene Butz Jerry Butz John Dochterman Jan Erdie Arlene Fabian Harold Fabian Sandy Faust Charlie Fink Gertrude Fehnel Kevin Flyte Joyce Fogel Eva Gallagher Ruth Gramauskis

Kristen Goch Sandra Greene Tom Gunia Gladys Hahn Pat Arndt Hartzell Christine Husser Paul Jacoby Vera Krome Florence Lahr Hilda Lahr Aubrey Linton Michael Linton Dorothea Mixell Ray Nunamaker Kelsey Oberreiter Tammy Paff

Virginia Paff Dorothy Pflugler Jennifer Rohn Richard Rothrock Paul Ruth Carol Rumsey Gertie Sauerzopf Judy Sharer Cody Silfies Kathy Smith Joan Steigerwalt Marvin Stettler Helen Trach Dick Turnbach The Wade Family The Butz Family

September Birthdays

1 Karen Bedi Ken Bedi, Jr. Alexa Nunamaker

2 Christopher Confalone

3 Tom Tanzosh

5 Ben Flurer Roy Wade

6 Daniel Ritter Mary Fisher

7 Rev. David Newhart

8 Nicholas Skrobak Rev. Harv Weitzel Sandy Faust Shawn Sigley

9 Doris Flick Jennifer Brooks Lenny Flurer

11 Alexis Kline Earl Seip Ginny Bakos

12 Max Flurer Travis Hahn

13 Larry Hahn Ronda Senior

14 Marcy Lilly Randy Trach Sarah Brown Tara Fleureton

15 Michael Stampone Rachel Repash

16 Elvin Gradwohl

17 Andrea Millheim-Vassa

18 Joanne Skrobak

19 Anthony Stampone James Hinkel

20 Earl White Miriam Shupp Ryan Markulics Stefan Lahr

21 Renee Pasucci Patrick Donnelly Richard Repash

23 Deanna Filipovits Mary Jean Lawrence

24 Jeffrey Seip

25 Gina Fahringer Hazel Ehrie

26 Traci Gensits

28 John Messer Michael Faust

29 Victoria Kline

30 Judy Brooks Natalie Lawrence

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Amen Page: A Question to Ponder

Our Lenten series this past year raised a question we all need to ponder - should we/Christians think of ourselves as members of an organization or as disciples of Christ. Now the answer, of course, is both. But which answer is of primary importance. If we only think of Christians primarily as members of a church, then being a Christian is similar to belonging to the PTA or Booster Club or fire company or any other volunteer organization - you pay your dues, maybe help out with some event. But when we think about the promises made at Baptism and affirm at Confirmation, which include: - to live among God’s faithful people, - to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper, - to serve all people, following the example of Jesus We realize a Christian is not just a member of a congregation but a disciple of Christ. And a disciple is not only someone who believes in Christ, but is someone who wants to learn how best to follow Christ in their lives. It is interesting, in the story of Jesus, learning and following rarely happens alone. The disciples learned together, prayed and worshiped together, even went out to serve, at least, in pairs. Discipleship is a community based activity. Learning together, worshiping together, serving together is still the primary way for us to deepen our relationship with Christ and equip us to live out our faith in the world. September begins another program year at Trinity church. This is a good time to think about how we as disciples of Christ can continue and even deepen our relationship with Christ. September can be a month of spiritual renewal as we return to Sunday School and a full schedule of services. Have you been missing worship, why not come back now and experience the powerful spiritual experience of worshipping God with other disciples. And when you bring your children to Sunday School don’t forget Sunday School is for all ages. Adults are disciples too and for adult faith to be sustained and deepened studying God’s word becomes a necessity. And along with learning and worshiping there is the serving part. We have many and various ways available to serve. You should keep a watchful eye out for service opportunities such as Loaves and Fishes, the Soup Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, and for our children and youth we have TnT and Firecrackers activities of service throughout the program year. You are a member of a church but you are also a disciple of Christ. Join your fellow disciples at Trinity in following our Lord! See you in church, Pastor Eichorn

Loaves and Fishes Service Opportunity

Loaves and Fishes servers should please mark your calendar to serve on Saturday September 27th. A response to serve will be sent out via email, if you are a server and do not receive emails, please respond to Pastor whether you can serve or not on that day. And cooks stay tuned for dates on cooking at the Bethlehem Soup Kitchen.

In Memoriam Dorothy Hahn

9/17/25 – 8/11/14

Alice Gradwohl 7/8/23 – 8/13/14

David Carr’s Friday

Forums will meet on the 19th and 26th of September.

Service Opportunity at Gracedale

Trinity members will lead the

worship service at Gracedale on October 5. Help is

appreciated to assist the residents get to and from the

worship area. We will meet in the fellowship hall here

at 9:30 if car pooling is preferred. Otherwise be at

the worship area at Gracedale

by 9:45. Questions? Please call Dave Carr 610 704 5868.

Worship Assistants

Needed for 10:30 Services Our roster for Worship

Assistants for the 10:30

service is dwindling. If you’d like to train to be a worship

assistant, or if you’re an 8 o’clocker who can

occasionally help out at 10:30, please speak with

Pastor Eichorn or David Ruhf. Being a worship assistant is a

wonderful way to praise God

and help to lead worship.

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Trinity’s Labyrinth Walk

The pleasant weather of early fall make it a perfect

time to use our Labyrinth, which is located near the

pine trees and the Grove. The labyrinth walk is an

ancient spiritual practice used by Christians. To help

you with your walk there is

an information sheet by the walk, suggesting different

ways to pray and meditate while walking the labyrinth.

Attention Ladies!

Would you be interested in beginning a women’s group

at Trinity? WELCA is the women’s group of the ELCA

and provides women with interesting programs and

worthwhile activities. If you

want to learn more you can talk to Judy Parker at church

or call her at 610 253 6972.

Welcome, New Members!

On Sunday, June 22nd, we welcomed several new members, pictured above with their sponsors. They are: The Wachter Family: Thomas, Adrienne, Kasandra, Tara, , Persephonie, and Gydeon Dominic and Mina Brown; Lowell and Louise Fehnel; and Damien Erdie. We greatly look forward to welcoming you to the life of our congregation!

Congregational Picnic in the Grove, September 28th

On Sunday September 28th, we will worship all together and break bread together as a congregation. Sign up sheets to bring side dish, main dish or dessert will be on the bulletin board outside the church office. There will also be a sign up sheet for help to set up and clean up. We plan to have the picnic out doors with yard games to enjoy. Please note that there will be no 8 am service on the 28th.

Young at Heart News

The Young at Heart Group will be having their Harvest Party on September 23rd, at noon. We will be ordering Steak Sandwiches, Cheese Steak Sandwiches and Pizza from My Place Restaurant in Bath. If you are interested in coming please sign up on the bulletin board in the fellowship hallway. Everyone is asked to bring a non-perishable food items which will be display at our Harvest Home Church Services on Sunday Sept. 28th. All food collected will be given to the Nazareth Area Food Bank.

The group will be going to Delaware Water Gap for their Water Gap Trolley Ride on October 16th. We will be leaving the church parking lot at 10:00am. We will leave the trolley station at 11:00 and return back at noon. After the trolley ride we will be stopping at The Stroudsmoor Inn at 12:30pm for lunch. Please see the menu details on the bulletin board.

We will be returning to church approximately by 3:00pm. If you are interested in going on the trolley ride please sign your name on the sign-up sheet found on the bulletin board in the fellowship hallway. PRICE PER PERSON - $67.00, FINAL BALANCE AND PASSENGER COUNT DUE BY September 14th. Please make checks payable to Trinity Lutheran Church Note: In order to receive the best service we need a minimum of 30 paying passengers per trip.

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From the Cantor: Let All Rejoice Who Have a Voice to Raise

My college roommate was visiting over this past weekend, and, on a lark, we planned a trip to New Jersey that concluded with a visit to our alma mater, Westminster Choir College, in Princeton. Chris, Amy, and I discovered the campus in a rare state of quietude (new students arrive this week). It was, in fact, the quietest I’ve ever seen or heard it – usually the place is alive with the cacophony of hundreds of singers, pianists and organists, practicing individually and chorally. I heard echoes in my memory of the first time we sang together as a school (my college was smaller than my high school, which wasn’t large). This took place during the fall convocation, which, at the time I attended, took place in our school’s chapel (it’s about the size of Trinity). The freshman class had been rehearsing for a week, so we’d already been singing together for a bit, and the vocal talent astounded. Then, the whole campus assembled, packed into the too-small space of our chapel. The organist introduced the first hymn on a large and impressive Aeolian Skinner pipe organ. Once the singing started, I’m pretty sure I didn’t hear the organ again until the last chord. To say that the assembly roared to life would be an understatement. The singing was so dizzyingly loud, so passionately offered, and so jarringly un-self-conscious, so epic, I’m surprised the place was still standing after that first hymn. It was really powerful, of course, but also a little disorienting. It was a clarifying moment for me – this is how a few hundred human voices can move the air when they elect to. That moment will always be for me the pinnacle of congregational singing, and the yardstick by which I measure the health of a congregation’s music. One of the gratifying things about having come to Trinity a bit more than 13 years ago was the power of our congregation when we lift our voices in song. Part of this is our Lutheran tradition, which places a large emphasis on singing. Another is the marvelous acoustics of our sanctuary. But, the most important element, I’ve discovered, time and again, is your willingness to sing with vigor and passion (I’m tempted to say that we sing “like nobody’s listening,” but of course, as an act of praise, we definitely hope someone’s listening!). I was particularly gratified with how the congregation is learning the new service music we’ve introduced over the summer. I was fretting about teaching the Gloria of Richard Proulx this past Sunday, but there was an excellent can-do spirit in the room, and we learned the canticle rather quickly. These elements will become easier with a few more experiences of singing them, but we’re well on our way! Communal singing is a powerful vehicle of praise – of course, we offer to God the very best of ourselves in song, but the rewards of joining voices are also abundantly shared among singers. This is true when we sing an old chestnut, and also true when you give of yourselves to learn a new service element or hymn. We are able to sing from a rich tapestry of musical sources, largely because of your flexibility and good spirits, and I am extremely grateful and proud of that! Fred Pratt Green’s words for the hymn “When in Our Music God is Glorified” give us an excellent marching order: Let every instrument be tuned for praise! Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise! And may God give us faith to sing always Alleluia! Next month, I’ll be writing about opportunities for you to raise your voices in song a little more formally. Please stay tuned! Fondly, David

Music Ministry News:

We’re going to resume our

work soon, so now is the time to let me know if you

have any upcoming conflicts or if you need to

change the nature of your participation! Please call or

send an e-mail. Thank you!

Chancel Choir will

rehearse at 10 am on the September 7th, and sing

during that Sunday’s service, and will resume

weekly rehearsals on September 10th.

The Handbell Choir will

have an organizational

meeting on Tuesday, September 9th, beginning at

7:30 pm. Please bring your calendars, and be prepared

to plan the coming year’s engagements.

The Handbell Choir also

has a few vacancies. If

you’d like to learn to play handbells, and enjoy the

fellowship of this august group, please contact

David.

We would like to reorganize a Youth Choir Program

after a hiatus this past

spring. If your child is in the 3rd grade through high

school, we’d love to have him or her join us! We will

set rehearsal times at the convenience of participants.

Please speak to me if you’re interested – recruiting will

be taking place during

September.

-David

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TnT and Firecrackers Youth News

After a wet morning the youth were able to enjoy a beautiful pool side afternoon on Sunday, August 17th! The coming year looks to be filled with lots of opportunity for fun and fellowship. Activities will usually be held the 3rd Sunday of the month. Watch your newsletters and weeklies for upcoming events to include a trip to a corn maze, ice skating, caroling, making crafts for shut ins, BINGO...just to name a few activities. We are also actively exploring the possibility of attending the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit next July! Mark your Calendars! September 14th: Informational Meeting for the Detroit ELCA Youth Gathering immediately following church. Interested teens and parents please plan on attending. September 21st: Movie Matinee at the church from 2-4 pm. All youth; T-n-T, Firecrackers, and friends are welcome. Also, mark your calendars for the following dates and activities planned for the program year: October 19th: Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch November 16th: Blanket Making, 2-4pm December 21st: Pennies from Heaven (Caroling) January 18, 2015: Ice Skating February 15th: Annual Wii Tournament/Board Games March 15th: Bingo at Moravian Hall Square April 19th: Crafts for Meals on Wheels May 17th: Free Car Wash (Fundraiser for 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering)** **Throughout the year there will be fundraising events for the July 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering to be held in Detroit. Youth entering the 9th-12th grades in the fall of 2015 as well as 2015 graduates and their parents are welcome to attend the September 14th Informational meeting after church.

Harvest Home Sunday

The Social Ministry Committee and Altar Guild will be collecting non- perishable food items which will be display at our Harvest Home Church Services on Sunday Sept. 28th. All food collected will be given to the Nazareth Area Food Bank. If you would like to donate food items please bring them to the church by Sept. 27th . Also note that, on Harvest Home Sunday, we will have Sunday School at 9:15 am, followed by the 10:30 service, which will be followed by the Parish Picnic. More details will be announced in the weekly, but please note: there will be no 8 am service on Sunday, September 28th.

Financial Secretary

News Our Financial Secretary is

going to retire from the

position the end of this year. If you are interested

in learning more or applying for the position, please see

Pastor Eichorn or Bron Sheriff for more

information. The Job Description is hanging on

the bulletin board and

posted on Trinity website News page.

October Penny Party

The Helping Hands Committee will be having a

Penny Party on October

10th, at 7:00pm. Donations of non-perishable food

items and raffle prizes are needed. If you would like to

donate food items of raffle prizes please bring them to

the church by October 9.

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In Service to God – September 2014

Worship Assistants Contact:

David Ruhf 610 759 6377

Acolytes Contact:

Pastor Eichorn 610 759 6377

Ushers Contact:

Bev Clause 610 837 7895

Greeters Contact:

Darlene Newhard 610 759 0194

Nursery Contact:

Marianne Briggs 610 867 5376

September 7th 8:00 am

Todd Donnelly Collin Seip Barry Clause Bron Sheriff

10:30 am Amy Ruhf Eileen Faust, CA

Jason Salivonchik Bob and Melissa Boandl Larry and Connie Lewis

Barb Kahler Kim Setzer

September 14th 8:00 am

Bron Sheriff Dawson Lewis Darlene and Dan Newhard

10:30 am Anita Skelton Amy Ruhf, CA

Caleb Husser The Golick Family Barbara Hoffman

Doris Butz Tara Fleureton

September 21st 8:00 am

Alan Williams, III

Erica Belovich Nadine and Chuck Smith

10:30 am

Larry Golick Eileen Faust, CA

Colton Boucher Earl and Jean White Jim and Charlotte Briggs

Barbara and Barry Groner

Lisa Loeser

September 28th 10:30 am

Judy Carr Anita Skelton, CA

Taylor Brueningsen Tom Bethman Dick Towne

Frances Faust Lisa Loeser

Earl and Jean White

Betty Flyte

October 5th 8:00 am

Dan Newhard Devon Michael Woody Faust Imogene Kresge

10:30 am Pam Brown Judy Carr, CA

Kelly Nicholson Kim and Donna Green Barbara Turnbach

John Beam

Pat Arndt Hartzell Kim Boucher

Trinity Golf Outing

On September 28th, Trinity will hold its annual golf outing. It will be held at Bethlehem Golf Club on Illicks Mill Road. Tee off will be 2:00pm (please note the time change) and will be a scramble format. The cost is $75 per golfer and includes the round of golf, hot dog at the turn, food and drinks at the Club House Grill after golf and prizes for the top two foursomes along with other prizes. There is a sig- up sheet on the bulletin board in the fellowship hallway . Make checks payable to Trinity Lutheran Church. Any questions, please contact Larry Golick 610-554-2155. Sign up today!

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September 2014 Calendar

Monday 1

7:30 pm

Parish Office Closed Dryland Group

Tuesday 2

11:00 am

Parish Office Closed Support Group fellowship brunch @ Perkins

Wednesday 3

7:30 pm Dryland Group

Saturday 6

10:00 am 3:00 pm

Dryland Group Clark/Parzych Wedding

Sunday 7

Pentecost XIII Rally Day!

8:00 am 9:00 am 10:30 am

Holy Communion Rally Day Activity for Sunday School Holy Communion

Monday 8

7:30 pm Dryland Group

Tuesday 9

6:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm

Christian Education Committee Stewardship Meeting Handbells Organizational Meeting

Wednesday 10

7:30 pm 7:30 pm

Chancel Choir Dryland Group

Thursday 11

7:00 pm Renovation Team Meeting

Saturday 13

10:00 am

Dryland Group

Sunday 14

Pentecost XIV

8:00 am 9:00 am 9:15 am 10:30 am

Holy Communion Fellowship Time Sunday School/Adult Bible Study Holy Communion

Monday 15

7:30 pm Dryland Group

Tuesday 16

7:30 pm

Handbells Rehearsal

Wednesday 17

6:30 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm

Worship and Music Committee Festival Choir Rehearsal Dryland Group

Thursday 18

7:00 pm Congregational Council

Friday 19

Noon David Carr’s Expecting God’s Miracles Friday Forum

Saturday 20

10:00 am

Dryland Group

Sunday 21

Pentecost XV

8:00 am 9:00 am 9:15 am 10:30 am 2:00 pm

Holy Communion Fellowship Time Sunday School/Adult Bible Study Holy Communion TnT/Firecrackers Activity

Monday 22

7:30 pm Dryland Group

Tuesday 23

Noon 7:30 pm

Young @ Heart Fall Party Handbells Rehearsal

Wednesday 24

7:30 pm 7:30 pm

Festival Choir Rehearsal Dryland Group

Friday 26

Noon David Carr’s Expecting God’s Miracles Friday Forum

Saturday 27

10:00 am Dryland Group

Sunday 28

Harvest Home Sunday

9:15 am 10:30 am 11:45 am 2:00 pm

Sunday School/Adult Bible Study Holy Communion Parish Picnic @ The Grove Golf Outing

Monday 29

7:30 pm Dryland Group

Tuesday 30

7:30 pm

Handbells Rehearsal

Coming Up…

Golden Age Sunday , October 5th

Fall Penny Party, October 10th

CROP Walk of Bethlehem, October 12th

Reformation Sunday/Confirmation

Services, October 26th

All Saints’ Sunday, November 2nd