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TRANSCRIPT
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer | 822 N. 19th St, Allentown, PA 18104 | 610-434-1291 | [email protected] 1
G L E A N I N G S
Message From the Pastor
Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for
they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at
the street corners, so that they may be seen by
others. Truly I tell you, they have received their
reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room
and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in
secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward
you. Matthew 6:5-6
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we
do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very
Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.
Romans 8:26
I’ve been having one of those slow revelations on prayer. You know, not the kind of insight
that wakes me up in the middle of the night, but rather a dawning awareness that seeps in
slowly, over time. Why do we pray?
The purpose of prayer isn’t about bothering God constantly because I want a Maserati… or
attempting to solve all the political problems of the country.
If praying to accomplish things was its purpose, there would be a huge flaw in the spiritual
design of this world. If prayer was like a magic spell that could change the world, it would
give a lot of deluded people the power to get what they desire without having to change
themselves first. You know that’s true: every day I see or hear prayers, vocal, loud selfish
prayers from folks who just don’t get it. Prayer is not a magic gum-ball machine where you
put in a prayer, and receive your heart’s desire. Prayer is open, honest, deep communication
with the Lord, pouring out our thoughts, our pleas, our real hurts and gratitude. Real prayer
expects nothing but to be heard.
Vol. 22, No. 1 Spring 2017
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
Erica Dreabit, editor | [email protected] | 610-351-6234
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer | 822 N. 19th St, Allentown, PA 18104 | 610-434-1291 | [email protected] 2
Life isn’t always easy; there are days we’d love to believe that if we’d only pray more, pray
more intensely, pray out in public, we’d get what we think we want. But prayer is more than
satisfying our wants and needs. We need to see the world through the eyes of Christ: this
world is burdened and surrounded by challenges and injustices. Prayer can change the world,
but first we need to examine ourselves and see how we need to be realigned in our
relationship to our Lord. The most important thing that prayer changes...is us. Prayer
changes our view of life, and our relationship with the world, and the Lord. In those changes,
we are strengthened to live in trust, and do what we are able for the world, in the name of
Christ.
Prayer is communication through the Holy Spirit, holding up oneself, one’s joys and griefs in
life, and laying one’s fears and challenges in the hands of the Lord, knowing without a doubt
one is heard… As St. Paul wrote to the Romans 8:26 the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for
we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep
for words.
Stay faithful in prayer! See you in church..
Pastor Donna
Vol. 22, No. 1 Spring 2017
These box top logos are found on hundreds of products we purchase. Each
one is worth 10 cents to the school participating in the program. The
school can use the money to purchase anything it needs. Please help us
support our Adopted Kindergarten at Muhlenberg Elementary School by
clipping the box top logo from each package you purchase and depositing
it in the shoebox labeled “Box Tops for Education” in the narthex.
Box Tops for Education
Help Muhlenberg Elementary
SCS Outreach: Food Bank
Our SCS children are encouraged to bring a donation for the Lehigh County Conference of
Churches Food Bank each Sunday. Please join our efforts to share with those less fortunate.
You may bring the designated monthly item or any non-perishable food item. Your donation
can be placed in the wagon in the narthex.
March – canned fruit & vegetables
April – complete macaroni & cheese kits
May – peanut butter & jelly
To meet the needs of the families needing assistance, please consider purchasing
the larger size quantities of these items.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer | 822 N. 19th St, Allentown, PA 18104 | 610-434-1291 | [email protected] 3
Vol. 22, No. 1 Spring 2017
SCS Save The Dates
March 5, April 2, May 7 – Jr. Ushers (please meet Darcie Wolf in the narthex if your
child wants to participate)
March 19 – SCS children sing during 10:15 A.M. worship
April 9 – SCS children lead Palm Procession for worship &
Egg Hunt following worship
April 16 – 9 A.M. Easter Breakfast &
SCS children sing during the 10:15 A.M. worship
May 21 – Last day of SCS
SCS children sing during worship
Confirmation during the 10:15 A.M. worship
July 31 thru August 3 – Vacation Bible School
Confirmation Retreat
On Saturday, February 25th, from 9 am to 7 pm the Confirmation Class retreat is an all-day
event focused on the story of Moses and the Passover. We will watch the award –winning
animated film “The Prince of Egypt,” and have projects, games and fun. Also, the class will
lead the worship service on Saturday, February 25th at 6 pm! All are welcome to come to the
worship service.
Confirmation Class Trip
On Friday March 24th, the Confirmation Class and their families are worshiping with the
Kenneseth Israel congregation on Chew Avenue on the Muhlenberg College Campus. We will
meet there at 6:15 pm for a tour and background of the synagogue, worship and fellowship
until 8:30 pm. Any interested folks from Redeemer are welcome to join us, as this is a
wonderful, faith-affirming visit with our brothers and sisters of this community. Join us!
Mission Ministries Lenten Project –
Fruit Tree Seedlings for a Grove
The seedlings will ensure a good supply of nutritious fruit to keep kids and families
healthy and free from hunger year after year. Seedlings are specially selected for
each location and climate . The fruit tree seedlings will be available for purchase
March 25/26, April 1/2 and April 8/9 for a buck- $1.00. Look for the orchard poster
in the narthex and attach your seedling in memory or honor of someone special.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer | 822 N. 19th St, Allentown, PA 18104 | 610-434-1291 | [email protected] 4
Vol. 22, No. 1 Spring 2017
Children’s Book Donations
There is a box in the narthex for donations of gently used children’s books. AAUW will place
these books in the Lehigh Valley Public Assistance office at 7th & Walnut in downtown
Allentown. A child up to age 14 whose family is on public assistance may take home a book
free of charge. Thank you for supporting this ongoing program. Please call Lois Nowack at
610-799-4640 with any questions.
It Should Be an “Egg-citing” Event!
This year’s Annual Egg Hunt will follow the Palm Sunday worship service at 10:15 on April 9.
The SCS children will lead our palm processional to start the Palm Sunday service. Following
the service the children will first prepare a card for our shut-ins and then prepare their
“unusual” containers for the hunt. The children will be divided into three groups based on age
range to go in search of their treat filled eggs! Be certain that your child is registered for the
event. The registration list will be located on the Education Bulletin Board located in the
Narthex from March 12 – April 2!
Bear Creek Camp
All youth who have completed grades 1—12 are eligible to attend a week of
summer camp at Bear Creek Lutheran Camp near Wilkes Barre, PA. Bear
Creek is a residential camp with traditional programs centered on spiritual
growth, outdoor living and small group development. Weekly sessions run from June 18th
thru August 6. The theme for summer 2017 is Restored. All summer campers will take a look
at what it means to be restored through Christ. New this summer is a weeklong Family
Camp during the week of July 2-7. Applications and information are available in the Resource
Room. A discount applies to those who are registered by March 1st and a discount voucher is
available for one of Redeemer's campers. See Mary Richards for more information.
Let’s Egg One Another On!
In conjunction with our Annual Egg Hunt (April 9) we once again are in need
of treats to fill those eggs! A box will be located in the Narthex from
March 12 –April 2 in which all treat donations will be collected. Please keep in
mind that all candy must be wrapped and the candy must be able to fit inside
a small plastic egg! Egg cartons are needed as well. We still have items from
last year’s egg hunt so at this time we are not in need of trinkets to fill the
eggs! We generally have between 20 to 25 children participate in the Egg
Hunt. Thank you so much for giving so generously to our children!
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer | 822 N. 19th St, Allentown, PA 18104 | 610-434-1291 | [email protected] 5
Vol. 22, No. 1 Spring 2017
Sunday Church School Easter Breakfast
You’re Invited - All Are Welcome
On Easter Sunday morning at 9 A.M., the SCS is hosting the annual Easter Breakfast in
Fellowship Hall. If you plan to attend, please complete the reservation form included in this
Gleanings (copies are also available in the narthex) and place it in the reservation box in the
narthex by Sunday, April 9th. If you are able to help set-up on Friday, April
14th or cleanup after the breakfast, you can sign up on the sheet posted on
the Education bulletin board in the narthex.
The Easter Breakfast offering and the SCS offering collected throughout
Lent will be directed to the ministry of On Eagle’s Wings. OEW is an
ecumenical Christian ministry that brings God’s love to the native people in
33 remote communities in northern Canada. Without our assistance, these
communities would be unable to hold Bible Camp, a program similar to our
Vacation Bible School. Redeemer has been supporting this ministry for
many years. Five of our members have ventured to the north and assisted
with their summer Bible Camp program. We hope you will consider supporting this outreach
project.
A Note from the Council President
Hello Congregation,
As I write this piece, I am also preparing for our upcoming annual congregational meeting. In
keeping with tradition, we will certainly have much to talk about, and I look forward to getting an
opportunity to meet with you to discuss matters of the church. Of course, by the time you are
reading this, the meeting will have already occurred. Can we all agree it was a good meeting? I
thought so. In all seriousness, I just want to take a moment to thank my fellow members of
council, the ministries, the staff, and the entire congregation for your continued prayers and
support. I also want to thank you all for the efforts you make to help advance the mission of our
church. I am optimistic about our future and can’t wait to see what great things we will
accomplish together in 2017. Something tells me I might forget to mention all of this during the
annual meeting, so thank you for giving me this opportunity to redeem myself.
See you in and around church,
Bob
Lost and Found: Someone accidentally picked up a grey herringbone driving cap on Christmas Eve. It would be appreciated if you would return it to the Church office.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer | 822 N. 19th St, Allentown, PA 18104 | 610-434-1291 | [email protected] 6
Vol. 22, No. 1 Spring 2017
2017 Lenten Worship Schedule
Ash Wednesday – March 1, 2017 – Redeemer Church
Noon and 7:30 p.m. – Imposition of Ashes and the Holy Communion
Midweek Worship – St. Timothy Church
140 S. Ott Street, Allentown Celebrated with the Congregations of the West Side Collaborative Ministry
Wednesdays: March 8, 15, 22, 29 & April 5 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Soup Supper, Fellowship, Study, Discussion and Worship St. Timothy's Fellowship Hall - enter through the lower level parking lot
Weekend Worship – Redeemer Church
March 4/5 – Sat. 6:00 p.m. / Sun. 10:15 a.m.
Installation of Church Council at 10:15 worship
March 11/12 – Sat. 6:00 p.m. / Sun. 10:15 a.m.
March 18/19 – Sat. 6:00 p.m. / Sun. 10:15 a.m.
Spark Sunday School Children Sing at 10:15 worship
March 25/26 – Healing Services – Sat. 6:00 p.m. / Sun. 10:15 a.m.
April 1/2 – Sat. 6:00 p.m. / Sun. 10:15 a.m.
Palm/Passion – April 8/9 – Redeemer Church
Saturday 6:00 p.m. – The Holy Communion
Sunday 10:15 a.m. - The Passion Story and the Holy Communion
Holy Week Joint Worship Opportunities
Holy Tuesday – April 11 – Muhlenberg Egner Chapel
5:00 p.m. – Stations of the Cross
Maundy Thursday – April 13 – St. Timothy Church 7:30 p.m. – Maundy Thursday Worship
Good Friday – April 14 – Redeemer Church 12 noon & 7:30 p.m. – Good Friday Liturgy
Easter Vigil – Saturday April 15 – Christ Church 1245 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown
6:00 p.m. – Easter Vigil Liturgy
The Resurrection of Our Lord – Sunday April 16 Celebrated 10:15 a.m. at Redeemer Church
Festival Worship of Holy Communion with Brass
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer | 822 N. 19th St, Allentown, PA 18104 | 610-434-1291 | [email protected] 7
Sunday School Easter Breakfast - 2017
April 16th 9:00 a.m. Fellowship Hall
Name(s) _______________________________________________Phone #: _______________
Number attending:__________
I will bring: Breakfast Bread
1 dozen decorated hard-boiled eggs
I can help: Set Up/Decorate
Clean Up
Due to the popularity of the breakfast and limited space in Fellowship Hall, reservations are required!
Please return this slip to Sunday School or to the church office by APRIL 9th!
EASTER PLANT SPONSORSHIP FORM - 2017
Lilies and other spring flowers will decorate our worship center for the Easter services. If you choose to sponsor a plant for Easter, please complete this form and place it in the offering plate, or return it to the Church Office no later than Monday, April 3. Any sponsorships received after that date will not be included in the Easter bulletin listing. Please enclose your payment of $10.00 for each sponsorship.
PLEASE PRINT:
In loving memory of _______________________________________________________________
or
In honor of ____________________________________________________________________
Name of person(s) ordering plant _______________________________________ Env. # ________
Following our Easter Worship Services, the lilies and some of the other plants will be shared with our sick and shut-in members. The rest of the flowers will be planted in the church yard.
PLEASE NOTE: There will be no plants available for individual purchase or pick up.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer | 822 N. 19th St, Allentown, PA 18104 | 610-434-1291 | [email protected] 8
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer | 822 N. 19th St, Allentown, PA 18104 | 610-434-1291 | [email protected] 9
Vol. 22, No. 1 Spring 2017
Explore More Online
Redeemer’s Office
http://
www.redeemerallentown.org
Find us on Facebook at
E L C A W e b S i t e www.elca.org
for information about our national church
N E P A S y n o d W e b S i t e www.godslove.org OR www.nepasynod.org
for information about our synod
WORSHIP MEMORIALS 2017
SPONSORHIP FORM
Bulletins: $10.00
Altar Flowers (1 Urn): $17.00
Sanctuary Candles: $15.00/quarter
Date requested for sponsorship:
______________________________________
Presented to the Glory of God by:
(Enter name or names)
______________________________________
______________________________________
Choose one of the following:
In loving memory of
In honor of
(other)_____________________________
(Enter name or names to be
honored or memorialized)
______________________________________
______________________________________
Enter any special occasions such as
anniversaries or birthdays, or any other special
text or instructions, below:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Return this form to the church office, or place
in the offering plate.
Shut-In
Birthdays
February
2/15: Carmella Bell, 3230 Cambridge Circle,
Allentown, PA 18104
2/24: Donna Stauffer, Phoebe Terrace #516,
1940 Turner St, Allentown, PA 18104
March
3/12: Shirley Arnold, Woodland Terrace at The
Oaks Room 226, 1263 S. Cedar Crest Blvd.,
Allentown, PA 18103
April
4/2: Erna Zotter, 1545 N 19th St, Allentown, PA
18104
4/10: Irene Buehler, Fellowship Villa Rm. 312A,
3020 Fellowship Dr, Whitehall, PA 18052
May
5/23: Lucretta Pollitt, 1914 W. Green St,
Allentown, PA 18104