FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 151 S Fourth St Quakertown, PA 18951 215-536-4447 www.firstucc.net

March, 2020 LETTER FROM THE DONIGIANS We, along with the entire church staff, are continuing to adjust to the untimely passing of Pastor Don. We know that his vital ministry cannot go unattended for long. Consequently, we, Pastors Doug and Joyce, are going to take over the visitation ministry that Don so ably was doing. We ask for your that we find ourselves able to do this. To have enough time for good visitation, we have decided to reduce our preaching frequency to twice a month. Fortunately, Jon Bauman has just completed his seminary studies and is willing to increase his preaching frequency to include all the days we relinquish. We plan to continue this schedule until , May 31, which is also Confirmation Sunday. The Staff committee and Council have approved this temporary rebalancing of responsibilities. Jon will get valuable practice to increase his preaching effectiveness beyond what many of you feel is already excellent. It will also give us time, not just to visit our shut-ins, but to build a visitation team and increase our care for these special people. We pray we will be able to succeed. Giving up some of our preaching time with you will be difficult for us. We will miss the connection with you that preaching allows us to have. We will miss proclaiming God’s love and gift of salvation every week. We will miss the study and growth in understanding we receive while preparing each sermon. And we will miss the wonderful feedback you offer us. It is only because we believe that Jon will give you such good and heartfelt spiritual guidance in our place that we are doing this through May. In June, we are planning a six week sabbatical. During that time, Jon will preach and we will have a back-up experienced pastor on call, if anything occurs for which Jon needs help. It will also give Jon some time to experience the full range of activities at First Church. And it will give us a chance to reconnect with family, take time to retreat and refresh, and prepare for some special initiatives for our church. Then in mid-July we will be back. Thereafter our roles will continue to evolve as we see where God leads us and First Church. Blessings and thanks, Pastors Doug and Joyce A NOTE OF UPDATE AND THANKS FROM JON BAUMAN Near the start of going to seminary, Pastor Jim told me to come by his house sometime; he had some books for me that he said might help me. I drove over and knocked on the door, and he greeted me and showed me a well-known commentary on the bible set that he and Marlene had purchased book-by-book over several years. He wanted to give it to me to assist me in preaching, and in paper writing. I was and am incredibly humbled for such a gift because it carried a lot of meaning, and I always appreciated his support, his jokes, and I appreciated seeing his faith over the years. I will miss Pastor Jim, just as I currently miss Pastor Don, but I am thankful for the impact that each of them made on this world, on our church, and on me. In February, I completed my Master of Divinity requirements at Missio Seminary in Philadelphia (formerly known as Biblical Theological Seminary in Hatfield, PA).

For the past three and a half years (taking one semester off), I have commuted first to Hatfield, and then to Philadelphia, every Tuesday night for a 4-5 hour class, and once a month on a Saturday for an 8-hour class. When I wasn't at class, or at the church, I would often have to divide my time at home between reading and writing for class, working a second job for about a year and a half, and finding some time to spend with friends and family when I could. As I think back on my education and career, though my Bachelor's degree is in Business Administration, I am thankful that I followed the call of God to pursue ministry, and I am thankful to have Church leaders over me who encouraged me to pursue Seminary. Missio Seminary was an experience that I will never forget. My coursework covered areas of theology, counseling, ethics, biblical studies, history, world religions, mission work, leadership, worship and liturgy, and others. I even had a class called "Pastoral Skills" that was on learning how to do the practical things of ministry like weddings, funerals, visitation, handling conflict, addressing mental health concerns, and other things. But as valuable as the coursework was, what I most appreciated was that I was surrounded by men and women from many different denominations, from many different schools of theological and political thought, and from many different cultures. The level of true diversity that I was a part of in Seminary would be difficult to match, and it is this diversity that exposed me to my own blind spots, and contributed to the things that I learned about through my friendships with my peers. Looking ahead, I am in the review process for Ordination within the Pennsylvania Southeastern Conference of the United Church of Christ. To get to this stage, I had to complete my M.Div, complete a course in UCC Polity and History, pass a preliminary evaluation, and be recommended to be considered by the local committee on ministry of our local area. In the upcoming months, I will be going to three trainings sponsored by the conference, writing papers and filling out forms for the conference, and will be meeting with the review committee several times. I have appreciated all of your support and encouragement over the years, and I look forward to investing more into this church now that my Seminary education is complete. Without all of you, I likely would not have been able to complete Seminary - Thank you so much! Blessings to You, Jon Bauman, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries YOUTHWORX ANNOUNCEMENTS MONTH OF MARCH - FIRST FELLOWSHIP - YouthWorx and the Young Adults of the church are responsible for First Fellowship Hour in the month of March. We almost have all of our slots filled for those who would set-up, those who would bring food, and those who would clean-up, thanks to the help of Lisa Betz who set up a “Signup Genius” for the group. If you would like to sign up, please contact me at [email protected]! APRIL 24-26 - SPRING RETREAT WITH OTHER PSEC YOUTH - This year, we have the opportunity to join other youth groups from other UCC churches in our area for our Retreat. Students in 7-12 grade and all Confirmation students are invited! The weekend will be ran by the Youth who have chosen to plan it, and it is going to be a great place for group games, discussion, and fun!  Where: South Mountain YMCA Camp - Reinholds, PA  Cost: $90 per person  Deadlines (Have changed with Conference Updates) o Signup Deadline: March 31 . Please sign up through psec.org by March 31 and let me know you have done so. . PSEC allows you to sign-up up until April 14, however, there are a limited amount of tickets available, and our church would have to have more time to secure transportation.  Please email me with any questions: [email protected] ANNOUNCEMENTS DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME begins on March 8. Don’t forget to “spring forward” or you might be late for church!

MANDIE A. UPDATE - On January 13, 2020, Mandie had surgery to replace her heart, surgery was considered successful, but her recovery was slow; her chest remained open, she was on an ventilator, and heavily sedated. On January 27, her chest was officially closed up and her sedation was reduced significantly enough for her to be alert. She was removed from the ventilator on January 31 and on February 4, she moved from ICU to a regular room. Please continue praying for Mandie as she continues to recover from this surgery, which all began with a spontaneous aortic dissection and massive heart attack on July 7, 2018. FREE CONCERT – SATURDAY, MAY 9 - Pending a formal agreement that we are waiting on, the JJ Weeks Band will be coming to First UCC on Saturday, May 9 to put on a free concert for us and for our community. JJ Weeks is a Christian band whose songs are played on local radio station 88.9, the WordFM, as well as the national Christian radio Station, K-Love. It is our hope that this concert provides spiritual comfort and enrichment for us all in our congregation, that it provides the same for our community, and that those in our community feel welcomed in our church during this concert. We have received two private donations to go towards the cost of this event, which is much appreciated as the concert is supposed to be free for communities nationwide, according to the band. If you are interesting in contributing to the costs of this project, or are able to volunteer your time to support this outreach, please email Jon at [email protected]. WOMEN’S RETREAT AT EAST SWAMP CHURCH - Ladies, are you sometimes overwhelmed with anxiety and worry? Join Lisa J. at the 2020 in-house retreat, Beth Moore’s “The Basket Case” on Friday, March 13, 6:30-9:00pm and Saturday, March 14, 9:00am-4:00 pm at East Swamp Church. $45 per person, which includes Saturday breakfast and lunch included. Registration ends March 1. Speak with Lisa in the Church Office if you are interested. JUNE 24 – IRON PIGS BASEBALL – Thanks to Steve F., we are headed out to Coca Cola Park again to see the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs vs. Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) – Wednesday, June 24 at 7:05 pm (doors open 5:45), Tickets are $11 each which includes $2 ballpark credit. Sign-ups at the S.I.G.N. board or call the Church Office. IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER - Call the church telephone answering machine, which will be updated with the latest information (215-536-4447) or you can check Channel 69 website at www.wfmz.com (click on “school closings,” click on “church/worship/ libraries.”) UPPER BUCKS CODE BLUE SHELTER – If you know someone who is lacking inside shelter in Upper Bucks County during periods of extreme, life-threatening weather (temperature or wind chill of 26 degrees F or below) between November 15 and April 15, room is available at the Upper Bucks Code Blue Shelter located at the Quakertown Masonic Lodge, 501 W Broad St, Quakertown, PA from 9:00 pm to 7:00 am the following morning. A hot meal and hot breakfast will be provided. Car rides to the shelter are available from the Turkey Hill at Ottsville/Harrow and the Landis' Supermarket in Perkasie Square at 7:45 p.m. at both sites. To request a ride, please call 267-450-5191 before 7:15 PM and leave your name, your phone number, and which site you want to be picked up from, and our transportation volunteers will pick you up and bring you to the shelter, returning you to your pickup site in the morning. The Upper Bucks Code Blue Shelter is a ministry of Advocates for the Homeless of Upper Bucks (AHUB). GIANT GIFT CARDS are on sale on the first Sunday of every month in the Narthex after the service. YouthWorx has a limited supply of gift cards in stock, ready for you. Thank you. ADULT ED 2020 ADULTS SUNDAY CLASS – We are continuing the Bible study series Always: Walking in God's Grace, by Sarah Young. Explore with us through Scripture the wonders of the gift called grace. We will discover many types of grace and learn how you can experience that grace in your life when you embrace God’s truths, and how you can trust in God’s provision for you and depend on Him for strength. Join us from 10:30-11:30 am in the Chapel each Sunday (weather permitting) for time to fellowship with friends at First Church. WEDNESDAY MORNING LADIES BIBLE STUDY – Join the ladies on Wednesday morning at 10:00 as we continue the latest study, “Pearls from Proverbs,” a study on the Book of Proverbs.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING - This year we will be collecting for Outreach Care, a local Upper Bucks County community of volunteers which helps local families and persons that are in need of emergency shelter and resources. Outreach Care’s mission is to rescue people from homelessness. They provide short-term emergency housing at area motels. They also provide a variety of services to help people get sustainably back on their feet. Transportation, food, job leads, and referrals to other agencies are examples. They operate on a totally volunteer basis. All donations go for services to the homeless. Longer term, they would like to employ a social worker to help with needs requiring skilled response. For each donated quarter, a cut-out of a heart or a hand will be hung throughout the halls of our church. From the Sunday school wing up and into our Sanctuary. Please give generously when you see our containers and help our own neighbors. This campaign runs through March 22. Karen W., Interim Sunday School Administrator COMMUNION Holy Communion will be celebrated on the following dates:  Sunday, March 1, 9:15  , April 9, 7:30 pm  , April 10, 7:30 pm  Sunday, April 12, 7:00, 9:15 & 11:45  Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 9:15 am  Summer Communion, July 26, 9:15 am  World Wide Communion Sunday, October 4, 9:15 am  Advent Sunday, November 29, 9:15 am Holy Communion will also be celebrated on the first Sunday of every month at 11:45 am: March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2, September 6, October 4, November 1, and December 6 COUNCIL NEWS At the regular meeting of church council, led by Alyse F., on February 10, the following matters of business were attended to: ● New council members were welcomed; council was reminded of communion, greeting, committee liaisons, First Fellowship, constitution and by-laws, confidentiality, and reviewed duties and responsibilities of deacons and elders. ● The minutes of the previous March 10 were approved. Bills were presented and approved to be paid. ● Council is looking into more e-giving options. ● Council reflected over Pastor Don’s passing, his commitment to visitation ministry here at First Church, and how staff might and members might try to meet the needs of our members. ● The next Saturday council retreat was scheduled for March 21. KITCHEN MINISTRIES FEBRUARY COMMUNITY DINNER - It was a busy night! There were 85 guests and 10+ team members. They served BBQ Pork Chops, Baked Potatoes/Sour Cream, Buttered Peas, and Tossed Salad. Our next dinner will be March 19 at 5:30 pm. All are welcome. MARCH FOOD PANTRY Items of the Month are: Pancake mix and syrup, peanut butter, and jelly. (Food Pantry Items of the Month are coordinated with predictable sales cycle for each calendar month.) SOUPER BOWL - Your offering packet includes an envelope for this project. This is the sole support of our Community Dinners. Please give generously - our goal is $2,700.00. Collections will be received through the beginning of March.

LENT AND EASTER 2020 EASTER LILIES - If you would like to have Easter lilies and you are not currently on our list, please call the Church Office. Please specify if this is will be a one-time listing or if this is something you would like to do on a continual basis. Lilies are $8.75 each and the deadline for order is March 22. LENTEN SOUP SUPPERS – Our popular Lenten Soup Suppers will begin on March 4. Wednesdays (continuing on March 11, 18, 25, April 1) at 5:30 p.m. Please plan to attend this special time together. We are looking for soup makers and dessert bakers, as well as donations of bread, crackers, butter, cheese, salads. Please sign up in at the S.IG.N. board outside the Church Office. This year’s program will be watching of The Mission of Jesus, by Ray Vander Laan. Discover how Jesus triumphantly made God’s presence known on Earth, and how He asks you to do the same – bring God’s shalom (peace) to the chaos of others. GOOD FRIDAY VIGIL SIGN-UP – Sign up at the S.I.G.N. board for an hour (or more) of meaningful and inspiring time spent with God in prayer. AT FIRST UCC Sunday, April 5 Worship 9:15 am Easter 10:30 am Mid-Day Worship 11:45 am Thursday, April 9 Maundy Thursday Worship 7:30 pm with Communion Friday, April 10 Community Good Friday Service 12:00-1:00 pm (Sanctuary will be open for prayer and meditation till 3:00 pm) Good Friday Service 7:30 pm with Communion Friday through Saturday Prayer Vigil 8:30 pm-8:00 am Sunday, April 12 Easter Dawn Communion Service 7:00 am Easter Breakfast 8:00-9:00 am Traditional Easter Communion Service 9:15 am Mid-Day with Communion 11:45 am MISSIONS THE 2020 ONE DREAM MISSION TEAM’S week of service is July 25 - August 1. The planning has begun and we are looking forward to another great week! The trip is open to students that will complete 8th grade this year and older. An informational meeting is scheduled for March 15 at 10:30 am. This meeting will provide information about the mission trip and give anyone interested an opportunity to ask questions. If you have any questions prior to the meeting please email [email protected] MARK YOUR CALENDARS – Our 7th Annual Golf Outing is scheduled for Friday, June 5. Registration brochures are now available at the S.I.G.N. board and the Mission Team board or by being in contact with anyone on the Mission Team. SAFE FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN Sources of Crisis: homelessness, unemployment, hospitalization of parent, domestic violence, incarceration, substance abuse treatment Resource Friends: A volunteer who provides tangible support through goods and services. Goods could include cribs, clothing, strollers, etc. Services could be healthcare, day care, mechanical work, etc. Funds for Families: Most children staying with a Safe Families’ Host Family come with very few supplies and personal possessions. You can help by donating resources. Your funds will help children placed with Host Families by purchasing necessary items or services such as: diapers and wipes, baby formula and baby food, clothing and coats, blankets, healthcare or daycare.

Pray for Ministry Leads and Safe Families churches as they support volunteers in their churches, recruit new volunteers, and mobilize people to provide tangible resources. 2019 STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL Please mark your calendars for these future Strawberry Festival meeting dates. March 11 April 8 May 6 June 10 The Strawberry Festival committee is still interested in more volunteers, specifically another person to help lead the planning efforts. Karen and Joe R. have volunteered to co-chair with another volunteer. Can you give the time to be that volunteer? If you would like additional information, please speak with Linda F. on Sunday mornings or leave a message for her through the church office. MARK YOUR CALENDARS – Our 70th Strawberry Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 13. Please watch for more information about the planning meetings. SYMPATHY We extend our deepest sympathies to Marlene R. and her family, at the passing of Jim, on February 15. Services for Pastor Jim were here at First Church on February 24. We extend our deepest condolences to Don R. and his family, at the passing of Nancy, on February 19. Services for Nancy were here at First Church on February 27. THANK YOU’S Dear Friends, Thank you for the Christmas box of delicious cookies. How we both enjoyed them! We appreciate your kind thoughtfulness. The little angel is hanging from our poinsettia. Love, Marlene Dear Friends, Thank you so much for taking up the cause of organ donation with the Family Thankoffering. My hope is that many more people decide to give the gift of life. The world is a better place because of people like you. Love, Nancy and Kidney Team F. to C. Dear Friends, Now that the holidays are in our rear-view mirrors, I wanted to drop you and your amazing guild a note of sincere thanks! Our Phoebe Richland residents had their best year ever thanks to the generosity of First UCC. Everything was gorgeous and packaged perfectly! Definitely above and beyond. So from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Wishing you and all of First UCC a blessed, healthy, and happy 2020! Warm regards, AnnMarie P. XO Dear Members of Women’s Guild of First UCC Church, Thank you so very much for the wonderful cookies! I could not bake this holiday season and the cookies were so special and tasty to me and my whole family. Bless you all, Shirley R. Thank you for the generous donation! Mikayla, Phoebe, Larissa, Mya, Jaelyn, Cora, Sydney, Leia, Marie, Alexis, and Ellen of Girl Scout Troop #2779 Thank you so much for your donation to our Troop! Danielle, Sofia, Emily, Jacee, Leah, Aurora, Mya, Abby, and Ron of Girl Scout Troop #21277 Dear Women’s Guild members, When a youth is placed at Bethany, they are scared, angry, and without hope. Most will come with the clothes on their back and if they are lucky, they may have a small bag of personal belongings. They are seeking for someone to listen, provide a guiding hand, and care about them. Though it may be difficult for them at first, or youth begin to see that there are so many new opportunities available to them at Bethany. Every resident not only receives the most basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing, but also opportunities to learn new life skills. They can attend school, participate in art, music, and recreation programs, work/volunteer in the community, and build new friendships. Through these programs, they can regain control of their life and set a new path for their futures. Thank you for your generous gift of $300 to Bethany’s Brighter Future Fund. Your special gift to the Brighter Future Fund will provide our youth with a new foundation to become empowered young adults with positive goals.

Thank you for thinking of our youth during this time of year. Your ongoing support will help them to continue to help and take back their lives. Thank you! Sincerely, Carolyn S., Director of Development On behalf of Transplant Foundation, we would like to thank you for your generous contribution of $3,178.43 made in honor of Laura F. and Nancy C. We have sent a letter of acknowledgement to Laura and Nancy to let them know of your generous gift. Transplant Foundation is the charitable foundation supporting the mission of Gift of Life Donor Program, the region’s organ and tissue transplant network. Your contribution will be used to support donation and transplant through public education and awareness programs, as well as other community initiatives, such as the Gift of Life Family House. With more than 5,000 people waiting in our region for a life-saving transplant, your support will help address the critical shortage of organ and tissue donors. Thank you again for your generous support. Your contribution will truly make a difference in the lives of so many that are waiting for their second chance at life. Sincerely, Howard N., President and CEO WOMEN’S GUILD The next meeting of the Women’s Guild will be April 7 at 7:00 pm in the parlor. Sue B. will share her experiences from her participation in the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference trip to Puerto Rico to help with hurricane relief. Reminder to members who promised to bring cookies for our Easter Baskets – please have them in the parlor no later than 10:00 a.m. on April 7. The Women’s Guild extends a HUGE thank you to all of you who donated to our love package project. The response was awesome! We had no one in the military this year, but we sent 16 boxes stuffed with snacks and other items to students for Valentine’s Day. The students always appreciate it and we want you to know that we are grateful for your help with this project. Thank you for your generosity! WORSHIP SCHEDULE Worship with us at 9:15 each Sunday morning in the Sanctuary for a time of beloved , scripture readings, meaningful choir anthems, and sermon following a traditional order of worship. Worship with us in Fellowship Hall at 11:45 each Sunday morning for contemporary praise songs, scripture readings, and a message which allows for a question and answer session, as well as a time of individual prayer requests.

First United Church of Christ Non-Profit Org. 151 S Fourth St U.S. POSTAGE PAID Quakertown, PA 18951 QUAKERTOWN PA Permit No. 115 TIME VALUE – DO NOT DELAY ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTED

MARCH 2020 NEWSLETTER