Hilltop Trumpeter
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HILLTOP TRUMPETER Calvary United Methodist Church, Fayetteville, PA 17222 www.cumcpa.org 717-352-3715 August 2021 Our Mission: To make followers of Jesus Christ How we will accomplish our mission: Sharing God’s love through worship, learning & service Conform or Transform? Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. - Romans 12:2 NRSV When the Apostle Paul wrote these words, the Roman believers were struggling with how to live out their new found faith within a pluralistic, religious society. We, as readers of Paul’s message, find ourselves trying to do the same. Paul calls us to present ourselves as living sacrifices to God. Think about that for a minute. This is not a one-time short-term deal; we are involved in an ongoing process of living transformed lives for our Creator God. Instead of a dead carcass burned up on an altar in a moment of devotion, we are exhorted to undergo a metamorphic change and radical realignment of self and all the “stuff” that makes up our lives. Our choice is to conform to the world’s ways or to be transformed as the Spirit works within us. To conform is to allow ourselves to be molded by external forces, in this case by the standards and trappings of the world. Like a lump of clay we allow ourselves to be fashioned or modeled after someone else’s idea of how life should be. Now I don’t know about you, but the idea of being pressed and formed like a batch of canned ham isn’t too appealing—even if it is gourmet ham. In our consumer culture, we are encouraged to wear the right clothes from the right stores, to seek bigger, better, and newer possessions in an effort to keep up (i.e. conform) with the latest trends. We supersize everything from hamburgers to houses, and we throw away anything and everything that doesn’t fit with the current season’s look. Great emphasis is placed on fitting the mold and playing the part. What’s the alternative? Well, according to Paul it’s to be transformed and to grow into a God-centered, God- focused way of being. Transformation involves change, and change can be difficult, but the results may just amaze us. By being transformed, we have the opportunity to be exactly who God created us to be. Our unique gifts and talents are given space to grow and bloom, and we find purpose and meaning in building up the body of Christ. Worship is no longer a Sunday morning event but rather a life-long, day-in-and-day-out process that finds its expression in word and deed. We praise God not only in song and prayer but in everything we do and through each decision we make. Being transformed means we take time to listen, time to discern the will of God. Each Christian is invited to cultivate the discipleship journey only he or she can make. Instead of appearing like rows of canned ham on a shelf, all neat and tidy and blandly alike, disciples of Christ move in a kaleidoscope of vivid colors, textures, and shapes. United in service and mission and called to be good stewards of the many gifts of God, we go out into this broken world to be the hands and feet of Christ. Canned ham or kaleidoscope? Conformed or transformed? A boring, stagnant follower or a lively, dynamic disciple? To me the choice is clear. How about you? Growing Together, Pastor Robin Children’s Ministry Vacation Bible School was a huge success! Weird Animals VBS taught us that Jesus’s love is truly one of a kind. A huge shout out of gratitude goes out to all the volunteers for your time, dedication, and support. You are making an impact on our youth that is bringing them closer to their faith. Thank you to all our donors for providing the supplies that made this week possible. Your contribution brought many smiles, full bellies, and lasting memories. Our children are truly blessed to have such wonderful support and love. Upcoming Children Ministry Events: Back to School Backpack Blessing Service August 15th 8am and 10am (Sanctuary) Wednesday Night Youth Program Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm Location: Back classroom or Gym Sept 29th (Kick Off Night) Oct 13th Oct 27th Nov 10th Nov 17th Dec 8th Dec 15th (Christmas Party) Pastor Robin’s September Bible Study Unsung Heroines: New Testament Women Who Made a Difference Sept. 7 Lydia Acts 16:11-15 Sept. 14 Dorcas Acts 9:36-43 Sept. 21 Priscilla Romans 16:3-4, Acts 18:18-26 Sept. 28 Phoebe Romans 16:1-2 Tuesday mornings at 10am in the Choir Room. Bring your Bible! Everyone welcome! ___________________________________________________________________________________ COFFEE FELLOWSHIP IS COMING BACK IN AUGUST! BRING YOUR TRAVEL MUG AND BE PREPARED TO SWILL & CHILL TOGETHER UMVIM Summer Mission Academy Save the date! We are running a joint Summer Mission Academy serving all 5 jurisdictions. The event will be online and will feature a keynote by Roland Fernandes, the new General Secretary of Global Ministries for the United Methodist Church. Registration will be available later this month. September 2 Blair Burns August 2 Michelle Martinez September 3 Dottie Ann Mason August 5 Laurie Elliott September 4 Carl Straley Teena Foster September 5 Jeannie Cannistraci August 7 Matthew Osman Tim Morris August 9 Clayton Elbin September 8 Kathy Mollett August 13 Peggy Campbell September 9 Mark Nicola August 15 Wesley Elmore September 15 Nancy Hollar Timothy Park Mary Jane Jones August 19 Donna Hayes September 16 T. J. Park August 22 Tia Nicola September 20 Kirsten Dupont August 24 Barry Johnson September 24 Susan Snyder August 27 Paul Taylor September 25 Charles Jones August 28 Rick Elliott September 26 Carol Seltzer September 30 Grace Shea Our sincere condolences are extended to the family of Larry King who passed on July 11, 2021. Calvary would like to extend sincere sympathy and prayers to Donna Hayes and her family following the passing of her hustand, Gerald on July 1, 2021 As summer winds down soon, summer clearance sales will start up. Please watch for items such as summer clothes like t-shirts, shorts, dresses, sandals, and flip- flops. We still need lots of clothes for shoeboxes. Other useful items are plastic bowls and cups. Some summer toys make great shoebox items: collapsible buckets, sand shovels, plastic sand trucks, jump ropes, frisbees (not full size), etc. On the Project Leaders Facebook page, I read recently about another leader who had taken projects along on her family vacation to work on when it rained. Her niece that was adopted from Africa remembered receiving a shoebox as a younger child as was so glad to get to work on shoeboxes for other children now to share the Gospel of Jesus our Savior. Thanks to all of you that help make that possible. Sara Nelson American Red Cross Calvary United Methodist Church Hilltop Hall th Saturday, August 7 9:30 am—3:00 pm Please call 1-800-RED Cross (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: Calvary to schedule an appointment United Methodist Women is a community of women whose PURPOSE is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. United Methodist Women (UMW) will be meeting for a picnic on August 11th. We will In the July Newsletter, Mary Jane thanked the meet in the back parking lot under the shade ladies who helped with the Feminine Kits. trees. Bring a bag lunch, drinks will be She missed one name & would like to thank provided. Starting at 11 a.m. we will be Judy Herrick for her help in the sewintg packing maternity kits for UMCOR. UMW project. She was very helpful, so “thank you” to her. will supply everything but baby receiving Mary Jane Jones blankets. YOU can help UMW by buying receiving blankets, size 26” x 26” to 36” x 36”. Two blankets are packed for each kit. Lunch is noon. At 1 o’clock, we will car pool to Lorie and Dan Kennell’s home to view their monarch butterfly garden. Looking forward to September, UMW is planning to hold our ANNUAL TEA on September 8th. All ladies are invited. Look for more information in the September Newsletter. ANNUAL DAY for York District is being held September 25, 2021 at Winterstown Sunday, UMC. We will carpool. This year we will be served a “Grab and Go Lunch Bag”. Meeting August 15, 2021 begins at 9 a.m. and is over by noon. Back to School Blessing How about a trip to Orlando, Florida? at both worship services UMW Assembly will be held at the Orlando Convention Center on May 20 – 22, 2022. Assembly comes only once every four years. KIDS Start planning now and be ready to go next year. Bring Your Pat Moore, UMW President Backpacks! The Commandments Across 3. ____ your father and your mother 5. You shall not ____ adultery 7. Remember the ____ day by keeping it holy 8. You shall not give ____ testimony against your neighbor 10. You shall not make for ____ an idol in the form of anything Down 1. 20:1 The Ten Commandments 2. You shall not ____ your neighbor's house 4.