July 2020 Peace-Tohickon Evangelical Lutheran Church 100 Old Bethlehem Road, Perkasie, Pa 18944
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
July 2020 Peace-Tohickon Evangelical Lutheran Church 100 Old Bethlehem Road, Perkasie, Pa 18944 (215) 257-3294 Website: www.peace-tohickon.org Email: [email protected] Dear Members of Peace: This morning I led worship, and preached from my kitchen table for the sixteenth week. It has been an interesting, and on occasion, difficult experience. But, one that we navigated together. We learned and grew and discovered that church isn’t a place we go to, but rather an experience we live. Sixteen weeks on Zoom, plus the first week when we hadn’t figured Zoom out. It really doesn’t seem possible does it? And now, here we are on the brink of gathering together in person again. Oh, for sure, things will be different. Masks will be required. Hand sanitizer will be in generous supply and should be used unsparingly. We will be social distancing in marked pews, so your view may be a bit different than usual. There won’t be any communal singing (and that may be the hardest change for most of us). No coffee hour and indoor fellowship. And we will be live-streaming the service for those who are unable, or unwilling, to join us at this time. We will not be returning to ‘normal’ but we will be returning to our worship space. There have been so many disciples who have gone above and beyond to help our community feel connected. I can’t possibly name them all with running the risk of accidently leaving someone out. But, you all know who you are. The Zoom gurus who helped me find my way through that new technology. Those who provided music to enhance our worship. The team who digested the guidelines and requirements we needed to meet so we could open as safely as possible. Those who stepped up every week to help lead worship by adding their voices so worship wouldn’t be a monologue of, and by, one. Those who ventured out to work in the garden, and to keep our sanctuary safe and clean. To the team that has taken on the care of the labyrinth. I have received several texts and emails from people who have been using that space and found it to be calming and spiritually renewing. To those who changed our paraments and ordered supplies. And to those who made sure that folks who didn’t have access to a computer or the internet were able to receive copies of the bulletin and sermons. There are so many more who stepped up to fill a need when they saw it. No one could ever have predicted what the last five months were going to be like. And, not one of us could have possibly been prepared for that journey. And yet, we made it. We worshiped, studied God’s word. Held meetings. Gathered socially. And carried on in the name of our Savior. Next week, July 12th, we’ll begin the next leg of the journey. We will be following all guidelines set forth by the CDC and the State of Pennsylvania. And we’ll be learning as we go. Not one of us has ever done any of this before, so bear with us. We will learn together. Many aspects of our worship time together will be different and may even feel a bit foreign to us. But, one thing has not, and never will, change. We worship in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. No matter where, or how, or when. Thanks be to God. Let’s go forth in his name as a confessing community. No longer from our kitchen tables and family room sofas, but gathered in our worship space again. Pastor Dayle Malloy Good day to all of Peace-Tohickon Church. July is upon us and there is much to do. At the June meeting, Council has voted and approved, upon entering the green phase in Bucks county to re-open our church on July 12th. With this re-opening, we are taking a step to return and move forward in our mission to share and spread the word of God with each other and those in our community. At times of uncertainty the church is a source of comfort and support to those who are in need. This role is something we cannot forget is an essential service. What does our re-opened church look like? To help all in our congregation be informed, a copy of safety protocols has been sent by email (or by USPS regular mail in some cases) and attached at the end of this newsletter to reach all members listed in our directory. If you know of someone who does not have email or has not received a copy by mail, please print and deliver a copy to them. It would also help to update their information in the church office, so they can be reached when needed. The protocols outline how service will be run. How social distancing will be handled. How cleaning will be handled. And what is expected of each of us as we enter, worship, and leave the building. Council understands we will not all like the rules or how things are done. The protocols were developed with great thought and care. We ask for your kindness and understanding, that everything done is for the safety of all and to attempt to hold the best worship service we can under the circumstances. Another new aspect of our church will be live service internet streaming. Council is working diligently to have the system up and running in short order and we hope to be live as we hold our first worship service back on July 12th. The streaming will enable those that are not yet ready or are not able to come in person to still join our family. The system will be linked directly to our website home page at www.Peace-Tohickon.org, greatly simplifying connecting to the service. We will be posting signs at our church that indicate live streaming will be in progress and entering the building is your understanding and consent to participate in the live stream event. It is a time of great responsibility by each of us to be safe while making efforts to bring the joy and fellowship to all in need now and every day. May God bless you & Peace in all of our efforts. Doug Erney, Church Council President Summer Worship Services at Peace Our summer service will begin at 9:00 a.m. and include weekly communion, similar to what our early service does now. There will be an occasional special worship song or instrumental number. Sunday school and confirmation classes will take a break for the summer months and resume again in September, as well as our New Spirit worship services. This schedule will run from July 12th through Labor Day Weekend. Worship will be on-site and via live stream from our website at www.peace-tohickon.org Please invite family, friends and neighbors to join us when they are ready. All are welcome at Peace. Thank You For Your Support A special thank you to the Peace congregation for your recent donations to the ELCA: $85 - Designated ‘Where Needed Most’ $20 - Designated ‘Where Needed Most’ $46.50 - Lutheran Disaster Response $29.75 - ELCA Global Mission Your support is appreciated. (Thank you letters dated 6/2/20 & 6/23/20) Congratulations 2020 Graduate James Dages James Dages – ACS Certified Degree in Chemistry & Concentration in Material Science, a Minor in Physics, a Certificate in Nanoengineering & related areas in Math & Music From the University of Pittsburgh on April 26th, 2020 with Honors WOW, James! Very Impressive … Way to go! Congratulations to Jillian Dages our 2020 Peace Scholarship Fund Recipient Jillian Dages was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Peace-Tohickon Lutheran Church’s Scholarship Fund to further her pursuit of a double degree in special education and early childhood education (PreK-4) at West Chester University. Jillian wants to be a teacher. Best of luck to you, Jillian! We’re proud of all of your accomplishments thus far, including your participation in the Golden Rams Marching Band. Keep up the good work! Happy Birthday! to our Senior Member over the age of 80: Grace Nicolino - July 8th Wishing you a joyous birthday and well wishes for all of 2020! _____________________________________ Hope you all had a festive July 4th holiday helping our nation to celebrate its Independence Day. May God Bless America! Peace & Pennridge Little League: Play Ball ! Peace Lutheran Church has sponsored a Perkasie Little League AAA baseball team this year. We are the Florida Gators and Peace’s name is on the back of the kids’ jerseys and visible for all to see. Go Gators, play ball! Below is a game schedule for anyone who would like to cheer on our sponsored youth team. Since we are practicing social distancing, spectators must bring their own chairs or blanket and sit along the outside of the outfield fence at the PLL Majors Baseball Complex on South Walnut Street in Perkasie, PA. Bring suntan lotion & a drink. 6/29 @ 6 pm -AAA Field (Field closest to Lenape Park) 7/1 @ 6 pm - AAA Field 7/6 = Rained Out; May be Rescheduled for 7/12 (TBD) 7/10 @ 8 pm - Majors Field (Field closest to Walnut St.) 7/22 @ 6 pm - AAA Field 7/25 @ 8 pm - Majors Field 7/27 @ 6 pm - AAA Field 8/1 @ 9 am AAA Field 8/4 @ 6 pm - AAA Field 8/6 @ 6 pm - AAA Field Playoff Games TBD Floral Sponsors to Resume Betty Gabel 408 Grandview Ave.