Palm Leaves December 2020
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Palm Leaves December 2020 833 Gravel Pike P. O. Box 66 Palm PA 18070 215-679-5321 www.palmschwenkfelder.com PASTOR’S PAUSE – “CHRISTMAS WONDERINGS” In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7) INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Normally, when I would make a title like “Christmas Wonderi ngs” the PAGE article to follow would deal with childhood memories, thoughts, and Pastor’s Pause 1 reflections from this beautiful season of the church year, all the things I Budget Proposal 2, 3 look forward to experiencing again, fresh and new. Typically at this time Member News 3 of year we are knee deep in rehearsals for United Schwenkfelder Choir and preparing for the Christmas Eve Cantata, as well as the stress of Funeral Policy 4 Caspar’s Corner 5, 6 preparations and planning for our own personal gatherings. Prayerfully though, in the usually common hurriedness, comes a moment which grabs Brown Bag Lecture 6 my attention and reminds me that at the core of all this stuff, is simply a Church News 7 miraculous, and wondrous birth. I long, I hope and I pray for that moment Youth News 8 in 2020. Luminary Order Form 9 Christmas Eve Survey 10 I can already tell you that Christmas this year, and Christmas Eve this year Calendar 11 in the life of Palm Schwenkfelder Church, will be different. Currently our leadership is in discussion of how to best approach Christmas Eve during a pandemic. As of the writing of this article the COVID 19 numbers are not moving in a promising direction. While we want to fully celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, we also want to continue striving to keep all those worshipping safe. Our current plan is to continue evaluating the situation and communicate with the congregation in December the specific opportunities for worship and meaningful reflection on Christmas Eve. I encourage all of you to remain vigilant in following COVID protocols as you strive to keep yourself and others safe. 1 FROM THE DESK OF THE CHURCH TREASURER PLEASE REVIEW BEFORE OUR CONGREGATIONAL MEETING ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13TH WHERE WE WILL APPROVE THE BUDGET. THANK YOU, ROBERT W. CROLL 2 Palm Member News A LITTLE CHRISTIAN HUMOR… A little boy opened the big and old family Bible with We extend our sympathies to fascination, looking at the old pages as he turned them. the following families of the Then something fell out of the Bible. on their passing of: He picked it up and looked at it closely. Heinz Herrmann on November 2, 2020 It was an old leaf from a tree that has been pressed in between the pages. Paul Boyer on "Mama, look what I found," the boy called out. November 6, 2020 "What have you got there, dear?" his mother asked. With astonishment in the young boy's voice he answered, "It's Adam's suit." 3 ** Please take a moment and review our updated Funeral Policy, we found necessary to revise during these unprecedented times. Thank you. – Church Leadership ** Palm Schwenkfelder Church Associate Member: United Church of Christ P. O. box 66, 833 GRAVEL PIKE, Palm PA 18070-0066 www.palmschwenkfelderchurch.com REVISED FUNERAL POLICY – COVID19 Grieving, especially in a time of global pandemic, presents challenges and heartbreak. We, as a family of faith, strive to offer comfort to those who mourn, as well as to provide for the safety of attendees and staff in honoring a person’s life. With guidance from the CDC, Montgomery County Department of Health, denominational bodies and the United Church Insurance Board, we continue to recommend safe practices, social distancing, and limited group number gatherings. Palm Schwenkfelder Church partners with the funeral home of the family’s choosing to provide as safe an environment as we can. The following policies now apply to all funeral services at Palm Schwenkfelder Church until further notice: • We continue to recommend graveside services. However, services in the Sanctuary are available. • If possible, we recommend a celebration of life service be held at a later date, when it is determined safe to do so. • No more than 100 people may attend a graveside service. Those attending must be standing at least 6 feet apart. As a courtesy to the other attendees we ask those who are able, to wear face masks or face coverings at all times. When approaching the graveside, attendees will be asked to provide contact tracing information. • No more than 100 people may attend a service in the Sanctuary. • The church building has been set up to allow for the practice of social distancing. Please respect these guidelines by standing, or sitting, 6 feet apart while in the building. Members of the same household will be allowed to sit or stand together. Please do not congregate in groups before and after the service in the church building. When entering the Sanctuary, attendees will be asked to provide contact tracing information, and then escorted to an available pew. At the conclusion of the service, attendees will be dismissed by rows, beginning at the rear of the Sanctuary. • We are unable to provide a viewing/calling hour prior to the graveside service. • We are unable to provide for a funeral luncheon following the graveside service. • Pastoral participation in funeral services held inside of funeral homes is subject to individual pastoral discretion. 4 CASPAR’S CORNER CHRISTMAS MEMORIES FROM 1962 Caspar’s Corner is provided monthly to The Schwenkfelder Church by the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center. For the November/December 1962 candy and nuts on the floor for them to Schwenkfeldian, Glenna Kelly interviewed a gather. But, if the children reached for them number of Schwenkfelder “old-timers” and before he left, they felt the switch on their wrote a light-hearted article of their hands. Dr. Elmer E. S. Johnson fondly recalled recollections of Christmas in their younger that on one particularly dark Christmas Eve days. Glenna was the Pastor’s secretary at two men who came to play “Belsnickel” the Lansdale Schwenkfelder Church as well as tripped and fell into an uncovered water being the Schwenkfeldian correspondent, a trough behind the house. Miss Irma Schultz member of the ladies’ quartet and one of the tells about her visit to a Schwenkfelder home, Senior Christian Endeavor youth advisors. She and what did she locate among the eaves — also served The Schwenkfelder Church for where he was resting for lo these past fifty several years as General Conference secretary. years and more —but “Der Belsnickel,” a little This Caspar’s Corner is an excerpt from her gray, perhaps, but in excellent condition, article “Christmas Customs of Early holding Christmas greens instead of the switch. Schwenkfelder Families in Pennsylvania.” Although all other Schwenkfelder customs we While there are not any recorded Christmas have learned about had a religious customs that are singularly Schwenkfelder, we connotation, we are unable, so far, to find one for “Der Belsnickel.” have been fortunate to be able to talk to many of our senior Schwenkfelders and they Breakfast on Christmas morning was an have nostalgically recalled “how it used to be important event. The family gathered around at our house” at Christmas. A lot of these the table and father, after adjusting his customs are familiar to others, too, since it is spectacles, would read from the old German natural for one to adopt a custom which is family Bible the story of the birth of Jesus. pleasant, to make it into a tradition for one's After the Christmas story was read, they own family. enjoyed their breakfast which included the Der Belsnickel (Pelznickel, Besh Nichel, “Schwenkfelder cake,” or Saffron cake, this Nicholas in Fur) was known to almost every time baked in a Turks Head (like a bundt-cake Schwenkfelder youngster two or three pan), with a candle in the center for the Christ generations ago. On Christmas Eve he would child's birthday. (Schwenkfelder cake also make his appearance, usually dressed in old made its appearance at weddings in addition clothes and wearing a mask or with coal to being popular daily fare and was usually baked in rectangular or square pans). darkening his face. In one hand he carried a bag containing candy and nuts, and in the The Christmas Tree was present in other hand was a long switch. Mrs. Mabel Schwenkfelder homes and it was this that Berky recalls she always kept the dining room attracted the attention of the children for table between herself and “Der Belsnickel.” under the tree they found their gifts—on the When “Der Belsnickel” ascertained that the plate they placed there the night before. The children had been good, he would throw the sometimes ostentatious display of toys found 5 CASPAR’S CORNER, CONTINUED… under the birthday of Jesus that it burst into bloom. the tree on Christmas morning today would The Christmas trees were decorated in have left those Schwenkfelder children probably as many ways as there were families.