The Traveler 2
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God is still T he Traveler speaking, JUNE 2019 JERUSALEM UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 545 Church Drive, Palmerton, PA 18071 (Trachsville) Phone: (610) 681-4412 Facebook: Jerusalem Trachsville UCC Website: www.jerusalemucc.org The Vision of our Church is to Facebook: increase F aith, Hope, Love, Community and B elonging Church Staff Contact Information Pastor: Rev. Kathryn Foster home: (610) 261-9015 Office Hours: By Appointment cell: (610) 554-7364 [email protected] Secretary: Lyn Summers (610) 681-4412 Office Hours: Tue. thru Fri. 9 a.m. – 1 PM [email protected] (hours subject to change) Director of Music: Shelba Scheffner [email protected] Director of Christian Ed: Marcia Heinick [email protected] Treasurer: Steph Anderson (610) 681-3878 [email protected] Financial Secretary: Debbie Cope (610) 681-5033 Sexton: Barry George President: Ed Brader 484-357-3551 [email protected] Vice-President: Rick Anderson 610-681-3878 [email protected] Acting Secretary: Lyn Summers 610-681-4412 [email protected] Additional Members: Barry George Marcia Heinick Bob Buck Lorrie Nothstein Beverly Waibel Duane Hawk Saralyn Sarandis Jaclyn Wonderly Dear Members and Friends, Recently, billionaire Robert F. Smith announced to the graduating class at Morehouse College that he was going to create a grant that would eliminate the student debt of the entire 2019 graduating class! That was fantastic news for those 400+ students. He added that he knew they would “pay this forward.” Jesus told his disciples and those who heard him that to those given much, much is required; and for those given a whole lot, even more will be required. (Luke 24:48) Apparently, Mr. Smith has taken that seriously. Jesus calls us to give to the world out of the abundance we have. Jesus followed that up with, “I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke 24:49) “Fire,” in this case, is a metaphor for energy. Often fire is associated with the Holy Spirit, but essentially, fire in any case designates energy. I am guessing that those graduates, who had the energy to complete their studies and obtained degrees in various programs at the alma mater of Dr. Martin Luther King, all have a vision for the good they will do in the future. Mr. Morehouse gave them a gift, but the gift comes with a caveat: Pay it forward. Jesus said that a long time ago. If God has blessed you with much, God requires, and humankind needs, your generosity and your vision for success, “with liberty and justice for all.” Yes, ALL. Our founders had a vision and so do we. May you be blessed and a blessing to your community. Pastor Kathryn The Traveler 2 MESSAGE FROM THE CONSISTORY PRESIDENT JUNE 2019 Hello Members and Friends of JUCC, It’s hard to believe that five weeks have passed since Easter Holy Week. I can’t help but reflect back on the deeply spiritual and meaningful services Pastor Kathryn conducted. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday each offered their own unique perspective on the last days leading to our Savior’s resurrection. Thank you, Pastor! We now move on to the time of year on our church calendar when our attention to our ministry takes on an added perspective. While we continue to have very meaningful Sunday services, we also start to gear up for our fund raisers. These events are an integral part of supporting our church budget which allows us to expand our ministry. To kick things off, the “Spring Filling Sale” took place last month and was able to generate a $1,300 profit. Thank you to all the “filling fairies”! Our next event will be the Spring Flea Market on Friday May 31st and Saturday June 1st. Let’s pray for great weather and a good turnout. On Saturday, June 15th, we will be hosting our second “Free Community Chicken BBQ Dinner” from 4 to 7 pm. Although this is not a fund raiser, (the expenses for this event have been covered by donations), it is a ministry opportunity for us to connect with each other and with our neighbors. So please invite your friends, family, neighbors, and perhaps a fellow member you have not seen in a while. Come out and enjoy a great summertime barbeque and entertainment by “The Hawks” and “God’s House Band”. This ministry was one of the first to be developed from our Visioning Team. At last year’s dinner, you could simply feel the Holy Spirit at work in our grove. Last, but not least, please don’t forget our 3rd annual Blood Drive taking place on Saturday, June 1st from 9 am to 12 pm, along with the Flea Market. This is a very important gift we can give back to our community. Please consider a blood donation if you are able. On the horizon, we are already planning our annual Church Picnic and the Palmerton Community Festival. More on those events in next month’s Newsletter! I know there are many other very important activities that I have not highlighted, such as VBS, and the Dementia Presentation, so please be sure to read through this newsletter for all the details. Continue to search for what God is calling you to do! Peace Be with you, Ed Brader, Consistory President The Traveler 3 SUNDAY CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PROGRAMS **Registration required for all programs** Nursery (infant to pre-K): Meets with Judy Hessinger at 9:00 AM in the Sunday School room. For the nursery, parents are required to stay on premises and may be asked to stay with their children depending on ****************************************************************************planned activities. Children (ages 5-12) “Children’s Church” program begins during the 9 am service; children are released for Bible School around 9:15 AM. Parents are encouraged to stay for church service. Registration required. NOTE: Play clothes are recommended! We sometimes get messy! Youth Group (ages 13-17): Meets the last Sunday of ea ch month @ 6pm. Please contact Jessie Walters, our Youth Group Director at [email protected] or call 484-358-6720 for more info. Adult Sunday School: Adult Sunday School will not meet during the summer months. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “…pray for one another, so that you may be healed.” (James 5:13) “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing…” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17) As disciples of Jesus, we seek to pray daily. Below is a list of those who need our prayers. Shorter term prayer concerns: Anna Bowman Jessie Walters Mark Stetler Timothy Henning Joanne Frable Jim Fritz Darrell Berger Don Kupillas Laura Maliszewski Doug Hawk John Kupillas Jeff Eckhart Wanda Pettit Duane Hawk George & Linda Seidel Kathleen Ridenour Dottie Mohr Fred Harvey & Family Longer term prayer concerns: Jim Buck Orpha Shaffer Kayla Johnson Bonnie O’Brien Bob Buck Gerald Hawk Dalton Fredericks Terry Cope Barry Smale ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Pentecost / Confirmation Sunday – June 9th Our confirmands, Katelyn Thompson, Dominick Bojko Paige Burnett, Brianna Shupp, Emily Shupp & Mahlon Hansler will reaffirm their baptism during our 10:30 am service. Please congratulate our six confirmands. May God Bless them all! The Traveler 4 A MESSAGE FROM CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Do you love to hear great stories around a “campfire”? Love to roast marshmallows and sing songs? Love to play games, or draw and create, all in a loving nurturing Christian environment? Well, come to JUCC’s Sports and Arts Jamboree/VBS from July 15-18 from 6-8 pm to learn about and experience God’s Love. This year’s theme is “Camp Jerusalem – Bible Heroes and Sheroes”. The children will hear about Bible Heroes and Sheroes such as Moses, David, Esther, and Jesus. Children ages 2-12 are invited to come along on our “camping” adventure in the beautiful JUCC Grove, or in the church during bad weather. Children ages 5-12 (already having completed Kindergarten), will be led by our “background-checked” camp leaders and our “littles” ages 2- PreK, who must be accompanied by an adult, will sing, play games and make adorable crafts around our theme. Registration forms are attached to this newsletter, or you can see or email Marcia Heinick at [email protected]. They are also available at the back of the church. On July 21st the children will come to the 9:00 service as we re-create some of the adventures had during the week. Immediately following the service, the families and the Congregation are invited to a Carnival out in the Grove where we can enjoy games and refreshments. Hope to see many children! Blessings for a wonderful start to Summer! ~ Marcia Heinick ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ THANKS FOR THE MUSIC!! As the Senior Choir hangs up their robes for another season, please join me in saying thank you for another year of inspiring and uplifting music. This wonderful group adds so much to our Sunday worship. We are a music-filled church, thanks to many people! To God's House Band, to those who fill in at the keyboard (Katie Raish, Susan Kuder, Pastor Kathryn), the Hawk family who brings us special music, our Men of Jerusalem, all who take part in our special musical offerings at Christmas and during the summer, and Consistory, leadership, and you - members and friends - who support what we do to glorify God and bring love in the form of music at JUCC. With gratitude, Shelba MONTHLY GRIEF & LOSS SUPPORT GROUP Monthly Grief and Loss Support Group at JUCC will meet on June 12th – 2nd Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm. Directed by professional counselor, Sue Featro, M.E.D., E.D.D., M.S. Counseling, this group is for people experiencing grief due to trauma, loss or death.