May 2019 Vol. 37 No. 5 The monthly newsletter of Christ Church United Church of Christ Music celebration Sunday Music celebration “Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart” -Eph. 5:18-19 The arrival of May ushers in nature’s full flush of flowers and trees, and the A very special worship service designed and earth rejoices with the bursting forth of new life. led by Christ Church’s high school youth. Creation is humming again with the joyous Experience worship unlike anything you’ve sound of the season! What better way to experienced before! celebrate than through music! As the birds sing their joy-filled songs, we offer our praises to God Youth Sunday is a one worship Sunday at with song during Music 10:00 a.m. Faith Formation hour from Celebration Sunday! 9 - 9:45 a.m. Join all the wonderful musical ensembles of Christ Church Sunday, May 5th for Music Celebration Sunday! 1 The NET Monthly Newsletter of Christ Church United Church of Christ FAITH FORMATION & YOUTH Older Youth Summer Book Study is coming! We will be reading Lysa TerKeurst’s book Uninvited. Stay tuned for MAY 17-18 more information! Sign-up on the Youth Board BRING YOUR FRIENDS! May 12th, 11:00 a.m. BAKE SALE hosted by our Middle School youth is set after Youth Sunday, on May 12th. Proceeds benefit our Youth Fund. Parents interested in do- nating a baked good should call or text Amy Addams (717) 371-6105 or email [email protected]. May 19th, 1-4p.m. Younger Youth Picnic at Wolgemuth Park Saturday, The Pastors would like the June 8th parents and children entering grades 4-8 to attend a brief Acolyte Church Training immediately Yard following the 9:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday, May 19th. Sale, Each child will be assigned one Sunday throughout the summer months to serve as an Vendor Sale, Bake Sale acolyte. and...Chicken BBQ!!! Serving as an acolyte is one of the your child’s earliest introductions to what it means Don’t miss this great event! to serve the church. The training program is brief, so grab a cookie from Cookie Time Spring Cleaning? If you are interested and meet one of the pastors in the Sanctuary! Parents, plan on joining your child to go over in selling your stuff, it costs just $25 parental supervision when your child will be for the space, and you keep the money serving as an acolyte so that you may assist you make. Sign up on the Dock or the and support them. Note - if you are unable to attend on May bulletin board if you are interested! 19th, or you have any questions or concerns, please contact Pastor Laura! 2 Christ Church UCC 247 S. Market St. Elizabethtown, PA 17022 (717) 367-1208 Email: [email protected] Web: etownucc.org A Divergent Path “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God” (Rom. 8: 19). In March, a Muslim mosque was Reconciliation, renewal, and restoration. bombed in Christchurch, New Zealand. These are characteristics of a very All of us groaned under the weight of different, divergent pathway, one that Jesus the news because—here we go again. taught. One that leads to life. On Easter Sunday—a date Shouldn’t it be a no-brainer to choose deliberately the path of life? chosen—churches Yet, it’s clear what path and hotels were much of the world is on. bombed in Pastor Galen Russell retaliation for New I think the revenge, Zealand’s bombing. One bombing led to retaliation, retribution, eye for an eye pathway is eight more. slowly killing us. It’s a slow painful demise, insidiously creeping into our way of thinking and You disrespect me, I disrespect you. being. All of creation is groaning under this slow You kill my friend, I kill five of death. All of creation is waiting for us. yours. We don’t need a new teaching. It’s time A synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh for faithful, practicing Christians to step six months ago inspired another hate up. The children of God need to reveal crime just days ago. the divergent path of Christ. The path of “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a forgiveness and mercy. The path that tooth.” That’s the way it seems people role models trust and love. The path that around our nation and world, many of whom practices reconciliation, renewal, and restoration claim to be Christians, treat each other. so much that those values become the norm. They become part of our lifestyle, part of the way The violence just doesn’t stop. we live, move, and have our being. Where does it end? All of creation is waiting with eager longing for When will it end? the children of God to reveal this path. Revenge, retaliation, retribution. These are Because the time is now to stop the violence. characteristics of a specific pathway of living Help us reveal your path we are on, Holy One. that leads to destruction and death, a path All of creation is waiting for us to do so. Amen. taken all too frequently, it seems. Can You Help Pastor Galen Find Goldie? It was late in the afternoon and Pastor Galen had just finished cleaning out his fish tank. While his back was turned he heard a commotion and then a loud splash! Turning around quickly, he spotted Goldie, the littlest gold- fish, flapping around on the carpet! “Goldie!” he scolded. “Get back in the tank!” He scooped Goldie up and placed her safely in the water. The next morning when Pastor Galen came into the office, he noticed that little rascal had done it again - but this time she was no where to be found! We think Goldie may be hiding some- where in this NET. Can you find her? She can be anywhere! If you spot Goldie, let Tracey know the page number and where you found her - we will draw a winner from all correct entries to receive a prize! The dead- line for this month is May 15th! (Above is a picture of Goldie - but watch out! She can be any color, any size, anywhere.) Email [email protected] 3 The NET Monthly Newsletter of Christ Church United Church of Christ News from the Pews NOTES To all those who helped make Peanut Butter and Coconut Eggs in April - a great big 5/2 Geri Hart 5/19 Fred Bender Jr. thank you for your help in the Kevin Shorner-Johnson kitchen! Your time and 5/20 Joseph Spayd willingness to help is greatly 5/3 Christine Wells appreciated. Also, many thanks 5/23 Jill Funk to those who lent us their mixers, 5/4 Amy Addams as well as those who supported LiFT by purchasing your Ginny Shenberger 5/24 Craig Miller candy eggs! We’ve made and sold nearly 1,000 eggs!!!! Next year, candy eggs will be made by the newly formed 5/7 Wendy Cain 5/25 Carol Hunter Social Activities Group, so stay tuned in 2020! 5/12 Ryan Best 5/28 Maddie Nagel Sean Reading Tana Parrett About Expense Vouchers and Sales Tax!! Remember, Christ Church is tax exempt - if you 5/13 Diane DeArment 5/30 Angel Hook are purchasing items for a church-related program or activity, pick up a tax exempt form with you and present it 5/15 Scott MacDerment when making your purchases. Attach your receipts to a voucher and fill out completely. Both forms are located in the hall pocket outside Nadinne’s office door. Kids Having a Birthday 5/10 Ailah Boxler 5/27 Miles Ressler PLEASE KEEP IN PRAYER 5/30 Isaac MacDerment 5/31 JD Ziegler After a follow-up surgery on her knee, Carol Bender is at home recovering. Please keep in prayer Our Summer Courtney Drew who is Schedule starts once again recovering from abdominal surgery. Molly Duffy had a scary bout with an infection that Sunday, May 26th! put her in the hospital on a couple of occasions. Worship at 9:30 a.m. Jane Hoffman is at Juniper Village for rehab after her car accident. Please keep in prayer Deb Ansalvich’s mother “Dutch” after falling and suffering a broken hip at 97 years old. Thank you for praying for Barb Shenigo as she recovers from a painful abdominal surgery. She is doing better. Sage Ramsey has several medical concerns—but is improving. Pastor Laura and Jesse are grateful for your prayers. Scripture invites us to pray for one another—so we pray for people near and far suffering through life’s difficulties. 4 Christ Church UCC 247 S. Market St. Elizabethtown, PA 17022 (717) 367-1208 Email: [email protected] Web: etownucc.org Events, Opportunities, & LiFT POSTS UPCOMING EVENTS! POTLUCK LUNCHEON SLATED FOR Back by popular demand! Bring a picnic supper, a SUNDAY, MAY 5TH! beverage of your choice (wine permitted) and comfortable All are invited to a very shoes as we dine alfresco and special potluck luncheon to tour the incredible gardens at celebrate the large number of the Conestoga House! new participating members who Thursday, June 6th at 6:00 have joined our church family in p.m. the past year and a half. Along This “hidden” Lancaster with the Fellowship Committee, gem is the former estate of we ask those planning to attend James and Louise Steinman, bring a dish to share.