May 2014 - Florin Church of Brethren

Hilltop Highlights
M o n t h l y N e w s l e t t e r
F l o r i n C h u r c h
o f t h e B r e t h r e n
M A Y 2 0 1 4
o f
Look inside for:
Pastor’s News
2
Leadership Team
3
Outreach Ministry Team 4,5
Mother’s Day - May 11th
Discipleship Team
6,7
Peru Trip
8
Church News
9
Ministry Schedule
10
Church Calendar
11
Back page- phone info.
& Word Find
12
Church Staff
Rev. Randall Fiske
Pastor
[email protected]
Jodi Kerlin
Office Administrator
[email protected]
Church Website
www.florincob.org
A mother is a gift from God!
A mother knows your heart!
Praying mothers can change the world!
Office Hours
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Monday thru Friday
Pastor’s News…
Page 2
The following is a list of “ I owe you’s” which apply to all mothers. Stop after each one and
consider the priceless value of your mother!
Dear Mom:
As I walk through my museum of memories,
I owe you- for your time. Day and night.
I owe you- for your example. Consistent and dependable.
I owe you- for your support. Stimulating and challenging.
I owe you- for your humor. Sparky and quick.
I owe you- for your counsel. Wise and quiet.
I owe you- for your humility. Genuine and gracious.
I owe you- for your hospitality. Smiling and warm.
I owe you- for your insight. Keen and honest
I owe you- for your flexibility. Patient and joyful.
I owe you- for your sacrifices. Numerous and quickly forgotten.
I owe you- for your faith. Solid and sure.
I owe you- for your hope. Ceaseless and indestructible.
I owe you- for your love. Devoted and deep.
- Charles Swindoll, Strong Family
Moms, forgive us for taking all that you do for us for granted. Know that we love you
and truly appreciate everything about you. And know that we pray for you daily for God’s
protection, guidance, and peace. We pray that the words recorded in Proverbs 23: 24-25 be
true for you: “The father of godly children has cause for joy.”
What a pleasure to have children who are wise.
So give your father and mother joy!
“May she who gave you birth be happy. “ (Proverbs 23 24-25, NLT)
Have a blessed Mother’s Day every day!
Leadership Team...
Page 3
After this long winter, the sun has finally arrived! Let us remember the cold days of winter
when we are tempted to complain about the heat.
At the April Leadership Team meeting, our devotions continued in Philippians 2: 19-30.
Here we see some of Paul’s significant relationships, something we don’t often connect with
Paul. We also looked at Luke 22, the last supper, in preparation for Easter week. Again, we see
the relations, this time between Jesus and his disciples as they reclined at the table together.
These passages remind us of the importance of the relationships with our brothers and sisters in
the church as we work together doing God’s work. Let us be mindful of the need to nurture and
grow these very important relationships.
On May 4th, we will hold a congregational forum, seeking approval for the 2014 budget.
SMAT has spent countless hours, over many months, working on the budget, looking at the
goal Pastor Randy set before us of bringing more families into the church and how to direct
funds to meet that goal. Unfortunately, our giving has been declining, prohibiting us from being
able to direct any funds toward this goal. There are some exciting ideas coming from the CIT
groups to bring families to our church and minister to them. Ideas like creating a café where we
can serve coffee and make guests feel welcome, adding additional paid staff for the children’s
ministry and updating our website. There are also property maintenance needs that will soon
need done like replacing the roof and fixing the sidewalk. Without funds, we are unable to
move forward with these plans. Please consider giving, or increasing your giving, so that we
can see these plans put into action.
Blessings from Leadership Team
Naomi Kraenbring- chair, Rob Strickler, Jim Becker and Kerri Stern
*******************************************************************
CONGREGATIONAL FORUM
NEXT
SUNDAY, MAY 4TH AFTER WORSHIP
AGENDA:
 VOTE ON PROPOSED BUDGET 2014
 VOTE ON PROPOSED “WHAT WE BELIEVE” STATEMENT
 OPEN MIC TIME WITH NAOMI KRAENBRING, LEADERSHIP CHAIR
OMAT…...
Page 4
WE’RE HAVING A PARTY!
As a joint effort, The OMAT and C.I.T Witness team are excited to invite you to a
party. We really hope you will come! The date to put on your calendar is Saturday,
November 1, 2014. We will get back to you with the exact time later. Also, on
Sunday, November 2nd, we are inviting you to church for a special dedication.
In previous years a project several of you have been
involved in and included your family in doing is the
Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Project. This year
we want tot invite you to come along with your family and
join our larger family I packing these shoeboxes together.
We would like to invite Little Peoples Nursery School and
their families to join in as well. We have made contact
with the local representative and they have 100 Christmas
boxes for us to pack!
NOW GET READY FOR THE PARTY: WE NEED YOU!
We have taken some of the most frequently suggested items and chosen a
month for these items to be brought to the church. There will be a box or boxes in the
gathering area for these items. Age categories are 2-4, 5-9 and 10-14 years old.
There are boy and girl items.
 April: Toothbrushes, washcloths, bar soap
 May: New Toys: dolls, toy cars, stuffed animals, jump ropes, balls, toys that light
up and make noise, harmonicas, yoyos, etc.
 June: Socks, T- shirts
 July: Combs, hair ties, hair clips, sunglasses
 August: School supplies such as pens, pencils, crayons, sharpeners, notebooks,
paper, picture books, markers
 September: New Toys
 October: Catch up
Things not to pack:
War related items, guns, knives, military figures, chocolate, food, candy, liquids,
lotions, medications, vitamins, glass items or aerosols.
A donation of $7.00 covers the cost to ship 1 box so we will need $700 to ship 100
boxes. If you would like to donate toward shipping costs, contact an OMAT team
member or submit to the offering earmarked for Christmas Box Shipping Fund.”
Thank you for your time and interest in this activity. If you have questions, please
contact Ruth Ann Barr or a member of the OMAT team. SEE YOU AT THE PARTY!
OMAT…...
Page 5
SANFORD’S APRIL UPDATE
Thank you for praying and for supporting us. This month, pray with us that God would
provide for our financial needs. As we transition into our second term with Greater
Europe Mission, we need to raise $2500 in additional monthly support. We are grateful
beyond words for each of you who partner financially in this work. We recognize your
sacrifice in order to expand the Kingdom of God. For those who are not regular
contributors to this ministry, we ask if you might consider what role you could play in
reaching Muslims for Christ here in France. We pray that God will lead some of you to give
monthly so that we can introduce more and more Muslims to Jesus. If you are ready to
participate, email us for donation details.
Great things are happening in France. This month we had opportunities to move forward in
the three main aspects of our work: sharing the gospel with Muslims, discipling young
believers and training French Christ-followers to share and disciple as well. We received
Muslim church-planting training directly from a missionary/author who has seen great
success introducing Muslims to Christ. Then we helped facilitate a Discipleship
Multiplication Training in Paris. Over 30 people learned how to share their faith in Jesus
and how to train young believers who accept Christ. Pray with us that each of these 30+
participants will boldly share their testimonies and lead someone to Christ within the
next month.
As we look forward, pray for Collin this Sunday as he will preach his first sermon in
French. He and a teammate recently met the pastor of a new church in the area. This pastor
was touched by their heart to reach the city for Christ and he invited them to share the
vision with his congregation.
As always, thank you for praying. May Jesus be lifted up and all people be drawn to Him!
April Mid Month Focus!
We thank God for each of you, our faithful prayer supporters. This month we
especially ask you to pray for our 10 day evangelism "push". Starting today, we and our
teammates will put aside most of our other responsibilities and dedicate ourselves to
engaging as many people as possible in gospel conversations. Pray for the special guests that
will come to Lille to help us with this effort: Peter, Kate and Jordan. Pray that as a result of
this intense push we would make new contacts and find people who are seeking the truth.
Pray that during this time we would especially walk by the Spirit.
Thank you for praying faithfully for us and our ministry!
DMAT…………………..
Page 6
Men’s Fellowship Gathering
“Not a Fan” by Kyle Idleman
We will be meeting again at Wayne Fry’s house on Monday ,May 12th at 7:00pm.
It will be the start of a new series based on the DVD series from Kyle Idleman called
“Not a Fan”. The DVD series is based on a very popular book of the same title written by
Kyle several years ago.
The format will be very different from a typical bible study. Over the course of 6
evenings (probably meeting every other Monday) we will watch a 25-30 minute movie drama
centered on a character named “Eric Nelson”. Pastor Kyle will make appearances throughout
the drama giving biblical references that mirror the story that is unfolding. After the video is
over, we will discuss what we have seen and how it impacts our own lives.
The main theme throughout the drama is identifying fans from followers. Here is how Kyle
defines the term “Fan”:
fan: an enthusiastic admirer. In the Gospels, Jesus never seemed too interested in
fans. Is that how you define your relationship with Him? An "enthusiastic admirer"?
Close enough to Jesus to get the benefits but not so close to require sacrifice?
He was looking for followers. Not just any follower though, but a...Completely.
committed. follower.
How would things change if you lived as Jesus lived, and loved the way He loved?
Maybe you’re ready to join the hundreds of people who have stepped across a line
and said:
I am not a fan.
Please join us in this study as we try to walk through what it means to be a committed follower
of Jesus Christ. This study will blend nicely with Pastor Randy’s sermon series on Luke 9:23.
“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses
his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world
and loses or forfeits himself?” Luke 9:23-25 ESV
Wayne’s info: 702 Florin Ave, Mount Joy, P: 492-0024, Txt: 333-0843, Email:
[email protected]
DMAT/LPNS News…....
Page 7
Child Protection Policy Update:
DMAT would like to thank the church for their involvement in the revised Child Protection
Policy! Thank you to everyone who is investing in our children and youth ministries, we are so
thankful for your commitment and passion! Moving forward, DMAT will be in-charge of this
policy and will be the contact group if you have questions. If you work with your children and/
or youth and did not attend the CPP Training on Feb 22, you'll need to view the training DVD.
These DVD's can be found in the church library starting March 23. Please check them out and
complete the revised CPP forms in order to renew your Approved Adult status. Thank you for
your attention on this and for serving Florin COB. -Discipleship Ministry Action Team
Little People’s Nursery School News!
The end of the school year is quickly approaching for Little People's
Nursery School! Here are a few highlights from April and May...
We had a fantastic art show on April 15th. It was well
attended and we added a few new features such as edible art and we decorated the gym!
Also, a big thank you to the volunteers who helped us that evening from Florin!!
On May 5th & 6th we will have a visit with Jan from the Mount Joy library.
The children love her enthusiasm in reading the books she brings with her!
During the day of May 9th, our children in the Giraffe class and a few from the Bear
class will have a kindergarten visit at Donegal.
May 14th & 15th will be our last days of preschool for this year. We end with fun
activities for the children and their parents. They also bring a picnic lunch and we provide
ice cream and toppings.
On May 15th (6 pm to 7 pm) & May 17th (10 am to 1 pm) we will be holding another
open house for new registrations. We have openings in all of our classes. We especially need
two and three year old children to register.
We plan to have Summer Camp again this year July 14th thru July18th and then another
week July 21st thru July 25th.
Thank you for supporting us through the school year and we look forward to working
with you again in September!
The LPNS Team
Congratulations Florin Youth!
You raised $710.00 serving breakfast after Sunrise
Service and $180.00 at the LPNS Indoor Yard
Sale selling baked goods! Great Job!
That’s a HOME RUN!
Church News...
Page 8
A team of four from Florin, Mandy Peiffer, Jim Heisey, Ashley Ovens and Kerri Stern, will be returning
to Pucallpa, Peru on another mission trip. We will leave June 27th, from Newark, on a nonstop flight to
Lima, and return by the same route on July 7th. Remembering the flight delays and problems from a year
ago, we feel blessed to have a nonstop flight this year! We will meet other members of the mission team in
Lima, mainly “young adults”. Seems that makes us the “mature adults”. Our week will look similar to last
year with children’s and women’s ministries, medical and eye glass clinics and a work project constructing a
wooden, open air structure for a place of worship in the Shipibo village of Kilometer 13. During the week
we will minister to 4 different villages and also do an outreach in Lima. A new experience this year is a four
hour boat ride to a remote village where we will do outreach and spend the night. Not sure how that will
turn out, but we will share the experience with you when we return.
One of the main responsibilities for the 4 of us from Florin, is preparing for 5
children’s ministries, which could involve as many as 450 children. We will present to
the children the miracle “Jesus Calms the Storm”. We will then be leading them in
doing a craft and coloring page. For these children, having the supplies to do a craft,
and crayons and a page to color, is not an everyday occurrence and is a treat for them.
We will also be taking some items along for play time.
The main focus of the medical clinics will be to distribute vitamins to various age
groups and hand out pain relievers. We will also have various medications to give as
needed. It is anticipated that the medical clinics and eye glass clinics may minister to 200 people.
The women’s ministries will include at least 120 women. This ministry will be led by another team
member, having the women working with beads that they would not normally have in their area.
If you would like to donate items for us to take along on the trip, below is a list of items we are in need of
and will be collected at the table in the narthex. The first priority for us are items for the children’s ministry
and vitamins. There is also a secondary list of items that we can use, if collected. Any questions about this
list can be directed to Kerri.
Priority Needs:
Vitamins- Adult, Children’s Chewable (like Flintstones), pre-natal, iron and women’s vitamins. No Gummy vitamins please.
Pain relievers- Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen (large amounts can be bought cheaply at dollar stores or
Sam’s)
Eyeglasses- old prescription glasses and reading glasses (if you would like to purchase new reading glasses
the following web site sells them in bulk for less than $1 a pair, www.dollardays.com/1/3bulk-readingglasses.html)
Crayons- small boxes of 8 or so per box
Fish stickers
Face paint
450 jumbo craft sticks
450 sheets blue card stock
225 sheets of white card stock
10 rolls of double stick tape
Frisbees
Soccer balls/Beach Balls
Balloons
Bubbles
Interesting beads
Secondary needs:
Cold/cough medicine (adult and children’s)
stomach medicine (Pepto Bismol)
Fungal cream
triple antibiotic cream
Church News………….
Page 9
May Birthdays:
Camp Swatara
Memorial Garden
Dedication - May 18th
Linda Heisey
May 2
Marsha Heisey
May 5
Steve Smith
May 6
Kristy Stouffer
May 7
Brenda Thomas
May 8
Jeff Summy
May 11
Miriam Heisey
May 12
Dot Summy
May 13
Hugh Wenger
May 13
Located just behind the directional sign after
crossing the bridge into Camp Swatara is the Camp
Swatara Memorial Garden. Funds to establish this
garden were given in memory of Grace Heisey who
served with her husband, Adam, as Family Camp
Managers. Additional funds were given in more
Dennis Rosenberry
May 14
recent years in memory of Ron Mellinger. This
Jessie Weaver
May 15
Bob Price
May 18
Jenna Rosenberry
May 18
Ron Krause
May 20
Judy Mellinger
May 24
John Dohner
May 27
Vic Dohner
May 27
beautiful garden provides a special spot for gentle
strolls or quiet reflection. In addition, persons
connected to camp can request permission to use the
garden for depositing ashes following cremation.
Please join us on Sunday, May 18th at 3:00pm as we
hold the Memorial Garden Dedication. We will gather
near the garden entrance for the dedication and then
enjoy light refreshments together.
Paul Geib
May 27
Zach Summy
May 28
Barry Kreider
May 29
*****************************************
The congregations of West GreenTree CoB and Florin CoB share
a cemetery located at the West GreenTree church property. The
cemetery operations are overseen by 3 representatives for each
church.
GreenTree Representatives:
David D. Becker, President
Donald Hollinger, Treasurer
Barry Miller
Florin Representatives:
May Anniversaries:
Doug Witman, Assistant Treasurer
Mr. & Mrs. Bob Price
May 1
Earl Dehmey
Mr. & Mrs. Phil Bixler
May 3
John Dohner
Mr. & Mrs. Jere Ober
May 6
Mr. & Mrs. Roy Barr
May 16
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Smith May 13
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Becker
May 22
This Board of Directors is charged with overseeing the
maintenance of the cemetery and ensuring it’s financial future.
Lot prices were increased to $800 for non-members
and $250 (a$50 per lot increase) for members effective
July 1, 2014. For more information, contact Doug Witman.
Submitted by : Doug Witman for the Properties team
Ministry Schedule...
MAY
5/4
10:15
Service
Back Door
Greeters
Children's
Story
Page 10
5/11
Joyful Noise
Offering
Joyful Noise
Offering
Jerry Kniss
Bonnie B. &
Ruth Ann Barr
5/25
5/18
Shawn & Barb
Maxwell
Linda
Rosenberry
Ron & Linda
Krause
Jason
Petersheim
Front Door
Greeters
Dave &
Kerri Stern
Glenn & Barb
Miller
Organist
Marcy Price
Marcy Price
Marcy Price
Marcy Price
Pianist
Jan Chavez
Jan Chavez
Jan Chavez
Jan Chavez
Powerpoint
Trinity Breneman
Wesley Ovens
Paul Geib
Preaching
Pastor Randy
Pastor Randy
Pastor Randy
Pastor Randy
Melissa &
Jason
Petersheim
Steve & Patty
Hershey
Preschool
Sharon & Barry
Kreider
Jill Hershey &
Emily Fritz
Bob & Ruth Ann Martha Kline
Myers
Dot Summy
Emily Fritz
Mike
Studebaker
Ashley
Ovens
Austin
Ovens
Special Music
TBD
TBD
TBD
Toddler Room
Bob & Barb
Strickler
Elizabeth &
Steve Smith
Dennis & Linda
Rosenberry
Ushers
Abe Koser
Dave Stern
Nelson Thomas Jim Heisey
Welcome
Center
Marty Witman
Nancy Shonk
SS Clerk
Randy Hostetter
Sound
Ruth Ann Barr
Jeff
Summy
TBD
Gail & Jeff
Summy
Nancy Shonk
Randy Hostetter Randy Hostetter Randy Hostetter
Page 11
Church Calendar
SUN
MON
4
5
Forum
DMAT 7pm
(after
Worship)
BDRA 2pm
(Sanctuary) Pastor Off
11
Mother’s
Day
TUES
6
OMAT 7pm
DMAT 7pm
12
13
Men’s FellowWMAT
Ship 7pm
6:30pm
LPNS Board
BDRA 7pm
Mtg. 7pm
WED
7
Praise 6pmChoir 7:15p
THURS
FRI
SAT
1
National
Day of
Prayer
Breakfast
6:30AM
2
3
8
9
10
Pastor Vaca.
Day
14
15
16
Praise 6pm- LT Mtg. 7pm
Choir 7:15p
17
C.I.T Mtg.
8-10am
Pastor Off
18
Youth
Event
6-8:30pm
19
20
4-H Club Here
7-8:30pm
21
22
Senior Lunch
11:30am
23
24
Celebration
Of Life
Don Farrell
Family
12:30-4:30
3
BDRA
Bucket
Assembly
Prep
31
BDRA
Bucket
AssemblyAM
Praise 6pmChoir 7:15p
25
26
27
Memorial Day Deacons
Church Office 7pm
Closed
28
29
Praise 6pmChoir 7:15p
IT’S SO EXCITING!
Florin has a new phone system with 8 options to
choose from!. Please call 653-1202 and choose
from the following options....

Press “1” for Pastor Randy Fiske

Press “2” for Office Administrator, Jodi Kerlin

Press “3” for the PRAYER LINE ,updated daily or as new items
come in. (Please discontinue use of the old prayer info line on
phone# 653-1050. This number will now be used for incoming
and outgoing faxes only)

Press “4” for Deacons Dennis & Linda Rosenberry for Samaritan’s
Fund requests.

Press “5” for Children’s Ministry, Church Activities and Events
Florin Church

Press “6” for Weather and Cancellation Announcements
of the Brethren

Press “7” for the Church Kitchen (ladies, this for you!)
815 Bruce Avenue

Hilltop
Highlights!
Mount Joy, PA
17552
Phone:
717-653-1202
Prayer Line:
717-653-1202
Option #3
Deadline for
submission of
articles is the
third Sunday of
the month.
Press “8” if you would like to begin a relationship with Jesus!
(hear a message /salvation invitation from Pastor Randy)