The Living Stones Newsletter

The Living Stones Newsletter
1 PETER 2:4-8; EPHESIANS 2:19-22
St. Jacob’s (Stone) United Church of Christ
5152 Stone Church Road, Glenville, PA 17329
www.stonechurchucc.org
Rev. Dr. Jason Leader, Pastor
Home: (717) 428-2068
Office: (717) 227-3778
Email: [email protected]
IT IS THE VISION OF THE PEOPLE OF ST. JACOB’S (STONE) UNITED
CHURCH OF CHRIST to provide a place of worship that uplifts
the heart and draws all to a closer relationship with JESUS
CHRIST through prayer, praise, study, and outreach.
IT IS THE MISSION OF THE PEOPLE OF ST. JACOB’S (STONE) UNITED
CHURCH OF CHRIST to strengthen the family of GOD by sharing
the good news of JESUS CHRIST.
VOLUME 33
JANUARY 2014
NUMBER 1
Dear Friends,
Wow, what a year it has been. First of all, Pat and I want to thank you for
all your support and prayers you gave to us as we had to say “see you later” to
our daughter Amy this past August. This was the most difficult situation we
had to face as a family, but our faith has made it possible to keep going
knowing we will see her again.
We wish you a happy and prosperous new year as we begin 2014. Our
church family has grown both numerically and spiritually and there is an air
of excitement almost every time we get together. Some people who don’t
know better might look at our financial statement and attendance figures and
deduce from those numbers that we are a growing church. While it is
important we pay our bills and worship together, to me those are not signs of
a strong, vibrant congregation.
What has captured my attention this past year, and what I believe to be
the sign of a healthy congregation, is your enthusiastic outreach to both
those within our community and those living in other areas and countries.
You gave underwear, money, bicycles, sunglasses, T-shirts, hats, food, sun
block, diapers, school supplies and socks in an effort to share the wonderful
blessings you received from God. Our young adults and several “older”
young adults journeyed to New York to participate in the Reach Work Camp.
You reached out to a neighbor whose house burned down, giving money,
skills and time to make sure they had a comfortable warm place to live.
Looking back is always fun, but more importantly it puts into perspective
the challenges we face as a Church family going forward. We cannot afford to
sit back and point to last year’s accomplishments. Three areas in which we
seem to struggling is Bible study, book study, and Christian education. While
our Sunday School provides all of us a formal source of Christian education,
there is so much more we should be doing as a Church family to expand our
spiritual formation. I will be offering a study of the hit miniseries “The Bible”
beginning in January. In addition, a book study will be offered, and a
worship liturgical study group will be formed.
We have built momentum that has set the pace for our future so we can
become an even stronger, more vibrant “Great Commission” Church. If you
have any ideas about how we can become a better Church family, please
share them with me or a member of consistory. Suggestions are ALWAYS
welcomed.
In Christian Love,
PJ
Rev. Dr. Jason A. Leader, Pastor & Teacher
2
Lessons to Remember...
Don't let worries get the best of you; Moses started out as a basket case.
Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.
People are kind, polite & sweet-spirited...till you try to sit in their pew.
People are funny: They want the front of the bus, the
middle of the road and the back of the church.
Forbidden fruits create many jams.
Working for God on earth doesn’t pay much, but his
retirement plan is out of this world.
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Lay Life & Work
Lay Life will not meet in January, but please plan to join them in
February at Homewood for a special program for the residents.
Consider bringing a small snack to donate for the residents to use as
bingo prizes.
The Stone Church Community Club
will meet on Wednesday, January 8th
at 1:00PM. The program will be held at
the Weaver’s home where they’ll host
a program and refreshments.
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Special Services in January
Communion for the New Year
& Consistory Installation
Just as the “Dutch” in us require our New Year to
be greeted with pork and sauerkraut, the
Christian in us requires us to also partake in the
bread and vine of Communion. Join us for a special service
welcoming in 2014 with communion and the installation of our
Consistory on Sunday, January 5th.
Baptism Renewal
re·new: 1.to begin or take up
again; 2.to make effective for
an additional period; 3.to
restore or replenish; 4.to
revive; reestablish.
Renew your baptism into the Christian family in a special
service on Sunday, January 12th.
Cancellation Information
In case of inclement weather, please tune into one of the
following for Church/Sunday School cancellations.
WHVR (1280AM)
WSBA (910 AM)
WGET (1320 AM)
WYCR (98.5 FM)
WSBA (103.3 FM)
WGTY (107.7 FM)
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January Scripture Lessons
January 5th
Old Testament
Epistle
Gospel
January 19th
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
January 12th
Old Testament
New Testament
Gospel
Old Testament
Epistle
Gospel
Isaiah 49:1-7
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42
January 26th
Isaiah 42:1-9
Acts 10:34-43
Matthew 3:13-17
Old Testament
Isaiah 9:1-4
Epistle
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Gospel
Matthew 4:12-23
Monthly Giving Report
Date/Service
11/3/13
11/10/13
11/17/13
11/24/13
Total for Month
Budgeted Amount
Giving
$3,672.67
$7,012.57
$3,218.00
$3,037.50
$16,940.74
$14,362
Date/Service
12/1/13
12/8/13
12/15/13
Total for Month
Giving
$3,928.25
$3,330.00
--snow-$7,258.25
6
Coming Next Month….
Congregational Meeting
Stay after worship on February 9th to share in the congregational
business of reviewing and voting on the congregation’s and church
organizations’ Annual Reports. Your presence is encouraged to
show support for the leadership of our congregation and the time
and effort they invest in the management of our church.
Yo uth News
The Youth are again hosting a “Souper Bowl
of Caring” campaign at church. There are
two opportunities for you to participate:
 All are encouraged to bring nonperishable foods to be shared with local food
banks/soup kitchens, and
 A soup luncheon will be served on February 2nd
following worship during which a collection will be taken.
Please join the Youth in supporting those in need during
this annual American celebration of food & football!
Sweetheart Banquet
Didn’t book your Valentine’s reservations yet?
Come and join us at the Sweetheart Banquet on
February 15th. There will be plenty of food to eat
and fun games to play. Look for additional information soon.
Help is needed to organize & prepare the meal/program!
7
In Sympathy
It is with great sadness that we mourn
the loss of our own.
On Wednesday, November 6, 2013, Warren Forbes was called to
be with the Lord. He was the husband of the late Sadie Forbes.
He leaves behind three daughters (including members Jane &
Andy Nace), three sons (including members John Forbes and
Steven Forbes), seven grandchildren, and eight greatgrandchildren.
Services were held November 11th at Geiple Funeral Home.
On Wednesday, December 11, 2013, Martha C. Burk, was called
to be with the Lord. She was the wife of the late Wallace Burk.
She leaves behind a daughter, two grandsons, and sister.
Services were held December 16th at Stone Church.
As a church family
we share our sympathy with the family
and pray that God’s promise of eternal life
will provide comfort for their loss.
Have news to share?
Births, special anniversaries, awards, etc. We want to communicate
and celebrate this with your church family. Please submit stories to
the Church Secretary for inclusion in Member News.
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New Members
We extend a special welcome to our newest
members:
Ronald & Janice Judy and their daughter
Johanna Judy joined our congregation on
October 20, 2013.
Billy & Teresa (Sarver) Lehr joined our congregation on October
3rd. Billy & Teresa have two children Zachary & Faith. Also
joining on November 3rd was Michelle Wolfgang-Fantone.
Please take a moment to welcome
these families to our congregation!
On Sunday, October 20, 2013, we
welcomed into the family of God and into
our St. Jacob’s (Stone) United Church of
Christ family Anthony James Ruggiero, son of Joe & Amanda
Ruggiero, through the sacrament of baptism.
On Sunday, October 27, 2013, we welcomed into the family of God
and into our St. Jacob’s (Stone) United Church of Christ family
Zage David Geiman, son of Zach & Whitney Geiman, through the
sacrament of baptism.
On Sunday, November 17, 2013, we welcomed into the family of
God and into our St. Jacob’s (Stone) United Church of Christ
family Rocco & Lucca LoPiccolo, sons of Adam LoPiccolo &
Megan Langrall, through the sacrament of baptism.
We share in the excitement of these growing families
and welcome these brothers to our church family!
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Ministries & Opportunities
within our Church
Holy Communion will be observed on
Sunday, January 5th
HANOVER AREA
COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
Needs for January:
PROVIDE-A-LUNCH SERVICE (PALS)
Powdered Milk, Coffee, Sugar, Canned
Fruit & Sandwich Bread
CHANGING LIVES SHELTER
Comet, Hand Sanitizer, Disinfectant
Spray
CLOTHING BANK
Socks & Underwear for Men, Women,
and Children of all Sizes
10
Rev. Dr. Jason Leader
9328 Forest Road, Glen Rock, PA 17327
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (717) 428-2068
Rev. George O. Butz
938 N. Penn Drive, Wernersville, PA 19565
Phone: (610) 927-6782
James Miller, President Phone: (717) 235-3673
Linda Bupp Phone: (717) 225-4166
Fred Marsh Phone: (717) 632-4469
Jeff Trump Phone: (717) 465-1412
Randy Rohrbaugh, Myrl Bortner,
Amanda Ruggiero, Michael Sterner,
Ray Thacker, Adam Marsh
Adam Shue & Donald E. Miller
James Sterner
93 Roth’s Church Rd., Spring Grove, PA 17362
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (717) 225-4213
Cindy Forbes
5123 Sinsheim School Rd., Spring Grove, PA 17362
Phone: (717) 229-2330
Betty Trump
273 Bankert Rd., Hanover, PA 17331
Phone: (717) 637-2759
Jonas Sterner
5 Town Circle, Abbottstown, PA 17301
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (717) 259-8530
Mr. & Mrs. Quincy Russell
Phone: (717) 235-0651
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