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The Messenger
March 2016
First Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
442 Hummel Ave,
Lemoyne, PA 17043
717-763-4537
www.lemoynedisciples.org
Church Office Hours:
M 8:00 am—3:00 pm|
W & F 8:00 am—2:00 pm
Pastor’s Page & Holy Week
Info (cont.) 2
Board Update & Outreach 3
Outreach (cont.) 4-5
Serving Schedule & Prayers 5
Finance, Mark Your Calendar,
Fundraising & Thank You’s 6
Calendar 7
9th Annual Pancake Breakfast
Fundraiser 8
Inside This Issue
Senior Pastor: Delores M. Neal
Organist: Mary E. Snyder
Administrative Assistant: Jessica E. Spicher
Celebrate Holy Week The conclusion of Lent is
quickly approaching as we enter
into the Holy Week, the week
leading up to Easter Sunday.
Join us as we remember moments of joy and sorrow in worship, prayer,
communion, music and celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
Palm Sunday, March 20
Why do we celebrate Palm Sunday? On Palm
Sunday Christians celebrate the triumphal
entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, the week before his death and resurrection. This
Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, which concludes on Easter Sunday,
March 27th. The Bible reveals that when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds
greeted him by waving palms and covering his path with palm branches. We will
be passing around your own palm to have as a symbol on this significant day.
Maundy Thursday Service, March 24 7 PM Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is
celebrated on the day before Good Friday. Its name was given on the day on
which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, known as the Last Supper.
The last supper and communion, two important events which
are the focus and significance of Maundy Thursday.
Good Friday, Procession & Final Lenten
Lunch, March 25 11 AM Procession begins Calvary United Methodist & ends at Trinity
Evangelical Lutheran Church. Lunch served upon return at Noon.
A procession of the cross will be held on Good Friday. It will start at Calvary
United Methodist. The procession will start at 11:00 am, weaving its way through
the Lemoyne Community making various short stops and ending at Trinity
Evangelical Lutheran Church for the final Lenten lunch. Pastor Rich Cline of
Cornerstone Assembly of God will lead the discussion. If it's cold, dress warm!!!
Sunrise Service, 6:45 AM (dawn)
We will gather in the pre-dawn hours at Negley
Park. We gather in the upper pavilion on Indiana
Avenue. The service will be conducted by the Pastors and musicians of the 17043
churches. Pastor Delores Neal will be the speaker. We hope you will consider
joining us early and then stop by the Church’s Fellowship Hall for breakfast
before Worship. (More information on page 2)
2
Pastor’s Page/Holy Week Info (cont.)
spiritual journey such as, reading your bible more,
completing daily devotions, become a mentor,
participate in a community service, or any other
activity you believe will intensify your prayer life in
preparation for the fulfillment of your God given
purpose.
There may be moments the journey appears
challenging, but keep pressing because there’s a great
resurrection in the horizon!
Pastor Delores
Celebrating Holy Week
(cont.)
First Christian Church
Annual Easter Breakfast
7:30—9:30 AM Free & OPEN to ALL
Following the Lemoyne Ministerium’s Sunrise Service
at Negley Park, join us in the Church Fellowship Hall
for a homemade, made to order breakfast!
Menu Includes: Pancakes, Eggs, Toast and Sausage,
Orange Juice, Milk, Coffee & Tea
PLEASE RSVP March 20th by returning the RSVP
card found in the bulletin, calling the Church Office or
emailing Jessica at lemoymedisciples@gmail.com.
When RSVPing, please designate if you will be
arriving at 7:30 AM or after 8:30 AM and if you want
your eggs to order or how many eggs you and your
family intend to eat so we have enough for everyone!
Resurrection Sunday! He is Risen!
Sunday, March 27, 10:15 AM
After enjoying your Easter breakfast in the Fellowship
Hall, please join us for Worship in the Sanctuary where
we celebrate the day Jesus rose from dead. This is
going to be a great morning of celebrating Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Savior. Without His sacrifice, we would
not have the hope, grace and mercy that was gained
when he gave up his life for ours.
Happy Easter 2016!
Pastor’s Page
“Prayer, Preparation & Purpose”
We are journeying through the
season of Lent!
Lent is a very significant season
in the Christian liturgical
calendar for a variety of reasons. For some people
Lent is significant because it is the period of the year
set aside to the commemoration of the awesome
actions of Jesus Christ, performed at Calvary. For
some, Lent is a period of anticipation of the grand
celebration of the miraculous resurrection of Jesus
Christ. Many people like myself believe Lent is
significant for both Calvary and resurrection.
Throughout the years many traditions have been
adapted within Christianity to symbolize the
significance this period has within our lives. One of
the most popular has been the rejection or denial of
various foods. As the Church has grown, the
category of self-denial have grown to not only
include food but become inclusive of activities,
behaviors, and any other thing one personally feels
they have previously overindulged in. Many people
outside of Christian communities have often
questioned why, we choose to place so much
emphases on self-sacrifice during this period of the
year. The easiest answer is simply, Jesus’ action his
entire time on earth were reflective of self-
sacrifice.
However the self-sacrificial Jesus was not the only
image of Jesus seen during this period that we should
imitate. Jesus’ actions outlined in the gospel
narratives let us know while being self-sacrificial,
Jesus was simultaneously on his own personal
spiritual journey. A journey leading him into intense
prayer in preparation for the fulfillment of his
purpose.
During this time we see a Jesus who is focused on,
“Prayer, Preparation, and Purpose”.
Over the remaining weeks, I invite everyone to enter
into your own personal spiritual journey focused on
“Prayer, Preparation, and Purpose.” I would
however petition you this year, to allow Lent to
evolve into a deeper spiritual meaning more than you
may have in the past. Instead of primarily focusing
on things you can give up, look for new things to
take on that will be beneficial to your personal
3
Board Update/Outreach
FCC Board Meeting Update
1. Pastor Delores opened the meeting with prayer.
2. Minutes from the November meeting were approved.
3. The Ministry Planning calendar was reviewed and the following change
was made:
A. Finance Meeting will be May 15th after Worship
4. Diaconate Committee: Glenn Haagen reported that the Diaconate are working well. It would be helpful if
we could find a few more volunteers to help set up communion and the coffee hour for after Worship. If
you are interested please see Glenn.
5. Elders: Lois Miller reported that the Elders are also looking for one person. Please see Lois if you are
interested in volunteering
6. Property: As always we thank Glenn Haagen for all his work keeping the building heated and in good
repair. Glenn shared he is working with PAWC concerning a valve that is now required by the state. He is
also working with the furnace repair person to get the furnace updated. A special thank you to our neighbor
Dave who VOLUNTEERS to help clear the sidewalks and pathways of snow!
7. Prosperity Center Update. The Money In Your Pocket (MIYP), Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Program (VITA), is seeing clients in the Parlor three times a week on a Mondays from 1-4 PM, Tuesdays
from 6:30-8:30 PM and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to Noon. Thank you Volunteers!
8. Personnel Committee: We voted to give Jessica, our Administrative Assistant, more office hours. The
increase to 19 hours a week began in March.
9. Finance: Barb Plaza and Harold Turner presented the financial report, which is found on page 6 in this
newsletter.
10. New Business: A special board meeting was set for April 17th immediately after Worship. There will be a
pot luck lunch and a meeting. The meeting will be to discuss Pastor Delores’s position. Her contract is for
a 6 month interim position with the option to hire as our permanent Senior Pastor. This will be the ONLY
topic on the agenda. All are welcome to attend.
11. A special Congregation al Meeting is set for Sunday, May 1st, after Worship, to vote on the decisions the
Board discussed at the April 17th board meeting.
12. The building use policy was reviewed and the following change approved:
“If a party desires that a wedding be performed by a Pastor other than a Pastor of First Christian Church
of Lemoyne, approval will be determined by the Executive Board and Pastor on an individual basis.”
13. The meeting closed with a prayer.
*Please note that only Members are permitted to vote on Church business. Be sure to mark your calendars for
the dates listed above. Thank you!*
Mat Making Workshops
Help your Community and help make mats for the homeless men and women in our area!
Dates: 4/24, 9/25 & 10/23; Potluck lunch begins at 11:45 AM after Worship, followed
by mat making from 12:15-3:00 PM
For questions related to the Mat Making Workshop, please see Barb Plaza at barbplaza@gmail.com or
717-395-2403
4
Outreach Ministries Reaching out...Partnering with others….To serve our community
Girl Scout Corner!
Activities & Events we have done in the past month:
Brownies learned about philanthropy. They made Tzedakah (a Hebrew word meaning
“Justice,” commonly used for charity) boxes. Each girl was asked to add to their
boxes every day based on how many good things happened that day. This helped
them to not only give to others, but allowed them to think about how much they have!
We made dog treats and cat toys for a local animal shelter.
The Scouts made favors to be added to each tray of food for the Meals on Wheels program.
We began selling cookies! With all the girl scouts around, there is no shortage of cookies to go around.
We celebrated and learned about physical handicaps and how to include everyone in a different sports
activity.
We began to plan for Thinking Day, which is a day where Scouts around the world celebrate our
differences and similarities.
The older Scouts went camping to relax after final exams. The younger girls also went camping to enjoy
the winter weather and warm fireplaces.
We continue to make mats for the homeless with FCC during our Mat Making Workshops.
We went tubing at Ski Roundtop with the youth from FCC and Pastor Delores! It was a great time!
Monthly Giving Basket—March 2016
Donation: Sugar for the Bethesda Mission
As Christians we are called to give, but sometimes we become overwhelmed by how we
can make a difference. As we all donate the same items each month, we will experience
what a difference we can all make in people’s lives every day. You can bring your items
to Church through the end of the month and place them in the giving basket. The last
Sunday to donate Sugar is March 27, 2016. Please place your donation in the giving
basket.
To learn more about the Bethesda Mission and it’s Mission, please go to their website at:
www.bethesdamission.org
Update from our African American Heritage “Everyday Contribution’s Service, February 28
On Sunday, February 28th we gathered for a special Worship celebration and had many
Community Members who make an impact in our local community. Mayor Larissa York
of Lemoyne attended and presented our Church with a Mayoral Proclamation. To view the
full proclamation, please visit the Church’s website. To sum up the proclamation, it states
that First Christian Church and Pastor Delores Neal is making history by holding
Lemoyne’s first African American Heritage Worship Service. And, officially, February
28th is now First Christian Church Day in Lemoyne!
5
Scheduling/Prayers/Outreach (cont.)
March Serving Schedule
March 6
Elder: Linda Runkle
Diaconate: Joyce Arbogast &
Glenn & Lois Haagen
Communion: Joyce Arbogast & Jane Welsh
Greeter: Jean Trout & Dottie Michels
March 13
Elder: Rev. Ed Arbogast
Diaconate: Kelly Manning, Linda Runkle
& Glenn Haagen
Communion: Joyce Arbogast & Jane Welsh
Greeters: Glenn & Lois Haagen
March 20
Elder: Lois Miller
Diaconate: Joyce Arbogast &
Ken & Debbie Holler
Communion: Ken & Debbie Holler
Greeters: Linda Runkle & Dottie Michels
March 27
Elder: Diana Onstott
Diaconate: Lynne Weber, Jane Welsh
& Kelly Manning
Communion: Ken & Debbie Holler
Greeter: Dottie Michels
Prayer Requests
John (L. Weber)
Plaza Family (J. Kain)
Mia & Dave (J. Spicher)
Baby William, needs to add weight
(L. Miller)
Family of Gerry Faust (M. Snyder)
Family of Dan Keating (M. Snyder)
Jewell Will & Family (M. Pauling)
healthy congregation
Ken’s Mother (Diana O.)
Heather Simpson’s Daughter, Hannah, &
Regional Director, Thad Allen (D. Chafin)
Dave & Joan Prediger
Jessica Spicher
Michelle Grubb
Henry Miller
Kieth Putnam (B. Eldridge)
all Military men & women
Scott Boltz
Goudy/Frey Family
Free Computer Lab—West Shore Prosperity Center
The Church will be open on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:00 PM, by appointment only, for
individuals who do not have access to computers, internet, or to job search, create a resume,
check email, enroll in state or health insurance benefits, etc.
We will be utilizing 4 laptops and a printer given to us through the United Way and will have a
volunteer each Tuesday evening to help those individuals who could use this FREE service. To
make an appointment, please call the Church office at 717-763-4537.
6
Income and Expenses
Month of December Congregational Offerings Received $4,301.33
Fundraisers $787.00
Christmas Offering $288.00
Outreach $75.00
Bibles $130.00
Church Reserve Fund $82.50
Flowers $35.85
Total $5,699.68
Bills Received and Paid $7,209.03
Received from Trust Funds $4,525.88
Received for Memorial Fund $400.00
Thank you for your continued support!
Finances/Mark Your Calendar/Fundraising/Thank You’s
Flower Sign Up Help us make the Church even more beautiful by signing up to donate flowers
for Sunday mornings. The cost of flowers remains $35.00. They are provided by Royer’s. Please contact the Church office to reserve the date of your choice or simply sign your name on the flower chart in the back of the Sanctuary. Days are available for March.
Grocery Store Card Please remember to support your Church
by getting grocery store cards. Karns,
Giant and Weis cards help us meet our
Church budget by providing small, but
steady fundraiser income. You may place
orders in the offering plate or give to Diana Onstott any
Sunday morning. The Church receives $50.00 every time
we purchase $1,000.00 worth of cards. Remember to give
generously and purchase an extra $25.00 gift card for the
Church to use for those in need. We receive requests
weekly!
Mark Your Calendar:
3/28: Church Office Closed—Easter Monday
4/3: Ministry Planning Team Meeting after Worship
Girl Scout Sunday
4/9: 6-8 PM Funnel Cake Fest (Fellowship Hall)
4/10: Finance Meeting after Worship
Progressive Dinner with Ministerium Churches
4/17: Potluck after worship followed by FCC
3:30-5:30 PM Bowling at Trindle Bowl
4/24: Elder Meeting after Worship
4/30: Annual Spaghetti Dinner
Funnel Cake Fest
March 12 & April 9 (Saturdays)
6:00 PM—8:00 PM
We will have soup and salad followed by
FUNNEL CAKES!! Bring your favorite card or
board game and join us for a fun evening! This is an
outreach event, so bring a friend or neighbor. The
more the merrier! We hope to see you there.
Thank You’s were received from the following…
...from Nina Tran from Girl Scouts in the Heart of
Central PA for our ongoing support of the Girl Scout
Troops that meet at the Church regularly.
...from Krissy Marshall (Family Promise) for allowing
them to utilize our facility in February for overnight stays
for families in need. And, she also wanted to send her
gratitude for honoring her with the Harriet Tubman Award
during our special service on 2/28/16
...from Pastor Linda: I would like to say THANK YOU
to everyone who shared in my retirement celebration. I
am sorry that I couldn't say anymore than, thank you for
the beautiful plaque that was presented to me. You know,
it is rare that I am speechless. For 65 years I have been
coming to this church. Thank God for my next door
neighbor who took me under her wing when I was 4 years
old and brought me to Church with her. I don't know if I
would have had a faith journey without her. I loved going
to Sunday School because of Mammy.. My children and I
were baptized in this Church. We were all married in this
Church. We have buried family members through this
Church. As the gentleman said in the last sermon I gave, I
have done it all. I have taught Sunday School, lead the
youth group, was a camp counselor and later on a director,
was a Deacon, Elder, Board Chair,"funmeister" and I even
played the organ one Sunday. Twelve years ago I was
commissioned as Pastor to serve First Christian Church,
Lemoyne. All that for just nine points towards heaven. The
other 93 were by the grace of God who has helped me on
my journey. There have been many mountain top
experiences and unfortunately some valley experiences, but
that is life. We get to a point where we are worn out,
physically and mentally. That is where I am. It was time to
step down and be in a position to enjoy the Church in a
different manner. I want to sit back and appreciate God's
work that someone else is doing. I want to sit and listen
until I get a second wind. Thank you for listening, helping
out and encouraging me on my journey. Thank you for the
many cards, gifts and well wishes. Thank you be being my
friends, Linda
7
March 2016
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1
6:30—8:00 PM:
Cub Scout Mtg. (Snoopy RM & GS
RM)
6:30—8:00 PM: Prosperity Center
Computer Lab
6:30—8:30 PM:
MIYP Tax Prep
2
8:00 AM—2:00 PM:
Church Office Hours
Noon: Lenten Lunch
@ FCC
3
6:30—8 PM: (4)
Girl Scout Troop Mtgs. (GS RM,
Snoopy RM & FH)
4
8:00 AM—2:00 PM:
Church Office Hours
6-9:30 PM: GS
Pinewood Derby FH)
World Day of Prayer
5
Girl Scout’s
Pinewood Derby
(FH): all day
9:00 AM—Noon:
MIYP Tax Prep
(Parlor)
6
10:15 AM: Worship
Ministry Planning
Mtg. after Worship
4-7 PM: Girl Scouts
(GS RM)
7
8:00 AM—3:00 PM:
Church Office Hours
1-4 PM: MIYP Tax
Prep (Parlor)
8
6:30—8:00 PM:
Prosperity Center
Computer Lab
6:30—8:30 PM:
MIYP Tax Prep
9
8:00 AM—2:00 PM:
Church Office Hours
Noon: Lenten Lunch
@ Grace UM
10
6:30—8 PM: (4)
Girl Scout Troop Mtgs. (GS RM,
Snoopy RM & FH)
11
8:00 AM—2:00 PM:
Church Office Hours
12
9:00 AM—Noon:
MIYP Tax Prep
(Parlor)
6-8 PM: Funnel
Cake Fest (FH)
13
Spring Forward
9:00 AM Finance
Mtg.
10:15 AM: Worship
4-7 PM: Girl Scouts
(GS RM)
14
8:00 AM—3:00 PM:
Church Office Hours
1-4 PM: MIYP Tax
Prep (Parlor)
15
6:30—8:00 PM:
Cub Scout Mtg. (Snoopy RM & GS
RM)
6:30—8:00 PM: Prosperity Center
Computer Lab
6:30—8:30 PM:
MIYP Tax Prep
16
8:00 AM—2:00 PM:
Church Office Hours
Noon: Lenten Lunch
@ Grace UM
17
6:30—8 PM: (4)
Girl Scout Troop Mtgs. (GS RM,
Snoopy RM & FH)
18
8:00 AM—2:00 PM:
Church Office Hours
19
9:00 AM—Noon:
MIYP Tax Prep
(Parlor)
20
Palm Sunday
Special Easter
Offering
10:15 AM: Worship
4-7 PM: Girl Scouts
(GS RM)
Easter Breakfast
RSVP’s due today
21
8:00 AM—3:00 PM:
Church Office Hours
1-4 PM: MIYP Tax
Prep (Parlor)
22
6:30—8:00 PM:
Prosperity Center
Computer Lab
6:30—8:30 PM:
MIYP Tax Prep
23
8:00 AM—2:00 PM:
Church Office Hours
24
Maundy Thursday
6:30—8 PM: (4) Girl Scout Troop
Mtgs. (GS RM,
Snoopy RM & FH)
7:00 PM: Maundy
Thursday Worship
Service
25
Good Friday
8:00 AM—2:00 PM:
Church Office Hours
11 AM: Procession
of the Cross
Noon: Final Lenten
Lunch @ Trinity
Lutheran Church
26
Holy Saturday
7 AM—Noon: Pancake Breakfast
Fundraiser (FH)
9:00 AM—Noon: MIYP Tax Prep
(Parlor)
27
Easter Sunday
Special Easter
Offering
6:45 AM: Sunrise
Service @ Negley
Park
7:30—9:30 AM:
Easter Breakfast
10:15 AM: Worship
4-7 PM: Girl Scouts
(GS RM)
28
Church Office Closed:
Easter Monday
1-4 PM: MIYP Tax
Prep (Parlor)
29
6:30—8:00 PM:
Cub Scout Mtg. (Snoopy RM & GS
RM)
6:30—8:00 PM: Prosperity Center
Computer Lab
6:30—8:30 PM:
MIYP Tax Prep
30
8:00 AM—2:00 PM:
Church Office Hours
31
6:30—8 PM: (4)
Girl Scout Troop Mtgs. (GS RM,
Snoopy RM & FH)
Happy Birthday!
March Birthdays:
Al White: March 6
JoAnn Haubert: March 10
Ted Willoughby: March 13
Nicholas Frey: March 14
No March Anniversaries
If you are on Facebook,
please like our Facebook
Page: First Christian
Church, Lemoyne!!!
8
First Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
442 Hummel Ave,
Lemoyne, PA 17043
PH: 717-763-4537
www.lemoynedisciples.org
March 2016
9th ANNUAL PANCAKE
EXTRAVAGANZA!
Saturday, March 26, 2016 from 7 AM to 12 Noon
First Christian Church, 442 Hummel Avenue, Lemoyne
ALL YOU CAN EAT!
OOTW (Out of this World) Pancakes
Chocolate Chip, Blueberry, Strawberry, Rainbow, Banana, and more!
Sausage, Juice and Coffee
Tickets: $6.00
100% of your donation will be used by First Christian Church to further their ministries including: The Girl Scouts,
Cub Scouts &The Prosperity Center.
INVITE YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY TO THIS GREAT EVENT!
Tickets may be pre-ordered at a special rate of $5.50 per ticket by March 20th. Questions, please see Diana Onstott. WALK INS ARE WELCOME!!!
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