The

Good

New

s

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Preaching

Schedule

2

Stewardship 3

Prayer Focus

Lilies & Tulips

Pasta Lunch

4

Music 5

Finance 6

Blood Drive

OCC

7

Chaos Corner 8

Earth Day 9

Birthdays 10

Anniversaries 11

First United

Methodist Church of Hanover One Church two campuses

A P R I L 2 0 1 9 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 4

Retiring From Ministry Jackie Spadt has served First United Methodist Church with distinction as Director of Children’s Ministries since 2007. In that time, she has led count-less families closer to Christ through Sunday School, Kids4Christ, and Vacation Bible School. She has also taken on the (at times) challenging task of leading our Safe Sanctuaries process of keeping kids safe through security practices and the training and background checks of adult volunteers. Jackie has decided to retire this summer and she and her husband, Don, will be

moving to Florida. We want to thank Jackie for her years of dedicated service to the children and families at First Church and wish her well in her next chapter of life. Don has also served with distinction over the years in a variety of ways from Youth Ministry, to Trustees, and cur-rently serves as Head Usher at Freder-ick Street. They will both be missed. We will, as a congregation, be recognizing Jackie and showing our appreciation in the near future. The search for a new Director of Chil-dren’s Ministries will begin in a few weeks. If you are interested in applying for the position, keep your eyes open for bulletin and email updates about the application process. We will keep you posted on the search as it unfolds. In the meantime, give Jackie a hug when you see her and thank her for her years of service!

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April 2019 Worship and Preaching Schedule

*Denotes Communion Served

(Schedule is subject to change without notice)

April 6-7* FSC Saturday 5:30 pm Pastor Greg Rapp

FSC 8:00 am Pastor Greg Rapp

FSC 10:30 am Pastor Greg Rapp

MSC 10:45 am Pastor Josh Rhone

April 13-14 FSC Saturday 5:30 pm Pastor Josh Rhone

FSC 8:00 am Pastor Josh Rhone

FSC 10:30 am Pastor Josh Rhone

MSC 10:45 am Pastor Greg Rapp

April 18 Holy Thursday FSC 7:30 pm Pastor Greg Rapp

April 19 Good Friday FSC 7:30 pm Pastor Josh Rhone

April 20-21 Easter Sunday/No Sunday School

FSC Saturday 5:30 pm Pastor Greg Rapp

FSC 8:00 am Pastor Greg Rapp

FSC 9:30 am Pastor Greg Rapp

FSC 11:00 am Pastor Greg Rapp

MSC 10:45 am Pastor Josh Rhone

April 27-28 FSC Saturday 5:30 pm Pastor Josh Rhone

FSC 8:00 am Pastor Josh Rhone

FSC 10:30 am Pastor Josh Rhone

MSC 10:45 am Pastor Greg Rapp

FSC – Frederick Street Campus, 200 Frederick Street

MSC – Middle Street Campus, 200 Middle Street

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F I R S T U M C H A N O V E R

STEWARDSHIP Keep an eye out for a new, FREE devotional resource for the month of May!

Horizon’s Stewardship has written a wonderful daily devotional that we are making availa-ble at the Connection Center at both campuses. This daily devotional will encourage you to look at your life and walk with Christ through the lens of stewarding the time, talents, and resources that God has entrusted you with, in a way that yields a Kingdom-impact.

Pick up your copy, when the devotionals become available, and join us during the month of May, as we consider our role in what God is doing in the world, and how we can be a part of the ministry that God is accomplishing in and through First United Methodist Church of Hanover.

SMALL GROUPS

Small group registrations are now open!

The Bible is wonderfully multifaceted. From beginning to end, Scripture narrates the story God’s love for His creation. The biblical authors, and the stories they record and the letters they write, speak of not only God’s love for creation, but God’s plans and desires for His creation.

One of the things that we are continually reminded of in the biblical text is the importance of relationship—vital connection with God, kinship with family, the comradery of friendship, and even our association and interconnectedness with those whom are in other spheres of relationship. Lately, I have been struck by the numerous instances and ways in which the biblical writers describe God’s desires for our relationships. A resounding desire, ex-pressed in a multiplicity of ways, is that our relationships serve as a means by which we: 1) draw closer to God; 2) connect more deeply with one another; and, 3) encourage one another to embrace and live out vital faith. The wisdom expressed in Proverbs 27.17, for example, is that ‘as iron sharpens iron, so [too] one person sharpens another (NIV).’ Simi-larly, the writer of Hebrews notes that within the body of Christ, we should consider how we might ‘spur one another on to love and good deeds (Heb 10.24, NIV).’

A new semester of small groups is just around the corner. In fact, during the month of April we will have open registrations for the groups that will begin in May and continue through July. As you peruse the catalog and look at the various offerings, I would encourage you to consider which group(s) will help you not only to grow in your faith but will help you to spur others on in their faith. May the summer semester be a time when you grow in your faith, as you encourage others in their faith, and may it be a time where we all grow closer to God!

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Prayer Focus for April:

During this Lenten and Easter season may we pray for a time of love, joy and peace. May this be a time of reflection and prayer. Help us Lord to serve with each other with open hearts.

It is time to order lilies and tulips to decorate our Frederick St. Sanctuary and our Middle Street Sanctuary for Easter. The cost will be $11.00 per plant. The order forms will be available in the church bulletins the weekends of March 23/24, March 30/31, April 6/7. The deadline to order is April 8th. Please place order forms in the collection plate or send them to the office. Thank you for contributing to the beautification of our sanctuary during this time of joy and celebration. Please take your flowers home

Easter Lilies and Tulips

3rd Annual “Have Your Cake & Eat It Too Luncheon”

“Penny” Pasta & Cake, Cupcake, & Pie

April 28, 2019

12:00PM-4:00PM

FSC-MPR

To make your reservation, place a penny in the jar at MSC-jar located at Connection Center or FSC-jar locat-ed on information table behind sanctuary. RSVP by placing your name and the number of people attending

on the form next to jar or RSVP on your Connection Card. All proceeds go to benefit the General Fund.

Donations will be gladly accepted in the offering plate. Write “Fundraiser Luncheon” in the memo line of your check and make it payable to FUMCH. The Church Council thanks you for your contribution & support.

P A G E 5 F I R S T U M C H A N O V E R

Music Information for the April Newsletter 2019: April Music Group Performance Schedule—Frederick St. April 7 8:00 a.m. Steve & Holly Miller 10:30 a.m. Adult Choir April 13 5:30 p.m. Adult Choir Lenten Cantata, “The Body of Christ”

April 14 10:30 a.m. Adult Choir Lenten Cantata, “The Body of Christ”

April 14 8:00 a.m. Chad Wynn April 21 Easter 8:00 a.m. & 9:30 a.m. Adult Choir 11:00 a.m. Judy & Katie Rapp

April 28 our 2nd annual Handbell Sunday 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. Agape Ringers The Lenten Cantata, “The Body of Christ”, by Pepper Choplin, will be performed by our Adult Choir on Sat., April 13 at 5:30 p.m. & Sun., April 14 at 10:30 a.m., in the sanctuary at Frederick St. From the Publisher: “We pray that this work touches your choir and congregation while helping each of you to experience and connect with the very real power that is demonstrated by the events of Christ’s final days as depicted in this cantata”. From Romans 12: “For Christ is our head and though we are many, His Spirit will make us one. . .” Go now as the body of Christ. Looking Ahead to Frederick St. Worship During Holy Week and on Easter Sunday Holy Thursday, April 18 7:30 p.m. Adult Choir Good Friday, April 19 7:30 p.m. Special Music Holy Saturday, April 20 5:30 p.m. John Day, piano Easter Sunday, April 21 8:00 & 9:30 a.m. Adult Choir

11:00 a.m. Judy & Katie Rapp Worship remembering the Seven Last Words of Christ will be held at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 30 W. Chestnut St., Hanover, on Good Friday, April 19th. This continuous worship experi-ence is held from noon-3:00 p.m., in seven 25-minute segments. Worshippers are encouraged to attend the entire program, or to come and go as they please. Our Adult Choir will sing during the 1:40-2:05 worship time. The Lyric Band of Hanover will present a Spring Concert, entitled “American Portraits”, on Sun-day, April 7, 3:00 p.m., in the Emory H. Markle Intermediate School auditorium, 225 Bowman Road, Hanover. Admission is free. Donations will be accepted following the program.

Our Annual Music Department Appreciation Gathering will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thurs., May 9th in the Fellowship Hall at Middle Street. This evening is a chance for all adults who pro-vide musical leadership for worship throughout the year, at both campuses, to meet for food, fun, & fellowship. We need donations of food & beverages for this special evening. We also need people to help to set up, serve, & clean up with this event. If you would like to help, please contact Director of Music, Janis Wagner, (717) 781-2677, janis.wagner@firstumchanover.org. Special Music Opportunity-- Share Your Musical Talent! Sign up to share your music as a soloist or in an ensemble for Sunday morning Frederick St. wor-ship, (8:00 or 10:30 a.m.), or on Saturday night for 5:30 p.m. All types of musicians: vocalists, in-strumentalists, & keyboard players, are encouraged to glorify God with their music. It is time to schedule summer special music for Sundays when our Adult Choir is taking a break. Sign up early to get the date of your choice! Please contact Director of Music, Janis Wagner, (717) 781-2677, janis.wagner@firstumchanover.org.

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F I R S T U M C H A N O V E R

Finance Committee Update Year-to-date Financial Data Comparison for Current Expense Budget

[1] For 2019, this line item is a cumulative total of the Invite, Connect, Disciple and Send Ministries Expenses to align the budget to the active Church ministries. This is similar to 2018 for comparison purposes. [2] For 2019, this line item includes Support Ministries Expenses to align the budget to active Church ministries. This is similar to 2018.

COMMENTARY: 1) Financial Update through February 28, 2019 All bills were paid current at the end of February, 2019. The Shares of Ministry were paid per our budget, which is slightly less per month than that which Conference is expecting. Current-ly, the Connectional Ministries portion of our Shares is owed $ 357.96 at Conference. 2) January 12/13 Weather Impacted Giving As is evidenced by the approximate $ 9,000 decrease in giving year over year, the light at-tendance the weekend of January 12/13 to do bad weather had a definite impact on giving. If you were unable to attend that weekend and did not contribute, if you are able to double-up on your contributions during an upcoming weekend, it would be appreciated. Please continue to give as generously as you are able as we continue to strive to be good stewards of our Lord’s money. Thank you for your continued faithful giving to First UMC-Hanover!

As of February 28, 2019 As of February 28, 2018

Total Revenues YTD $ 105,836.68 $ 114,533.36

Total Program Expenses YTD ($ 40.93) [1] ($ 483.96) [1]

Total Operating Expenses YTD ($ 126,127.37) [2] ($ 120,539.80) [2]

Net Income YTD ( 20,331.62) ($ 6,490.40)

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F I R S T U M C H A N O V E R

SAVE THE DATE!! CENTRAL PA BLOOD DRIVE - The

Church and Society Committee is sponsoring a Central PA

Blood Drive on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 from 3:00 PM to

7:00 PM in the multi-purpose room at the Frederick Street

Campus. Mark it on your calendar now so you’ll be ready to

donate to this very important cause. Jesus shed his blood to

save our lives. Could you spare a pint of yours to save others?

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call or

email Beth Henry at (717)637-5747 or tomandbeth@comcast.net.

2019 April Newsletter - Operation Christmas Child The time for yard sales is upon us! While you are out and about please keep the Operation Christmas Child ministry in mind. Many items offered at yard sales can be used. We ask that you keep an eye out for high quality items like those you would give your children and grandchildren. Small stuffed animals can be washed and used in shoeboxes, as well as Legos, Matchbox cars, like new t-shirts/shoes. There are very small spaces in each shoebox that can hold a toy so we try to pack them full! Sometimes by sharing why you are buying the items with the host of the yard sale they will give you an even better deal. And we ask for prayer. Wrappers Needed!! Anyone that would like wrap shoeboxes is needed. Many generous people have donated empty shoeboxes and wrapping paper all we need are wrappers! The decorated boxes add a bit of festive air for each recipient. Terri Guy is the lady to contact if this is something you would like to help. Contact Terri at: teguy@carrollk12.org Make your list before you go ‘saling’- small stuffed animals, small toys, crayons, t-shirts and shoes in children’s sizes. It has to fit in a shoebox so think small! Thank you for your support. Have a blessed spring!!

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From the desk of JOE DURIKA Director of Youth Ministries

Christ Honored and Others

Spring greetings from CHAOS Youth! You haven’t heard from CHAOS in a while, and I’m truly sorry for that. My life has been a little, well, chaotic. I just finished a long-term substitute teaching assignment in mid-February and started another one a week later, and family life has been hectic as well. But, CHAOS Youth has also been quite active in 2019! The youth ministry has continued with our 2018-19 Confirmation class, which will culminate in Confirmation Sunday next month! Youth Sunday School has been working on creating a safe place where our middle– and high-school students can come with their questions about life and faith. We’ve been exploring the authenticity of the Bible, as well as the social issues that the UMC has been struggling through recently. The questions are real, and quite timely, and the leaders and students alike have been spending time trying to find authentic and applicable answers. On March 9, some of our youth and their families took a ride down to Washington D.C. to visit the Museum of the Bible. It was an outstanding visit, and everyone came away with some fresh perspectives on the Bible’s impact throughout the history of the world, and the history of our country. If you have the opportunity, take the 2-hour drive down and spend the day at the Museum of the Bible. You won’t be disappointed! One of the current exhibits at the Museum is dedicated to the Wiedmann Bible, which uses 3,333 pieces of art to portray scripture. This labor of love took Willy Wiedmann (of Stuttgart, Germany) 16 years to complete. It is bound as a series of 19 large accordion-type books that stretch out for over a kilometer (almost 3/4 of a mile). Wiedmann said, “The ones who are afraid of reading the Bible because they do not understand it, can benefit from it.” He used his God-given artistic gift to create a Bible

that all could “benefit from,” but died before he could have it published. Fortunately, his son discovered the bible in the artist’s studio and had it published in 2015. I wanted to share a bit about the Wiedmann Bible because I think we sometimes believe that the Scriptures are beyond our understanding. We certainly think that we are often unable to tell our family and friends about what’s in the Bible because we don’t understand it ourselves. But I would encourage you, as I regularly encourage our youth, to not be afraid of the Bible. Don’t look at it as a daunting book that you can’t engage with. Instead, read the Bible (with the Holy Spirit’s guidance), and if need be, find some other tools (maybe even the Wiedmann Bible) that can help you gain some fresh perspective on stories you know, and that can shine some new light on some things that you don’t. Who knows? You might even be inspired to create your own tools that could help someone else be less afraid of the Bible.

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THOUGHTS OF CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP FOR EARTH DAY

Church and Society Committee

This year, Earth Day falls on Easter Monday, April 22nd . We as Christians are compelled by our beliefs and directed by the Bible to be good stewards of our world. There are references throughout the Bible to conservation, ecology, natural resources and stewardship. Passages can even be found with lessons on pollution, wetlands, and forests. To paraphrase Max Lucado in his Life Lesson for Joshua 18: “God gave man the authority to govern. God gave man a sweeping and total mandate of dominion over this planet and everything in it. He appointed US as the STEWARDS of this planet Earth.

So as Christians we must ask ourselves, are we good and faithful stewards of what God has given us? Do we look for ways in our daily lives were we can help to reduce air and water pollution, limit consumption of un-renewable natural resources, protect wildlife habitat, and champion for the conservation and protection of forests and open space?

One simple way we can help the environment is to plant a tree. One medium size tree can eliminate 5,000 gallons of storm-water run-off and reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide by 7 lbs per year! Visit the National Tree Benefits Calculator site at www.treebenefits.com/calculator to discover the environmental and economic benefits of your trees.

Psalm 115:16 reads: The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lords, but the earth HE has given to the children of Men.

For a Christian, Every day is Earth Day.

God Bless.

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F I R S T U M C H A N O V E R

April Birthdays

1 Dustie Day

Debra Hoff

2 Chloe Brendle

Mitchell Coleman

Rachel Hartman

Landan Johnson

4 Melissa Bobnar

Brittney Hack

Linda Stitely

5 Kim Brown

6 Katie Kerr

Alison Rush

7 Kathy Miller

Gloria Minarik

Miriam Presley

8 Shannon Shepley

9 Herb Surrency

Chris Wagner

10 Jeff Garvick

11 Laurie Ebersole

Evan Kerr

Cameron Werick

12 Ann Jones

Jake Stouffer

13 Todd Distler

Ashley Stevens

14 Margaret Blocher

Cheryl Gordon

Pat Miller

Christopher Moore

Shirley Walker

15 Mac Anderson

Marjorie Lease

Neal Price

Nicholas Zeigler

16 Clarence Blocher

Paul Cole

Curt Rudy

17 David Lockwood

Pam Neiderer

Jacob Sterner

18 Grayson Cole

Denise Fellner

Lisanne Gray

Glenn Hartman

Mike McGough

Dale Morris

Dylan Smith

19 Kim Hearn

Sharon McGonigal

Terry Michels

Carl Nace

Lindsay Stroda

20 Bruce Smith

Lisa Traband

21 Allan Miller

22 Sonia Staub

24 George Minarik

Cavan O'Reilly

Sue Werick

Bob Zumbrum

25 Patricia Morgan

Katie Porter

Linda Royer

26 Nicole Leon

Carol Yates

27 Minerva Diviney

David Dulaney

Kimberlynne Rudy

Grayson Wingert

28 Margaret Brown

Brian Gerlach

Aidan Kenworthy

Jim Kessler

29 Susan Raver

Shirley Rife

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April Anniversaries

5 Travis & Wendy Shearer

11 Ken & Daisy Anderson

13 Bill & Dorothy Gibbs

Paul & Julia Stevenson

14 Clarence & Margaret Blocher

15 Ed & Jane Lawrence

17 Charles & Pat Denney

20 Bill & Pat Miller

23 David & Carol Benfield

Mike & Kim Price

Wayne & Deka Topper

24 Fred & Deb Baber

Bob & Barb Kastberger

25 Hank & Sandy Langknecht

27 Brian & Lauren Gerlach

First United Methodist of Hanover 200 Frederick Street Hanover, PA 17331 “Caring for Our Neighbors as Jesus Would”

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