NEW HANOVER UMC

January 2018 Newsletter

Inside this Issue:Pastor Ricky’s ViewPoint

A Glimpse Inside the Women’s Retreat

“The Christmas Experience” Recap

Staff Changes

Newly Formed Relay for Life Team

People Talk

January Calendar

January 1- New Year’s Day - Office Closed

January 3 - Platter with Chatter, 12:00 PM

January 5-7, APEX Winter Retreat

January 15 - Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Service, 7:00 PM

January 19 - Women’s Movie Night, 6:00 pm

“You are the Gospel.” Wow! What a powerful and profound thing to pause and think about! Kerry and Chris Shook, authors of Be the Message Bible study, will challenge us to do just that this next Lenten season- to be the Gospel.

Sometimes we are disconnected between the words we speak, the life we live and what we believe as Christians. Maybe you’d like to see your faith become more active and life-changing in the world around you.

Pastor Kerry and his wife Chris Shook felt that way. Even though their calling involved preaching and teaching, they felt a gap between what they were saying and the needs of the people around them.

Be the Message is their story of waking up to the Gospel – not just words and sermons but a life of intention, action, purpose and serving people. They made a

profound discovery they want to share: “You are the Gospel.”

Be the Message is a 6 week Bible study our entire church will be engaging in beginning the week of February 11. It is our hope that this Bible study will help you open up a new world of understanding about who you are in Christ and how you can be Jesus’ hands and feet in this world!

Take this journey with a small group at New Hanover UMC. To sign up for a small group and participate in Be the Message Bible study, visit our church lobby or website mid-January.

2018 Spiritual Growth Campaign, by Heather Wallace

I got serious about finding a small group about two years ago when I heard an acquaintance, someone I respected, speak about how joining a group impacted his life. I had recently come through a very difficult time in my life and was looking for a way to strengthen my relationship with Christ. I found a men’s group that has helped me immensely.

Through this group of men I have found a way to help and be helped. We are one part Bible study and one part “support group”. We are now even looking to expand what we do to include volunteering in the community.

This didn’t happen overnight! In fact, this is the third small group I’ve been a part of.

It took me a while to find the right fit. I think this is true for many people and it’s definitely okay to shop around a bit.

I would encourage everyone to try out a small group. I am so much more comfortable in my faith, both inside and outside of the church, because of this experience. I believe God wants us to “get outside of ourselves” and joining a small group is a great first step.

Growing Through a Small Group, by Marc Soda

ViewPoint

Senior Pastor, José “Ricky” Ayala

Hello New Hanover UMC,

As the new senior pastor of this church, this is the first time I am writing “Happy New Year!” to you, however, I pray that it will be one of many to follow.

Our resident Bishop Peggy A. Johnson appointed me to this church on July 1, 2017. Since then, I have experienced a smooth transition and I hope your experience has been the same.

I enjoy leading and working with our staff, leaders, and the volunteers to provide vital programs and ministries to our church family, our communities, and the missions we support throughout the world.

I am excited to be a part of what God has in store for us in 2018. We will be unveiling “FOR,” which we believe will allow us to experience growth, both spiritually and numerically. I extend an invitation for you to (1) pray, (2) get involved, and (3) join in the excitement.

Pastor José “Ricky” Ayala

Be Bold. Be Humble. Be like Jesus.

“The Christmas Experience” Recap! by Amy Bates

A Glimpse Inside the Women’s Retreat! by Debi Coutts

Pull up an Adirondack chair overlooking the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay and talk with a friend. Take a walk or spend some quiet time in prayer with the One who loves you most. Enjoy a delicious meal in the dining room as you watch an amazing sunset over the bay. Listen to our gifted teacher, Kelli Rokita, delve into this year’s key verse, Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” This is just a glimpse into our Women’s Retreat at Sandy Cove!

The word “retreat” means time spent away for the purpose of reconnecting with God. For those who attend the Women’s Retreat in beautiful Sandy Cove, Maryland, it is that and so much more. At the end of last year’s retreat, one of the ladies said it was a “wonderful time to intentionally focus on God and

KidMin hosted our first Christmas Experience Friday December 1, 2017. Around 75 families came to participate in a manger build, and also decorated over 120 gingerbread houses. Fourteen teams of parents/grandparents and children competed in the Cookie Contest. The Benedict Family won first place, the Schott Family came in second place, and the McAghon Family placed third. A special thanks to our judges, Pastor Ricky, Doug Reigner, Tim Alleva, Maury Saylor, Heather Wallace, and Elin Perate. Also, a special thanks to our guest Santa, Dwayne Hess. My favorite part of the night was watching families spend time together! The sounds of hammers in the Sanctuary was awesome! Thanks to everyone who came. We are looking forward to next year’s event!

fellowship with other women.” Others said it strengthened their faith, gave them hope and renewed their spirit. Sign-ups have begun for the upcoming retreat, March 2-4, and registration forms are on the church website under Women’s Ministries. If you have any questions, please contact me at Debismail123@gmail.com. I hope you’ll join me for a weekend of rest, rejuvenation and renewal!

People TalkJoy in the birth of Emmerich Ash on November 29 to Mark & Amanda Jaeger and big sister Adalia.

Joy in the birth of Dominik Joseph on November 13, to JB & Alyssa Kania and big brother Jackson.

Thanks to Ron Stauffer for organizing the 9am Sunday School curriculum this quarter.

Thanks to Aimee Loladze, Anne Yost, and Kathy Huey for serving on The Christmas Experience Team.

Thanks to Jeanette Andersen for leading the children for Light! Out of The Darkness and Walt Ostromecki for organizing the meal for the children during Light! Out of The Darkness.

Thank you to all the Lay Pastors & Stephen Ministers for their support and help with the Longest Night Service and for caring for the needs of others during the year.

A huge thank you to all the volunteers who helped decorate and take down the decorations for the busy Christmas season. Thank you to Debbie & John Major for coordinating the volunteers and the delivery of the Christmas trees!

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped and/ or prepared food during the Christmas weekend services. We could not have done this without you!

Thank you to everyone who donated blood for the Miller-Keystone Blood Drive on Monday, December 4. We had a total of 35 donors and collected 31 units of blood. Thank you to those donors who gave double red blood cells! Save the date for our next blood drive to be held on April 8th.

Did you know that our church has registered a newly formed Relay for Life team, “New Hanover Methodists for Miracles” to participate in the 2018 Boyertown Relay for Life? This 24 hour community event sponsored by the American Cancer Society is being held at the Boyertown High School, beginning at 10 am on June 23, 2018. There are many activities scheduled throughout the day, including speakers, survivor and care giver recognition, luminaries dedicated to loved ones and much more.

I am so excited for this group to form; supporting those affected and encouraging each other’s passion to help fight the battle against this dreaded disease. We would love for you to journey with us! There is no cost to join the team.

You can register online by following this link: www.relayforlife.org/paboyertown.

Paper registration forms are also available for those who are not comfortable registering online. Contact Nancy Niconovich by phone (610) 780-1452 or email: nancyniconovich@gmail.com for more information. Members of the team will be in the lobby the weekend of January 27-28 as we share the mission during the Pastor ‘s Emphasis portion of the worship services. We look forward to growing and serving together.

Newly formed Relay for Life Team, “New Hanover Methodists for Miracles” by Nancy Niconovich

Staff Changes at New Hanover UMC By Liz Buckwalter

We also announce the hiring of Jillian Halbe who has joined the Technical Arts team in a part-time role as Graphic Designer.

Jillian will support our church by designing graphics for church-wide communications and publications, creating graphic content for services and sermon series as well as graphics for our new digital church sign and social media outlets.

Jillian comes to New Hanover UMC as a freelance designer, with a background in graphic design, event coordination and program management where she formerly worked at Princeton University. In her free-time Jillian enjoys spending time with her family, trips to the beach and all things DIY!

We are pleased to announce the hiring of Ana Gallardo, long time member of New Hanover UMC, as our new Lay Pastors and Stephen Ministers Coordinator.

Ana joins us after serving as a volunteer in the same capacity for 11 years. In her role she will be assisting pastors and leaders in providing care to the congregation. Her passion and spiritual gift is in pastoring to the needs of people.

Ana recently retired from the Federal government after 43 years of service. Ana and her husband Dominick (Dom) have three sons: Rick, married to Christina; Dominick II (Nick) married to Angie; and Eric, married to Analisa. They also have 3 grandchildren, Dom III, Candace and Ethan.

610-323-2353 - Church 610-327-9096 - Creative Moments

610-327-9207 - FaxE-mail: info@newhanoverumc.orgWeb Site: www.newhanoverumc.

org Facebook: www.facebook.com/

NewHanoverUMC

José “Ricky” Ayala, Pastor

Gil Vining, Pastor for Outreach

Todd Pearage, Pastor for Students and Their Families

Curt Erb, Coordinator of Human & Financial Resources

Amy Bates, Children’s Ministry Coordinator

Heather Wallace, Director of Small Groups

Kristin Schmidt, Creative Moments Director

Liz Buckwalter, Administrative Mgr., SeedSower Editor

New Hanover UMC

New Hanover UMC2211 Swamp PikeGilbertsville, PA 19525

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Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service

Our 10:30 am service is Interpreted for Deaf. Contact, Kathryn Midgley at deafmin@newhanoverumc.org

To encourage better use of our resources here at church and to help with our carbon footprint on the world we will be increasing the digital mailing of the SeedSower in February 2018! We will still be mailing hard copies but hope to decrease that amount.

If you do not have an email address on file with us or are currently not receiving the SeedSower digitally and would like to, please send an email to: info@newhanoverumc.org.

Digital Seed Sower Delivery in 2018 Are you looking for a way

to get involved in Women’s Ministry in the new year and spend time with other women in the church? Come join us on Friday, January 19 to see the movie “The Shack” in the Chapel. Doors will open at 6:30 and the movie will begin at 7:00 pm. Snacks will be provided. Bring a friend or come meet a new friend! We hope to see you!

Join Us for Women’s Movie Night! by Maria Benedict

Join us on Monday, January 15 at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary as we host the Boyertown Area Ministerial Association’s community service in honor of Dr. King’s life and legacy. Students from Boyertown Area High School and Pine Forge Academy will provide music and drama.