Diane Casey (left) of Interfaith Food Alliance, Kate Klock, Macey Webber

Pentecost September 2018

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, On Sunday, September 16, we resume the program year schedule with two services at 8:45am and 11:00am and Christian education for all ages in between. In order to be nice, sometimes we soft-pedal the need to participate in the body of Christ. Intended for all the baptized regardless of age or juncture along the faith journey, the invitation to continue in the covenant God made with us in Holy Baptism is more convicting than nice:

Live among God’s faithful people.

Pay attention to the word of God and participate in the holy supper.

Teach and learn about the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments.

Read the scriptures.

Nurture one another in faith and prayer.

Trust God.

Proclaim Christ through word and deed.

Care for others and the world God made.

Work for justice and peace in the world.

We neither become nor are sustained as Christian people by inertia or by the assumption of a Christian culture. I have always appreciated the grand exhortation recorded in Hebrews 10:

“Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.”

See you regularly in worship, learning, fellowship, testimony, and service! Pastor Dan Whitener

Welcome Vicar Miles Hopgood!

We are pleased to welcome Miles Hopgood as a new pastoral intern (aka “vicar”). Miles is a candidate for ordination who is completing his Ph.D. degree in church history at Princeton Theological Seminary. Miles was born and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and holds both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees from the University of Chicago. Miles is married to Kayla, who is about to begin a job as a major gift officer for United Theological Seminary. They recently moved to the Germantown area of Philadelphia. Miles comes to us with an impressive array of ministerial experiences and we look forward to his involvement in our congregational life throughout the next year.

Back-to-School Drive a Success!

A huge thank you for your generous contributions to the annual school supplies drive. You name it – we collected it: notebooks, binders, crayons, markers, pencils, pens, scissors, highlighters, pencil sharpeners, and on and on! This year we distributed items to organizations that

support children in need through their own school supplies initiatives; including Bucks County Housing Group, Interfaith Food Alliance and Children’s Home Society of NJ. At Interfaith, we found our very own Kate Klock and Kathy Holden hard at work with the food pantry! Special thanks to the Webber family, Sandy Anthony, Janet and Eric Nordberg and Sue Hackman for organizing this yearly fundraiser.

During the month of September, the ongoing non-perishable food collection will benefit the food pantry of Family Services Bucks

County Emergency Homeless Shelter in Levittown.

Suggested donations include bottled water, coffee, healthy single-serving snacks, bulk snacks for kids (animal crackers, pretzels, etc.), cereal, tomato sauce, canned fruit and vegetables, juice boxes and paper products. Please put your donated items in the collection box in the Commons.

Visit www.fsabc.org/wish-list-shelter for more information.

Sunday, September 16: Rally Day/Fall Schedule Resumes

8:45am Early Worship

10:00am – 10:45am Christian Ed

11:00am Late Worship

Saturday, September 22: Installation of Bishop-Elect Davenport 2:00pm – Worship at New Covenant

Church of Philadelphia, reception following

Sunday, October 7: Visit from Father Bill Rex of the Seamen’s Church Institute

Ministry Resource Table—Prayer

The resource table in the Commons for the month of September is focused on the theme of PRAYER. Come by and check out on-loan books that are either about prayer or serve as collections of prayers. May these resources serve as a catalyst for you to improve or try something different in your personal relationship and conversation with God. Welcome.

Choir Director Search Update

The Search Team has begun to advertise our search for a new Organist/Choir Director. The job has been posted on our website www.godslovenewtown.org and our facebook page facebook.com/ godslovenewtown, and through several online job sites and music organizations. Please feel free to share

the posting with those you know to spread the word.

In a few days, we will open our doors to begin our 20th school year! There are currently 49 children enrolled this year. Caryn Gargalovic and Beth Garrison continue to teach the 3-day 3’s class, while Michelle Balmer and Joan Smith will again teach the 2-day 3’s. Janet Clayton and Rose Katelhon will be teaching the 4’s am and pm classes. Beth Garrison will be

teaching the new 2-By-2’s class, a weekly parent and child class that we are excited to offer this year. There are some new additions to the playground that we hope the children will enjoy. There is a new airplane teeter totter that we hope will inspire lots of fun, high-flying, imaginative play. When the children want to take a break, there are three new cheery, purple benches on which to sit, donated by George Heinze in memory of Sue Heinze.

There are still openings in the 2’s, 2-day 3’s and 4’s pm classes. If you or someone you know might be interested in enrolling, please email or call the preschool at glcps@verizon.net or 215-497-0506.

We are blessed with a dedicated staff.

Happy service anniversary to:

Bill Lafty, who has been serving as Director of Rejoice! for 2 years.

Kay Rozolis, our Office Manager for 20 years

What a milestone!

114 104

113 105

August 5 August 12 August 19 August 26

Worship Attendance 2018

Please join in the Retirement Celebration for Pat Guth, our organist and director of choirs. Helpers are requested for setup, brunch goodies and cleanup. Please contact the church office if you can help.

Jared Boxes

For the month of September, we will be collecting Jared Boxes. A Jared Box is a plastic storage box filled with small gifts, toys, games and fun activities. Each box contains items selected for a specific age and gender. The completed boxes will be delivered to local hospitals to provide a special diversion for young patients in emergency rooms, patient rooms, surgical centers and clinics as they receive medical treatments. To participate in the Jared Box project, please visit the Service Team bulletin board in the commons and select a yellow instruction packet. Follow the instructions to fill your box(es) and return them to the collection area by the end of September. Questions? Please contact Sandy at sandyanthony@msn.com. Thank you in advance for your generous participation.

Christmas in July Results

With your generous contributions we were able to raise $1,649 for ELCA’s Good Gifts Program. That translates to 4 pigs, 4 goats, 2 sheep, 4 chicks, ⅖ of a cow, 10 honeybee colonies, 3 sets of water jugs, vaccinations for 3 children, 2 mosquito nets, microloans for 2 women, school uniforms and fees for 2 girls, 3 groves (10 trees each) of fruit tree saplings, global mission support for 4 young adults, 3 backpacks stocked with food, water purification tablets, health clinic supplies, a clinic visit for 1 child, and training for 1 evangelist! This donation carries God’s love to others, making a difference in their lives and around the world.

Thank you for your generosity!

Thank you to everyone for keeping your pledges up to date. We move into Fall with giving levels still at or above where we need to be to have

a balanced budget (or even a good surplus to use toward mortgage reduction). In the first few weeks of September, I will be putting updated statements of giving in your church mailboxes, or mailing if you are not yet a member. Please review to check your giving compared to your pledge to date. With our 2019 stewardship drive commencing soon, your statement of giving may be a useful resource as you reflect on how you are able to share generously with this church and community for the rest of this year and the year ahead. Patti Levenberg, Financial Secretary

Shared Meal - Advocates for the Homeless and Those in Need

Thank you to all who helped with our shared meal on August 31. Quickly on the heels of that meal, we have enthusiastically agreed to host a third meal on Saturday, September 29 at 4pm. Held in conjunction with Advocates for Homeless and Those in Need (AHTN), the meal is open to the community and is an opportunity to serve and connect with neighbors in need. AHTN provides transportation for their clients and we provide food and fellowship. Please watch for the sign-up poster in the Commons. Good news: we’ve received four dates for 2019 meals!

It’s back-to-school time and we are excited for all of our students. On Sunday, September 16, Pastor Dan will have a special gift for each student to attach to his/her backpack as a special reminder of God’s love for us all. Students of all ages are invited to bring their backpack, lunch bag, gym bag, purse or briefcase to church for a blessing. Prayers for a great school year!

Lutheran Church of God’s Love 791 Newtown-Yardley Road Newtown, PA 18940 215.968.4335 www.godslovenewtown.org

Rev. B. Daniel Whitener prdanw@verizon.net

Will Toppin, Council President will.toppin@verizon.net

Kay Rozolis gods_love@verizon.net

Susan McDonnell lcglnewtown@gmail.com

Saturday September 15 • Phillies vs. Marlins • 7:05pm

We have a great opportunity to see the Phillies play the Miami Marlins for only $5 a ticket!

Seating is in Section 416. There are just two Sundays, September 2 and 9, to sign-up and pay for this event, so please

act soon. Sign up in the commons. Please make checks payable to God’s Love and give to Sandy Anthony or put in her mailbox. Your ticket will be emailed to you a few days before the game.

The ELCA writes: Thank you for your recent gift of $1,000 and for your support of Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA. Through this campaign, we are growing our communities of faith, forming new leaders, welcoming our neighbors, overcoming malaria, confronting hunger and poverty, accompanying our global churches and expanding ministries with youth, young adults and people with disabilities. The generosity of ELCA members, like you, is bringing new life to the church here at home and around the world. —Rev. Ron Glusenkamp, Director

God’s Caring Stitchers

Fall is approaching and the knit and crochet group is back. Join us at 1:00pm in Room A1/A2 on September 14, 21 and 28. Entering our busiest time of year, we need YOU to help us achieve our goals for Christmas giving.

September 28 Joan Portman, founder of the Healing Environments Program at St. Mary Medical Center, will speak to us about her new endeavor—writing a book about her experiences. Any questions, contact Cindy Sundstrom 215-493-2484 or cscrafter1@verizon.net.

Pray for Worship Leaders September 2: Bob Loven September 9: Andy Senft September 16: John Shultz September 23: Larry Zetterberg September 30: Todd & Carol Stranahan

September 4: Joyce & Nancy September 10: Kathy & Eileen September 17: Ed & Bud September 24: Janet & Nancy

September 2018

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

We do not know what God's plan is for us, but we know He has one. Our job is to pray, trust Him, and wait on His perfect timing. —Miss Ava

1 Fellowship Dine Out 6:30pm

2 Worship 9:30am

3 Office Closed LABOR DAY

4 Counters 9:30am Rejoice! 7:30pm

5 Bell Choir 6:30pm Adult Choir 7:30pm

6 Preschool Orientation

7 Preschool Orientation

8

9 Worship 9:30am Farewell Pat 10:30am

10 Counters 9:30am

11 1st day of Preschool Rejoice! 7:30pm

12 Adult Choir 7:30pm

13

14 Knit & Crochet 1pm

15

16 RALLY DAY Worship 8:45am Education 10am Worship 11am

17 Counters 9:30am Sr. Saints LunchNoon

18 Rejoice! 7:30pm

19 Adult Choir 7:30pm

20 Church Council 7pm

21 Knit & Crochet 1pm

22 Bishop’s Installation 2pm

23 Worship 8:45am Education 10am Caring Creation 10am Worship 11am

24 Counters 9:30am

25 Rejoice! 7:30pm

26 Adult Choir 7:30pm

27 Gal’s Book Club 7pm

28 Knit & Crochet 1pm

29 Shared Meal 4pm

30 Worship 8:45am Education 10am Worship 11am Worship Mtg Noon

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal. Nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong attitude.

—Thomas Jefferson