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The Fishnet – January 2019

Sunday Worship Services

8:00 am and 10:00 am

BFF (Building Faith & Friendships) – during the 10 am Service

Pastor Miller and friend at the Dec 9 caroling

Contents of this newsletter are the sole property of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Contact the church office with concerns or permission to reprint.

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Gomer Pyle was a TV character in the 1960’s, appearing on The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, USMC.

Played by Jim Nabors, Gomer was a simple-minded and gentle auto mechanic who later enlisted in the Marines. He

introduced into American culture the popular exclamations: “Shazam,” “Gawwww-leeee,” and “Surprise, surprise,

surprise.”

I am not a big fan of surprises myself. Sometimes there are good surprises – sometimes there are bad surprises.

Last month, during Advent, I thought about the surprise that Mary surely felt when the angel Gabriel announced to her that

she would bear a child. Young and engaged to Joseph, it was no surprise that Mary was capable of bearing a child. The

surprising part was that this child – Mary’s child – would become, according to the angel, “the Son of God.” Mothers often

look forward to the wonderful things that their children will do but, in Mary’s case, to become the Savior of the world –

yikes! Surprise, surprise, surprise!

“Every day holds a surprise,” writes Henri Nouwen. “Let’s not be afraid to receive each day’s surprise, whether it

comes to us as sorrow or joy. It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and

celebrate more fully our shared humanity.”

Expect surprises as we enter this New Year. Receive them, knowing that, with Jesus, we don’t have to deal with

our surprises alone. In a very real way, Jesus himself is surprising, not that he came into the world but that he comes to

each and every one of us with God’s love and grace. In that spirit, I wish you a Happy and Blessed New Year!

Pastor Ray Miller

Call Committee Report Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, At the December Council meeting on December 17th, the congregational council approved the Ministry Site Profile which has been uploaded to the Synod website. With this step being completed, the Synod can now begin to send the Call Committee candidates for the position of Pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Hilltown. The MSP was crafted with a great deal of input from the congregation and the members of the Call Committee all contributed greatly to the final document. We are very excited that we have been able to move to the next step and are eagerly anticipating interviewing prospective shepherds for our church. Once we have an applicant we feel may be a great fit for our church family, we will advance to watching them preach at a service and if everything goes well, then have them come to St. Peter’s. As always, we will work to keep the congregation fully aware of our progress. The Call Committee cannot express the gratitude we feel from the support we have from the entire congregation.

Thank you ALL!

Louis Bell

Memorial Committee Report Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, With the passing of several members of St. Peter’s, we have received funds in memory of these individuals. The Memorial Committee always reaches out to the family for suggestions or ideas of where they would like to see the funds used. WE are also always seeking input from the congregation since, in addition to the funds we have recently received, St. Peter’s also has interest from our funds that we need to use on a yearly basis. With the New Year beginning, please keep in mind any special programs, projects, upgrades or additions that would be beneficial to St. Peter’s, the community, or the world. We do not want to be the servant who buried his talents in the ground and did not use these funds for God’s work.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year! Louis Bell

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Congregational Meeting On February 3, there will be a single Service at 10:00 am followed by a Congregational Meeting. The snow date is February 10.

This meeting reviews the past year and will provide an update from the Call Committee. Please mark your calendars.

Lunch Bunch

The Lunch Bunch will meet on Tuesday, January 29 at 12:00 noon at the Apple Orchard (Souderton Mennonite Home, 207 W. Summit Street, Souderton, 18964). All are welcome to join us and enjoy this Dutch treat fellowship for the holiday.

Coats, gloves, scarves, hats needed It’s colder and snow has fallen. Perhaps you cleaned out your closets of unused cold weather gear, leaving room

for the new items you received at Christmas. What to do with those gently used items? The answer is to bring the items to St. Peter’s and place them in the box just inside the inner doors in the Narthex.

New items are also appreciated. Whether new or gently used, all items are accepted and greatly needed. Donations will be taken to Pennridge

FISH.

Bloodmobile The Red Cross Bloodmobile was at St. Peter’s on Thursday, December 13 from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm. 12

participants produced 9 units. Good job! The next Bloodmobile will be Monday, February 11, 2019. The goal for February is 18 donors.

Save the Dates January 6 Epiphany Sunday January 13 Installation of Council members January 27 Soup lunch = Souperbowl January 29 Lunch Bunch February 3 Single Service followed by Congregational Meeting February 11 Blood Mobile

Treasurer’s Report The November financial results are shown below. The income met our monthly target, and the expenses were

well below target. This was a good month financially.

Thank you for your continued support of St Peter’s.

Ken Shanks

Church Treasurer

Monthly results 11/1/2018 to 11/30/2018:

Actual Weekly Offering Income………….$ 9,014 Budget Weekly Offering Income…………$ 8,300

Actual Total Income……………………… $15,717 Budget Total Income………………………$14,925

Actual Expense…………………………… $11,211 Budget Expense……………………………$15,037

Actual Net Income…………………………$ 4,505 Budget Net Income………………………(-)$ 112

Thank You! Mary Long, the Pennridge CROP Hunger Walk coordinator, reported the following information about the October CROP Walk in which St. Peter’s Lutheran participated. In 2018, over $30,000 was raised and the food drive collected 731 lbs of food for FISH! This year’s goal was surpassed. 22 churches and 212 walkers were involved this year, making 2018 the most successful CROP Walk in Pennridge history. “Since its inception in 1983-84, the Pennridge CROP Hunger Walk has raised over $773,913.50. That means we have helped feed, clothe, and shelter a lot of people, to say nothing of helping in hurricane relief efforts.”

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History The Parish Administrator recently rejoined the Eastern Pennsylvania Lutheran Historical Society. Their quarterly magazine, The Periodical, is a robust journal filled with Lutheran history and biographies. In 2009, the organization published a history of SEPA and NEPA synod congregations from 1683 to 1775. Only $10, this wonderful book provided hours of reading and historical pleasure. Divided by counties, each congregation’s history is on one page with one or two photos of the structure. It was amazing how many pre-American Revolution Lutheran congregations were started in eastern Pennsylvania. Counties never thought of as Lutheran (Armstrong, Snyder, Lebanon, Bedford, Carbon, etc.) produced at least three congregations in each county prior to 1775. Many of those pre-Revolutionary congregations were on the “frontier.” Guns were often carried to Services along with Bibles or hymn books. While congregations in today’s Philadelphia metropolitan area (i.e. Chester, Bucks, and Montgomery counties) were safe from attacks in those early years, some counties outside the Philadelphia area faced animosity from Native American tribes who resented white incursion onto Native American lands. The French and Indian War (1754-1763) exacerbated white farmers vs. Native American tribal interests and land use. Increased violence against frontier settlers forced Lutheran colonists on the frontier to stay vigilant. What was amazing was that most of the congregations were still in existence as of 2009 (book publication date). One wonders how many continue ten years later. Another pleasure, making this a fantastic reference book for genealogists and historians, are the alternate names of the congregations. It was great reading for winter nights before Christmas. Now one has to wait for the sequel for congregations that began after 1775. St. Peter’s will be in that volume.

Notice for Cancellations

In the event worship is canceled due to bad weather, the cancellation will be posted on St. Peter’s web page (www.splchurch.net) and the church Facebook page. It will also be announced via a PhoneTree message.

Church Chat

• Input for the January newsletter is due by Thursday, January 17.

• The Good Shepherd Episcopal (Hilltown) annual art show will occur in February. Details are at the end of this newsletter. Application forms are also available from St. Peter’s church office. Contact the office for a form if you are interested in participating. This show grows every year and showcases photography, painting, and wood carving.

• Donate to help the victims of the California wildfires through Thrivent. Thrivent will match up to $250,000 in personal donations made through Thrivent.com to specific disaster relief organizations helping with the recovery efforts. Thrivent will pay the processing fees for these donations, so 100 percent goes to help. Eligible members can also direct Thrivent Choice Dollars®. Thrivent members pray for those who have been affected by the CA Wildfires. Thrivent – a membership organization of Christians – is mobilizing its financial resources and members to help those in need. Thrivent members and others who want to help with recovery efforts are encouraged to visit Thrivent.com to learn more.

• Have you noticed a change in the voice on recent PhoneTree messages? It’s an electronic voice which reads the written message left on the PhoneTree site. This new method is less expensive AND permits a message to be sent from an individual’s home computer. It’s also much quicker, as many calls can be made at once thereby getting the message out more quickly. The old system required someone come to church and create the message on the phone in the church office, which then took up to 3 hours to complete calling all on the list. This was problematic in extreme weather.

• The sexton (Jeff Thompson) is unable to work for several weeks. Please help St. Peter’s leadership and your church by picking up any paper or debris you see laying around.

C

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St. Peter’s Souperbowl 2019

Team Chunky vs. Team Campbell’s

January 6 – January 27

We will be collecting canned soup on these dates to donate to FISH and St.

Michael’s food bank in Philadelphia.

Which team will be the champion of St. Peter’s Souperbowl?

Sign up to be part of Team Chunky or Team Campbell’s.

There is a team sign-up list on the bulletin board in the Narthex.

On Sunday January 27 we will end our souperbowl with a soup lunch following the

second service and the winning team will be announced.

Wear your favorite football team colors, jersey, hat, hoodie, etc. on January 27th!

Bring your team spirit!!

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Congregational Staff To arrange a Pastoral visit, email or call the church office (see below).

• Rev. Raymond Miller, Bridge Pastor 215-822-9075 (Pastor’s office) Pastoral emergency: 267-733-5243 stpeterslc@comcast.net

Office hours: Monday and Wednesday mornings, 10 am to 12 noon and by appointment

• Sue Fellman Jacob, Parish Administrator 215-822-9108 Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 9:00am to 2:00pm stpeterslc@comcast.net

• Norman Geist, Organist

• Bill Gottshall, Worship Ensemble Leader Susan Scherffel, Worship Ensemble Leader

• Jeff Thompson, Sexton

St. Peter’s Congregational Council Pam Abaza, President (term ends: December 2021) 2nd Term (215) 500-8458 pamela_abaza@merck.com Diane Gall, Vice-President (term ends: December 2020) 1st Term (215) 651-1112 alottagall@verizon.net Linda Ertel, Secretary (term ends: December 2021) 2nd Term (215) 712-9820 lmertel@verizon.net Ken Shanks, Treasurer (completed two terms on council as of December 2015) (267) 424-0202 Kshanks6@gmail.com Spencer Butterwick (term ends: December 2021) 1st Term (215) 881-7464 ssb1@psu.edu

Rick Daubert (term ends: December 2020) 1st Term (215) 830-1270 rdoubled1@verizon.net Debra Detweiler (term ends: December 2020) 1st Term (267) 228-0530 detweiler32658@gmail.com Patti Dowse (term ends: December 2019) 1st Term (215) 738-2781 privateagreement@gmail.com Joan Gerhart (term ends: December 2019) 1st Term (215) 822-9186 jjcjd@yahoo.com Phil Tackett (term ends: December 2019) 2nd Term (215) 896-1775 Lpt2829@gmail.com

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St. Peter’s Christmas Caroling

Sunday, December 9th

Singing at the Lutheran Community at Telford At Rockhill Community

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Some of the carolers

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As of December 23, 2018

God’s Protection and Safety:

On all who drive buses, trains & planes. For all the service men & women especially:

Seaman Abigail Gall, US Coast Guard, daughter of Diane & Chris Gall

God’s Healing:

Parishioners: Judy Smith, Janet Owens, June Bair, Bob Bair, Jean Gugger, Charles Gehman, Joe Haenn, Bob

Snider, Bob Bergey, Mary VanThyne, Jim Ertel, Sharon Senigo, Mary Ettore, Jeff Flagler, Sandie Driscoll.

* - new addition

God’s Healing:

Friends and family:

*Kathy Yerger (friend of Doris & Shirley Texter), Holly Olsen (friend of Charles Rizzo), Ann Weikel (sister-in-law of

Sue Jacob), Faye Slack (daughter of Blanche Wimmer), Paul Hershey (father of Chris Fellman), Reckner family

(friends of Shirley & Doris Texter), Betty Zepp (relation to Maryann Zepp), Donna Kuehlewind & Kristy Simcox

(friends of Deb Detweiler), Kay Moyer (friend of Hope Garrett), Phil Richard, June Breithaupt (mother of June

Bair), Arlene Leonard (Gene Gugger’s sister), Steve Traynor (friend of Sandie Driscoll), Jim Hardy (son of Peg & Ed

Hardy), Barbara Jones (Danielle Simpkins’ mother), Al Palmer (friend of Dean Jerasa), Mark Newbold (friend of

Charles Rizzo), Rhelda Warriner (sister of Rita Bixler), Donna Cross (friend of Jim & Linda Ertel), Debbie

Breithaupt (sister-in-law of June Bair), Mason Long and Randy (grandsons of Peg & Ed Hardy), Brandon Latham

(friend of Scherffel family), Ted and Jackie Frey (friends of Eleanor Peitzman), Chase Yarns (nephew of Tammy

Daubert), George Yarns (father of Tammy Daubert), Patricia Deitz (sister of Bob Bair), Harry Kieffer (Deb

Detweiler’s brother-in-law), Debra Scott (Sue Scherffel’s cousin), Butch Trucksess (brother-in-law of Donna and

Brian Blackburn), Jim Trucksess (nephew of Donna and Brian Blackburn), Michael Burgess (brother of Kim

Jerasa), Joseph Hartner (brother-in-law of Michael Ettore, Sr.).

* - new addition [Names for healing will stay on the printed list for 1 month]

God’s Comfort & Peace:

For our homebound members: *Julie Detweiler (Phoebe, Richlandtown), Elizabeth Witt (Pine Run Community), Ted

Fickert (Dock Woods), Joe Haenn, Bob Bergey, Blanche Wimmer, Betty Rohrs (Lutheran Community at Telford),

Esther Saylor and Tillie Murray (Hidden Meadows on the Ridge), Betty Nash (Springhouse Estates), Edna Ney

(Phoebe Meadow Glen), Ted Hilmer, Mary VanThyne (Home).

God’s Grace for the Family & Friends who mourn the death of:

John Rizzo (brother of Charles Rizzo), +Doris Hardy, +Bonnie Lesh, James Seward, Sr (father of Jim Seward),

+Marge Moll, +Glen Kramer, Charles Zepp (Maryann Zepp relation), Doris C. Blackburn (mother of Brian

Blackburn), +Ilse Mondry, Ira Kerns, Jr. (brother of Betty Jean Nemec), Clyde Bishop (brother of Peg Hardy),

Gerald Kratz (father of Jan Drabyak), Juliane Tauscher (sister of Luise Scherffel), +Ernie Johnson, Julia Smith

(niece of Julie Detweiler).

[ +indicates a member of St. Peter’s. Names will stay on the printed list for 1 year]

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Application forms are available at St. Peter’s Church office.

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January 2019

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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12n – AA

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7pm – Boy Scouts 6:30 – Boy Scouts

4 12n – AA

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6 8 am & 10:00 am Worship Services 1-3:4H meeting 6 pm: Confirmation class

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8 1pm – Worship & Music mtg

9 12n – AA

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7pm – Boy Scouts

11 12n – AA

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13 8 am & 10:00 am Worship Services Council installed 2-4: 4H meeting

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15 10am – Quilters 7 pm – BSA Committee mtg

16 Newsletter input due 12n – AA

17 7pm – Boy Scouts

18 12n – AA

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20 8 am & 10:00 am Worship Services 6 pm: Confirmation class

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7 pm – Council

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23 12n – AA

24 Newsletter emailed 7pm – Boy Scouts

25 12n – AA

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27 8 am & 10:00 am Worship Services 11:00a-Souperbowl lunch

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12:00 noon – Lunch Bunch at Apple Orchard

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12n – AA

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Monthly Assisting Ministers Calendar – January 2019

Date Time Ushers Greeters Acolyte Crucifer Scripture Prayer Server Altar Guild Counters

12/30/18

8:00 am TEAM C W & C Fellman P Hardy &

S Davenport K Shanks J Snyder **L Tackett J Smith P Tackett

M Zepp & M Fickert

D & S Texter

Lessons & Carols

10:00 am TEAM C C Simpkins &

G Gugger D & S Texter P Dowse

**L Lombardo

K Jerasa K Jerasa S Driscoll

1/6/19

8:00 am TEAM D B & J Snider J & D Snyder L Tackett H Lee H Garrett ** H Garrett E Rebnegger K Park & L Ertel

J Johnson & M Fickert

Epiphany 10:00 am TEAM D

R Johnson & G Gerhart

P Dowse & C Rizzo

**N Driscoll S Butterwick B Schwab T Schwab L Lombardo

1/13/19 8:00 am TEAM E S & E Rebnegger W & C Fellman D Bell F Park **P Tackett D Gall P Tackett

D Detweiler & P Abaza

S & D Texter

10:00 am TEAM E

C Simpkins & A Scherffel

R Johnson S Texter D Texter C Evans **C Evans S Driscoll

1/20/19 8:00 am TEAM F J & D Snyder B & J Detweiler E

Rebnegger K Shanks J Snider J Smith **D Gall

P Dowse & C Rizzo

K Jerasa & N Driscoll

10:00 am TEAM F ** D & S Texter N & S Driscoll C Rizzo P Dowse M Zepp S Driscoll K Jerasa

1/27/19 8:00 am TEAM A D Detweiler &

P Hardy P Hardy &

S Davenport D Bell P Tackett L Tackett **Holly Lee K Shanks

R Bixler & L Lombardo

P Dowse & C Rizzo

10:00 am TEAM A **S Texter & A Scherffel

R Johnson & L Lombardo

C Rizzo A Reice K Ballard R Daubert P Dowse

2/3/19 8:00 am TEAM B P Tackett &

D Bell B & J Detweiler

E Rebnegger

K Shanks **Lou Bell D Gall Lisa Bell D & S Texter J Johnson &

M Fickert

10:00 am TEAM B R Johnson &

G Gerhart D & D Fell B Flagler K Flagler T Daubert ** T Daubert L Lombardo

YOU STILL NEED TO CONTACT YOUR TEAM LEADER WITH CHANGES. The yellow, highlighted names with double stars are team leaders.

Please arrive 10 minutes before the Service, so the Team Leader knows you are available.