July 2021 News
July 2021 Newsletter
Pastor’s Message
“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God. Jesus.”-Luke 12:21
A big thank you goes out to all who made this year’s VBS program a success. Many hands make the work lite and all of the young hearts and joyful voices made everything wonderful. Over 40 young people road the rails at our Rocky Railway Events. Thank you to Judy Willow and all who stepped up to make this ministry meaningful for everyone who witnesses it. Thanks to our snack/food leaders, game leaders, craft leaders, story tellers, and music/skit leaders. Also, thank you to our sound and visual crews and thank you to our ticket taker Scott. And everyone enjoyed Conductor Brandon Lepley’s message and program on Thursday evening. And thank you to one Poco Loco Engineer.
We did not have the auction with our VBS program this year. We are hoping to have that event in Early September when more folks are around. So if you have donations or creations for that, you have a few more weeks to be ready for this great fundraiser.
We are going to try 2 Summertime First Sunday Fellowships. These will be the first Sunday in July and the first Sunday in August. We will set up our coffee cart upstairs outside the sanctuary and have coffee available for folks after the service and we invite you to hang around outside or inside the church and share some fellowship time. This is meant to be a little less formal and structured time; and hopefully an opportunity to enjoy nice weather and each other’s company.
As part of our returning to a more normal way of life and gatherings in person our leadership wants to encourage each of us to reflect on the experiences of life that we have lived through in the past 1.5 years. Our hope is that many of you will take the time to share those reflections and thoughts in the coming months. We are opening up a few ways of sharing your stories, thoughts, and learning points. One way will be in worship as part of some lay reflection times. The first opportunity for this will be over the July 4th holiday weekend when Jerry Amabile and Bonnie Dodge will share reflections about how their faith helped them navigate the events and trials of the pandemic time. We are looking for more willing folks to share in worship (about a 5-7 minute time of sharing) in future weeks or months. If you don’t feel you could fill that length of time with your words, then maybe you could share a paragraph with one story or one learned experience that was key to your life in this time. Or if words don’t come easy maybe a picture or 2 is what could tell your story (remember a picture is worth 1000 words).
So how has life been challenging in this time? How has your faith been tested or a blessing to this time? What have you learned or how have you grown in this once in a lifetime (better be!!) pandemic experience? There will be a number of times when we will hear from one another during our weekly services this summer and into the fall season. I also encourage you to share those stories and thoughts during family gatherings and fellowship times, which will hopefully be more prevalent than in the recent months.
Blessings and Prayers for the journey,
Pastor Nate
Worship Schedule this month:
July 4th - (Theme of Week: Sent with Power) Reflection Messengers on Faith in the time of Pandemic: Bonnie Dodge and Jerry Amabile. Summertime First Sunday Fellowship. 2nd Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10; 2nd Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13.
July 11th - (ToW: God-inspired Joy) 2nd Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:14-29.
HARVEY CEDARS WEEK, Please pray for our group and the ministry that occurs in this sacred place.
July 18th - (ToW: Wherever You Are) 2nd Samuel 7:1-14a; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6: 14-29.
July 25th – (ToW: God’s Abundant Presence) 2nd Samuel 11:1-15; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21.
Look Further Ahead
August 1st (ToW: Bread of Life) Summertime First Sunday Fellowship. 2nd Samuel 11:26 – 12:13a; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6: 24-35.
August 8th - (ToW: Shaping Community) 2nd Samuel 18: 5-9, 15, 31-33; Ephesians 4:25- 5:2; John 6:35, 41-51.
Rocky Railway VBS
Forty-four children climbed aboard the train at “Rocky Railway” every night at VBS with a ticket punched by our “Ticket Master”, Scott Sanders or with conductor, Brandon Lepley, who is a real conductor for the Northern Southern Railway. The train had to make several stops: storytime, crafts, games and the best stop was at the “Chew Chew Snacks” Diner Car.
Every night, “Cam Tram” and “Tootsie Roll”, acted out a skit where the kids learned that trusting Jesus pulls them through life’s ups and downs.
On Thursday night, Conductor Brandon talked with the children about what he does as a conductor on a train and everything you would want to know about trains.
Our offering total for the week was $300 and will be donated to Camp Koala, which is a camp for children who have lost a loved one. Many thanks to everyone who helped in making the 2021 bible school a success.
Thank You
A heartfelt thank you for the get well wishes, prayers and concern over the past months during my stays in the hospital, rehab, recovery and eventually home. I so appreciated the blessing of over 65 cards when I celebrated my 93rd. birthday. A big thank you to Pastor Nate for his visits, calls and prayers through everything. Thank you to my church family and friends for your cards, concerns and continued prayers.
With much love and appreciation, Mabel June Walter.
Upcoming Meetings
The next meeting of the Prayer Shawl group will be Wednesday, July 14th, at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome!
The Dreisbach UCC Prime Timers will be meeting at the Old Turnpike Restaurant, Thursday, July 22nd at 12:30pm. Come and enjoy lunch and a time of fellowship. Lunch will be Dutch treat. Anyone 50 or older is welcome to join the group. A signup sheet will be located in the back of the sanctuary.
Covid-19 Update
With restrictions easing across the state we are no longer requiring masks while in the church building, although we do still strongly encourage their use particularly for those who are unvaccinated.
We ask you to be considerate of our other members and continue to make smart decisions about attending in person worship service when you are not feeling well.
Thank you
Card Shower
Bill Bastian will be celebrating his 90th Birthday this month! We would love to share well wishes with him on this wonderful milestone. Please consider dropping a card in the mail to celebrate this happy occasion: 240 Applewood Drive, Apt. 4, Lewisburg, PA 17837