January 2023 News
January 2023 Newsletter
Worship Schedule this Month
January 1st – 1st Sunday after Christmas Day, “Why Do We End Up in the Places We Do? Choices, Luck or
Divine Guidance”, Rev. John Yost – Psalms 148, Hebrews 2:10-18, Matthew 2:13-23.
January 8th – Baptism of Christ, “How Does Baptism Help Us to See and Hear with a Heavenly Perspective?”, Rev. John Yost – Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 3:13-17.
January 15th – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, “Why Did John the Baptist call Jesus the Lamb of God”, Rev. John Yost – Psalms 40:1-11, 1st Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42.
January 22nd - 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, “What Did Jesus Want Us to Understand about the Nearness of the Kingdom of Heaven and the Need to Repent?”, Rev. John Yost – Psalms 27:1, 4-9, 1st Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23.
January 29th – 4th Sunday after Epiphany, “The Foolish, the Wise and Where God’s Blessings Fall”, Rev. John Yost – Psalms 15, 1st Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12.
Annual Meeting
The annual congregational meeting for election of consistory for 2023 will take place immediately following the worship service on January 8th, 2023.
Wednesday Bible Study 6:30-8
January 4th- Philippians 1:1-18
How Christ is to Be Known By Us and Through Us: The Case for Grace, Compassion, Worship and Witness
January 11th- Philippians 1:18-30
Living and Dying In and With Christ: Salvation as a Call to Suffer for Him
January 18th- Philippians 2:1-11
United in Christ: Humility, Obedience and Confession
January 25th- Philippians 2:12-30
Working Out Our Salvation with Fear and Trembling for God is at Work in and For Us
Movie & Popcorn
Dreisbach will a host a movie afternoon with popcorn on January 15th at 3:00p.m. in the downstairs social room! Bring your lawn chair or blanket to get comfortable. Popcorn and lemonade will be provided.
Highlights from November Consistory Meeting
· Thank You to everyone who helped make the Christmas Services run smoothly despite the weather disturbances! Consistory was postponed from our normal date of December 15th and moved to December 20th.
· Please mark your calendars and try to attend church January 8, 2023 as we will have Election of Consistory, a Congregational Meeting to go over the church budget and of course yummy refreshments!
· The Safety and Security Policy was reviewed with Chris Fallon, our insurance agent. The changes he suggested will be made and Consistory hopes to have the policy approved next month. Chris also suggested that we purchase security cameras when we are interested and can afford it. Consistory’s discussion about the cameras concluded that with the current internet issues, cameras will have to be on hold for now. He also mentioned that if you are the first person to the church, drive around the church to check the parking lot before entering the building. Scott Eberhart will check with the Mifflinburg Fire Company to do a walk through the building to familiarize them with it.
· The Church’s 2023 Budget was discussed and approved to be presented to the Congregation.
· The Music Committee headed by Dave Beckley noted we have not received any resumes for the Music Director Position. In the interim, Ruth Romig and Roxie Girton are willing to help play the organ and Tricia Lloyd will help with Praise Band.
· Consistory approved a transfer of $10,000 from savings account to the investment account.
· Pastor John Yost was approved by Consistory to serve as our Supply Pastor from January 1, 2023 – April 30, 2023.
· Consistory approved a $250.00 Christmas Gift for Pastor John Yost.
Veterans Christmas Remembrance
Volunteers placed 111 wreaths on veteran graves in the Dreisbach Church Cemetery on Dec. 17th. This was accomplished by the generous folks that sponsored all 111 wreaths plus the 9 Military Branch Wreathes. We had a beautiful patriotic service and profiled a veteran – PFC 1st Class Alfred S. Hause, a US Army WWII POW and lifelong member of Dreisbach Church. Sandy Catherman did an exceptional job with the presentation on the TV monitors. She recorded the service and it can be viewed on Dreisbach UCC.org-You Tube. A sincere THANK YOU to all those that sponsored and laid wreaths, plus all those that participated before and after and in the service. Your invaluable support continues the mission to remember the men and women who served our country, honor our military and their families, and teach our children about our freedom and those who protect it. God Bless You. Judy Willow and Elaine Rockey
Nursery
Volunteers will be available to care for your child in the nursery every Sunday after the Children’s Time until the end of the service. Parents and caretakers are welcome to send their children to the nursery during that time. All volunteers have appropriate clearances. If you would like to participate in this ministry, please contact Diane Hackenberg.
January’s volunteers are: January 1 – unstaffed; January 8 – Ryli Amabile; January 15 – Bonnie Dodge; January 22 – Tara Young; January 29 – Lori Leitzel.
Upcoming Meetings
· The next meeting of the Prime-timers will be on January 26th at the Farmer’s Family Restaurant in Mifflinburg. Dave Beckley will be the contact for this month’s gathering. Please sign up at the back of the sanctuary. All are welcome.
· The next meeting of the Prayer Shawl group will be Thursday, January 12, at the church. All are welcome.