THE WINDOW, Newsletter of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata, PA December 2017/January 2018 THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY E.L.C.A. 167 EAST MAIN STREET EPHRATA PA 17522 PHONE 717.733.4134 CONGREGATIONAL MEETING December 3, 2017 9:15 AM Sunday Holy Communion - 8:00 & 10:30 AM Sunday Church School - 9:15 AM Advent Evening Prayer: Wednesdays, December 6, 13, 20 at 7:30 PM Thursday Worship - 7:00 PM “Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus! Come, and be born in our hearts”. ADVENT 4: Sunday, December 24—One liturgy at 9AM Advent Worship Christmas Eve 4:00 PM: Holy Communion with carols and candle lighting 7:00 PM: Holy Communion with carols and candle lighting 10:00 PM: Holy Communion with carols and candle lighting DECEMBER 31: FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS Holy Communion at 8:00 & 10:30 AM SCS 9:15 JANUARY 7: BAPTISM OF OUR LORD- Liturgies at 8:00 and 10:30AM 9:15 AM Epiphany Celebration
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THE WINDOW, Newsletter of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata, PA December 2017/January 2018
THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY E.L.C.A. 167 EAST MAIN STREET EPHRATA PA 17522 PHONE 717.733.4134
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING December 3, 2017 9:15 AM
Sunday Holy Communion - 8:00 & 10:30 AM
Sunday Church School - 9:15 AM
Advent Evening Prayer: Wednesdays, December 6, 13, 20 at 7:30 PM
Thursday Worship - 7:00 PM “Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, Lord Jesus! Come, and be born in our hearts”.
ADVENT 4: Sunday, December 24—One liturgy at 9AM Advent Worship
Christmas Eve
4:00 PM: Holy Communion with carols and candle lighting
7:00 PM: Holy Communion with carols and candle lighting 10:00 PM: Holy Communion with carols and candle lighting
DECEMBER 31: FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS Holy Communion at 8:00 & 10:30 AM SCS 9:15
JANUARY 7: BAPTISM OF OUR LORD- Liturgies at 8:00 and 10:30AM 9:15 AM Epiphany Celebration
THE WINDOW, Newsletter of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata, PA December 2017/January 2018
OUR SERVANTHOOD TO THE COMMUNITY
Daily on Weekdays: Meals-on-Wheels S. June Smith Center 1st Tuesday each month: Ephrata community Auxiliary
Attendance in OCTOBER
Date Worship October 1, 2017 144 October 8, 2017 150 October 15, 2017 160 October 22, 2017 187 October 29, 2017 158
To the members of Holy Trinity who are 70 years and older and celebrating a
birthday this month.
DECEMBER
1 Joanne Bigony 1 Larry Hummer 2 Jim Brodt 15 Violet McCauley 28 Elsie Bowman 31 Mary Scheaffer SEND THEM A BIRTHDAY CARD OR CALL THEM WITH YOUR GREETING. WE PRAY GOD GRANTS THEM MANY MORE YEARS IN THEIR PIL-GRIMAGE.
The FEBRUARY 2018 issue will be mailed on Thursday, January 25 Deadline for articles for the FEBRUARY 2018 issue: January 18.
Prayer Chain Participants: Kitty Dickersheid, Patricia Fassnacht, Joyce Gehman, Carlene Kerschner, Mary Louise Hornberger, Louise Krick, Henrietta Mull, Mary Stophel, Cindy Sutton, Judy Zimmerman.
To submit names for prayer, please call the church office at 733-4134.
BULLETIN “RECYCLING” In order to save on the expense of printing the bulletin, the bulletins from the 8:00 service will be “recycled” for use at the 10:30 service. The information inserts will be available for one per family to take home.
IMPORTANT NOTICE!!! As a result of Federal Law, hospitals are no longer able to pro-vide the church with any information about patients without prior patient permission. The only way we will know about ADMISSIONS AND ROOM NUMBERS, is if you inform us.
E-Mail: Holy Trinity needs your e-mail address to supplement, facilitate and economize the information highway from the church office to you! Your e-mail address won’t be placed in a church direc-tory. It will only be used for mailings originating in the church of-fice. If you want to be included, please print your name and e-mail address on an index card (by the box) and place in the box provided.
The Yoga group would like to invite anyone interested in Yoga to come to our practice on Monday evenings. We meet at 6:15PM and end about 8 in the Gathering Area. Bring a mat and wear comfortable clothes that allow for move-
ment.
Attention Men: Fellowship/Prayer Breakfast Fellowship/devotional opportunity for men, sons, grandsons, friends. Date: Saturday, December 30 at 9:00 AM. Place: Udder Choice. Sign-up in Gathering Area. Come and join us and bring a friend.
December 10: THE SINGLE’S GROUP will be going to The Oregon Dairy Restaurant after the 10:30 liturgy. We’ll meet in the Assembly Area at 12:10. All are wel-come. For reservations, please call Cheryl Plummer by December 9 at 625-3187. Plan to join us!
January
7 John Fuehrer 11 Elizabeth Charles 14 Louise Krick 15 Mary Brossman 18 Marlin Kreider 27 June Good 27 Ron Good 30 Carl Tobias
THE WINDOW, Newsletter of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata, PA December 2017/January 2018
In any number of churches, one traditional ele-ment of the annual Christmas celebration includes a “birthday party” for Jesus. Complete with an iced cake and candles and singing of “Happy Birthday”, these con-gregations reflect their understanding of Christmas as purely a birthday event, the details of which are exceed-ingly familiar. I understand the effort and the thought, but sometimes, “cute” is more dangerous than doing nothing at all. In truth, Christmas is about far more than simply a birth story. Christmas is about Emmanuel, “God with us”. Yes, we humans struggle mightily to translate a divine reality, God’s presence, into human terms that we can grasp, thus the birthday party tradition. Sometimes it is better to simply proclaim the biblical truth rather than try-ing to couch it in clever words and images. The gospel of Mark which will provide most of the preaching texts in the coming liturgical year does not even have a birth story in its verses. It begins with an adult Jesus arriving at the Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptizer. What Mark does tell us is that Jesus was the Son of God, and in him, the fullness of God was present. Mark makes the clear point….in Jesus, God has come. Not only has he come, but the Resurrection is God’s promise that “I will remain!” Nothing, not even death, can separate us, God from creation. Christmas is far more than just the celebration of a birth. It is the bold proclamation of a presence, God has come. Indeed God has come in the form and manner of the created world. God has come in the flesh. Our task is to proclaim, not to explain, this promised truth of God. An annual December 24 birthday celebration may warm hearts with the sentimental imagery, but it can also shield us from wrestling with a far more challenging
truth….God has come. God is present even now among us. Advent becomes not the time to dash wildly in preparation for a “party” but the faith time to wrestle with the proclamation: “God has come!” What shall it mean for me today, in this moment, that God has come? How can I welcome God into the midst of my world? Christ-mas is the celebration of “God has come.” Epiphany then is the season to proclaim to all the world– God is among us! It is no secret, rather it is a word to shout loud and true for all the world to know. One thing must be clear to all. Christmas is not just an annual retreat into some fantasy world of dreams and “fluff.” It challenges us to wrestle with the daily im-pact on our lives of God is among us! Christmas is not an escape from life’s harsh reality, but the faith challenge to work to change the brokenness. As Christians, we cannot accept the brokenness of our day without responding to it in Christ. God has come and is among us! Empowered by His presence, let us op-pose the sin so blatant and live each day by faith. Birthday parties are fun but they change little. Christmas is about a God who has come, not just to stop by for a visit, but to establish His Kingdom among us. Christmas is about dai-ly reality and God’s desire to change the evil He sees among us. May His presence this day and every day em-power our faith and grant us peace. For one last time, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year! I join with Donna, Sue, Candy, and Deb to wish you all the very best! Pastor Herbener
Power Packs: Power Packs provide free weekend meals for Ephrata Area School children who receive subsidized meals at school. The program is operated entirely by volunteers, and the weekly power packs are picked up on Thurs-days at the Rec. They need donations of protein items: peanut butter, big cans of chicken and tuna. Bring do-nations to church. A box will be available in the Gath-ering Area. Thank you.
SAVE THE DATE More details on this event will follow, but for now mark Sat-urday, January 27, 2018, 12:00 noon in your calendars for Pastor Herbener’s retirement gala. This event will be a catered event here at the church. Due to the unpredictability of January’s weather, Sunday, January 28, 2018, 12:00 noon has been chosen as the date in case inclement weather prevents the event from occurring on the 27th. Again, more details will follow, but we wanted to make sure you have advance-notice of the date(s).
THE WINDOW, Newsletter of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata, PA December 2017/January 2018
LSS Responds to WV Floods & Gulf Coast Flooding
Even as the floodwaters recede in West Virginia, the extent of the devastation rises. Help is needed imme-diately, and thanks to your generosity we are able to respond to our neighbors’ need. “As part of the Al-ways Being Made New campaign, we committed to raise $100,000 to be able to respond to local disas-ters,” Bishop Jim Dunlop said. “Now our neighbors in WV- Western Maryland Synod need someone to respond to their immediate need, and we were able to send $20,000 from this fund to Bishop Matt Rei-gel for relief efforts. I invite you go give generously to help address the needs in WV and to replenish our synod’s LDR Fund so that we are able to respond as quickly to emergencies in the future.” Mark your checks earmarked for LDR-WV Flood. **Now in addition LDR is responding to the flooding along the Gulf Coast. If you want to contribute, mark your check for “LDR-Gulf Coast Flooding”.
Life will always move in the direction of your strongest thoughts. When was the last time you devoted an entire hour to your well-being? Come out Thursday evenings starting August 3, 2017 from 6:30-7:30.
Starting with prayer and a short devotion or scripture, moving into exploring our breath and its amazing effect on our entire body, followed by a gentle yoga class end-ing in relaxation. This class is for all people, all sizes, all ages and all abilities led by Regina Usner. Regina’s profession is a radiation therapist for the last 32 years. She started exploring yoga after a cancer diagnosis and she is now a yoga instructor and yoga therapist part time. “Yoga has come right alongside her faith and helped heal her body.” Any questions regarding class see Michelle Cable or Bonnie Frey.
Homes of Hope-Ephrata Stewardship Special Giving for January 2018 Homes of Hope-Ephrata, supported by thirteen partner churches in the Akron & Ephrata area, has now served
ninety-two families, comprised of one hundred twenty-nine adults and one hundred seventy children. Tom Swalwell of Ephrata Area Social Services saw a need for a transitional housing program in 2002, and after several Akron pas-tors came together to continue pursuing the idea, in early 2003 Homes of Hope-Ephrata was soon established.
The mission of Homes of Hope-Ephrata is to assist families and individuals in the Ephrata Area School Dis-trict to regain financial and social stability as they are guided from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
Since the first family was placed in the programs only home in 2005 the program has grown to three transition-al housing apartments. Families in the program are placed in a four-six month transitional apartment, and then are mentored by trained volunteers from local churches, budget counseling from trained budget coaches also from local churches, and support from Tabor Community Services.
As the economy continues to create situations for families in our community, Homes of Hope-Ephrata contin-ues to be here for them thanks to the financial support of us at Holy Trinity and other churches in the area. For those aided by Homes of Hope-Ephrata, the work being done by the program is very important.
Money given to Homes of Hope-Ephrata is used to help support part of one staff person at Love INC and pay utilities and repairs for the apartments, that are owned by local churches. The costs are about $6,300 per unit per year.
Homes of Hope-Ephrata is an effective way of moving families out of homelessness as churches work together with local agencies to meet this need in our area. All contributions are tax deductible.
Homes of Hope-Ephrata is Holy Trinity’s Stewardship focus for January 2018. More information is on the display table in the gathering area. Please use your “special giving” envelope to help support this organizations mis-sion.
Snow or inclement weather Notice of worship/meeting cancellations can be found on:
TV Channel CBS 21 ( BR Cable 19) or their webpage at: www.whptv.com
TV Channel UPN 15 (BR Cable 9) or their webpage at: www.upn15.com
WGAL 8 webpage: www.WGAL.com Radio stations: WLAN FM 97 or their webpage at: www.fm97.com KISS FM 99.3, WRVV 97.3 FM, BOB 94.9 FM, WHP580 Talk Radio These links can also be viewed on Trinity’s website.
THE WINDOW, Newsletter of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata, PA December 2017/January 2018
OUR WORSHIPING COMMUNITY
Please check your assigned dates carefully and if for some reason you are unable to fulfill your obligation, please contact some-one who will serve in your stead. This is your responsibility. Please let the church office or Pastor or Donna know of changes.
December 2017 Assisting Ministers 8:00 AM
The Ministers December 3 Advent 1
December 10 Advent 2
December 17 Advent 3
December 24 Advent 4–
1 service 9AM
December 31 Christmas 1
Council Team Todd Peters
Tina Morgan Phyllis Peters
Ron Price Mary Stophel
Phyllis Peters Todd Peters
Tina Morgan Ron Price
Assisting Minister Ron Price John Fuehrer Todd Peters Mary Stophel John Fuehrer
Communion Assistant Mary Stophel Ron Price John Fuehrer Ron Price Todd Peters
Lector Ron Price John Fuehrer Todd Peters Mary Stophel Jim Watkins
Acolyte CH: Theresa Mull CH: Sydney Morgan CH: Nathan Kimmel CH: Brad Steiert CH: Theresa Mull CR: Sydney Morgan
Ushers #1 John Keller #3 Phyllis Doughty #9 Dave Bowers #11 Kevin Gingrich #19 John Fuehrer
AV Andrew Sweigart Bob Eberly Dave Bowers Sara Garman Kevin Gingrich
Altar Guild Judy Wechter Kelly & John
Homan
Judy Zimmerman Mary Stophel
Barb & Steve Sweigart
Andy Sweigart
Kristen & Tom Leaman
Cheryl Plummer Patti Fassnacht
Carol & Tim Sweigart
Launder Linens Kim Hink Kim Hink Kim Hink Kim Hink Kim Hink
THE WINDOW, Newsletter of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata, PA December 2017/January 2018
We want to thank you for all of your pray-ers and cards of healing a support since the stroke. It has meant so much to be supported in this way. Respectfully, Eric & Kimberly Bowers Dear Holy Trinity Family, Thank you for the cards and prayers I re-ceived during my recovery from surgery. Pastor and Donna thank you for the visits and altar flow-ers. Blessings, Ann Snader Dear Holy Trinity Lutheran Church,
Thank you for your gift of $450 to Luther-an Disaster Response. With this gift you are providing emotional and spiritual care, supplying emergency relief, and addressing long-term recov-ery. Thank you for encouraging others to learn, act, pray and five with you. Thank you for living God’s words of justice and mercy and for joining with the whole church to love and serve one another. In God’s grace, The Rev. Daniel Rift Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal
If you would like to have a thank you printed in an upcoming issue of The Window, please bring or send it to the church of-fice or put it in the offering plate. Please clearly mark that you would like it to be printed in The Window. Thank you.
December 24, 2017 Assisting Ministers CHRISTMAS EVE
The Ministers 4:00 PM 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Council Team Mary Stophel Ron Price
Denise Shirker John Weiss
Peggy Dean Michelle Cable
Assisting Minister Todd Peters John Fuehrer Curtis Boos
Communion Assistant
Bill Young Christy Boos
Lector Deb Hornberger Gary Nace Paul Hink
Acolyte CH: Matthew Sheaffer CR: Hannah Wierbiki
CH: Nate Young T: Clarice Doughty/Lillian
Doughty CR: Nathan Kimmel
CH: Brad Steiert T: Tanner Good/S. Morgan
CR: Theresa Mull
Ushers #17 Deb Grube #13 Steve Sweigart #6 Jim Brodt
AV Bob Eberly Norm Wangman Kevin Gingrich
Altar Guild Sue Watts Barb & Steve Sweigart
Bonnie Frey Michelle Cable
Wendy & Bill Young
Denise Shirker Amy Wiegand
Deb Hornberger
Bread Baker– 3 loaves
Barb Sweigart
New Year’s Eve Family Night in Akron. At the Broad Street Park from 9PM– 12:15 AM.
Join us to ring in the New Year with Akron’s 2018 Shoe-In! Shoe Collection: bring a pair of new or gently used shoes to the event OR drop off shoe donations at these collection sites beginning December 1: Akron Borough (117 S 7th St, Akron), Ephrata Na-tional Bank (351 S. 7th St., Akron), Weiser’s Market (805 Main St., Akron), Zion Lutheran Church (435 Main St., Akron). Donated shoes will be distributed at Peter’s Porch at Zion Lutheran Church.
Free Food with candy scramble. Bonfire, DJ spinnin’ tunes with trivia and prizes. Hayrides, shoe drop at midnight.
THE WINDOW, Newsletter of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata, PA December 2017/January 2018
Turkey Hill Moo Money Program Thanks to everyone who has been sup-porting this and bringing in their lids. If you haven’t started to save your lids, please consider doing so!! Save your Turkey Hill milk lids with the Moo Money sticker on and put them in the container in the Assembly Area. The fol-
lowing Turkey Hill milk items contain these stickers: Whole, 2%, 1% & Fat Free milk; Chocolate milk; Strawber-ry milk & Orange Cream milk. Turkey Hill will donate $50 for every 500 lids collected. NOTE: PLEASE LEAVE THE STICKERS ON THE LIDS; THE LID WITH THE STICKER MUST BE TURNED IN FOR CREDIT.
Redner’s Save-A-Tape Program Redner’s Tapes ONLY...please!
Redner’s Market offers a program for mem-bers who shop at Redner’s Markets to help their congregations support a designated community program. You MUST apply for a Redner’s Save-a-Tape card and show it each time you make a purchase. Your re-ceipt MUST say Save-a-Tape at the bot-tom, or it will not be eligible for this pro-
gram. Place your receipts in the designated box in the Assembly Area. Redner’s will contribute 1% of every $5000 worth of purchases. Our designated program will be the community meals. The total raised through these 2 programs has been: $2,931.78. Not bad for items that would have just been thrown away!!
Luther Lunch Ladies will NOT be meeting in December. Our monthly date falls too close to the holidays. We will meet again on January 24, so stay tuned!
Women’s Prayer Group The Women’s Prayer group meets each Monday morning at 10AM in the Library.
AMAZON SMILE We are now receiving automatic donations into our account when members use AmazonSmile for their purchases on Amazon. Please use this link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-1384954
when you make your purchases. You should see that you are supporting Holy Trinity at the top left of the screen when you go to the AmazonSmile site.
Make Your Regular Offering Electronically On the Holy Trinity website (www.holytrinityephrata.org), a new tab on the menu bar called “Online Giving” will now take you to a secure web site for you to give. You can now give your Regular Offering, your Special Appeal donation, and your Capital Campaign donation… ONLINE. Or, you can use your Smart Phone and follow the QR code.
Salem Lutheran Preschool in Ephrata will be needing a Head Preschool Teacher for the 2018-2019 school year. It is a 5 day a week position, 3 1/2 hours per day, September through May. For more information, call the church office at 717-733-6646.
FREE TRINI MINI!
Fall Trini Mini Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:30- 5:30 Parents must bring and pick up kids. We follow Ephrata Area School District schedule Kids from 1st-6thgrade We do homework help, follow up w/tables in educational apps and activities, games, stories, crafts, and snacks and presenters. Enter from the rear--167 East Main Street 717-733-4134 • Trini Mini is a free community outreach offered by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 167 E. Main St., Ephrata. Led by a loyal group of adult volunteers.
Kirchenwald Winter Youth Retreat January 5-7, 2018 For youth in grades 3 through 9
Enjoy Kirchenwald in the Winter! Play broom hock-ey and other games on the frozen pond. Have fun sledding, playing snow soccer and other winter games. Creative Bible studies and worship experi-ences led by our summer camp counselors are an im-portant part of this retreat. Other indoor and outdoor activities may be included, as the weather dictates.
Cost for the retreat is $135. A great Christmas gift for that grandchild who has every-thing!
Register information is on-line at www.LutheranCamping.org or get a form from Lisa Garrett. Please register by December 15th.
THE WINDOW, Newsletter of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata, PA December 2017/January 2018
DO WE HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS?
Continuing with the this issue of the news-letter, we have emailed it to all members whose email addresses we currently have. This will save considerable paper, printing and postage costs. Since you are receiving
a “hard copy”, it means that we do not have your email address. If you have an email address, please submit it to the church office so we can add you to the list of those receiving the newsletter by email. If you have access to the internet, you can also read the newsletter on Holy Trinity’s website.
Hurricane Harvey/Irma Lutheran Disaster Response. NOTE: If you give through Holy Trinity….please make your check payable to Holy Trinity….mark in memo for Hurricane Relief. NOTE FOR THRIVENT MEMBERS: If you are a Thrivent member please pick up instructions on the table in Assembly Area about matching funds. Your donation must be made online through Thrivent.com to receive matching funds.
Christmas Poinsettias & Trees
POINSETTIAS CAN BE ORDERED BY CALLING THE CHURCH OFFICE OR AFTER SERVICES ON NOV. 12, 19, 26 & DEC. 3 DEADLINE FOR ORDERS IS DECEMBER 4 NAME____________________________________ PHONE_________________________________ ________Poinsettias ($6.75 each) 6 ½ in. Pot IN MEMORY/HONOR OF: ____________________________________________ _____Hanging Poinsettias ($18.00 each) IN MEMORY/HONOR OF: ____________________________________________ PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE TO CHECK ON AVAILABILITY OF HANGING POINSETTIAS. OR I WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF CHRISTMAS TREES. $5.00____$10.00____$15.00____$20.00____ IN MEMORY/HONOR OF: ___________________________________________
December Stewardship Giving: ELCA World Hunger
Nearly 800 million people – that's 1 in 9 people in our world today – are hungry. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. – Matthew 25:35 As members of the ELCA, we are called to respond. We are a church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work. Working with and through our congregations, in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Lu-theran churches overseas and other partners, ELCA World Hunger is uniquely positioned to reach communities in need. From health clinics to microloans, water wells to ani-mal husbandry, community meals to advocacy, your gifts to ELCA World Hunger make it possible for the ELCA to re-spond, supporting sustainable solutions that get at the root causes of hunger and poverty. Hunger facts
795 million people around the world – that’s 1 in 10 – can't access the food they need to live active, healthy lives.
1 billion people live in extreme poverty on less than $1.25 per day. That's 14.5% of the world's population.
At some point in 2014, more than 48 million people in the United States were unsure where their next meal might come from. 46.7 million Americans were living in poverty in 2014. For a family of four, this means their annual household income was below $23,850. ELCA World Hunger is the focus of Holy Trinity’s Special Giving for the month of December 2017. Ways to Give: In 2016, your gifts have helped our church respond to hun-ger and poverty through more than 400 projects in nearly 60 countries around the world, including the United States. These gifts are brought together with the skills, capacity and resources of local communities to make transformative change. By working effectively through trusted relation-ships, ELCA World Hunger has consistently kept fundrais-ing and administration costs at less than 10 percent annually, to ensure that your gift goes where it is needed most. Please prayerfully consider responding directly, or through Holy Trinity specifying ELCA World Hunger. Thank you!
It’s time to update the PHOTO WALL lo-cated in the Gathering Area. Following the 8 & 10:30 AM services during December and January, and the Christmas Eve ser-vices. Bob Eberly (8 AM) and Adam Doughty (10:30 AM) will be available to take your photograph. No need to preregister- just smile and say cheese!
29 30 Walking group 7AM Men’s Prayer Breakfast 9AM
31 Christmas 1 Eucharist 8 & 10:30 SCS 9:15
Life Together at Holy Trinity: December 2017
Church office closed
Church office closed
Church office closes at noon
New Year’s Eve
THE WINDOW, Newsletter of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata, PA December 2017/January 2018
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 NEW YEAR’S DAY
2 Bible Study 10AM
Trini Mini 3:30
Mazon 4:30
Bells 7PM
3 Mazon 5PM Youth Bell Ch. 6PM Sr. Choir 6:45
4 Trini Mini 3:30 Yoga 6:30 Worship 7PM
5 6 Epiphany of Our Lord
Walking group 7AM
7 Baptism of
Our Lord
Eucharist 8 & 10:30 Epiphany Celebration 9:15
8 Women’s Prayer Group 10AM Yoga 6:15 Evangelism 7PM
9 Bible Study 10AM
Trini Mini 3:30
Mazon 4:30
Bells 7PM Finance 7PM Executive 8PM
10 Mazon 5PM Youth Bell Ch. 6PM Sr. Choir 6:45
11 Trini Mini 3:30 Yoga 6:30 Worship 7PM Church Council 7:30
12 13 Walking group 7AM Confirmation 10-11 AM
14 Epiphany 2
Eucharist 8 & 10:30 SCS 9:15
15 Women’s Prayer Group 10AM Yoga 6:15
16 Bible Study 10AM
Trini Mini 3:30
Mazon 4:30
Bells 7PM
17 Mazon 5PM Youth Bell Ch. 6PM Sr. Choir 6:45
18 Trini Mini 3:30 Yoga 6:30 Worship 7PM NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
19 20 Walking group 7AM
21 Epiphany 3
Eucharist 8 & 10:30 SCS 9:15
22 Women’s Prayer Group 10AM Yoga 6:15
23 Bible Study 10AM
Trini Mini 3:30
Mazon 4:30
Bells 7PM
24 Mazon 5PM Youth Bell Ch. 6PM Sr. Choir 6:45
25 Trini Mini 3:30 Yoga 6:30 Worship 7PM NEWSLETTER MAILING
26 27 Walking group 7AM Pr. Herbener’s Retirement event– Noon
28 Epiphany 4
Eucharist 8 & 10:30 SCS 9:15
29 Women’s Prayer Group 10AM Yoga 6:15
30
Trini Mini 3:30
Mazon 4:30
Bells 7PM
31 Mazon 5PM Youth Bell Ch. 6PM Sr. Choir 6:45
Life Together at Holy Trinity: January 2018
Church office closed
THE WINDOW, Newsletter of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata, PA December 2017/January 2018
IN THE COMMUNITY: COMMUNITY MEAL
UP-DATE The community meal program in Ephra-ta, continues to be an important part of the ministry here at Holy Trinity. There are a number of people who help with food preparation, food and monetary donation, and also coming out to help serve. The more people that help, the more successful the program is. The help that we get is greatly appreciated. The meal program in Ephrata continues to
grow. A weekly Thursday Evening meal is served at one of three Ephrata Churches. Watch the weekly bulletin for op-portunities to contribute food or to help with meals. If you have any questions, please call Sue Watts at 738-2327
Ephrata Area Social Services: Ephrata Area Social Services:
MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE! Ephrata Area Social Service is in need of food items this summer and we need to start stocking their shelves now. With school being out, families will have to provide additional meals typically provided at school. This is getting harder
and harder for some of our local families. Items needed –beverage products (cool aid, juicy juice, coffee, tea, etc.), cake mixes, canned fruits, canned meats (spaghetti, spam, tuna, ravioli, etc.), canned peas, cereal, hamburger helper, premixed Jell-O snacks, pancake mix and syrup Note: They do not need canned corn, canned green bean or canned soups. This year our goal is to provide 75 full boxes of food items this summer and we need your help! Please bring one or two items each week to help reach our goal. If everyone donates – “many hands make light work”. Let’s help those in need in our community. The Social Ministry Committee thanks you for your continued support!
Volunteers needed to de-liver the altar
flowers to sick/shut-in/hospitalized members following the 2nd liturgy. All deliveries will be local. If interested contact Pastor Herbener or the church office.
Peter’s Porch Prep Peter’s Porch at Zion Lutheran
Church (435 Main Street, Akron) is open every third Saturday of the month. Doors open at 8:30am till 10:30am. Join us for a free breakfast, free clothing and free groceries/toiletries for families and singles. Would you be willing to volunteer at this com-munity outreach? The two Wednesdays before Peter’s Porch is prep... packing groceries and sorting through donations. Clothing donations may be dropped off at Zion Monday – Friday 9am-2pm. Questions can be di-rected to Tracy in Zion’s Church office: (717)859-2100 [email protected] BINGO AT LUTHER CARE, LITITZ PA Holy Trinity Lutheran of Ephrata has provided Bingo on the first Monday of each month for many years for the skilled care unit at Luther Care in Lititz.
A dedicated group of volunteers helps wheel the residents into the activity room. During the hour of Bin-go play, volunteers help residents look for numbers. At Bingo, everyone who participates gets a quarter. Subse-quent rounds are played until approximately 3-4 places and quarters are won. The “prize”, can be used at a vending machine.
Attendance is anywhere between 20 to 28 folks. Any questions, call Darryll or Kathy Kuhns, 610-937-0850. The residents are very appreciative for activities such as bingo, to brighten their days. Additional Nursery volunteers are needed to assist with child care on Sunday mornings. If interested, speak to Pastor Herbener. Do you like to knit and/or crochet? A new ministry has begun here at Trinity-the making of prayer shawls. If you are interested in joining this group please call Marti Nissley (859-2847) or Kathy Kuhns (610-410-5410). They will send you patterns and dimensions. Soft yarn is suggested. Lap blan-kets may also be made. When a shawl or lap blanket is completed prayers for its recipient are said and it is presented to someone as a physical symbol of our care and prayers. Those who receive our prayer shawls are literally wrapped in our prayers and feel God’s presence and the community of His people in a most special way.
Meals on Wheels Meals on Wheels needs volunteer packers, every Thursday and the 2nd and 3rd Fridays of each month, from 8:30– 10:30. Please call 733-4846 between 8:30 & 11:00. Thank you!
THE WINDOW, Newsletter of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata, PA December 2017/January 2018
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Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity 167 East Main Street Ephrata, Pennsylvania 17522-2720
The Window The Lutheran Church of The Holy Trinity 167 East Main Street Ephrata, PA 17522 Phone: 717.733.4134 Fax: 717.733.4135
Website: holytrinityephrata.org
“A Window is but a transparent wall, through which one can see out and in.” DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
Holy Trinity’s Staff: The Ministers ............................................................................................................. The Members The Pastor .................................................................................................. Rev. Henry E. Herbener Church Musician/Educator ........................................................................................... Donna Nace Administrative Assistant ............................................................................................... Suzan Johns The Sexton ................................................................................................................. Candy Snyder Sr. Choir Director ............................................................................................................ Deb Olson
