CONNECTIONS with the Manchester Church of the Brethren
June 2011
Joys and Concerns
There are many ways in which our lives intersect with one another. Please keep these concerns in your minds and hearts in the coming days.
Within our church family:
· We celebrate with Reena & Cory Markstahler at the birth of their son, Cale Chandler on Friday, May 27. Everyone is doing well.
· Our deacons this week: Anne Garber, Lois Good, Ann Hartsough, Tom Hess, Alan & Marilyn Kieffaber.
· And we pray for those who are not able to join us for worship due to their current health limitations, including: Erma Petry, Fred & Lois Roop, Raymon Eller.
· We pray for the family of Ray Bowman. Ray died Monday evening, May 23. The Memorial Service will be Saturday, June 18, in the Timbercrest Chapel at 10 am with visitation one hour prior to the service.
· We pray also for Gene Valentine and his family at the death of his sister, Crystal Burgette, on Wednesday, May 25.
· David Waas recovering at home following surgery this past Thursday, May 26.
· Bob Frantz recovering at Timbercrest Healthcare following a recent hospitalization.
· Mike Brown hospitalized at the Cleveland Clinic. Mike is undergoing tests in preparation for a stem cell transplant.
· Dorothy Whitmore as she anticipates hip replacement surgery Thursday, June 2.
Within the wider community:
· Our sister church in El Salvador, Emmanuel Baptist. We pray for Esther Acosto Avalos as she administers services to the communities and directs work camps of visitors from the states.
· Don & Phyllis Miller. Phyllis was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. They live in the Friends Fellowship Community in Richmond.
· The community of Joplin, Missouri, as they continue to deal with the aftermath of the tornado that devastated parts of the community last Sunday.
· We pray for peace.
Many Thanks
Thank you to those who came to my birthday party and the many greeting cards I received. It was a wonderful day! Love you, Ruth Egolf
Pastor On-Call Schedule
982-8420, 578-1247
Please call Pastor Karen with all pastoral care needs.
June Worship Themes
June 5, Jim Chinworth. Knowing. Text: John 17: 1-11. Special Music, Martha Yohe
June 12, Beth Sollenberger. Breathe In. Text: Acts 2: 1-21. Special Music, Christine Beery
June 19, Kim Koczan. Special Music, Carol Streator
June 26, Jeff Hawkins, VBS Highlights.
Stewardship Commission is not planning to meet in June.
Weekly Calendar
The Family Life Center is open from 8 to 10 am for walking and exercise.
Tuesday, May 31
10:30 am Staff Meeting
5:00 pm Weight Watchers – Room 220
6:00 pm Yoga - Narthex
Wednesday, June 1
7:00 pm Pastoral Ministry & Personnel Commission
Thursday, June 2
6:00 pm Yoga – Narthex
6:30 pm Education Commission
Friday, June 3 – Office Closed Walkers may enter FLC door
Saturday, June 4
1:00 pm Room 213 in use
Sunday, June 5
9:30 am Worship. Knowing. Jim Chinworth. Text: John 17: 1-11.
Special Music, Martha Yohe
10:30 am Fellowship Time. Blood Pressure Check
10:45 am Christian Education. Peace Patch
7:30 pm Room 213 in use
Pantry Sunday
Bring your food and financial support for the Food Pantry this Sunday and place them in the Pie Safe in the Vestibule.
Summer Yoga
Yoga classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Narthex from 6pm to 7pm. For more information please contact Adria at (260) 774-9336.
Adult Christian Education
Questers meets in the Chapel
June 5, Anna Mow. Dorotha Fry Mason
June 12, M.R. Zigler. Olden Mitchell
June 19, Living the Questions. Jo Ann Schall
June 26, Annual Conference Issues - Sanctuary
Koinonia meets in the Conference Room
June 5, Faith Journey. Alan Kieffaber
June 12, Faith Journey, Emery Kintner
June 19, Biblical Fathers, Marie Willoughby
June 26, Annual Conference Issues - Sanctuary
Friends Class meets in Room 211
All Things Considered Class meets in Room 220
Jubilee Class meets in Room 301
Children’s Summer Sunday School
Once again our children will benefit from inter-generational experiences this summer. The boys and girls appreciate all the adults who share their activities in MarketPlace 29 AD during Vacation Bible School.
June 5, 12, 19 VBS preparation
June 26, making pavers for garden walk, watering trees, gardening
July 3, No children’s Sunday School
Middle School Youth
June 12-20 - National Junior High Conference and Heritage Tour.
July 17 - Mentor Pair outing to River's Edge Family Golf Center (Marion)
Car Carrier needed
If you have a car top carrier that fits a minivan and would be willing to loan it for the National Junior High Conference and Heritage Tour trip (June 12-20) please contact Jim Chinworth in the church office asap.
The Messenger Bible Study group meets from 7-8 p.m. on Tues., June 28, in the Education Room at Timbercrest. Marie and Don Willoughby will lead a discussion of Graydon Snyder's article in the June Messenger, the fourth in a series on what it means to take the New Testament as our creed. Bring Messenger if you have it, and your Bible too if you like.
Market Place 29 A.D. June 19-22 (5:15 to 7:45 pm)
Hope you’ve checked your summer calendar and have marked off these days for our special Vacation Bible School! How ‘bout inviting your friends and neighbors to join us as well? Feel free to contact any of the VBS directors: Laura Gable (578-0378), Jennifer Reichenbach or Kim Reinoehl.
Summer Garden Space
This summer garden space is available to church family members on the west side of the church property. For more details, contact either Joel Eichenauer (982-1509) or Dave Kreps (982-8251).
CONNECTIONS with our Community:
Fellowship of Churches
REACH assisted 10 clients last month and 5 of those were with rent/housing. More people did request assistance but were declined due to 1) fraud, 2) they didn’t follow the process or 3) they had already reached their limit for the year.
The Thrift Shop clocked 384 volunteer hours and feel that having the shop open more often is providing a valuable service to the community. They need children’s play clothes, sizes 4 to 8.
The Food Pantry appreciates all the willing workers as well as the contributions to help feed families in our community. As the gardening season approaches, please call Rowena Greer before you bring produce to the Food Pantry (982-2325).
Low Income Housing had no report.
Thursday’s Child served 21 children (the average is 30-35) last month and have had requests for baby food as well as clothing.
Annual Hymn Sing is being planned for Fun Fest again this year. The Fellowship of Churches really appreciates the space at The Firehouse. Please include the Community Hymn Sing as part of your summer Fun Fest!
Rotary Project
The North Manchester Rotary Club is assisting the Historical Society with painting the Thomas Marshall home next to the NM Public Library on June 3 & 4. We are needing many volunteers to prime the building on Friday and paint on Saturday. Please reply to dbraun8853@gmail.com if you are interested and additional information will be sent as to the meeting time and inclement weather date, if needed. Thanks for your consideration and helping with this project if you are able.
CONNECTIONS with our District …
… and our Denomination:
South/Central Indiana District
Phone: 260-982-8805; Fax: 260-982-7181
Toll Free: 877-730-9315
District Minister: bsollenberger@brethren.org
Office Email: scicob@kcaccess.com
District Website: www.scindcob.org
Denominational Newsletter
Newsline is produced by the news services of the Church of the Brethren. To subscribe, simply contact the editor at: cobnews@brethren.org
Newsline appears every other week, with special issues as needed. Please feel free to forward Newsline to a friend.
Prayer Calendar
Week of June 5: As the summer begins, take time to consider the many camps within the Church of the Brethren. Pray for the staff, volunteers and campers who will dedicate themselves to God’s creation. May their worship, study, community building, and exploration form lives of faith and encourage their growth in Christ.
Week of June 12 – Pentecost: On the day of Pentecost we remember the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Church. This week Junior High Youth will gather in Elizabethtown, PA to be the Church. Pray that the spirit will move among them, through word, song, and games. Lift up the many speakers, advisors and planners that their faith and love might reveal the spirit of Church.
Week of June 19 – Father’s Day: This week we will celebrate the many father figures in our communities. Pray for the men in our communities who take on mentoring roles, for both biological children and the young people in our congregation. Give thanks for the many men who have taken part in the formation of your community.
Week of June 26: Throughout the year we have been in deep conversations and discernment. Soon, at Annual Conference, we will gather to pray, worship and discern as one body. Pray that our time in Grand Rapids will be renewing. Pray for our leaders that they might support the work of discernment with wisdom and compassion. And most of all, ask that we might renew our commitment to one another as sisters and brothers in Christ.
“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” 1 Peter 4:10
Annual Conference
Don't forget to register! Online Delegate and Non-delegate registration ends June 6, 2011.
Some of the ways you can serve during Annual Conference 2011 are:
- sharing non-perishable food items with the West Michigan Food Bank.
- Prepare School Kits
- The Michigan District is planning some service projects as a “Witness to the Host City” during our time in Grand Rapids. They will have projects available for people to sign up at various social service agencies to work on Saturday afternoon (July 2) or Tuesday (July 5). We will send more information as soon as it is available to us.
- Save a life by giving blood at the Annual Blood Drive on Monday, July 4 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and again on Tuesday, July 5 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The blood drive will be located in the Recital Hall.
- Volunteer for a task that allows Annual Conference to be held.
Song & Story Fest
June 26 – July 2
Camp Brethren Heights, Rodney, Michigan
A registration form for you to copy is available in the church office. Or you may go on-line through www.onearthpeace.org/programs Questions? Call Ken Kline Smeltzer 1-814-571-0496 or 1-814-466-6491 or bksmetlz.Comcast.net
NOAC Theme: Passion, Purpose, Change
NOAC will be September 5 – 9 at Lake Junaluska, NC again this year. Forms are in the Church Office.
ALERT:
Our South/Central Indiana District is scheduled to provide volunteers in Brentwood, Tennessee, (just south of Nashville) for flood recovery December 11-17. Detailed information about disaster relief projects is available in the church office, as well as the District Office. Call Cliff Kindy, District Disaster Coordinator, for up-dates: phone:260-982-2971
How to help:
As always, the prayers of the Christian community for the victims and the responders are needed, welcome, and appreciated. Church World Service (CWS) is appealing for Emergency Clean-Up Buckets to assist both flooded and tornado-stricken homeowners. Instructions are at:
The buckets are warehoused and distributed by the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
May the grace and peace of God be in your lives and with your families.
We’re about to celebrate the 47th anniversary as a church. When we review our history, we recognize that one of the greatest blessings in the life and ministry of our church has been your affirmation of brotherhood, solidarity, and your moral and spiritual support.
Therefore, we will remember your name and the names of others in leadership in your church, in thanksgiving to God, for being companions in the Mission of being witnesses of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
We would like to share a greeting from you with the congregation, brothers and sisters of the various missions and communities that are part of this 47th anniversary celebration.
Our main celebrations will take place next Sunday, June 5, at 10:00 in the morning, and Monday, June 6, at 6:30pm, the actual date of our founding being June 6, 1964.
On Monday, June 6, the whole church, its members, friends, and collaborators will meet for the Communion of the Bread and Cup, and there we will give thanks for your lives and testimonies of solidarity.
For Emmanuel Baptist Church, Pastor Miguel
