Union Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schnecksville, PA
Church Council
Council Meeting Minutes – November 2011
Jan 4th
Union Evangelical Lutheran Church
Council Meeting Minutes
November 21, 2011
Present: Brian Bucks, Joe Burke, Sinjin Cavosi, Patty Hersh, Patti Hoffman, Karin Jagiela, Jim Mason, Melissa Metzger, Chris Pirrotta, Cindy Pugh, Emily Steward, Bill Zwickl
Absent: Chuck Allison, Linda Sell, Rev. Dennis Moore
Visitor: Cathy Shaffer
Opening Activities:
Meeting called to order at 7:00pm by President Melissa Metzger
Devotions led by Joe Burke
Approval of Minutes:
Motion made to approve the October 17, 2011 minutes: Cindy/2ndPatti <Motion Carried>
Financial Review:
Comparison of October 2011 year-to-date Income Statement to prior year:
a. General giving is up +0.13% ($337,479 vs. $337,042) YTD. October general
giving was down -16.3% versus October of last year. The fifth Sunday in
October 2011 had snow; attendance and giving down significantly.
b. Expenses are down by -10.09% (Personnel down -5.61% ($171,783 vs.
$181,990), Office Expense down -24.76% ($11,153 vs. $14,823), Property up
+36.28% ($53,963 vs. $39,598), Benevolence/Programming down -28.10%
($14,268 vs. $19,843) and Mortgage down -18.25% ($43,748 vs. $53,516).
c. Net unrestricted available cash as of October 30th is $129,934.97.
Unfinished Business:
Mission Statement – to be brought forward at the February 2012 Congregational Meeting.
Council Christmas Party – Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 6:00pm to be held at the Hoffman’s House.
Advent/10th Anniversary Celebration – There will be a preparation day on Saturday, December 3, 2011 starting at 9:00am. Committees have been responding to the request of doing something (song, poem, skit, etc.) or helping to serve food. December 4, 2011 will start after second service in the FLC.
New Business:
2012 Budget – Committed giving line was updated to include additional cards submitted.
Council Nomination Update – There are six seats open and seven nominees. Motion made to accept the seven nominees as recommended by the Nominating Committee: Patti/2nd Karin <Motion Carried>
Server Update – Our computer server died in the last snow storm. Replacement of the server is covered under insurance. It was ordered and will be installed in December. Deductible will be covered by last month’s motion to fund server.
Spiritual Gifting – When a new member joins, they are given an Assessment Tool booklet that has questions to see where they may fit to the service of God and our church. Each council member was asked to do one. Cathy Shaffer tallied the booklet and went through and explained what the results meant and how our talents fit the church.
Stephen Ministry Banner location – Stephen Ministry purchased a banner and wanted councils approval to be able to hang it and where. Council chose the Gathering Space to the right of the clock. Motion made to approve the placement of the Stephen Ministry Banner in the Gathering Space to the right of the clock: Patty/2nd Karin <Motion Carried>
Committee Communication – Motions/Action:
Pastor Moore – Motion made to transfer Wendy (Geiger) Tolan and daughter Brielle to Nativity Lutheran, Allentown: Patti/2nd Jim <Motion Carried>
The revised New Member orientation process was reviewed. No questions or concerns voiced.
Motion made to accept the role status as recommended by God’s Team: Chris/2nd Bill <Motion Carried>
Tentative date for Council reorganization is Saturday, January 7, 2012.
Staff Support – Bill Zwickl: Written report. No action for council.
Property – Chuck Allison: Written report. No action for council. Question made as to why Associations were denied usage of the FLC. Zumba wanted every Sunday and Tuesday – our Elementary Youth Group uses the FLC two Sundays out of the month. Property Committee was asked to contact the Zumba group to see if they would like to either use two Sundays or use another date. Schnecksville Playground Assoc wanted to have a soft ball clinic and use the actual softballs which could damage the walls and possibly break windows.
Youth Ministry – Patti Hoffman: Written report. No action for council.
Social Ministry – Patty Hersh: Verbal report. No action for council.
Worship and Music – Brian Bucks: Written report. No action for council.
God’s Team – Linda Sell: Written report. No action for council.
Communication – Chris Pirrotta: Verbal report. No action for council. Discussion of the web site structure and possible updates.
Christian Education – Cindy Pugh: Written report. No action for council. Cindy will take to Committee the possibility of changing the time of Sunday School to 9:30am to 10:30am. If this goes through will discuss with Worship and Music. Cindy will continue as Coordinator of Sunday School with help of a core group.
Library – Karin Jagiela: Written report. No action for council.
Fellowship – Emily Steward/Sinjin Cavosi: Written report. No action for council.
Christian Stewardship – Written report. No action for council.
No Committee Meetings:
Memorial Gifts – Joe Burke
Union Board – Patty Hersh
Correspondence:
Cathy Shaffer – the copier in the office is starting to show its wear and tear. She would like council to consider replacing it. Was decided we would table discussion until December meeting.
Lutheran Congregational Services – They are requesting us to support their efforts by giving a monetary contribution. We do this already and if would like to increase the amount it must be voted on by the Congregation.
Rejoicing Spirits in Exton – This is the main headquarters. They would like us to set aside funds for 2012 to support the large effort of this program. This will be referred to Worship and Music.
Look ahead to:
Church Chat – Sunday, November 27, 2011 – 9:00am
Regular Council Meeting – December 19, 2011 – 7:00pm
Council Fellowship Gathering – December 28, 2011 – Hoffman Residence
Closing Prayer:
The meeting was adjourned following The Lord’s Prayer
Motion to adjourn: Patty/2nd Patti <Motion Carried>
Respectfully Submitted,
Cindy Pugh
Secretary, Church Council
Council Meeting Minutes – October 2011
Nov 18th
Union Evangelical Lutheran Church
Council Meeting Minutes
October 17, 2011
Present: Chuck Allison, Brian Bucks, Joe Burke, Patty Hersh, Patti Hoffman, Karin Jagiela, Jim Mason, Melissa Metzger, Cindy Pugh, Linda Sell, Emily Steward, Bill Zwickl, Rev. Dennis Moore.
Absent: Sinjin Cavosi, Chris Pirrotta
Second Year CAT Students: Jarret Berger, Megan Cara, Morgan Collins, Alex Fuhrman, Jacob Geiger, Olivia Geiger, Alek Gulkewicz, Jordi Hodge, Gavin Kemery, Samie Saffron.
Opening Activities:
Meeting called to order at 7:00pm by President Melissa Metzger
Devotions led by Cindy Pugh
Approval of Minutes:
Motion made to approve the September 19, 2011 minutes: Linda/2nd Patti <Motion Carried>
Financial Review:
Comparison of September 2011 year-to-date Income Statement to prior year:
- General giving is up +2.36% ($303,821 vs. $296,829) YTD. September general
giving was up +10% over September of last year (same number of weeks).
- Expenses are down by -10.09% (Personnel down -5.02% ($155,713 vs.
$163,935), Office Expense down -21.98% ($10,633 vs. $13,628), Property up
+14.8% ($42,997 vs. $37,454), Benevolence/Programming down -33.86%
($10,639 vs. $16,085) and Mortgage down -17.08% ($39,589 vs. $48,164).
- Net unrestricted available cash as of September 30th is $124,333.53.
Unfinished Business:
Mission Statement – to be brought forward at the February 2012 Congregational Meeting.
New Business:
Council Nominations – Nomination committee is being put together. If you have anyone in mind to be nominated please let Melissa Metzger know. Term ending for:
Joe Burke, Karin Jagiela, Jim Mason (Dan Grim), Linda Sell and Bill Zwickl.
Council size – Discussion whether council size was appropriate at 15 or if should be less. Concern was with committee meetings. We have 13 committees and each member, minus the President, meets with a committee. Decision made to keep council at 15.
Youth Group Fundraising – Running two fundraisers at this time. New guidelines for fundraising states cannot not sell for more than two weeks. They will sell Basket Social tickets on October 23rd and Pancake Breakfast tickets on October 30th.
2012 Budget – All committee needs were met.
Computer questions as follows:
- Maintenance option 2012 – maintenance agreement would cost $2000.00
for the year. This includes quarterly maintenance and updating for 8
computers and the server. Desk top level of support (if there was a
problem) would be $125.00 an hour.
- Replacement of equipment – This can be done as necessary but the
server is at the end of it’s life span. Motion made to purchase the new
server and related software before the end of 2011 from the Bazaar account
at the cost of $3000.00 or less. Patty/2nd Linda <Motion Carried>
Motion made to combine lines to support maintenance, hardware and
software and increase line from $2,200.00 to $4,000.00. Bill/2nd Patti
<Motion Carried>
Committee Communication – Motions/Action:
Pastor Moore – No action for council.
Property – Chuck Allison: Written report. No action for council. Cathy will be sending out a notice to committees to clean their area in the storage room by November 8th.
Christian Stewardship – Jim Mason: Written report. Budget reviewed.
Youth Ministry – Patti Hoffman: Written report. No action for council.
Worship and Music – Brian Bucks: Written report. No action for council.
No Committee Meetings:
Staff Support – Bill Zwickl
Social Ministry – Patty Hersh
GOD’s Team – Linda Sell
Communication – Chris Pirrotta
Christian Education – Cindy Pugh
Memorial Gifts – Joe Burke
Union Board – Patty Hersh
Library – Karin Jagiela
Fellowship – Emily Steward/Sinjin Cavosi
Correspondence:
No correspondence communicated
Look ahead to:
Church Chat – Sunday October 23, 2011 – 9:00am
Regular Council Meeting – November 21, 2011 – 7:00pm
Closing Prayer:
The meeting was adjourned following The Lord’s Prayer
Motion to adjourn: Patti/2nd Cindy <Motion Carried>
Respectfully Submitted,
Cindy Pugh
Secretary, Church Council
Council Meeting Minutes – September 2011
Nov 18th
Union Evangelical Lutheran Church
Council Meeting Minutes
September 19, 2011
Present: Chuck Allison, Brian Bucks, Joe Burke, Sinjin Cavosi, Patty Hersh, Patti Hoffman, Karin Jagiela, Jim Mason, Melissa Metzger, Chris Pirotta, Cindy Pugh, Linda Sell, Emily Steward, Bill Zwickl, Rev. Dennis Moore.
Opening Activities:
Meeting called to order at 7:00pm by President Melissa Metzger
Devotions led by Patty Hersh
Approval of Minutes:
Pastor Moore made a motion to add to the August minutes “Entered executive session: Motion made to approve the August 15, 2011 minutes: Patti/2nd Linda <Motion Carried>
Financial Review:
Comparison of August 2011 year-to-date Income Statement to prior year:
- General giving is up 1.51% ($271,266 vs. $267,240) YTD. Note: marked
decrease in August giving due to cancelled service on 8/28/11 (hurricane).
- Expenses are down by -10.32% (Personnel down 5.15% ($138,589 vs.
$146,115), Office Expense down 21.4% ($9,671 vs. $12,299), Property up
+9.72% ($38,917 vs. $35,468), Benevolence/Programming down 29.1%
($11,245 vs. $15,860) and Mortgage down 17.24% ($35,430 vs. $42,812).
- Net unrestricted available cash as of August 31st is $108,702.71.l
Unfinished Business:
Confidentiality – All Council members, Administrative Staff and money counters signed the agreements. All but two vendors signed choosing not to do business with the church at this time.
Mission Statement – New Church Mission Statement to be brought to the February 2012 Congregational Meeting for approval.
Wheeled bulletin board – Jeff Metzger found plans to build the bulletin board. Jeff will handle this project.
New Business:
No new business at this time.
Committee Communication – Motions/Action
Pastor Moore – Motion made to receive Christian Bleiler and Natasha Kurtz by Affirmation of Faith: Joe/2nd Bill <Motion Carried>
Pastor will be revising our membership process and will bring it back to Council for consideration.
Jane Borbe has completed the requirements for Parish Nurse. Motion made to appoint Jane as a volunteer Parish Nurse staff member: Pastor/2nd Patty <Motion Carried>
Stephen Ministry has started its training with four members of our congregation. The training will be completed mid-December.
Pastor now has 7 members to help with hospital visitation – 3 on a regular basis and 4 who will serve “as needed”. Regular hospital visits will now be Monday (lay visitors), Wednesday and Friday (Pastor)
Christian Stewardship – Jim Mason: Written report. No action for council. In answer to paying off Benevolence early – cannot be done due to the budget already in place and the Synod does not close their books until January 31, 2012.
Christian Education – Cindy Pugh: Written report. No action for council.
Youth Ministry – Patti Hoffman: Written report. No action for council.
Fellowship – Emily Steward/Sinjin Cavosi: Written report. No action for council.
Social Ministry – Patty Hersh: Written report. No action for council.
No Committee Meetings
Staff Support – Bill Zwickl
Property – Chuck Allison
Worship & Music – Brian Bucks
GOD’s Team – Linda Sell
Communication – Chris Pirrotta
Memorial Gifts – Joe Burke
Library – Karin Jagiela
Union Board – Patty Hersh
Correspondence:
No correspondence communicated
Look ahead to:
Church Chat – Sunday, September 25th – 9:00am
Regular Council Meeting – October 17, 2011 – 7:00pm
Stewardship Workshop – Saturday, October 8, 2011 – 9:30am-3:00pm
Closing Prayer:
The meeting was adjourned following The Lord’s Prayer
Motion to adjourn: Jim/2nd Patti <Motion Carried>
Council Meeting Minutes – August 2011
Nov 18th
Union Evangelical Lutheran Church
Council Meeting Minutes
August 15, 2011
Present: Chuck Allison, Brian Bucks, Joe Burke, Sinjin Cavosi, Patty Hersh, Patti Hoffman, Karin Jagiela, Jim Mason, Melissa Metzger, Chiris Pirotta, Cindy Pugh, Emily Steward, Rev. Dennis Moore.
Absent: Linda Sell, Bill Zwickl
Opening Activities:
Meeting called to order at 7:00pm by President Melissa Metzger
Devotions led by Karin Jagiela
Approval of Minutes:
Karin suggested under committee reports that we use “no meetings” instead of “no information communicated”. Motion made to approve the July 18, 2011 minutes: Patty/2nd Patti <Motion Carried>
Financial Review:
Comparison of July 2011 year-to-date Income Statement to prior year:
- General giving is up 1.58% ($248,252 vs. $237,267) YTD. Adjusted calculation
to equalize 5 weeks of July in 2011 vs. 4 weeks of July in 2010 shows increase of +0.78% ($248,252 vs. $246,333). Note: the first week of August was added
to 2010 YTD for a more accurate comparison.
- Expenses are down by 9.63% (Personnel down 4.41% ($123,343 vs. $129,032),
Office Expense down 22.4% ($8,348 vs. $10,758), Property up +9.64% ($32,366 vs. $29,520), Benevolence/Programming down 44.18% ($11,791 vs.
$21,125) and Mortgage down 16.52% ($31,272 vs. $37,461).
- Net unrestricted available cash as of July 31st is $120,427.79.
Inquiry made about the Benevolence fund. Can payment be made throughout the year or must it be made at the end of the year? This will be forwarded to the Stewardship Committee for review.
Unfinished Business:
Confidentiality Agreements – Melissa has received a list of Vendors who have and have not signed as of this date. Motion made that all Vendors have signed and returned confidentiality agreements by August 31, 2011: Chris/2nd Cindy <Motion Carried>
Covenant of Confidentiality – Distribute to any church member who comes in contact with money or any confidential items. Motion made to accept the Covenant of Confidentiality text as written: Brian/2nd Patty <Motion Carried>
Melissa will contact Cathy with a distribution list to include staff members, money counters, council members, financial secretaries and parrish nurses.
Bulletin Boards – previous discussion was held on having bulletin boards in the FLC with information about our church. Communication Committee will maintain it with updated information for visitors to obtain. There are two possible options:
- Leg and wheel – 4 foot by 4 foot, no cork on it, can be moved freely from area to area. Cost: $500.00 to $1,000.00.
- Standard wall mount – $80.00 each
Discussion on subject was that the best option for our needs was the leg and wheel. For financing we could ask congregation for supplies and have someone make it or we could put it on the wish list.
New Business:
Invitation to Stewardship workshop – Workshop for Council members and Stewardship to be held on Saturday, October 8th. Will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Emmaus. Topic is “Stewardship in a Digital Age of Non Commitment” lead by Pastor Chick Lane, Director of the Center for Stewardship leadership at Luther Seminary.
Leadership Meeting – Diakon has a program that was developed for congregations to help get members more involved in church activities that they feel passionate about. This will be developed by and monitored by the council. Discussion showed that this is a good idea. Since we are so close to the end of the year and nominations for new members, decision made to wait until the New Year to start. Dates to be discussed at council orientation in January.
Committee Communication – Motions/Action:
Pastor Moore – Proposal for updated Mission statement presented.
Current: The mission of Union Evangelical Lutheran Church is to work together to follow Jesus, teach the Word and to serve God’s people with love and commitment in our growing and changing world.
Proposal: Our mission is to be a Christ-centered worshipping, learning, and serving family of faith witnessing to God’s inclusive love for individuals, for our community, and for the world.
Council asked to review proposed statement and suggest changes. According to church constitution – congregation needs to vote on the change. This will be presented at the congregational meeting in February, 2012.
Request made for 2011 remaining vacation time: Oct 3rd to Oct 9th; Nov 20th to Dec 3rd; Dec 26th to Dec 31st. Motion made to accept vacation requested: Patti/2nd Chuck <Motion Carried>
Discussion regarding the preschool and feedback we have heard from the congregation. Council decided to draft a detailed letter regarding preschool plan to keep in open communication with the congregation. Letter will be written, approved by Council and sent to the congregation as soon as possible.
Committee Communication – Written reports/No Action
Staff Support – Bill Zwickl: Written report. No action for council.
Christian Stewardship – Jim Mason: Written report. No action for council.
Property – Chuck Allison: Written report. No action for council.
Social Ministry – Patty Hersh: Written report. No action for council.
Library – Karin Jagiela: Written report. No action for council.
Worship & Music – Brian Bucks: Written report. No action for council.
Fellowship – Emily Steward/Sinjin Cavosi: Written report. No action for council.
No Committee Meetings
Youth Ministry – Patti Hoffman
Union Board – Patty Hersh
Christian Education – Cindy Pugh
GOD’s Team – Linda Sell
Communication – Chris Pirrotta
Memorial Gifts – Joe Burke
Correspondence:
Letter of resignation from Rich Saffron resigning from the position of Director of Youth and Family Ministry as of August 15, 2011. Motion made to accept Rich’s resignation with regret: Pastor Moore/2nd Cindy <Motion Carried>
Patti announced that Fellowship committee was working on the church’s 10th anniversary celebration to be incorporated with the Advent celebration on December 4, 2011. More information to follow.
Look ahead to:
Church Chat – Sunday, August 27th – 9:00am
Regular Council Meeting – September 19th – 7:00pm
Stewardship Workshop – Saturday, October 8, 2011 – 9:30 to 3:00pm
Closing Prayer:
The meeting was adjourned following The Lord’s Prayer.
Motion to adjourn: Joe/2nd Chuck <Motion Carried>
Respectfully Submitted,
Cindy Pugh
Secretary, Church Council
Fall Basket Party 2011!
Oct 28th
It is Fall Basket Party time again. On Friday, October 28th from 5:00-8:00 PM and Saturday, October 29th from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM ULC will be holding their 4th Annual Fall Basket Party. Tickets can be purchased in the church office during office hours or on Sunday October 16th and 23rd after both worship services. Ticket prices are: in advance-5 sheets for $20; at the door $5.00 per sheet. There are 26 chances per sheet. Get a free sheet of tickets for every grocery bag full of non-perishable food items you bring the Basket Party. Donated items will go to the Northern Lehigh Food Bank. Come either day in your Halloween costume and get a chance to win the “Halloween Basket of Goodies”. We are looking for bakers to make desserts for the bake sale or to cut/portion to individual servings. You can bring your baskets to church on a Sunday or drop them off in the church office. The Kitchen will be open Friday night for supper and all day Saturday. Homemade soups, BBQ’s, sausage sandwich, hot dogs and baked beans are just some of the items that will be offered. A big “Thank You” to the congregation for their support in this event. It just gets better every year due in part to the generosity and support from our church family. Hope to see you there.
Bulletin Headlines – October 23rd 2011
Oct 22nd
Worship Nursery – Attention parents of our youngest members, we are actively searching to hire staff for the worship nursery. Until a new staff is in place, please know that you are welcome to use the Nursery or the Cry Room with your children. If they play with any of the toys, please leave them on one of the tables so that we may sanitize them for the next week. Thanks for your understanding.
Yams for Food Bank – We need to provide 600 cans of yams to the Northern Lehigh Food Bank!! As the holidays approach, we have been requested to help fill food baskets for the families at the food bank. We will need 300 cans of yams for Thanksgiving and 300 cans for Christmas. Each church in the Northern Lehigh area that donates to the food bank will have a good item designated to donate. Ours is yams. You can help by purchasing canned yams and bringing them to the grocery cart in the Gathering Space. If you are unable to shop and carry the yams, we have volunteers to shop if you prefer to make a donation. Blessings as you remember the families in need.
All Saint’s donations – On Sunday, November 6th we will celebrate All Saints’ Sunday. If you would like to make a donation in memory of a loved one, please write your dedication on a pew envelope and include your donation. We will print all dedications in the worship bulletin that Sunday. All donations will be added to our Living Legacy Memorial Fund. The interest from this fund is used to promote the ministries of our congregation.
Support ULC Youth –You’re invited to an Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast on Saturday, November 5 from 8:00–10:00 AM. The cost is $7.00 per person and $5.00 per child under 10. Tickets will be available for purchase from one of the group leaders, the church office or the Gathering Space (on October 16 & 23). Tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the event. Space is limited so please purchase your tickets in advance if possible. Applebee’s is located at 1510 Cedar Crest Boulevard, Allentown.
Rejoicing Spirits Worship Service will be held today at 2:30 PM. The informal service is directed to people with young children, developmental disabilities, etc. We’ve designed an adapted worship service to engage these individuals, along with their caregivers, families and other supportive members in the community. We have created an environment that is accepting and welcoming to all children of God. The service includes lots of music and joyous singing; brief, meaningful messages; love-filled community; fellowship opportunities; light refreshments. Interaction and free expression are welcome during Rejoicing Spirits worship services. We have a “no shushing” policy. Everyone in the community is welcome and all faiths are welcome.
2011 Advent Devotional Guide by UELC Members – Bring joy and encouragement to members of our church family, by writing a short (200-250 word) personal devotion for this year’s Advent Devotional Guide. (The completed guide will be distributed on the First Sunday of Advent.) See Helene Kuoni this morning in the Gathering Space for available scripture passages, guidelines, and sample devotions. Sign up today if you can! Or, if you prefer, contact Helene for more information at HelloHeleneK@hotmail.com or 610-398-1892. Don’t miss a great opportunity to bless others by sharing from God’s Word and from your life experiences.
News from our Christian Stewardship Committee – Our 2012 campaign, “Believe in Tomorrow” will run October 23 – November 13 featuring Inspiration Sunday, Gratitude Sunday, Consecration Sunday and Celebration Sunday. Come to worship and watch your mailboxes for more details….
November Book Club – Join us Sunday, November 20 @ 9:15 AM to discuss Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. An unforgettable sweeping novel that follows twin brothers born to a young nun, who dies during childbirth, and a brash English doctor in 1954. The story moves from India to Ethiopia to an inner-city hospital in New York City following their life over decades and generations.
God’s Walk With Us – Has God touched your life in a special way? Would you like to share it with the congregation? Then G.O.D.’s Team is looking for you. If you would like to share your story, about how God affected your life please contact the church office.
Who are you sitting next to me in the pew? Have you greeted the person and become acquainted with them? Have you struck up a friendly conversation before and /or after worship? Have you told them you missed them when their seat was empty last week? We share more than space and time together—We share Christ!
It is Fall Basket Party time again. On Friday, October 28th from 5:00-8:00 PM and Saturday, October 29th from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM ULC will be holding their 4th Annual Fall Basket Party. Tickets can be purchased in the church office during office hours or on Sunday October 16th and 23rd after both worship services. Ticket prices are: in advance-5 sheets for $20; at the door $5.00 per sheet. There are 26 chances per sheet. Get a free sheet of tickets for every grocery bag full of non-perishable food items you bring the Basket Party. Donated items will go to the Northern Lehigh Food Bank. Come either day in your Halloween costume and get a chance to win the “Halloween Basket of Goodies”. We are looking for bakers to make desserts for the bake sale or to cut/portion to individual servings. You can bring your baskets to church on a Sunday or drop them off in the church office. The Kitchen will be open Friday night for supper and all day Saturday. Homemade soups, BBQ’s, sausage sandwich, hot dogs and baked beans are just some of the items that will be offered. We need a lot of help during this event. There are sign-up sheets on the hallway bulletin board for volunteers if you would like to help. A big “Thank You” to the congregation for their support in this event. It just gets better every year due in part to the generosity and support from our church family. Hope to see you there.
Basket Social Soup – We will be taking orders ahead of time for quarts of soup: Vegetable Beef, Ham and Bean, Turkey Corn, and Cream of Potato. They are $5.50 a quart. Contact the office, write your order on a yellow pew card or email Terry Hoffman at thehoffmanscook@yahoo.com with your order.
Important!! If you or a member of your family is in the hospital, please let us know. In order for the pastor to provide the best possible care, if you are admitted to Lehigh Valley Hospital, please personally contact the pastor or the church office so that the pastor can visit you or your family member. At St Luke’s Hospital, admitted patients will be asked if they belong to a faith community and if they wish to have their clergy notified of their hospital admission. The pastoral care chaplains will make contact with the appropriate clergy member when requested.
Union Lutheran looking for individuals to be a Head Usher for the 8:00 AM or 10:45 AM Sunday service. This is a once per month commitment to organize and lead the ushers and assistants for the morning service. Anyone interested please contact Bob Banzhoff, 610-799-4880 or the church office.
Comedy Show – Keep the date of Saturday, November 12th, for a stand-up comedy show by White Rose Productions and dinner provided by our very own Fellowship Committee. The night will start off with horsdoevres followed by a buffet dinner of ham served with raisin pineapple sauce, mashed potatoes, vegetable medley, pasta and green salad, rolls & butter followed by dessert and beverages. Doors open at 6:00 PM; dinner at 6:30 PM; show at 7:30 PM. Cost for the dinner and show is only $20.00 per person. Don’t miss out on an evening of fun! Tickets will be on sale between services this Sunday and Sunday, October 30. They are also available in the church office during office hours.
MOPS group needs your help. They are looking for someone to provide child care for pre-school age children while their mothers are attending MOPS meetings. They meet the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 9:00-11:30 AM here at ULC. You would only have to help according to your availability. For more information, or to volunteer, please contact the church office.
KFC Fall Session II “Celebrate the Holidays” begins Tuesday, November 1st. As November approaches and the air turns crisp and cold, our thoughts turn towards the holiday season. Come celebrate with us as we learn to be thankful for God’s many blessings! During our time together we will discover the true meaning of Thanksgiving and learn about the Season of Advent as we prepare for our Savior’s birth. We have lots of yummy snacks, fun crafts and awesome songs to share…so please join us! Preschool “Mom and Me” (10-11 AM): Tuesday class: Nov. 1, 8, 15, 29, Dec. 6 and 13 Wednesday class: Nov. 2, 9, 16, 30, Dec. 7 and 14 Elementary Class (K- 4th grade) meets 4-5 PM: Wednesdays: Nov. 2, 9, 16, 30, Dec. 7 and 14
Help! Help! We are looking for volunteers to help deliver tapes of our Sunday worship services. The time commitment can be just 1 time, or up to weekly, to deliver tapes to a shut-in in the Schnecksville area. Please call the church office at 610-767-6884 to volunteer to share your time.
Name Our Preschool Contest – We need your help!!. Union Lutheran Preschool will be opening our doors in September 2012 and we need a name! We will be a Christian preschool teaching academics and arts with a Bible based curriculum. So… get out those Bibles and think of a catchy name for us! The format will be: (your suggested name) Preschool of Union Lutheran Church. We will be looking forward to all of the wonderful ideas from both adults and children! Please submit all ideas via email to the church office by November 6. The Education Committee will be selecting the name at our November meeting. The winner will be announced to the congregation and featured in the initial publication of our preschool newsletter.
Relay for Life Dance featuring Crazy Heart to be held at the Schnecksville Fire Co. Pavilion on Saturday, November 5. The doors open at 5:00 PM and the band plays from 7:00–10:00 PM. There will be raffles, a Chinese Auction & door prizes. Tickets (adults $20 or 2/$35, under 16 $10 & under 5 are free) include mixers, soda & snacks. Food is available for purchase. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. For tickets/info: contact Bonita or Al @ 610-799-0871.
Volunteers needed to help collate newsletter. It is usually done at 9:00 AM on the last Monday of the month. You do not have to be available every month but can work according to your own schedule. For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Tom Crowe at 484-201-1952.
Nursery Caregiver Positions Open at Union Lutheran – Union Lutheran is looking for a pool of paid Nursery Caregivers to provide childcare during the late worship service from Rally Day through Pentecost. The Nursery Caregivers will work in a team of two from 10:30 AM until approximately noon. Special services or occasions may require additional scheduling of the nursery. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Some key qualifications/skills include: cleared criminal history and child-abuse background check, understanding of basic first aid, current certification in child infancy CPR or willing to obtain certification. Twenty dollars ($20) per week will be given to each attending Nursery Caregiver. The Nursery Caregiver job description is posted in the Gathering Space hallway or can be requested from the church office. If interested, please submit a resume to the church office as soon as possible.
Blood Drive to be held by Neffs Cub Pack 57 on Saturday, November 5 at Neff Union UCC in Memorial Hall. The hours are 10:00 AM–3:00 PM. Help them reach a goal of 50 units of donated blood/blood products! Call Rachel @ 610-393-4787 to make an appointment. They would also like you to bring a canned/non-perishable good item for donation to the local food bank.
Stephen Ministry – On Tuesday, October 25, 7:00-9:30PM, trainees will be studying T-10 Telecare: The Next Best Thing To Being There. Pre-class reading: Stephen Ministry Manual: pp. 185-203. Also, Chapters 4-6 in When and How to Use Mental Health Resources.
Sharing is Caring
Oct 5th
“Sharing is Caring” is one of those great phrases my kids learned in pre-school. At that time, it applied to toys and cookies; but it remains an important reminder in our family about how we express our caring and concern with each other.
In our church community, sharing comes in many forms. We share our time, our talents, our resources and our faith because we care about our faith family. Sharing our opinions and our life stories with each other also helps us bond into meaningful relationships rather than coming together as a group of individuals worshipping in a common space.
One of the ways we can share our thoughts and lives with each other is through the Advent Devotional Guide. While the devotions prepare our hearts for Advent season, it also gives us an opportunity to invite readers into our experiences, interpretations and prayers. Your personal experience or insight into a scripture verse is shared with our greater community of faith as an expression of caring.
Helene Kuoni is coordinating the 2011 Advent Devotional Guide and is currently looking for members to share their stories and insights to be included in the guide. Helene is also available to help you with editing or suggestions to get started.
The due date for devotion writing is October 28th, so please act fast! If you would like to be included in this year’s Advent Devotional Guide, please call the church office for Helene’s contact information. You may choose from several pre-selected verses, or offer your favorite verse (provided it has not already been selected by another writer). There are also easy to follow guidelines for writing.
I hope I will be reading about YOUR thoughts and experiences in this year’s guide. It is a wonderful way to show our congregation that “sharing is caring”!
In Peace,
Melissa
Bulletin Headlines – October 9th 2011
Oct 5th
Worship Nursery – Attention parents of our youngest members, we are actively searching to hire staff for the worship nursery. Until a new staff is in place, please know that you are welcome to use the Nursery or the Cry Room with your children. If they play with any of the toys, please leave them on one of the tables so that we may sanitize them for the next week. Thanks for your understanding.
Yams for Food Bank – We need to provide 600 cans of yams to the Northern Lehigh Food Bank!! As the holidays approach, we have been requested to help fill food baskets for the families at the food bank. We will need 300 cans of yams for Thanksgiving and 300 cans for Christmas. Each church in the Northern Lehigh area that donates to the food bank will have a good item designated to donate. Ours is yams. You can help by purchasing canned yams and bringing them to the grocery cart in the Gathering Space. If you are unable to shop and carry the yams, we have volunteers to shop if you prefer to make a donation. Blessings as you remember the families in need.
Women’s Café will be meeting today after the 10:45 AM worship service. It will be a pot luck luncheon along with laughter when viewing the “Bad Girls of the Bible” DVD by Liz Curtis Higgs. Come and join us for a fun filled hour or so.
Muhlenberg 300 Congregation Day! “Who was Henry Melchior Muhlenberg and Why is He Important?” Celebrate the 300th anniversary of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg’s birth! Learn about his importance in the “planting” of the Lutheran church in North America and how his influence as the Patriarch of the North American Lutheran Church is still apparent today. It will be held on Saturday, October 15th from 9:00 AM–4:15 PM at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. For more information and registration: www.ltsp.edu/CongregationDay2011 or call Ellen Anderson, Director of Alumni and Congregation Relations at 215-248-7301.
Support ULC Youth –You’re invited to an Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast on Saturday, November 5 from 8:00–10:00 AM. The cost is $7.00 per person and $5.00 per child under 10. Tickets will be available for purchase from one of the group leaders, the church office or the Gathering Space (on October 16 & 23). Tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the event. Space is limited so please purchase your tickets in advance if possible. Applebee’s is located at 1510 Cedar Crest Boulevard, Allentown.
Parish Nurse’s Hours – The parish nurse’s office hours are the second Sunday of the month during the Christian education time slot. Join a parish nurse in room 208 for a blood pressure screening. Browse through the educational information. Look at the two periodicals from the Mayo Clinic – Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Source and Mayo Clinic Health Letter. These publications offer the most current information on many topics. The parish nurse is available to assist you with any health issue at this time. The parish nurse is available anytime by contacting the church office.
Mark your Calendar – Work day on October 22, 8:00 AM – 12:00 Noon. Watch future bulletins for more information.
November Book Club – Join us Sunday, November 20 @ 9:15 AM to discuss Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. An unforgettable sweeping novel that follows twin brothers born to a young nun, who dies during childbirth, and a brash English doctor in 1954. The story moves from India to Ethiopia to an inner-city hospital in New York City following their life over decades and generations.
2011 Advent Devotional Guide by UELC Members – Bring joy and encouragement to members of our church family, by writing a short (200-250 word) personal devotion for this year’s Advent Devotional Guide. (The completed guide will be distributed on the First Sunday of Advent.) See Helene Kuoni this morning in the Gathering Space for available scripture passages, guidelines, and sample devotions. Sign up today if you can! Or, if you prefer, contact Helene for more information at HelloHeleneK@hotmail.com or 610-398-1892. Don’t miss a great opportunity to bless others by sharing from God’s Word and from your life experiences.
Important!! If you or a member of your family is in the hospital, please let us know. In order for the pastor to provide the best possible care, if you are admitted to Lehigh Valley Hospital, please personally contact the pastor or the church office so that the pastor can visit you or your family member. At St Luke’s Hospital, admitted patients will be asked if they belong to a faith community and if they wish to have their clergy notified of their hospital admission. The pastoral care chaplains will make contact with the appropriate clergy member when requested.
Stephen Ministry Trainees will meet, Tuesday, October 11, at 7:00 PM, in the Chapel. We will be studying: T-6 part 2, pp-115-123 in the Stephen Ministry Manual. Also, read Chapters 13-18 in Speaking the Truth In Love. Please bring this book to class with you. We do have copies of the books we are studying in our church library. We hope if you are interested in the Stephen Ministry, you will stop by the library and look these books over. They are easy to find, the shelf is labeled, Stephen Ministry. If you have any questions, please ask Joan Fredericks or Irene Folk
Comedy Show – Keep the date of Saturday, November 12th, for a stand-up comedy show by White Rose Productions and dinner provided by our very own Fellowship Committee. The night will start off with horsdoevres followed by a buffet dinner of ham served with raisin pineapple sauce, mashed potatoes, vegetable medley, pasta and green salad, rolls & butter followed by dessert and beverages. Doors open at 6:00 PM; dinner at 6:30 PM; show at 7:30 PM. Cost for the dinner and show is only $20.00 per person. Don’t miss out on an evening of fun! Watch future bulletins for availability of tickets in church office.
MOPS group needs your help. They are looking for someone to provide child care for pre-school age children while their mothers are attending MOPS meetings. They meet the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 9:00-11:30 AM here at ULC. You would only have to help according to your availability. For more information, or to volunteer, please contact the church office.
All Saint’s donations – On Sunday, November 6th we will celebrate All Saint’s Sunday. If you would like to make a donation in memory of a loved one, please write your dedication on a pew envelope and include your donation. We will print all dedications in the worship bulletin that Sunday. All donations will be added to our Living Legacy Memorial Fund. The interest from this fund is used to promote the ministries of our congregation.
The Card Ministry needs your help. We are in the process of making Christmas gifts for the homebound and folks in nursing homes and hospitals. If you would like to help, we will meet on Wednesday, October 12th & Thursday, October 13th from 6:00-8:30 PM. Bring your scissors. If you can help, please contact Patti Hoffman (thehoffmanscook@yahoo.com) or the church office (office@ulclv.org or 610-767-6884).
Relay for Life Dance featuring Crazy Heart to be held at the Schnecksville Fire Co. Pavilion on Saturday, November 5. The doors open at 5:00 PM and the band plays from 7:00–10:00 PM. There will be raffles, a Chinese Auction and door prizes. Tickets are: adults $20 or 2/$35, under 16 $10 and under 5 are free. This includes mixers, soda & snacks. Food is available for purchase. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. For tickets/info: contact Bonita or Al @ 610-699-0871.
KFC Fall Session II “Celebrate the Holidays” begins Tuesday, November 1st. As November approaches and the air turns crisp and cold, our thoughts turn towards the holiday season. Come celebrate with us as we learn to be thankful for God’s many blessings! During our time together we will discover the true meaning of Thanksgiving and learn about the Season of Advent as we prepare for our Savior’s birth. We have lots of yummy snacks, fun crafts and awesome songs to share…so please join us! Preschool “Mom and Me” (10-11 AM): Tuesday class: Nov. 1st, 8th, 15th, 29th and Dec. 6th and 13th Wednesday class: Nov. 2nd, 9th, 16th, 30th and Dec. 7th and 14th Elementary Class (K- 4th grade) meets 4-5 PM: Wednesdays: Nov. 2nd, 9th, 16th, 30th and Dec. 7th and 14th
Hymn Festival – Music at Christ Lutheran Church, 1245 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, in cooperation with other area Lutheran churches and their musicians, presents a festival of hymns, devotional readings and prayers on Sunday, October 23 @ 4:00 PM. The festival is titled “through the Church the Song Goes On.” It celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM). ALCM is a service and professional organization of musicians, clergy and others interested in music in the Lutheran context. A festival choir will lead the singing. Everyone is welcome to attend the 2:00 PM rehearsal on the 23rd and then to sing for the Festival. Leading the festival will be Karl DeBoeser, choir director; and keyboardists Janice Butz, Jacquelyn Kuba and Michael Krentz. Admission is free. An offering will be taken to support scholarships for students and others to attend conferences of ALCM.
Nursery Caregiver Positions Open at Union Lutheran – Union Lutheran is looking for a pool of paid Nursery Caregivers to provide childcare during the late worship service from Rally Day through Pentecost. The Nursery Caregivers will work in a team of two from 10:30 AM until approximately noon. Special services or occasions may require additional scheduling of the nursery. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Some key qualifications/skills include: cleared criminal history and child-abuse background check, understanding of basic first aid, current certification in child infancy CPR or willing to obtain certification. Twenty dollars ($20) per week will be given to each attending Nursery Caregiver. The Nursery Caregiver job description is posted in the Gathering Space hallway or can be requested from the church office. If interested, please submit a resume to the church office as soon as possible.
Volunteers needed to help collate newsletter. It is usually done at 9:00 AM on the last Monday of the month. You do not have to be available every month but can work according to your own schedule. For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Tom Crowe at 484-201-1952.
Bulletin Headlines – September 25th 2011
Sep 21st
Blessing of the Animals – Sunday, October 2nd at 4:00 PM rain or shine. This annual event is appreciated and enjoyed by pets and their owners alike.
Weekly Bible Study – Join Pastor Moore on Wednesday mornings from 10:00 – 11:00 AM as we study/discuss the Gospel lesson for the upcoming Sunday. You may come every week or as your schedule allows. We will meet in Room 201.
Holy Baptism - During our 10:45 AM worship service, the following will be baptized:
Ava Leigh Frantz, daughter of Ryan & Tricia (Rau) Frantz.
Morgan Riley McGowan, daughter of Tom & Tracy (Gay) McGowan. Her sponsors are Elmer & Heather Heiland.
Evangelina Faith Urban, daughter of Robert & Tracy (Muthard) Urban. Her sponsors are John Urban and Tammy Evans
Journeymen – Community Service Work at Glencrest Mobile Home Park - On Saturday morning, September 19th,, ten men from the Journeymen group volunteered time to repair and fix homes for some families in need at Glencrest Mobile Home Park. The team stained a shed, installed stairs to the home entrance, fixed/replaced a rotten porch and doorway, re-attached skirting, trimmed shrubs, cut down small trees, and tore down an old shed. To see before and after pictures visit the ULC Disaster Response Team Web Site at - http://ulcdisasterrelief.shutterfly.com/
Worship Nursery – Attention parents of our youngest members, we are actively searching to hire staff for the worship nursery. Until a new staff is in place, please know that you are welcome to use the Nursery or the Cry Room with your children. If they play with any of the toys, please leave them on one of the tables so that we may sanitize them for the next week. Thanks for your understanding.
One of the objectives of Vision2011 was to educate the congregation to the opportunities and benefits of planned giving. The seminar – “Leave a Legacy for Ministry” is scheduled for Sunday, October 2 following the 10:45 AM service. Lunch will be provided and the presentation will be approximately 50 minutes. Our presenter will be The Reverend Gregory A. Kramer, the Regional Gift Planner for the ELCA Foundation. His area of responsibility is the Lutheran Planned Giving of Central and Northeastern PA. This seminar can benefit all members of our congregation. This is not a technical presentation. It is a motivational and educational presentation. The presentation will educate and motivate you to plan, prepare and have a will drawn up by legal counsel. It will also assist you to develop a plan to maximize benefits for you and your heirs. To register for the seminar, please call the church office at 610-767-6884 or email at office@ulclv.org. We need to plan for lunch and the printing of handouts. “We can each make a difference. Share the blessings of your lifetime with generations to come.” We appreciate your input and participation.
Funsters – October 3 (Monday) –October 15 (Saturday) – Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC. The Perkiomen Tours Bus leaves Allentown @ 6:15 AM arriving at the Smithsonian @ 11 AM with the return scheduled for 5:30 PM (arrive Allentown approximately 11 PM). Cost is $55. Additional information – (610) 395-6867 (Carolyn & Roy Bottjer)
Bulletin Sponsors – Each week, we ask people to sponsor bulletins for the worship services. Sign-up lists are on the media center bulletin board. Please sign up on that list or call Cheryll Kosar (610-261-0242). The cost for worship bulletins is $20.00 and children’s bulletins is $3.00. Your sponsorship may be paid when you sign up or paid on the Sunday you are sponsoring. Please use a pew envelope and indicate “bulletin sponsor”.
Nursery Caregiver Positions Open at Union Lutheran – Union Lutheran is looking for a pool of paid Nursery Caregivers to provide childcare during the late worship service from Rally Day through Pentecost. The Nursery Caregivers will work in a team of two from 10:30 AM until approximately noon. Special services or occasions may require additional scheduling of the nursery. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Some key qualifications/skills include: cleared criminal history and child-abuse background check, understanding of basic first aid, current certification in child infancy CPR or willing to obtain certification. Twenty dollars ($20) per week will be given to each attending Nursery Caregiver. The Nursery Caregiver job description is posted in the Gathering Space hallway or can be requested from the church office. If interested, please submit a resume to the church office as soon as possible.
Important!! If you or a member of your family is in the hospital, please let us know. In order for the pastor to provide the best possible care, if you are admitted to Lehigh Valley Hospital, please personally contact the pastor or the church office so that the pastor can visit you or your family member. At St Luke’s Hospital, admitted patients will be asked if they belong to a faith community and if they wish to have their clergy notified of their hospital admission. The pastoral care chaplains will make contact with the appropriate clergy member when requested.
Stephen Ministry will have class Tuesday, September 27, in the chapel from 7:00-9:30 PM. The study topic will be: T-5 “Process Versus Results in Caregiving.” PreClass reading T-5 in the Stephen Training Manual, pp. 81-95. Review Chapters 2 and 18 in Christian Caring-A Way of Life. Chapters 4-7 in Speaking the Truth in Love. We will be glad to answer any of your questions regarding Stephen Ministry, the classes, when we will be recruiting again. Please speak to Joan Fredericks or Irene Folk
Dine-Around Is Back! The Journeymen, the Men’s Ministry Group of Union Lutheran Church are initiating another Dine-Around, scheduled to begin in October 2011. The concept is simple: 3-4 couples are randomly placed in a group, and each couple takes a turn hosting a dinner —either at the hosting couple’s home, or at a restaurant of their choice. If the dinner is held at the hosting couple’s home, the hosts usually provide the main course, while the other couples bring an appetizer, salad, or dessert. The dinner can be as casual or fancy as you like! The hosting couple can even choose to meet at a restaurant, where everyone pays for their own meal (Dutch Treat). After each couple in the group has had a turn hosting, their Dine-Around is completed. We will also do our best to accommodate any “special requests” such as Singles, Smaller Groups (3 couples), or Couples with Small Children that might want to form a group. Just mention your request(s) when signing up. All are welcome! This is a great opportunity to meet and socialize with other folks in the congregation in a nice relaxed setting, and many new friendships have been developed as a result of our Dine-Arounds in the past! If you are interested, please contact the Church Office at 610-767-6884 or by email at office@ulclv.org. Deadline for signing up is Monday October 3, 2011. Why not give it a try?
Save the Date! Save the Date! Save the Date! Union Lutheran Church is hitting the road. Sunday, June 10, 2012 is Union Lutheran Church Day at Knoebel’s grove in Elysburg, PA. Admission to the park is free. If you want to camp out that weekend, make your reservations now. Check out their website at www.knoebels.com. More information to follow. Tell your family and your friends and get this date on your calendars now and plan to join us.
MOPS group needs your help. They are looking for someone to provide child care for pre-school age children while their mothers are attending MOPS meetings. They meet the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 9:00-11:30 AM here at ULC. You would only have to help according to your availability. For more information, or to volunteer, please contact the church office.
Services Cancelled – Aug 28th 2011
Aug 28th
Due to the inclement weather as a result of Hurricane Irene, services have been cancelled for August 28th 2011. please stay safe and God bless.