Union Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schnecksville, PA
Bulletin News
2010 Men’s Retreat: One Day Get-Away
Feb 21st
The Journeymen are trying a different format this year for their annual retreat, in an effort to try to encourage more men of the congregation to participate. This year, there will be no overnight stay, and we are incorporating bowling into the day, as well as other fun fellowship activities! Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 10th. We will begin the one-day retreat with breakfast at 7AM at Susie’s Restaurant, carpool to Slatington for a good-natured bowling competition, and then head to Terry Hoffman’s home for lunch. Paster Peter Bredlau from Muhlenberg College will lead a talk and discussion on the theme “What am I being with my life?” Then, a couple more hours of fellowship activities (Horseshoes, card games, bean bags, etc) or just talking with guys – whatever you choose to do. Pastor Moore will end the retreat with closing prayers at around 5PM. And that’s it! The cost for the day is only $15 (plus the cost of breakfast). How about giving it a try? We encourage all men of the congregation of all ages to prayerfully consider attending the retreat this year. It really is a great opportunity to get away for a half-day to focus on God, Fellowship with other guys in the congregation, and YOU! You don’t need to be a Biblical Scholar, there are no tests, and we promise not to make you share your feelings – unless you choose to. You may participate on any level you feel comfortable. Ladies, please encourage the man in your life to attend the 2010 Journeymen Retreat. You’ll both be glad he did! If you have any questions or would like to sign up for the retreat, please call Frank Rocchino at 610-769-7461. A sign-up sheet will also be available on the Journeymen Bulletin Board in the Church.
Women’s Cafe at ULC
Feb 21st
To all the women of Union Lutheran Church, (new members and not so new; recently confirmed or about to be confirmed, young and not so young), you are cordially invited to an afternoon of fellowship, relaxation and refreshments on Sunday, March 14th at 2PM in the Family Life Center. This will also be a time for you to share some new ideas for our Women’s Organization. So please plan to be a part of this afternoon at our Women’s Cafe. Please RSVP by contacting the church office during daytime hours, or calling Pat Moore at 610-395-0044 after 5PM.
First Communion Instruction 2010
Feb 21st
Our congregation has opened its Altar or communion fellowship to children in First Grade or above. Bringing children into the communing fellowship has offered families the opportunity to share the Lord’s Supper and has brought more meaning to the children’s presence and participation in worship. During the Lenten season of a child’s First Grade experience, classes for preparation to receive communion are held. Instruction for all non-communing children who are in First Grade or older is scheduled for March 14th, 21st and 28th (all Sundays). Students must attend all 3 classes. To register, use the Ministry Response Card (please check line #2) and place it in the offering plate. If you have any questions, please contact the pastor or the church office.
Reception for Pastor Jami
Feb 21st
A reception for departing Pastor Jami will be held after the 10:45AM worship service on Sunday, March 7th. It will involve a luncheon. If you with to attend, please register by using the yellow ministry response card (please check line #1) or by calling the church office 610-767-6884.
Relay for Life of Schnecksville
Feb 14th
The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people will be camping out at the Schnecksville Fire Company Fairgrounds, June 12th thru June 13th and take turns walking or running around a track. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length. The only requirement to participate in Relay for Life is a $10 registration/commitment fee (per person) that is due upon registration. After that, anything you can raise through individual, team, or online fundraising is graciously accepted. It is recommended that each participant set a personal goal to raise $100. Even if you do not raise $100, you are still welcome to participate. For information or if you wish to be part of Relay, you can join my team, “Team ULC,” by contacting Donna Remaly at 610-799-6320 or visiting the team website www.acsevents.org/goto/teamulc
MOPS Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser
Feb 14th
You are invited to an Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast to support Mother’s of Preschoolers (MOPS). MOPS Moms will be serving pancakes, sausage and beverages on Saturday, February 20th 2010, from 8-10am at the Applebee’s on Cedar Crest Blvd, in the Target Shopping Center. Tickets are $5/adult, $3/kids 8 and under. Advance ticket purchases are requested, but tickets will also be available at the door. For tickets, please contact Melissa Metzger (610) 261-2721 or Jennifer Morabito (610) 261-3211.
A Dayful of Music – April 11 2010
Feb 14th
Be sure you have ‘A Dayful of Music’ on your calendar! It will have eight different soloists or ensembles with a variety of musical styles. The Muhlenberg College Gospel Choir and the Parkland High School Jazz Band will be among the participants in the Sunday, April 11th event. Music begins at 1:30pm with SWiM, the Christian Contemporary group with Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Bath. Come for some; stay for all - no reservations needed!
Pastor Jami Receives a New Call
Feb 9th
Dear Members of Union Lutheran Church,
One of the greatest joys of my life has been the opportunity to serve as a pastor at Union Lutheran Church. The leadership, the staff and the members together create a dynamic, thriving and caring family of faith that extends beyond the walls of the church. Because of that, this is one of the most difficult letters I have ever had to compose.
It is with a mixture of great sadness and anticipation that I am notifying you that today I have accepted a call to become the pastor at Hope Lutheran Church in Cherryville, PA. This letter serves as my official resignation effective March 7, 2010.
Although I was not actively seeking a new position and assumed that I would be at ULC for a long time, when this opportunity arose I recognized it as a new call from God and I realized that I had to explore this potential call. Union Lutheran has been part of my life and my heart for over 24 years. It has been an awesome place to work and grow and do ministry for me and my family and we will miss it very much.
Over the next month I commit to making this transition as smooth as possible. With my resignation my pastoral relationship with the members of Union Lutheran will come to and end on March 7th. While the friendships established during my pastorate can and will continue, it will no longer be appropriate for me to do any pastoral functions within the congregation or for its members. If members ask, I will say “no.” And my negative answer comes from my respect for the integrity of the congregation, for the ministry of Pastor Moore, for the professional ethics of the vocation I love and for the policies of the church.
Union Lutheran Church is an incredible congregation with a rich history and great potential for it’s future and my prayer is that it will continue to be the growing, nurturing and ministry-driven congregation I have come to know and love.
Blessings,
Pastor Jami
Souper Bowl Sunday!
Feb 6th
The Souper Bowl of Caring is sponsored by faith communities across the country to address hunger in the their area. The Souper Bowl is following the schedule of the Super Bowl, which is February 7th. As many enjoy the fun and food that goes with the Super Bowl football game, 34,000 children around the world will die due to malnutrition and preventable diseases. We can turn Super Bowl feasting into Souper Bowl of Caring. On Sunday, Feb 7th, we will have a LOUD offering at each service, where we encourage each of you to toss as many coins as you can save over the next weeks into our ‘soup pots’ (paper currency is always welcome too). Your gifts will be used to help feed and shelter local hungry people. How loud can we be this year?? Star saving your change and thank you for caring – let’s make those pots ring!
Shrove Tuesday – Fastnachts!
Feb 6th
Shrove Tuesday will be observed on February 16th with a worship service at 7pm in the nave followed by a time of fellowship and fastnachts. If you would be willing to provide some of the ingredients for the fastnachts, please use the sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board. All the ingredients should be brought to the church by Sunday, Febrauary 14th. We also need volunteers to make the dough on Sunday, February 14th at Noon and to fry the fashnachts on Tuesday, February 16th after the worship service. If you would like to volunteer, please use the sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board.