March 2020 Annville United Methodist Church

Open hearts.

Open minds.

Open doors.

One North College Avenue / Annville, PA 17003 / 717-867-2104 / AUMC1912@gmail.com / www.annvilleumc.org

Pastor Dan Lebo / dlebo23@gmail.com

Office Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 8 AM to 1 PM

Sunday Morning Service: 9 AM Traditional Worship / 10:15 AM Sunday School classes for all ages

Communion: March 1

Friends,

This March begins a journey that we take every year in the church calendar, the

journey through the Lenten season. Even though this is a yearly occurrence, I still

find myself unprepared. Lent is a season of preparation and introspection. It is a

season where we are called to look inside ourselves, often in ways that are uncom-

fortable. The scripture that begins the Lenten journey is Jesus’ temptation in the

wilderness. This scene sets the stage for what Lent is supposed to be for all of us, a

time to wrestle with our temptations and identify the attitudes or actions that we can

leave at the cross at the end of the season.

The difficulty with this is that we don’t like to talk about our temptations. We don’t

like to spend an extended period of time in the uncomfortable space of looking at

our faults and being honest with the reality of our imperfections. However, when we

do commit to this journey, we almost undoubtedly end up better off at the end than

at the beginning. Part of this is that we practice a sense of spiritual discipline which

allows us the possibility of walking closer with God in our spiritual journey. We are

able to identify aspects of our lives that are not conducive to our thriving. It also

reminds us of the importance of the grace of God because no matter how much time

we spend working on our imperfections, we will always fall short of perfection. The

good news of the Lenten season, and the entirety of the Gospel, is that our perfection

is not what saves us; It is the perfection of God’s grace in our lives that does.

I would encourage you this Lenten season to spend time doing the hard and

unpleasant work of looking inside yourself to reflect on what needs to be left behind

in order for you to live God’s potential in your life. This is the purpose of fasting. By

reducing our dependence on other things, we trust God more fully. Think of fasting

as something more than giving up a guilty pleasure or vice; Think of it more as

changing attitudes that diminish the image of God in ourselves or in our views of

others. There is a list of things to fast from that makes its rounds on social media

this time of year, which I believe is attributed to Pope Francis a few years ago. I leave

this list with you now for your reflection on looking deeper into yourselves and using

this season to grow in your faith by removing harmful things from your life. Use this

season to let go of things that hurt you and embrace the grace of God in the midst of

our imperfections.

continued on page 3

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SERVING US IN MARCH

HEAD USHER

Mike Eschenfelder

Altar flowers, Greeters, Scripture readers, and Acolytes are always needed. Sign up sheets are

located on the bulletin boards behind the sanctuary or online at SignUp Genius.

ALTAR FLOWERS are a wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion or remember a loved one.

The cost for the two Altar bouquets is $24 and are yours to keep after the service.

SCRIPTURE READERS receive an email from the church office with the scripture on Tuesday or

Wednesday prior the Sunday Service.

GREETERS welcome the congregation beginning at 8:40AM on the east & west entrances.

Remain at the entrance until the end of the first hymn so even latecomers are greeted with a smile.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

ACOLYTES can be any student aged 8-18. Prior to your first week, please see Pastor Dan for

instructions.

Sunday Service Sign Up

Faith Group: This friendly and inspiring group of women meet on Wednesday mornings at

9:30am in the lower level Modern Day Disciples room.

Merry Hearts: The group will be meeting at noon on March 16 at The Batdorf.

Adult Choir: Please direct questions to our organist Mark Sorensen at mas009@lvc.edu or any

current choir member. The Choir welcomes new members anytime to join in praising God through

music. Rehearsals are Wednesday nights from 7:30-9:00pm

Children’s Sunday School: Classes are every Sunday at 10:15 AM in the lower level classrooms.

Adult Sunday School:

Singles & Doubles—meets in the upper level parlor with rotating leaders.

Modern Day Disciples—led by Fred Zimmerman in lower level room to the left of the choir

room.

Times for Fellowship

Church is not something you go to;

it’s a family you belong to.

3

EASTER FLOWER ORDER FORM

You are invited to help decorate our church for Easter by contributing flowers in “honor” or

“in loving memory” of loved ones. Please fill out this form and place it in the offering plate or return

it to church office with your payment by the end of the day, Monday March 23rd.

Your Name(s)_______________________________________________________________

In Honor of_________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

In Loving Memory of_________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Type of Flower

Color/Blooms/

Pot size

Price per

Plant

Number of Plants

Total Price

Daffodils Yellow / 6” pot $9.00

Tulips Red / 6 blooms $9.00

Tulips Yellow / 6 blooms $9.00

Lilies 5-6 blooms $10.00

TOTAL TOTAL

Pastor Dan’s message continued from page 1

Fast from hurting words and say kind words.

Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

Fast from worries and trust in God.

Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.

Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.

Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.

Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.

In Christ,

Pastor Dan

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The AUMC Café will be

open on Thursday, Friday &

Saturday April 23rd—25th.

Please see the sign up sheets

to volunteer your time or donate food items

to help out with this fundraiser!!

MARCH & APRIL CHURCH EVENTS

AUMC

Merry Hearts will meet at

the Batdorf on

March 16.

Lenten Season & Easter

March 1 - First Sunday in Lent March 8 - Second Sunday in Lent March 15 - Third Sunday in Lent March 22 - Fourth Sunday in Lent March 29 - Fifth Sunday in Lent April 5 - Palm Sunday April 9- Holy Thursday (7pm service) April 10 - Good Friday (Cross Walk) April 12 - EASTER SUNDAY

Trustees—Wednesday March 18th, 6:30pm

Leadership—Monday March 23rd, 7:00pm

March 4 St Pauls Catholic

March 11 Christ UCC

March 18 Annville Church of the Brethern

March 25 Annville United Methodist Church

April 1 St Mark Lutheran

All are invited to attend the Lenten Lunchtime Worship Series. The service starts at noon followed by lunch each Wednesday. This is a wonderful opportunity to get out, be with others in the midst of

this winter season, and share in Christ’s grace!

We will observe Holy

Thursday, on April 9th at

the 7pm service. This is the

first of the three days of solemn remembrance of

the events leading up to and immediately

following the crucifixion of Jesus

Faith In

Action

March’s On Sunday Mar 1 & 8, we will collect

monetary donations in lieu of food

donations for our very own faith

group’s Easter food drive to supply

at least five families in the AC School

District with Easter dinner.

We will be hosting the Lenten Luncheon on March 25th. Ask Connie Zimmerman if you can be of service at the luncheon

Cross Walk

Good

Friday

April 10

2020 General Conference Delegation Listening Session

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 7 pm to 8:30 pm

Church of the Good Shepherd, 1500 Quentin Rd., Lebanon PA

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March 15th —FREE Youth Night March 20-22—UMC Confirmation Class April 3rd-4th—Children’s Spring Blast (grades 1-6) April 18th—Spring Work Day April 19—FREE Youth Night May 9th—Gretna Gritty 5K Mud Run

May 12th—Senior/Adult Spring Fling May 16th—Open House May 17th & June 7th S’mores & Tours

VOLUNTEERS & PAID SUMMER STAFF are needed!

For a full schedule of day & overnight summer camps visit: https://www.gretnaglen.org/summer-camp or pick up a booklet from the information table behind

the sanctuary. The church offers scholarships to all of the kiddos at AUMC to attend Gretna Glen’s

programs. Please speak with Pastor Dan or email the church office for more information.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your gift of $580 to support our ministries: the Men’s

Program, Agape Family Shelter, Lebanon Free Clinic and Agape

Christmas; the four programs under the umbrella of Lebanon Res-

cue Mission today!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” -2 Corinthians 5:17

Your support allows for so many men, women and children to become new creatures in Christ! YOU

are part of every life changed through Christ at the Lebanon Rescue Mission. Thank you for your

continued support, we are so very grateful for your caring, prayers and generosity.

In HIS Service,

Susan A. Blouch — “Thank you so much for your gift and your prayers!” Executive Director

SPRING SUMMER

2020

Join Jen on Tuesday nights at 6pm for a

fun cardio-dance workout. DanceFIT is a

high intensity cardio dance class, focusing

on simple dance moves and simple fitness

moves to get the heart rate up, strengthen,

and tone. The cost for one session is only

$5. Get out & get moving!

You can follow Jen on

Facebook @jenswordsfit

The Choir welcomes new members any time of

year to join in praising God through music.

Active from the beginning of September

through the middle of June, rehearsals are

Wednesday nights from 7:30-9:00pm.

Please direct any questions to our organist

Mark Sorensen at mas009@lvc.edu or any

current choir member.

We would love to have you!

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LOCAL EVENTS Cornwall Iron Furnace

Charter Day

Sunday, March 8th FREE ADMISSION from noon to 4:00 p.m. Charter

Day commemorates the granting of the charter

William Penn received from King Charles II of

England over three centuries ago. The king granted

the land in exchange for debt owed to Penn, thus

providing Penn a place to establish a community

free of religious persecution, known as his “Holy

Experiment”. Stationed throughout the buildings,

trained guides will provide information on the

history of the Furnace, its operations, and museum

collections. Guests are encouraged to dress warmly,

as the buildings can be quite chilly this time of year.

Visitors may also enjoy viewing the display of

minerals originally collected by workers at the

Cornwall Mines; formerly owned by the Bethlehem

Steel Corporation.

•Saturday March 28th at 8am

•$15 per person

•At Cedar Crest Middle School cafeteria

•Tickets must be purchased in advance. from

Leroy Leach or by calling 717-272-4400

ext. 220 or emailing andrea@lccm.us

Annual

Lenten

Breakfast

Lebanon Valley Spring Spectacular Craft & Vendor Show

March 7th, 2020 10am—4pm

FREE admission and FREE parking

The Allen Theatre & Backstage Café

April 26th at 5:00 pm Admission $10.00

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Friends of the Annville Free Library BIG Book Sale & AUMC Café

Volunteer in the café from Thursday April 22nd—Saturday April 25th.

We need volunteers in the café and food & beverage donations.

(We are no longer selling Mr. Sticky’s Sticky Buns.)

AUMC

FINANCE & FUNDRAISING

ATTENDANCE

February 2 — 70

February 9 — 71

February 16 – 68

February 23 — 70

FINANCE REPORT

Below is a comparison of

congregational giving

2019 vs 2020

January 1, 2020— February 29, 2020

2019 _ 2020

Needed $25,600 $26,400

Received $25,556 $25,989

Happy Birthday

CHURCH FAMILY INFORMATION

Cody & Allison Page Mar 20 Heather Pappalardo Mar 1st

Suanne Long Mar 2nd

Connie Zimmerman Mar 4th

Vicki Siegrist Mar 6th

Aurora Brandt Mar 11th

Trevor Konan Mar 14th

Elizabeth Kendall Mar 17th

Jason Gamble Mar 24th

Phyllis Conrad Mar 28th

Pat VanWinkle Mar 30th

Don Hopple Mar 30th

Is someone in your family

graduating from high school

or college? Anyone in the

military and/or deployed overseas?

Does your family have something to celebrate?

Weddings, births or special anniversaries?

Contact the church office with any information

so we may share in your blessings!

ATTENTION, PLEASE

Happy Anniversary

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MARCH 2020

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