Dec 2020 Jan 2021 NEWSLETTER ADVENT CONTACT ......2020/12/11 · Nancy Ewing Financial Secretary:...

Dec 2020 - Jan 2021 NEWSLETTER

CONTACT THE CHURCH

321 South Limerick Rd. Limerick, PA 19468 610-489-0990 www.stjames-ucc.org

[email protected]

Music Director/Organist: Donna Pinto [email protected] (610) 792-1679

Office Assistant: Sandy Chang Mon. & Thurs. 10am-1pm [email protected]

for Newsletters: [email protected]

2020 CONSISTORY

Jay Smith, President Rich Fiedler, V. President Laura Walters, Secretary James Friemann Ken Raspen Bob Walters Donna Earnshaw Michael Turbush Officers: Tom Mogel, Financial Sec. Margie Schweitzer, Historian Nancy Ewing, Treasurer

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stjamesucc

ADVENT In my particular expression of Christianity, we observe various liturgical seasons. My favorite is Advent - four weeks of deep spiritual contemplation anticipating the celebration Christmas.

Advent is from an old Latin phrase – ad venio, loosely translated “until the coming.” It is a time for reflection

during which we prepare for Christ’s coming.

Christmas is itself the adaptation of an ancient ritual known as Saturnalia – a raucous and ribald occasion that celebrated the return of the light. It took place on the eve of the winter solstice – an evening that marked the sun’s slow walk back from the lengthening nights. The light was returning.

When early Christian communities, who knew very little about how or when the birth of Jesus actually took place, wanted to find a fitting time to commemorate his birth, they appropriated this pagan ritual and decided the return of the light was the perfect metaphor for celebrating the coming of Jesus: Saturnalia became Christmas.

In order to prepare herself for the coming of the Christ-child, the Church asked Christ’s followers to use the four weeks prior to that to examine not so much their inner being – that would come in Lent – but the outer world. As disciples called to extend the reach of God’s love most fully expressed through Jesus – Advent became the occasion to assess whether or not such love was evident.

The music of Advent is easily and far away my favorite music the Church produces. Don’t get me wrong, Christmas music and Easter music, with their joy rich and evident – inspire me greatly. But Advent music stirs my soul and calls to me to be an active agent of love in a broken and disturbed world.

I wait an entire year to attend services the first week of Advent just to sing again the opening line from one of my favorite pieces of music: “O come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.” I could spend the entire Advent season unpacking the meaning, the intent, the call inherent in that single line.

The first two words express deeply and quite substantially the posture of the worshiper in Advent: O come. It is a posture of prayer before the Creator. It gives the worshiper in song the voice of the supplicant. That first word – but a single letter – encompasses the deep longing of a world in need of love. The second word, a verb calling for action, admits to the one who has called us into service and into mission our dawning awareness that we are incomplete. All that we see admits to the utter insufficiency of our capacity to love change into being. We need the Creator. O come.

(continued on page 2)

WHAT’S UP

▪ Cong’l Life…...…2-5

▪ Birthdays…………..3

▪ Prayer Concerns..6

▪ Calendar… …….8-9


CONGREGATIONAL LIFE

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

To the following, who have been elected for various

positions within St. James UCC, and thanks for your

service.

NEEDED CALENDAR OF EVENTS

All St. James committees are

asked to put together their 2021

calendar and give them to the

Consistory before Dec. 7th so we

can put together the new calendar.

Please give your dates to Jay

Smith as soon as possible so we can compile the

dates before the meeting. Thanks for your help.

BLOOD DRIVE

Our annual Christmas season

blood drive is scheduled with

Miller Keystone on Wednesday

December 30th, from 2 to 7 p.m.

Donors can register online by go-

ing to www.GIVEaPINT.org and

using our sponsor code of 4044. all

individuals will be required to present valid ID that

has a name printed on it plus a photo and/or a

signature.

I will spend my time during this Advent season looking at the musicality and the lyricism of Advent. It is rich with image and metaphor, with minor tonality expressing the interplay of dark and light. It expresses the liminality of our time: the days between what has been and what will be; the shadowed valleys we walk in while light and dark wrestle prior to the spring’s awakening of all that become new again.

The music expresses with candor and without shame that for all we have given in service to our Creator in the effort to effect peace we have fallen short of the mark. It boldly dares to remain hopeful in spite of that, asking that the pathway to new life open up on our horizon.

Blessed Advent, gentle listener. May it please the Creator to free you up to see with new eyes what the past has wrought, what the present gives, and what the future promises. Find yourself open in this season to what eyes can see and ears can hear. May the Sacred walk with you. May your Emmanuel, your God with us, by whatever name you call her – abide with you on this journey into the shadowed light of early winter.

And may there be surprises awaiting you when the light dawns on this, your journey Into the Mystic.

(source: Rev. John C. Dorhauers’ weekly podcast on UCC.org) https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_advent

New Address

Mary Ann Lopardo and Craig Hillegass new address.

717 Mine Hill Road

Schwenksville, PA 19473

Patricia Dalina Pennsylvania address.

528 Bassett Lane

Norristown, PA 19403

Lisa Myers new address.

3405 N Shepherd Drive Apt # 203

Houston, TX 77018

Consistory:

James Frieman

Ken Raspen

Kristen Serina

Laura Walters

Endowment Committee:

Joy Rubeo

Treasurer:

Nancy Ewing

Financial Secretary:

Tom Mogel


CONGREGATIONAL LIFE CON’T

ANNUAL REPORTS

All committees and ministries

please submit annual report to

[email protected] by

December 30th 2020. Thank you for

your prompt assistance.

SUPPORT ST. JAMES UCC THROUGH AMAZON SMILE

As you shop online at Amazon.com for the

Christmas Season, please support “St James UCC”

by ordering through SmileAmazon.com.

Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible

AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable

organization of your choice.

AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.

Support your charitable organization by starting your shopping at smile. Amazon.com

Here's how to shop AmazonSmile:

1. Visit smile.amazon.com

2. Sign in with your Amazon.com credentials

3. Choose a charitable organization to receive

donations, or search for the charity of your choice

(St James UCC)

4. Select your charity

4. Start shopping!

Congratulations and best wishes from your church family!

December

Birthday 1….Pamela Marino 2….Mary Ann Lopardo 4….Benjamin Hendricks 7….Emily Focht 9….Amy Friemann 9….Bill Burnett 10….Mae Mogel 12....Jennifer Schell 15….Lisa Hendricks 21….Gregory Borneman 22….Ruth Borneman 27….Betty McCormick 28….Simone McConnell 29….Aaron Smith 30….Ian Gelwicks

Anniversary 17….Ralph & Linda Bevan

BE A BLESSING

Be a role model and spread the message through your community. Order now at:

https://www.uccresources.com/products/be-a-yard-sign?variant=33206019981375

January

Birthday 4….Cora Smith 4….Linda Alexander 6….Ralph Bevan 6….Sue Swinehart 9….Barbara Brightbill 9….Dottie Cossaboon 10...Avery Schell 16….Kyleigh Gelwicks 21….Leisel Sarfert 24….Tuker Alderfer 24….Lucas Alderfer 27….Carter Hendricks

Anniversary 3….C. Wendel & Sandra Koenig 6….Steve & Bridgette Lightcap

NO POINSETTIAS THIS YEAR

There will be no poinsettias this year. If you wish to

support Meng Road Green House as they are going

through financial hardship with COVID-19. Please

consider purchasing one on your own. They are

located on Meg Road off of Rt.29.

https://smile.amazon.com/?ref=dayone_us_smilehowto_1https://www.uccresources.com/products/be-a-yard-sign?variant=33206019981375https://www.uccresources.com/products/be-a-yard-sign?variant=33206019981375


NOVEMBER CONSISTORY MINUTES

The November 11th meeting of the St. James UCC Consistory, a Zoom meeting, was opened with devotions and prayer led by Jay Smith.

The minutes and financial reports were reviewed for the month of October 2020 and accepted as presented.

Old Business discussions included an update on the activities at St. James during the current Green

Phase of Covid-19. ▪ St. James will continue Zoom worship services

and in-person worship in the sanctuary at 10:15 on Sundays throughout this phase. The sound issues are being addressed and will hopefully, be resolved soon.

▪ A Girl Scout group, now a part of the Boy

Scouts, reserved the pavilion to hold a Court of Honor on November 12th.

▪ Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church continues

worshiping in Fellowship Hall on Sunday mornings adhering to the CDC guidelines by wearing masks and practicing social distancing. Grace and Peace Addendum: ▪ The addendum to the G&P Rental Agreement

addressing Covid-19 guidelines for professional cleaning and fresh air circulation has been

modified is ready for signing by both parties. Air Conditioning update: ▪ Ken Raspen managed and scheduled the work on

the air condition units, the thermostats, and the ultraviolet filters. He reported that due to a

voltage source problem, the Wi-Fi thermostats could not be installed as planned but instead, new programable thermostats were installed and the ultraviolet air filtering system installation is now complete. Status of the Transition Team: ▪ Thanks to the work of the Transition Team, the

profile for an interim pastor to serve St. James has been posted for candidates to review. The group will consider and review potential

candidates as applicants are submitted. Congregational Meeting on November 15th.: ▪ The Congregational Meeting will follow worship

on Sunday, November 15th. This meeting will include those who join through Zoom and those attending in-person worship. Zoom attendees’ votes will counted using a polling feature and other votes will be counted in the sanctuary.

Committee Reports: ▪ Ken Raspen reported that he has removed brush

and vines around the perimeter of the property and the bird houses that were part of the Eagle Scout project, are now installed.

New Business: Bridge Pastor for St. James ▪ Pastor Beth Eustis, referred to St. James by Rev.

Minasian of the PSEC, will serve as Supply Pastor on Sunday, November 15th. She also expressed interest in serving as a Bridge Pastor, an on-going Supply Pastor, until St. James finds an interim

pastor. In addition to weekly sermons, Pastor Eustis is willing to do pastoral care and perform other duties for St. James. ▪ Pastor Eustis is a recent graduate and has not been

ordained. So that Pastor Eustis can bless the elements for communion, St. James will write a letter to the Philadelphia Community of Ministry requesting that lay ministerial privileges be granted to her. ▪ Michael Terbush suggested that we invite Pastor.

Eustis to join us at our next Consistory meeting, offering her an opportunity to meet and learn more about the community at St. James.

Special Events for Advent and Christmas: ▪ Seasonal decorating of the church is scheduled for

Saturday, November 28th. Sue and Ed Myers agreed to hang the wreaths and decorate the

windows in the sanctuary as they have done for many years. ▪ Due to the increase of coronavirus cases and the

possibility of another shutdown, only one small artificial tree will be placed in the front of the church instead of the traditional two large trees.

▪ We will not be taking orders for poinsettias this

year; however, Donna Earnshaw and Laura Walters will make sure a few poinsettias are available for the altar and front of the sanctuary. ▪ Because of the rising number of coronavirus cases,

Consistory will wait until the December meeting to determine if a Christmas Eve Service St. James will be possible this year.

▪ If we do not have a service, we could offer G&P

the option to use the sanctuary for their Christmas Eve service.

Plans for the “Peace Pole”: ▪ The “Peace Pole” gifted to St. James from Pastor

Anne will be installed near the Little Library where it will be visible and easily noticed.

Installation and dedication will take place in the Spring. (continued on page 5)


Message from the St. James UCC Prayer Ministry

Please include an address with your prayer request and

We will send a card to the individual letting them know

that St. James United Church of Christ is praying for them.

Miscellaneous: ▪ It was noted that voters had little choice but to

park their cars on grassy area on Election Day. As a result, some ruts need to be filled in. Jay

suggested that in the future, volunteers from the church could be present to direct people to appropriate parking areas to avoid situations like this. It might also be a way to reach out to the community around us. If you have questions concerning this report or the work of the Consistory, please speak with Jay Smith or any member of the Consistory. We are here to

serve all members of St. James United Church of Christ.

St. James UCC Congregational Meeting November 15th., 2020

The Congregational Meeting was held on Sunday, November 15th., 2020 following the morning worship service. This meeting included 27 members, attending in-person and others attending via Zoom. The total satisfied the requirement for a quorum.

Jay Smith, Consistory President called the meeting to order and presented the following candidates:

James Friemmann, Ken Raspen and Laura Walters, and Kristen Serina, for Consistory. Nancy Ewing made a motion to accept the nominees, seconded by Jay Smith and accepted.

Joy Rubeo, Candidate for Endowment Committee. A motion to accept was made by Nancy Ewing, seconded, and accepted.

Nancy Ewing was presented as candidate for Treasurer. Jay Smith made motion to accept, Laura Walters seconded the motion. The motion was accepted.

Tom Mogul was presented to serve as Financial Secretary. A motion to accept was made by Laura Walters, seconded by Sandy Koenig, and accepted.

A motion to authorize the amount of $2,500 be distributed by the Endowment Committee to each of the three St. James Mission Partners, Ponca Creek, Habitat for Humanity and Project Outreach was made by Anita Rogers, seconded by Nancy Ewing, and accepted.

The meeting was open for questions and comments on the proposed budget for 2021, previously distributed and reviewed in October.

Tom Mogel expressed concern that the budget is not realistic and appears to be $40,000 short based on 2020 records.

Jay Smith shared that the current year did not reflect income now being received from Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church for the rental of Fellowship Hall and other space. He noted that all bills have been paid and due to the Covid-19 restrictions and closing of the church, expenses have been reduced.

There were no additional questions or comments. Jay Smith made the motion to accept the proposed budget for 2021 as presented. Pete Mogel seconded the motion. The 2021 budget was accepted as presented.

Jay Smith announced the addition of ultraviolet filters to our HVAC systems. This is for our safety and welfare as they will filter most airborne particles and kill viruses that pass through the air systems. In addition, programable thermostats have been installed for more efficient control of heat and air condition-ing. The total expense was $2300.

Nancy Ewing made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by Margie Schweitzer and unanimously accepted.

PRAYER CONCERNS

For our friends Betty Wines, Heather Yates, Melissa Moore, Ellie Donofrio, Frank Miller and others who are in long term care or unable to leave their homes. We pray for comfort, peace, healing and companionship for each of them. For our friends Taylor, Baby Franklin, Rebecka, John W, Marcia S, Diana, Marcy, Terry, Amy, Matthew, Valerie, Donna E, Rebecka, Marcia, Charlotte L and others with ongoing health concerns and challenging life of God's presence through the support of our congregation. For our friends Tabby, Peggy M, Sue, Carl H, Jessica, Helen M, Irene S, Jay P, Lynn P, Carl, Jean S, Van S, JC, Michelle, Ken, Betsy R, Barry G, Sue J, Mildred and all cancer survivors, we pray for treatment where it is possible and release from suffering where it is needed. Prayers for all veterans that are still suffering from PTSD and all other side effects from their service in the military. For the friends and family of Andrea Dewane and Betsy Richards mother and for all who grieve at the deaths of those they deeply love and dearly miss, we ask that they might know the comfort God offers through the community of faith as we surround them with our prayers. Lord we come to you once again with thanksgiving and praise. We give you thanks for the healing of many of your children and pray on continued healing for those that are still struggling with illness. We pray that you keep us safe and well as we continue to struggle with this virus and continue to see loved ones and friends lose their life to it. We ask that you fill those with your peace and comfort. We continue to pray for healing of our country, that we can come together as one, as brothers and sisters showing love, respect and care for one another. We ask for healing of mind, body and spirit upon us all. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Please note that we will remove names on the prayer list after one month, except for homebound and hospitalized members. Let us know if you would like to add or renew a request by office phone or email.

Initiated by St. James Prayer Team, each Sunday two church families are being included in the Sunday

worship prayer time. You are invited to include these members and their families in your prayers throughout

that week.

PAGE 6 Dec 2020 - Jan 2021 NEWSLETTER

PRAYING FOR ST. JAMES MEMBERS

December

6 Thomas Mogel Melissa Moore

13 Suzanne (Lightcap) Moyer Edward and Susan Myers

20 Laura, Nya May and Mazie Myers Lisa, Simone and Samantha Myers

27 Tony, Linda, Lisa and Amy Nuccitelli

Diane and Evelyn Phelen

January

3 Donna Pinto Ken and Diane Raspen

10 Anita Rogers Joan (Ide) Rosen

17 Joy Rubeo Richard and Amy Sarfert

24 Dianne Savitsky Keith, Jennifer, Anastasia and Avery Schell

31 Margaret Schweitzer Donna Serina


CONFERENCE NEWS QUIET DAY

The December Quiet Day is uncertain due to

Covid-19. Please check back closer to this date.

Quiet Days are designed to open new avenues of

communing with God, and to provide an opportunity

for sharing faith journeys and stories. They allow for

Sabbath time and renewal in the midst of our busy

world. There is no formal registration, but a

minimum donation of $5 is requested on Quiet Day.

Each participant is asked to bring a Bible, journal,

pen and a bag lunch. Come and see what God has in

store for you!

PSEC HELD ITS FALL MEETING ONLINE

At the beginning of the PSEC Fall Meeting on No-

vember 15th, the over 200 participants were invited

to share a word about how they were feeling. At the

end of the meeting, Rev. Becky Hoover shared this

word cloud she'd created with those words, quite a

range of emotion but with a clearly positive trend.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE 3 GREAT LOVES ADVENT TOOLKIT

Download your free 3 Great Loves Advent

Toolkit today. Knowing that this Advent season is

unlike past years due to the pandemic, this resource

was adapted with online and streaming worship in

mind. The toolkit includes:

• a sample suggested calendar

• theme graphics

• weekly social media graphics

• weekly Advent video prayers on the themes of

Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love for use in worship and on

social media.

Prayers are written and recorded by UCC clergy and

lay leaders from across the life of the church.

3 Great Loves is our denomination-wide mission initi-

ative, telling the story of how we live out God’s love

through the lens of 3 Great Loves: Love of Neighbor,

Love of Children, and Love of Creation. To share the

stories of how we, as a united church, live out God’s

love in missional, measurable, and meaningful ways,

please visit 3greatloves.org.

ADVENT DEVOTIONS ON PSEC FACEBOOK PAGE

As we begin the season of advent, we’d like to let

you know that on every day of advent, one of our

pastors or lay leaders will be posting an advent

devotional on the PSEC Facebook page. Today’s

posting is available now for you to begin. During

these stressful times, take a moment each day and

reflect on the wonders of this season of anticipation

of the coming of our Lord, the season of love.

Devotions can be found at: https://

www.facebook.com/PSEC.UCC

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CALENDAR January 2021


Notes & Reminders

Materials for the January Newsletter are due on December 17th, 2020.

St. James United Church of Christ 321 South Limerick Road Limerick, PA 19468

“Christmas is most truly Christmas

when we celebrate it by giving the light

of love to those who need it

most.”

(by Ruth Carter Stapleton)

Dec 2020 Jan 2021 NEWSLETTER ADVENT CONTACT ......2020/12/11 · Nancy Ewing Financial Secretary:...

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