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FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

246 South Main Street

Greensburg, Pennsylvania 15601-3183

T: 724-834-1457

F: 724-834-1469

felchurch.org

PASTOR………………………….... Larry Kemp

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC……….…...Marvin Huls

CHURCH TREASURER…….………... Patti Sias

OFFICE MANAGER………..…... Patricia Pluck

OFFICE SECRETARY………...Susan Woodcox

CUSTODIAN............................ Jaison Smith

CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS

Merle Baker

Rebecca Brunetta President

Bob Errett

Suzy Flory

Jeanne Kiss

Dianna Marusko

Joan Orr

Sue Ross

Brandie Saraceni Vice President

Amy Schultz

Kim von Schlichten

Megan Zobb Secretary

WORSHIP WITH US

Sunday Church School 9:30 A.M.

SCS does not meet in June, July or August

Sunday Worship 8:15 A.M. & 10:45 A.M.

Summer Schedule 8:15 A.M. & 10:00 A.M.

Elevator and Hearing Assistance Available

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FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

GREENSBURG, PA

PHONE 724-834-1457

FAX 724-834-1469

felchurch.org

www.facebook.com/felchurch

@FELchurch

JUNE 2018

Our Brand

“34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34 & 35 (NRSV) Within the past year, I have heard the words, “brand” and “branding,” used more frequently and in new ways—particularly as it relates to life in the Church. These words and their use have come about in how we identify not only a product, but also as “a particular identity or image regarded as an asset.” (New Oxford American Dictionary). And so as I found out when I needed to use the ELCA logo, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America now has branding guidelines in the use of its name, logo and slogan, “God’s Work, Our Hands” for the sake of both its image and its message. As we have been looking at a variety of ways to tell people about the story of First Evangelical Lutheran Church and its work in the name of Christ, someone even asked me, “what is our brand?” My best hope for the “brand” we offer the world in our life together is that it will reflect the “new commandment” that Jesus offered his disciples in the time preceding his betrayal and death—that we would love one another as he loves us. The love of which Jesus speaks is that love that is seen in God’s self-giving love on the Cross. Perhaps the best brand that we could ever offer is the one that shows how loving we are to one another in the love that God has given us. Be blessed, Pastor Larry Kemp

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MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS…BLANKETS / MALARIA NETS

Social Ministry Activation Team would like to

thank everyone who purchased a blanket or net

for Mother’s Day. Your generous donations of

18 blankets and 8 nets will provide warmth

and safety to those in need.

We plan to do it again for Father’s Day! Each $10.00

donation will purchase either a blanket or malaria net in

honor/memory of a father in your life.

A member of the Social Ministry Team will be in the education

building foyer between worship services on Sunday, June 10th

and 17th for you to make your gifts. You may also make gifts

during the week through the church office.

SYNOD ASSEMBLY

The synodical expression of the church will meet in assembly

from June 14-16 at Thiel College, with six from First

attending, including Bob Errett, Joan Orr, Rebecca Brunetta,

Amy Schultz, Jeanne Christensen and Pastor Larry.

Please remember our delegates in prayer as they engage in

ministry with others from our synod.

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FIRLU HAS HEARD…

-that as of April 25th our offering receipts are

$18,877; last year they were $17,348.

-that thanks are given to the Fellowship

Committee and all of those who contributed to

the Confirmation breakfast on Pentecost Sunday.

-that congratulations are given to Sara and Eric Shadwick on the

birth of their daughter, Sofia Grace May 15, 2018.

-that congratulations are given to Ailanthus Hanzel, Jacob Julian

and Bradley Schmidt who were confirmed May 20, 2018

-that assistance is greatly needed the third Thursday of the

month by 8:00 AM to unload the truck and sort groceries for

Food Pantry distribution.

-that Angel Food cakes (home baked or purchased) are needed

the first Sunday of every month for Meals on Wheels. Bring your

cake to the church office. Thanks!

-that the deadline for the JULY newsletter is Monday, June 18th.

Please be prompt. You may submit your articles to

office@felchurch.org.

WEEKLY EMAILS: Are you receiving the weekly email blasts? If

not, please call the office so we can add your name to the list.

We will not add anyone to the weekly email list unless they

specifically request it even if we already have your email address.

See you at worship,

FIRLU

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LENTEN COMMUNITY GARDENS UPDATE

A total of $2863.00 was collected for the Lenten Community

Vegetable Gardens project which means First

Lutheran will be providing the funds for 13

Community Vegetable Gardens to be built and

will enable members of the cooperatives to

have fresh produce for their families. Also,

extra produce can be sold and the profits shared by the

members of the cooperative – a great combination of food and

income! Thanks to all who donated and took part in this

project. And, no, we did not have a guessing game this year

so the barn prize bank will stay at the church.

NEWS

WELCA Summer Bible study with other Lutheran

Churches 7:00 PM Monday June 18th

at Zions’

Social Hall.

TRASH & TREASURE SALE

SATURDAY, June 9, 2018

7 AM —3 PM

St. James Ev. Lutheran Church

4329 Route 982; Youngstown, PA

Flea Market—Bake Sale—Lunch Available

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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

FIRST LUTHERAN AND ZIONS LUTHERAN CHURCHES!

“Hero Central”

Discover Your Strength in God

July 9 - 12, 2017

6:30 – 8:00 PM

At Zions Lutheran Church

Do Good! Seek Peace & Go After It!

Psalm 34 :14

After a great combined Bible School with our friends in Christ of

Zions, we’re combining with them again this year. Zions Lutheran

will be the location. Also, we are having our VBS in the evening in

hopes that people of all ages will be able to take part. Sections

for kids and adults! Registration forms will soon be available at

both churches. Registrations are helpful, but not necessary.

Invite friends! And as usual…..there is no cost to participants!

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE “CELEBRATE” INSERT?

For the time being, we will not be using the “Celebrate” insert on

Sunday morning because I want to experiment with putting the

Sunday readings and the prayer of the day directly in bulletin. I

am evaluating the overall stewardship of doing so and seeing if

eliminating the amount of additional inserts is helpful to those

worshipping on Sunday morning. I am interested in knowing

whether this is helpful or not; so please let me know.

Pastor Larry Kemp

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Abiding Ministries

Achieva

America Red Cross

Blackburn Center

Boy Scouts of America

Council on Substance Abuse

and Youth

Derry Area School District Kind

Fund

Evangelical Lutheran Church in

America

Feeding the Spirit

Glade Run Bridges Program

LDA Center of Diaconal Ministry

Light of Light Rescue Mission

Lutheran Senior Life

Lutherlyn

Private Industry Council of

Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc.

Fatherhood/Dads Matter

Program

Reality tour-Candle Inc.

St. Joseph’s Indian School

St. Olaf College

Salvation Army

Trinity Lutheran Church-Derry

Union Mission

Veterans Administration

VFW Post #33

Waypoint Youth & Community

Center

Western Pennsylvania

Conservancy

Westmoreland Community

Action—Mothers Making More

Westmoreland County Food

Bank

Westmoreland County Historical

Society

Westmoreland County Parks &

Recreation Citizens’ Advisory

Board

Westmoreland Land Trust

Wildlife Works

IN APPRECIATION OF OUR GLAD AND GENEROUS HEARTS

Over the past few months, we have received letters from the

following groups for our generosity

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Call Committee Survey

Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

To help in the search for our next pastor, the Call Committee

is interested in your opinion.

Please indicate the top 3 areas that are important to you in

the life of First Lutheran Church.

_____ Worship and Music

_____Youth Ministry

_____Evangelism

_____Stewardship

_____Fellowship

_____Christian Education

_____Social Ministry

_____Elderly Visits

_____ _____________________________

Are you a male or female______ Age______

Please drop this in the offering plate, or turn it into the church

office.

Thank you for your input,

The Call Committee

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LUTHERAN DAY AT

July 24, 2018

11:30 AM Welcome and Morning Prayer,

Pavilion #23 (The Old Log Jammer and Whip Pavilion)

With a Global Barn Yard Scavenger Hunt!

Proceeds from ticket sales will go to the

ELCA Word Hunger Global Barn Yard

TICKETS ONLY $25

SAVE $16 OFF REGULAR $41.99 ADMISSION

Tickets are not reusable passes and are valid for only one admission and

must be surrendered upon entrance. Kids 2 years old and younger are

free. Go to www.kennywood.com for more information.

Please complete the form below and return it to the church office by June

25, 2018. The church will order the tickets through the Synod Office and

you may pick them up in the office the week of June 16, 2018.

NAME_____________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS__________________________________________________________________________

CITY_________________________________________ STATE_______ ZIP___________________

PHONE________________________________ EMAIL_____________________________________

# Of Tickets @ $25 each________________ Total Enclosed____________________________

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Serving At First In June 2018

6/3 6/10 6/17 6/24

ACOLYTES

Drew Erdman

Erika Ament

Ailanthus Hanzel

Erik Hanzel

Cade Cavanaugh

Reese Woodley

Jacob Julian

Drew Erdman

Tyler Miller

ASSISTING MINISTERS

Dianna Marusko Rebecca Brunetta Rocco Marusko Pat Yost

LECTORS

Gail Armstrong

Alex Byers

Sue Boggs

Joan Orr

Kim Nicassio

Amy Schultz

Sherry Menz

Rebecca Brunetta

AV MINISTRY TEAM

Al Danilko Drew Erdman

Dwight Miller

Lexi Hahn

Scott Hahn

Liz Rowe

Tim Irwin

Spencer Irwin

Delivery

Helen Marie

Flinner

Betty Mohney Cheryl Lucas

8:15 USHERS 10:45 USHERS ALTAR GUILD

Tom Gockel - chief

Brian Erdman

Clint McMaster

Al Danilko - chief

Beverly Attenberger

John Syner

Bob Errett

Dianna Marusko

- coordinator

Carolyn Hanzel

Sue Ross

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Lutherlyn offers a coupon for first time Lutherlyn campers

to help cover the cost of camp. Stop in the office to pick up

a coupon.

First Lutheran offers Camperships. Register with

Lutherlyn and let the office know by June 10, 2018 to send

the campership.

LUTHERLYN WILL SERVE MORE THAN 1000 C H I L D R E N THIS SUMMER.

AND YOU CAN HELP!

Lutherlyn promises to never turn a child away from summer

camp for financial reasons. Lutherlyn depends on the

financial support of friends like you to keep this promise. It

is thanks to the many individuals, families, congregations,

foundations, and businesses that support camp with

prayers, participation, volunteering, and financial gifts, that

Lutherlyn can continue to be a God-given place to be

accepted, challenged, and sent.

You can make a tax deductible contribution at

lutherlyn.com/donate, by mailing your gift, or by contacting

the Development Office at 724-865-2161.

www.lutherlyn.com

PO Box 355 - Prospect PA 16052

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SUMMER FOOD DRIVE

During the summer months, the Social Ministry Activation Team

will be collecting nonperishable items for our Emergency Food

Cupboard. These items will be used to assist many individuals and

families in our community.

June is “Protein Month”. Suggested items are:

Peanut Butter

Canned meats (tuna, chicken, etc.)

Beans

July is “Carb Month”. Suggested items are:

Pasta / pasta sauce

Pouch / Box sides (pasta/rice/potato/stuffing, etc.)

Mac & Cheese

Crackers (saltines, etc.)

August is “Canned Food Month”. Items especially needed are:

Soup

Fruit

Canned pasta (spaghettios, etc.)

A box is located in the education building foyer for your donations.

Please check the expiration dates before donating, as we cannot

distribute expired items in the Emergency Food bags.

Thank you!

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June Library News

Please visit First Lutheran’s Library on the second floor of the

Christian Education building this summer and check out something from our fine selection of materials. New books

and DVD’s are added each month. If you have a special book request please drop a note into the Library mailbox in the

church office with the book’s title, author and your name.

New in our library this month:

Luther’s Small Catechism – The Small Catechism gives us common language for

engaging the Bible, talking with others about relationships with God and

neighbors, making sense of our callings in daily life, and making a witness to Christ

in God’s world. This small book provides a rich treasure for communicating the

faith from generation to generation.

New in our Children’s library:

God Gave Us Angels by Lisa Tawn Bergren – This beautifully illustrated book is a

delight and addresses a small child’s questions about angels. This uplifting tale will

encourage young hearts by exploring the glory and design of God’s messengers,

while turning toward him with praise.

Missing Pieces – by Jerry B. Jenkins – Book #3 in the Red Rock Mysteries series for

young teens. Bryce and Ashley Timberline are normal 13-year-old twins, except

for one thing – they discover action-packed mystery wherever they go. Wanting to

get to the bottom of any mystery, these twins find themselves in a nonstop search

for truth.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR SHELVES at home to see if you may have a misplaced book or DVD that belongs to First Lutheran’s Library or Children’s Library. In order to

maintain our fine selection of materials for all of our church members to enjoy, we need to retrieve any unreturned books or DVD’s that may have been forgotten.

Reminder notices are being sent out for your convenience. Please place any materials you are returning in the “Return Books Here” tray in the Library or in the Library mailbox in the church office. Thank you.

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PRESCHOOL NEWS

The month of May was a very merry month indeed. Our

monthly theme was “Way Out West: with one weekly theme

(May 7—10) of “The Beautiful Horse”. On May 8th

, we experi-

enced the beauty of the standard bred horse by visiting

Lindwood Farm.

Our children, their parents, some siblings and Pastor Larry

toured the stables, examined alfalfa hay (helps the nursing

mothers produce milk), grain pellets and saw the tools used

to keep the stables clean (broom, rake, fork), manure

spreader and John Deere tractor. Our tour included a

beautiful hayride over the 200 acre farm. We saw rolling

pastures, turnout sheds, pastures with yearling colts and

fillies and fields of newborns with their mothers. Our

students were also able to pet a week old colt and get their

picture taken with him.

Our perfect weather tour ended with Miss Gina and Mr. Den-

nis (managers of Lindwood Farm) providing snacks for

everyone. The fresh air and excitement had everyone hungry

for a snack of muffins, donuts, watermelon and drinks. We

are so grateful for the opportunity to appreciate one of God’s

most beautiful animals, the horse.

On May 24 Preschool Graduation was held. The students

performed “Noah’s Ark”. Songs, moving up certificates for

the three year olds, and diplomas for the four year olds were

all part of our celebration.

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June 2018

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2

3 8:15 W&S

10:00 W&S

4 5

7:00 Council

6 FOOD/HEART

7:00 Fellowship

7 8

9

10 8:15 W&M

10:00 W&S

11

12

6:00 Personnel

13 FOOD/HEART

14

Synod Assembly

15

Synod Assembly

16

Synod Assembly

17 8:15 W&S

10:00 W&S

18

NEWSLETTER

DEADLINE

19

\

6:30 Finance

7:00 Ch. Ed/Youth

20 FOOD/HEART

21

FOOD PANTRY

22 23

24 8:15 W&S

10:00 W&S

Altar Guild meet

in parlor between

services

25 26

27 FOOD/HEART

6:00 Executive

6:30 Property

28

NEWSLETTER

FOLDING

29 30

9

June 2018

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2

3 8:15 W&S

10:00 W&S

4 5

7:00 Council

6 FOOD/HEART

7:00 Fellowship

7 8

9

10 8:15 W&M

10:00 W&S

11

12

6:00 Personnel

13 FOOD/HEART

14

Synod Assembly

15

Synod Assembly

16

Synod Assembly

17 8:15 W&S

10:00 W&S

18

NEWSLETTER

DEADLINE

19

\

6:30 Finance

7:00 Ch. Ed/Youth

20 FOOD/HEART

21

FOOD PANTRY

22 23

24 8:15 W&S

10:00 W&S

Altar Guild meet

in parlor between

services

25 26

27 FOOD/HEART

6:00 Executive

6:30 Property

28

NEWSLETTER

FOLDING

29 30

SUMMER WORSHIP

SCHEDULE

BEGINS JUNE 3

Beginning the first Sunday in June,

the “Summer Worship Schedule” will

begin, with worship at 8:15 and

10:00 AM.

There will be no Sunday Church

School during the summer months.

SCS will resume September 9 with

Rally Recreation Day. Regular

worship schedule will resume

September 9. Continental Breakfast

wi l l be discont inued unt il

September as well.

So...don’t forget...starting

June 3… worship at 8:15 and

10:00 AM.