Lamplighter Newsletter
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Transcript of Lamplighter Newsletter
120 WEST MAIN STREET, NEW HOLLAND, PA 17557
Church Phone: 717-354-0226 Church Fax: 717-354-7942
Website: www.nhumc.us
Pastor: Susan D. Sliker
JANUARY 2011
We are soon into a new year and new decade. It is hard to believe that 2010 is almost over. I hope
it was a great year for you, and you experienced God’s presence in new ways. I know I did. And I
see Him moving in amazing ways in the life of the Body of Christ at NHUMC. Praise be to God!
Jonathan Edwards was one of the greatest preachers of his time. In 1722, he drew
up a list of seventy resolutions, dedicating himself to live in harmony with God and
others. The following resolutions give a picture of the serious purpose with which
Edwards approached his relationship with God. He resolved:
To do whatever is most to God’s glory
To do my duty, for the good of mankind in general
Never to do anything which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour
of my life
To study the Scriptures steadily, constantly, and frequently
To ask myself at the end of every day, week, month, and year if I could
possibly have done better
Until I die, not to act as I were on my own, but entirely and altogether
God’s
Nehemiah 10:29 says, “They entered into ... an oath to walk in God’s Law ... and
to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord.” We read that God’s
people made an oath, vowing to follow all the commands, laws, and regulations of
the Lord. This oath was so serious that they were willing to accept the curse of God
if they failed to keep these commands.
Our resolutions need not be as serious as that, but any resolution to follow God is
not a casual promise. Rather, it is a solemn and serious declaration that – with the
help of the Holy Spirit – we can renew every day. So what needs to change in this
upcoming year for you? What promises, oaths, vows have gone by the wayside in
your life? Words are cheap and the Body needs to continue to act on our resolutions.
We can only wait to see the surprises God has for each of us. I can’t wait ... He has
been so good this past year and has moved in surprising ways ... Praise be to God!!
Happy New Year!
-- Pastor Susan
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A Phone Call Away If you have any pastoral needs, please do not hesitate to call the pastor (354-8306). Your needs are her
needs – go out to lunch, dinner, spend time talking, go shopping, a phone call, a prayer, etc. Please know
that God loves you.
The pastor always strives to be a phone call away, but she needs to know your needs. Please call and
leave a message if no one is home! Love to all! -- Pastor Susan
Our Worship Service starts at 9:00 a.m. every Sunday.
Sunday School is at 10:15 a.m.
January 2
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12
“God’s Guiding Spirit”
Epiphany Sunday
Installation of Officers
Holy Communion
January 9
Isaiah 42:1-9
Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17
“God’s Favoring Spirit”
January 16
Isaiah 49:1-7
1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42
“God’s Inviting Spirit”
Human Relations Day
January 23
Isaiah 9:1-4
1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23
“God’s Liberating Spirit”
January 30
Micah 6:1-8
1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12
“God’s Spirit of Humility”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Calling All High School Students
We are in the early stages of planning this
year’s high school confirmation class. This
gathering is open to everyone from ninth
grade and up.
The title of the program is Making
Disciples and has been very successful and
meaningful. It is an adventure that will allow
one to be both a servant of the church and a
growing disciple as well. The class will work
together and also individually with a mentor.
A mentor in this process is not one who
knows all the answers, or one who can cite
vast numbers of scripture references from
memory. A mentor is one who has a genuine
faith and who is involved in trying to grow in
that faith from day to day. A mentor is one
who is willing to share his or her journey of
faith with another person.
The confirmands will lean more heavily on
genuine interaction with a member of the
church. This 13 week course will allow for
flexibility between student and mentor. The
different sessions address particular topics
and activities that they will share together.
If you are interested and/or have questions,
please do not hesitate to contact Pastor Susan
at 354-8306. More information will be
available for the class as it forms. A kick-ff
gathering will be planned. I hope to hear
from our senior high youth. Love to all, and
hope you are having a great school year.
-- Pastor Susan
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New Challenge
In 2011
The worship committee, working with the
pastor, has decided to preach from the
Lectionary in 2011. The Lectionary is the list
or table of Scripture lessons or passages to be
read in Sunday worship services and on other
specific occasions. The list is in a three-year
cycle (A, B, and C cycle), starting the first
Sunday of Advent (the start of the new church
year).
There will be three lessons read each
Sunday – one from the Old Testament, one
from the Epistles and one from the Gospels.
There will also be a Psalter reading, and they
might point to a unifying theme.
Here are a few compelling reasons for
Lectionary preaching:
1. It keeps us in continuity with a
tradition of the church that dates back
centuries. Also, we are united with
sister churches by meditating on
essentially the same scriptures.
2. It forces us to struggle with the
questions of what God is trying to tell
us. This prevents us from mounting
our theological “soap box,” where we
seek to find a pretext for what we
most enjoy “harping” about. Without
the lectionary, how many preachers
would choose to preach on the texts
that contain controversy or conflict –
they would stay away from them and
only preach from texts to make the
congregation feel good.
3. It allows us to view the Bible as a unit
and helps us see how the gospel grows
out of the Old Testament tradition and
gives us a greater appreciation of our
Jewish roots.
4. It makes clear that we Christians live
in the world, but are not of the world.
The liturgical calendar, on which the
lectionary is based, focuses on the
qualitative dimension of time rather
than merely marking chronological
time. Our whole concept of time and
eternity revolves around the Incarnate
Word, Jesus, the Christ. Our lives are
ordered by His life, death and
resurrection. Without the discipline of
the Lectionary, it becomes easy to
focus on this world’s agenda. The
liturgical calendar makes plain that we
are passing through time, but we live
in the realm of God’s eternal purpose.
So once again the body of Christ starts on
a new adventure together as we move in
God’s way – trusting and obeying His Word
and acting in ways to glorify Him. Are you
excited? Are you seeing the Spirit moving?
He is ... let’s await the surprises He has in
store for us in the new year ... together in
worship and service to ignite the LIGHT in
our lives and in the lives we touch for Him.
-- Pastor Susan
Come ... Join Us!
On January 11, the 2011 Administrative
Council will join for their first meeting at
7:00 p.m. Please join us in Chapel Hall as
our external consultant, Kip Wolf, will be
here to present the strategic road map that has
been completed. He will also discuss goals
and objectives we have begun to align with
“Ignite the LIGHT”. Come out and see how
God is moving in our church!
-- Sandi Rapp
P.S. We are calling “prayer warriors” to the
sanctuary at 6:45 (before Ad Council) to pray
for our church.
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The Truth Project
Will Start on January 13
Please remember to sign the enrollment sheet
at the back of the sanctuary
or call Pastor Susan with questions.
Do you really believe that what you
believe is really real? The focal point of
Focus on the Family’s The Truth Project is
the concept of truth itself. What is truth?
Why is it important? What role does it play
in God’s purposes in the world, our purpose
as humans and God’s plan for salvation
through Jesus Christ? This study also
demonstrates how truth frames the nature of
the cosmic battle that rages all around us
between the truth claims of God and the lies
of the world, the flesh and the devil.
From this starting point, The Truth Project
launches into a systematic and comprehensive
tour of looking at all of life from God’s
perspective. Whether we are talking about
philosophy and ethics, anthropology,
sociology, history or science, God has given
to us a standard and a plan for seeing all of
life the way He sees it. And ultimately,
because of this, we are called to impact
culture by being deeply involved in the world.
The Truth Project was birthed to see a
radical transformation occur throughout the
Body of Christ. The vision for this study is
simple – “that we may see the Lord a little
more clearly, that we may hear His truth
claims with more clarity, and that we might
be conformed more and more to His likeness”
(2 Corinthians 3:18). This study is for
believers and will cure spiritual anemia. It
will also equip and disciple believers. Wait
for more information about the formation of
these classes to start in the near future. Also
there will be a promo shown before worship
in the coming weeks. If you have any
questions, please contact Pastor Susan at 354-
8306. Start praying about your involvement
and the transformation of the Body of Christ
at NHUMC.
This year’s classes will start on Thursday,
January 13, from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at
the parsonage.
– Pastor Susan
Server Schedules for This Month
Nursery Jan. 2 Jane Keene & Neika Boisrond
Jan. 9 Larry & Pat Knepper & Ben Wagner
Jan. 16 Barb Mask & Nick Boisrond &
Arentz Menard
Jan. 23 Donna Sandoe & Elizabeth Wagner
Jan. 30 Toby Wagner & Beatrice Gauthier
Greeters Jan. 30 Gordon and Betty Heal
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THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
-- NOW ITEMS –
This is the last article I will be writing
as co-chairperson of the NOW
Committee. It has been a great run, and
Norece and I want to thank everyone on
the committee and beyond who have
helped to make the past two and ½ years a
wonderful success. We have continued
with some tried and true activities and
also instituted some new ones. We are
both looking forward to some new
challenges in our work with the church.
We want to take this opportunity to
wish Vicki Gannon, as new chairperson of
the NOW committee, the best of luck and
pledge our support. – Betty Hostetter
Thanks to many:
We want to thank Cathy Williams for
chairing the food bank collections. She
has done a fantastic job. To that same
end, we wish to thank the volunteers who
have worked tirelessly at the food bank
over the years – Peg Cessna, Bob
McLean, Harry and Charlotte Maclay.
Also, many thanks go to Yvonne
Stoltzfoos for chairing the annual back-
pack project with St. Stephens. Also
thanks to Jane Webster and her husband,
Graham, who have put together a very
successful book sale in the spring.
Thanks to everyone who helped make
the Christmas on Main/Christmas Tea
event a huge success. Once again we had
standing room only in the sanctuary for
the Marini Harps. Tea, punch, coffee and
cookies and other Christmas goodies were
served in Fellowship Hall following the
concert. Everyone appreciated the
decorations put together once again by our
own decorator extraordinaire, Norece
Richwine. The kids’ activities were well
attended. Pat Williams and her crew put
together a lot of projects for the kids, and
they were enjoyed by all.
We would be remiss if we did not
mention our other co-chairperson, Cindy
White. She helped with some projects,
but because of health issues could not
attend meetings or participate in some of
our other projects. Thanks Cindy.
If we have missed anybody, please
accept our apology.
Best wishes to you all!
-- Betty Hostetter & Norece Richwine Blankets and Tools:
Once again this year, our Mothers Day
and Fathers Day projects, purchasing
blankets and tools in honor of and in
memory of our Mothers and Fathers, was
a wonderful success. We have again
received a patch from Church World
Services to add to our banner which is
displayed at the rear of the sanctuary near
the double doors. The patch is to
recognize our contributions of $1,000 for
the BLANKETS+ program.
Contributions to this program help
Church World Services be there for
families recovering from a disaster by
providing blankets, tools, and other
necessities. Thank you for supporting this
worthwhile project and at the same time
honoring your loved ones.
Bazaar Item:
To date we have a profit of $3,171.34
from our annual Bazaar:
Lunch $413.30
Baked Goods $483.00
Books $110.50
Attic $206.37
Silent Auction $623.00
Crafts $1,331.17
Thanks to all who helped make this
Bazaar a wonderful success, especially
our special co-chairs – Jane Frybarger and
Judy Trost (crafts), Karen Miller
(baskets), Selma Wells and Ginny Meck
(books), Jane Keene and Dottie Baer
(Attic Treasures and Christmas Room),
Norece Richwine (baked goods), Fred
Naval (luncheon). Once again proving it
takes all of us to make an event
successful. Thanks!
Loretta Zimmerman & Betty Hostetter,
Bazaar 2010 co-chairs
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Good News! John and Barbara Mask’s
granddaughter, Heather Parmer, recently
graduated with honors from Berk Tech
Institute in Reading. She is now working as a
medical assistant at Welsh Mountain Medical
and Dental Center.
New Address: Cameron Corrie’s address at
college is as follows:
York College of Pennsylvania
Penn Hall Box 37
York, PA 17403-3651
Attention former and current Boy Scouts:
If you have any Boy Scout memorabilia (hats,
badges, photos, pine wood derby cars, etc)
that you would be willing to have on display
on Boy Scout Sunday, please see or call
Norece Richwine (656-2509).
Knitting-Crocheting Group will not meet
again until January 8, 2011, according to the
leader, Jane Frybarger.
Attic Treasure Sales
At UMC Church in Lancaster
The Otterbein United Methodist Church at
North Queen and Clay Streets in Lancaster
are scheduling Attic Treasure Sales every
second Saturday of the month, from 8:00 a.m.
to noon. Visit the Attic Treasure Sale to get
lower than garage sale prices.
Future dates are January 8, February 12,
March 12, and April 9 (all the second
Saturday). -- Office
‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘
PRAYER AND PRAISE Ken Beears family on the death of
grandson, Dupree Beears, 17, in
motorcycle accident
Kathleen, granddaughter of Gordon and
Betty Heal, in hospital with kidney
infection
Nora Johnson, health concerns
Ashley Holloway, friend of Cindi White,
cancer
John Rinier, brother of Dolly Blessing,
complications of lung cancer
Sarah Martin, friend of Shirley Givler,
brain tumor, stage 2 cancer, radiation
treatments
Ron Hammons, Karen Miller’s step dad,
health concerns
Servicemen and women who are on duty
far from families.
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Free Community Meals
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
the third Thursday of every month
Ranck’s United Methodist Church
at the New Holland
United Methodist Church
Dinner is served with all ages welcome.
-- Dee Kopicz, Outreach Chair at Ranck’s
United Methodist Church (610-223-8207)
Cheers to Larry Knepper, Ray Neyman
and Hank Wells for helping to put up
the Christmas decorations in the
sanctuary. – Fred Naval
I would like to thank everyone for their
cards, calls, and prayers during my
recent surgery. Everything went well
and I am back to normal. – John Mask
Thank you to all who contributed food
to the New Holland Food Bank during
the months of November and
December. Our 30-some bags of items
helped to stock the shelves and assure
enough food for the first part of the
winter. The Food Bank volunteers also
send their thanks. – Cathy Williams
Thank you for the visits, cards, prayers,
and phone calls during my surgery,
hospitalization, and stay at skilled
nursing at Garden Spot Village.
– Pat Knepper
Cheers to Patty Good, Bill Middleton,
Mark Lennon, and Ray Neyman for
helping to move furniture in the
sanctuary and Fellowship Hall for the
Christmas Tea event.
– Fred Naval
Thanks to all who ordered Harting’s
Bakery pies. I hope everyone enjoyed
their Thanksgiving desserts whether at
home or if you took your pie as a
special surprise to your Thanksgiving
host or hostess. I am sure it was
appreciated. Because you were so
gracious in ordering (and enjoying!)
pies, I am happy to announce that the
proceeds of $162 have been deposited
in the general fund. Many pie thank
you’s! -- Norece Richwine,
Pie Sale Chair
Thank you for the plethora of mittens,
gloves, hats and scarves you so
willingly contributed to our “mitten
tree.” In January the items will be
given to the Welsh Mountain Medical
and Dental Center for distribution to
their young patients.
– Cathy Williams
Thanks to all who serve our church in
so many ways. Your faithfulness is
appreciated. -- Pastor Susan
Birthdays:
January 1 Roy Schroll
January 2 Patti Good
January 4 Cameron Corrie
January 4 Yvonne Stoltzfoos
January 6 Patrick Corrie
January 8 Sharon Heisley
January 14 James Trostle
January 17 Harry Maclay
January 18 Dana Neyman
January 24 Elliott Thomas
January 30 John Baxter
January 31 Fran Baxter
Anniversaries: January 8 Joe and Julie Mitton
January 9 Jim and Regina Boose
Please forgive us if your birthday or anniversary was
not listed. We want to have it recorded, so please call
the church office (354-0226) so we can update our
records.
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Contributed by Shawna Lewis-Beauchamp
Pizza Dip
½ cup finely chopped onion
¼ cup finely chopped green pepper
1 tablespoon of butter
2 ½ cups pizza sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup finely chopped pepperoni
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
Bread sticks ... or something to dip in.
In sauce pan sauté onion and green pepper in
butter until tender. Stir in pizza sauce,
mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, parmesan
cheese and Italian seasoning. Cook and stir
over medium heat until dip is heated through
and cheese is melted. Pour into bowl or crock
pot. Serve with breadsticks.