THE ST. LUKE PARISH PEN May 2015

“So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to

anyone, for they were afraid,” (Mark 16:8—Sunday, April 5).

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails, and my hand in his

side, I will not believe,” (John 20:25b—Sunday, April 12).

“They were startled and terrified, and thought they were seeing a ghost…In their joy they were disbelieving and

still wondering,” (Luke 24:37 and 41—Sunday, April 19).

As the preceding quotations indicate, one of the themes that joined the first, three Sundays of Easter together

was the incomprehensibility of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Easter, the evangelists seem to say, is the

most difficult subject we will ever be asked to tackle and it’s not just St. Mark, St. John, and St. Luke who make

this claim. In his own gospel, St. Matthew also joins the party. Describing an appearance of the resurrected

Jesus, St. Matthew reports, “When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted,” (Matthew 28:17).

The gospels consistent emphasis upon the density and difficulty of Easter suggests that the resurrection is

stubbornly mysterious. Is it any wonder that St. Paul was once led to remark, “Now we see in a mirror dimly;

now I know only in part,” (1st Corinthians 13:12). Easter just can’t be wrestled to the ground. It’s the most

challenging subject we’ll encounter along life’s way. Try as we might, we can’t learn resurrection and then

move on to something else. If it’s to register more deeply with us, Easter is something we’re going to have to

keep after all of our lives. But even if we do, there will still be much that will have to elude us until that

promised day when we shall see God face to face.

Now the above certainly does not speak in favor of giving the Church a small and strictly limited place in our

lives. If Easter is to gain traction in our lives, the Spirit needs to be given time and space to do the Spirit’s thing.

This is why the calendar included with this newsletter provides so many opportunities for us to experience and

practice resurrection. As the entire New Testament makes abundantly clear, we need such opportunities if our

faith, hope, and love are to grow. Hopefully, the month of May will find us taking advantage of at least a couple

of the worship, fellowship, study, and service opportunities this newsletter highlights. Doing so won’t crack the

stubborn mystery called Easter once and for all. But at least it will take us a few more steps down the pathway

that carries faith forward in its lifelong search for understanding.

In the Risen One,

Pastor Scott

Pastor Scott will begin leading a new Summer Bible Study

on the "Book of Acts and Its Message for St. Luke Today"

on Sundays, from 9:15 am to 10:15 am beginning on May 24th.

Additional study dates will be June 7 & 14, July 5,12,19 & 26,

Aug. 16, 23 & 30 and Sept. 6

Looking ahead…If you have news or articles for the June issue of the Parish Pen Newsletter, please submit them to the church office on or before May 26th.

St. Luke Worship Schedule: Worship Services are held at 8:00 am and 10:30 am every Sunday morning. Special Services are held at Thanksgiving, Advent, Lent and Holy Week.

The 8:00 am service is a simple service of the Word where Holy Communion is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of each month.

The 10:30 am service is a more traditional worship service with additional liturgy and hymns. At the 10:30 am service, the adult choir blesses us with their gifts from September through June and Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday.

St. Luke has Sunday School Classes Available for all age groups at 9:15 am on Sunday Mornings. All classes begin with a combined opening in the basement Fellowship Hall. We would love to have you join us! *May 17th will be the last day of Sunday School and Confirmation classes. Classes will resume in the fall on Sunday, September 13th. Thank you to all our dedicated teachers for a wonderful year!

All are welcome to join the Sunday school students and teachers on Sunday, May 31st for a field trip to the PSU Arboretum and Creamery. We will carpool from the church lot immediately after early worship service. We plan to arrive at the Arboretum at 10:00 AM for a scheduled tour of the new children’s garden. After visiting both the arboretum and children’s garden we will walk to the Creamery to eat our lunch and enjoy ice cream for dessert. Please bring a bag lunch; drinks and ice cream will be provided. We plan on returning to St Luke at approximately 2:00 PM. If you may be interested in joining the field trip and are unsure of travel or the walking distance, please don’t hesitate to ask one of the Sunday school teachers. We anticipate there will be plenty of drivers. Come join us in celebrating God’s amazing universe and prayers for a safe, fun, and God inspired summer

vacation.

May Anniversaries & Birthday’s

Anniversaries:

May1 Corby and Nicole Shunk

Bruce and Virginia Moyer

2 Leroy and Linda Decker Reitz

6 Dwight and Eileen Barnes

James and Carol Ard

7 Van and Lisa Holsinger

Justin and Samantha O’Hara

10 Paul and Kerry Kubalak

11 Brett and Shawnee Heckman

14 Greg and Kira Reeder

15 Harry and Alice McClenahan

16 Steve and Lori Zellers

18 Brett and Rosemary Homan

19 Jan and Norma Crater

21 Jeff and Sue Ayers

22 Jeff and Sheila Lieb

23 Michael and Marjorie Groff

24 Cliff and Charolette Waltz

Ted and Stephanie Delaney

29 Eugene and Marilyn Dutrow

Birthdays: May 1 Barb Fetterolf

2 Steven Dutrow

Meagan Kocher

Judy Spotts

Taylor Wingard

Leroy Reitz

4 Bette Bender

Alice McClenahan

Eric McAllister

5 Ashley Packer

Robert Mothersbaugh

Alisha Kocher

6 Samantha Harter

Alyssa Denger

8 Jeff O'Hara

Donna Anderson

Travis Witmer

9 Morgan Holsopple

Bryce Ilgen

10 Merlee Graybill

12 Brian McAllister

15 Gerald Korman

Taylor Noll

Travis Homan

16 Kermit Long

Ethel Frazier

17 Mike Morrison

18 Corby Shunk

Derrick Parsons

20 Lori Long

Sue Bryant

22 Morgan Gibson

23 Abagael Luse

Rory Luse

Eleanor Korkus

Lance Stover

Arianne Theodorous

25 Terry McClenahan

Trevor Heckman

26 Kyleigh Brown

Kim Praskovich

27 Mary Dutrow

Melvin K. Dutrow

Amy Swartz

A. Robert Luse

28 Hope Wolfe

30 Lauren Sharer

31 Janelle Welch

Michael Carper

Bob Chambers

Congratulations to Nora Lynne Reeder and Garrett Reed Shawver on their recent baptisms. Nora was baptized on April 4th and is the daughter of Greg and Kira Reeder. Garrett was baptized on April 19th and is the son of Rusty and Loni Shawver.

Prayer Concerns Pray for the recovery and the Lord’s healing and peace on our brothers and sisters.

Chuck Derr..heart concerns Ruth Luse...health concerns Betty G….recovery from kidney procedure The Family of Charles Hosterman Lynn Miller...broken nose The Family of Jeff Stout The Family of Linda Homan Lynn Homan...recov. knee replacement surgery The Family of Brenda Lovell Karen...family issues Mick Homan...heart concerns The Family of Roseann Taylor The Family of Dale Strohecker

On-going Prayer Concerns: Robert Sauerwein…heart disability Amy Bremer…cancer Timmy Parson…cancer Larry Hedtke...recurring cancer Marvin Lehman, Jr....kidney tumors Denny McCloskey...health concerns Nancy Spangler...cancer Sharon O’Hara...cancer Rich Perlongo...cancer of mouth Tom Robinson…health concerns Josh Mack...tumor Mary Byler...cancer Matthew...hope and strength Robert McDaniel...stage 4 brain cancer Kylee McClenahan...head injury Lauren Huntsman…stage 4 cancer Vicki Garvin...kidney disease Dorothy Baer...faith Lynn Perlongo...cancer Michelle Marini...breast cancer C. Stull...cancer Chris Bellocchio...cancer Claire Milner...cancer Mardi McDonough...cancer Cathy Packer...cancer Clair (Abbie) Hollobaugh...cancer John H. Stoltzfus...bone cancer Russ Sauerwein...recurring back pain Pastor Denise Arpino...cancer Cecil Poston...failing health Tony Arpino...cancer Mike Rockey...cancer Josh Hardy...cancer Kathy Edens...bone marrow transplant Gloria Thompson...metastatic facial tumor Helen Miller..failing health Tucker Brownson...newborn with heart problems Gail Norton...cancer Jen Parsons...recovery from brain surgery Ella Myer...mission work Brandon Hollobaugh…military deployment Deb Homan...cancer Maddie Rupe...kidney cancer Tom Swank...cancer Dan Richard...cancer John Dunlap...lung cancer Bonnie Brown...recov. from foot surgery Shawn Zimmerman...throat cancer Melissa Wolfe... recovery from back surgery Janet Crater...recovery from surgery Mike McClenahan...self-care Ron Holsopple...recovery surgery Brandon Zlupko...cancer Scott Bair...cancer Ella Burns...cancer

Please pray also for the health of our Shut-ins: Larry Breon (PO Box 27, Rebersburg, PA 16872...349-8846) Beverly Brooks (105 Brooks Lane, Centre Hall, PA 16828…364-9174) Fred and Miriam Burris (186 Blackhawk Road, Centre Hall, PA 16828...364-1575) Betty Dutrow (Wynwood House, Room 3, 122 Wynwood Drive, Centre Hall, PA ...814-531-4875) Ruth Foust (A121 Valley View Terrace, Belleville, PA 17004-8690...717-935-3718) Darlene Heller (A323 Valley View Terrace, Belleville, PA 17004...717-935-3741) Fred Lohr, Jr. (244 S. Pennsylvania Ave, Centre Hall, PA 16828…364-9368) Pam McClenahan (432 S Pennsylvania Ave, Centre Hall, PA 16828…364-1576) Margaret (Peg) McClenahan (107 Manor Road, Apt 4, Centre Hall, PA 16828…364-1791) Edna Meyer (Centre Crest, 502 E. Howard Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823) Bruce and Virginia Moyer (PO Box 313, Centre Hall, PA 16828...364-1870 Alice Witmer (Centre Crest, 502 E. Howard Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823)

If you would like to add or remove someone from the prayer list: You may fill out a prayer concern request located in the Narthex and in each pew pad and place in the offering plate or you may notify the church office at 364-9154 or email the church office at StLuke364@verizon.net . Please remember that a prayer request will remain on the prayer list for three weeks unless otherwise noted as an ongoing concern. Also, please remember to notify the church office when someone is able to be removed from the prayer list. You may renew a prayer request as often as you wish. - Updated 4/28/15

WEEKLY WORSHIP VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE DATE GREETER

8:00 AM GREETER 10:30 AM

ACOLYTE 8:00 AM

ACOLYTE 10:30 AM

READER 10:30 AM

WORSHIP ASSISTANT 10:30 AM

COMMUNION ASSISISTANT

May 3 Robert Long & Eleanor Korkus

Chuck Murphy & Sue Royer

Breanna Praskovich

Maggie Delaney

Dave Ferree

Marilyn Kubalak

Sandy Ferree

May 10 Paul Mark & Dorothy Rudy

Don Brown & Gladys Sampsell

Morgan Noll Madison Bair

Joan Shawver

Pat Strouse Shawn Lehman

May 17 Barb Judy & Jim Shunk

Dorothy Chambers

Jordan Anderson

Ryan Lehman

Peg Leedy Norma Crater Derrick Parsons

May 24 Dave Bierlein & Joan Confer

Margaret Dutrow & Becky Schluter

Tori Meyer Faith Wolfe

Shawn Lehman

Walt Schluter Denny Grove (8 am) & Jean Lohr (10:30 am)

May 31 Kelly Moran & Nancy Shunk

Betty Sharer & Emma Zimmerman

Sierra Witherite

Open Barb McAllister

Evelyn Reeder

Sue Royer

June 7 Valeriek Kubalak & Kathy Mothersbaugh

Dave Ferree & Sandy Ferree

Jillian Anderson

Nick Bair Earl Leedy Tom Sharer Carol Sharpe

June 14 Kathy Long & Barbara Mark

Lois Albright & Ethel Frazier

Baylor Shunk

Linzy Fetterolf

Scott McAllister

Susan Stover Shari Welch

DATE ALTAR FLOWERS

COMMUNBREAD & WINE

ALTAR GUILD

USHERS COUNTERS

May 3 LeRoy and Linda Reitz

Sam & Martha Grove

Marjorie Korman & Judy Spotts (May)

__________ Sandy Ferree & Barb McAllister (June)

Deb Frazier (Head), Jim Shunk, Diane O’Hara, & Cindy Grove

______________ Russ Judy (Head), Sharon Hege, Shari Welch & Charolette Waltz (June)

Cindy Grove & Lois Albright

May 10 Paul & Betty Dietrich

Linda Murphy & Sabrina Wert

Barb McAllister & Jim Shunk

May 17 Open

Open Norma Crater & Sue Royer

May 24 Open

Open Carol Sharpe & Deb Frazier

May 31 Scott & Barb McAlister

Open Pat Strouse & Lois Albright

June 7 Shirley Sharer

Open Barb McAllister & Carol Sharpe

June 14 Gerry & Mary Ilgen

Open Cindy Grove & Sue Royer

A vine symbolizes Christ, the foundation of life and nourishment of all people, who, in turn,

are like branches. When separate from the vine, we branches can't survive — at least not

spiritually. "Apart from me," says Jesus, "you can do nothing" (John 15:5, NIV). But as God

the gardener tends this relationship, we branches grow stronger and more mature in Jesus

and alongside one another.

FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTION

The Centre Hall/Potter Food & Fuel Pantry will have their monthly food distribution on Tuesday, May 19th at Grace United Methodist Church, from 12:30 PM until 4:00 PM. If you are able to volunteer, arrive at 8:00 am.

Paper products (paper towels and toilet paper) as well as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap and cake mixes are always needed and cannot be purchased with State or Federal funds.

Volunteers are always needed…to pack on distribution days or to sign up to unload food when it arrives at Grace Church. If you can help unload food, you will be called the day before the truck arrives.

Please call Bonnie Brown 364-1541, Eileen Booz 364-1675 or Erskine Cash 364-9184 if you can help.

If you would like to donate items, please have the items at St. Luke Lutheran Church on or before Sunday, May 17th. There is a donation box located in the Narthex.

The Community Relations Committee would like to say thank you to all for your generous support of the Food Bank Drive. We raised a total of $971.84 to support the Centre Hall/Potter Food Pantry. Thank You!

If anyone would like to place altar flowers in the church on Sundays, there is a sign-up sheet on the Narthex bulletin board. Our church flower orders are through The Flower Basket in Bellefonte (814-355-4786). The cost for weekly altar flower arrangements will remain at $35.00/set. However, note that special orders of specific flowers or specific colors will now start at $40/set, possibly more depending on the type of flowers ordered. Payments should be placed in the offering plate on the Sunday for which you have ordered flowers. Checks should be payable to St. Luke with “flowers and the date” on the memo line. Cash payments should be placed in an envelope and marked “flowers and the date”. If you will be placing your order, please do so on the Monday prior to the Sunday you are providing flowers, so there is adequate time to order the flowers needed. Mention when you call The Flower Basket that the church should receive the bill. If you prefer Nancy to place the order, please check the appropriate box on the sign-up sheet in the Narthex, and let her know if you have any special wishes. Anyone desiring to order from another florist is welcome to do so, but would make payment directly to that business. Some members choose to provide arrangements from their own gardens and this is certainly appreciated. Also, just a reminder that you should remove the flowers following the 10:30 AM service, but please make sure to return the plastic altar vase liners to the church. The liners are provided to the church at no charge and are reused to keep costs down. Any questions or concerns can be directed to Nancy Shunk, 364-2693.

Mark the date…This year’s Community Vacation Bible School will take place Sunday, July 12th through Thursday, July 16th at Grace United Methodist Church from 6-8 pm. If anyone would like to help in the planning in any way, please contact Kim Brooks.

This summer a group of our fellow Lutherans in the Allegheny Synod will visit Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, Africa. Some parishes in rural Kenya include up to 12 congregations and the ministry teams there have found that travel by motorbike is the most efficient means of transportation. Bishop Michael Rhyne and our synod team have initiated the ‘Kenya Motorbike Challenge’ to raise funds for at least one motorbike, which costs approximately $5,000., to present to our sister parish when they visit. Working together throughout our synod, however, the hope and expectation is that we could raise enough funds for two motorbikes.

At St. Luke’s we will begin collecting funds for the ‘Motorbike Challenge’ on May 3rd and continue through the month of May. Funds raised in each congregation of the synod will be totaled at our Synod Assembly in early June where our Kenya team will be commissioned. Since the synod team will not travel until August, some fundraising may take place after Synod Assembly, but it is hoped that the majority of the funds raised can be announced at this time.

Look for a special collection container at St. Luke’s beginning on May 3rd. This is a project that all of us, young and old, can contribute to, so assemble your creative ideas within your families to raise some much needed dollars for a very worthwhile effort. We will be able to follow the progress of the ‘Motorbike Challenge’ on the Allegheny Synod website. Please keep the project, our synod, our brothers and sisters in Kenya and our Kenya Mission Team in your prayers. It is a good reminder for us that we are part of a global church, that we will spend eternity with all believers in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

ST LUKE AT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY JOINING THE BISHOP’S WEEK OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE

The Community Service Committee invites you, as members of St. Luke, to join us in a new service

opportunity. So put on your St. Luke T-shirts, roll up your sleeves, and work with us as we serve our community.

Thursday, May 14th, 8AM till 12PM, Centre Hall Library, Centre Hall Saturday, May 16th, 8AM till 11 AM, Centre Hall Library, Centre Hall

This Community Service Project involves a general house cleaning of the Library, top to bottom! There are two dates to choose so come either or both days. We will need an extension ladder and a couple of folks willing to climb and clean the loft windows. Cleaning supplies will be there for your use, but if you wish to

wear gloves, please bring those. We will be dusting shelves; cleaning bathrooms; cleaning and disinfecting the children’s area, etc. We will be DOING windows! This is a great service to our local library which is

dependent on community support of every kind. So once again put on those green St. Luke T-shirts and come prepared to work for your community!

SIGN UP SHEETS FOR THIS PROJECT ARE IN THE NARTHEX OF THE CHURCH. THANK YOU!

On Sunday, May 3rd, at 4 pm in the basement Fellowship Hall, St. Luke will hold a Mother-Daughter Baking Contest. There will be 4 categories involved in the contest: Cakes, Cookies, Pies and Miscellaneous (breads, brownies, cupcakes, fudge, etc.) Bring your finished contest entry with you and we will be having some men of the congregation judge the winners. The top 3 winning entries in each category will be auctioned off to benefit the Centre Hall Relay for Life. A light luncheon will be provided for everyone with desserts coming from our baking contest. Please invite your mothers and daughters to come and participate with you in the contest. We look forward to trying your favorite family recipes!

The Congregational Relations Committee is asking for additional volunteers to provide meals for congregation members who may be going through a difficult time following a loss or surgery or also those who may need a break while caring for a new baby or family member. If you are able to help with this endeavor, please speak with Marjorie Korman or Patty Lehman or email the church office at StLuke364@verizon.net

Thrivent Night at the Spikes Join other St. Luke members on Friday, June 19th

at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for a Spikes Baseball Game! Gates open at 6 pm

and Game Time is 7:05 pm Thrivent Members will receive a free ticket

and guest tickets are $7.00 Please watch for the sign-up sheet to be placed

in the Narthex in the next couple weeks.

On Monday, May 11th, St. Luke will hold the monthly Committee and Council Night.

St. Luke has four different committees that meet on a monthly basis. The Community

Relations Committee, Congregational Relations Committee, Spiritual Relations Committee

and Property Committee will meet at 6:45 pm in the Sanctuary for a brief discussion and

prayer with Pastor Scott and then each committee will meet individually from 7-8 pm in

the basement Fellowship Hall. Please consider becoming involved in one of St. Luke’s

Committees. Whichever committee may interest you, they would love to hear your fresh

perspective and new ideas. The St. Luke Council will meet from approx. 8-9 pm.

Sign Up Sheets are now available in the Narthex for weekly yard work volunteers to help with the lawn mowing and weeding around St. Luke from May through October.

Centre Hall Reformed and Lutheran Cemetery Association—Please speak with Joe Hammaker or Robert Long if you are interested in serving with the Cemetery Association this year. Association meetings are held only 2-3 times per year and we are in need of an additional representative from St. Luke. Please let Joe or Robert know if you are able to serve.

Dear St. Luke Church Family,

The Sharer family would like to thank you for the cards, flowers, food, prayers and monetary gifts when we lost our mother, Evelyn Sharer. Your kindness and love helped us through this sad time.

May God be with you all, Tom, Norma and Pat St. Luke Family,

Thank you for the many cards and phone calls for my birthday. They were greatly appreciated.

Joe Hammker

St. Luke Family,

We want to thank everyone who contributed to the beautiful spring cactus and book marker. And thanks to

Linda Reitz for delivering it to us.

Bruce and Virginia Moyer

~ May 2015 ~

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 Cub Scout Den Meeting 10-11 am AA Meeting 7 pm

3 *Service of the Word 8:00 am *9:15 am Sunday School & Confirmation *Traditional Worship 10:30 am with Communion *Mother-Daughter Baking Contest 4:00 pm

4

Cub Scout Den Meetings & Pack Committee Mtg 6-7 pm

5 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm

6

7 National Day of Prayer Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm Ministry Planning Meeting 6:15 pm Choir Rehearsal 7 pm

8

Cub Scout Graduation Ceremony in Sanctuary From 7-8 pm

9 AA Meeting 7 pm

10 *Service of the Word 8:00 am *9:15 am Sunday School & Confirmation

*Traditional Worship 10:30 am with Communion

11

St. Luke Committee & Council Night 6:45 pm

12 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm AA District Meeting 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

13 Prayer Group 10 am

14 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm Library Community Service Project 8am to Noon

Ascension Worship Service 7 pm

15

16 Library Community Service Project 8am to 11 am

AA Meeting 7 pm

17 *Service of the Word 8:00 am *9:15 am Last Day of Sunday School & Confirmation

*Traditional Worship 10:30 am with Communion

18

Cub Scout Den Meeting 6-7 pm

19 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm Food Bank at Grace UMC 12:30-4 pm

20 Prayer Group 10 am

Cub Scout Den Meeting 6:30-7:30 pm

21 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm Choir Rehearsal 7 pm

22

23 AA Meeting 7 pm

24 *Service of the Word 8:00 am with Communion *Bible Study 9:15 am

*Traditional Worship 10:30 am with Communion

25

26 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm *June Newsletter Deadline

27

28 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm Choir Rehearsal 7 pm

29

30 AA Meeting 7 pm

31 *Service of the Word 8:00 am *Sunday School Trip to Arboretum and Creamery

*Traditional Worship 10:30 am with Communion

Notes:

St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church 301 North Pennsylvania Ave. P. O. Box 331 Centre Hall, PA 16828 Return Service Requested

The Parish Pen

May 2015

Mission Statement: Inviting all into relationship with Christ, Church and Community

St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church Centre Hall, Pennsylvania