August 15, 2019
Church-Wide Events
This Sunday - Pastor Brian Flewelling will be kicking off a new teaching series, “When Pigs Fly.” Faith in a God of miracles often contends with the skepticism of our world. This series will explore four areas where God is bigger than the walls that close in on us. He is the God of miracles; restored relationships; deliverance; and provision. 

BELONG: The Journey - The topic this Sunday is "Serve." Discover who God created you to be and the gifts and passions that make you unique. Join us at 11:30 a.m. in the Oasis.

Songs - Open The Gates, Who You Say I Am, How Great Is Your Love, Great I Am, Awesome God, When You Walk Into the Room
Candidate, Senior Pastor - If you wish to share your affirmation or concern about Student Ministries Pastor Brian Coles as the candidate for the Senior Pastor position upon Pastor Lester's transition, please contact Pastor Lester or Pastor Ken TODAY. Pastor Lester will be sharing the results of the discernment process on August 25.

Eastgate House of Prayer - Join us this Tuesday at 7 p.m. as Crystal Martin, Jordan Zook, and their team lead us in a time of Devotional Worship. These worship times create an atmosphere that is perfect for individual Bible study, meditating on the Lord, and personal prayer. For the entire month of August we are focusing on the truths found in Revelation 4 and 5. Childcare is provided through age 7. All are welcome!

The Resource Hub at Petra is now open! It’s at the west end of the Atrium around the corner from the West Hub. This is our new location for registration and resources – including the sale of books, music, and the latest message recordings. Check it out!
Listing of Petra Events - See what's happening over the next few weeks at Petra.
Group Leader Launch
Sunday, September 8, 1 - 3:30 p.m.., Office 228
 
This training is designed for leaders launching a group or for any developing leaders looking to understand why we do small groups and how we structure them at Petra. Please RSVP here .
 
Petra Groups

This fall, beginning the week of September 15, we will be offering a variety of Petra Groups to anyone who wants to join. You can sign up at the Resource Center beginning Sunday, September 1. Watch for info!

Online registration is now open for these groups: Amplified Fitness for Men, Conquer Series (Men), Wild at Heart Basic (Men), Attributes for Men, Women's Study Group - Monday, and Women's Study Group - Thursday.
Lifespring
Petra Lifespring is creating a new support group for teens called The New Normal: An Adjustment Group for Teens with Divorced Parents. This six-week group is for both guys and girls ages 13-17. It’s designed to bring biblical insight, hope, and healing to teens who would like to process the impact of their parents’ divorce in a compassionate, friendly, and confidential environment. Co-leaders are Petra Counseling Intern Candace Gudgeon and Counselor Jean Snyder. The group will begin Wednesday, September 25, at 5:30 p.m. at Petra. Light refreshments will be available at 5. The cost of $20 includes an intake session with Candace or Jean prior to joining. For information and an application, contact Candace at 732-570-3325 or candaceg@petra.church . Applications are due by Wednesday, September 4.
Regional Events
Everyone in Region I (Goodville/Narvon) is invited to a Chicken Barbecue Picnic this Saturday at 5 p.m. It will again be held at the home of Lee and Darlene Stoltzfus, 285 Horseshoe Lane, Narvon. Chicken barbecue and hot dogs will be provided. Please bring a hot or cold dish to share. For questions, please call or text Betty Esh at 610-286-5780.

Regions A & C (New Holland East & West) Picnic in the Park - Join us for an evening of food and fellowship on Sunday, August 25, at the east-most pavilion in the New Holland Park. Feel free to arrive as early as 4 p.m. The meal will be served at 5. The main dish, beverages, ice cream, and paper products will be provided. Please bring a side to share. Feel free to bring board and yard games as well. For more info and to RSVP, contact Laurie Eadline at laurie.eadline@frontier.com or 717-354-7514.
Petra Men
Guys' Night Out - Come on out next Friday, August 23, for lots of fun and food, including hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, and ice cream! It's for all guys ages 12 and up. The times are 6 to 10 p.m. Active events will include volleyball, archery tag, Ultimate Frisbee, and a showing of the movie "Risen." No registration is required; just come, and bring a friend! Donations will be accepted at the event.
Petra Men's Breakfast is taking a break over the summer. We will be returning on September 21, when Jerry Smucker will be sharing his story.
Petra Young Adults
THE WAKE
Join us next Thursday , August 22, for our one-year anniversary celebration as well as the kick-off to our new year! It’s for all young adults ages 18-28. Don't miss our annual wing night with worship, teaching, community, and fun!
Student Ministries
Student Ministries is celebrating summertime with special events at Petra on Sunday, August 25, from 12:30 to 3 p.m.! Everyone in EDGE 56 and EDGE 78 is invited to Sunday Funday , which offers a pizza lunch, Italian ice, games, water activities, and cool prizes.
Everyone in High School is invited to a Sunday Hangout with pizza and wings, Italian ice, volleyball, and lawn games. Parents are encouraged to join us for a half-hour meeting at 12:30 for important info and a bird’s-eye view of the coming year.
The 2019 High School Fall Retreat is set for September 6-8 at Refreshing Mountain! Students will spend the weekend connecting with friends and leaders, worshiping, learning through dynamic teaching times, and lots of fun activities, such as ziplining, swimming, and more. The theme for this year is Acts 9:15: “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name . . ." Register online by September 5.
Kingdom Kids
2019-20 Classes - We can hardly believe our year is coming to an end on August 25! We’ve had a great time learning to be disciples of Jesus. For the elementary kids, we will continue our discipleship teachings through September. Then, in October, we will see the start of our new lesson set, “Epic Teachings of the Bible.” We are going to dig into the Fruit of the Spirit, The Lord’s Prayer, The 10 Commandments, and more!

Fourth Grade Graduation will take place on Sunday, August 25, as the children transition from Kingdom Kids to EDGE 56. Parents of fourth graders are welcome to join their child upstairs after check-in for approximately 40 minutes. The fourth graders will then head to the fifth grade room to meet their EDGE 56 leaders.

Step-Up Day, when all Early Childhood and Elementary children move up their new classes, will take place on Sunday, September 1.

Would you consider joining our team this year? We currently need around 30 (25 Elementary and 6 Early Childhood) awesome people to join our team and pour into the lives of Petra’s children. It’s 13 Sundays spread out over the course of the year, September to August. Please contact Andrea Kauffman at andreak@pertra.church to start the process!
Local Outreach
Petra Homestead Project - This Saturday and next Saturday, August 24, we will continue to work on installing vinyl plank flooring at the Petra farmhouse, along with installing baseboard and quarter-round trim. Our goal is to have the house substantially completed by mid- to late September. Your help would be greatly appreciated to enable us to meet that goal. If you can serve in this way, contact Rich Esh at richesh125@gmail.com or call or text him at 610-401-6554. Let him know if you able to help on one or both of those Saturdays or if you would prefer to work during the week.
English as a Second Language  - This fall again Petra will be offering free ESL classes as an outreach to the community. Classes start on Wednesday, September 4, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. If you are aware of a person or family who could benefit from these classes, please extend an invitation to them. For more information, contact Kevin Boll at ESL@petra.church .
Global Missions
Mission Prayer Focus - Andrea Beiler serves as a Petra missionary on staff at the YWAM Redding base in California. Pray for God’s anointing of wisdom as she helps to disciple and equip students for ministry outreaches to various countries around the world, and as she helps to lead teams on outreach.

Ham Loaf Fundraiser Meal - Enjoy a delicious meal of ham loaf, green beans, gourmet potatoes, and cookies this Sunday at 12:30 p.m. This is a fundraiser for Nicole Hurst, who is serving with YWAM in Hawaii. Take-outs will be available at 10:30 a.m.
2019 Wales Vision Banquet - Be inspired by Alan and Carol Wert and family as they share stories from Cardiff, Wales, at their banquet this Tuesday at the Inn at Leola. Among other things, they will describe ways to reach out to and build connection with those who have no, or very few, religious beliefs. Come at 6 p.m. for a Meet & Greet; dinner starts at 6:30. There is no cost for the banquet, but an offering will be received. Register here TODAY. If you would like to bid on a beautiful, original watercolor painting of Holy Cross Church in Wales, with the proceeds going to the Werts, click here .
Petra Family News

Baby
Blessings to Grant and Kristel Hepler upon the birth of their son, Anderson Grant, on August 7.

Wedding
Congratulations to Dustin Zimmerman and Hannah Zimmerman, who will be joined in marriage this Saturday.
Last Week Update
August 11, 2019

Attendance
1,276
General Fund
Weekly Budget:
$57,692
Last Week's Giving:
$59,495
Building Fund
$684