September 2019 | Volume 9 | Issue 8
Our Mission
Gathered by Christ. Growing in Faith.
Sent to Serve. Empowered to Witness.

Resurrection welcomes all individuals regardless of race, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, economic status, age, disability, or family make-up. Child of God, you are welcome here!
 
We are pleased to present the September edition of our monthly e-newsletter.
We hope this publication is an informative supplement to the information found on our website. Submissions can be sent to office@lcr-yardley.org .

This issue is dedicated in loving memory of Marge Green - may she rest in peace.

Pastor's Note

Dear Teens (and other interested people),

So now you’ve been back at school for a few weeks. I’ve been thinking about you as you've begun a new school year, keeping you in prayer. I am hoping that this year will be a good one for you.
As I pray for you, I remember how much I loved the learning part of school and how much difficulty I had with the social part of school! At my junior high and high schools, there was a pecking order. It was so important to sit with the “right” kids during break. It meant so much to me to be invited to a party or just to have someone save me a seat at lunch.

There were clear social groups from band, sports teams, techies, whatever… There were seats of honor and, well, uncool seats, on the bus. Even today in our schools not much has changed. There is still a status system where everything counts and everything is counted.

I really hate to share this but I don’t think it ends at school. It happens in the work place and at book clubs, its present in the volunteering we do and even occurs at church. It happens just about everywhere; it’s just a little more obvious at school.

So, I want to remind you that God has given us all good things with no strings attached and invites us to do the same for others.  So, what would that look like at school? Here are some questions to think about as you head back to school:

What would it be like to:
Invite one of the “unpopular” kids to sit with your group?
Reach out to someone who is very different from you?
Stop someone from bullying someone else?
Post something kind on Instagram about someone who rarely gets noticed?
Tweet a quotation -- maybe even Luke 14:13  -- about looking out for others?

And what would it be like, if someone asks you why you’re doing this, to say it’s because it’s what you think God wants?

In Luke 14( see below), Jesus invites not just his first-century hearers but also his twenty-first century followers to live differently, to break the rules of “what have you done for me lately?”, and to value others not because of what they can do for you but because they are -- we each are! -- children of God.

Luke 14:1, 7-14   “One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8  “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9  If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10  But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11  For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”  12  Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13  But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14  and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Let me know what you think!

Pastor Kristina
WORSHIP SCHEDULE

LCR's new Sunday Worship Schedule began on September 15th. The schedule is as follows:

8:00 AM - Traditional Worship with Service of Holy Communion
9:00 AM - Contemporary Worship with Praise Band and Communion
10:00 AM - Faith Alive! (see article below)
11:00 AM - "Classic Grace" Traditional Worship wit Service of Holy Communion and special music by the Adult Choir twice a month

Come worship the Savior!

Please CLICK HERE  to view LCR's September Events Calendar.
FAITH ALIVE! FOR ALL AGES   

Faith Alive! aka Sunday School, aka Christian Education has a new look. There will be something for all interests and all ages on Sunday mornings at 10:00am. Our traditional children's class continues with Bible stories, crafts and joy. The adults will now have a variety of offerings to inspire and educate (with joy too, probably no crafts):  

  • On Sundays in October - November, post-confirmation teens and adults will discuss the ELCA's decision to become a Sanctuary Church. What does this mean? How will this impact our congregation? Led by Pastor Kristina and Deacon Clyde. To be held in the back of the Sanctuary.
  • Also in the fall, there will be a discussion on Parenting led by Jane Belak and team. stay tuned for details. To be held in the Youth Room.
  • Adult Faith Alive will take a break during December and January. If you are curious about Inter-faith relationships, please read one (or all) of the following for discussion during Lent (March 1st - March 31st):  Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others by Barbara Brown Taylor, God: A Human History by Reza Aslan and the ELCA's Declaration of Inter Religious Commitment. We encourage you to join us and bring a friend. 
NEED PRAYERS?
If you wish to add a loved one, friend or neighbor to LCR's prayer list. please email Alan Chinnici at achinnici@erols.com . He would be happy to add them to our list.
COLLEGE CARE PACKAGES
Thank you to all who assisted with the college back to school care packages. Seven packages were sent to our students, reminding them that though they are away from home, their church family is thinking of, and praying for, them. 
TUESDAY NIGHT BIBLE FELLOWSHIP
Tuesday Night Bible Fellowship, led by Mike Reynolds, is held at 7:00pm. We have an interactive study style where all participate and learn about the work of The Holy Spirit as we witness our faith the world. Please join us.
CARE CARDS
Please remember to take a few moments to sign the care cards that are located in the narthex. You can also add the names of those who could use extra thoughts, prayers or praise to the sign up sheet.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY
Please join us Wednesday mornings for Adult Bible Study at 9:00am. The leader is Barb Merritt.  The study is held in Fellowship Hall. We look at the upcoming Sunday scriptures. The class is invigorating and inviting and we look forward to seeing you there!
CHILDREN'S CHOIR SCHEDULE

All children are welcome to participate in LCR's Children's Choir. Our Sunday rehearsal schedule is as follows:

9:45am - 10:00am: Children's Choir
(1st - 6th grade readers)

10:00am - 10:10am: Cherub Choir
(non readers) 
DWSN September News

Special thanks to Mike Casey for helping us to create our very own masterpieces at the DWSN August event. Our September event will be taking place this Friday, September 20th when we travel to Mt. Fuji Japanese Food & Steakhouse in Southampton where we will enjoy an evening of fellowship along with a fantastic hibachi dinner! For those who have already RSVP'd, the cost will be $26 per person (to be paid that night). Dinner will include soup, salad, two appetizer shrimp, your choice of two of the following meats for dinner: chicken, shrimp, steak, salmon or red snapper, plus rice or noodles, vegetables, soda or tea plus tip. If y ou have any questions, please mail please email lcrdwsn@verizon.net or call (215) 493-2018.

Reformation/Confirmation Sunday

Mark your calendar and plan to join us for Reformation Sunday on October 27th. All worshipers are invited to wear red on this day. At the 11:00am traditional worship, we will be celebrating the affirmation of faith (Confirmation) of the following young adults: Julia Capaldi, Kenzi Hamer, Chase Lorantas, Aidan Moxham, Daniel Paton, Marlena Ries, Hannah Rosmus, and Lindsey Shennard. Come and congratulate our newest adult members!

Shared Meal Update - New Time!

Thank you to everyone who helped make the August and September Shared Meals a success! The delicious meals and hospitality were very much appreciated by our guests. At our September meal, o ne of our guests remarked that LCR consistently has the best meals!

Beginning in October, we are changing the time of our meal. Set up will begin at 1:00pm, with the meal to be served at 2:30pm. The meals take place on the third Sunday of each month, so be sure to mark October 20th on your calendar. Please consider joining us and/or providing a dish. The October menu will include beef pot roast (chuck roast in a crock pot is delicious), hot vegetables, mashed potatoes, rolls and dessert. A sign up sheet can be found on the bulletin board. Thank you for your caring hearts.   If you have any questions, please contact Diane Casey at  dcasey16@comcast.net .
September Fun and Fellowship Event

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection’s Fun and Fellowship Group will be bike riding this Saturday, September 21st at 1:00 pm at Washington Crossing Park. Bring your bike or borrow one. We will meet in the parking lot on 532 PA side of the park next to the canal. Please email Ruth DiDonato at concordacres@hotmail.com to reserve your spot for this fun-filled adventure and be sure to invite your friends to come along!

Service Opportunities at LCR Worship Services

We are always happy to welcome new people to participate in the leadership of our Sunday morning worship services as Assisting Ministers, Communion Assistants, Lectors and Ushers. If you feel called to serve in one (or more) of these capacities, please complete the form that is in your mail slot and return it to Betty Berner’s mail slot. Training will be provided. Worship is central to our lives together here at LCR and we encourage you to prayerfully consider this opportunity to join our worship teams. If you have any questions, please contact Betty at (215) 750-3955 or via email at bettyberner@comcast.net.
The Welcome Church

The Welcome Church is an ELCA Congregation; a church without walls serving those experiencing homelessness in the City of Philadelphia. We will be worshipping with them on Sunday, Oct. 6th at 3:00pm and hosting the time of hospitality following the service. Please join us at LCR at 1:15pm to carpool. Whether or not you are able to attend, you can participate by helping to provide individually wrapped baked goods, granola bars, oranges or apples. A sign-up sheet can be found on the bulletin board.

IFA September Donations

For the month of September, t he Interfaith Food Alliance (IFA) is collecting donations of toothpaste as their highlighted item. Looking ahead to October, granola bars will be the next highlighted item. Donations can be dropped off in the gray tubs in front of the church office. In addition to food, there are many important and necessary items which the families the IFA serves are in need, if you would like to make a monetary donation, please CLICK HERE. F or more information on how you can help fight food insecurity, please email ifabuckspa@gmail.com or call (215) 595-5623.
School Supply Distribution at the IFA Pantry

Many thanks to those who donated school supplies for the children of the Morrisville School District, served by the Interfaith Food Alliance center. The children were so happy and excited to have the opportunity to choose their supplies from the bounty which we shared.  Several were literally hugging their backpacks as they left the center. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
Adult Choir Seeks Members

Do you enjoy singing? If so, we invite you to consider singing with our Adult Choir under the leadership of our Music Director, Geoffrey Shoffstall. We are always happy to welcome new people! Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm to 8:00pm (never later!) and the choir sings twice a month at the 11:00am Sunday services. Our rehearsals are lighthearted and fun, but at the same time strengthen us both musically and spiritually. Please give us a try! If you have any questions, please see Geoffrey or Betty Berner.  

Missions Update

LCR's Missions Team has selected Lutheran Mideast Development to be the recipient of September’s Fifth Sunday Appeal. Lutheran Mideast Development was formed over 100 years ago and empowers "women and girls in the Middle East to create a peaceful and prosperous future for their families.” Be on the look-out today for a packet with more information about this organization and what it is doing to help families in the Middle East. Please peruse the material so that you can make an informed donation to the Lutheran Mideast Development, this month’s Fifth Sunday Appeal recipient.

LCR Book Group
 
LCR's Book Group typically meets the last Sunday of each month (excluding holidays) at the Commonplace Reader, located at 49 S. Main Street in Yardley. Upcoming dates and books are as follows:
September 29th: The Weight of Ink by by Rachel Kadish
October 27th: The Only Woman in the Room by by Heather Terrell
November 24th: My Dear Hamilton by Stephany Dray and Laura Kamole
December 22nd: The Chef’s Secret by Crystal King

Please follow our blog page, LCR Book Group, on Facebook for updates. We're always looking for new additions to our group, so start your reading and plan to join u s!

A Mother’s Mutterings… By Christie Paton

Summer’s Over.  Uh-oh…
 
School started last week… Just two days for my kids.  
 
The summer was winding down. We had taken our – albeit short – vacation.  The kids had held various jobs throughout the summer from the arcade and book store (Daniel) to babysitting and dog-sitting (Megan).  Soccer and art camps were done.  The ice cream man had driven down our street several times.  We had spent many a pleasant post-dinner, late evening moments at the pool… as a family!  It was a pleasure to have also had many visits to the shore to my in-law’s beach house, for either a day or several at a time.  We were crazy, running all over the place, trying to coordinate work schedules, who was to work from home and who would go to the office each day – either Jim or me.
 
Thank goodness school was starting, and we’d get back to a bit of a schedule.
 
However… what I forgot was that… with school came OTHER stuff.  Daniel has a really tough academic schedule this fall.  Plus, he has soccer every day after school, either a practice or game, which means he doesn’t get to start his homework until at least 5:00pm.  After only 2 days of school, he had lots of homework to address over Labor Day weekend while we were, once again, at the shore.  With school comes the beginning of the tournament softball season for Megan, and practices at least twice a week, not to mention attending pitching lessons as the catcher… and a couple weekend tournaments during the fall.  Then there will soon be field hockey tryouts at school.  
 
Ahhhhhh!  We might have more of a schedule now that school’s started, but it’s no less hectic than the summer was!  I had completely missed this newsletter’s deadline and had to be reminded to turn in my article.  (Oops, sorry Jenni!)
 
But, do you know what? I wouldn’t miss it for the world, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
 
Young Adult Selected For Global Assignment

Cassandra Singh-Heuter, of Advent Lutheran in Harleysville, is one of 69 ELCA young adults selected for this year's Young Adults in Global Mission program. Cassandra will be serving alongside Lutheran companions in Argentina and Uruguay.

The YAGM volunteers will be sent to serve in 11 countries alongside our companions in Argentina/Uruguay, Australia, Central Europe (Hungary and Serbia), Jerusalem/West Bank, Madagascar, Mexico, Rwanda, Senegal and the United Kingdom. Young adults serve in a variety of areas, including congregational ministry, human rights work, development projects, health care, education and youth work. A year of service through the YAGM program helps young adults think more critically about their identity, God’s work in the world and their place within it all. Congratulations, Cassandra!

Tai Chi Offered at LCR

Tai Chi is offered on Mondays at 11:00am in the LCR fellowship hall. If you have never practiced Tai Chi before but are curious about it, come join us. New members are always welcome and it is a series of slow movements that helps improve balance, coordination and range of motion. Wear comfortable clothing and flat shoes, we do not get down on the floor, so no mat is required. The instructor is not the traditional style, so no one is yelled at or beaten with a stick for mistakes. All are welcome. 
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION