THIS WEEK AT FAITH

July 31, 2022

No matter who you are
or where you are on life’s journey
you are welcome here.

FAITH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

5992 Route 378

Center Valley, PA 18034

610.282.3939



Regular Office Hours:

Monday - Thursday 9 am - 4 pm

Friday - CLOSED


www.faithchurchucc.org


Facebook  Instagram  Youtube  

Join us for Worship this

Eighth Sunday After Pentecost

July 31, 2022

10:15 am


Special thanks to the Talboos for leading

us in worship

and to

Darin Jellison for sharing special music.



(Click here to print bulletin)


Volunteers:

Jerry Trexler, Head Usher

Michele Keeler, Usher

Cindy Talaber, Lay Reader

Jerry Trexler, Financial Secretary

Brett Dill & Jack Maginn, Lawn Crew

(sorry lawn crew this week is the correct week)


To view our live streamed services  at home go to YouTube


COVID UPDATE -

The CDC states that the COVID transmission rate is Medium at this time in the Lehigh Valley and as such masks are advised but not mandatory for in person worship. However, please be mindful of not only your own risks but the risks of those sitting in the pew next to you who may be immune compromised. I am immune compromised so I will continue to wear a mask when singing and greeting you at the door with an “elbow punch.” Thanks for your understanding and let’s be sure to take care of each other!


Pastor Bruce


https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html

Pastor Bruce is on vacation through Sunday, August 14th. Should you find yourself in need of pastoral care during this time please contact Rev. Teresa Martin at 717-654-4044.


Sandy's Upcoming Office Hours:


TODAY -Wednesday (27)

9-12 in office; 12-4 from home

Thursday (28)

9 - 1 in office; 1- 4 from home

 

Week of August 1st

Monday (1)

9 – 4 from home

Tuesday (2), Wednesday (3), Thursday (4)

9 – 1 in office/1 – 4 from home

 

I will be checking the church phone (610-282-3939) for messages during the times I work from home so please be sure to leave a message. If you are in immediate need of something

you can reach me at 610-967-6232.

 

The Church Office is CLOSED on Fridays.


WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL


Let’s Start at the Beginning

by Kenneth L. Samuel 


The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. – Proverbs 1:7 (ISV)


How many times in the past year have we not acted and then regretted it? How many times have we made decisions without praying, and then prayed to mitigate the damage caused by our bad decisions? How often do our plans and agendas relegate God to an after-thought?


Each new day gives us an opportunity to do some things differently. The wise writer of Proverbs begins with one simple but often neglected insight: The fear or the reverence of God is the beginning of knowledge. The wisdom here has to do with how we begin. We are encouraged to begin every day and every decision with the acknowledgement that God is with us, God is working in us, and God is watching over us. We are encouraged to begin every endeavor with the acknowledgement of God’s presence, God’s promise and God’s power.


In a game I played as a child, a group of us would stand behind a line while a leader standing yards in front of us would give us instructions on how many giant or baby steps we could take forward. Sometimes the leader would say, “Kenny Lee, you may take five giant steps forward.” I would eagerly take my steps, making them as long as my legs would allow. Then I would hear the leader say, “Kenny Lee, go back to the starting line!” “Why?” I demanded. “Because you didn’t say, ‘May I?’”


In that childhood game I learned that there could be no advancement without the acknowledgement of the leader. Oh, but how often have I forgotten to acknowledge God—the real leader of my life—and how often have I had to pay the price for my neglect!


God is not just our Omega, God is also our Alpha. If God is worthy of blessing our endings, surely God is worthy to direct our beginnings.


Prayer

Dear Lord, we are indeed grateful for new beginnings. Give us the wisdom to start with your direction so that we may be sustained and completed in your will. At the outset, we trust that you know what’s best for us. Amen.


About the Author


Kenneth L. Samuel is Pastor of Victory for the World Church, Stone Mountain, Georgia.

You’re warmly invited to offer a special, favorite instrumental or vocal piece for summer worship. Send a note or stop by the organ console and speak with Dennis Duda on Sunday.

Here's hoping you're all enjoying your Summer!!!


Have you been on vacation yet or done some fun day trips with the family? Maybe you had an extra special summer day just hanging around the house that made you smile! We'd love to hear about them!


If you are willing to share a brief description and a picture or two of your favorite Summer moments we'd love to include a few each week right here in

This Week at Faith.


Can't wait to see some Summer Fun!



Send pictures (jpeg files) and brief description to faithchurchcv@gmail.com  or drop off at the church office by Wednesday of each week.


The Caring Place


Let's not forget our friends at The Caring Place in Allentown. This is the organization that holds an afternoon program for school children of all ages. 


They need all types of school supplies such as: 

 

Poster Board

Markers

Pens & Pencils

Lined Paper

Crayons

Folders

Notebooks

 

Any and all school supplies are needed and appreciated. A collection bin will be available in the Narthex beginning July 31st. Thanks in advance for your support! 

One of our 5 UCC Special Offerings is the Strengthen the Church (STC) Offering which is usually collected around Pentecost. This offering seems to get lost in the shuffle each year and we never seem to reach Mission's commitment goal of $200. As of now we have received $60 for Strengthen the Church and hope to reach our goal by the end of August. Please consider how you might help. (You can designate your donation on Tithe.ly - our online giving program.)


The Strengthen the Church (STC) Offering reflects the shared commitment of people across the United Church of Christ to cooperatively build up the UCC. Conferences and the national setting equally share the gifts given by members and friends through their local congregations. The funds raised support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation in existing congregations.  By your generosity to this offering, you build up the Body of Christ.


As God calls our congregations to be the church in new ways, your generosity will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches and develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults. 


WATCH THIS VIDEO TO LEARN MORE

Is there someone in your life in need of prayer? Click here to fill out a prayer request form and Pastor Bruce will mention that person’s first name during worship. Please be sensitive to privacy. Permission to share from those involved must be granted before making a request.

LAWN CREW VOLUNTEERS


Thanks so much to our Lawn Crew members who have helped in the past and to those who are still able to keep our property looking great!



Please take a look at the schedule below and see where you may be able to help.


2022 Lawn Crew Schedule

PLEASE NOTE:

**We do not need any cereal

or soup at this time**


ITEMS CURRENTLY NEEDED: 


  BOXED POTATOES 

MEAL HELPERS (GROUND BEEF, CHICKEN, TUNA)

If you would like to take part in the service as usher or lay reader, please email Joan Hassler .

Long time Faith member Frank Styer is turning 100! 

His family invites everyone to join the celebration on August 28th anytime from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM at the Upper Saucon Park.

Mark your calendars!


If you would like to send him a card his address is

2434 Forest Drive

Coopersburg PA 18036


Let's remember our Friends, Members, Forget-Me-Nots and others as we go through the week. Keep each other in your thoughts and prayers and stay connected if possible.


JULY


27 Kimberly Kernick

27 Lily Adams

30 Cole Schwartz

30 Raymond Horwath

31 Colleen Kandt 


   AUGUST 

 01 Kara Kernick

02 Robert Fosbenner

02 Thomas Bley

02 Robert Shelly

02 Victoria Steele

02 Sarah Berghold

 02 Bryce Bittenbender

03 Mark Keeler

04 Diane Neidermeier

05 Mitzie Foulke

07 Rachel Zehnder

07 Tori Schoenberger

08 Richard Shelly

09 Bradley Shafer

10 Donna Gunther

11 Traci Wasylkowski

12 Mikayla Farino

12 McKayla Hughes

13 Noah Kandt

16 Lee Kandt

17 Pastor Bruce

17 Lily Maginn

19 Terry Muth

21 Justin Zsido

21 Trent Eaves

    21 Kylie Recke

22 Matthew Gumhold

27 Aaron Herndon

29 Lisa Schafer

30 Jane Van Horn

    30 Doug Hutchinson

31 Frank Styer

31 Susan Santoro

   

 

(If you would like to send cards, addresses can be found in the Members & Friends Directory link at the bottom of this email.)


Click here for a list of birthdays and addresses of our Forget-Me-Not's. Some phone numbers are also included if you'd like to give a call! Also included on the list are names, addresses, and phone numbers of members who usually attend services but don't get to see the recorded services on a regular basis. Reach out to them and say hello or fill them in on the weekly news!

A Special THANK YOU to all who continue to financially support our ministry as you are able. We'd like to remind you there are several ways you can do this:

  1. Mail your offering directly to the church
  2. Make an electronic donation through Tithe.ly on our website's Giving page
  3. Use your bank's Bill Pay service
IMPORTANT LINKS

JULY/AUGUST FOCUS ON FAITH

(Archived Newsletters)


MEMBERS & FRIENDS DIRECTORY

(Updated July 2022)


Need to make changes, corrections, or additions to our Church Directory? Click HERE to let us know if your info is current or if we need to make

changes. Thanks in advance for taking the time to keep our

Church Directory up to date.


FAITH'S MISSION BOOKLET


PENN NORTHEAST CONFERENCE


UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST


Contact us via email or call the church office at 610.282.3939


Rev. Dr. Bruce C. Stevenson, Lead Pastor

Dennis J. Duda, Organist & Music Director

Sandy David, Parish Administrator

(click on names to send an email)