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THIS WEEK AT FAITH
April 14, 2024
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No matter who you are
or where you are on life’s journey
you are welcome here.
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FAITH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
5992 Route 378
Center Valley, PA 18034
610.282.3939
Office Hours:
Monday (*remotely) - 9 am - 4:00 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - 9 am - 4:00 pm
Friday - Closed/Pastor's Sabbath
*Sandy will be working remotely but will check messages
on a regular basis. If you find yourself in immediate need,
call or text her at 610-967-9232.
faithchurchcv@gmail.com
www.faithchurchucc.org
MEMBERS & FRIENDS DIRECTORY
(Updated January 2024)
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Work Day at Faith
Saturday, April 13th
9 am - 12 pm
Outside General Clean Up
See you there:)
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A BIG THANK YOU to Tom Hovis and Bruce Torrence for obtaining and installing a new sink and plumbing for the sacristy room. The women who prepare for communion and do the clean-up are eternally grateful for your donation to the church as we have been without a sink for a few years.
Thank You, Thank You.
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Join us for Worship this
3rd Sunday of Easter
April 14, 2024
10:15 am Worship
Sunday School during a portion of church
Joyful Noise Sunday
Mission Moment - OGHS
Make Your Own Salad & Pie Sunday
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Thanks to our Volunteers:
Bruce Torrence, Head Usher
Kim Ritter & Deb Herstine, Ushers
Barb Maursky, Lay Reader
Rose Mirth & Catherine Stevenson, Sunday School
Rose Mirth, Altar Flowers
Bruce Torrence, Financial Secretary
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- Sunday 04/14 - 10:15 am WORSHIP/SUNDAY SCHOOL; MAKE YOUR OWN SALAD & PIE SUNDAY; Choir rehearsal at 9:30 am and after worship
- Monday 04/15- Sandy works remotely; 7 pm Budget & Finance
- Tuesday 04/16 - 2 pm Faith in Stitches
- Thursday 04/18 - 7 pm Consistory
- Friday 04/19 - Office Closed/Pastor's Day Off
- Sunday 04/21 - 9:30 am CHOIR REHEARSAL; 10:15 am WORSHIP; SUNDAY SCHOOL; Guest Speaker Katharine Yarnell; Covered Dish Lunch & Stewardship Workshop following worship
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Get out your pie plates and find your favorite pie recipe.
It's time for PIE Sunday!
After worship THIS SUNDAY we'll be meeting
in Fellowship Hall with family and friends for a
Make Your Own Salad Lunch
and spending time sampling the most delicious pies
Faith bakers can make!
All are invited even if you don't bake pies.
There is always plenty!
A Free-Will Offering will be taken for
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING.
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Date & Time
Apr 20, 2024 01:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Description
The UCC's second annual Earth Summit will feature celebrated author and activist Bill McKibben delivering the Jim Antal Keynote Lecture with the title, "Energy from Heaven or Energy from Hell?"
Additionally, the following panel of award-winning activists will speak about the multi-national struggle against the pollution of Formosa Plastics, one of the world's largest plastics producers:
-Sharon Lavigne, 2021 Goldman Prize Winner, Rise St. James
-Diane Wilson, 2023 Goldman Prize Winner, San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper
-Nancy Bui, International Monitor Formosa Alliance and Justice for Formosa Victims
The two-and-a-half-hour summit will also feature the announcement of the Dollie Burwell Prophetic Action Award winner, a celebration of the UCC's newest Creation Justice Churches, and a video showcasing the environmental ministries of our host congregation, The Church of Christ at Dartmouth College.
This event will be both in-person and live streamed via Zoom. Along with The Church of Christ at Dartmouth College, cohosts include the UCC's Council for Climate Justice, the National Setting of the UCC, and the New Hampshire Conference of the UCC.
Even if one cannot make the event at its scheduled time, all those who register will receive a link to a recording of the event.
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Next Sunday, April 21st...
We welcome Rev. Dr. Katharine Yarnell as Guest Speaker.
Following worship Katharine will conduct a workshop that will guide our ways of stewardship and our future.
The entire congregation is invited to attend but in particular, Pastor Bruce is calling upon our Consistory, members of Budget & Finance, Mission, and Worship teams to participate.
Please plan on attending the Covered Dish Lunch and Workshop and let Pastor Bruce know so that he can plan accordingly.
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CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT
April 21st, 3:00 pm
Apollo Piano Trio
with guest violist, Misha Amory.
Tickets may be purchased in advance after worship from music director Dennis Duda until April 14 for a special reduced price of $20 for church members. Single tickets on April 21 will be available at the door for $35. All students may attend free of charge.
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Mark Your Calendars
Spring Bingo and Basket Raffle
When you win you may select the Purse or Tote of your
choice from a great selection of:
ThirtyOne Vera Bradley Lug Baggalini
Each Special Game will be a Gift Card Basket valued at $100
WHEN: Sunday, April 28, 2024
TIME: Doors open at Noon. Play Begins at 1 PM
PRICE: $25 FOR 25 Regular Games
Specials sold separately $2 each game or 3 for $5
WHO: YOU and all of your friends, relatives and neighbors
TICKETS: On sale NOW!
This is the Mission Team’s biggest fundraiser that will help support missions such as Haiti Family Sponsorship, Phoebe Home, Pathways, The Allentown Rescue Mission and many more. We really need your support in order to continue Faith’s mission work.
How can you help?
~On the day of Bingo we can use volunteers in the kitchen from
(11:30 am-3 pm)
We could use any of the following donations:
~Gift Cards for Special Games and Basket Raffle
~Lots of Desserts
~10 dozen bottles of Water (16 oz size)
~Door Prizes valued at $10+
~Basket Raffle items valued at $25
Please let us know if you will be donating any items so we do not purchase duplicates. Contact Karen Talboo at cktalboo@gmail.com or 610-282-1552. Thank you.
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From our Conference Minister,
Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates
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Matthew 25: 34-36
“Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'”
Matthew 29: 19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Dear Friends,
I have just returned from several days with Conference Staff colleagues from the Mid-Atlantic Region of the UCC. (The conferences are New York, Central Atlantic, and the four PA Conferences.) Those of us gathered looked at our search and call processes, our ordination and ministerial preparation processes, the development of vitality efforts in congregations, the new ELCA model of serving multiple churches with common staff, and our spiritual health and wellness.
One of the topics that usually arises when we are together is the concepts and beliefs that make us the UCC and those presumptions that move people away from the UCC. I always find this challenging because, at least in the eyes of the media, we are the most progressive of denominations. That may be so – at least from some of the publications and writing over the last 20 years – but it is not all we are. We are as diverse theologically as any community – some very progressive, many moderate and some very conservative – if we want to use labels.
For all of us we discussed that, our focus is as Jesus followers, striving to encourage other Jesus followers in communities that feed their spirits and accomplish the mission as set before us by Jesus in both Matthew 25 and Matthew 29, as noted above. This is the mission of the church, the mission Jesus called us to, a mission that can anchor and unite us all.
Yet, the world strives to pull us apart, to divide us into red and blue politically, liberal and conservative theologically, and to speak of those of us in more moderate denominations who seek human rights as those who are “going to hell” for not admonishing people who don’t believe in or live into a particular pre-defined standard of faith. These cultural issues and many others are one of the reasons I went back to school, to seminary, to work on a Graduate Executive Certificate in Gender, Sexual and Racial Justice. I wanted to understand the language, theology, the isolation felt by people who have been excluded by the church – even the UCC church – and to be able to talk with people about how our actions as a church, (not specific churches but the church as it’s perceived) prevent people from coming into our churches to find solace and spiritual development. It has been quite a journey of learning, which will culminate with my graduation on May 18. The invitation is below and while I know you may not be able to be there, please remember all the students graduating that day and celebrate with us.
We are the church – the church now and into the future – and these seminary graduates are the future and current leaders of the church. We covet your prayers as we move into the future as leaders of Jesus-followers and communities of faith.
Blessings,
Bonnie
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Fishy
by Kaji Douša
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. – Luke 5:10-11 (NIV)
About this parable, dream with me:
Exhausted, they threw out the nets, just one more time. It didn’t make sense; they were experts. They’d culled the waters all night long, and the fish just weren’t there. They’d trawled with all earnestness and resolve, but it hadn’t been enough.
It needed to be enough. They needed the fish.
So they started to point fingers. Did he do this, did they do that. etc. There were many questions.
Sun up, and it was closing time. Nothing left. They returned to shore, defeated. Pulled the empty nests, began to wash them on the shore.
There was a crowd gathering. The water’s edge isn’t great for crowds, their feet sinking into the wet sand.
Jesus saw the boat they’d found useless just moments ago. Useless no more, he climbed aboard. We don’t know what he said. But we do know that listening to him gave Simon enough hope to try once more.
I don’t know if you’re cleaning your nets or if your feet are sinking into the sand. Or both. Or neither. But I do know this:
Listening anew might just be what you need to try once more.
Prayer
Help me, Jesus. Speak anew. I’m listening. Amen.
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About the Author
Kaji Douša is the Senior Pastor of The Park Avenue Christian Church, a congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, in New York City.
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The Clothing Closet at Wm. Allen High School is opened once a month to the public to come in and select clothing, toys, blankets, and household goods. All sizes of clothing -- mens, womens, infants, and childrens clothing are welcome. If you have anything that you are looking to get rid of, please bring it in to Faith Church. If you have any questions, ask Donna Schoenberger (610-390-1574). All donations are greatly appreciated. Thank YOU.
(Donna will be collecting items through May.)
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ITEMS DESPERATELY NEEDED:
BAKED BEANS
CANNED RAVIOLI
SPAGHETTI SAUCE
SPAGHETTI NOODLES
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APRIL
11 Adam Heineman
11 Avery Koser
12 James Snyder
12 Chris Miller
13 Corinne Gunkle
22 Jan Hughes
22 Sonya Dill
23 Dee Hutchinson
25 Nancy Schantz
27 Tyler Schaffer
27 Karli Hieter
28 Tom Hovis
29 Adam Weidner
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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:
- Mail your offering directly to the church
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Make an electronic donation through Tithe.ly on our website's Giving page
- Use your bank's Bill Pay service
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