Sunday February 6, 2022
In Traditional Service this week:
Pastor - Steven M. Livermore
Organist - Diaconal Minister - Linda Peppernick
Scripture Reader - Mark Davis
Flowers:
The first center piece is placed by the Poling family in honor and memory of the four chaplains who gave their life jackets to other servicemen as their ship was sinking on February 3, 1943. They are DR. ALEANDER D. GOODE, Jewish Rabbi; REV. GEORGE L. FOX, Methodist Minister; REV. CLARK V. POLING, Dutch Reformed Minister; and FATHER JOHN P. WASHINGTON, Roman Catholic Priest. When the ship was torpedoed by a German U-Boat, the chaplains passed out life jackets and helped others into lifeboats, but when the life jackets were gone, they removed their own jackets and gave them to others. As the Dorchester was sinking, the four chaplains were seen with locked arms praying and singing hymns. There were only 230 survivors that day.
The second centerpiece is placed to the glory of God and In memory of husband Bill. Given by Judy Paes.
Covid in Franklin County
Keystone Medicine will conduct a vaccination clinic on Saturday, February the 5th from 9 AM to 5 PM to administer the Pfizer COVID vaccine. No prior registration or forms will be required. If you have already been fully vaccinated and needed a booster, you can receive it at this clinic with your card and if it has been 6 months since your last shot. Home COVID tests will be available.
Watch our services on youtube at 12pm!
We also have a dedicated phone number so you can listen to latest recorded service at 717-899-4JOY (4569).
Great News!
Mail Service is up to only missing a day or two a week. We feel confident that tithes and offerings mailed to the church will arrive here safely. If you wish to send your contributions via mail, you are welcome to do so.
MINISTRY UPDATES
Children's Ministry
Pray with us on Tuesdays at 2:52pm.
Wednesday nights from 6pm-7pm!
Youth Group
Illuminate Youth Ministry meets on Wednesdays from 6-8 pm, and on Sundays at 10am.
Hungry Hearts
Egg Cartons -We have more than enough and no more room to store egg cartons for HH so, please stop bringing them to the church. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!
Items Needed!
We will be collecting household supplies for the month of February for distribution during Hungry Heart's food pantry and clothing appointments in March. The items we are interested in are:
- Toilet Paper
- Paper Towels
- Bleach
- All purpose Cleaner
- Bathroom cleaner
- Hand Soap
- Dish Soap
Hungry Heart's Clothing Mission has remained open since last January. From January until June, we asked our customers to fill out request forms and the ladies did their best to fill those orders. Since June, customers have been making appointments to shop for themselves on Thursday afternoons. During that entire time the ladies have been meeting on Thursday to size and sort donations. When the elevator quit in August, several of our volunteers were unable to continue because they couldn't manage the stairs. We also found that without the elevators we weren't physically able to move donations downstairs. With the help of some special young men from our congregation we were able to move all our stored winter clothes from the NAPA building to the basement and continue to meet the needs of our community.
With the elevator still out of order and our stored clothing already on display, we need to ask for donations of winter clothing, blankets, and housewares. The catch is that we can only accept donations if you are willing to carry them to the basement. The bins are in the Faith and Fellowship Sunday School classroom and items can also be left on tables in that room. If you are unsure of where to leave donations please talk to Carel Fish on Sunday and I will be glad to give you the short tour of the basement. You can also call me for info. (717 264 4354). Please only donate items that can be used at this time (winter clothing) and that you are able to carry to the basement. Thanks to you all for making this mission possible as it greatly benefits our neighbors.
Team Haiti
Sponsors are Needed for Haitian Children at Kaendra's Place orphanage. School of Hope tuition sponsorships at $140 a semester or $280 for the school year. Fall semester tuition is due now. Talk to Pastor Steve or mail haiti4fumc@gmail.com for more information.
Pastoral Care Ministries
GriefShare sessions begin at 1:00pm April 4 and continue through June 27 (no mtg May 30th for Memorial Day)
Stephen Ministry is here to walk with you through difficult journeys.
Women Connect
Women Connect now has a private Facebook Group! All women in the church are invited to join!
UPCOMING in Women Connect:
February 26, 2022 – Program TBA (we will be meeting the 4th Saturday this month because of President’s holiday weekend on our normal 3rd Saturday)
BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS for January:
Jean Brake – January 6
Cheryl Andreus – January 16
New Year: New Studies!
Sunday Morning Study: Christianity is not about following a set of rules, but about following a Person. Jesus came into our world, lived a life of perfection, died to pay the price of our sin, and rose again to show us the way of resurrection life. And He offers us a brief but challenging invitation—“Follow Me.” If you are interested in seeking a greater understanding of what it means to follow Jesus and being supported in a daily practice of the Scripture reading, prayer, and simplicity that He modeled during his life, please consider joining us. We will be meeting on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. beginning on January 9th. You can check the study out at Firm Foundation Study.
Weekly Evening Bible Study begins Wednesday, January 12th at 6:30 PM. This study is online only. We will be studying the book of Matthew. Printed guides will be available at the Welcome Center the previous Sunday.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ALL PRAYER REQUESTS OR PRAYER RELATED MATTERS SHOULD BE SENT TO PRAYERS4FUMC@GMAIL.COM
Important Note regarding upcoming events: If you are planning a church event, please contact Stacey in the church office so that we can coordinate all events in the church and are not overlapping ministries. Thank you!
Please contact the church about hospitalizations as we no longer are contacted when parishioners are hospitalized.
Attention: Sunday School Classes and Organizations It is now time to audit your 2021 records. Please turn in your checking account/bank statements to Stacey in the Church Office as soon as possible. If you bring them in when Stacey is not in her office they can be placed in the mailbox on the wall outside Stacey’s door. Thank you!
Chancel Choir-Practice is held Wednesday nights at 7:00. All singers welcomed! Contact Diaconal Minister Linda Peppernick at lindapeppernick@embarqmail.com
Post-High School Connections - First Church Friends: I am looking for people to connect with our post high age young adults. Check-in texts, notes, and emails are a great way to let them know they're a part of the family even when they may not be able to attend regularly. If you're willing to friend one of our post high young adults, please contact Beth Stahl (stahlfamily2000@gmail.com or 717-375-8011).
Evening Bible Studies:
Intergenerational Study -Interested in making connections between faith and real life? In building intergenerational relationships within the church? Consider joining this discussion-based Bible study at 5:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month. Study is designed for youth Grade 7 or higher in the company of their parents. All adults welcome!
Weekly Bible Study is online via Zoom and begins Wednesday, January 12th at 6:30 PM. We will be studying the book of Matthew. Books will be available at the Welcome Center Sunday the 9th and online.
Elevator Update -We have been told it will be 10 weeks from the time the parts are ordered until work begins which is the end of January or the beginning of February. The bulk of funds has come from endowment and a CD, leaving $20,000 to be raised. To date contributions of $10,310 have been received. Thanks for giving as we fund the remaining $9,690 needed.
Friendly reminder that if you need to take tables out of the FLC please return them by Wednesday night so they are available for Thursday morning food distribution.
Refugee Resettlement: Please contact Clint Bolte (717) 267-2157 to volunteer with helps for the family. Donations can be sent to Congregation of the Sons of Israel, 209 East King Street, Chambersburg 17201—memo “refugee resettlement”.
Gail Vaughn began her sabbatical on January 1st Please keep her in your prayers, for a time of refreshment and renewal. For pastoral care call Pastor Steve 717-873-6626. Please send prayer requests, needs and concerns to prayers4fumc@gmail.com.
An Adult Work Camp is being planned by Cindy Shoemaker at Central Presbyterian for this spring or summer to take place at Bowling Green, Kentucky in response to recent tornado damage. First Church’s coordinator for this camp is Greg Stouffer. If you are interested in finding out more information, contact him at Gregs5456@gmail.com or 717-658-2351.
Prayer and Study Group
25 Minute Weekly Prayer Meeting on Zoom every Thursday at 7:00 PM
FUMC Prayer & Study Group-
You are invited to join us on a new journey toward intimacy with God. We will be studying different prayer techniques and spiritual rhythms. We use Padlet to post our comments & experiences. Email Lindsay Zubal at lindsayzubal@gmail.com for information. Our next meeting will be February 8, 2022 at 6:30pm-8pm.
ALL PRAYER REQUESTS OR PRAYER RELATED MATTERS SHOULD BE SENT TO PRAYERS4FUMC@GMAIL.COM
Prayers for Healing
Alan Parris' mother - heart surgery
Erma Collins
Dean Crow
Reed deSalis
Bette Renshaw - cataract surgery
Prayers for Our World
Relief for those dealing with frigid temperatures, snow and ice.
Relief for those who have been struck by a natural storm or disaster.
Healing for our divided country, nations, and leaders.
All Military and Law Enforcement and First Responders and Essential Workers.
Prayers for Church Ministries, Events and Special projects
Stephen Ministry
First Lights Children's Ministry
Illuminate Youth Ministry
Hungry Hearts Ministry
200th Anniversary Celebration
Prayers for the pandemic
Healing for those with Covid.
Safety and protection for school children and those working in school systems.
Safety and protection for health care workers and those working in vulnerable places.
Renewal and restoration for health care workers.
Wisdom for leaders, doctors and parents.
An end to the pandemic and all COVID variants.
Prayers needed for these members with long term concerns:
John & Bunny Parson
Larry & Avis Guise
Al & Linda Lojacono
Bill & Mary Butts
Jack & Bette Bowers
Dean & Carol Crow
Paul & Erma Collins
Bill & Thelma Peerce
Kirk & Kathy Paul
Chuck & Dianne Salter
Dave & Joan Kauffman
Ron & Mary Diehl
Sarah & Barry Baker
Prayers of Comfort, Peace and Condolence
Families struggling with grief and loss.
Families struggling with housing and financial issues.
Families struggling with reconciliation and forgiveness.
Comfort for Erma Collins as she starts treatments.
Peace for those dealing with anxiety.
Endowment Fund Status
(As of December 31, 2021)
The total amount of principal (market value) in the Endowment fund is $1,399,198. This is an increase of $42,153 from the beginning of the year. As you know we cannot spend the principal amount. We can only spend the interest earned. The amount available (interest earned) is $198,377. The amount available by category is as follows:
General $89,479 Music $43,214 Facilities $12,994 Missions $12,180 Scholarships $40,510
Over the last 4 years (2018-2021) the fund has used $79,870 to support items such as, stained glass window repair, provide salaries to pastors in Sierra Leone (5-year commitment), visits and supplies to Haiti, adult work camps, continuing education conferences for staff, repairs to a missionary‘s auto, Noah’s House, video/streaming equipment, Youth Mission trips and other items.
This year $41,270 was spent - on a purchase of a mobile sound system ($2,200) for use at the park and the church and supported building/repairing a wall ($3,000) at the Haiti Orphanage for safety and security of the children. We provided uniforms and books ($2,000) for the students at our Haitian school. Uniforms are very important in Haitian society so that the children are not bullied or targeted by traffickers. The fund paid $29,500 towards the repair of the elevator, $3,070 to repeal our property tax bill (no decision yet) and $1,500 to support Sierra Leone pastor salaries.
Contributions are down this year from past years. 2018 - $9,926 2019 - $17,282 2020 - $14,341 2021 - $5,338. One purpose of the Endowment Fund is to support projects/ initiatives during times of reduced donations, like COVID. Times are tough but please consider contributing to the Endowment Fund to provide support for future needs.
Thank you. Dave Stevens