` 120 WEST MAIN STREET, NEW HOLLAND, PA 17557 Church Phone: 717-354-0226 Website: http://nhumc.us/ Pastor: Ray Voran Pastor Email: revoran@gmail.com
MARCH 2017
One thing that comes along at the beginning of the year for those folks who are United Methodist Pastors is the dreaded statistical report. Basically this is exactly what it sounds like. There are a number of forms that must be completed including church membership and attendance numbers, many questions about the church budget and giving and a few other things. One of the questions that is included every year that made me feel pretty good asked how many volunteers we have serving at the church. As I started listing all the people who volunteer their time in the various activities and ministries, I was reminded that we are blessed with a church family that is hard working, generous and committed. Of course, we could not accomplish things like the community and Farm Show meals, Christmas Bazaar, Vacation Bible School or Sunday School without you -- not to mention all the work that the various committees do, plus all those who take part in the worship services and other activities on Sunday morning. So we all owe a big “thank-you� to each of you who volunteer your time and talents to make all of these things possible. All of us together make up the church, the Body of Christ. We represent our Lord, speaking and acting on His behalf.....igniting His light! And this month, I want to especially recognize the Chairpersons of the various committees and work teams. Be sure to express your gratitude to these folks as well: Pat Williams: Administrative Council Liz Lennon: Christian Education Committee Ken Gallagher: Finance Committee Tim Hess: Staff-Parish Relations Committee David Trost: Trustee Committee Mary Jane Delgado, Loyda Brendle, Jana Rayfield, Faye Gallagher and Loretta Zimmerman who all work together with the NOW Committee. Thank you to EVERYONE for your efforts. May we all continue to share the presence of Jesus with those around us!
-- Pastor Ray Our Worship Service starts at 9:00 a.m. every Sunday. 10:00 a.m. Time of Fellowship 10:30 a.m. Sunday School Contacting Pastor Ray ~ email: revoran@gmail.com Cell: (717)333-6939 Look for me on Facebook: Ray Voran
Regular Events Knepper Care Group – Second and Fourth Mondays, 7:00 p.m. Naval Care Group – Second and Fourth Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m.
Community Senior Center – Second Thursday, 10:00 a.m. Community Meal – Third Thursday, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Bazaar Workshops – Every Tuesday at 1 p.m.
SERMONS DURING LENT. We have come to the end of the series of messages related to songs by the Beatles. Now we will move on to the stones. Not the Rolling Stones, but a series of sermons entitled Journey of Stones that looks at a number of times rocks or stones play a role in the Bible’s message. We will be encouraged to place stones at the cross of Jesus as we place our lives in His hands. These will begin on March 12. ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION! We are having a special worship service on Sunday March 5, 2017 as the Boy Scout Troop 48 celebrates its 100th anniversary. The troop members will provide the leadership for our service at 9 AM and then there will also be a special Celebration Ceremony at noon. Fellowship and refreshments will be served between 10:30 and 11:30. We hope everyone is able to attend on this special day! CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. We will be accepting new members this spring though we have not chosen a specific date at this time. Anyone who is interested in joining the church should please contact Pastor Ray.
ASH WEDNESDAY: Everyone is invited to our combined Ash Wednesday service at Ranck’s United Methodist Church. Wednesday, March1 at 7:00 PM. The supper of soup and bread will be served at 6:15 --sign-up sheets for supper have been in sanctuary for the past few weeks.
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VOLUNTEERS FOR WORSHIP: After thanking all those who are already volunteering here at the church, I want to present another opportunity. Anyone willing to open the worship service (lead the welcome/announcements and the “Call to Worship”), please contact Pastor Ray or the church office. This could be the same person that is serving as Lay Reader but we could also have two different people in these roles. GREETERS: For some time we have alsnot had greeters downstairs prior to the service.
Anyone willing to do this important job, please contact the pastor or church office.
SERVER SCHEDULE FOR MARCH Nursery Mar. 5 Jane Keene, Beatrice Gauthier Mar. 12 Liz & Mark Lennon Mar. 19 Donna Sandoe Mar. 26 Selma Wells
Lay Readers
Kitchen Appliances: The trustees are wanting to replace some of the kitchen appliances. Before any purchases are made, we are checking to see if anyone may have an appliance they may want to donate. We are looking for 18-quart electric roasters, a 12-cup coffee maker, and a 30/35cup coffee pot. Please contact the church office (354-0226). -- Trustees
Mar. 5 Mar. 12 Mar. 19 Mar. 26
Selma Wells Ken Gallagher Jim Boose John Finkey
Tellers Mar. 5 Tim Hess & Julie Mitton Mar. 12 Win Hall & Sandi Rapp Mar. 19 Tim Hess & Ken/Faye Gallagher Mar. 26 Selma Wells & Norece Richwine
Free Community Meals at NHUMC 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. March 16, 2017
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Third Thursday of every month Ranck’s United Methodist Church and the New Holland United Methodist Church
Dinner is served with all ages welcome. -- Dee Kopicz, Outreach Chair at Ranck’s United Methodist Church (610-223-8207).
NOW IS THE TIME TO START BRINGING IN YOUR GENTLY USED BOOKS FOR OUR ANNUAL SALE TO BE HELD IN MAY. -- NO MAGAZINES, ENCYCLOPEDIAS, OR TEXTBOOKS –
GETTING YOUR BOOKS IN EARLY WILL HELP THE LADIES TO GET THEM ORGANIZED BEFORE THE LAST MINUTE!
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Thank you, church, for the cards and prayers you offered during my recent hospital stay and subsequent testing. I was particularly touched by the card with many, many names on it. I can only give in return prayers of blessing
for this church and its congregation. – Vera Asper
4. Follow the onscreen instructions to create an online profile and to complete your offering or to schedule your recurring contributions
Prayer and Praise Shirley Givler and Loretta Zimmerman’s family. on the unexpected passing of their brother Bobby of Cheyenne, WY, on Feb 1 Jaime McComsey’s daughter Ashley and three children, as her husband, Troy Boyer, passed away this week. Ken Gallagher family, on the death of his nephew from Texas in an automobile accident Eileen McComas, congestive heart failure Unity of the U.S. government; wisdom for our leaders
Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar.
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March Birthdays Elizabeth Wagner Frank Ludwig Cathy Williams Fred Naval Ralph McComas David Hall Mabel Ludwig Lois Seldomridge Raymond Welk Gary Zimmerman Vanapolie Gauthier Ethel Ludwig Linda Deamer
IT ONLY TAKES A FEW STEPS TO TRY E-GIVING The New Holland United Methodist Church offers that you can now manage your giving online! Giving online is easy and allows you to set up a one-time donation or automatic recurring contributions. You will be able to view your complete online giving history from anywhere you have access to the Internet. Simply follow these easy steps: 1. Visit the church website at www.nhumc.us 2. Click on the Online Giving button 3. Click on the Create Profile button 4
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March Anniversaries John & Barbara Mask
* If you don’t think the office has your birthday or anniversary, please put a note in the secretary’s mailbox with this information. We
wish to honor you with your name in the LAMPLIGHTER on your special day.
New Holland United Methodist Church Congregational Meeting January 22, 2017
The Administrative Council determined at the end of 2016 that we should have a congregational meeting to discuss if we should go to a full time pastor. Pat Williams the chair of the Staff Parish Committee (SPR), wrote to our District Superintendent Rev. B. K. Chung about the possibility and what it would mean financially to our church. The Rev. B. K. Chung responded saying it would be possible to move to a full time pastor. However, the church needs to show we could support a budget with the increased costs. The Rev. B. K. Chung further stated that would be a budget increase of $34,000 per year. Today after our church service we discussed the question, “Should we get a full time Pastor?” Pastor Ray mentioned before he left that the church is not failing. We need to seek where God is taking us. This is a question for the congregation to decide, not the Administrative Council. The question was brought to the congregation by Tim Hess, the new SPR chair, Sandi Rapp, out-going Ad Council chair, Win Hall, lay leader, and Selma Wells, out-going Finance chair. Sandi opened the meeting by reading the mission and vision of the New Holland United Methodist Church. She said as planning took place in the past year with the Administrative Council, the Council would make sure any activity would be aligned with 5
our mission and vision. Tim then asked if anyone has any questions or items to discuss regarding a full time Pastor or our church, they can feel free to contact him. You can reach Tim by phone, email, or by placing a note in his church mailbox. Selma went over the finances for our church showing what has been accomplished in the past four to five years: o April 2016 we were able to pay off our church debt ($111,000 mortgage) o New roof was installed o Electronic sign was purchased o New furnace o Met all of our mission obligations 100% in 2016 o The past three years we have paid all of our Conference bills at 100%
Win then discussed how the New Holland community is changing as the Eastern Lancaster Social Services Network (ESSN) has merged with the Cross-Connectional Ministry team. Win has served on several committees with ESSN since its inception. Geographically we are at a prime spot in the borough of New Holland, as our parsonage and church are very close to the Boy Scout building, the Farm Show Committee building and the two buildings Cross-Connection owns. What will be our connection to the newly merged group? Can we play a part in creating a “campus” in New Holland with this group in our neighborhood? Our church does have ties to this community from the many groups that use our church in a variety of ways, such as: o The Ethiopian Church o AA & Al Anon o Senior Center
o o o o o o o
Community VBS Farm Show Dinners Bazaar Christmas Tea Boy Scouts Food Distribution Center Baking business starting up
Win also shared that Pastor Ray is the President of the New Holland Ministerium this year. A time of questions and thought sharing took us to where we had to close the meeting due to the timing with the next service. A variety of opinions were voiced. Some being cautious of the financial demand it would place on our church. Some folks saw the benefit of having a full time pastor, but the one condition that seemed to be in unison, was that it would have to be Pastor Ray. To get a full time pastor and see a new pastor come in was not desired by anyone. Many compliments were offered to Pastor Ray from the congregation and his presence is definitely needed in our church.
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