` 120 WEST MAIN STREET, NEW HOLLAND, PA 17557 Church Phone: 717-354-0226 Church Fax: 717-354-7942 Website: http://nhumc.us/ Pastor: Ray Voran Pastor Email: revoran@gmail.com
APRIL 2013 One of the first people you see when entering our church sanctuary is Thierry Dareus. You will find him, along with Jim Boose, greeting worshippers, handing out bulletins and then collecting the offering during the service. In addition, Thierry has agreed to work with Pat Williams to keep our church website up to date, so you will soon be able to notice his presence on the internet as well as in the church building. Since I could not help but notice Thierry’s friendliness and welcoming attitude (church members and visitors have also told me that they appreciate all that he does), I thought it would be worthwhile to sit down with Thierry and ask him ta few questions about himself and his life, giving me and all of us a chance to get to know him a bit better. Of course, Thierry is one of a number of our church family who was born in Haiti. While he moved to America about 5 years ago to live with his aunt and uncle, Marie and Jean Boisrond, he had previously been to America on many occasions. A stroke at the young age of three left Thierry partially paralyzed; and he began coming to Florida to receive medical treatment when he was five. He would make that trip many times as a youngster and then as an adult as well. The treatment has helped, but there are some activities that remain a challenge for Thierry. I shared with him that I had some problems with my legs when I was about 12 years old (I spent time on crutches and was not able to participate in any sports for about a year). I remember being disappointed and feeling sorry for myself at times and asked if he felt the same way. His answer was simply, “no.” The thing to do, he explained, is to be thankful for what you can do rather than worry about whatever you cannot do. While everyone is different – we all have our own abilities, strengths and weaknesses (and spiritual gifts) -- it does not do any good to compare ourselves to others or to be jealous of someone else. Thierry went on to say that God has a plan for each one of us. He wants to use us all to do His work and shine His light. We should each be happy for the gifts God gives us (and every day is one of those gifts). We should also rejoice for the talents he gives to other people. Don’t ask God, “why me?” but be thankful that He loves us. Thierry’s advice was to do your best, try to do what is right, and then trust God to take care of things. And remember that God is patient and loving with us – He gives us another chance when we do mess up. It is this outlook that helps Thierry be such a wonderful greeter – making a good impression on all who come to worship. He said it is his goal to make everyone feel at home in the church and to give them a reason to smile even though they may be facing their own difficulties. He hopes that he is helping everyone have a more positive outlook and to simply have a better day. One goal that Thierry mentioned is that he thinks he would like to be a missionary, taking the love of God to another nation. I don’t know what all God has in mind for Thierry, but I believe He has already
2 done one purpose as Thierry has come from Haiti to share God’s love with our church family. And for this we praise our God! Pastor Ray Our Worship Service starts at 9:00 a.m. every Sunday. Sunday School is at 10:15 a.m. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saturday IGNITE service starts at 4:00 p.m. with fellowship; service at 4:30 p.m. Contacting Pastor Ray ~ email: revoran@gmail.com Home: (717) 656-0812 Cell: (717)333-6939 Look for me on Facebook: Ray Voran
Regular Events Knit Wits – Every Saturday, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Knepper Care Group – Every other Monday at 7:00 p.m. (check calendar) Naval Care Group – Second and Fourth Tuesdays, 9:00 Community Senior Center – Second Thursday, 10:00 Seniors meet at Yoder’s Restaurant – Third Saturday, 11:15 a.m. Burgers-n-Bibles –First Thursday, 11:30 a.m., at Wendy’s Restaurant LUMINA ministry – Second Thursday
June Book Sale Our annual book sale is a few months away – but it is not too soon to begin bringing your gently used books in for the sale. There is one completely empty table in the book room and anyone wishing to so can unload any books you are willing to donate onto that table. We are in need of some more current books! Thank you all for helping out! Let’s have a great sale!! -- Loretta Zimmerman
Announcements From Pastor Ray The trustees are changing the locks to the church office during the week of April 1. The locks in the exterior doors will all remain the same. Your keys will still open the exterior doors, but new keys will be needed for the church office, Pastor’s study and the sound room. We will make sure that the people who need to get into these rooms will receive the appropriate keys.
You Are Invited To Educational Seminars The LED committee has recognized that one worthwhile goal for the church is to offer education-type seminars from time to time. One topic that is often on people’s minds (especially during tax season) is money and budgeting. Along those lines, Mel Pankuch, former president of Blue Ball bank (yes, that was several name changes ago) will be offering a class on Christian stewardship and budgeting. The class will meet here for seven sessions beginning the week of April 15. Those interested in the class will have the opportunity to choose the exact days and times of the
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meetings. It is ideal, though not necessary to attend all the sessions. There is no cost for this class. There is a sign-up sheet in the back of the sanctuary. Everyone in the church and community is invited! Contact Pastor Ray with any questions.
The Call:
An LED Team Update By Kip Wolf
Who among us hasn’t had to make a difficult financial decision: Whether to buy a new car, invest in an education, or simply to go out to dinner or cook a meal at home? We are faced daily with critical decisions that (should) reflect our faith. We approach these decisions no differently than in the time of the Apostles. In the gospel of John 14:28, it is said, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” Since the formation of the LED Team, we have seen New Holland faced with many decisions that transcend the individual and have broader, sometimes global, certainly eternal effects. Whether faced with the responsibility for stewardship of our time in visitation of 3
church members, or with past capital campaigns like the boiler or current campaigns like the church roof, the LED Team has been instrunental in facilitating and leading the biblical path toward appropriate stewardship. In the coming weeks and months, we will see new initiatives in the areas of “stewardship training sessions” as well as a renewed focus on evangelism. Our own members have volunteered with the encouragement of the LED Team to provide organized instruction on stewardship. And we have recently engaged New Holland members in a more formal attention on evangelism and learning why and how to “share Jesus without fear.” The Gospel implores us to realize that these temporal decisions have spiritual implications. “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches” – John 16:11. The work that each of us chooses to do each day has real and lasting consequences. Be encouraged that we are on the right tract – we are working in God’s will. Although the “battle is won”, our daily walk continues. and as saints, we must march on!
Please
accept my personal thanks to you for your donation of Valentines for the benefit of the Veterans. On behalf of the hospitalized Veterans and staff of the Coatesville VA Medical Center, I thank you. – Earl Johnson, DVA Medical Center, Coatesville, PA.
Thank you, church, for the cards and prayers at Ivan’s home-going. Thank you, Pastor Ray, for your support and
4 encouragement. – Blessings, Jane Frybarger
Thank
you to Tim and Tracey Hess, Val Voran, Barb Mask and Peg Cessna for making the cakes for the Frybarger funeral luncheon. Thank you, also, to Fred Naval, Mary Jane Delgado, Loyda Brendle, Ginny Smith, and Betty Hostetter for helping with the luncheon. Your willingness to help was very much appreciated by me and the Frybarger family. – Karen Miller
Thank
you to Pastor Ray for his guidance during the passing of Jeff’s step-mother, Sharon Miller. We would like to thank Pastor Ray for coming to the hospital so quickly on the morning Sharon passed. Having him there was a comfort to Jeff’s dad and the rest of the family. We would also like to thank him for the wonderful memorial service the next week. He did a great job, even without having met Sharon. -- Sincerely, Jeff and Karen Miller
WAY BACK WHEN? AN EXCERPT FROM THE OCTOBER 1984 EXPRESSIONS NEWSLETTER OF THE NEW HOLLAND UNITED METHODIST CHURCH As I sit here pen in hand thinking back a long time ago I sure have many fond and funny memories. 4
This takes me back to the very first Sunday we attended Sunday School and church in January 1948 as we had just moved from Quarryville where we were members of Oxford Methodist Church. We had both taught Sunday School classes there and we were anxious to get acquainted at N.H. Methodist Church. Anyway, our daughters, Sylvia and Nancy, were ages three and four years old, and they were cordially and lovingly taken over by Virginia Hoffman, who was so much fun and sure did love children. Monroe and I were welcomed and sat with everyone for the Sunday School devotions and opening and somehow or other by the grapevine, they assumed my husband was a visiting minister and family. He was very nicely welcomed and asked to have the opening prayer. It sure was humorous to us – could the black suit have had anything to do with it? Can you imagine Monroe had completely forgotten this incident! Oh well, 36 years is quite a while ago. Another Sunday morning comes back to me in Sunday School. Miss Mary Givler was Temperance leader and once a month she faithfully gave us a lecture. Well, the dear soul got up to give her lecture and she could hardly walk and had her arm in a sling. She said now don’t jump to conclusions and no I was not drinking but I did have the misfortune to fall on the icy pavement in front of the State Liquor Store which at that time was next to Kronmeyer’s Store on Main Street, New Holland. If my memory is correct, she picked herself up and promptly fell again! I’m afraid the Temperance lesson was lost to me that morning and was quite difficult to maintain a composed countenance. In later years as teacher of the Faithful Workers Class, I have many pleasant memories of our class on Sunday mornings. For those who remember Helen Massey who was always impeccably dressed – remember the
time she had a few hair curlers left in her lovely hair and was so embarrassed when she was told, but decided to laugh along with the rest of us. Our class meetings were so much fun. How about the time we went to play Miniature Golf and I believe Dave Ludwig and I had a collision – perhaps we thought we were playing golf. The warmth, the fellowship and caring of a small congregation has been tremendous. This little saying I clipped out of “Die Botschaft”, author unknown. I would like to share with all of you. “Life is a book of volume three; The past, the present, the yet to be, The past we’ve read and laid away The present we’re reading day by day The last of this book, volume three Is hid from our sight; God holds the key.”
Free Community Meals 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. April 18, 2013 Third Thursday of every month Ranck’s United Methodist Church at 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)
-- Arline Widders Birthdays: April 4 April 4 April 7 April 12 April 12 April 15 April 15 April 18 April 26 April 28
SERVER SCHEDULE FOR THIS MONTH Nursery April 7 April 14 April 21 April 28
Heather Bressi & Arentz Menard Shirley Givler & Marvin Mondesir Jane Keene & Florence Petit-ton Cathy Williams & Guy Petit-ton
Ray Neyman Arlene Ressler Laura Baxter Rick Boone Judy Turbedsky Ginny Smith Charles Smith Savanna Mitton John Perri George Grubb
Anniversaries: There are none for this month.
Please call the church office (354-0226) so we can update our records if your name was missed.
Lay Readers April 7 April 14 April 21 April 28
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Cindy White John Mask Ray Welk Selma Wells
Oatmeal Cake with Coconut Pecan Topping
6 From the Kitchen of Tim & Tracey Hess Served at Ivan Frybarger funeral luncheon Ingredients: • 1 cup oatmeal • 1 ½ cups boiling water • ¾ cup granulated sugar • 1 cup packed brown sugar • ½ cup butter • 2 eggs • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1 teaspoon cinnamon • ½ teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon vanilla • Topping, below Preparation: Combine oatmeal in boiling water; let stand for 20 minutes. Cream sugars with butter or margarine; add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add oatmeal mixture. Sift dry ingredients together; add to cream mixture, stirring just enough to blend. Add vanilla extract; place in greased and floured 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Bake at 325 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Spread with topping (below) while still hot. Topping: • 1 cup brown sugar • 4 tablespoons margarine • 1 cup shredded coconut • 1/3 cup cream or evaporated milk • ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans Cream sugar with butter or margarine; add coconut. Add enough cream to moisten. Spread on hot cake and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Broil until topping is bubbly and begins to brown.
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Prayer and Praise • Jane Lauver, Dolly Blessing’s cousin,
terminal cancer • Max and Megan (Riehl) Demianovick, on their recent marriage • Jeff and Karen Miller family, in the death of Sharon Miller, Jeff’s step-mother • Zoe Hostetter, 4-yr.-old granddaughter of Betty Hostetter, recuperating from medical complication • Alice Weiler, recovering from fall, fractured ribs and injured shoulder • Pat Knepper, recovering from surgery • Eileen McComas, health issues • Everyone who has been affected by recent snow storms in New England, Hurricane Sandy; recovery efforts in New Jersey and New York
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