` 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
MAY 2014 I hope everyone found our Holy Week services to be as uplifting and fulfilling as I did. Easter is simply a joyful time of year -- the celebration of resurrection and new life. As we read in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Thank God for the new life that is available when we repent and trust in the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, the church has often resisted change or new things in other areas. It can always be tempting to look back at the “good old days.” Ecclesiastes 7:10 even says “Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.” Of course, it is good to remember how God has been faithful and blessed us in the past but at the same time, we must remember that God gives us the gift of today and now is the time that He is looking for us to be His people and to Ignite His light. That means that as the part of God’s family known as New Holland United Methodist Church, we are to bring His message to the world that actually exists rather than the world that we would like to have. It may be true that the church in America is facing times that are more difficult than 40 or 50 years ago. (I heard it described this way- we no longer have the “home court advantage”…People are not cheering for us to win). This means we must serve the moment rather than fighting it. God, in His wisdom, has raised up a group of people to be His representatives, His hands and feet, during this time period that is not easy and seems to be turning more difficult. That group of people is us. And His mission is the same as it has always been -- we are to go into the world and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19) In order to continue to exist (let alone grow), we must keep the “missional conscience of the church primary.” That is just a fancy way of saying that we have to be thinking about others. The church does not exist to make its members happy but to reach people with the Gospel and to make disciples. Obviously, this means that we are to welcome and be kind to those who visit our church but it goes beyond that: we should be thinking about how we can minister to those who do NOT visit and share the good news of new life with them. My hope and prayer is that we are known as a congregation that embraces the challenge of ministry in challenging times, welcoming visitors openly or and demonstrating that the words of the Lord are Words of Life even in our days.
2 Blessings, 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 6:00 p.m.
May 15-17 – Annual Conference May 26 – Memorial Day
Contacting Pastor Ray ~ email: revoran@gmail.com Home: (717) 656-0812 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. Seniors meet at Yoder’s Restaurant – Third Saturday, 11:15 a.m. Burgers-n-Bibles –First Thursday, 11:30 am, at Wendy’s Restaurant LUMINA ministry – Second Thursday Knit-Wits – Every Saturday, 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Free Community Meals 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. May 15, 2014 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
Coming Events May 1 -- National Day of Prayer May 8 – LED Team meeting May 11 – Mother’s Day May 13 – Administrative Council 2
This year for VBS – we are going to try something new! We are going to run a traditional VBS for 5 nights Sunday, July 20 – Thursday, July 24th! We are going to need a lot
of help to make this a successful VBS. We will have the donation requests out on a board beginning on April 27th. Additionally, we are requesting volunteers to assist the Education Committee each evening that week – we will need someone to help with snacks, science experiments, songs, Bible stories, some skits and folks to move the kids through to each station. Our youth are used to the program and look forward to participating in the different activities! Prayerfully consider assisting us that week! Sincerely – Liz Lennon and the Education Committee
Bits of News!!! Honoring Jim Todd You are invited by the South West District Committee on Superintendency to a Farewell Celebration on May 4, at 3:00 p.m., Grandview UMC, 888 Pleasure Rd, Lancaster. They have set a goal of $12,000 with the intent of giving 75% to Missions and 25% to Jim and Karen to honor the many sacrifices they shared together. They are thinking the majority of the mission portion will be given to “Imagine No Malaria.” Our congregation may share in this donation by sending a meaningful gift which reflects Jim’s influence on your congregation. Your check may be payable to Grandview UMC. Also note in the memo: “Jim Todd.”
Pastor on Vacation Pastor Ray will be on vacation from May 19 to June 1. Pastor Rob Stippach of Evangelical UMC will be available for any emergencies. His church number is 354-2334. 3
Bazaar Workshops May 6 and 20, we will have our Bazaar workshops in Chapel Hall from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend and help with our projects. Judy Trost and Jane Frybarger
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National Day of Prayer Lancaster County Day of Prayer features Joni Eareckson Tada at the WJTL Junction Center, 1875 Junction Road, Manheim. She will hold a Concert of Prayer at 2:30 on May 1 and be the featured speaker at the 6:00 p.m. service.
Annual Conference in May The annual conference meeting of the Eastern PA conference of the United Methodist Church will be held May 15-17, 2014 at the Philadelphia Expo Center. Win Hall, Tim Hess and Pastor Ray will be attending. Please pray for Bishop Peggy and all the delegates as we attempt to make decisions that will help the church fulfill its calling to be the Body of Christ.
Picnic Planned Northeast Lancaster County Connexion is planning a picnic on Sunday June 8th at Leola Community Park. We do not have the exact times at this point but it will be in the afternoon and evening- so remember the date! -- Pastor Ray
Two-Day Annual Book Sale Will Be Held in June
4 This year the New Holland United Methodist Church will hold its annual Book Sale on Friday, June 6, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 7, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It is coming up FAST! As you are spring cleaning, please consider donating your used and unwanted books to this annual event. Any current gently used books that you are willing to donate would be greatly appreciated. The chairperson, Loretta Zimmerman, says that text books and magazines will not be offered at the sale, so please do not bring them to the church. All other books may be brought to the church during regular church hours. Please call the secretary at 717-354-0226 to make arrangements to drop the books. Our proceeds will be going to the missions work of Stephanie Lowery, who is preparing to go to Africa. Thank you all for any help you can give for this mission. -- The NOW Committee
May 11 Hank Wells May 18 John Mask May 25 Ray Welk Tellers May 4 May 11 May 18 May 25
Prayer and Praise
• Terry Schaffer, leg difficulties • The family of Deb Smith, on the recent death of her mother, Arlene Thomas of Christiana • Family of Rev. David Dickson, former pastor at NHUMC, who passed away in February
Thank you for the kind words and cards on the death of my mother, Arlene. They were appreciated. -Deb and Darryl Smith & family
It is wonderful to see that the choir is growing. Thank you to the new faces and all the faithful choir members who provide the musical leadership in our worship services. – Pastor Ray
SERVER SCHEDULE FOR THIS MONTH Nursery
May 4 Pat Williams, Guy Petit-ton May 11 Heather Bressi, Sharma Menard May 18 Shirley Givler, Nesta Petit-ton May 25 Loretta Zimmerman, Neika Boisrond Lay Readers
May 4 4
Joyce Wilbur
Tim Hess & Win Hall Sandi Rapp & Michael Bressi Juliet Mitton & Betty Hostetter Karen Miller & Pat Williams
Thank you to Gary Zimmerman for providing the coffee on Sunday mornings. Pastor Ray appreciates the assistance in keeping everyone awake! -- Pastor Ray
Thanks to each of you who came to Farm Crest to sing to us. BLESSINGS as you continue your music ministry. -- Dottie Baer
Thanks to Tim Hess, Sheila and Tim Arment for providing the supplies so that we could have flowers to hand out to the ladies of the church on Mother’s Day. – Pastor Ray
Thank you for all of the cards, sympathy and prayers following the passing of Mark’s mother. Also a special thanks to Pastor Ray for his visits to hospice. Mark’s entire family thanks him and everyone else for their kindnesses. -- Mark & Liz Lennon, Jacqueline Lennon
and attendees at NHUMC. As we read in Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”; and, when we approach our strategic ministry, we all benefit from interaction and joint discussion about the future at New Holland. Our next face-to-face strategic ministry planning session will be on Thursday, May 8 th, beginning at 7:00PM. While the LED Team will be reviewing and updating our plans based on recent progress, we welcome any members and attendees of NHUMC to observe or participate as you are compelled to do so. The team will review the progress at New Holland, and discuss future goals and objectives weighed against our Vision and Mission. Copies of the Vision and Mission pamphlet (gray “Ignite the Light!” booklet), as well as copies of the Strategic Ministry Plan and 2013 Performance Evaluation may be requested from the church office. Please feel free to stop by the church office to request any materials in advance of the upcoming meeting, and join us as you are able on Thursday, May 8 th, beginning at 7:00PM for a prayerful discussion of the blessings and future of New Holland UMC. It is sure to be another exciting conversation, and the LED Team looks forward to your feedback or participation!
Let His Light
Shine!
The Call: An LED Team Update
By Kip Wolf We are continuing to work in our gifts to IGNITE the Light and expand the kingdom at New Holland. The LED Team continues to guide us to keep our eyes on the Vision and Mission of NHUMC, and track our progress as we see God’s blessings bestowed upon us. The LED Team has refocused us on the Vision and Mission, and enjoys an accountability relationship with the Administrative Council. In addition, the team enjoys having input and feedback from all members
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A Chance to Help a Mom And Honor a Special Lady
6 Mom’s House in Lancaster has been offering services to single parents for 22 years. They give free daycare so these parents can complete their education and provide for their children. Donations to “Mom’s House” changes two lives – forever! With the help of Mom’s House, parents have gone on to become teachers, nurses, medical technicians, physical therapists, and even engineers. The childcare facility provides milk and hot nutritious lunches for the toddlers and diapers for the babies. Mom’s House also offers parent education programs and other supportive services.
Here at NHUMC we encourage you to give a donation in honor of a special person in your life – a mother, daughter, niece, grandmother, aunt … All these donations will be compiled into a special Mother’s Day bulletin listing the names of all those you have chosen to honor or to remember. Use the special donation form in your bulletins or on the table at the bottom of the stairs to designate those you wish to honor or remember. Put it, along with your donation, in the secretary’s church mailbox or in the offering.
We received this information from Dr. Jean regarding the GRAICO Ministry in Haiti. As you can see, we were able to help 3500 individuals through our contribution in February and March. What a blessing!! DISTRIBUTION REPORT OF (AQUA JIF) FOR WATER PURIFICATION Date
Name of the school
Number kids receiving chloride solution
2/2/ 2014 2/2/ 2014 3/2/ 2014 3/2/ 2014 Total
Terre nette Roue cabrouet AM Roue cabrouet Pm National de gabriel 4
200 200 150 150 700
Total chloride solution Number of distributed family members using save water 200 1000 200 1000 150 750 150 750 700 3500
Aqua Jif is a solution of chloride (0.75% sodium hypochlorite) presented in bottled of 500 m. Manufactured in Haiti to purify water in other to fight against cholera. According to quantity of drinking water using by family one bottle of chloride solution can use for a 3 months of period. 6
Prepared by Dr Jean Marie Boisrond, Director
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March 19, 2014