hings to do... and PLACES TO GO T

Drive-Thru Dinner will be held by the Willing Workers of Swamp Christian Fellowship, 390 Swamp Church Rd., Reinholds. Pickup from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. or until sold out. There is a cost.

THURS., APRIL 20 - The Ephrata Community Meal will be held at Bethany United Church of Christ, 140 East Main St., Ephrata. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and meal is served at 6:00 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meal is cancelled. Dine-in only. For more info., call Tina at 484798-0155.

THURS., APRIL 20 - The Ephrata-Reading Elks, 170 Akron Rd., Ephrata, will hold a Cash Bingo at 6:30 p.m. Kitchen is open. All are welcome. For more info., call 717-738-0920.

THURS., APRIL 20 & FRI., APRIL 21 - Akron Borough will be Street Sweeping on Thursday on the east side of Route 272, and on Friday on the west side of Route 272. Please remove all vehicles from the street. For more info., call 717-859-1600.

SAT., APRIL 22 - The Bareville Fire Company, 211 East Main St., Leola, will hold a Chicken Pot Pie Sale (by the quart), from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Take out only. There is a cost.

SAT., APRIL 22 - A

SAT., APRIL 22 - Bergstrasse Lutheran Church, 9 Hahnstown Rd., Ephrata, will hold a Spring Fling Fundraiser, between 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Benefits Helping Hand. For more info., call Sandy Lausch at 717-733-4328.

SAT., APRIL 22 - The Art of Recycle, 27 Cloister Ave., Ephrata, will be hosting a family-friendly drop-in Earth Day Extravaganza, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

SAT., APRIL 22 - Free Lunch at City Gate, 100 East Main St., Ephrata, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or while supplies last.

SAT., APRIL 22 - Bergstrasse Lutheran Church, 9 Hahnstown Rd., Ephrata, will hold a Touchstone Crystal Jewelry and Mary Kay Products Fundraiser drop-in between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Proceeds benefit Bergstrasse Lutheran Church Helping Hand (emergency fund for people in need).

SAT., APRIL 22 - Pathways will hold an Adventure Bingo Night at the Denver Fire Hall, 425 Locust St., Denver. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. Games start at 5:30 p.m. There is a cost. For more info. or tickets, call

Beth Clymer at 717-6695553. All proceeds benefit Pathways.

SUN., APRIL 23 - The Eicher Arts Center, 409 Cocalico St., Ephrata, will host Abigail’s Garden (musical trio) from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free.

SUN., APRIL 23 - Hope UMC Ephrata will hold “Wild Church” at the Hope Meadow, 3474 Rothsville Rd., Ephrata, at 5:00 p.m. For more info., email Lisa Hoefner at lisajean1953@ gmail.com.

SUN., APRIL 23 - The Ephrata-Reading Elks, 170 Akron Rd., Ephrata, will hold a Cash Bingo at 6:30 p.m. Kitchen is open. All are welcome. For more info., call 717-738-0920.

SUN., APRIL 23 - Hahnstown United Zion Church, 900 Glenwood Dr., Ephrata, will host Days of Old for an evening of traditional bluegrass gospel music at 7:30 p.m. For more info., call Harvey and Grace Sauder at 717-572-8394.

TUES., APRIL 25 - The Terre Hill Community Center, 131 West Main St., Terre Hill, will host a program about the local trolley from the early 1900s by the Terre Hill Area Historical Society, at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free.

THURS., APRIL 27 - The Ephrata-Reading Elks, 170 Akron Rd., Ephrata, will hold a Cash Bingo at 6:30 p.m. Kitchen is open. All are welcome. For more info.,

Saturday,

call 717-738-0920.

THURS., APRIL 27 - The Ephrata Community Meal will be held at Bethany United Church of Christ, 140 East Main St., Ephrata. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and meal is served at 6:00 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meal is cancelled. Dine-in only. For more info., call Tina at 484798-0155.

FRI., APRIL 28 & SAT., APRIL 29 - Fairmount will hold its 6th Community Book Sale, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, and from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at 1100 Farm Crest Drive, Ephrata.

SAT., APRIL 29 - St. Paul’s U.C.C., 133 Church St., Bowmansville, will be hosting a Flea Market/Yard Sale at 7:00 a.m. For more info., call 717-445-6256.

SAT., APRIL 29Coleman Memorial Chapel, 1980 Furnace Hills Pike, Lititz, will hold a Soup and Sub Sale, from 10:00 a.m. till sold out. There is a cost. For more info. or to pre-

Sponsored By: The Willing Workers of Swamp Christian Fellowship 390 Swamp Church Road, Reinholds, PA • 717-336-6748 Pickup from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. or until Sold Out

MENU CHOICES

TURKEY

Potato Filling w/Gravy, Green Beans, Baked Corn,

Dinners: $14.00 Each order, call 717-203-7068.

SAT., APRIL 29 - Free Lunch at City Gate, 100 East Main St., Ephrata, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or while supplies last.

SAT., APRIL 29 - A Community Yard Sale and Sub Sale will be held at the Bowmansville Memorial Park, 155 Church St., Narvon, starting at 7:00 a.m. Food will be served by the fire company. For more info. or to reserve a table, call Zach High at 610-488-2882. All proceeds to benefit the Bowmansville Fire Company.

SUN., APRIL 30 - Akron Bible Baptist Church, 45 South 9th St., Akron, will hold a Hymn Sing at 6:00 p.m. Fellowship and refreshments will follow the service. Everyone welcome. Parking is available at the rear of the church.

SUN., APRIL 30 - The Ephrata-Reading Elks, 170 Akron Rd., Ephrata, will hold a Cash Bingo at 6:30 p.m. Kitchen is open. All are welcome. For more info., call 717-738-0920.

MON., MAY 1 - The Ephrata High School Class of 1955 will meet for lunch at the Udder Choice Restaurant at 11:30 a.m. For more info., call Georgine at 717-733-4216.

MON., MAY 1 - The Ephrata Area Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting at the Eicher Arts Center, 409 Cocalico St., Ephrata. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Meeting begins at 6:15 p.m. There is a small fee to attend. The program is Plants - Favorites & Troublesome, presented by Club Members. All are welcome.

THURS., MAY 4 - The Ephrata Community Meal will be held at First Church, 68 North Church St.,

Ephrata. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and meal is served at 6:00 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meal is cancelled. Dine-in only. For more info., call Tina at 484-798-0155.

THURS., MAY 4 - The Ephrata-Reading Elks, 170 Akron Rd., Ephrata, will hold a Cash Bingo at 6:30 p.m. Kitchen is open. All are welcome. For more info., call 717-738-0920.

FRI., MAY 5 - Gospel Echoes Team Prison Ministry will hold a New Holland Banquet at Yoder’s Restaurant and Buffet, 14 South Rd., New Holland, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets required. For more info. or tickets, call Mel and Marilyn Nissley at 717-574-5990.

SAT., MAY 6 - St. Luke’s United Church of Christ, 222 North Broad Street, Lititz, is holding their Spring Bazaar, from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Food can be purchased. For more info., call the church at 717-6267100.

SAT., MAY 6 - The Schoeneck Fire Company, 125 North King Street, Denver, will hold a Yard Sale, from 7:00 a.m. to ? There will also be a Big John Nolt Chicken BBQ Dinner, from 9:00 a.m. until sold out.

SAT., MAY 6 - The

Reamstown Fire Company, 12 West Church St., Reamstown, will hold a Chicken BBQ Drive thru, from 10:00 a.m. until sold out. Halves and dinners. There is a cost.

SUN., MAY 7 - The Ephrata Lions Club will hold a Cash Bingo at the Ephrata Recreation Center.

Doors open at 4:00 p.m. Bingo begins at 5:30 p.m. There is a cost.

SUN., MAY 7 - Hammer Creek Mennonite Church, 590 Hammer Creek Rd., Lititz, will hold a Community Hymn Sing at 6:00 p.m.

SUN., MAY 7 - The

Ephrata-Reading Elks, 170 Akron Rd., Ephrata, will hold a Cash Bingo at 6:30 p.m. Kitchen is open. All are welcome. For more info., call 717-738-0920.

WED., MAY 10 -

Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community, 210 Weaverland Valley Rd., East Earl, will hold a Community Meal. Registration is not required. Meal served from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

THURS., MAY 11 - The Ephrata Community Meal will be held at First Church, 68 North Church St., Ephrata. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and meal is served at 6:00 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meal is cancelled. Dine-in only. For more info., call Tina at 484-798-0155.

THURS., MAY 11 - The Ephrata-Reading Elks, 170 Akron Rd., Ephrata, will hold a Cash Bingo at 6:30 p.m. Kitchen is open. All are welcome. For more info., call 717-738-0920.

SAT., MAY 13 - Coleman Memorial Chapel, 1980 Furnace Hills Pike, Lititz, will hold a Breakfast, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. By donation. For more info., call 717-203-7068.

SAT., MAY 13 - A Church Tour of Caernarvon Township Lancaster County Churches will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sponsored by The Caernarvon Historical Society. There is a cost. For more info. or reservations, call Yvonne Styer at 717-4455040 or 717-413-8342.

The Plumbline

By Pastor Ricky Kurth

“And, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in His hand….Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of My people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more” (Amos 7:7,8).

As we compare the two verses of this vision, God identifies the “wall” as “My people Israel.” But what did

“the plumbline” represent?

A plumbline is a tool that is used even today by masons who wish to erect walls that are perfectly straight. A simple weight at the end of a string is suspended alongside the wall as it is being constructed, to ensure that it is being built straight, and at a perfect right angle to the gravitational pull of the earth. Construction workers know that bowed or leaning walls are easily toppled (Psa. 62:3).

Since our text tells us that this “wall” that represents Israel was “made by a plumbline,” we believe the plumbline to be the Law of Moses. It was the Law that defined Israel as a nation, and its perfect code of righteousness ensured that Israel was built in accord with the perfectly upright standard of the very righteousness of God. Here in Amos 7, God is reapplying the plumbline standard of the Law to Israel to show Amos how far his nation had shifted away from the perfect standard with which she had been constructed, and why He could no longer “pass by