November 2020 Newsletter
November 2020 Newsletter
From Pastor Frank’s Desk…
Hope and fear do not go together.
We live in a strange time with the Covid virus. We have no real frame of reference outside of history. We have never experienced this before. We can read about history, but we have no substantial experience. We can look at the flu season, but that is nothing like what we are experiencing now.
Frustration, isolation, and life’s circumstances have caused tremendous tension in the lives of people today. Confusion, miss information, and politics are the icing on the cake. So how can we survive all of this while we wait for solutions?
We can be fearful and angry like many or defiant and chart our course. Neither is the way I want to go. So now what????
There are a few truths from scripture, and a few promises we can claim. The first truth I have learned that fear and hope can’t live together. If we are fearful, we are not living in hope.
Some may say well; we are called to fear the Lord. The respect and awe at the wonders of God are not the same as the fear. When we are so fearful of the virus, it can paralyze our living and faith. It is good to live and handle this virus with caution. If you live in fear every day, you lose life.
1 John 4:18 (NLT)
18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
Realize the love God has for you. Love others the way Christ has loved you. Live in that love and hope, and you will not be paralyzed by fear.
Here are a few verses that move you from fear to hope.
Joshua 1:9 New Living Translation
9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
John 14:27 New Living Translation
27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Matthew 6:34 New Living Translation
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Isaiah 43:1-3
1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Even death is not the Christian's enemy but the doorway of hope, which we pass through into paradise. The words are given to the thief on the cross; "you will be with me in paradise." Every day can be the day we walk through to paradise. One day we will.
All of these scriptures give us peace and assurance. Christ is with us in the journey. We don’t just read scripture. We invite the truths into our lives and hearts.
Psalm 23:4
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Romans 8:38-39 English Standard Version
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Give thanks in November.
Thanksgiving is coming up very soon, so maybe we should spend the month sharing things we are thankful for in our lives. Every day you discover something new to be grateful for, post on Zion UMC Facebook page. (If you don’t have Facebook share it with Tina, and she will post it.)
Let’s see if we can fill the month with statements of thankfulness. Nov 1: I will give you one now. I am thankful to God that I get the privilege to be your Pastor.
Confirmation parents meeting
Please pray for those in confirmation as we attempt to complete our confirmation journey. I want to meet with the youth one by one. We could use Zoom on the internet to accomplish the meetings. I have a movie I want them to watch and a few loose ends to finish up.
I want to establish a zoom meeting for parents scheduled for November 16 at 7:00 PM. We can talk about plans and concerns at this time.
Confirmation Class
I would love to see all of our youth begin to attend worship live on Sundays at the church or on the 9:45 AM live on the internet service. Since you want to become a church member, you should be actively participating. Attendance is a requirement for confirmation.
Contemporary Worship Service
Sunday, November 29, will be re-opening our contemporary worship service at 9:15-10:15 AM. Like everything else, we will be moving slowly and in stages.
Worship Schedule
Greeters & Ushers for November
Bruce Silar, Head Usher
Carl Belcher, Wayne Fauth,
Jay Holcomb & Jeff Miller
Counting Teams
November 1
Carl & Carol Belcher, Glenn & Kay Leiphart
November 8
Carl & Carol Belcher
Glenn & Kay Leiphart
November 15
Brian Mundis & Ryan Herbst,
Chris Lehman & Wayne Dosch
November 22
Brian Mundis & Ryan Herbst,
Chris Lehman & Wayne Dosch
November 29
Ned & Rissy Sitler
Bruce Silar & Marian Hunter
Sound System & Proclaim Operators
November 1- Brian Holzer/ NEED
November 8- Lonnie Mellinger/NEED
November 15- Keith McFarland &
Christine/Jeff Miller
November 22- Lonnie & Terri Mellinger
November 29- Brian Holzer/NEED
KWH
November 1- Cynthia Silar &
Carol Belcher
November 8- Janay DiBerardino &
Diane Winter
November 15- Cynthia Silar &
Carol Belcher
November 22- Janay DiBerardino &
Diane Winter
November 29- Worship with Parents
Adult Sunday School Teachers
November 1- Jeff Miller
November 8- Cynthia Silar
November 15- Terri Mellinger
November 22- Christine Miller
November 29- David Massa
Nursery for Traditional Worship
November 1- Vickie Leiphart
November 8- Sherri Massa
November 15- Karen Carroll
November 22- Marianne Altland
November 29- Christine Miller
Men of Zion
Christmas Project
It is that time of year when we have the opportunity to help a family less fortunate than our selves enjoy a nice Christmas dinner and some gifts. We ask that you pray for this family and that they will be blessed this Christmas season.
We will receive offerings for the project on December 6, 13 and 20. There is offering envelopes on the table in the back of the sanctuary. Please make checks payable to Zion United Methodist Church.
You all have been very generous in the past and we ask that you prayerfully consider giving to help the family we sponsor this year. Any leftover monies will be used for needs that arise throughout the coming year.
Thank you again for your willingness to serve our Lord through you giving.
It’s A Wonderful Life in Christ
EVERYTHING is different in 2020……… So, in keeping with the spirit of different; we thought we would try something “different” and fun for the Christmas celebration. Our prayer is that all Zion congregation will participate.
We will be looking at “It’s A Wonderful Life” featuring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Our Advent devotions will focus on this film classic. We ask each family to pick up a devotional during November. Devotions start November 29. If you are not attending worship in person, e-mail or call the church office at 717-252-1800 and we will mail you a devotional.
Our worship and décor will focus around “It’s A Wonderful Life In Christ.” Have fun with your family preparing for Christ’s birth.
DID YOU KNOW??
The church has a very nice library! There are books about Jesus, books about other people in the Bible, books about different books of the Bible, books about Christian Living, Devotional books, Biographies, books on Prayer and Comfort, books on Social Issues, books authored by different Evangelists, and there are 2 whole bookcases of fictional religious stories. There is also a small bookcase devoted to religious stories for children. So, if anyone is looking for something to read during the fall and winter months, come on over to the church between 9 a.m. and noon on any weekday and check out a book from the Library. Please use the side entrance, ring the bell and Tina will let you in. To take a book out of the library, we are doing it the old-fashioned way! Just fill out the card in the back of the book and place the card in the box on the counter. When you return the book, place the book in the basket, and I will put it back. If you have questions, call Brenda Holcomb at 717-252-6092.
UMW
The November 17 United Methodist Women's meeting will be held in the church sanctuary at 7:00 PM. We will have a Bible study and complete a run-through of the November 22 Thank Offering service.
This year's Thank Offering Service will be held on Sunday, November 22 during the 10:30 worship service. Each year the United Methodist Women have a special offering to support United Methodist missions throughout the world. There will be Thank Offering envelopes available on the table at you enter the church on November 15 and 22 if you want to give a gift to this missions program. Please place your gift in an envelope and place it in the offering plate either of those two Sundays.
Adult Choir
Adult choir rehearsal will be held on Wednesday, November 4 at 6:35 PM. In addition, the choir will rehearse on Sunday morning, November 8 at 10:05 AM prior to the 10:30 worship service and on Wednesday, November 25 at 6:35 PM prior to the 7:00 Thanksgiving Eve service.
River’s Edge News
Eastern York Food Pantry Needs: Mac and Cheese, boxed potatoes, Hamburger Helper, canned meat and canned vegetables. Do not need corn.
Phoebe's Closet Needs:
Boy's Clothes: sizes 2T to 14/16 (shirts and pants)
Girl's clothes: sizes 4, 10-12, 14-16 especially
Baby clothes: sizes 0-3 months
Men's shirts: sizes S, M, L & XL; pant sizes 36, 38, 42 & 44
Women's tops: some Large; especially XL
Coats: all sizes
Blankets
Project Toy Box:
River's Edge will be collecting gently used or new toys as we have in the past through November 23. Please place your toys in the box in the back of the church. If you would like me to pick up the toys, please call Brenda Holcomb, 717-252-6092 and I will come and pick them up. Thank you!
MINUTES OF THE MINISTRY COUNCIL
ZION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5. 2020
Meeting held via Zoom Meetings: Welcome and Prayer by Bruce Silar
Minutes: Following a motion by Cynthia Silar and a second by Christine Miller, the minutes were approved as presented.
Family Ministries/Children’s Ministries: Outreach – Terri Mellinger: Trunk or Treat: plans are underway; we have members of the community and of the church participating. Christmas activities are still undecided. We will definitely have a tree lighting, but unsure of Breakfast with Santa,
Youth Fellowship – Lindy Holzer: Prayer Partners meeting was on Sunday, October 4th. Thank you to Cynthia for organizing. We have 17 adults participating as Prayer Partners,
Corn maze on Saturday, October 10th; 22 kids and 7 adults are signed up.
Children’s Ministries/Kid’s Worship/Sunday School: Andrea Gemmill/Janay DiBerardino – Schedules have been handed out for KWH through the end of the year. We will be using “Jesus family tree” activities during the month of December. Packets will be sent home. We will use the kid’s sermon activities during KWH.
Adult Education: Ferne Gochnauer- Setting up next year’s schedule.
Congregational Care – Christine Miller Has been doing some visiting, to those that are comfortable with visitors.
United Methodist Women – Laurie Herbst: Thank Offering Service will be Sunday, November 22.
Men of Zion – Bruce Silar: Will be speaking to the men about sponsoring a “trunk” for the upcoming “Trunk or Treat” on October 24. They will be working on their Christmas project in the near future also.
Worship – Cynthia Silar: Advent devotionals based on the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life”
Complaints about the contemporary music in our service. People would like something a bit more upbeat.
Library: Brenda Holcomb:
Bible Adventure: Elaine Hengst – 21 kids last week
New Song: Maybe we should have a meeting for those interested in beginning this service again.
Next meeting: November 2
MINUTES OF CHURCH COUNCIL
ZION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020
Zoom meeting:
Pastor Frank: Welcome, and prayer specifically for Lee Silar’s family
Minutes: Terri Mellinger – Approved as presented
PPR: Terri Mellinger: Next year’s salary. This committee is recommending a 3% raise for the Pastor and 50 cents per hour for Tami and Tina. Elaine is still happy being a volunteer.
Trustees: Mike Herbst –
LED sign: Mike has contacted Creation Cabinetry for a price on an LED sign, $9500.00
A/C for the parsonage: still a project in progress.
Sound and video system: Also in progress. We will need to replace our wireless mics; the frequency they use has been banned by the FCC. Brian Holzer is working on some quotes for different levels of sound and visual equipment.
Front door and windows for painting. Lance Curtis has completed the job. Mike reported he went above and beyond, as usual. Everything has been caulked, repaired and painted.
Zion House: chimney liner will be replaced within the next few weeks.
Finance: Carl Belcher - Treasurer's Report: Approved as presented.
$4000.00 payment made on loan principal
Pastor Frank: Contemporary service: There was a meeting for those interested in resuming the Contemporary Service on Sunday. After some discussion it was decided by this Council to resume that service on Sunday, November 15 beginning at 9:15AM. We will have someone lead the service through music and prayer. At 9:45 the Pastor will be streamed on the screen as he does the Facebook Live sermon for those that aren’t attending a service. We are aware this isn’t the most ideal solution, those that attend this service made that clear at the meeting on Sunday. However, this was the best solution we could come to at this time. Hopefully, in the future, we will be able to come to a better solution for all involved. With all the restrictions we are under right now due to Covid 19, we feel we are doing the best we can at this time. Nothing has been decided for the children during this early service.
Cleaning spray equipment: not enough information
Charge Conference will be Monday, October 26 at 6:30.
November Birthdays
November 2- Isaiah Farleman
November 7- Keira Fryberger
November 9- Cindy Helton, Danielle Savary, & Ryan Herbst
November 16- Jane Haines & Donna Stott
November 17- Kay Leiphart
November 20- Randy Elfner & Julia Ann Stein
November 22- Tami Morningstar
November 23- Dave Stein & Peyton Farleman
November 25- Jack Putt
November Anniversaries
November 10- Eric & Angie Tome
November 18- Frank & Roberta Tome
November 22- David & Spring Gipe
November 25- Lynn & Wanda Haines
November 26- Jeff & Christine Miller
