October 2019 Newsletter
Pastor’s Message
“Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality” (Romans 12:12 MSG).
Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of this offering is used by the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects through grants. Neighbors in Need grants are awarded to UCC churches and organizations doing justice work in their communities. These grants fund projects whose work ranges from direct service to community organizing and advocacy to address systemic injustice. This year, special consideration will be given to projects focusing on serving our immigrant neighbors and communities. We will begin to receive the NIN offering on October 6, 2019 as part of their World Communion Sunday observance and continue throughout the month of October.
I hope you are taking the time to fill out the survey from Holy Cow! Your thoughts and answers will begin to help shape the vision and plan for Dreisbach as we move forward into a future that we will write and journey into together as the Body of Christ. It is an exciting time to be a part of what God is doing with our gifts and our faith community. The survey closes towards the end of the month, so please don’t miss out in helping us all. And we look forward to the future gatherings where we will see and share the data that has been collected through this process.
The Central Association churches are once again taking a day trip to Church World Service warehouse in New Windsor, MD. We will help to pack hygiene kits, disaster buckets, and whatever else we can help them with. We will leave bright and early to be down there by 9AM on Monday the 21st of October. They will feed us lunch at the warehouse, give us a tour, and then we will return home later in the day. It is a wonderful opportunity to see how this ministry is helping and supporting people all across our country and our world. If you are interested in making the trip with us and giving of your time; please contact me or the office by Oct. 13th.
Blessings and Prayers for the journey,
Pastor Nate
Worship Schedule this month:
October 6th – (Theme of Worship: Free to Grieve) 2nd Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10. We will dedicate prayer shawls for distribution. Worldwide Communion Sunday. First Sunday Fellowship. Neighbors in Need offering will begin to be collected.
October 13th - (ToW: Planting Life) Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7; 2 Timothy 2: 8-15; Luke 17:11-19.
October 20th – (ToW: Ask Boldly; Live Justly) Jeremiah 31:27-34; 2 Timothy 3:14- 4:5; Luke 18:1-8. The Praise Group will join us in worship.
Octoberr 27th - (ToW: Just Worship) Joel 2:23-32; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18: 9-14.
Look Further Ahead
November 3rd - (ToW: Transforming Love) **Daylight Savings Time Ends. All Saints Sunday, we will remember those that have passed on to life eternal in the past 12 months. Habakkuk 1:1-4 -2:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11, 12; Luke 19:1-10. First Sunday Fellowship following worship.
Vision Committee Survey
The Vision Committee is grateful the congregation approved the engagement of Samaritan Counseling Center at the Congregational Meeting on September 8th. To complete the survey, you can now access online at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/dreisbachlewisburg
Please allow 45 minutes of uninterrupted time to complete the survey. If you prefer a paper copy, these can be found in the rear of the sanctuary along with a pink instructional sheet. Completed paper surveys are to be placed in the secured box located in the rear of the sanctuary. Paper surveys will be input online in a confidential manner by the Vision Committee.
All surveys due by October 18.
Vision Committee (Diane Amabile, Bonnie Dodge, Sue Enders, Robert Pierce, John Rein, Julie Rockey, Larry Snook, Pastor Nate)
Fall Rummage Sale
Our Fall Rummage Sale will take place this week, October 3rd, 4th and 5th. Sale hours will be Thursday and Friday 9:00 am – 5:00pm and Saturday 9:00 am – 12:00 noon. Cleanup starts at noon on Saturday. Our “reruns” benefit people in our community, provide money for missions and model good stewardship of resources.
Sight & Sound Bus Trip
“Miracle of Christmas” - Due to some recent cancellations, there are now available seats for our bus trip, November 9th, 2019, to Sight and Sound. If any church member is interested in taking the trip, they should contact Pam Spangler.
Volunteers Needed
· With the arrival of fall we are once again staffing the nursery and holding Junior Church for the children during the 2nd half of the worship service. If you are willing to help out in either of these areas please check the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board outside the office or speak to Sharon Magyar for the nursery and Kara Druckenmiller for Junior Church.
· There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the back of the sanctuary for anyone interested in doing audio or video or both during the worship service. No previous experience is necessary. A training will be available at a later date from Robert M. Sides. A YouTube video will also be available plus a notebook with instructions is located in the audio system area.
· We have been discussing the importance of making people (visitors and members alike) feel welcome when they come to worship on Sunday mornings. We are planning to schedule greeters and ushers for every week. Greeters stand at the doors in the back of the church, welcome people, and hand out bulletins. Ushers collect the offering. Although these tasks are fairly simple, they are an essential part of Dreisbach’s image and outreach. Please consider either volunteering (talk to Tammy Pierce or Sharon Houseknecht) or say “yes” when someone calls and asks you to help out.
· The youth are also encouraged to help out during our Sunday worship service by either training to acolyte (7th grade and older) or ringing the bell (3rd grade and up). Please see Kathy King about becoming an acolyte or Pam Pfirman to ring the bell.
Upcoming Meetings
· The Prayer Shawl group will meet on Tuesday, October 22 at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome.
· The Prime Timers will be meeting at the Old Turnpike Restaurant, Thursday, October 17th at 12:30 pm. Come and enjoy lunch and a time of fellowship. Lunch will be dutch treat. Anyone 50 or older is welcome to join the group.
· A wrap-up meeting for the Fall Festival will take place on October 14th at 6:30 pm.
· A meeting to finalize preparation for the 3rd Annual Veterans Christmas Remembrance Celebration is planned for October 28th at 7:00 pm.
2019 Fall Festival
Don’t forget the Fall Festival, Saturday, October 12th, 11A.M. – 5P.M. Come and enjoy the day. Great food, free games and entertainment for all ages.
We still need lots of pies, other baked goods and items for the food stand. Don’t forget the pie tasting contest and scarecrow contest. Bring your entries to the church Friday evening or by 10:00 am Saturday morning. Cash prizes will be awarded!
Volunteers are also welcomed.
Please call Bev Chamra or Judy Willow.
Dreisbach Fall Festival Entertainment Schedule
11:00AM – 12:30 PM
Heart to Hand Ministries - Woody Wolfe
Woody will “roam” through the crowd playing the same feel good,
spiritual, and mainstream music selections he uses to play for kids of
all ages at children’s hospitals and beyond.
12:45PM – 2:45PM
Alex Cooke – Y’All Need Country Music
Originally from North Carolina, for the 2nd year Alex brings us a little
bit of everything to our stage playing Country, Rock, Southern Rock,
Contemporary Christian, & Praise Music.
3:00PM – 5:00PM
Soulmanna
This year we welcome this Williamsport based 5-member band
featuring guitar, harmonica, bass, and drums playing their Christian
Rock & Blues version of favorite hymns like Do Lord, Power in the
Blood, and more!
3rd Annual Wreaths Across America Celebration
The 3rd Annual Wreaths Across America Celebration will be held at 10:00AM on Saturday, December 14, 2019 here at Dreisbach. The Celebration begins with an indoor ceremony followed by placement of wreaths at all Veteran Dreisbach gravesites and concludes with an indoor reception. New this year will be a time of direct sharing with children about the significance of the Missing Man Table.
Wreath sponsorships are now being taken for placement on the 105 Veteran graves at Dreisbach, the 8 military groups we honor during the Celebration, and for taking to other local Veteran graves. Each fresh, live green wreath with a red bow is handmade by Alex Haines of Mifflinburg and costs $20 to sponsor.
------------------------------------------Cut Here, Complete, & Include with Payment -------------------------------
Name________________________________________________________________________________
Email Address_________________________________________________________________________
Street Address_________________________________________________________________________
City______________________________________State_________Zip___________Phone____________
I’d Like to sponsor _____ Veteran Remembrance Wreaths @ $20 each. My total due is $__________.
_____Check here if you are purchasing wreath(s) for placement other than at DUCC, which we gladly welcome.
____ I can attend the ceremony on December 14th @ 10AM to place the wreaths I have sponsored.
If you would like to sponsor a specific veteran grave at DUCC, please list the name below. Use the back for additional names. If no name(s) are provided, we will assign a DUCC veteran grave for you.
1. ___________________________________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________________________________
Checks made payable to Dreisbach UCC. Memo should indicate 2019 Veterans Christmas Wreaths. Place your payment in the offering plate or mail to Dreisbach UCC, C/O 2019 Veteran Wreath Project, 875 Dreisbach Church Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837.