October 2024 News
October 2024 Newsletter
Worship Schedule for October
October 6th - 20th Sunday after Pentecost, “Families: Jesus-style”, Psalm 8; Hebrews 2:5-18;
Mark 10:2-16. First Sunday Fellowship, World Communion Sunday & Neighbors in
Need Offering
October 13th - 21st Sunday after Pentecost, “Possessions and the Danger of Wanting and
Having Too Much”, Psalm 90:12-17; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31
October 20th - 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, “How Jesus Redefines Lordship and Greatness”,
Psalm 91:9-16; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45
October 27th - Reformation Sunday, “Meeting Jesus on the Street: Where Beggers and Saviors
Hang Together”, Jeremiah 31:7-14; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 10:46-52. Fall Brunch &
Trunk or Treat
September Consistory Notes
· Through Pastor John's research, the county has five diaper pantries. None knew others existed. We may look at gathering hygiene products for seniors later.
· Brunch - October 27 - Table service & Drink provided. Please bring a dish to share.
· Trunk or Treat - October 27 - 1:30 - 3:30 Decorate your cars and hand out treats. Feel free to dress too!
· We will celebrate Harvest Home on November 10th. Proceeds will be donated to Hope's Haven.
· We are working with Susquehanna Sound & Video to replace one handheld and 5 lapel microphones on a legal frequency. The purchase will also include an expanded rack if more lapel microphones are needed later.
Wednesday Evening Bible Study, 6:30 – 8:00 PM
· October 2- Acts 7:1-60
· October 9- Acts 8:1-40
· October 16- Acts 9:1-31
· October 23- Acts 9:32-10:48
· October 30- Acts 11:1-12:24
Fall Rummage Sale Wrap-up
To all the bakers and soup makers, movers and shakers, checkers and baggers, sorters and sorters some more, givers and servers, sellers and socializers, lifters and carriers, cleaners and boxers, to all of you who supported the rummage sale in any way, thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU! The fruits of your labors enable us to share God’s love locally and around the word. The numbers: Rummage Sale - $4,956. Bake Sale - $601.50. Soup Sale - $420.
Nursery Volunteers
Volunteers are available to care for your child in the nursery every Sunday after the Children’s Time until the end of the service. Parents and caretakers are welcome to send their children to the nursery during that time. All volunteers have appropriate clearances. If you would like to participate in this ministry, please contact Diane Hackenberg.
The volunteers for October are: October 6 – Diane Hackenberg; October 13 – Michelle Owens; October 20 – Bonnie Dodge; October 27 – Kathleen Swartzlander.
Prime-timers
Prime Timers for October will be at East Side Diner on the 24th at 12:30 pm. Please sign-up at the back of the sanctuary.
All Saints Sunday
All Saints Sunday will be on November 3rd. If you have a loved one that has passed during the last year that you would like remembered on that day, please contact Pam Pfirman dreisbachsecretary@gmail.com , 570-898-9774) so that we can include them in this years’ service.
Fall Brunch
Please join us for brunch, October 27th, following the worship service. Please bring a dish to share. Table service and drink will be provided. We would love for you to remain after the brunch to decorate your cars and join in the fun of the “Trunk or Treat”!
Trunk or Treat
Dreisbach will again host a fun fall event for our young as well as those who are simply
young at heart on October 27th.
Spread the word about our “Trunk or Treat” from 1:30 to 3:30 PM at the
Dreisbach UCC parking lot.
Decorate your car and pass out treats to all the kids. Feel free to dress up too!
Fall Festival October 12th, 11am-4pm
We are in need of many volunteers to make this community event a success. We will begin set-up on Friday, October 11th at 4pm, we need individuals who are able to help move tables and heavier items from the church social room to the grove. Saturday, October 12th at 8am we will continue set-up through start of the festival at 11am. Tear down and clean up will begin at 4pm when the festival concludes. Again, we will need individuals who are able to help move tables and heavier items back into the church. Please consider where you are able to help out; Set-up, games, food stand, bake sale, pie tasting or clean-up. Please contact Judy Willow or Sharon Magyar with any questions.
Pie Contest
Calling all bakers young, old and in between to bake a pie for the Fall Festival pie baking contest. So, start thinking about which one of your favorite pie recipes you would like to take 1st place! And yes, there is prize money for the top 3 winners in each division (adult female, adult male and youth up to age 18).
Entry forms will be available Friday afternoon, October 11th in the downstairs social hall. All pies should be at the church no later than Saturday morning, October 12th by 10:30 am. For $3 taste all the pies and cast your vote for your top 3 favorites! Any questions see, call or text Sharon Rein at 570-713-9503. Good luck to all the contestants!
“Neighbors in Need” Offering
In 2024, the Neighbors in Need theme is “Mental Health Justice For All!” This years’s focus is on Mental health Justice. In 2015, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ passed a resolution to become WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged) for mental health.
A just world for all is a world where the human rights and well-being of people with mental health challenges are respected, no matter who you are or where you are in life’s mental health journey.
As you may recall, one-third of the offering supports Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds are used by Justice and Witness Ministries to provide grants to UCC churches and organizations as well as supporting a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects.
We will collect throughout the month of October. Envelopes are available at the church or simply include a note with your offering.
UCC issues appeal for those impacted by widespread destruction of Hurricane Helene
The United Church of Christ has launched an appeal and opportunities to support recovery efforts following the devastating path Hurricane Helene has left across the Southeast United States.
How to help now
The UCC Appeal for Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts invites people to offer monetary contributions toward hurricane relief, and/or to join volunteer efforts with Crisis Cleanup phone banking – which allows people to remotely assist with connecting crisis need to relief services – and for assembling hygiene and cleanup buckets.
“People want to know how to help right now when so much has been said about the devastation, and phone banking volunteering is one important way to get involved, because it allows you to connect the people who have need with the people who are able to offer immediate recovery resources,” Howe said.
She highlighted that Helene has struck almost exactly on the two-year anniversary of the destructive Hurricane Ian, which has left some still-recovering areas subject to new damage. Many of the communities impacted by Helene were also impacted by Hurricane Debby earlier this year. And hurricane season continues through the end of November.
“Recovery following Helene is going to be a long journey, and one where we stay in close collaboration with Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) to ensure that we are working in coordinated efforts to meet the needs of communities impacted and fill gaps where needed,” Howe said.
Global H.O.P.E. offers Solidarity Grants for UCC entities to provide services that meet community needs following a disaster, as well as Disaster Long-Term Recovery Seed Grants to assist disaster survivors by supporting the formation of a community-led Long-Term Recovery Group.
“Our churches often remain a presence of disaster response in their local communities long after many other volunteer organizations have left,” Howe said. “It’s a way of living out our commitment to love our neighbors.”
For more information visit, https://www.ucc.org/ucc-issues-appeal-for-those-impacted-by-widespread-destruction-of-hurricane-helene/