Shenkel October 2013 by Shenkel Webmaster

Shenkel United Church of Christ

SHARINGS AND CONCERNS October 2013

SHENKEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1580 Shenkel Road Pottstown PA 19465

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Shenkel United Church of Christ’s “The NEWSLETTER” is a monthly publication prepared, edited, and mailed by the leadership and staff to all members and friends of the church. It communicates news about our life, purpose, and mission as a Church of Jesus Christ. Information related to our partnership as a member of the United Church of Christ and wider church/community outreach is included on a regular basis. The Church is located at Unionville & Shenkel Roads in North Coventry Township.

2013 Sun

Mon

Tue

Communion

Free Love MisHome School sion Work Day at Co-op Camp Fernbrook 12:30-4:30 PM Safe Church Training after church

Quilters: 9:30 AM Church Secretaries’ Seminar CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED TODAY Consistory: 7:15 PM

Wed

Thu

Agape: 7 PM

Community Lunch Bunch: 11:30 AM

CROP Walk

Home School Co-op

Mid-Day DinPRC Meeting: ner Club: 7 PM Noon at Exeter Family Restaurant

Choir: 7 PM

Home School Co-op

Quilters: 9:30 AM

Healing Prayers Safe Church Training after church

CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED TODAY

Home School Co-op Community Meal: Noon at Christ Episcopal Church

5 Work Day — Office Painting

19 Youth Group Pumpkin Carving and Hangout: 2 PM

Choir: 7 PM

Sat

Church Secre- Choir: 7 PM taries’ Seminar CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED TODAY

Fri

Card Making Class: 10 AM Choir: 7 PM

26 Youth Halloween Party: 2-4 PM

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1580 Shenkel Road, Pottstown PA 19465 610.326.3535 Email: shenkelucc@aol.com www.shenkelucc.org Office Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs. 9 AM to 1 PM

Pastor Bonnie L. Moore 484.524.8280

CONSISTORY OFFICERS President Jeff Graef Vice President James White Secretary Lynne Moyer Treasurer Ken Bevan

Attention Shenkel Sunday School teachers and those who work with our youth…. Did you know Shenkel has a Safe Church Policy designed to help protect our youth as well as our leaders? Did you know that Safe Church training is REQUIRED for those working with our youth? If you work with Shenkel youth in any capacity and have not taken the 3045 minute policy orientation course, please plan to attend on October 6 or October 20, 2013 following the late church service. Thanks for helping to keep Shenkel UCC a safe sanctuary for our precious kids!

Financial Secretary Chris Gray Assistant Financial Secretaries Doug Allen Director of Music Ministry Rev. Douglas R. Holder Elders

Please consider

signing up to teach the children of Shenkel during our Sunday School time this year! We are still in need of a PreK teacher for December and several months in the spring. This group now uses easy, fun, NEW curriculum requiring little planning time. We are also in need of 3 more teachers for the Spring in the Kids in the Move rotation program. Please see Julie Zachesky as soon as possible if you are able to lend a hand!!!"

Sherri Mocarski

Birdies for Boots

Lynne Moyer Bill Faust Chris Gray Gary McDermit Deacons Jeff Graef Aaron Gray James White Andrew Foss Rick Viti

There will be a Charity Golf Tournament, Dinner and Silent Auction Monday, October 14th at Applecross Country Club in Downingtown. Proceeds from “Birdies for Boots” will benefit “In Ian’s Boots” which gives shoes and boots to those in need, to the Glory of God and in honor of 12 year old Ian Miller who passed away in January 2010. You don’t have to play golf to attend the Dinner and Silent Auction! For more information, visit www.birdiesforboots.org. Please help us to help others in Jesus’ name! Newsletter Editor: Judy Embriani

Assistant Editors: Bill Baseley, Erika Augustine, Carol Lykens

SHENKEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

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Marilynn Abraham (Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Egypt) 6

NEED SPONSOR

Lay Leader: Carol Pearson

Early CUL: Rick Viti Late CUL: Jim White

Communion Officiant: Rev. Douglas Holder

Bob and Barbara Brown

NEED SPONSOR

Osmond Mbaeri (Nigeria) Lay Leader: Dave Derman

NEED SPONSOR

Randy Berriker Leading whole service

NEED SPONSOR

Seungmin (“Patrick”) Baik (South Korea) Lay Leader: Gary McDermit

“Flours” is a collection of pantry items or a monetary donation of your discretion to the Cluster. If a cash donation to the Cluster is made, a wheat arrangement will be placed on the altar. Altar flowers are $30.00 and bulletin dedications are $6.50. Food Sculptures are also gladly accepted. Now you can also dedicate the weekly Choir Anthem with a donation of $30. With ever-increasing costs of choral music, this sponsorship will help stretch our budget and continue to bring quality music to Shenkel. Dedicate your anthem to someone special, an event in your life, or just to the fact that you love music. Thank you for this needed contribution to Shenkel. Blue envelopes are in the Narthex for your sponsorships. There are many dates open for sponsorship and dedication during this and the upcoming months. Please complete one of the special flower/bulletin/anthem envelopes below the sign-up chart, enclose your payment, and either put it in the collection plate or in the Secretary’s box by the office door. You should sign your name on the chart in the narthex by the appropriate date after you have completed your envelope.

Early: Barb Sweinhart and Judy Gergle Late: The Dushanko Family Early: Jody and Joel Sweinhart Late: Sherri and Ben Mocarski Early: Jesse and Barb Painter Late: Ed and Faye Pedrick

Shenkel UCC celebrates the sacrament of Holy Communion at both services on the first Sunday of each month. Each time communion is served, some of the bread and non-alcoholic wine that has been consecrated at the altar will be saved in a traveling communion kit, ready to go to the homes or hospital rooms of members who were unable to be present, and would like to receive the sacrament. Please let Bill Faust (in Pastor Bonnie’s absence) know if you, or someone you know, would appreciate “distancecommuning” with their Shenkel Church family!

ADMINISTRATIVE NEWS….

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September Consistory Highlights: Received “thank-yous” from Phoebe Ministries for our $55 donation and a thank you from the cluster for hosting their August Meeting We discussed at length about how to fill the position of Assistant Financial Secretary. This position counts the money in the weekly offering plates and prepares the deposits. We have been blessed over the past years having Lori Sharneck in this position. Anyone interested, please contact a Consistory member. In the meantime, the Deacons will assure the job is completed each week. Heard a report about the start of our new Sunday School year and the continuing of the Kids on the Move program. This year, the Pre-K kids will now be called the “Little Lambs” and will meet separately from the rest of the kids. Received an update from the Director of Music Ministries Search Committee – our ads are still in circulation The Stewardship Committee discussed the “Raise the Roof” concert, which will be postponed until the Spring due to a couple of the bands dropping out. We finally received the final bill for the Stained Glass Windows. To date, we have raised over $22,000 towards the balance of the bill, with the remainder to be paid by a loan to ourselves, as decided at the beginning of the project. As of now, we still must raise $10,749.75. Complete copies of Consistory Minutes are available from the church office upon request.

DO YOU HAVE NEWS FOR THE BULLETIN OR THE NEWSLETTER? As of August 2013…. YTD

Current Fund

O.C.W.M

Actual

81,049.64

7,688.50

Budget

104,179.51

7,333.33

Just a reminder that all bulletin announcements should be at the church office by each Tuesday at noon to be included in that week’s bulletin. Newsletter articles must be submitted by the 15th of each month to be included in the next issue.

Recycling Reminder….Please remember that we collect only aluminum cans here at the

Difference

(23, 129.87)

355.17

church for recycling. But please continue to recycle all your other recyclables at home.

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SHENKEL LOVES TO GIVE…. The Cluster welcomes all cash, food, clothing and household donations between the hours of 9 am to 12 PM Monday through Friday.

Pantry Needs: Soup of any kind, oatmeal, canned fruit, boxed potatoes, canned pasta, stuffing, baby food, juice, and soy baby formula. Also needed are egg cartons, plastic and paper bags. Please contact Sherrie at 610-970-5995 for more information. Toiletries: Toiletries – toothpaste, soap and body wash, and shampoo/cream rinse Cleaning Products: clothes detergent, dish detergent, toilet cleaners, multi-purpose cleaners (Mr. Clean or Spic/Span) Please contact Vicki at 610 970-5995 for more information. Chaplain Office Requests: Giant print Bibles, Study Bibles The Cluster will be collecting food to fill 200 Holiday Dinner boxes. Shenkel has committed to provide 380 cans of corn to contribute to help with this collection. The collection will begin later in the fall. They are also planning their Holiday Toy Program and Shenkel has signed up for this program. We will have a Christmas tree in the Narthex and will be collecting Holiday gifts of toys and clothing. Consistory has approved these programs. The Cluster will hold a 2nd Annual Fundraising Dinner on Friday, October 4th at the Berean Bible Church on High Street in Sanatoga with the theme, “Wish Upon a Star.” Entertainment will be provided by “Sounds of Sunnybrook Dance Band.” Dinner will be provided by Bause Catered Events. Tickets are $40. Call the Cluster at 610 970 5995 for invitations if you have not received one in the mail and would like to attend.

Please Consider Leaving Your Footprint Last month we rolled out a beautiful new brochure prepared by the Stewardship Committee inviting members to consider including a bequest to Shenkel UCC in their wills. What is a bequest? Why should you consider doing that? How will Shenkel benefit? These and other questions are answered by the “Leaving Your Footprint” brochure! If you weren’t here to receive one, they will be available in the narthex as well as from the church office. We hope you will consider this way of making a statement that you believe in and care about the mission of Shenkel UCC! Note: If you’re comfortable sharing that you have chosen to include Shenkel in your will, please let the church office know. You do not need to share the amount or percentage you have included, and your names will not be shared with anyone except Pastor Bonnie. Thank you!

REMEMBER TOO: The Pottstown Cluster Food Bank collection at Shenkel is the 1st Sunday of each month. Please place your items in the large plastic bins in the narthex. AND...Please bring in your used cell phones and empty ink cartridges and place them in the box across from the nursery, or in the box located on the coat rack shelf across from the office. The cartridges are recycled to Staples and the church receives credits toward the purchase of office supplies. The used cell phones are given to the police department to be distributed to abused women. During the month of October, we will be receiving the Neighbors in Need offering, which supports the United Church of Christ’s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. On October 13th , we will be receiving the Bill Boyer Memorial Scholarship Offering. Please be as generous as you can.

SAVE-A-TAPE PROGRAM This is the easiest way to help our church financially. Just ask for a Save-A-Tape card at the customer service spot at your local Redner’s store. Show your card at the register when you check out, then bring your register tapes to church and deposit them in the box in the Narthex. These tapes are collected routinely, presented to the store, and Redner’s donates a percentage of your total purchase to the church. Be careful to bring your tapes in regularly instead of saving them at home, as they do expire if not redeemed within a certain time period. Also, please return the entire register tape. Redner’s will not accept any register receipt that has any part of it removed. In September, the office received a check from Redners in the mail in the amount of $204.78!! BIG MONEY….EASY!!! Keep bringing those register tapes in and Thank You, Redner’s!

BULLETIN BOARD…. CARD MAKING CLASS The card making class usually meets on the third Thursday of each month at 10 AM, but this month, due to scheduling difficulties, they will meet on Thursday, October 31st.. The cost of the class is $8.00 which will provide each of us with three beautiful cards. To ensure there will be enough materials prepared for everyone, please call Ann Baccari at 610-953-3278, or Connie Armbruster at 610326-6516 if you plan to attend. Hope to see you on the 31st!

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Mid-Day Dinner Club Shenkel's Mid-day Dinner Club meets at 12 noon on the third Tuesday of each month – and you’re invited to join us! The next meeting date is Tuesday, October 15th, and we’ll be eating at the Exeter Family Restaurant. The Mid-day Dinner Club is open to young-at-heart adults of any age who enjoy eating out and would like to get to know other Shenkel members a little better. Call the church office if you’re able to join us!

Prayer Shawl Ministry

SHENKEL QUILTERS The Shenkel Quilters will meet in the month of October on Tuesday(s) the 8th and the 22nd at 9:30 in the church social hall. Margie Allen This is a special wish for Charlotte...."We sure do miss you!"

COMMUNITY LUNCH BUNCH Thursday, October 3, 2013 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM COME ONE, COME ALL… FOR: Lunch,* fellowship and a program good for all of us! This month, Valli Heist, renowned author, will be with us to talk about how to keep your homes free from clutter. Want to be organized? Be there! It should be a fun time for all. *All participants are asked to contribute $6.50 to cover the cost of the lunch. Please see or call Ruth Klein at 610-326-4520, or call the church office at 610-326-3535 by the Monday prior to the program to reserve your spot.

Shenkel UCC’s Prayer Shawl Ministry is happy to provide anyone in need of comfort with a beautiful prayer shawl. If you know of someone who would benefit from one, please call the church office. They also make baptismal blankets. Anyone who likes to knit or crochet is encouraged to help with this wonderful ministry. If you have any questions, please speak to June Hartung at church, or call the church office at 610-326-3535.

FOR ART’S SAKE….. Amy Shenk is asking for donations of pottery such as tea cups, flower pots, bowls, vases, etc. to be used for a special art project with our Sunday School classes this October. Please understand that any donated items will not be returned, so chipped pieces would be ideal. The more colorful the items, the better! Please bring your old items in as soon as possible since the project will begin the first week of October, but items will be accepted until October 20. Look for the box in the narthex to deposit your donations, and watch for their transformation into a “forever-Shenkel thing” at the end of October.

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STEWARD’S CORNER Guess what? I got a letter in the mail!! And it was addressed to “The Steward”!!! Wow, do you know what that means? I looked it up in the dictionary and this is what it said: “A person put in charge of the affairs; one who acts as a supervisor or administrator”. Who me? Steward? I think I like being the church mouse better, and letting all of you be stewards for Shenkel church. I guess now you are wondering who wrote me a letter? I'll give you a hint – This is a very intelligent gent whose favorite part of Shenkel's newsletter is MY Page”. But he does read it all and likes to find out how his daughter is doing as our pastor. So I'll let you know what he wrote to me. Dear Steward, First of all, excuse my handwriting for I have some paralysis in my right arm and hand so I thought I would try a short note. I hope you can read it. I enjoyed the article in the newsletter and I have looked all around for the person you described. I sure enjoyed meeting all of the Shenkel family and then talking with a good many of you. I can understand why Bonnie describes you as her new family. She has been very fortunate to have become a part of the Shenkel family. Hope you can read this note. Glad to meet you. HENRY P.S. Wasn't that a nice letter from Bonnie's proud father? Henry, I liked getting a letter from you, and it was worth sharing with the whole Shenkel family! Wasn't that kind of me? Steward

HEALING PRAYERS The third Sunday of each month is a time for prayer and anointing. Healing Prayers are offered during all services on that day for anyone who desires individual prayers or prayers on behalf of another in need. The Prayer Chain list is continually being updated. Request for prayers should be placed in the prayer box in the Narthex, or get in touch with any member of the Wholeness Committee. Prayer requests will be carried for one month. If anyone is interested in ministering on the Prayer Chain, please contact Ann Baccari or Freda Wanner. Members of the Wholeness Committee are: Ann Baccari, Ted Gray, Tootie and Louise Hine, June Hartung, Carol Stubbe and Freda Wanner.

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS Held every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM in the social hall October 6 - Marilynn Abraham (Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Egypt) October 13 – Minister Osmond Mbaeri (Nigeria) October 20 - To be announced October 27- To be announced

PLEASE NOTE……. Upcoming event with Temple UMC Annual Fall Fest:

Come One, Come All…. The Property Committee will be running two work days in the fall to beautify the grounds and perform maintenance on both the church and the parsonage.

Held at Temple Pavilion on Saturday, October 12, 2013. Looking forward to seeing many of you there. It’s a great time for fellowship with our friends from Temple UMC and the community. All are welcome.

On Saturday, October 5, we will be painting the church office and Pastor Bonnie's office. We would really appreciate your help. On Saturday, November 2, we will attack demolition, drywall, spackle, tile, and caulking projects at the parsonage along with cleaning up the leaves and sticks around the church. Please come out for as long as you can and help us maintain our church. It is always very rewarding! Speak to Bill Faust for more information.

UPCOMING EVENTS October: 13th: Crop Walk (Gary will have our envelopes and information) 19th: Pumpkin Carving/ Hangout: 2 PM 26th: Halloween Party: 2-4 PM

November: (No date set): Shack-a-thon 15th -17th: Fall Youth Event 23rd: Laser Tag

You are invited….

JAZZ CELEBRATION XXIV A Service of Jazz Music Sunday, October 20, 2013 at 7 PM at Cedarville United Methodist Church Family Life Center 1092 Laurelwood Road Pottstown, PA Featuring seven wonderful local musicians For more information, call 610-326-4173

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If you have any other ideas for the Fellowship Committee – things you would like to do, please let Louise Hine know your ideas. Louise Hine, Chair, Fellowship Committee

On Tuesday, October 8th and Wednesday, October 9th….. The church office will be closed. Judy will be attending a Parish Secretaries’ Seminar in Lancaster on these two days. The seminar, entitled “Many Hands Make Light Work” will cover many aspects of the daily responsibilities of the church’s office administrator. It will also include time for devotions as well. Hopefully, she will come back to work better equipped to serve us all. The office will also be closed on Thursday, October 24th, as the 24th annual “Mountain Weekend” begins for our secretary and her family.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW… On Sunday, November 24th, we will celebrate Thanksgiving with our church and community with a meal and service of thanksgiving. The event will be held in our social hall at 5 PM and will include our friends from Cedarville UMC and Temple UCC. All are asked to bring a food donation for the Pottstown Cluster.

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10/01 10/02 10/02 10/05 10/05 10/06 10/07 10/08 10/10 10/12 10/13 10/13 10/13 10/13 10/14 10/15 10/16 10/16 10/16 10/17 10/18 10/18 10/19 10/20 10/22 10/22 10/23 10/23 10/23 10/24 10/24 10/25 10/26 10/28 10/29 10/31 10/31

OUR CHURCH FAMILY AND FRIENDS…. Kutz, Kurt HOFF, GLEN Miller, Karen Kreiger, Forrest Scharneck, Ethan Knauer, Gavin Wanner, Adrianne PHILLIPS, DAVID Rogers, Gerry Stultz, Susan Painter, Laurie BRADLEY, STACIA GERHARDT-SKULSKI, JORDAN Durham, J.T. Foss, Aaron Pennell, John Faust, Lara Hudick, Katie Durham, Skyler Iezzi, Lois ELLIS, TIMOTHY Faust, Jimmy Rogers, Tyler Peterman, Roberta Heimbach, Darlene Coyne, Heather Smith, Harold Hartzell, Ann Dushanko, Cameron Yocom, Lisa Rogers, Cindy Dise, Larry Miller, Jonathan Bevan, Betsy Rice, Nick Terrell, Matt Gray, Aaron

During the month of October, Shenkel will be praying for these randomly selected members and friends of our congregation: 10/6

Mary Susan Moyer Rachel Berriker Brooke Miller Betsy and Ken Bevan Judy and Steve Comishock

10/13 David Phillips Carole and Stan Stubbe Judith Andrien Derek Painter Nancy Weaver 10/20 Cameron Dushanko Karen Metka and Joe Zogheib Alex Mocarski Logan Baker Collin Gray 10/27 Lindsey Hoff Sherri and Bob Mocarski Tammy and Keith Baker Ellen Faust Kailyn Painter A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT…. To all the folks who help me each and every week folding the bulletins, supplying me with information and assistance with anything I may need. And to all of you who have stepped up (extra) during Pastor Bonnie’s sabbatical by being available and perfectly prompt with all things vital to the church’s weekly worship services, general operation, ministry and well being, I know I am very grateful! You make my job easier, and I’m sure P.B. will be equally proud of your faithful dedication and support too! Thank you!!