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ST.
MICHAEL LUTHERAN CHURCH |
September 2010 Volume 33, Number 9 |
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The |
You are welcome here
with us! A RECONCILING IN CHRIST CONGREGATION |
Pastor
Hawkins writes to us –
The End of
Summer
I still remember what it felt like to be a child and have the school year come to an end. The three months of summer that stretched before me might as well have been an eternity. For me, the end of summer was so far away it might as well not have existed. The relentless passage of time was not a threat because I could just not see beyond the horizon of the summer vacation.
Of course, summer always did end. The “endless” days riding bikes, playing baseball, fishing, and just hanging out with my brothers and friends always gave way to the start of another school year. And, as the pattern of summer recess repeated over the years I began to see the shortening days of August as a threat to the freedom and fun of summer. The telltale signs that summer was coming to an end brought a subtle sadness to me that revisits my soul even to this day.
Alongside the passing remembrance of the sadness from my youth is another emotion. This emotion is different. It is the anticipation and excitement that comes with new beginnings. As we at St. Michael move from the less hectic times of summer back into the fullness of our fall activities I am eager for the return of the choir, for the return to worship of those of our flock who have been on vacation, and for the beginning of Family Promise ministry.
If you have not checked out the Family Promise display in the social hall, please do so; and, consider how you are being called to participate in this exciting and meaningful ministry to homeless families.
Summer is coming to an end; and, as always, I find some sadness in the end of those “endless” days of sun and fun. But that sadness is more than tempered by the joyous anticipation of sharing with you the tasks that have been placed before us as we faithfully witness to God’s love here in Harrisburg.
Thank you for our shared ministry.
SEPTEMBER 3 & 4 – YARD SALE, BAKE
This
year it is “3 Parts = 1 Great Fundraiser” for our annual Labor Day Yard
Sale.
Participate
and make this add up to dollars for St. Michael.
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on the bulletin board in the
Fellowship Hall. Volunteers are needed to help sell, manage bagging, etc.
"Training" will be provided by the Committee (Shirley Kramer,
Cheryl Smith and Susan Wesley). Help is needed to both open the sale and
close down. We have plenty of stuff to sell, and if it's anything like last
year, major assistance will be needed early in the morning and later in the
day. This year we are going to give St. Michael Members Only the
chance to pre-shop the event on Thursday evening from |
pre-buying will be permitted in order to give all Saint Michael members the same chance to buy. Please, please, sign up on the sign-up sheet to help. It is lots of fun, very interesting and busy! Join us in pulling off the yard sale that will benefit St. Michael. Remember, we will not be selling clothing, or having a book sale on the side.
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promote the sale of our very
own Saint Michael Chili. (Hey, we are Lutheran. Will our secret ingredient be
sauerkraut?) We are entering the Public's Choice segment of the competition.
That means, the more we promote and sell, the better our chances are to
finish somewhere other than last. It should be fun, but the real reason for
entering is to promote Saint Michael Lutheran and to reinforce our “You are
welcome here with us” statement. Contact Pastor Hawkins or John Wesley for
any questions, interest, and/or opportunities to volunteer. |
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER
12th IS “RALLY
An exciting year of learning, worship, and fellowship begins
September 12 when our fall schedule goes into effect. Each Sunday morning you are invited to share:
Learning
at
Worship
at
Fellowship
at
Sunday is the primary time when Christians gather. What we do on the first day of each week
prayerfully informs and guides our life throughout that week. The
SEPTEMBER 29 - MICHAELMAS TO BE CELEBRATED WITH EVENING PRAYER
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The Festival of Michael and
All Angels is Wednesday, September 29, and our congregation is planning to
mark this celebration of our namesake with an evening of worship and
fellowship. The Festival of St.
Michael dates back to the fifth century when a basilica near |
Our congregation is
planning a service of Evening Prayer at
Invite your family and friends, neighbors and
co-workers to St. Michael Church as we share Michaelmas and prepare for a new
season of mission and ministry.
On Rally Day, September 12, the
adult education class begins a new Augsburg Adult Bible Studies series
entitled, Christian Commitment in Today’s World. The first five sessions study Paul’s first
letter to the Thessalonians. The first
session (September 12, Visible to God, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10) will
affirm that genuine commitment is visible to others as well as to God. Session 2 (September 19, Pleasing to God,
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12) examines Christian commitment as a response to God’s
gracious work in Christ for us. Session
3 (September 26, Sustained through Encouragement, 1 Thessalonians
3:1-13) explores how the gospel is the foundation for all strength and
encouragement in faith, and how believers encourage one another in their
commitment.
Join us at
Why Sunday school? An
excerpt from the
The gospel calls us to teach and learn! While Jesus didn’t take attendance as
children and adults gathered around him or call such gatherings “Sunday
school,” his words and actions clearly teach that learning and faithfulness are
intertwined. Through baptism we are
named and claimed as God’s own. Our
daily return to baptism is a “post-it-note” reminder of who we are and how God
wants us to live. Sunday school is a
place for children, youth, and adults to hear the Bible story and to be
reminded of their baptismal identity. It
is a place for us to sense our belonging as God’s children and to grow in the
knowledge of God’s love. It is a place
where we use and discover our gifts as we learn how to be Christian disciples.
LOAVES OF LOVE
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For a number of years St.
Michael has participated in the Ecumenical Food Pantry located at |
area. Following the
favorable reaction of those attending the Soul Food program, the
Ministry to Society Committee agreed to further explore Loaves of Love with the
possibility of changing direction on the donation of food.
The committee accepted
an invitation to observe the operation located in the basement of
If anyone has a question
about the Loaves of Love program please contact Shirley Kramer, Ron Maynard or
Susan Wesley.
And
oh yes, please keep the donations coming and keep the shopping cart in the
Fellowship Hall filled!
Planning is currently underway for this annual fundraising event. Chairperson Christina Persson already has several special baskets of goodies lined up. They include two date night baskets plus a baby and a spa basket and two others from Tastefully Simple and Williams Sonoma. Donations and ideas from St. Michael members and friends are always welcome. All of the baskets will be on preview from October 3rd until the bidding Sunday, October 17. Plan to be a bidder and/or to donate a basket to make this a successful fundraiser. There will also be a "Fabulous Bagel Buffet" for all to enjoy. It is a Sunday Fellowship you won't want to miss. Additional details will be in next month's newsletter and the church bulletin.
THE FAMILY PROMISE TABLE – CLUB 274 –
VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES - CHECK IT OUT!
Family Promise of the
The table is located in the
Fellowship Hall. Stop by, spend a few
minutes, and get an informational view of the Family Promise Program. Learn how St. Michael will become part of
Nationwide and Capital Region volunteers and giving to assist homeless families
become families with homes.
See the brochures and forms for
Club 274. Its name ties into the fact that $274 will pay for one day’s
operation of the daytime part of the program. Learn how you or your group can
join Club 274.
When the first families of the
program arrive for their week at St. Michael, there will be many opportunities
for evening volunteering. These will
include preparing and serving meals, planning evening activities, and staying
overnight as a congregational host. Training schedules will be set-up, and
sign-up sheets are there for your consideration. As of now we will be hosting Family Promise
October 24th through the 30th. We know we will have a great response from
members and friends of St. Michael.
Please contact Wayne Noss or Ron Maynard if you have any
questions or would like more information.
FROM THE PROPERTY
COMMITTEE – PAINTING, DOORS & A SOUND SYSTEM
John
Wesley gives us updates on painting, side doors, and a sound system.
Have you been wondering, "Where's the Paint?” The answer is, “It is coming.” The exterior painting project, which was originally to start the first week in June, was delayed because of securing a qualified contractor. Selection and award of a contract was finalized the week of August 9, and work will commence on August 16. The contractor, Leonardo Landa, has a reputation for excellent work but as always, quality means a higher price tag. The amount of the contract is $35,000 and will extend from August 2010 to Spring of 2011. The dateline is longer than originally planned since Mr. Landa does much of his work on his own. Progress reports will be provided in upcoming Archangels. If you would like to see work-in-progress however, our contractor will begin on the west side of the church, opposite Adams Alley.
St. Michael members will also be interested in knowing that the side doors to our weekday entrance on Adams Alley will be replaced with full-view glass doors, a very welcome improvement. Those having key access will be given instructions once the new doors are installed.
Finally, the sound system that we have been "testing" for several months will be replaced with a permanent system of remote speaker devices. The big difference is that Pastor, the Lector and the Assisting Minister will each have their own microphones. There will also be speakers installed in the Nursery in the near future. Please, to all members, encourage the use of our hearing aids to all those in need.
CHRISTMAS CANDY
MAKING
For St. Michael falling leaves means it is time to begin Christmas Candy making. Lindsay Mills wants to remind us that candy making will begin the first week of October.
GOOD NEWS
BLESSINGS OF OUR CONGREGATION:
COUNCIL ACTIONS:
July 12 Council Meeting Action:
Approved the request for Pride
Fest Parade participants to use the Fellowship Hall on July 25 from
August 9 Council Meeting Action:
Approved an expenditure from the Kuhnert Bequest for funds
necessary to cover the reservation payment amount for tickets for the September
25th Sight and Sound performance to be attended by
St. Michael participants.
TREASURER’S
REPORT: June and July
June Income $5,738.35 YTD Income $244,788.37
June Expense (13,517,92) YTD Expense (76,059.61)
Difference ($7,779.57) Difference $168,728.76
July Income $8,730.90 YTD Income $253,519.27
July Expense (8,751.88) YTD Expense (84,811.49)
Difference ($20.98) Difference $168,707.78
BAPTISMAL ANNIVERSARIES CELEBRATED IN SEPTEMBER
Martin Luther purportedly began each day reminding himself,
“I have been baptized!” By water and the Spirit, each of us who are members of
the Church has been called to faithfully live as the Body of Christ in the
World. We rejoice with the following members of St. Michael Church who
celebrate the anniversary of their Baptism during the months of September:
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Nancy
Eberly |
September 1 |
Tom Pate |
September 15 |
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Kim
Lehman |
September 2 |
Sonya Mink |
September 22 |
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Mark Smith |
September 12 |
Gregory Darr |
September 28 |
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Staci Ernst |
September 13 |
Tyler Lehman |
September 29 |
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Timothy Cobaugh |
September 14 |
Nicholas Fuller |
September 29 |
September
September 5 – Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Prayer of the Day: Direct us, O Lord God, in all our doings with your continual help, that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy name; and finally, by your mercy, bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
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September 12 – Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings: Exodus 32:7–14 Psalm 51:1–10 1 Timothy 1:12–17 Luke 15:1–10
Prayer of the Day: O God, overflowing with mercy and compassion, you lead back to yourself all those who go astray. Preserve your people in your loving care, that we may reject whatever is contrary to you and may follow all things that sustain our life in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
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September 19 – Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Prayer of the Day: God among us, we gather in the name of your Son to learn love for one another. Keep our feet from evil paths. Turn our minds to your wisdom and our hearts to the grace revealed in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
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September 26 – Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Prayer of the Day: O God, rich in mercy, you look with compassion on this troubled world. Feed us with your grace, and grant us the treasure that comes only from you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
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September 29 – Michael and
All Angels
Prayer of the Day: Everlasting God, you have wonderfully established the ministries of angels and mortals. Mercifully grant that as Michael and the angels contend against the cosmic forces of evil, so by your direction they may help and defend us here on earth, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God whom we worship and praise with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, now and forever.
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You Are Welcome Here With Us!
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The StaffThe Reverend Lawrence Hawkins, Pastor Cecilia F. Price, Secretary Daniel W. Deitzel Fran Zalek, Custodian Church Office (717) 234-0092 Kitchen (717) 234-0106 E-mail stmichael@paonline.com Web Site www.paonline.com/stmike Office Hours
Monday and Friday |
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