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First News
First Reformed United Church of Christ 40 East Orange Street Lancaster, PA 17602
FirstReformedLancaster@gmail.com 717-397-5149 www.firstreformedlancaster.org
September 2018
From our Bridge Pastor
Dear Members of First Reformed Church,
Thank you for the “welcome” cake and altar flowers you shared with me on September 9. I am looking
forward to our sharing together in faith and ministry!
I am suggesting we do so under the same theme I suggested to Trinity, East Petersburg, twenty-eight years
ago:
CATCH THE VISION and SHARE THE JOY!
This seems appropriate since God has placed us in the heart of Lancaster City to be a beacon of light wit-
nessing to God’s extravagant love, welcoming all persons, feeding the hungry, and extending our Lord’s
invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (St.
Matthew 11:28)
The hungry long for more than physical food and our Lord calls us to share both physical food and the
Bread which gives eternal life! Whenever and wherever this happens, joy bursts forth!
Who are the hungry? If we are honest, the only correct answer is: ALL OF US!
This has been the mission of First Reformed Church for almost 300 years and God continues to call us to
Catch this Vision and Share this Joy in the heart of our city with our members, our neighbors, and the
strangers who may become our friends! We never know who might come through our doors or encounter
us next!
The faith tradition of our church is a positive affirmation of God’s healing, transforming, loving presence,
which makes all things new!
Just as the city which surrounds us is coming alive with concern and care for the poor and homeless and is
experiencing rebirth with new buildings, new restaurants, art galleries, condominiums, new people, and
the redevelopment of the Lancaster Square, so is the church being called to Catch the Vision God has for us
and the people of our city.
Continued next page
Pastor Harry’s contact info: Phone: 717-627-3672 Email: hgroyer@windstream.net
Parish News
From Our Bridge Pastor (continued)
By catching the vision we move beyond problem solving and we encounter what the prophet foretold:
“God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young
men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17)
I invite all members of First Reformed, active and inactive, to join us as we Catch the Vision and Share
the Joy!” Join us in mission and ministry.
In Christ’s love,
Pastor Harry
Dear Pastor Harry,
WOW! I just crawled out of your suitcase when we returned from vacation in August and heard you talk-
ing on the telephone to the Conference Minister. It was something about helping First Reformed Church
in Lancaster.
Before I knew it you were meeting with Bill Groff, Jim Chryst, Linda Esbenshade, and Bonnie Van Tassel-
Parent. And then there we were – in the heart of downtown Lancaster! I heard them call you a “Bridge
Pastor.” Does that mean you build bridges, or that you serve as pastor in the time between the leaving of
the former pastor and the election of the next one?
All I can say is the church is BEAUTIFUL with lots of places to explore! I promise to stay out of sight so that
I don’t frighten folks, but I want to discover what all the activity is about. Let’s see there are meals every
Tuesday and Breakfast every Saturday for the hungry; 12-step programs for 3 groups; a Haitian church in
the Educational building on Sundays; fellowship time with good food after worship; Choir on Thursday,
and more. I’ll have to keep an eye on the calendar to know when to keep out of sight!
Please tell Bob, the sexton, Pastor Dana, and Elaine that I am the friendly church mouse! And tell Larry
Hershey that I love the music and the new sound he hears is my joyful singing – not something wrong with
the organ!
I’ll keep in touch and share thoughts with you from a church mouse’s point of view!
SEE YOU IN CHURCH!
Squeakie
the friendly church mouse
(NOTE: Squeakie came alive years ago when St. John’s needed an editor for the newsletter and he contin-
ued through the years at Trinity, East Petersburg.)
Page 2
From Dana’s Desk
….. from a prayer book
Actually, this is from a Book of Prayer from my library. It’s titled 2000 Years of Prayer, edited by Michael
Counsel 1999. From the introduction to the First Four Christian Centuries, are these words:
“We can watch the development of the life of prayer in the writings of the Christians between
the New Testament and the end of persecution by Emperor Constantine, usually called the Early
Christian Fathers. Although they were no more sinless and perfect than Christians at any other
period, they were free of the temptations that come with power, and they continued the task
which St. Paul had begun of applying the Hebrew religion of Jesus to the Greek-speaking Roman
Empire.”
In light of that, here is a prayer of Clement, Bishop of Rome, written in a letter to the church in Corinth in
the year 100. What strikes me is the timelessness of these prayerful words for us, lo, 2000 years later.
“God, the origin of creation, open our eyes to know you and place our hope in you, the highest
and the holiest. You put down the insolence of the proud, and scatter the plotting of the na-
tions; you lift up the humble and lay low the mighty; you make some rich and make others
poor, kill some and bring others to life; the God of the spiritual and the material worlds; you
see everything that happens; you are the helper of those who are in trouble and the Saviour of
those in despair; creator and overseer of every spirit; you cause nations to grow, and you have
chosen from all the world those who love you through Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, through
whom you taught us, made us holy and honored us. Lord and Master, help us and rescue all
those who are in trouble; have mercy on the lowly; lift up those who have fallen; reveal your-
self to the needy; heal the ungodly; convert those of your people who have gone astray; feed
the hungry; release those of our number who are in prison; give power to the weak; encour-
age the faint-hearted. Let all the nations know that you are God alone, and Jesus Christ is your
Son, and we are your people and the sheep of your pasture. Amen.”
…. indeed, a prayer appropriate for the year 2018?
Pastor Dana’s contact info: Phone: 717-625-4551 Email: drs52@dejazzd.com
Page 3
Parish News
Pastor Harry’s Schedule In Our Prayers
Pastor Harry will be in the office from 10 to 12
We hold in our prayers:
every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Carroll Barton, Mary Brocco, Deb
If you know someone who needs a visit or If you Burke, Carol Connor, Darlene
have a question or concern, please speak with Christiansen, Ron Christiansen,
Pastor Harry directly. His home telephone is: Kevin DePrefontaine, Joanne
717-627-3672. Please leave a message if he is Eby, Kathy Gilchrest, Mary Jo Grimm, Pat
not there. Harbaugh, Sue Henry, Arlene Holbein, Kay
Hughlett, Etta Irwin, Frank Lantz, June Lantz,
Bill Moore, Ruth Moore, Jo Ann Peppler, Anne
Rankin, Relda Pond, Mary Anne Remley, Barry
Neighbors in Need Snodgrass, Jr., Janet Spotts, Jeanne Sullivan,
Michael Turner, Shirley Urban, Paula Wagner,
Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a UCC
Kathy Warns, Louise Williams and Solomon
special mission offering that sup-
Witmer.
ports ministries of justice and com-
passion throughout the U.S. One-
third of NIN funds support the Council for
American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of
Join us for lunch at Isaac’s
On Sunday, October 7, 2018, ISAAC’S DOWN-
the offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and
TOWN BAR & GRILL is hosting a fundraiser from
Witness Ministries (JWM). This year’s NIN offer- 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. benefiting
ing will be received on October 7 as part of the First Reformed Church. Bring
World Communion Sunday observance. Please your family, friends, and co-
find NIN offering envelopes in your envelope workers and enjoy a great
book or in bulletins on October 7. For further meal. Twenty-five percent
information, please contact Linda Peterson of (25%) of the cost of your meal will go directly to
the Outreach Team. First Reformed. We hope you will come out and
join us! You will need the form on the next
page, in the weekly bulletin or from the church
office.
Want to help us earn even MORE? Add an
Isaac’s Gift Card to your check and 15% of the
gift card sale will be added to the fundraiser!
Page 4
Parish News
JOIN US FOR OUR
“Community Day” FUNDRAISER
On Sunday, October 7, 2018, ISAAC’S DOWNTOWN BAR & GRILL is hosting a
fundraiser benefiting First Reformed Church. Bring your family, friends, and co-
workers and enjoy a great meal. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the cost of your
meal will go directly to First Reformed. We hope you will come out and join us!
WHERE: Isaac’s Downtown Bar & Grill
25 N. Queen Street
Downtown Lancaster (in the Fulton Bank Bldg.)
Call 717-394-5544 for takeout orders.
WHEN: Sunday, October 7, 2018. 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
HOW: Bring this flyer with you or show it on your phone, complete the information, and hand in when
paying.
This form can be used for Dine-In, Takeout &
Online Orders at www.isaacsrestaurants.com.
Please complete this information for your server.
Use coupon code FUND for online fundraiser orders.
Name:______________________________________________
# of People in Party:___ Cost of Meal (excluding tax):_______
In order to maximize the amount of donation for the organization, we ask our Loyalty members to kindly re-
frain from using their number during fundraisers. Coupons, Discounts, and Loyalty Perks are not valid during
Fundraisers.
Want to help us earn even MORE? Add an Isaac’s Gift Card to your check and 15% of the gift card sale will be
added to the fundraiser! Gift card must be used on future visit.
Page 5Parish News
Who is Serving on Sunday? Boscov’s Friends Helping
It takes lot of people to make Sunday worship and
faith formation go smoothly. There is room for
Friends Shopping Day
everyone to share a talent or just time. If you can One Day Only October 16, 2018
fill one of these slots, please call Elaine in the Purchase your Shopping Pass for $5.00 from Judy
church office. Training is available. Ames or Carol Martin. This pass entitles you to
Bell Ringer (tower bells) Lectors receive a 25% discount on all your purchases for
Bulletin Folders (Friday) Money counters (Monday) one day only, Tuesday, October 16. (The store is
Communion Assistants Nursery substitutes opening one hour earlier this year at 8:00 am.)
Greeters and Welcomers Ushers
There are a few exceptions listed on the reverse
side of the pass. These exceptions allow a 10%
discount on certain items. The entire $5.00 from
each pass purchased will be designated for the
Grocery and Gift Card Update operating budget. Mark your calendars now and
Aa you probably know by now, Darrenkamp’s will prepare to do some early Christmas shopping!
close their stores in Lancaster County. The Willow The proceeds will go to the prayer room and gen-
Street store will be sold to Giant during the Novem- eral operating budget. If you have any questions,
ber time-frame. please contact Judy or Carol. Passes will also be
Whole Foods does not participate in a gift card available in the store from 8:00 am until noon on
fund raiser for non-profit organizations, however, October 16.
the parent company Amazon does have the “smile”
program, in which many of you participate.
Wegman’s has elected not to participate in a gift
card program in Lancaster. A spokesperson for In the Hospital?
Wegman’s informed me the only store in their When you are in the hospital,
chain that sells the gift card is Downingtown, how- please be sure to let the church
ever they may evaluate after the store is open in know, especially if you are ad-
Lancaster. mitted during the weekend.
With Darrenkamp’s dropping out, we will continue Our local hospitals are good at getting this infor-
to offer Weis, Giant, Stauffer, John Herr and Turkey mation to us, but it helps if we hear from you or
Hill. your family as well.
Any suggestions you have for other retail outlets We also want to know if you, or a family member,
would be appreciated. are seriously ill at home.
Jim Chryst
Page 6Parish News
Fellowship Schedule
Our fellowship time directly following worship is a crucial ministry at First Reformed. Our
Church Growth Team does a wonderful job welcoming new friends into our space and they
encourage visitors to stay for fellowship. This time provides everyone the chance to interact
with one another and with the new faces that join us. If you are unable to do your assigned
day, feel free to reach out to another member to see about switching. Please let the church
administrator know if you do switch. Thank you for your commitment to growing our
church and extending the hand of hospitality.
October November December
7 Audrey Shirk 4 Helen Bunteman 2 Iris Lefever
14 Rick & Joan Cashdollar 11 Alyssa Leister 9 Jen & Jeff Eaton
21 Peg Kepner 18 OPEN 16 Congregational Life Team
28 Finance Team 25 OPEN 23 Bonnie Van Tassel-Parent
30 OPEN
Ministry to Our Friends at Home
Several of our members who because of age, physical limitations and other health con-
cerns are not able to come to worship or participate in other church activities. Whether
they are physically homebound or restricted in a variety of ways, they want to feel a part
of this community that they enjoy and appreciate being included and remembered. The
Sunday School children reach out to them regularly - how about you? You are encouraged
to make a phone call, send a note, make a visit, send flowers or other goodies. They love
hearing from their “old” friends and are eager to make new friends at FRC as well. It’s a ministry we share!
Elsie Barkhimer Carroll “Bart” Barton Mary Brocco
Apt 232 936 Janet Ave. 108 Holly Ann Circle
12 Conestoga Dr. Lancaster PA 17601 Lancaster PA 17603
Lititz PA 17543 717-394-5449 717-872-5657
717-581-1402
Kay Hughlett Jo Ann Peppler Janet Spotts
210 Bank Barn Ln. 4 Conestoga Dr. 1339 Meadowcreek Ln.
Lancaster PA 17602 Lititz, PA 17543 Lancaster PA 17603
717-394-4331 717-394-9391
Dora Turner Darlene and Ron Christiansen Etta Irwin
20 N. 14th Street 655 Willow Valley Sq., Apt. L101 600 Freemason Drive – RO3
Columbia PA 17512 Lancaster PA 17602-4873 Elizabethtown PA 17022
717-342-2947 Darlene: 717-517-3423 717-361-5748
Ron: 717-464-6350
Page 7Parish News
October Birthdays
2—David Cochran 11—Elsie Barkhimer 21—Janet Spotts
2—Tara Schram 13—Jaelen Torres 22—Gordie Kraft
3—Peg Kepner 16—Phyllis Clelan 27—Richard Lawrence
5—Linda Gainer 17—Kevin Goodrich
October Anniversaries
4—Jill & Kelly Van Belle 10—Richard & Ethel Lawrence 20—Zac & Becky Kraft
6—Rick & Joan Cashdollar 12—Terry & Sandy Styer 24—Ann & Bob Hogarth
Yarn?
If you, or anyone you know, knits or has knitted
Bushel of Love and is looking for a worthy place to contribute
skeins or partial skeins of yarn no longer needed,
The food you donate to our Bushel of
the FRC Prayer Shawl Group can
Love is distributed to our hungry neigh-
make use of it. Our colorful travel-
bors by the Lancaster County Council of ing shawls on which we all work
Churches. Thank you for your generosi- use various colors and types of
ty! The October item is baby food, cereal and yarn all in one shawl - a shawl of
formula (must be within code date). Please many colors. Just bag the yarn and give it to a
place your offering in the basket in Harbaugh member of the group (Sandy Frey, Linda Gainer,
Hall. Alta Hamric, or Carolyn Dingman). New members
with knitting or crocheting hands are also always
welcomed with open arms! See one of the
above members if interested.
Everyone has a smile...
But do you have an ??? If not, you need to get one!!! Amazon will
donate .5% of each purchase.to First Reformed.
If you purchase any goods or products from Amazon, please log on to
smile.amazon.com and follow the prompts to sign up for a smiley face icon. When
they ask what charity, you input “The First Reformed Church of Lancaster PA.” That’s
all, and from that point on the Church will receive the donations from Amazon. You will even be able to
see how much your purchases mean to the Church.
If you have any problem call me and I will assist you with the setup.
Jim Chryst
Page 8Worship Participants
October 2018
ALTAR GUILD BELL RINGERS CHILDREN’S CHURCH
7—Theresa Simo 7—OPEN 7—Jeffrey Fox/Carol Martin
14—Joan Cashdollar 14—Dave, Kelly & Spencer Cochran 14—Judy Ames
21—Tara Schram 21—Jim Fisher 21—Diane Sanchez
28—Theresa Simo 28—Toni Tice 28—Tara Schram
FELLOWSHIP HOUR FLOWER SPONSORS LECTOR
7—Lunch at Isaac’s Downtown 7—Jim Chryst 7—Vivian Spiese
14—Rick & Joanie Cashdollar 14—Carol Martin 14—Preston Crue
21—Peg Kepner 21—Donna Smoker 21—Jim Chryst
28—Finance Team 28—Kelly Wobrak 28—Kelly Cochran
MONEY COUNTERS USHER CAPTAIN
1—Linda Esbenshade, Art Ezard 7—Sandy Schlemm
9—Peg Kepner, Audrey Shirk 14—Darlene Devonshire
15—Helen Bunteman, Gordie Kraft 21—Jim Fisher
22—Linda Esbenshade, Carol Martin 28—Art Ezard
29—Janice Morris, Art Ezard
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS SOUND TECH GREETER
October 7: Sue Wike/Nancy Crawford Linda Gainer
Judy Ames
BULLETIN SPONSOR WELCOME TABLE
Jim Chryst
Art Ezard Gordie Kraft
Carol Martin
Theresa Simo
If you cannot serve as scheduled, please find a substitute and then advise the Church Office,
either by phone (717-397-5149) or email (FirstReformedLancaster@gmail.com).
Page 9~October 2018~
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 6
Breakfast:
Apostles’ UCC
5:30 Community
Dinner: Long 7:30 Choir
Memorial
6:00 SA
7:00 AA 5:30 NA 8:00 AA
7:45 NA 7:45 NA
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Breakfast:
9:30 Diffenbach Grace UCC
9:00 Chime Choir Board
10:30 Worship with
Holy Communion
12:00 Isaac’s lunch 5:30 Comm. 7:30 Choir
Dinner: First
Reformed 6:00 SA
7:00 AA 5:30 NA 8:00 AA
7:45 NA
7:45 NA
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Breakfast:
9:00 Chime Choir Newsletter St. John’s
10:30 Worship Deadline Episcopal
5:30 Comm.
Dinner: Trinity 5:30 NA 7:30 Choir
6:30 Finance Team 7:00 Game Night
UCC
6:00 SA 8:00 AA
7:00 AA
7:45 NA 7:45 NA
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Breakfast:
9:00 Chime Choir First Reformed
10:30 Worship
5:30 Comm.
7:00 Leadership Dinner: First 7:30 Choir
Team Presbyterian
6:00 SA
5:30 NA
7:00 AA 7:45 NA 7:45 NA 8:00 AA
28 29 30 31
9:00 Chime Choir
10:30 Worship
5:30 Comm.
Dinner: First
Reformed
7:00 AA
7:45 NAYou can also read
