Author: Church Office

I am composing this article four days before Barb and I head out on a short time of rest and vacation during the first week of February. We enjoy getting away in the wintertime. It is a welcome time to recharge after the Christmas season and before Lent begins.
I’m sure this has happened to you. The week before going away is very busy. You are working ahead so that when you return things are in place, and the daily schedule can proceed with little interruption.
The past six months have felt like one long interruption as we have had to move, pack up, throw away, and wait, and wait and wait for the fire restoration work to be completed. I’m ready for it to end. And by the looks of things, as we enter February, it will soon end (if only we can same the same about the pandemic). To get to this place, attention to detail has been necessary as well as a healthy measure of patience.
As our buildings and the groups who use them return to their accustomed rooms and schedules, here comes Lent. Some might call it another time of interruption. After all we have been on a spiritual and emotional high celebrating the birth of Christ and learning again of his marvelous ministry of the salvation of humanity.
I view Lent as another opportunity to achieve a spiritual and emotional high. It is achieved through our renewal to Christ. It is achieved by using the disciplines of Lent; prayer, fasting and the call to serve, for the raising up the good news of Jesus.
This year our Wednesday sermon series will focus upon a group of people who followed their call to serve in very different, yet faithful ways. Hearing their stories can be a help to us as we strive to follow the great commandment of Jesus, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
However you participate in our times of worship, prayer, study and service; either live or on-line, through wearing your mask, providing a box of food, a phone call, email or note, know that the risen Christ goes with you to guide as you serve in his name.
Have Lent become your time to recharge and renew. Peace be with you as you journey through this next season of God’s church.

Clifton D. Eshbach,
Pastor

The season of Lent begins with worship on Ash Wednesday, February 17 at 7 p.m.

During the following weeks of Lent, worship will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening,

The Sermon series this season is entitled:
Martyrs, Missionaries and Renewers
Throughout its life, the church has seen people, with extraordinary talents and dedication, serve faithfully and courageously in the name of Jesus. Some traveled widely, some faced unprecedented challenges, some gave their life. This year we will give thanks for, and learn a bit more about, some people who answered the call of God, and gave the gift of themselves, all for the glory of God.

February 24 Polycarp
March 3 John & Charles Wesley
March 10 Harriet Tubman & Sojourner Truth
March 17 Patrick
March 24 Oscar Romero

(As always use your discretion as to whether your health permits you to be out among a small group. We continue to practice the safe practices of wearing masks, using hand sanitizer and social distancing while in the building.)

Our focus for Hambright School children this winter is to provide “BARE NECESSITIES” which are underwear and socks for kids in need.  There will be a large basket in the breezeway to collect these items. Last day for donations is Sunday, February 28. Thank you for your concern, care, and support by providing these necessities for kids!

Donated items should be left in their packaging and placed in the basket under the poster. Social Ministry team members are happy to answer any questions you might have about this effort.

20th Annual Fasnacht Sale Drive-Thru

We will deliver them right to your car! Wearing a mask and gloves to keep you safe.

Monday February 15– 2:00 –  7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 16– 6:00 a.m. – 2:00p.m. (or until sold out)

Glazed, Plain & Powdered

Welcome to our December/January double issue.                              

With this edition we begin to put a wrap on 2020. Some would say “good riddance” to this year. I hear that. And in some areas, I’m right there with you. I think many of us will be toasting the coming new year at 11:59:59 p.m. on December 31st.

While we look ahead to next year with a degree of optimism (is there any other way), nevertheless we will still be dealing with things that happened this year. The most notable, of course, is the COVID-19 pandemic.

As I write this article, the possibility of another mandatory shutdown  lingers on the horizon. We pray that will not need to happen. But if it does, should we be surprised?

So we continue to be careful, utilize all of the necessary precautions that are known to work, and encourage others to do the same. We can do no less. God calls us to care for the neighbor in the manner in which we care for ourselves.  Let kindness rule your day.

We can look ahead that in the new year, probably by the end of January, our restoration from the September 9 fire will be completed. We are still planning that Christmas Eve worship will be in our “new and improved” nave.

In many respects this year has been like other years. We celebrated births, mourned deaths, laughed, cried and offered support where it was needed.

As we enter December, we enter into that time when we thank God for the greatest offering of all time: Jesus, born of Mary, guarded by Joseph, celebrated and worshipped by angels and shepherds. During this month we gather as families, as a congregation and as a global church. Some gatherings in-person. Most will be virtual. The time when God chose to come and be one of us, to live as one of us, but unlike us, to die and rise so that we may be connected to God forever.

During this time of recalling the incarnation of our Lord, may you     treasure God’s good news in your heart, like Mary, and glorify and praise God loudly like the shepherds.

God bless your worship in Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and throughout the new year.

Clifton D. Eshbach,

Pastor