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From the Pastor

April 2015

As I compose this note to you, the last accumulation of snow is departing the parking lot at Holy Spirit. Oh you can still see a few reminders of winter, especially the “March Surprise” storm of a few weeks ago. It won’t be long, perhaps even before this newsletter arrives in your mail, that the snow of this winter will have died.

Died? Yes. For some time it occupied a place in our lives. It limited our travel and connection with others. It kept other living things from prospering. But now that the snow has passed away, new growth is permitted and a new season will take root.

And the seasons go on.  We will soon be smelling flowers, planting gardens, and cutting grass. However in a few months they too will be dying. The seasons go on.

Unlike the flowers, the gardens, the grass, and even the snow, the love of God in Jesus Christ does not die. It never dies. The women returned from an empty tomb early on the first day of the week to announce that the promise of God has been fulfilled. Christ is risen they preached!

No matter the season of our lives, the love of God in Christ is present. Whatever the stress, whatever the issue, whatever the strife you may feel during the course of the year, this gospel truth of everlasting love of Jesus Christ never goes away.  As we gather for worship and service, let us remember this wonderful gift of God.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

CLIFTON D. ESHBACH

Pastor

 

Adult Education

Spring 2015

Adult Education at Holy Spirit    Spring 2015

(Adult education happens after Sunday worship, about 11 a.m.)

Once again, there will be a varied selection of topics for us to study together. Bring along an inquisitive mind and a desire to be with your Holy Spirit friends as we engage each other in  healthy conversation and learning.

(Not to mention coffee. There will be Fair Trade coffee available!)

 

April 12 & 19—Lasting Plans, Eternal Care, Pt. 2

In the fall term we discussed how to make your final plans from the perspective of the funeral liturgy. In these two weeks we’ll discuss  the same issue, but from the context of the medical and ethical decisions that need to be considered.  We will have some guidance from professionals in these fields.

 

April 26—The GateHouse

Our neighbors just west of us in the women’s facility in Mountville,  along with their men’s facility in Lititz, provide exceptional instruction and care for individuals recovering from addictions. Rebecca Hahn, director of the women’s facility will be with us to explain their mission.

 

Community Yard Sale

May 2
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

COMMUNITY YARD SALE: SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Mark your calendar now for this annual event which benefits our youth group ministries.  It’s a fun day with food, music, a possible mystery guest and plenty of bargains waiting to be scooped up by savvy shoppers.  It’s a great way to reach out to our neighbors and introduce them to Holy Spirit. This is a big event and it takes all of us to make it a success.

Here are several ways for you to get involved and help out.

* Reserve a space, set up your own table and sell all those items that have been cluttering up the garage or the clothing the kids have outgrown.

* Don’t have enough items for your own table but want to get rid of some things.  Donate them to the church’s table.  We will be accepting donations on the last three Saturdays of April from 9:00AM until 12:00PM, and Sundays after church.  Children’s clothing and toys, household items, sports equipment and small appliances in good working order are all good sellers.  Please do not bring plush toys, adult clothing or exercise equipment, none of which have sold well in the past.

* Sign up to help in setting up, cleaning up, manning the church’s table, traffic control, the kids fair or several other jobs that need to be done to have a successful day.

* Tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers about the yard sale and invite them to come.

* Pray for warm temperatures and blue skies on sale day.

* Join the Yard Sale committee.  It involves 2 meetings, a little bit of legwork, and a long but rewarding sale day.

If you have any questions about the yard sale see Bob Slade or call him at 898-8968.

 

From The Pastor

March 2015

In the days leading up to Ash Wednesday, I was privileged to have the opportunity to read something really important. After finishing my reading, I just sat quietly for a few seconds, took a deep breath, and gave thanks for what I just read.

What I had just read, at one sitting, was all forty of the devotions that appear in our Lenten devotional book. While the primary task was to make any edits that were necessary, I just marveled at the spiritual insights and spiritual depth contained in our little booklet.

In this booklet, there are prayers, meditations, text studies, poetry, and honest revelations of how God is working in your lives. I am very grateful to everyone who contributed to the book, and equally grateful to you who are spending a small part of your day reading each daily devotion.

Friends, this is what sharing your faith is all about. This devotional booklet is a perfect example of how we share our faith. You who contributed to the book as well as you who did not are capable of sharing your faith in a meaningful manner.

Therefore there should not be any hindrance to you sharing your faith with a neighbor, co-worker, friend, or family member, and then taking the next step, which is inviting them to be part of our weekly fellowship of the worship of God in word and sacrament.

This needs to happen. As we move through the remaining days of Lent and prepare for the most holy week of the year, give great consideration to your ability to share and invite. This is something all of us must do, as we share Jesus’ love in word and deed.

CLIFTON D. ESHBACH

Pastor