Inside this issue:

Youth News 2

SLHC Events 3

Calendars 4&5

Caspar’s Corner 6, 7

SLHC Lectures 8

Valentine’s List 9

Community Meal 10

Special Points of Interest:

Youth News Birthdays Annual Report Lectures and Events at SLHC

Caspar’s Corner — Institution of the Sacraments, 1877 Installation of Officers Mayflower Society Pics

Brown Bag Lunch Lectures Pastor’s Pause Harvest Home Pic Congregational Meeting

Epiphany Party for All Valentine’s Day Wishes Weather Alert Information

Palm Schwenkfe lder Church

PALM LEAVES

you undertook this adven-

ture I hope that you were

blessed with both devo-

tional opportunities and

questions and challenges

from the Word of God. If

you started the journey and

kept getting further and

further behind I remind

you of the gracious love of

God, and ask that you offer

yourself some loving grace

as well. And if you thought

that last year’s resolution

was one of my strangest

ideas to date, you may well

be right, but I am sure

more will be coming up in

the future.

For me, the signifi-

cance of daily Bible read-

ing is found in the focus,

attention, and intention to

seek God, to be touched by

the Spirit, and engaged in

“For the last several years,

during the seasons of Ad-

vent and Lent, Palm

Schwenkfelder Church has

been invited to participate

in daily Scripture readings

based on the Revised Com-

mon Lectionary during the

daily time of prayer at

noon. I was delighted last

Lent within a few days of

one another, that a couple

of different people asked me

for the full list of readings

so they could keep up when

they were out of town and

unable to get the weekly

calendar from the bulletin.

Those conversations

prompted for me the oppor-

tunity to expand our devo-

tional life, and to issue a

challenge, or perhaps a

new year’s resolution, to

read the Bible in its entirety

in 2018.”

The words which open

this article are from the start

to my newsletter article for

January 2018. Some of you

took me up on this Biblical

challenge, and as I find my-

self writing this article, I am

nearing the completion of

Eugene Peterson’s Biblical

translation The Message. If

faith and faithful living.

There were days when I

had to play catch-up,

when the schedule had

gotten too hectic. There

were times when I had to

remind myself in the

midst of all my ongoing

thoughts that I was actu-

ally to be about reading

God’s Word in that mo-

ment. And yes there are

still times when I wonder

why in the world some

stuff is in the Bible in the

first place! But far more

than all of the questions

and repetition, is the gra-

cious presence of God

inviting us to an even

deeper relationship.

Biblical reading is a

spiritual practice, and not

unlike practicing for any

sport or activity, it takes

discipline, repetition, and

commitment. Spiritual

practices build endurance

for our lives of faith and

guide us upon the jour-

ney. So for 2019 I invite

you to engage in a mean-

ingful spiritual practice

for you, maybe that is

Scripture reading and

(Continued on Page 7)

Pastor’s Pause—A New Resolution

VOLUME 9, I SSUE 1

JANUARY—FEBRUARY 2019

Page 2

PALM LEAVES

Y O U T H N E W SY O U T H N E W SY O U T H N E W SY O U T H N E W S January Youth BirthdaysJanuary Youth BirthdaysJanuary Youth BirthdaysJanuary Youth Birthdays A Very Happy Birthday to…

Lily Hoffman (1/4), Ian Ross (1/5), LJ Morasco (1/14),

Dillon Reinert (1/15), Johanna Kinsler (1/25)

February Youth BirthdaysFebruary Youth BirthdaysFebruary Youth BirthdaysFebruary Youth Birthdays Andrew Pence (2/4), Samuel Pusey (2/26)

Happy 18th Birthday to Stacey May (2/6)

Please notify the church office if someone has been missed or if a date is incorrect.

It’s “that” season again; when snow, sleet, ice, wintry mix (whatever that is), and just plain old lousy weather can make

getting to church difficult, or even dangerous. So, In the event of said crappy weather, please use the following media

sources to find out if any events at the church have been postponed or cancelled.

www.palmschwenkfelderchurch.com WFMZ-TV Channel 69 www.WFMZ.com

www.facebook.com/palmschwenkfelderchurch

Thank you for a fun Fall and Christmas season.

Look for more youth fellowship events coming up in the New Year!

U p c o m i n g Y o u t h E v e n t s

Winter Rally Don’t let the cold winter get you down. We have an

exciting second half of our Sunday school year

ahead of us! Join us for a combined Youth Winter

Rally on Sunday, January 6th.

Page 3

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1

Grundsau Lodsch fer Yunge

Sunday, February 3, 2019, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm (snow date Sunday, February 10)

Join us for our 10th annual "Grundsau Lodsch fer Yunge." There will be plenty of crafts, ac-tivities, and goodies. Come discover the history of this cultural festival while also learning about the PA German dialect! Please register for the event by contacting Museum Edu-

cator Alyssa McQuirns at alyssa@schwenkfelder.com or call her at 215-679-3103.

FRIENDS OF THE SCHWENKFELDER LIBRARY

& HERITAGE CENTER The Friends of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center was organized as a not-for-profit as-sociation to provide on-going support for the projects, programs and goals in both preservation and education at the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center. The Friends accomplish their

mission by hosting adult educational programs twice yearly and funding Heritage Center conser-vation projects.

Powwowing in Pennsylvania:Powwowing in Pennsylvania:Powwowing in Pennsylvania:Powwowing in Pennsylvania: Healing Rituals of the Pennsylvania Dutch CountryHealing Rituals of the Pennsylvania Dutch CountryHealing Rituals of the Pennsylvania Dutch CountryHealing Rituals of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country

Sunday, January 13, 2:00 pm (snow date, January 20)

Patrick Donmoyer, presenter This talk will explore the historical and cultural roots of traditional customs, rituals, and

folkways known among the Pennsylvania Dutch as Braucherei or powwowing. Drawing upon the speaker's personal and family experiences with the tradition, as well as particular

emphasis placed on manuscript pieces found commonly in family Bibles, ledgers, and personal papers, the audience will be introduced to a wide range of ritual applications of prayers and processes used primarily for the healing and protection of humans and their domesticated

animals. Images of ritual objects, original manuscripts, and written blessings will demonstrate the broad-reaching scope of folk customs in Pennsylvania throughout four centuries and into

the present day. Patrick Donmoyer, formerly of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, is the Director of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University, a folklife museum and research center on the Kutztown campus. A fluent speaker of Pennsylvania Dutch and advocate for

regional folk culture, Patrick's work blends language, traditions, and vernacular architecture in his folklife research. He is the author of numerous articles, and three books, entitled Hex

Signs: Myth and Meaning in Pennsylvania Dutch Barn Stars in 2013, Powwowing in Pennsylvania, and is the editor of Don Yoder's The German Bible in America.

The program is free to the public.

Page 4

PALM LEAVES

Page 5

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1

Schwenkfelders and the

Sacraments, page 50, de-

scribes the institution of the

sacraments by the Schwenk-

felders of the Lower (or Mid-

dle) District as happening in

1877, stating, “Details of the

first observance are not avail-

able…” Then on page 53, we

read, “It is impossible to deter-

mine the year or place of the

first Baptism…” A footnote

directs the reader to Howard

W. Kriebel’s Schwenkfelders

in Pennsylvania, page 100,

who wrote the first observance

of the sacraments by the

Schwenkfelders: “…finally

resulted in the institution of

the sacraments in the Lower

[Middle] District at the private

house of Anthony K. Heebner

in 1877.”

Rev. Williams Anders of

the Lower District, recalled

that event and the circum-

stances leading up to it in the

following letter, dated March

16, 1882, printed in the March,

1907 Schwenkfeldian and ad-

dressed to Howard W. Kriebel

of the Upper District. The

letter is part of an article re-

flecting on the life of Rev.

William Anders (1940-1907)

and provides a first-hand ac-

count, five years after it hap-

pened, of the institution of the

sacraments for a select group

of members of the Lower Dis-

trict of the Schwenkfelder So-

ciety. The letter is followed

by a remembrance verifying

the actions of Rev. Anders and

the challenging time in which

he served.

Dear Brother: Your letter

of the 13th is at hand, and will

endeavor to answer the ques-

tions you ask in regard to the

institution of the Sacraments

in our congregation. From the

contents of your letter I infer

that there are some who still

criticize the way by which

they were instituted. I at that

time heard such criticisms

myself, but they came either

from highly ritualistic or from

such persons who regarded the

Lord's dying commands as of

no account, and might be ne-

glected or observed at pleas-

ure. Such were not consulted,

but the opinions of Christian

men of the Presbyterian, Men-

nonites and other churches

were obtained and duly

weighed, and the Aufsatz

[essay], made in the year 1858

by brother Joshua Schultz and

subscribed to by all the minis-

ters of the congregation at that

time were taken as a guide.

But above all it was made the

subject of our prayers to Al-

mighty God, that He should

direct our steps in wisdom,

grant His counsel, help, and

grace that our actions might be

consistent with His will so that

we might be benefited and His

great name glorified. Brother

Joshua Schultz at a special

conference held I think in the

spring of 1875 agreed to take a

leading part, with a view to

their institution in the near

future, when the time came, he

refused, the consequence was

a further delay of 2 years.

When in the autumn of 1877

finding that no aid or partici-

pation could be expected from

the brethren of the U. D.

[Upper District], we con-

cluded to go on, and accord-

ingly met in pursuance to a

previous announcement at the

house of A. [Anthony] K.

Heebner whose wife was an

invalid and for years desired to

be baptized. I suppose about

25 were baptized. I first bap-

Caspar’s Corner — Institution of the Sacraments, 1877 tized brother Meschter [Rev.

George Meschter]; then

Meschter myself; I the others.

I hope this mode will meet

your approval. You will re-

member that all beginnings are

difficult, and this because of

its importance was especially

so, and pressed heavily upon

my mind at the time, but I trust

the good Lord of the fullness

of His grace has, and will in

the future supply that of which

we are deficient. And in regard

to the other questions the time

is not set for the celebration of

the Lord's Supper. Preparatory

services are always held the

day previous, on which day

members of the congregation,

as well as others who desire it,

are baptized. None however

but those who have some time

before notified the ministers or

elders of their wish. If already

members, or such who have

received catechetical instruc-

tion a further instruction is not

considered necessary. If, how-

ever, the applicant is thought

to be wanting in such knowl-

edge, he is taken through a

short course of instruction. A

more definite plan will un-

doubtedly be adopted in the

near future. Dear Brother,

write again telling me what are

some of the criticisms you

hear and by whom made.

Come down soon and preach

English for me. Brother J.

[John] B. Krieble, has been

unwell all winter, and I am

nearly always alone in

Worcester. Yours in Grace, W.

[William] S. Anders.

A neighbor and good

friend of the family, writing

after the passing of Rev. Wil-

liam Anders in 1907, shared

these words: “He introduced

the Holy Sacraments into your

church at that memorable

(Cont. next page)

Page 6

PALM LEAVES

Rev. Williams Anders of the Lower District, recalled that event and the circumstances leading up to it in the following letter… addressed to Howard W. Kriebel of the Upper District.

“You will remember

that all beginnings are

difficult, and this because

of its importance

was especially so, and pressed

heavily upon my mind…”

Page 7

meeting at the home of the late

Anthony Heebner. Only twenty

members gathered. The holy

ordinance of baptism was first

administered to Rev. George

Meschter by Rev. Anders and

then reversed, and afterward to

the members assembled among

whom were the parents of Rev.

Anders. The young pastor and

the few members who es-

poused this new doctrine were

not very cordially received at

first by the congregation at

large. Yet the pastor's attitude

at no time was such as to en-

gender strife or dissension.

Rev. William Anders saw the

fruits of his labors, for in due

time members of long standing

were willing to receive baptism

and the Lord's Supper.”

Caspar’s Corner is provided

monthly to The Schwenkfelder Church by the Schwenkfelder Li-

brary & Heritage Center.

C a s p a r ’ s Corner (Cont.)

Installation of Officers

On January 13th, during the worship service, we will have the installation of all new officers. Please greet and congratulate the new officers at the reception in the Adult Sunday School room after the installation.

(Pastor’s Pause C o n t . )

study, perhaps it’s praying

or embracing a new spiri-

tual discipline. It might be

an active prayer form while

walking or hiking, but

whatever you pick may we

all open ourselves even

more to the God who first

loved us.

I conclude this article

with my favorite quote

from The Message, which

spoke to me when I first

read it and continues to in-

spire me today:

We don’t yet see things

clearly. We’re squinting in

a fog, peering through a

mist. But it won’t be long

before the weather clears

and the sun shines bright!

We’ll see it all then, see it

all as clearly as God sees

us, knowing him directly

just as he knows us!

But for right now, until

that completeness, we have

three things to do to lead us

toward that consummation:

Trust steadily in God, hope

unswervingly, love extrava-

gantly. And the best of the

three is love. (1 Corinthians

13:12-13)

We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1

Rev. William Anders saw the fruits of

his labors, for in

due time members of

long standing were willing to

receive baptism and the Lord's Supper.”

`tçyÄÉãxÜ fÉv|xàç g{tÇ~áz|ä|Çz fxÜä|vx

Harvest Home

Photos by Lee Schultz

Page 8

PALM LEAVES

S L H C L E C T U R E S E R I E SS L H C L E C T U R E S E R I E SS L H C L E C T U R E S E R I E SS L H C L E C T U R E S E R I E S

At the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center

Wednesday, January 9, 2019 noon Revealing a Hidden Gem:

Montgomery County's Sunrise Mill

Presented by Alana Blumenthal Join us to learn about the unique history and current restoration efforts of Sunrise Mill, a historic grist mill in Schwenksville,

Pennsylvania. Founded in 1737, the mill's earliest owners provided flour during the blockade that followed the Boston Tea Party. In the early 20th century, it was the home and laboratory of world-renowned medical pioneer Dr. Chevalier Q. Jackson.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019 noon Tales from the Genealogical Record, Chapter 2

Presented by Candace Perry Join Curator Candace Perry for another deep dive into the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families. Who will we discover this time? Some Hartranfts with tragic and dramatic stories?

A congregational meeting will be held on Sunday, February 17h,

immediately following the worship service. At this meeting the

Trustees will present the Annual Report for 2018.

Thanks to All!

The Ladies’ Aid Social Service Committee would like to thank

everyone for the great support we had this year for our

Christmas Project. It was a great success. We were able to

send 40 Christmas stockings to Pennsburg Manor, and at their

request, 60 plastic bags to Norristown State Hospital.

Social Service Committee Members: Miriam Hausman, Ruth Weaver,

Sally Wright, Sandy Kriebel, and Ethel Soffa

Page 9

Altar Flowers and BulletinsAltar Flowers and BulletinsAltar Flowers and BulletinsAltar Flowers and Bulletins

The Deacons would like to thank the members of Palm for sponsoring bulletins and real flowers throughout 2018! Everyone who did sponsor, please remember that bulletin sponsorships are $15, and flower sponsorships for 2018 were either

$25 for one bouquet, or $50 for two. The new 2019 charts will be in the hallway outside of the office soon, and for this year the Deacons are once again giving people the option of sponsoring

one arrangement or both arrangements. The cost of one arrangement will remain $25, and the cost of sponsoring both arrangements will remain at $50. If you would like to sponsor one arrangement, you need only sign up on one chart, but if you’d

like to sponsor both arrangements, you will need to sign up on both charts for that particular Sunday. Or if you choose, you may sponsor one arrangement on one Sun-day, and sponsor a separate arrangement on a completely different Sunday. If you

have any questions, please speak to one of our Deacons. Thanks!

Valentine’s Day Wishes Please prepare valentine cards or treats for

the church members listed below. You may

make your own cards, or use store bought

cards. Place the cards in the Valentines box

in the Narthex by February 3rd. The

Valentines will be delivered (in some cases

mailed) in time for Valentine’s Day,

February 14th .

Grace Beard Payton Keyser

Lucille Berky Pauline Kloenne

Kylene Bertoia Hart Erma Kriebel

Jack & Evelyn Bold Grace Kuhns

Perma Bower Meg Lester

Ray Davis Helen Pannepacker

Edward Fegely Beverly Phifer

Mae Gerhart Bryan Schwoyer

Alyssa Guldin Margaret Schultz

Heinz & Mary Jane Herrmann Bill Shermer

Gladys Hoffman Dorothy Trumbauer

Lucile Jones Adam Walter

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1

Page 10

PALM LEAVES

The Ladies’ Aid Epiphany Party will be held on January 8, 2019 at 12:00 noon beginning with a covered dish luncheon. Please note the date change from our usual meeting schedule. Along with a variety of many delicious foods, we will be collecting monetary donations for Open Link. This event is open to all so please make plans to join us! (And don’t forget to bring some-thing yummy to share!) Monthly Ladies’ Aid business meeting will follow the luncheon.

Open to A l l Epiphany Party Covered Dish Lunch

Palm is Hosting the First Monday Community Meal

at Pennsburg UCC on March 4, 2019

The Deacons at Palm Church are sponsoring a free community meal at

Pennsburg UCC on Monday, March 4th. We will provide, prepare and serve dinner. Volunteers

are needed: 6 people to cook and prepare the meal between 3:00 – 6:00pm, and 8-10 people to

help serve, box up leftovers and clean up from 5:45-7:45pm. Monetary donations and food do-

nations will be needed. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the narthex at a later

date. If you would like to help cook or serve the meal on March 4th, or make

a monetary or food donation, please see Kevin or Barb Master.

Youth are welcome to help!

Souper Bowl Sunday

On Souper Bowl Sunday, February 3rd, the Ladies’ Aid will be

selling soup after the worship service. So whether you’re a

football fan or not, please plan on purchasing some delicious

soup for lunch!

“Change Our Hearts” Offering“Change Our Hearts” Offering“Change Our Hearts” Offering“Change Our Hearts” Offering

In conjunction with the First Monday Community Meal

that Palm will be hosting on March 4th, we will be having a

special change offering during the months of February and March to help offset the costs

of this meal. So during these months please remember to bring in all your extra change

(or bills), for another successful meal!!

Page 11

Annual Report

It’s that time of year again. Well, Christmas and New Year’s, sure, but I mean Annual Report time. So, to all department heads, committee chairs, and

church leaders, I humbly request that you submit any and all information to be included in the Annual Report by January 8th, 2019.

If possible, please email your information to the church office. And if you have any questions,

please direct those inquiries to Lawrence Croll.

HOLIDAY BAZAAR

Once again another successful Ladies’ Aid Holiday Bazaar is in the books! We would like

to take this opportunity to say “Thank You” to everyone who helped in any way. From the

initial planning stages to the last crumb cleaned, it wouldn’t have been a success without

many helpful hands. The Holiday Bazaar is our biggest fundraiser and enables us to con-

tinue our tradition of giving- to our church as well as donating to many charitable organi-

zations throughout the Valley. The hard work involved and the time put in by many spreads

beyond our walls into the community. That makes it all worthwhile!

Thanks so much again!

Ladies’ Aid

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1

M E M B E R N E W S

Sympathies to… Congratulations to… ...the family of Ray Fox John and Krista (nee Keller) Ludy on their marriage ...the family of Carol Schafer

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

833 Gravel Pike

P.O. Box 66

Palm, PA 18070

PALM SCHWENKFELDER CHURCH

Administrator/Office Phone: 215-679-5321

Fax: 215-679-2650

E-mail: palmadministrator@comcast.net

www.palmschwenkfelderchurch.com

SAVE THE DATE!

January 8th — Ladies’ Aid Lunch and Epiphany Party

January 13th — Installation of Officers

February 3rd — Souper Bowl Sunday

February 10th — Scout Sunday

— Troop 79 Annual Banquet

& Court of Honor

February 17th — Congregational Meeting

February 24th — Grace Notes Studio Piano

Party

Dated Material

Please Do Not Delay

Rev. Nicholas L. Pence, Pastor Barbara Master, Youth Director

Dan Ferry, Church Administrator Kevin Master, Sexton

Ed Bieler, Director of Music Peg Jacob, Organist