VOLUME 33 ISSUE 3

Missions Articles 2-3

General Information

Helpers/Birthdays

Anniversaries

4

Church Calendar 5

General Information 6-9

Back Page 10

MARCH 2017

Inside this issue:

the Akron View

Church Office Hours

Pastor Tom Weber: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Monday thru Friday Associate Pastor Chris Reinford Admin. Bonnie Hookey 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Monday - Friday

OFFICE PHONE 717-859-2156

Web Site:

www.akronpacob.org

In a recent sermon a familiar passage was quoted: Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish. I think this is so true whether in a person's life, or in a congregation’s life. A vision points a person in the direction they are to go. It gives them pur-pose for what they are working. To have a vision, however, is not about the work, but it is about what gets accomplished, how things are to be. That is why we seek out the vision GOD has for our life. Because HIS vision will be perfect. As a congregation we have begun to search out a new vision for the congregation. What does God desire for us as the Akron congregation. It is an exciting time! The first step in the process is to give thanks, which we never want to stop doing, but in the month of February we accelerated our thankfulness. Now as we go into March and into a season of Lent, we will be taking our second step to examine our life, our habits, our commitments, the things that may be stopping us from seeing and doing the vision that GOD has for us. This will be a good challenge for us. A time of truly looking at our priorities. It is a difficult time. We like our earthly comforts, but at times these very things may be 'blocking' us from the heav-enly blessing GOD has in store for us. There is a prayer by Sir Fran-cis Drake to help mold our thought for the month of March: “Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our

dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive

safely because we have sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have

lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have

ceased to dream of eternity; and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have

allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where

storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the

stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push into

the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.”

Page 2

MISSIONS

Monthly Food Bank During the month of January, we

collected 11 cans of fruit, 4 cans

of soup, 8 bottles of juice, 11

cans of vegetables, 10 tooth-

brushes and 9 tubes of tooth-

paste which were sent to Ephrata

Area Social Services.

During the month of March, the

Witness Commission is collecting

boxes of cereal, laundry deter-

gent and paper towels. They can

be brought to the church any

time during the month of March.

There is a gray, plastic tub & a

separate tub for detergents,

soap, etc. in the Gathering Area

underneath the mail boxes for

donated food items to the Ephra-

ta Area Social Services.

2017 Board Members

Tim Cahill, Moderator

Ray Cross, Assistant Moderator

Tom Weber, Sr. Pastor

Chris Reinford, Associate Pastor

Bob Highley, Head Deacon

Bev Miller, Treasurer

Todd Goshert, Stewards

Alison Hoover, Church Clerk

Patty Highley, Board Member Rep

Michelle Stark, Board Member Rep

Chad Moore, Board Member Rep

Did you ever wonder how many different things our church in one way or an-other, with money, service, time, facilities, by availability are involved in to help support. Here is a list: Sunday School Weekly worship Small group studies (5) Wacky Wednesdays Choir Praise team Released Time Vacation Bible School Children's church Youth Group TNT House of His Creation Susquehanna Valley Pregnancy Agency Homes of Hope Ephrata Area Social Service Brethren Village Auxiliary Jacob's Well Senior Ministry Monthly Service at Maple Farms Community Meals Food Pantry Shoe Collection Blood Drive Operation Christmas Child (Shoe Boxes) Eye Glass collection for Lions Club Mitten tree Camp Swatara Love, Inc Gideons Revelations of Freedom Ministry Water Street Mission Sportsman Banquet Elementary soccer teams Elementary basketball team Mothers in Prayer Good Friday Service Easter Son Rise Service COBYs Redemption Ministries (Zimbabwe) Little Flock (India) Justice Project (Germany) Athletes in Actions (MacFarland) Brethren Disaster Relief Orphan Resources (Guatemala) Hoover's missions (Costa Rica) Andy & Brittany Martin, Madagascar SIM, Wingenroth's missions (Liberia) Handi*Vangelism Friendship Community Addiction recovery group District giving

*this extensive list is reviewed regularly to be sure our energies are being used

in consistent ways for the building up of God's kingdom, as God gives us direc-

tion.

The Akron View Page 3

Scheduling of the church for extra activities:

As a member and regular attendee of the church, you are welcome to use the facilities for appropriate activi-ties such as birthday parties, family gatherings, showers, etc. But it is necessary to schedule such activities with the church administrator. You may reach her at 859-2156, or via email at akroncob@dejazzd.com. Scheduling does mean that the church administrator has confirmed the time, date, and location of activity. Do not think that if you left a message you have then “booked” an event. Make sure the administrator has confirmed these things with you. Do note that our administrator hours are from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Mon-day through Friday. She is very attentive and will get back to you as soon as possible if you leave any mes-sage.

Nursery schedule for April 2017

Baby Nursery Toddler

2 Jody Diffenderfer & Heather Brubaker Steve & Andrea Risser

9 Faith Stauffer & Anita Ellenberger Joan Unruh & Janice Boyer

16 Sandy Schlott & Gail Stauffer Charlie & Katie Vang

23 Sharon Steiner & Anne Morgan Brian & Gayle Good

Lancaster Area Senior Adult Spring Banquet

Thursday, March 30th ~ 12 noon

Middle Creek Church of the Brethren

Speaker: Eleanor Isaacson on “How to be a Vibrant Senior”

Cost: $15; Deadline to register: March 5th. Sign-up in Gathering Area

(please make out check to Akron CoB & give to the Treasurer when

you sign up. More info on flyer in Gathering Area.

Or register online at: www.ane-cob.org

Please Note: If anyone is interested in helping in the Nurseries, please contact Katie Vang, 682-9427.

Those serving us this Month:

Greeters :

5 Randall & Ann Brubaker 12 Luke & Barb Mertz 19 Ken & Linda Koser 26 Ed & Terrie Shimp

Ushers:

Charlie Vang & Glenn Weist

Jr. Ushers:

5 Adam Mertz 12 Sr High 19 Jr High 26 Sr High

Page 4 The Akron View

Happy Birthday To You…...

Birthdays in March 1- Gail Stauffer 3- Chris Reinard Mitch Fasnacht Pam Goshert Abigail Marie Rose 8- Christian Snyder 12- Don Reese Olivia Good Jen Oberholtzer Grace Raelene Kagan 15- Luke Weber 16- Lynette Martin - Robert Mathis 17- Kasey Mathis Anne Rose Nancy Weist

Happy Anniversary

If your anniversary was missed, please contact the church office, 859-2156 and we will be glad to add it.

March Anniversaries

14- Doug and Lillian Gehr 16- Dan and Anita Ellenberger Russell and Ann Morgan 18- Luke and Faith Stauffer 20- Gail & Carole Sensenig 24- Wayne and Nelsa Lutz 25- Ken and Linda Koser 26- David and Dawn Smith Christian & Deb Snyder

18- Mary Weaver Lisa Sweigart 19- Keith Mertz Caitlyn Ackley Katie Heck Nicole Diffenderfer 21- Karen Rosado 22- Bob Highley Nelsa Lutz Bianca Rose Vang 23- Corbin Hoover 24- Charlie Vang 25- Josh Sisco 26- Dennis Hantraft 28- Andrea Risser Gwen Jones Tom Karol 30- Matthew Pennypacker 31- Erma Martin

If your birthday was missed, please contact the church office, 859-2156 and we will be glad to add it.

Nursery and Toddler Schedule for March 2017

Baby Toddler

5 Jody Diffenderfer & Linda Martin Bob & Patty Highley

12 Nik & Lindsay Korom Burnell & Jen Oberholtzer

19 Sandy Schlott & Gail Stauffer Charlie & Katie Vang

26 Gwen & Ben Jones Jane & Molly Hoshour

Page 5

VOLUME 33 ISSUE 3

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 7:30 pm Choir Practice

2 9:00 am Mothers in Prayer 10 am Bible Study 11:30 pm Released Time 5:45 pm Handi*V

3 4

5 6 7 12:30 pm Quilters

5:30-6:45 pm U10 Girls Soccer 6:30 pm Nic Anon 7:00 pm TNT

8 7:30 pm Choir Practice

9 10 am Bible Study 11:30 pm Released Time 5:30-7 pm Ephrata Soccer 7:00 pm Basketball 7:00 pm Deacon Meeting

10 11 8:00 am—1:00 pm HOHC Vintage Sale

12 13

7 pm Board Meeting

14 12:30 pm Quilters

5:30-6:45 pm U10 Girls Soccer 6:30 pm Nic Anon 7:00 pm TNT

15 7:30 pm Choir Practice

16 9:00 am Mothers in Prayer 10 am Bible Study 11:30 pm Released Time 5:30-7 pm Ephrata Soccer 7:00 pm Basketball

17 18

8:30 am Women’s Fellow-ship Breakfast Funck’s Restaurant Leola

19 20 21 12:30 pm Quilters

5:30-6:45 pm U10 Girls Soccer 6:30 pm Nic Anon 7:00 pm TNT

22 7:30 pm Choir Practice

23 10 am Bible Study 11:30 pm Released Time 5:30-7 pm Ephrata Soccer 6 pm Community Meal 7:00 pm Basketball

24 25

26 27 28 12:30 pm Quilters

5:30-6:45 pm U10 Girls Soccer 6:30 pm Nic Anon 7:00 pm TNT

29 7:30 pm Choir Practice

30 10 am Bible Study 11:30 pm Released Time 5:30-7 pm Ephrata Soccer 7:00 pm Basketball

31

March 2017

Page 6 VOLUME 33 ISSUE 3

Gym use:

The gym gets used very hard—that is a good thing. Because of that, we all have to obey some simple rules:

1. Whatever we get out to use, we need to put away where we got it: Balls put back in boxes, or racks, tables and chairs put away neatly. Please do not just throw balls in the closet—put them where they belong

2. The floor should be dry mopped after use (the mop is in the closet)

3. If you are hosting a get together with food, please take the trash out to the dumpster

4. Close the window covers when playing sports to protect the windows

5. Children should not get kick balls & basketballs out when people are gathered for safety reasons

6. A Simple rule—leave things better than you found them!!!

It reflects our love and concern for our neighbor, the next person to use the gym

The Akron View Page 7

How can we help? Change For a Dollar. Does it seem that so many people just need a little help in life? Or how people struggle with having more days than dollars at the end of the month in the pay check? And we seem to come across neighbors or co-workers or family members who struggle and just need a little bit to get past some hurdles of life. Well, a suggestion was given to the Church Board to adopt a new ministry, Change For A Dollar. This minis-try has the simple principle of “offering a cup of water to the thirsty.” Here is how this ministry works:

1. Each Sunday during a moment of worship we will be taking a special offering. Everyone will be invit-ed to get up from their seat (if able) and place $1.00 (one dollar) in a specifically marked offering plate.

2. It must only be $1.00, any other money will go into the General Church Fund. 3. After the service, this money will be collected and a designated person will see that a need is met. 4. The need that is met must be recommended by someone within the church. 5. Needs will be unquestioned but responded to based on urgency of need. 6. The recipient of the need is to be someone that is not from the church (people of the church who are

confronted with a need are cared for through the Deacon ministry.) 7. The person recommending the need is to be involved in representing the church’s response in some

suggested way. 8. We will try to be as confidential as possible. 9. There is a small team of church members overseeing this ministry.

The 13th Annual Sportsmen’s Outreach Banquet will be held Fr iday, March 10th at Yoder’s Restaurant, New Holland. Dinner at 6:15 pm, doors open at 5:00 pm for various displays. Tickets are $22. This year’s speaker will be Jimmy Sites, outdoor writer, speaker and television host. This event is sponsored by Ephrata/Akron area churches and continues to draw large crowds. The goal is to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through their interest in the outdoors. Akron Church of the Brethren continues to be a sponsor of this program. Additional information is on the announcement board in the hallway beside the Gathering Area. For tickets, call 717-733-2797

Community Meal on March 23, 2017 The Witness Commission will be serving a Community meal at the Holy Trinity Lutheran

Church in downtown Ephrata on Thursday, March 23rd at 6:00 pm. This will be the eleventh

time that we, as a church, will participate in feeding those that come from the community for a

hot meal and fellowship. Please reserve this date on your calendar, for this will be a great oppor-

tunity to serve others joyfully in the name of Jesus. Sign-up sheets will be posted in the Gather-

ing Area on March 5 for those willing to donate and for those interested in helping to prepare

and serve the meal. Financial donations toward the funding of the community meal can be given

to Kelly Smith.

Page 8

The Search Committee will meet as they look to call a person to

the ministry of music. There is a ministry description available in the office for anyone who may be interested or if you know a per-

son interested in such a position.

House of His Creation Vintage Sale Saturday, March 11th 8 am—1 pm Akron Church of the Brethren To benefit HOHC

Workcamp Opportunity in Colombia, South Carolina May 14—20th

Deadline to sign-up is March 26th. There is a sign-up sheet in the Gathering Area.

Contact: Bob Miller

You are Invited

A special invitation has been given to the Akron Church of the Breth-

ren from the Mohler Church of the Brethren to join them in their Revival

services on March 5, 6, 7, at 7:00 pm. The Akron Praise Team will be lead-

ing in worship on Sunday evening with an ice cream social to follow. The

speaker through the services is Pastor Tom (maybe you’ve heard of him?).

PRAYER is a POWERFUL thing!

If you would like to be a part of our Prayer Chain, please contact Sharon Steiner. You can either be on our email list or the phone list. If you have a request, you can contact the church (10am—2pm) or Sharon

directly. Either way, we will try to get the request started as soon as possible. If you are already on our Prayer Chain, please remember to check your email regularly so we have a powerful

presence for whoever is asking for prayer.

Page 9

COBYS Family Services thanks Akron CoB for its support of its ministries during 2016. 48 Brethren congregations gave more than $105,000 to COBYS in 2016. Brethren churches have also blessed COBYS in many other ways including Bike & Hike and Family Fun Walk events. During 2016, District churches also contributed nearly $16,000 above their regular giving to support the Work for the Well-Being of the City Capi-tal Campaign which is helping COBYs expand their family life education programs in Lancaster City and beyond.

Susquehanna Valley Pregnancy Services

Walk/Run for Life

Saturday, May 13 ~ Calvary Church, Landis Valley Rd

Join hundreds of individuals and families as we make a

difference for life through this meaningful morning of

fun and fundraising!

Highlights include: Walk ~ Kids’ Zones & Entertainment

~ 5K Run

For information/Registration, contact Heather at:

717-274-5128 ext. 315 or heather@svps.org

AKRON CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

613 MAIN STREET

AKRON PA 17501