The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer GLEANINGSredeemerallentown.org/PDFs/Gleanings/V22N1 - Spring 2017.pdf · The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer | 822 N. 19th

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer | 822 N. 19th St, Allentown, PA 18104 | 610-434-1291 | [email protected] 1

G L E A N I N G S

Message From the Pastor

Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for

they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at

the street corners, so that they may be seen by

others. Truly I tell you, they have received their

reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room

and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in

secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward

you. Matthew 6:5-6

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we

do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very

Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.

Romans 8:26

I’ve been having one of those slow revelations on prayer. You know, not the kind of insight

that wakes me up in the middle of the night, but rather a dawning awareness that seeps in

slowly, over time. Why do we pray?

The purpose of prayer isn’t about bothering God constantly because I want a Maserati… or

attempting to solve all the political problems of the country.

If praying to accomplish things was its purpose, there would be a huge flaw in the spiritual

design of this world. If prayer was like a magic spell that could change the world, it would

give a lot of deluded people the power to get what they desire without having to change

themselves first. You know that’s true: every day I see or hear prayers, vocal, loud selfish

prayers from folks who just don’t get it. Prayer is not a magic gum-ball machine where you

put in a prayer, and receive your heart’s desire. Prayer is open, honest, deep communication

with the Lord, pouring out our thoughts, our pleas, our real hurts and gratitude. Real prayer

expects nothing but to be heard.

Vol. 22, No. 1 Spring 2017

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

Erica Dreabit, editor | [email protected] | 610-351-6234


Life isn’t always easy; there are days we’d love to believe that if we’d only pray more, pray

more intensely, pray out in public, we’d get what we think we want. But prayer is more than

satisfying our wants and needs. We need to see the world through the eyes of Christ: this

world is burdened and surrounded by challenges and injustices. Prayer can change the world,

but first we need to examine ourselves and see how we need to be realigned in our

relationship to our Lord. The most important thing that prayer changes...is us. Prayer

changes our view of life, and our relationship with the world, and the Lord. In those changes,

we are strengthened to live in trust, and do what we are able for the world, in the name of

Christ.

Prayer is communication through the Holy Spirit, holding up oneself, one’s joys and griefs in

life, and laying one’s fears and challenges in the hands of the Lord, knowing without a doubt

one is heard… As St. Paul wrote to the Romans 8:26 the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for

we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep

for words.

Stay faithful in prayer! See you in church..

Pastor Donna


These box top logos are found on hundreds of products we purchase. Each

one is worth 10 cents to the school participating in the program. The

school can use the money to purchase anything it needs. Please help us

support our Adopted Kindergarten at Muhlenberg Elementary School by

clipping the box top logo from each package you purchase and depositing

it in the shoebox labeled “Box Tops for Education” in the narthex.

Box Tops for Education

Help Muhlenberg Elementary

SCS Outreach: Food Bank

Our SCS children are encouraged to bring a donation for the Lehigh County Conference of

Churches Food Bank each Sunday. Please join our efforts to share with those less fortunate.

You may bring the designated monthly item or any non-perishable food item. Your donation

can be placed in the wagon in the narthex.

March – canned fruit & vegetables

April – complete macaroni & cheese kits

May – peanut butter & jelly

To meet the needs of the families needing assistance, please consider purchasing

the larger size quantities of these items.



SCS Save The Dates

March 5, April 2, May 7 – Jr. Ushers (please meet Darcie Wolf in the narthex if your

child wants to participate)

March 19 – SCS children sing during 10:15 A.M. worship

April 9 – SCS children lead Palm Procession for worship &

Egg Hunt following worship

April 16 – 9 A.M. Easter Breakfast &

SCS children sing during the 10:15 A.M. worship

May 21 – Last day of SCS

SCS children sing during worship

Confirmation during the 10:15 A.M. worship

July 31 thru August 3 – Vacation Bible School

Confirmation Retreat

On Saturday, February 25th, from 9 am to 7 pm the Confirmation Class retreat is an all-day

event focused on the story of Moses and the Passover. We will watch the award –winning

animated film “The Prince of Egypt,” and have projects, games and fun. Also, the class will

lead the worship service on Saturday, February 25th at 6 pm! All are welcome to come to the

worship service.

Confirmation Class Trip

On Friday March 24th, the Confirmation Class and their families are worshiping with the

Kenneseth Israel congregation on Chew Avenue on the Muhlenberg College Campus. We will

meet there at 6:15 pm for a tour and background of the synagogue, worship and fellowship

until 8:30 pm. Any interested folks from Redeemer are welcome to join us, as this is a

wonderful, faith-affirming visit with our brothers and sisters of this community. Join us!

Mission Ministries Lenten Project –

Fruit Tree Seedlings for a Grove

The seedlings will ensure a good supply of nutritious fruit to keep kids and families

healthy and free from hunger year after year. Seedlings are specially selected for

each location and climate . The fruit tree seedlings will be available for purchase

March 25/26, April 1/2 and April 8/9 for a buck- $1.00. Look for the orchard poster

in the narthex and attach your seedling in memory or honor of someone special.



Children’s Book Donations

There is a box in the narthex for donations of gently used children’s books. AAUW will place

these books in the Lehigh Valley Public Assistance office at 7th & Walnut in downtown

Allentown. A child up to age 14 whose family is on public assistance may take home a book

free of charge. Thank you for supporting this ongoing program. Please call Lois Nowack at

610-799-4640 with any questions.

It Should Be an “Egg-citing” Event!

This year’s Annual Egg Hunt will follow the Palm Sunday worship service at 10:15 on April 9.

The SCS children will lead our palm processional to start the Palm Sunday service. Following

the service the children will first prepare a card for our shut-ins and then prepare their

“unusual” containers for the hunt. The children will be divided into three groups based on age

range to go in search of their treat filled eggs! Be certain that your child is registered for the

event. The registration list will be located on the Education Bulletin Board located in the

Narthex from March 12 – April 2!

Bear Creek Camp

All youth who have completed grades 1—12 are eligible to attend a week of

summer camp at Bear Creek Lutheran Camp near Wilkes Barre, PA. Bear

Creek is a residential camp with traditional programs centered on spiritual

growth, outdoor living and small group development. Weekly sessions run from June 18th

thru August 6. The theme for summer 2017 is Restored. All summer campers will take a look

at what it means to be restored through Christ. New this summer is a weeklong Family

Camp during the week of July 2-7. Applications and information are available in the Resource

Room. A discount applies to those who are registered by March 1st and a discount voucher is

available for one of Redeemer's campers. See Mary Richards for more information.

Let’s Egg One Another On!

In conjunction with our Annual Egg Hunt (April 9) we once again are in need

of treats to fill those eggs! A box will be located in the Narthex from

March 12 –April 2 in which all treat donations will be collected. Please keep in

mind that all candy must be wrapped and the candy must be able to fit inside

a small plastic egg! Egg cartons are needed as well. We still have items from

last year’s egg hunt so at this time we are not in need of trinkets to fill the

eggs! We generally have between 20 to 25 children participate in the Egg

Hunt. Thank you so much for giving so generously to our children!



Sunday Church School Easter Breakfast

You’re Invited - All Are Welcome

On Easter Sunday morning at 9 A.M., the SCS is hosting the annual Easter Breakfast in

Fellowship Hall. If you plan to attend, please complete the reservation form included in this

Gleanings (copies are also available in the narthex) and place it in the reservation box in the

narthex by Sunday, April 9th. If you are able to help set-up on Friday, April

14th or cleanup after the breakfast, you can sign up on the sheet posted on

the Education bulletin board in the narthex.

The Easter Breakfast offering and the SCS offering collected throughout

Lent will be directed to the ministry of On Eagle’s Wings. OEW is an

ecumenical Christian ministry that brings God’s love to the native people in

33 remote communities in northern Canada. Without our assistance, these

communities would be unable to hold Bible Camp, a program similar to our

Vacation Bible School. Redeemer has been supporting this ministry for

many years. Five of our members have ventured to the north and assisted

with their summer Bible Camp program. We hope you will consider supporting this outreach

project.

A Note from the Council President

Hello Congregation,

As I write this piece, I am also preparing for our upcoming annual congregational meeting. In

keeping with tradition, we will certainly have much to talk about, and I look forward to getting an

opportunity to meet with you to discuss matters of the church. Of course, by the time you are

reading this, the meeting will have already occurred. Can we all agree it was a good meeting? I

thought so. In all seriousness, I just want to take a moment to thank my fellow members of

council, the ministries, the staff, and the entire congregation for your continued prayers and

support. I also want to thank you all for the efforts you make to help advance the mission of our

church. I am optimistic about our future and can’t wait to see what great things we will

accomplish together in 2017. Something tells me I might forget to mention all of this during the

annual meeting, so thank you for giving me this opportunity to redeem myself.

See you in and around church,

Bob

Lost and Found: Someone accidentally picked up a grey herringbone driving cap on Christmas Eve. It would be appreciated if you would return it to the Church office.



2017 Lenten Worship Schedule

Ash Wednesday – March 1, 2017 – Redeemer Church

Noon and 7:30 p.m. – Imposition of Ashes and the Holy Communion

Midweek Worship – St. Timothy Church

140 S. Ott Street, Allentown Celebrated with the Congregations of the West Side Collaborative Ministry

Wednesdays: March 8, 15, 22, 29 & April 5 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Soup Supper, Fellowship, Study, Discussion and Worship St. Timothy's Fellowship Hall - enter through the lower level parking lot

Weekend Worship – Redeemer Church

March 4/5 – Sat. 6:00 p.m. / Sun. 10:15 a.m.

Installation of Church Council at 10:15 worship



Spark Sunday School Children Sing at 10:15 worship

March 25/26 – Healing Services – Sat. 6:00 p.m. / Sun. 10:15 a.m.

April 1/2 – Sat. 6:00 p.m. / Sun. 10:15 a.m.

Palm/Passion – April 8/9 – Redeemer Church

Saturday 6:00 p.m. – The Holy Communion

Sunday 10:15 a.m. - The Passion Story and the Holy Communion

Holy Week Joint Worship Opportunities

Holy Tuesday – April 11 – Muhlenberg Egner Chapel

5:00 p.m. – Stations of the Cross

Maundy Thursday – April 13 – St. Timothy Church 7:30 p.m. – Maundy Thursday Worship

Good Friday – April 14 – Redeemer Church 12 noon & 7:30 p.m. – Good Friday Liturgy

Easter Vigil – Saturday April 15 – Christ Church 1245 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown

6:00 p.m. – Easter Vigil Liturgy

The Resurrection of Our Lord – Sunday April 16 Celebrated 10:15 a.m. at Redeemer Church

Festival Worship of Holy Communion with Brass


Sunday School Easter Breakfast - 2017

April 16th 9:00 a.m. Fellowship Hall

Name(s) _______________________________________________Phone #: _______________

Number attending:__________

I will bring: Breakfast Bread

1 dozen decorated hard-boiled eggs

I can help: Set Up/Decorate

Clean Up

Due to the popularity of the breakfast and limited space in Fellowship Hall, reservations are required!

Please return this slip to Sunday School or to the church office by APRIL 9th!

EASTER PLANT SPONSORSHIP FORM - 2017

Lilies and other spring flowers will decorate our worship center for the Easter services. If you choose to sponsor a plant for Easter, please complete this form and place it in the offering plate, or return it to the Church Office no later than Monday, April 3. Any sponsorships received after that date will not be included in the Easter bulletin listing. Please enclose your payment of $10.00 for each sponsorship.

PLEASE PRINT:

In loving memory of _______________________________________________________________

or

In honor of ____________________________________________________________________

Name of person(s) ordering plant _______________________________________ Env. # ________

Following our Easter Worship Services, the lilies and some of the other plants will be shared with our sick and shut-in members. The rest of the flowers will be planted in the church yard.

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no plants available for individual purchase or pick up.




Explore More Online

Redeemer’s Office

http://

www.redeemerallentown.org

[email protected]

Find us on Facebook at

E L C A W e b S i t e www.elca.org

for information about our national church

N E P A S y n o d W e b S i t e www.godslove.org OR www.nepasynod.org

for information about our synod

WORSHIP MEMORIALS 2017

SPONSORHIP FORM

Bulletins: $10.00

Altar Flowers (1 Urn): $17.00

Sanctuary Candles: $15.00/quarter

Date requested for sponsorship:

______________________________________

Presented to the Glory of God by:

(Enter name or names)

______________________________________

______________________________________

Choose one of the following:

In loving memory of

In honor of

(other)_____________________________

(Enter name or names to be

honored or memorialized)

______________________________________

______________________________________

Enter any special occasions such as

anniversaries or birthdays, or any other special

text or instructions, below:

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

Return this form to the church office, or place

in the offering plate.

Shut-In

Birthdays

February

2/15: Carmella Bell, 3230 Cambridge Circle,

Allentown, PA 18104

2/24: Donna Stauffer, Phoebe Terrace #516,

1940 Turner St, Allentown, PA 18104

March

3/12: Shirley Arnold, Woodland Terrace at The

Oaks Room 226, 1263 S. Cedar Crest Blvd.,

Allentown, PA 18103

April

4/2: Erna Zotter, 1545 N 19th St, Allentown, PA

18104

4/10: Irene Buehler, Fellowship Villa Rm. 312A,

3020 Fellowship Dr, Whitehall, PA 18052

May

5/23: Lucretta Pollitt, 1914 W. Green St,

Allentown, PA 18104

Documents

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer GLEANINGSredeemerallentown.org/PDFs/Gleanings/V22N1 - Spring 2017.pdf · The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer | 822 N. 19th