Volume 4, Issue 2 April 2015
The Friendly Flyer Ac k e r m a n v i l l e U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h
INSIDE:
VBS 2
Community Org. 2
Anniversaries 3
Birthdays 3
Commandment 3
Ushers 3
Calendar 4
Ministerium 5
Prayer Chain 6
Acolyte 8
Junior Church 8
Liturgists 8
Upper Rooms 8
From the Pastor’s Desk ~
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. … When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mark 16:1-8)
Have you ever noticed how the Gospel of Mark actually ends? Scholars who study such things are quite convinced that it really ends here at verse 8. The women run from the tomb in fear. While verses 9 through 16 have been added to make Marks’ Gospel like Matthew and Luke, I have a tendency to think Mark got it right. At least for a period of time.
Imagine being with the women walking to the tomb. It’s been 3 days since the crucifixion and now that the Sabbath is over they can finally finish the burial procedures for Jesus. It’s been a scary time for the disciples and the women. They’ve been hiding behind locked doors in fear that the authorities would be hunting for them as well. Every sound outside the door must have caused them all to cringe. That kind of stress and anxiety takes a toll on people.
So now the women get to the tomb and find that not only is the boulder rolled away from the tomb, but Jesus’ body is not there and an Angel is telling them not to be afraid. (It always amazes me that any time an angel speaks to a human being the first words are, “Don’t be afraid.”) As though seeing and hearing an angel is the most ordinary of things. Of course the women are afraid. They are also confused. Like the rest of the disciples they had heard Jesus say that he would be arrested, crucified and arise 3 days later, but they hadn’t understood it. They were all still thinking of Jesus in terms of an earthly Messiah. A Messiah who would conquer Rome and restore the kingdom of Israel.
It’s not until much later, after Jesus appears to the women and the disciples that they all begin to understand that what they thought they knew wasn’t right at all. Jesus was a different kind of Messiah.
Instead he was the Messiah of the heart and soul. A Messiah who made it possible to be in right relationship with God and one another. A Messiah who said that loving God, neighbor and self was the most important thing we could be doing.
It’s this message that finally allows the disciples to leave the locked room and move out into the streets. As they moved into the streets they started talking about Jesus and the kingdom of God. That God’s kingdom was meant for all and that love was the key. Love is the gift that casts out all fear. The love of God made known to us in Jesus and empowered through the Holy Spirit is able to move all of us from our fearful positions. So in the end the women (and the disciples) stopped being afraid and began to be messengers because of their encounters with the Risen Christ.
We have the same opportunities as those first disciples to let go of our fears and be messengers of hope, healing and love. Let us use this Easter Season and all the seasons of our lives to be witnesses to the power of the Risen Christ.
Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Praise be to God,
Pastor Alice Ann
Page 2 The Friendly Flyer
Bowls, Plates, and Containers, Oh My!
If you brought in any cookies,
desserts, or food to the church in the past year, we thank you; but there's a good chance your bowl,
plate, tray, or cake or cookie container are still in the church kitchen.
Please have a look around and claim what's yours.
Thanks!
“Community Organizations”
Slater Family Network The Slater Family Network Foundation is a non-profit
family center. Our service is free and confidential for all
residents of the Bangor Area School District. We provide
resources, referrals, advocacy, and programs. Slater Family
Network is grant, community, and school district funded.
Resources for food - on site Emergency Food pantry;
Clothing - on site Clothes Closet Assistance; housing
Assistance, employment assistance, health insurance, free
dental care for adults and children, Free Mental Health
Counseling for adults and children, Free Vision Care for
children, School supplies, Holiday Meals and Gifts and much
more. Call our office at 610-599-7019. The office is located in a
modular building behind DeFranco Elementary School. Park
in the small lot between Five Points and DeFranco. Access
to Slater Family Network is direct from the parking lot. Our
hours are Monday-Friday from 8 am-2 p.m. Summer hours
vary, Please call.
A Clean Slate (cleanslatebangor.org) A Clean Slate’s mission is to provide recovery resources
and referrals to the Slate Belt community The center
welcomes all men, women, and teenagers who in anyway
have been affected by the disease of addiction.
The staff at the Clean Slate are knowledgeable about recovery and can assist people in finding treatment programs
and/or services appropriate to their needs. A Clean Slate
does not offer any counseling services and is not a treatment
program. The Center has a variety of
recovery and self-help material for
individuals seeking help, family
members seeking help or those that are
in a recovery process to help sustain
their own recovery.
A Clean Slate will also be providing a
computer lab and business resources for
the recovering community to help with resume building, job searching, letter
writing, attending an online 12-step
meeting, completing medical assistance
applications and other recovery-related
services.
Summer Camp
You know summer
camp is a special place for
children and youth to
connect with God's creation and deepen their
relationship with Jesus
Christ. We now have summer camp brochures
for all those who are
interested. Brochures will
be in the narthex. Please help yourself!
Pleasant Valley
Choral Society Presents
“Spring Pops 15 – My Music!” Music triggers memories for all of us – and we all
have certain songs that remind us What a Wonderful World we live in – or lift us Up, Up and Away to that mystical land of Shambala. Maybe it’s a tune that lets us Drift Away – or takes us back Home. It helps us remember that the days we have are Precious and Few, encourages us when we are Defying Gravity and makes every day a Good Day, Sunshine! Maybe our Silly Love Songs will even let you relive that long-ago Last Dance with your special Teddy Bear (remember those dances after the basketball games?) We hope that no matter The Way You Do The Things You Do or whatever feelings your special music evokes in your heart, you will join us as with One Voice we recall that This is the Moment!
Performances are held in the auditorium at Pleasant Valley High School, Route 209 in Brodheadsville, PA. This is an experience the family can enjoy together and you won’t want to miss it! So mark your calendars now for Saturday April 25th at 7pm, or Sunday April 26th at 3pm. Tickets are $8.00 per person (children under 12 are free) and may be purchased at the door. If you have any questions about the event, call 570-402-2026.
PVCS is proud to announce they will be donating portions of the ticket sales to a local charity focused on Veteran’s issues, VALOR. To find out more about VALOR (Veterans Assisted Living Out Reach)
visit http://www.valorclinic.org/. Come enjoy the show and help support this great cause!
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Postage Stamps
Birthday cards to be sent out
3 Trisha Roberts
5 Aubrey Tarr
6 Justin Bright
Lillian Rambo
Kelly Sanders
Debi D’Alessio
9 Heather Dugey
11 Shelly Lees
13 Winter Brandon
15 Maci Herman
Brittany D’Alessio
18 Tonia Overfield
19 Michel Brandon
Lauranette Grubb
20 Rob Kurtz
24 Donald Rafferty
Joan Forino
25 Thomas Ackerman
April Birthdays
8 Andrea & Dick Lane
15 Janice & Del Roberts
25 Linda & Jack Yetter
26 Dolores & Ken Reto
Look for this the next 9 months?!?
E-Mail Change: [email protected]
Phone: 610-588-8235
Publicity If you have an event that
you would like publicized,
please contact Holly
Sussick.
April Anniversaries
Keep Them Coming Ink Cartridges
Weis Receipts
Campbells Soup Labels
Box Tops for Education
Old Prescription Glasses
Greeters & Ushers April 5 Bonnie Commins & Renee Pongracz
April 12 Maci Herman & Kay Young
April 19 Renee Backenstoes & Chee-Chee Fulmer
April 26 Dora Greenleaf & Bernice Bettini
The Commandment Corner No. 1
Thou shalt pray for people in the services
whom you don’t recognize. They are likely
guests who feel uncomfortable and
uncertain.
"Let's Start Sponsoring Flowers and Bulletins Again"
2015 Flower and Bulletin sponsorship charts are now in the narthex. Sponsoring altar flowers is a simple way to glorify
God and beautify the altar. They can be placed in honor of
someone, in memory of someone, in celebration of a
birthday, anniversary, or other milestone, or just to give
thanks for God's blessings. Your sponsorship and dedication
will be printed in the bulletin for that Sunday. The same
goes for sponsoring bulletins.
The cost for sponsoring altar flowers is $40 (quoted
recently by Albanese Florist) and the cost for sponsoring
bulletins is $10. Please consider signing up. First, write
your name and dedication on the chart. Second, if
sponsoring flowers, call Albanese Florist (610-588-0441) or J.C. Bloom Designs (610-588-3855) and place an order with
them under the Ackermanville UMC account. Third, place
the cost of flowers (or bulletins) in the offering plate on
Sunday in a separate envelope, designating that it is for the
cost of the flowers or bulletins. Thank you.
April Counters
April 5 Pete Nell & Kay Nell
April 12 Pete Nell & Kay Nell
April 19 Pete Nell & Debi D’Alessio
April 26 Pete Nell & Brittany D’Alessio
Lent Quiz: What are the Stations of the Cross?
The moments in Jesus’ journey from his trial to the tomb. The fourteen traditional Stations of the Cross, also called Way of the Cross, is a modern adaptation of a Christian tradition dating to the fifth century. Fourteen stations depict events of Jesus’ trial, execution and death, from praying alone the night before to speaking to his mother and John from the cross to his burial.
Why do we use lilies as a symbol of Easter?
The white bloom is a symbol of purity. There blooming in the spring is a symbol of new life. Jesus himself mentioned lilies in his teachings. Jesus uses a seed to talk about his life, death, and resurrection. He says, “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it can only be a single seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24 CEB). The flower decorating so many of our sanctuaries on Easter Sunday is a beautiful symbol of new life.
What snack food has significance during Lent?
The twisted pretzel is said to have its roots in Lent. According to legend, a 7th century monk made bread from flour, water, and salt—no eggs or milk because they were avoided during Lent. He then formed it into the shape of a common prayer pose of the day, hands on opposite shoulders. You have to turn the pretzel upside down to see it.
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 Office Hours 9 am-noon
Scouts 6:30-7:30
Choir 7:30
2 Office Hours 9am-Noon
Maundy Thursday
Service 7:30
3 Good Friday
Tenebrae Service 8:00
4 HILLTOP
HELP
NEEDED!!
5 EASTER Sunrise Service 7:00
Sunday School 9:00 Worship 10:00
6 Office Hours
9 am-Noon
7
8 Office Hours 9 am-noon
Scouts 6:30-7:30
Choir 7:30
9 Office Hours
9am-noon
Crafty Crew 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Disciple Bible Study
7:30-8:45
10
11 Men’s Breakfast at TK’s 7:00 am
12 Sunday School 9:00 Worship 10:00 After Easter, Easter Egg Hunt 11:15 Encore Performance of Easter Cantata 7:00 pm
13 Office Hours
9 am-Noon
14
15 Office Hours 9am-Noon
16 Office Hours 9:00 am-Noon
Disciple Bible Study
7:30-8:45
17
18
19 Sunday School 9:00
Worship 10:00
Community Meal 4 pm
20 Office Hours 9 am-Noon
Newsletter Articles Due
21
22 Office Hours
9am-Noon
Scouts 6:30-7:30 Choir 7:30
23 Office Hours 9am-Noon
Disciple Bible Study
7:30-8:45
24
25
26 Sunday School 9:00
Worship 10:00
37 Office Hours
9 am-Noon
28 29 Office Hours
9am-Noon
Scouts 6:30-7:30 Choir 7:30
30 Office Hours 9am-Noon
Disciple Bible Study
7:30-8:45
Page 4 The Friendly Flyer
April 2015
Office Hours - Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings 9am – noon unless I am taken out of the office by meetings or emergencies.
Please note that Friday is Pastor Alice Ann’s Sabbath day. She will return all non-urgent contacts on the next business day.
For an emergency on Friday, please call the parsonage phone number 610-452-2699 and she will get back to you as soon as possible.
Deadline for “Friendly Flyer” is April 20, 2015 Please submit all articles and news to Joan at
[email protected] or by handwriting them and placing them in the office mail bin.
Bulletin Information
Weekly announcements for the worship bulletin
can be sent to Lauranette at [email protected].
Thank You!!!!
Ackermanville United Methodist Church
Mission Statement
Growing in Faith by Sharing God’s Love.
LIKE US on Facebook!
Crafty Crew News
The Crafty Crew will meet the second Thursday of
April, in Young Hall from 2 pm to 4 pm.
Please come and join us for crafts and conversation.
Bring your favorite project or idea to work on and join the
fun!
The Friendly Flyer Page 5
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 55 North Third St., Bangor, PA 18013
610-588-HOPE (4673) www.firstumcbangor.com
Rev. Navin Satyavrata, [email protected] Maundy Thursday Service: April 2, 7:00 pm (with Holy Communion) FUMC Thrift Store:
38 Broadway, Bangor (610-599-6924) Store Hours: Tues. & Thurs. 10 am – 5 pm; Wed. 10 am – 3pm; Fri. 10 am – 6 pm; Sat. 10 am – 4 pm
Literacy Class: Tuesdays, 10 am Knitting / Crochet Circle:
3rd Sunday 12:15 p.m., Wednesdays before second and third Sundays 6.00 p.m.
Older, Wiser, Livelier Seniors (OWLS): Third Thursday 12:00 Noon, For those aged 60 and over.
Bread Ministry: Wednesdays at the Thrift Store
Community Luncheons: 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays 12:30 p.m.
Cyber Café: Monday to Friday 9.00a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Recovery Groups: Monday 7:30 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous Thursday 8:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous
COMMUNITY ASCENSION SERVICE The annual Slate Belt Ministerium Ascension Service will be
held at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 404 Broadway, Bangor, on Sunday, May 17, at 6:00 pm. This is an ecumenical event, with many local clergy participating. Refreshments will be provided after the service.
VOL. 3, NO. 2 APRIL 2015
SLATE BELT MINISTERIUM “Faith-motivated networking to serve and empower the Slate Belt” www.facebook.com/slatebeltmin
Sharing upcoming community events in our congregations. Please submit info by the 3rd Wednesday to:
Rev. Michael Scholtes, [email protected] / 610-588-2355
PRINCE OF PEACE
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 2445 Lake Minsi Drive, Bangor, PA 18013 610-588-2355 www.popbangor.org
Rev. Michael J. Scholtes, [email protected] “Great Three Days” Services: Maundy Thursday, April 2, 7:00 pm; Good Friday, April 3 7:00 pm; Holy Saturday Healing Service, April 4, 5:30 pm; Great Vigil of Easter, April 5, 6:00 am Rummage Sale: May 7 (9050, May 8 (9-5) May 9 (9-noon) Mental Illness Support Group:
2nd & 4th Thu., 6:30—8 pm Happy Quilters:
Each Tuesday, 9:00 am—1:00 pm Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venture Crew, and Daisy Girl Scouts: Weekly (every two weeks for Daisies)
Interfaith Prayer Worship Christians, Muslims, and Jews united in prayer and praise celebrating the National Day of Prayer:
Thursday, May 7, 2015, 7:00 pm St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 1422 Church Road, Pen Argyl, PA 18072
HOPESPRINGS COMMUNITY OF FAITH 301 Market St., Bangor, PA 18013 610-599-0202
Rev. Jonathan Alamanzar, jonathanalmanzar@gmailcom On Friday, April 3, Hopesprings is hosting the Unveiling, a multisensory art exhibit of the Stations of the Cross. This event is free, however, space is very limited. Last year the event “sold out” so everyone is urged to act quickly. There are only 200 tickets and anyone over 5 years must have a ticket to enter. Tickets may be ordered by email at [email protected]. or by calling 855 INFO-HOPE. There will be light refreshments and child care provided. The Unveiling begins at 7:3, doors open at 7:00
Ackermanville United Methodist Church
Thursday, April 2 7:30 pm Maundy Thursday Service
Friday, April 3, 8:00 pm Good Friday Tenebrae Service
Easter Sunday, April 5, 7:00 am Easter Sunrise Service -
(outside, weather permitting) followed by continental breakfast
Sunday, April 12, 11:15 am, Annual “After Easter, Easter Egg Hunt” after worship
April 12, 7:00 pm Encore performance of our Easter Cantata “Come, Touch the Robe!”
by Pepper Choplin, followed by light refreshments. Everyone is invited!
Sunday, April 19, 4:00 pm Community Meal
Page 6 The Friendly Flyer
Prayer Chain We are blessed here at AUMC with a prayer chain. You can submit prayer requests through Pastor Alice Ann and receive prayer requests through email or phone. If you are not a part of the prayer chain and would like
to be, please contact Pastor Alice Ann for the email portion and Janice Roberts for the phone portion.
Prayer List Please help us keep the prayer list, printed in the
bulletin, up to date. If you would like someone to go on the prayer list, or
removed from it, please use a prayer request card found in the pews or email the church at [email protected].
Thank You
Writer’s Wanted!! The newsletter is always looking for article
contributions. Please consider writing an article or articles
about anything church-related. Perhaps there's someone you
think should be thanked. Perhaps you'd like to write
something about an event we just had or an event coming up
in the near future. Have you read a good Christian book or
seen a good Christian movie lately? Write a summary or a
review. Maybe you have fond memories of your church
when you were growing up, especially if they are of
Ackermanville Church. Write them down and submit
them! Perhaps you have a vision for the future of our
church. Write an article about it. Perhaps many people have
asked you for a certain recipe? If there's anything else you'd like to share, go ahead and write it down and submit it. We
can all be contributors and editors of the
newsletter!! Submissions may be handed to Pastor Alice
Ann or Lauranette Grubb; or you can email them to:
**All articles/submissions are subject to pastoral approval**
Thank You!
Methodist Northeast District
Night at the
June 18, 2015 at 7:05 pm
Join us for a night of
baseball, fun and fellowship!
Ackermanville United Methodist Church Ackermanville Road, Bangor, PA
Tickets are $11 each
($10 ticket price plus $1 for District Mission
Project, Pocono Plateau)
Each ticket includes $2 towards food at Coca Cola Park
For tickets contact Sharon Herman
484-554-7447
email: [email protected]
Last day to purchase tickets is April 26, 2015
EASTER EGG HUNT
APRIL 12, 2015
11:20 a.m.
Bring Your Kids,
Grand Kids
Nieces, Nephews, Neighbors Children!!
Enjoy a fun time!
Please, Keep up your weekly giving The winter weather has not been
kind to our worship schedule. And even
though we haven’t been gathering
together, the need for your gifts continues. Please endeavor to keep
your weekly giving up to date. Thank
you so much for your faithfulness to
AUMC. It is greatly appreciated.
The Friendly Flyer Page 7
Thanks to
Thank you to our devoted snow
shovelers. Thanks for being there when
we needed you!
Thank you to Linda Osborne for helping Lauranette get
the newsletters folded, stapled, and mailed.
Thank you to a variety of choir members who folded
bulletins while Lauranette continues her recovery.
Thank you to all those who helped prepare and serve the
food at the March 24 Lenten Luncheon.
Thank you to Sandy Collins for the large donation of
copy paper for the office.
Thank you to all those who prepare and serve the
monthly Community Meal.
Thanks to all our congregation. Every thing you do
makes a difference!
Planning is in the works for this
year’s VBS,
“Group’s EVEREST ”.
Please watch for more information in future bulletins
or newsletters.
"Baptism of Colton Clark Yetter, son of Josh & Krista Yetter,
grandson of Mark & Melody Yetter, grandson of Donald, Jr. &
Denise Butz, great-grandson of Donald, Sr. & Alice Butz."
Why Baptize Babies?
From the earliest times, children and infants were
baptized and included in the church. As scriptural authority
for this ancient tradition, some scholars cite Jesus’ words,
“Let the little children come to me…for it is to such as these
that the kingdom of God belongs” (Mark 10:14). However, a
more consistent argument is that baptism, as a means of grace, signifies God’s initiative in the process of salvation.
John Wesley preached “prevenient grace,” the grace that
works in our lives before we are aware of it, bringing us to
faith. The baptism of children and their inclusion in the
church before they can respond with their own confirmation
of faith is a vivid and compelling witness to prevenient
grace.
HILLTOP AUCTION SALE
Saturday, April 4 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
This is and a wonderful opportunity for
working together and fellowship.
Mark your calendars –
we will need help on Friday and Saturday.
If you are interested in helping, please contact
Del Roberts or Barry Young for more
information.
Join us on the web at: www.ackermanvilleumc.org
Ackermanville United Methodist Church 1410 Ackermanville Road Bangor PA 18013
The Rev. Alice Ann Bonham
Church Phone: 610-588-7818
Parsonage Phone: 610-452-2699
www.ackermanvilleumc.org
Page 8 The Friendly Flyer
Acolytes Junior Church Liturgists
April 5 Kolin Overfield EASTER EASTER
April 12 Porter Sussick Meagan Ackerman / Aubrey Jane Ruggiero
April 19 Maci Herman Sue Martin / Maci Sue Traviss
April 26 Mia Herman Danielle Rambo / daughter(s) Bill Ruggiero
Please let Pastor Alice Ann know if you
or a loved one is in the hospital. She
would love to support you and your family
with a visit. She depends on you to share
the information of which hospital the loved
one is in. Please also let Pastor Alice Ann know of any
other pastoral needs. She is available in the Church
Office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 9am-
noon. The church phone number is 610-588-7818.
You can reach her by email: [email protected].
The parsonage number is 610-452-2699 for pastoral
emergencies. If you do not reach her, please leave a
message. Thank you!
Please don’t forget those in need
of our prayers.
We will have an updated list in
the bulletins each Sunday.
Remember our members in Nursing Homes or
Assisted Living Facilities
Ernest Bartholomew, Rm 135, 4100 Freemansburg Ave., Easton, PA 18045
Bernice Bettini
Walden III, Unit 122, 325 N. Broadway, Wind Gap, PA 18091
Elsie Houck
c/o Chandler Estates, Apartment 3A 1569 Teels Rd., Pen Argyl, PA 18072
Evelyn Jennings Apt. 414B
175 W. North Street, Nazareth, PA 18064 Marilyn Osborne
c/o Whitehall Manor 1177 N. 6th Street, Whitehall, PA 18052
Clara Schweitzer
Gracedale 2 Gracedale Avenue, Nazareth, PA 18064
Slate Belt Nursing and Rehabilitation On the first Sunday of the month, we offer worship at
Slate Belt Nursing and Rehabilitation at 2:15pm. We
have been blessed by getting to know folks and develop
relationships with them. Consider joining us to share
the love of Christ with the folks at Slate Belt.
During worship, we have BLAST bags available
for children in the sanctuary. These bags are
changed regularly and coordinate with the
sermon series. Please help your children see the
connections!
“The March/April Upper Rooms are now
available in the narthex. There are also large print
Upper Rooms available.”