Stone Church News August 2012

Camp Blue Diamond

August 12

10:45am Worship Service

Potluck Lunch Following

Stone Church of the Brethren BULK RATE

1623 Moore Street NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

Huntingdon, PA 16652 U.S. POSTAGE

PERMIT NO. 116 Phone: 814-643-3390

Email: stonechurch@verizon.net

Or Current Occupant

Stone Church News August 2012

Stone Church

Camp Blue Diamond

Worship and Picnic

Sunday, August 12, 2012—10:45 am (Note the time of worship returns to Fall worship schedule.)

All are invited to come to worship in this beautiful outdoor setting.

Please bring:

Family & friends

A dish (or two) to share for the potluck following worship

Table service for you and anyone coming with you

Lawn chairs The Hospitality Team will provide drinks.

We will eat under the Pavilion.

Dress is casual and swimming in the lake will be available following the meal.

Please call the church office (643-3390) for directions or transportation. (It is possible to drive close to the pavilion to drop off passengers and/or food.

Grocery Shopping Card Proceeds Hard at Work! It has been 2-1/2 years since beginning the Gift Card Program. Many thanks to all of you who have participated—it has been quite successful with all of your help. To date we have raised a total of $7233.75. Wow—isn't this great? If you are wondering where the money is being used - $2,500 in proceeds are being used to help fund the extensive building repair costs incurred this summer. (See related article “Newly Renovated, but Still Very Old.”) With Stone Church receiving five cents for every dollar you spend on the grocery shopping cards, this is one of the easiest ways for each of us to increase our giving to the church without increasing our spending. As a reminder the Giant cards can be used for groceries, gas and medicine at Giant and Martins stores (Martins are in Altoona). Thanks for all of your support. Barb & Cheryl

Dear Friends,

I took some notes on June 20th.

Today is the first of August, which

means my official Leadership Team

report is now due. (There was no

newsletter last month, nor did we meet

in July.) So it’s finally time to figure out

what I meant when I scribbled all over

this paper so long ago!?!!

Look closely at the top of the page,

and you might decipher a partial quote

from Witness Chair John Hille. It reads,

“Spiritual demolition derby.” I won’t

pretend to know the exact inference of

his words. I do remember that they

were part of a profound moment in the

midst of our discussion about the upcoming Annual Conference of the Church of the

Brethren and continued unrest within the denomination.

Stone Church leaders decided to take action in two ways:

1. We agreed to send a letter to COB General Secretary Stan Noffsinger and the Mission

and Ministry Board expressing concern and disappointment… This action was

prompted by news that the Board had granted then withdrawn an agreement for a

BVS (Brethren Volunteer Service) placement with BMC (Brethren Mennonite Council

for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Interests).

2. We approved of financially supporting SCN (Supporting Congregational Network), an

organization for Brethren and Mennonite congregations which have officially become

open and affirming. With our $100 gift, we join 18 other congregations that are already

members. SCN falls under the umbrella of BMC.

Yours truly,

Brooke Meadows, Leadership Team Vice Chair

Ps. Here is an excerpt from the letter sent to the Mission and Ministry Board:

Raising hopes of openness and respect, if not agreement, and then backing away leads us to

conclude that the work of the Board has become overly politicized. Further, it shows a lack of

good faith within the community. We urge the Board to reflect on the nature of the ministry of

volunteers within BVS and to reconsider this decision. If one is called to minister within the

Brethren and Mennonite Council, we should honor this calling and work with them to build

understanding and compassion.

Annual Conference 2012 Reflection by Pam Grugan Neither Tinka nor I had ever been to St. Louis, Missouri before or to an Annual Conference for the Church of the Brethren. We’ve spent a lot of time together but never on a trip for just the two of us. So, this trip was pretty special. I held tightly onto Tinka’s hand when we were “experiencing turbulence,” and she fearlessly led the way from terminal to shuttle bus to hotel (the wrong one, at first). We spent the next morning waiting a couple of hours in 104 degree weather to travel up into the famous Gateway Arch. There was little space between those seated in the compact elevator bringing us up to the top of the arch, and we might have experienced claustrophobia, but Tinka entertained us all, and before we knew it, we were overlooking St. Louis. For the remainder of our visit, Tinka and I saw little else of the city, other than our hotel room and the conference hall. Among more than 2,300 people at Annual Conference, (I think Tinka befriended most of them.) we braced ourselves for controversy. We were pleased, however, to experience the effectiveness of the round table seating arrangement and the well-prepared table facilitators.

On Saturday Tinka began knitting a rainbow-colored scarf. By the time we got to Wednesday, Tinka’s resolve to “stand up and be counted” turned into an eagerness to sit with her new table friends and listen (and Tinka’s rainbow scarf transformed into a “coat of many colors” for Parker and Katie Thompson’s baby). Though some very important questions were left unanswered, the question regarding our unity as Brethren was given lots of attention. We acknowledged differences among us and focused on our common wish to continue the work of Jesus. Peacefully. Simply. Together.

I am very glad to have served as a delegate to this year’s Annual Conference for the Stone Church of the Brethren, and I thank you for sending me. I learned a great deal about some guy named Robert and all his rules and about how business meetings are run (including, why “there’ll be no lines for the Brethren at the microphones in heaven”). I learned about different ways Brethren worship. I learned about fellowship at the table, in the elevator, and in the lobby. And I learned more about what a terrific friend Tinka is.

Coming Soon…

TomatoFest 2012!

Wouldn't you love to bottle up the waning summer to enjoy it in the bleak mid-winter?

Canning sun-ripened tomatoes is the next-best thing...

Hope you'll come join us for TomatoFest 2012, a communal canning/service event on Saturday, August 25th beginning at 8:30 am in the Stone Church kitchen. A tithe (one-tenth of the tomatoes canned) will be donated to the Huntingdon Soup Kitchen. Novice and experienced canners welcome. Can’t make it at 9:00? Drop in whenever you’re able.

If you’d like to take part, please contact Sharon Yohn (yohns@juniata.edu, 643-6846 or 641-3718) or Laura White (laura.jamie@gmail.com, 667-3736 or 251-4363) by Sunday, August 19th, so we can coordinate purchasing of local tomatoes and other supplies. Please let us know how many quarts of tomatoes you'd like to take home. If you don't want to take any tomatoes home, but just want to participate, late or no RSVP is fine. (We'll have plenty of jars, rings and lids on hand and several water-bath canners.) Hope to see you there. Donations of excess tomatoes welcome!

We’ll also be having a Canned Goods Swap at TomatoFest. If you’ve canned some extra items, bring them along and swap them with others for a new taste experience!

Humane Society—Cash for Critters

Don’t throw away empty ink jet and laser cartridges!

Bring them to the church office! We can pass them along to the Huntingdon County Humane Society to help earn money for their pet-related needs. Empty ink jet and laser cartridges can be reused. For each recyclable cartridge we give them, the Huntingdon County Humane Society will receive a cash refund that could add up to much needed funds—not to mention it’s good for the environment too!! Please note: not all cartridges are recyclable. At this time we cannot accept any cartridges made by or for Epson printers.

Please share this news with your neighbors, friends, family, your schools and your jobs. Let’s Reduce, Reuse & Recycle for a good cause. Thank you!

Newly Renovated, but Still Very Old

Over the past few years we have celebrated the

significant improvements resulting from our extensive

renovation project, along with the 100th anniversary of

the original building and the 50th anniversary of the

education wing. So, even though much of the church

looks new and fresh, the building itself didn’t get any

younger.

Although we are experiencing normal operating

expenses we are experiencing some unanticipated, and

expensive, building repairs, which include:

Repointing the high bricks at the office entry of the

education wing to eliminate leaks,

Repairing the roof above the bricks,

Repairing the Stone Church Drive exterior

stairway brick walls,

Repairing the external wood doors to stem the

water absorption,

third floor classrooms (still to be done).

The cost of these repairs will total approximately

$12,000. Costs of this magnitude have exceeded the

funds available in the Building Fund, out of which major

repairs are generally funded. We are very grateful that

the grocery card shopping funds are providing $2500

towards these costs, and the Leadership Team has worked

to find other funds to help pay these repair bills.

We invite those who are able to consider a contribution

above your budgeted pledge to assist with these

expenses. A gift of any size will help!

THANK YOU—

Thank you so much for the devotional book. I decided that I’m going to begin using it the first day of

college to remind me of Stone Church. I’m really excited for that! I also want to thank you for the warmth and acceptance that I have been shown. It’s

refreshing to walk into church and feel completely comfortable. Even before the creation of the Welcoming Statement, you were an extremely welcoming community. I only see that

wonderful quality increasing and improving. Thank you so much for everything. Love, Dante Fisher

Dear Stone Church, Boy Scout Troop 28 would like to thank you for allowing us to use the Fellowship Hall for our yard sale. We were all working on a requirement for the family life merit badge. We were also trying to earn money for our bus trip to New York City at the same time. We had fun buying stuff from each other too. Thanks for being so generous to the troop. Sincerely, Daniel McClure, Scribe

A giant hello and thank you to my church family back home! I really appreciated the “Easter basket” you all sent, thank you so much! It really means a lot just knowing you all are thinking, rooting, and praying for me! I’m having a great time in Elgin and learning a lot but I

think about you all a lot! Lots of love and, once more, lots of thanks, Rachel WitkovskyYour BVSer

Dear Stone Church friends, I am writing to thank you for the visits, calls, cards, prayers & support that you have given me. It is wonderful to know that so many people care about me. Please continue to pray for me & also for Jon’s parents, Pete & Karen, & his brothers, James, Jared & Josiah, as we are all having a hard time dealing with Jon’s death. With heart-felt thanks, Tara

My name is Logan Fultz and I am currently a Life Scout in Boy

Scout Troop #28 which meets at Stone Church. I am currently

in the process of executing an Eagle Scout Project in order to

achieve the Eagle Scout rank.

The Eagle Scout Project will benefit our partner school in

Guatemala, The Miguel Angel Asturias Academy. In order to

help support their educational program, I will collect school

supplies, reading glasses and gently used sports equipment.

Your support and encouragement will be greatly appreciated. I ask for your

prayers that this project will touch many lives and help build a better future for

the people in Guatemala.

Necessary items for donation include: new or gently used notebooks, pencils,

erasers, crayons, masking tape, duct tape, highlighters, markers, reading

glasses, gently used soccer cleats, soccer shin guards, soccer socks, basketball

shoes and running shoes. Please contact me with questions or to make

arrangements to pick-up materials. I can be reached at 644-9996 or at

fultz.carol@gmail.com. There will be a box for donations on the main level of

the church near the office entrance. Thank you for participating in this

outreach ministry.

Pam Grugan Awarded Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary Club

She is one of 80 recipients of this highest honor given by the Rotary Club to a member of the local community. $1000 was donated by the club to the Rotary Foundation in recognition for her outstanding community efforts. The June 22, 2012 issue of The Daily News featured a color photo of Pam, Christy Dowdy, Rick Laabs and Wilfred Norris along with an accompanying article. The article sums up programs of the Rotary Foundation that include: efforts toward rehabilitation of the sick and disabled, improvements in education, increased food production, improved living conditions, and “new channels for the flow of international understanding and brighter hopes for peace throughout the world.” One presenter stated, “This awesome lady’s efforts and service truly exemplify what the Rotary Foundation has set out to do, including providing educational opportunities, food for the poor, health care, schools and books for needy children internationally and locally.” Pam’s list of volunteerism does not end there. She donates generously of her time and contributions through volunteering at JC Blair Hospital, caring/providing for the Scott Grugan Field, helping with the soup kitchen, supporting the Miguel Asturias Academy in Guatemala, etc, etc, etc. Congratulations, Pam—and thank you for your compassionate and benevolent giving.

Locking the Church Building

During the summer months we have fewer evening activities. In order for the building to be secured overnight, when no evening activities are scheduled the building may be locked as early as 1 pm. This will save time for someone having to make an extra trip back in the evening to lock the building. If you wish to come to the church building later in the day, you are encouraged to call the church office and check to see if the building will be open. If you are the last one out of the building after an evening meeting, make sure that all doors are locked.

Food Pantry Sunday—August 19

We will ask the children to collect your items as they come for the children’s circle time. The August item of the month for the Huntingdon

Food Pantry is soup (chicken noodle, vegetable, tomato, cream soups), but any items may be brought for the cause of helping alleviate hunger in our community. Donations at other times may be placed in the wagon outside the sanctuary doors by the organ.

Men’s Breakfast—August 25 at 8am

August Birthdays and Anniversaries

August Birthdays 13—Fiona McBrayer 24—Jordan Soliday

1—Terry Fultz 15—Roxann Deike 24—Erica Hayden

2—Sharon Yohn 15—Mark Dowdy 25—Jim Bookhamer III

4—Halen Beck 15—Jean Kifer 26—Dorothy Longenecker

4—MaryAnne Montoro 17—Robert Ghaner 26—Emily Yohn

5—Jeremy Santos 19—Luke Fultz 27—Joyce Bowser

5—Clay Pheasant 20—Dale Miller 28—David Meadows

6—Gina Perrin 20—Raymond Pembrooke 29—Rick Glick

8—Nina Meadows 20—Dick Landrum 30—Aylee Pheasant

12—Sara Jean Brown 22—Otto Krugh 31—Bob Wagoner

13—John Galbraith 24—Dale Dowdy 31—Andrew Deike

August Anniversaries

2—Peggy & Randy Yoder 15—Maylin & Bill Musser

4—Laura & Bob McMinn 16—Alberta & Gene Goshorn

5—Margy & Dale Miller 20—Linda & Tom Carpenter

7—Judy & Clayton Pheasant 21—Sharon & Jim Bookhamer

8—Tan & John Hille 23—Celia & Dan Cook-Huffman

9—Barb & Paul Anderson 25—Anita & Doug Soliday

9—Sue & Bill Martin 29—Shelly & Jim Rivello

10—Christy & Dale Dowdy 30—Joyce & John Bowser

11—Jerri & Dean Wenger 31—DeLois & Fred Fluke

Fall/Winter hours begin

August 12:

10:45 Worship

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 12:30 Vital Pastors- Rm 102

2 10 Finance Tm– CR 3 Christian Ed– CR

3 4

5 10 Worship Baptismal Service Lunch following worship in the FH

6 7 Witness Team– CR

7 8 Summer Splash- Raystown Resort 12 Worship Team– CR 7 Leadership Team-CR

9 10 11

12 10:45 Worship at Camp Blue Diamond with picnic following

13 7 Habitat for Humanity Rm 102

14 6 Deacon Picnic- Bookhamer home

15 16 17 18

19 10:45 Worship

20 21 22 23 24 25 8 Men’s Breakfast-102 8:30 TomatoFest 2012 FH/KN

26 10:45 Worship

27 28 29 30 31

August 2012