WEST LAWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Monthly Newsletter

DECEMBER 2016

the Festival Choir, Brass Ensemble, and candle lighting, with Pastor Raffauf preaching.

9:00 pm– A Traditional Service with brass prel-ude, carols, scripture, soloists and candle lighting, with Pastor Haldeman bringing the message.

11:00 pm– A Traditional Service with carols, scripture, soloists, and candle lighting, with Pastor Raffauf preaching.

Christmas Dawn Service will be held at 6:30 am on Christmas morning led by Pastor Cooney as we welcome another Christmas Day in the house of the Lord, with communion and candlelight.

Christmas Day Combined Service—A Family Christmas Worship Service at 10:00 am with carols and soloists, led by Pastor Raffauf.

We hope that you will join us in Praise and Cele-bration of our Savior’s birth at one of these several services. Please see page 4 for Christmas Eve Servant Sign Up Form. Have a wonderfully blessed Christmas!

Christmas Candlelight Services at West Lawn UMC

Everyone is invited to join us on Sunday, December 11 for a fun-filled Family Christmas Celebration featuring three special programs:

Children’s Christmas Musical UMCOR Service Project Family Christmas Craft

The night will be begin with the Children’s Musical, “Where’s the Newborn King.” Our children’s choir and Sun-day School children will tell the story of three shepherds who are inspired by their grandparent’s stories to go on an adventure searching for the newborn King. Immediately following the musical, snacks will be provided in the Com-munity Center. While enjoying refreshments, families will have the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus by giv-ing back to others in need. Here, families will work together to assemble UMCOR Health Kits for less fortunate indi-viduals, using the supplies donated during last summer’s Vacation Bible School. All of the materials for the kits will be provided. In addition, families are invited to make a special ornament to hang on their tree, to remember the reason for the season, Christ’s birth!

Please consider joining us for this Family Christmas Celebration, as a participant or joyful spectator. The musical “Where’s the Newborn King?” will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, and the UMCOR service project and family craft will be held in the Community Center, starting at 7:00 p.m.

A Family Christmas Celebration

December 21—“Longest Night” Candlelight Service at 7:00 pm, a service of remembrance and hope for those who find rejoicing difficult this year.

December 22—Traveler’s Candlelight Service at 7:00 pm, for those who cannot be with us on Christmas Eve.

December 23—Hispanic Candlelight Service at 7:30 pm, a traditional service with carols, all in Spanish, led by Pastor Camacho in the Sanctuary.

December 24 Christmas Eve Services

~ New Lineup ~

3:00 pm– Family Service, with scripture readings, carols and candle lighting, with Pastor Haldeman bringing the Christmas message.

5:00 pm– Praise Service, with scripture read-ings, carols and candle lighting, led by the Praise Team with Pastor Raffauf bringing the message.

7:00 pm– A Traditional Service featuring lots of carols and the Christmas story from scripture,

PAGE 2 INVITE, EMBRACE, EMPOWER

For a child has been born for us,

a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

and he is named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:6 (NRSV)

There is an old Christmas tale that most of us know fairly well. It is a story about a scrooge of a man, Ebenezer

Scrooge in fact, who goes about his life and most especially the Christmas season spouting, “Bah! Humbug!” It is

an account that begins with death but certainly does not end there, because there is an intervention over the course

of a long, cold, winter night. This Advent and Christmas season we invite you to come and hear this tale in a way

that is relevant to our times and certainly this season as we draw closer to celebrating anew the birth of our world’s

Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our educated guess is that we all need to hear the themes that lead us on during Advent to the glorious season that

awaits us ~ Christmas…

~ Peace ~

~ Hope ~

~ Love ~

~ Joy ~

We hope that you will also come and be a part of what God is doing in and through the ministry of West Lawn

UMC as we celebrate the season of Advent on Sunday mornings, on December 11th at our Family Christmas Cele-

bration, and on December 18th for our Christmas Cantata. We would encourage you to pray for and/or participate

in the ongoing ministries that do not stop, nor slow down during this most busy season – Children and Youth

Ministries, Nursery Care, Angel Tree, Prison Ministry, West Lawn Wednesdays, Safe Haven, Prayer ministries and

many, many others. As we come to celebrate the in-breaking of God through Jesus – Word made flesh – please

plan on attending and inviting family, friends, neighbors to one of our various worship services as we sing favorites

like “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night,” read Scripture, pray and hear good news of great joy for all the people…

born this day…a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.!

Our prayer for all of us is that the peace that passes understanding, the hope that brings us into the future unafraid,

the love that is all-consuming and the joy that rejoices in every circumstance will invite us deeper into relationship

with God, each other and our neighbors. And “God bless us everyone” during this season and far beyond.

Blessings as we continue together on the journey toward Bethlehem & beyond,

~Pastor Jeff ~Pastor Andrea ~Pastor Nick Pastor Terry

CROSSROADS PAGE 3

Our annual Pork & Sauerkraut Dinner will be held on Sunday, January 1, 2017 from 1:00 pm through 4:00 pm in the Community Center. Eat in or Take Out available! (take out begins at 12:30 pm) Dinner includes Pork & Sauerkraut with all the trimmings plus dessert. Adult tickets are $10 and Children under 12 are $5. Tickets are available for purchase at the church office, at West Lawn Wednesday meals, or at the door. Proceeds from this year’s Pork & Sauerkraut Dinner will be used to help Erika Bare, a member of our congregation, replace her service dog, Emit, who is nearing retirement. The cost for a service doge can run close to $5,000. Your support for this one-time benefit event is appreciated.

We are in need of servants to prepare and serve the meal. Please sign up to help by visiting our website, by sign-ing up on a Wed evening at West Lawn Wednesday, or by calling the church office. We need many hands to provide this Community Outreach event.

Delivery is available for residents of 19608, 19609, 19610 & 19611; email or call the office at 610-678-5611 or office@westlawnumc.org.

If you would like to contribute to the Haiti bus, please see the list below for donation items.

FOOD: rice, oil, beans, Peanut Butter, pud-ding, dry milk, dry oatmeal packets.

CLOTHES: tropical weather clothing

MEDICAL SUPPLIES: first aid items; triple antibiotic ointment, bandages, perox-ide, rubbing alcohol; guaifenesin syrup (plain), ibuprofen liquid, acetaminophen liq-uid

PERSONAL ITEMS: antiperspirant, body lotion, soap, toothpaste HOUSEHOLD ITEMS: utensils, kitchen items

Financial donations are always accepted to help offset shipping costs, etc. For more in-formation, visit www.team127.org.

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INVITE, EMBRACE, EMPOWER

I/we are willing to serve in the following ways (check all that apply). You will be contacted to confirm.

Name:

Phone: Email:

Childcare (provide babysitting services for children in the nursery) Dec. 22: 7 pm. _______ Dec. 24: 5 pm. _______ 7 pm. _______

Welcome Center (arrive 30-40 minutes before services) Dec. 22: 7 pm. _______ Dec. 24: 3 pm. _______ 5 pm. _______ 7 pm. _______ 9 pm. _______11 pm. _______

Help Facilities Staff (straightening of Sanctuary, vacuum, clean up trash, etc. after each service) Dec. 22: after 7 pm. _______ Dec. 24: after 3 pm. _______ after 5 pm. _______ after 7 pm. _______ after 9 pm. _______ after 11 pm. _______

Medical Team (people in medical professions willing to respond if needed; please indicate which service you plan to attend) Dec. 22: 7 pm. _______ Dec. 24: 3 pm. _______ 5 pm. _______ 7 pm. _______ 9 pm. _______11 pm. _______

Telephone (answer church phone) December 24th only 1-3 pm. _______ 3-5 pm. _______ 5-7 pm. _______ Inside Greeters (arrive 40 minutes before services, hand out bulletins and candles) Dec. 22: 7 pm. _______ Dec. 24: 3 pm. _______ 5 pm. _______ 9 pm. _______11 pm. _______ Parking Lot Greeters (arrive 50 minutes before services, greet worshipers and direct people to the sanctuary & nursery) Dec. 22: 7 pm. _______ Dec. 24: 3 pm. _______ 5 pm. _______ 9 pm. _______11 pm. _______ Ushers (arrive 30-40 minutes before services, pass offering plates, light aisle candles and worshipers’ candles) Dec. 22: 7 pm. _______ Dec. 24: 3 pm. _______ 5 pm. _______ 9 pm. _______11 pm. _______ Staff Hospitality (provide dinner/snacks for the Pastors and staff throughout the day and evening hours) December 24th only Set-Up at 3 pm._________ Clean Up at 11 pm. _________ Main Dish _________ Side Dish _________ Snack _________ Dessert _________ Beverage _________

Plates, Cups, Napkins, Utensils _________

Thank you for offering to serve as we celebrate our Savior’s birth. You will be contacted to confirm your offer. Please place this form in the offering plate or return it to the Church office.

Part-Time Position: We are very blessed to have growing families at West Lawn. As many of you know, we had several babies born recently. That means that we are commissioned to love and care for the babies and children on a Sunday morning! We want to continue to provide a loving, safe environment for our families who want to worship with us, but, we need arms to hold them, laps to rock them and people willing to play or read with them. Currently, we have one Nursery Care position (paid staff) opening as well as a great need for servants on a Sunday morning in the nursery. If you, or someone you know would like to become part of this team as a volunteer that helps out every once in a while, or on the paid staff, please have them call the office. Thank you for helping us to spread the word about this request.

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PAGE 5

by Jean Howe

We are enjoying the wonderful weather this fall at Safe Haven Lighthouse. On November 2nd, we were able to go to Diane and Jim Hetrich’s farm. We missed seeing Jim but we were glad that Diane was there. They provided us with s’mores, hot dogs we could roast, and candy. The children loved it! Jami let the kids feed the goats and they really en-joyed doing that. Ashlee Neuin gave the kids rides on the tractor so they were able to see more of the farm area. Some of the kids played basketball with Linda Welsh and she won! They will hear about that for a while. We are glad we are able to have a place like this for the children to run around and just be kids.

In December we will be putting together personal care buckets for our shut-ins that are in nursing care facilities and also in their homes. We look forward to doing this each year. Also in December, we will be Christmas caroling at Phoebe Berks. The residents seem to like it when we are there and the kids bring joy to all they see.

We hope you all have a wonderful, thankful Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas! ~Lori Madara & Bonnie Rissmiller

CROSSROADS

Sunday December 18 from 9:30-11:00AM

Come join us for snacks and Sunday School on Sunday, December 18. There will be goodies and free resources availa-ble for families to utilize during the Holiday week. Stop by and learn more about the exciting things happening in our Bible Study and Sunday School programs.

What do the candles in our Advent wreath mean? The Advent wreath, four candles on a wreath of evergreen, is shaped in a perfect circle to symbolize the eternity of God. In some churches, four purple candles, one for each week in Advent, are used with one larger white candle in the middle as the Christ candle. Other churches prefer three purple or blue candles with one candle being rose or pink, to represent joy.

While the Advent wreath with its four candles did bring light to churches, it was not to illuminate the interior as much as to symbolize the coming of Christ. The Advent wreath began in the time of the Protestant reformer Martin Luther.

During each Sunday of the Advent season, we focus on one of the four virtues Jesus brings us: Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. Others consider the lighting of the first candle to symbolize expectation, while the second symbolizes hope, the third joy and the fourth purity. The Christ candle is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day reminding Christians that Jesus is the light of the world. The order and exact wording vary among churches, but the wreath continually reminds us of whom we are called to be as followers of Jesus. Printed by permission from UMC.ORG

What are the 12 days of Christmas? Christmas is not just one day, but a season of twelve days from sunset Christmas Eve (December 24) through Epiphany (January 6). The twelfth day of Christmas, Epiphany, commemorates the visiting of the Christ Child by the Magi (Wise Men) with their gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. Gift giving in some cultures extends throughout the 12 days of Christmas; elsewhere, gift giving is limited to Christmas Eve or Christmas Day or January 5 or 6. Want to know more? FREE ADVENT RESOURCES AVAILABLE 11/27

Check the Adult Education Hallway in the Reiner Building beginning on 11/27 for Advent Educational Re-sources. Information regarding the season, activities for the family, Advent Wreath Lighting for families, Jesse Tree information! There will be a table at the end of the hall with all sorts of great FREE information!

PAGE 6 INVITE, EMBRACE, EMPOWER

Baptism and reception of new members will be offered on December 11 at all four services. If you have any questions or desire to schedule a baptism, please contact the office at 610-678-5611.

We just hosted Family Promise guests the week of October 16 to October 23—another small group con-sisting of 1 mother and 2 sons. We would have had 3 families, but 1 graduated the program just before com-ing to us, and the other dropped out of the program. The family we were left with was great and will soon graduate. Thank you to all our volunteers for making our guests comfortable and feel at home. Thanks to the guys from Pastor Issac’s youth group for helping with set up. And thanks to Dr. Jim for providing the eye ex-ams and glasses to all three guests. We will be hosting 3 times in 2017: March 12, July 9 and December 3 –please mark your calendars! If any-one new would like to volunteer for this wonderful mis-sion that only takes about 3 hours whenever you partici-pate, please contact Wayne or Linda Weikel at 610 678-9499 or email us at wgweikel@yahoo.com.

West Lawn UMC is again hosting the “Hold Me Tight: An Invitation to Connection –Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love” workshop this coming March and April. HOLD ME TIGHT® is a couple’s workshop that is available worldwide based on Dr. Sue John-son’s best-selling book “HOLD ME TIGHT, Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love” and is based on Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT).

The HOLD ME TIGHT® Workshop helps couples make sense of negative interaction cycles that can create distance in relationships and offers experiential learning to realize emotional sharing at a whole new level. It also helps couples build emotional responsiveness to each other so that partners feel a strong bond of love and security with one another, even in the midst of everyday demands.

When (this is a three day workshop spanning over three dates): Thursday, March 24 — 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday, March 25 — 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 8 — Times TBD

For more information and details, contact Renee Donovan at renee@couplestherapypa.com, (610) 777-0705 ext. 3, or visit our website at: www.westlawnumc.com/recent-news/hold-me-tight-couples-workshop/

You are cordially invited to a special cantata service as we prepare to receive the Holy Child once again this Christmas! This year, the Festival Choir will be presenting Let There Be Christmas by Joseph M. Martin. The cantata will be supple-mented by additional special seasonal music, along with con-gregational singing of some of your favorite carols. The service will be held in our sanctuary on Sunday, Decem-ber 18th at 3:00 PM. Come and prepare your hearts and minds and spirits for the Messiah!

Our final Inquirers’ Class for this year will be Sunday, December 4th at 12:30 pm in Room 109 of the Educa-tion Bldg. This class is for anyone who would like to learn more about the Christian faith, The United Meth-odist Church, or making West Lawn your church home.

PAGE 7

Alphabet Photography Fundra iser The Faithful Friends Consignment Sale is selling personalized alphabet pho-tos as a fundraiser. These unique, framed letter works of art, are made using many pictures taken right here at WLUMC. To place an order, pick up an order form and instructions

at our Welcome Center. Sample pictures can be seen outside of the Church Office. These pictures make great Christmas presents! Thank you for sup-porting our Sale through this fundraising opportunity.

CROSSROADS

This year we again have the opportunity to share the joy of the Christmas season with 350 local children who have a parent incarcerated at the Berks County Jail. If you have selected a tag from the Angel Tree, please return the gift to the tree with the tag from the tree attached to the package by noon on Sunday, November 27.

Now the real fun begins. Volunteers are invited to join us for the afternoon on Sunday, November 29 following the 11:10 service, when we will sort and bag the gifts. In addition to the gifts purchased for the children, a Bible is provid-ed to each family as a gift from our church family. If you would like to help with the cost of the Bibles, please be sure to indicate “Angel Tree” in your giving.

On Friday, December 2 from 6pm – 9pm we will transform the Community Center into a Winter Wonderland for our guests who will join us on Saturday, December 3. Christmas trees galore are decorated with donated items and beanie babies for the children to choose from after their visit and photo with Santa and Mrs. Clause. Cookies are shared from our home kitchens at our refreshment table. Craft areas are prepared and a city of gingerbread houses is built for the children to decorate. Last year we built 185 houses with each transforming into a beautiful home which reflected the child’s imagination.

If you would like to join us, please take the time to complete the attached form and return it to the church office or call Alice Moyer at 610-670-7633 or email at muzy140@aol.com.

Angel Tree : A 20 Year Tradi t i on

□ Sorting gifts

□ Leading the craft area

□ Preparing materials for the crafts

□ Gingerbread House area leader

□ Whipping up the Royal Icing

□ Building gingerbread houses Friday, Dec. 2 at 6 pm

□ Set up and decorating trees in Santa’s area

□ Baking cookies

□ Pick up of donations from local businesses on Friday

for the party (i.e. Clover Farms, Berks Packing, etc.)

I would like to help with Angel Tree this year by …

□ Helping to contact local businesses for donations

□ Helping at the party Saturday, December 3 with crafts

□ Cleaning up/repack trees after party at 2pm, Sat., Dec. 3

□ Sharing my talent Sat., Dec 3

□ Taking pictures with Santa

□ Helping print photo

□ I would like to provide gifts for a family of ____(# of children)

□ Providing a donation to purchase Bibles

□ Call me to purchase last minute gifts on Wed., Nov. 30

NAME

PHONE # EMAIL

INVITE, EMBRACE, EMPOWER PAGE 8

November is a time to reflect on our many blessings and to give thanks for the ways God has provided for our needs. West Lawn UMC has been very blessed with faithful servants who give of their time and talents in so many ways. We are so thankful for those who serve in the many ministries on a Sunday morning and throughout the week. We are also thankful for the West Lawn UMC staff that, behind the scenes, day in and day out, take care of the business of running this wonderful church.

November has been a time of transition for some of our staff members, as new opportunities and life changes take them in new and exciting directions. We want to thank and celebrate the dedication of the following members of our West Lawn family.

First, Lisa Hoopes has served faithfully as our Financial Assistant since May of 2012. We thank her for the years she has worked with our wonderful counting team and for her diligent work in providing our statements and entering the financial data. In the transition, we want to thank Bob Myers and Valerie O’Leary for working with us and filling in as we find her permanent replacement.

Our receptionist, Tina Newton, has brightened our Welcome Center with her smile and cheery countenance as the receptionist since 2012, where she answered the phones, ran the copy machines and helped with countless projects. We wish her well as she has accepted a full time managerial position with a local yoga studio. Sally Brown, a member of our congregation has stepped into that position. Please stop by and welcome her as she transitions into this vital role.

Janine Busak, who has served in the nursery for many years as one of our nursery care providers is hoping to partici-pate in a more active role in the Youth Ministry program. She has been well loved by our children and parents who could always count on her loving presence and kind heart. We have hired two new Nursery providers-Megan Epler and Kayla Sargent and continue to look for one more staff person, as well as volunteers to supplement our team as we care for the blessing of a large group. Janine has graciously agreed to train these new ladies as we strive to continue to provide top notch childcare.

And, finally, Allison Piscitelli is leaving her role as Pastor of Children’s Ministry. Allison has provided dedicated lead-ership for the past year and a half. We are so thankful for her, for her vision, and leadership. As we work through this transition, we look forward to some exciting developments in the area of Children and Family ministry in the coming months.

Thank you to all who have served and continue to serve on the staff and as volunteers at West Lawn UMC.

"The master said, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!' Matthew 25:23 (New Living Translation)

Everyone had a blast at our Youth Group sponsored Trunk or Treat event on October 30th. Thanks to everyone who participated!

by Carolann Schneiderhan

PAGE 9 CROSSROADS

Contact info for Isaac Mahler Isaac@westlawnumc.org /

610.678.5611 (Office) / 610.914.1001 (Cell)

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! We simply can’t say thank you enough for the

incredible support shown to our youth ministry

program through the Dessert and Auction

fundraiser we held last month! We were blown

away by the generous donors who provided such

amazing items for the auction and for those who

came out and purchased those items! The

auction was a HUGE success and we raised over

THIRTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED

dollars that will go towards youth scholarships!

Special thanks to Chef Anne Louise of

Unique Desserts for donating the fabulous

dessert for the event!

We are already looking forward to doing it

again next year!

2016-2017 Schedule of Events* December 2nd Confirmation Trip to Synagogue

December 10th Breakfast with Santa**

December 16th MS Movie Night & Cookie Bake!

December 17th HS Scavenger Hunt @ the Mall

December 21st Christmas Party!!!

December 25th, 26th, 28th: Christmas Break

January 1st, 2nd and 4th or 8th: No YG or WLW

January 6-8th HS Retreat - Youth Rally in OCMD!

January 9th: Middle School YG Resumes***

January 14th Confirmation Trip to St. George UMC

January 15th: Worship & Concert with BOUNDARIES

January 16th: NO MSYG-MS Students invited to Concert

January 20th-22nd: MS Retreat—Pocono Plateau

February 10th: MS Event—Laser tag

February 11th HS Progressive Dinner (Formal attire!)

February 15th: Event Pass Payment #1 Due

February 19th & 20th: No HS or MS Youth Group

February 24-26th: Confirmation Retreat—Pocono Plateau

March 5th: Combined MS/HS Off-site Activity!

March 6th No MS YG due to Combined Activity on 3/5

March 15th: Event Pass Payment #2 Due

March 31st: Junior Jam! MS Game Night!

April 12th: NO WLW/SMALL GROUPS

April 13th: Living Last Supper

April 14th: Good Friday Service

April 16th: EASTER! (No HS YG)

April 17th: No MS Youth Group

April 19th: Event Pass payment #3 Due

April 21-23rd: Spring Retreat—Confirmation and HS!

April 23rd No HS Youth Group

May 7th: Confirmation Class Celebration at Schell's

May 14th: Mothers Day! (No HSYG)

May 17th: Event Pass Payment #4 Due (Final Payment)

May 21st: Confirmation Sunday!

May 24th: Last WLW/Small group for the year!

May 28th –29th: NO HS OR MS YOUTH GROUP

*Parent packet with and additional details coming soon!

** indicates events are Service Opportunities

*** The Middle School meeting dates are tentative for 2017. Our

goal is to evaluate and discuss what meeting day and time would be

most effective in 2017 and make adjustments if needed. Please feel

free to reach out to Isaac to share your ideas and concerns!

SUMMER 2017 EVENT PASS! For the past two years we have offered a summer

event pass. This has allowed parents to pay for

the major summer events in evenly spread out

payments instead of paying for all of these

events at the same time. Due to the positive

feedback we are rolling this out again for 2017.

More details will be available by late December

but I wanted to allow parents to start planning as

the first payment will be due in February and

will continue through May!

WINTER RETREATS ARE COMING

High School: We are going to the Youth Rally in

Ocean City Maryland. The event is January 6th to

8th. The cost is $120 and covers meals, lodging and

the youth rally. Students must sign up by December

14th—Space is limited so sign up ASAP!

Middle School: We are once again going to Pocono

Plateau for our winter retreat. The dates are January

20-22nd and the cost is $130. Last day to sign up is

December 21st. Don’t miss this event!!!

INVITE, EMBRACE, EMPOWER PAGE 10

Our next First Saturday Worship will be held on Saturday, De-cember 3rd at 6:00 pm in the C o m m u n i t y Center featur-ing “Christmas

Music and Their Stories,” with Mike Reinert & Mary Lou Hutchinson. On January 7, 2017, Dave Endy will speak on “Our Mission in Pignon.”

If you would like to share your testi-mony at a First Saturday Worship service, please send a brief summary of your story to Pastor Jeff at jeff@westlawnumc.org.

st

The United Methodist Women will meet in the Hebrews Café on Tuesday, December 13 at noon for a program of Christmas music under the leadership of Dick Becker, West Lawn’s Minister of Music. We will have a cookie exchange, so bring examples of your favorite cookie (with recipe for sharing) along with your lunch. Beverage will be provided. If you have questions or need transportation, contact Harriett Ziegenfuss (610-678-3107) or Anna Bickhart (610-670-1671). Celebrate Christ’s birth with us on December 13!

Wilson Area Food Pantry, held in the Community Center on the third Fri-day of each month, is in need of canned vegetables this month. Please bring donations to the church office during the week, WLW Dinners on Wednes-days, or the Welcome Centers on Sundays.

Director of Food Service for New Journey Community Outreach. Safe Serve Certification required. Please contact our church office, if interested.

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Join us for our next Women’s Book Club on December 14 at 7:00 pm in Room 102 in the Community Center discuss this month’s book selection and help to choose the book for next month. Join us on the second Wednesday of every month.

Author Among Us! Our own Mike Reinert has written a book! Actually, it a full-year devotion-al entitled “Meet With God,” and we’d like to make it available to you. Looking for a Christmas gift for a loved one or friend? See Mike Reinert in the HE-brews Café be-tween services on Dec. 4, 11 & 18 for a signed copy. Price is just $18, tax included.

This year’s Women’s Retreat at The Traber Center in Spring City. 36 women had a wonderful time, and learned much from guest speaker, Esther Hughes, who shared her story and in-spired us with “Project Joy EnJineer.” We’re all looking for-ward to next year’s retreat!

We sent a grand total of 19 shoeboxes filled with small gifts, supplies and prayers from our church this year. These will be delivered into the hands of children all over the world. Even bigger than the gift of boxes, will be the gift of the gos-pel shared as each box is handed out and opened. Please continue to pray for each child that receives a box and each mission worker who delivers the box and the Good News! Thank you church!

11 CROSSROADS

The Wilson Area Food Pantry

would like to express our ap-

preciation to the Congregation

for your generous dona-

tions and support in helping to

provide food to the families in

need in our community.

Sophie Abigail Chung daughter of

Jennifer Cho & Kevin Chung

We cannot express enough our appreciation for all your

prison ministry team does for our jail. This includes the

Bible studies for men and women, the Sunday services you

provide for the men and Monday evening services for the

women. We especially appreciate all your team does to help

make Christmas just a little brighter for both the men and

women. It isn't just the items you supply for the gifts, but

the personal touches of CARDS and volunteers who help

distribute the gifts to the 1,300 inmates we hold here. I

see the faces light up with the cheerful smiles and brief

conversations you and your volunteers exchange with them

during distribution. I personally appreciate all the direct

time and energy you give in organizing all these activities

here at Berks County Jail System. ~ Chaplain Larry Mast

Paige Kathryn Pickel daughter of Katie Pickel

Cecelia Autumn Reichl daughter of

Matthew & Patricia Reichl

Sophia Alanis Romero daughter of

Edwin & Maribel Romero

To my church family,

Thank you so much for the many cards I

received during and after being in Read-

ing Rehab Hospital. I’m doing much bet-

ter now. Thank you also for the many

blessings and birthday cards sent to me

when I celebrated my 95th birthday. I

miss being in church every Sunday morn-

ing, but you are in my thoughts and pray-

ers. Love, Bea Kalbach

Thank you so much for your generosity and willingness to

help one of our families in need. The gift card to Walmart

will help them in so many ways during this difficult time.

Ms. Rebekah Marconi, School Counselor, Wilson High School

Shirley E. Noecker April 15, 1938—October 26, 2016

15 Woodside Avenue

West Lawn, PA 19609

www.westlawnumc.org

Phone: 610-678-5611

Pastor Jeff Raffauf

Pastor Andrea Haldeman

Pastor Nick Camacho

Pastor Terry Cooney

Every Sunday: Worship

8:00 am Traditional Worship

9:00 am Fellowship Time

9:30 am Praise Worship

9:30 am Sunday School for All

10:30 am Fellowship Time

11:00 am Celebration Worship

11:00 am Adult Sunday School

11:10 am Community Worship

11:30 am Children’s Church

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17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

2

27

28

29

30

31

1

DECEMBER 8 Robert Greer

Ellen Herring

Tabitha Hoppman

Marjorie Johnson

Antoinette Long

Christopher Michael

Thomas Ott

Anthony Pappas

Justin Rhoads

Scott Salyards

Marian Shannon

James Shaw

DECEMBER 9 William Blessing

Linda Dutt

Isaiah Fabien

Charley Fisher

Josh Hertzog

Michael Koyste

Jami Neuin

Constance Vaughan

Dylan Waltz

Brady West

Dennis Wrentzel

Thomas Yost

DECEMBER 10 Jeffrey Brudereck

Loretta Carter

Margaret Daniels

Megan Fick

Madison Grider

T. Eugene Klinger

DECEMBER 11 Robert Jones

Andrea Lindsay

Matthew Miller

Mike Rhodes

DECEMBER 12 Madelyn Barbon *

Morgan Gadebusch

Haley Griffith

Carol Harris

Donna King

Cindy Minnich

DECEMBER 13 Cathy Cescon

McKenzie Gensemer

Daniel Hemmerich

Rory Kopp

Marilyn Long

Terrie Schucker

Lacey Smith

DECEMBER 14 Corbett Babb

Kandy Derr

Abigail Ingram

Doug Kennedy *

Richard Noecker

Gabriel Spohn

Raymond Stubblebine*

Eric Sweitzer

Rebecca Williams

DECEMBER 15 Hanna Bodden

David Daniels

Meredith Quillman

Peter Vicari

Brandon Zabinski

DECEMBER 16 Pat Bailey

Jackson Becker

John Bittler

Evan Haas

Steven Marsden

Scott Szoke

Lorre Witmer

DECEMBER 17 Elizabeth Bittner

Ruth Eyer

Gerry Maurer

Rosalie Negron

Cary Shaner

Drew Vandersall

Lauren Weikel

DECEMBER 18 Sandy Chimenko-Goss

Dylan Kershner

Mikaela Krall

Gabriella Loper

Ansley Mays

Joseph Mays

Scott Snyder

DECEMBER 19 Matthew Brown

Janine Busack

Terry Herbein

Preston Hoopes

Peg Houser

Colleen Irwin

Miriam Kachel

William Mays

Cindy Mezico

Donna Phillips

DECEMBER 20 Jennifer Bossler

Chad Durniak

Amy Fick

Rylea Fick

Peggy Fleck

Max Gadebusch

Karen Guers

David Hinkle

Michael Kauffman

Ryan Langlois

Karen McElhattan

Jodi McVaugh

Doris Miller

Tim Minnich

Bradford Putt

DECEMBER 21 Jeffrey Blankenbiller

Aaron Dixon

Arthur Quinter

Donna Rollman

Sharon Rutherford

DECEMBER 22 Steven Endy

Matthew Filer

John Gaenzle

Dennis Mauser

John Miller

Kristina Sanford

Baylie Wicks

DECEMBER 23 Holly Metzgar

Robert Moorhatch

DECEMBER 24 J. Edmond Berk

James Folk

Aaron Grill

Donna Kershner

Vivian Reitz

Bonnie Rissmiller

David VanCampen

Billy Wildman

DECEMBER 25 Holly Allen

Russell Allen

Robert Fleck

Donna Harrington

Andrew Lindsay

Chris Mays DECEMBER 26 Owen Cline

Randy Wealand

DECEMBER 27 Isabella Calkins

Kathryn Herbein

Katie O'Leary

*Douglas Kennedy Country Meadows Rm. 29

1800 Tulpehocken Road,

Wyomissing, PA 19610

*Doris Snyder Elmcroft of Reading

9 Conlin Ct., Room 410

Reading, PA 19606

*Ray Stubblebine The Highlands, Apt. 115

2000 Cambridge Ave.

Wyomissing, PA 19610

*Madeline Barbon

The Highlands- Skilled Nursing,

Room 415

2000 Cambridge Ave.

Wyomissing, PA 19610

DECEMBER 1 Sarel Fuchs

Jeff Hill

Kimberly Hunter

Cathy James

Riley Kohl

Holly E Mays

Bob Metzgar

Brittany Wagner

Dave Wert

Jeanie West

DECEMBER 2 DeAnne Bechtel

Mary Davis

Arlene Doerrman

Michael Moyer

Olivia Weaver

DECEMBER 3 Peter Cobaugh

Sharon High

Eva Levering

Kayla McMullen

Trudy Miner

Nancy Rehr

Doris Snyder *

Patricia Unger

Kelly Zerbe

DECEMBER 4 Allison Hoofnagle

Ellen Lantz

Robin Pruitt

DECEMBER 5 Amy Blessing

June Bomberger

Stephen Durniak

Benjamin Reber

Lorrissa Reis

Adam Williams

DECEMBER 6 Kay Eastman

Brandon Fessenden

Carol Gardner

Maddie Klee

Kenzie Klee

Russell Long

Lisa Mochan

Gary Noecker

Mary Roush

Trevor Veidt

DECEMBER 7 Bryan Behrenshausen

Robert Romberger

Brian Van Winkle

DECEMBER 28 Michael Brightbill

Donald Carvel

Chloe Kirlin

Julie Kramer

Rebecca Weida

E. Krickett Yetter

Leslie Zalenski

DECEMBER 29 Jessica Adam

Steve Garber

Jessica Hulse

Tyler Pajski

Sherry Thompson

Nathaniel VanCampen

Cathy Waters

DECEMBER 30 Owen Aughinbaugh

Ed Geschwindt

Shannon Lutz

Madeline Marous

Joseph McGarrigle

Beverly Woodring

DECEMBER 31 Trey Hayick

Mason Kershner

Marjorie McIntosh

Judith Santoro

Abby Stephens

If we have inadvertently forgotten your birthday, please

contact the church @ 610-678-5611