O F F I C E H O U R S : M O N D A Y - T H U R S D A Y 9 A M - 1 P M

E M A I L : S T J A M E S A L T O O N A @ V E R I Z O N . N E T

W E B S I T E : W W W . S T J A M E S A L T O O N A . O R G

P H O N E : 8 1 4 - 9 4 4 - 6 8 3 5

Mission Statement:

To make disciples of Jesus Christ through Word and

Sacrament by the Holy Spirit.

Kirchenblatt March 2016 (Parish Newsletter)

Join us for Worship Sundays at 10:45 am

St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church

1407 Eighth Avenue

Altoona, PA 16602

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Pastor Jim’s Corner 2

Financials 3

Flower Chart 3

Birthdays 3

Council Notes 4

WELCA 5

Prayer List 6

From the Bishop 6

Marriage Encounter 7

Easter Flower Order Form 8

Lenten Greeting 9

Calendar 10-11

In the event of a Pastoral Emergency, please contact Pastor James Rill by Phone

at 814-880-1612 or email LionPrJim@aol.com

Daily Readings 12-14

Lenten Services 14

Upcoming Events 15-17

Bishop Messages 18

Thrivent 19

Committee List 20

P a g e 2 K i r c h e n b l a t t

DID YOU KNOW?

The Easter Bunny The Easter Bunny is not a modern invention. The symbol originated with the pagan festival of Easter. The goddess, Easter, was worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons through her earthly symbol, the rabbit. The Germans brought the symbol of the Easter rabbit to America. It was widely ignored by other Christians until shortly after the Civil War. In fact, Easter itself was not widely celebrated in America until after that time. The Easter Egg As with the Easter Bunny and the holiday itself, the Easter Egg predates the Christian holiday of Easter. The exchange of eggs in the springtime is a custom that was centuries old when Easter was first celebrated by Christians. From the earliest times, the egg was a symbol of rebirth in most cultures. Eggs were often wrapped in gold leaf or, if you were a peasant, colored brightly by boiling them with the leaves or petals of certain flowers. Today, children hunt colored eggs and place them in Easter baskets along with the modern version of real Easter eggs — those made of plastic or chocolate candy. Pastor Jim

WHERE IS PASTOR JIM IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH? February 23, 9 am - 3 pm Synod Leader’s Winter Gathering Evangelical Lutheran Church, Duncansville March 8, 9 am - 1 pm Blair Huntingdon Conference meeting

First English Lutheran Church, Tyrone

P a g e 3 K i r c h e n b l a t t

Contribution & Attendance Summary

December 2014

Contributions $3,923.80 Average Weekly Attendance 32

December 2015

Contributions $2,735.00 Average Weekly Attendance 27

INCOME & EXPENSE SUMMARY

December 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015

INCOME

Bank Interest $.05

Contributions

General $2,356.00

Designated $379.00

Special $229.00

Other Income $6,145.00

$9,109.05

EXPENSES

Pastoral Administration $4,201.92

Worship & Music $692.59

Office $1,288.72

Custodial & Property $820.74

Uncategorized $545.32

$1,559.76

March Flower Chart and

Bulletin’s

Altar:

6

13

20

27

Bulletins:

6

13

20

27

March Birthdays

Michael Fanelli 3/24

Barbara Good 3/7

Patricia Green 3/20

Rebekah Manbeck 3/7

P a g e 4 K i r c h e n b l a t t

News and Notes from Council

ST. JAMES EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCHCHURCH COUNCIL MEETING

February 9, 2016 AT 6:00PM

DEVOTIONS: Mark Hoover

CHURCH MINUTES: Minutes from January 19, 2016 were read and approved.

PASTOR'S REPORT: Lent begins February 10th. We will be conducting weekday

services in cooperation with Bethany Lutheran Church. The Comedy Evening will be re-

evaluated and possibly moved to May. He will attend Synod Winter Gathering on February

23rd. The point of breakdown in communications was discussed and the importance of having

committee meetings.

FINANCE COMMITTEE: A future meeting with Kooman Associates is being planned.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION/SOCIAL MINISTRY: Evelyn Hoslinger will get pr icing for

catering the Synod event on March 21st. Pastor Jim will be recognized at the Valentine’s Day

Luncheon for his first year.

PROPERTY COMMITTEE: Bob Holsinger , J r . will address the office light and janitor

door light. The new contracted snow plowing for the parking lots is working out extremely

well. A meeting is needed in the very near future.

WORSHIP AND MUSIC COMMITTEE: The music has been set for the next several

months. A contemporary service is needed to grow the church. A discussion took place on the

proper way to handle the ordering and distribution of Easter Flowers.

MUTUAL MINISTRY: No report.

OLD BUSINESS: A discussion took place on the locking of doors.

NEW BUSINESS: Committees must meet! If you know of anyone that hasn’t picked up

their offering envelopes and you are able to deliver them to them, please do.

The meeting adjourned at 7:15pm with the Lord's Prayer

P a g e 5 K i r c h e n b l a t t

W.e.l.c.a.

What is WELCA? It' s an easy way to say " WOMEN of the

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH in AMERICA" Quite a mouthful,

I know. St James organization includes women who gather in 7,000

locations all over the U.S. and the Caribbean. Women come together for

service, study, advocacy, fellowship, and much more. WELCA embraces all

kinds of ministries that support our mission of mobilizing women to act

boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ.

ATTENTION LADIES.....

Now is the time to set our schedule for the next few months.

Mark those calendars now!

All Women ....you are invited to St James WELCA meeting April 9 at 9:00 am in the

church basement. In thousands of congregations across the U.S. women of all ages gath-

er in community to grow and live in their faith through WELCA ministry and action.

As the glorious days of Easter are with us there is no better time than this season in

which to reflect our resurrection . As holy discipline keep mind Luke 20:36.... we all

are called to be "children of the resurrection.

Join us for our next reconvene WELCA meeting at St James.

Also

Hope to see you April 9

and for the Allegheny Synod WELCA which will meet at St. James for there annual

meeting April 30. Watch the LUTHERAN letter for more registration details.

Peggy Thatcher President St. James WELCA .

WELCA Board member Allegheny Synod.

Allegheny Synod (all churches) WELCA Event April 30 at St James 8:30 am -3:30 pm.

Almighty God, giver of every good gift; look upon this congregation with grace.

Guide the minds of our Call Committee members as they discern which of your serv-

ants will be our next pastor. Please grant that we might receive a faithful shepherd

who will care for us and continue to equip us for ministry in this place. Through Jesus

Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Our Prayer List:

The Manbeck family

Louisa Marshall

Doug Kauffman

Ann Bartley

John Wiederkehr

Dave Bickel

Joe Yanke

Brun Hilde Badorrek

Janet Kauffman

David & Jean Bickel

Susan Boston

Dorie Hoover

Those serving in our military

Homewood of Altoona:

Dick Potter

Presbyterian Village in Hollidaysburg:

Charlie Green

Patti Green

In their own homes:

Becky Manbeck

♦If anyone would like to join the prayer

chain or knows of someone needing

prayer, contact Janet Kauffman or the

church office.

THE VISITATION TEAM ASKS

if anyone would like to be added to the

Visitation List or knows of anyone who would

like to be added, please call the church office to

notify us. Also, please call the office if anyone is

hospitalized so that the visitation team and prayer

chain can be notified. These requests can also be

emailed to

stjamesaltoona@verizon.net

From the Office of the Bishop….

Please hold Pastor Susan Yatta in prayer as

she is having hip replacement surgery.

Please hold Pastor Wilbert Boerstler in pray-

er as he is having a heart catheterization at

Forbes Hospital in Monroeville.

Remember In Your Prayers

P a g e 6 K i r c h e n b l a t t

YOUR CAR. . . . . . . . YOUR MARRIAGE

BOTH RUN SMOOTHER WITH A TUNE UP! Attention Married Couples: So you’ve done maintenance for your car—how about your marriage? Make 2016 the year you decide to attend a Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend to learn how to make your marriage a more intimate, loving, Christian union. Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekends run from Friday night at 8 PM to Sunday around 4 PM and have been enriching marriages of couples of all ages for 40 years! In addition to the $100 per couple registration fee, you will be given an opportunity near the end of the weekend to make a confidential contribution of whatever amount you wish toward the continuation of the program. Two nights lodging, 5 meals for each of you, and all supplies are included. The 2016 Pennsylvania Weekends are:

April 8-10, 2016 in Lancaster, PA, at the all newly-renovated Heritage Hotel Lancaster,

home of the unique tree-house-inspired restaurant, “Loxley’s”

April 22-24, 2016 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, State College, PA,

Happy Valley’s premier conference center located on a quiet hillside with views of Nittany Mountain

September 16-18, 2016 at Spruce Lake Retreat Center, Canadensis, PA, a new,

hotel-style facility on Spruce Lake in the heart of the Pocono Mountains – an hour north of Allentown October 21-23, 2016 at Olmsted Retreat Center, Ludlow, PA, a stunning, hotel-style retreat center adjacent to the Olmsted Mansion situated on a hillside in the Allegheny National Forest, an hour north of DuBois

Registrations are limited, so act today to ensure that you can attend the Weekend of your choice. To sign up online, go to: www.GodLovesMarriage.org and pay the registration fee using your credit card, or mark the option to mail in a check For questions, or if you would like a brochure mailed to you, contact Pennsylvania Directors of Lutheran Marriage Encounter, Fred & Julie Schamber, at 724-325-3166 or email: fjschamber@comcast.net.

P a g e 7 K i r c h e n b l a t t

P a g e 8 K i r c h e n b l a t t

Easter Flowers

Your name (as you wish it to appear in the bulletin)

______________________________________________________________ This Donation is made:

IHO: __________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

IMO: __________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Choice of Flowers:

_____Red Tulips 5/6 Bulb ($9) _____Yellow Tulips 5/6 Bulb ($9) _____Pink Tulips 5/6 Bulb ($9) _____Lavender Tulips 5/6 Bulb ($9) _____6”Daffodils($8) _____ 8”Daffodils($12) _____Pink Hyacinths($6/2bulb) _____White Hyacinths($6/2bulb) _____Blue Hyacinths($6/2bulb) _____Pink Hyacinths($9/3bulb) _____White Hyacinths($9/3bulb) _____Blue Hyacinths($9/3bulb) _____Lilies 5 Bloom ($9) Amount of Contribution: $_________ Envelope Number: ________

Please Check One:

_____ Yes, I do want to take the flower(s) home with me.

_____ No, I do not want to take the flower(s) home with me. I would like them to be given to a shut-in or friend of St. James.

Please use the My Offering envelope in your pew to place your order and payment. Check the Flower Fund box on the envelope and place in the offering plate.

Orders must be received by March 6, 2016

P a g e 9 K i r c h e n b l a t t

Bishop Michael’s

2016 Lenten Greeting

“Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” The pastor speaks these

words to us as they place the ashes on our head with the sign of the cross on Ash

Wednesday. Lent begins with a stark reminder that we are mortal and of the frailty

and the fleeting nature of our lives.

It is good that we do this. All too often in this world we try to deny our own mortali-

ty. People accumulate money and things thinking that happiness will be found in

stuff. We do that forgetting that we cannot take any of it with us. In the end all the

things in this life, possessions, money, power, and our very selves are dust and to dust

we shall all return.

I hope this realization brings us to wonder what does matter. If all the stuff and peo-

ple of this world are passing away – what really matters? Jesus Christ shows us what

really matters.

Jesus is Lord and God of all. He is the one who brought all life and light into being.

When Jesus came into this world, he took nothing for himself. This is the Living God;

yet when he became flesh and lived among us, he demanded none of the things the

world usually considers of value.

Instead, Jesus came into this world and gave himself away for the sake of all of us.

Jesus deserves all glory, laud, and honor. Instead of taking what the world had to of-

fer, he poured himself out for the sake of this world. Jesus is our example. Jesus

shows us what our lives should be about. We can’t take money, or power, or stuff

with us. However, we can make our lives a blessing to others. We can use this God-

given existence to reach out in the love of Christ to those who are hurting, in need, or

hungry. Lent then, is an invitation to follow more deeply this Jesus. We stand this

season in the shadow of the cross and remember how much Jesus gave to save us

from sin, death, and destruction. We learn that even though we are going to die, that

because of what Jesus has done we have been given the doorway to life through him.

We who are dust without Christ are called to turn from those things that call us away

from him, and to follow the one who is the way and the truth and our eternal life.

May God bless you in this season, and may you know the presence of our Lord and

Savior Jesus Christ.

In His most Holy Name, +Bishop Michael Rhyne

St. James Lutheran Church

Sun Mon Tue

1 2 Lent Service St. JamesDinner 6PM Worship 7PMChoir Practice After Service Lent Service Bethany Worship 7PM

6 4 Lent

10:45am Worship Service

Deadline for Easter Flower Orders

7

8 Blair Huntington Conference Meeting 9-1 Council Meeting 6PM

9 Lent Service BethanyWorship 7PM

13 5 Lent

10:45am Worship Service

14

15 Kirchenblatt Article Deadline 12PM

16 Lent Service St. JamesDinner 6PM Worship 7PMChoir Practice After Service Lent Service Bethany Worship 7PM

20 Palm Sunday

10:45am Worship Service Distribution of Palms

21

22

23

27 Easter Sunday

10:45am Worship Service

28 29 30

Office Hours

Monday-Thursday

9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Phone: 814-944-6835

Office email: stjamesaltoona@verizon.net

Website: www.stjamesaltoona.org

St. James Lutheran Church 1407 8th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602

March 2016

Wed Thu Fri Sat

Lent Service St. James Dinner 6PM Worship 7PM Choir Practice After Service

Lent Service Bethany Worship 7PM

3 4

5 Story League 2-4PM

Lent Service Bethany Worship 7PM

10 Choir Practice7PM

11

12

Lent Service St. James Dinner 6PM Worship 7PM Choir Practice After Service

Lent Service Bethany Worship 7PM

17 18

19

24 Maundy Thursday Service 7PM Choir Practice After Service

25

Good Friday Services 2PM

26

31

CHOIR PRACTICE 7PM

Daily Readings and Prayers

March 1—Genesis 1:1-5, Psalm 43:3 Father, thank You for lighting the way to You. Amen

March 2—Mark 1:4-11, Psalm 38:18 Dear Lord, thank You for this newness of life. Amen

March 3—Mark 1:12-15, Psalm 71:1-5 Our Father, lead us not into temptation but into Your loving arms of refuge. Amen

March 4—Mark 1:16-17, Psalm 50:1-6 O Lord, help me not judge but to love others as You do. Amen

March 5—Mark 1:21-28, Psalm 2 Dear Jesus, keep me ever in amazement at Your undying love for me. Amen.

March 6—Mark 1:29-31, Psalm 145:14-16 Holy Spirit, grant me the wisdom and grace I need in my relationships with others. Amen.

March 7—Mark 1:40-45, Psalm 41:1-4 Jesus, help me to be less condemning and more compassionate. Amen.

March 8—Genesis 3, Psalm 139:1-4 Father, forgive me this day my trespasses. Amen

March 9—1 Mark 2:1-12, Psalm 103:1:5 Dear Lord, thank You for Your mercy upon me. Help me to overcome this hurt and to forgive as I have been forgiven. Amen

March 10—Genesis 9:8-17, Psalm 65:1-8 Almighty and eternal God, help me daily to look to this sign that You have given me: my Baptism. Amen

March 11—Genesis 11:27-31, Psalm 96 Dear God, thank You for saving me from my sin. Help me to share with others how great and good You are. Amen

March 12—Genesis 19:23-29, Psalm 40:1-5 Jesus, I praise You for rescuing me from my regrets. Amen

March 13—Mark 7:1-13, Psalm 111:1-4 Father, thank You for ridding me of my sins. Help me daily to immerse my heart in Your grace.. Amen

March 14—Mark 7:14-23, Psalm 141:1-4 Lord, renew my heart each day in Your grace so that my words and behavior reflect Your glory. Amen

P a g e 1 2 K i r c h e n b l a t t

March 15—Genesis 25:29-34, Psalm 106:1-5 Thank You, Jesus, for making me an heir of Your kingdom. Amen.

March 16—Mark 8:27-38, Psalm 25:1-7 Almighty God, thank You for Your steadfast love, which paid the price for all my sins. Amen.

March 17—Genesis 27:30-45, Psalm 128 God, thank You for blessing me every day. Amen.

March 18—Mark 9:1-9, Psalm 104:1-4 Jesus, help me follow You to the glory of Your cross. Amen.

March 19—Mark 9:14-29 ,Psalm 30:1-3 Dear Jesus, thank You for Your compassion. Increase my faith, and remind me that all things are possible with You. Amen.

March 20—Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 149 Dear Lord Jesus, implant in my heart that You have claimed me as Your own. Em-power me humbly to shine Your grace and forgiveness on others, that they, too, may rejoie in knowing whose child they are. Amen.

March 21—Mark 9:38-50 , Psalm 31:23-24 Lord, keep me salted through Your Word. Amen.

March 22—Mark 10:17-22, Psalm 25:8-13 Jesus, help me stay focused on my inheritance. Amen.

March 23—Mark 10:32-40, Psalm 69:13 God, answer me in Your saving faithfulness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

March 24—Luke 22:7-20, Psalm 117 I praise You, Jesus, for the price You Paid for my salvation. Amen.

March 25—John 19:17-30, Psalm 22:6-18 Dearest Savior, may I find comfort and peace at the foot of Your cross. Amen.

March 26—Matthew 27:57-66, Psalm 118:17-24 Thank You, Father, for giving us Your seal of approval through Christ’s redemption won for us. Amen

March 27—Luke 24:1-12, Psalm 150 In keeping with Your word, dear Jesus, let me not forget whose child I am. Amen.

March 28—Mark 16, Psalm 98 Thank You, Lord, for the undeniable victory of our salvation. Amen

P a g e 1 3 K i r c h e n b l a t t

LENTEN SERVICES

St. James and Bethany will be sharing Lenten Services with Pastor Jim and Pastor Drew. Below it is marked as to where the service will be held and what time. Some service will be held at both churches. SECOND WEEK LENT SERVICE – FEBRUARY 24TH BETHANY SERVICE AT 7:00PM THIRD WEEK LENT SERVICE – MARCH 2ND ST JAMES SERVICE AT 7:00PM – SUPPER 6:00PM BETHANY SERVICE AT 7:00PM FOURTH WEEK SERVICE – MARCH 9TH BETHANY SERVICE AT 7:00PM FIFTH WEEK SERVICE – MARCH 16TH ST. JAMES SERVICE AT 7:00PM – SUPPER 6:00PM

March 29—Luke 24:13-35, Psalm 13 Thank You, Jesus, for making us reigning champions with You. Amen.

March 30—John 21:1-14, Psalm 34:1-8 Jesus, thank You for forgiving me. Lead me to share with others how they, too, may taste and see that You are good! Amen.

March 31—Exodus 4:27-31, Psalm 124 Dear Father in heaven, move me lovingly to lead others into Your saving arms. Amen.

P a g e 1 4 K i r c h e n b l a t t

P a g e 1 5

Announcements and

Upcoming Events

Interested in making beautiful music with hand bells? We are forming a group to begin playing next year. As soon as we are ready we will start playing in services. Easter Service will be a high point for our hand bells. If you have played hand bells before or even if you have not, ability to count is a priority. Let us know if you are interested. Speak with Pastor Jim or Tere. They have hand bell playing experience. Hand bells make beautiful music and are fun to play.

K i r c h e n b l a t t

Please reserve the date and let your congregation

know that Simpson-Temple United Parish will

present an evening of comedy with Pastor John

Telyea on Friday, April 1 at 7:00 p.m. More

information will be available in the coming weeks.

YOUR PLEDGE FOR ST. JAMES EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH ALTOONA, PA

I will talk positively about my church. I will invite others to come and share in our ministry. I will attend services regularly. I will share that God lives through us - - - and smile regularly. I will give thanks to God every day for the blessings of my church

family.

P a g e 1 6 K i r c h e n b l a t t

Announcements and

Upcoming Events IN THE CASE OF A PASTORAL EMERGENCY, please contact Pastor James Rill by phone at

814-880-1612 or email LionPrJim@aol.com46.

The church office email is stjamesaltoona@verizon.net The church’s website is www.stjamesaltoona.org

Find us on Facebook to get up-to-date information.

REMINDER AND IMPORTANT

BULLETIN ADDITIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN TUESDAY AT 10:30 AM. For corrections, please contact the church office secretary Tim Surkovich, I’m in the office Monday-Thursday 9-1.

****IF AN ARTICLE FOR THE KIRCHENBLATT CANNOT BE SUBMITTED BY THE 15TH OF THE

MONTH, PLEASE CALL AND RESERVE A SPACE FOR YOUR ARTICLE SO THAT THE KIRCHENBLATT CAN BE FORMATTED AHEAD OF TIME TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR ALL THE

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS.****

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE:THE 15TH OF EACH MONTH

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:

DEADLINE FOR THE APRIL ISSUE OF THE

KIRCHENBLATT IS TUESDAY, MARCH, 15.

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

8th March—Council Meeting 6PM 9th April—WELCA 9AM

30th April—Allegheny Synod WELCA Event 8:30AM-3:30PM

The Story League, Here is our 2016 March 5, 2016, April 2, 2016

May 7, 2016 2PM-4PM

P a g e 1 7 K i r c h e n b l a t t

Announcements and

Upcoming Events

If you would like to opt-out of receiving a hard copy of this newsletter, please contact

the church office either by phone or email.

Choir Rehearsal Schedule During Lent:

February 25th 7PM March 2nd After Service

March 10th 7PM March 16th After Service

March 24th After Service

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER 2016

Faith In Action We invite you to join us in worship during Holy Week – a time in which we

remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, His arrest and crucifixion,

and finally, His resurrection from the dead. It is a week that changed the world

– where Jesus lived, died and rose again for us. Please make an effort to invite

friends, neighbors and relatives to come with you or come on their own for

this special, uplifting time.

Palm Sunday : Palm Sunday Holy Communion Service,

Distribution of Palm leaves Sunday, March 20– 10:45 am

Maundy Thursday: Maundy Thursday Holy Communion marks the anniver-

sary of Jesus’ Last Supper and beginning of our Holy Communion Stripping

of Altar for Good Friday follows service Thursday, March 24 - 7 pm. Good Friday Service : Friday, March 25 – 2:00 pm

Easter Celebration : Festive Holy Communion Service:

Sunday, March 27 - 10:45 am

Make a special effort to be with us at St. James for Holy Week and Easter 2016, Pastor Jim

Bishop Rhyne posted a video on our Allegheny Synod 8C Facebook page sharing how the Allegheny

Synod is leading the nation is support for the Lutheran World Relief Quilt and Kit Program. LWR

Contacted the Bishop to let him know that our Allegheny Synod leads the nation is financial support

for shipping quilts and health kits, personal care kits, and school kits around the world.

Most of our donations toward this program come from our Blanket Sunday collections and offerings.

In 2015, we sent over $17,000 to support this vital ministry. The Bishop hopes that you can celebrate

the great work that we are doing together, and that our Synod donates and gives more to this particu-

lar ministry than anyone else. The Bishop said in his video that it is just one more demonstration of

how we in the Allegheny Synod take what we have to be a blessing to others. Thank you for all you to

do help and support this important and vital ministry.

If you would like to see the Bishop’s video announcement, please visit our Allegheny Synod 8C Face-

book page.

Thank you for all you do to help the Allegheny Synod share the love of Jesus with all of the world.

February 4, 2016

Dear friends in Christ,

While most of us were safe and warm in our homes with our loved ones during the holiday season,

there were some people who were not as fortunate. Storms across the Midwest and the South caused

major flooding and tornadoes. Earlier this week, nearly a dozen tornadoes damaged homes throughout

parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia. Many people lost their homes

and all of their belongings. Imagine how you would feel if your house was destroyed in a flood or tor-

nado? Imagine losing precious mementos of your life and finding out that you could not return to your

lifelong home because it is no longer there.

The ELCA Lutheran Disaster Response program is working with social ministry organizations and

synods that serve these communities to provide long term recovery efforts.

Many of our sister social ministry organizations are working closely with local, state and federal au-

thorities as well as local relief groups and congregations in assessing needs and developing a long-term

response to these devastating disasters.

Please keep in mind how blessed you would feel if someone offered you assistance in this time of

need. Please consider helping the immediate needs of the people of these communities by making a

donation to Lutheran Disaster Response.

As the disaster response agency of the Allegheny Synod-ELCA, Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries

(ALSM) will accept your tax deductible donation. Simply make your check payable to ALSM ear-

marked for Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) and mailed to ALSM c/o Disaster Response, 998 Lo-

gan Boulevard, Altoona, PA 16602. We will make sure your gift will be used to help meet the needs of

the people affected by these terrible disasters.

Thank you very much for your heartfelt prayers and contributions.

P a g e 1 8 K i r c h e n b l a t t

P a g e 1 9 K i r c h e n b l a t t

Sincerely,

The Rev. Michael L. Rhyne

Bishop, Allegheny Synod

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Church Council Members Mark Hoover—President

Shirley Manbeck—Vice President

Donna Wilt—Secretary Ralph Grove—Treasurer

Betty Boslet Dana Detwiler

Carolyn Feather

Donna Foster Evelyn Holsinger

Louisa Marshall Sylvia Malsatzki

David Manbeck Pastor Jim Rill

Pastor– Pastor James Rill, Intentional Interim Pastor

Church Administrative Assistant - Tim Surkovich

Organist & Choir Director - Pat McConnell

Financial Secretary/Bookkeeper - Ralph Grove

Custodian—Earl Walters

Mutual Ministry *Donna Foster *Evelyn Holsinger Joe Yanke *Dana Detwiler Christian Education/ Social Ministry

Janet Kauffman Maizie Emswiler *Carolyn Feather *Evelyn Holsinger *Sylvia Malsatzki *Shirley Manbeck *David Manbeck *Debra Morgan

Worship & Music *Dana Detwiler *Donna Foster *Mark Hoover *Sylvia Malsatzki *Louisa Marshall Pat McConnell Phyllis Spinazzola

By-Laws Mark Hoover *Betty Boslet *Carolyn Feather Maizie Emswiler *Debra Morgan Edith Trinks Stewardship/Evangelism *Donna Wilt *Dana Detwiler Janet Kauffman *Louisa Marshall

Finance

*Mark Hoover *Betty Boslet John Wiederkehr *Donna Wilt Ralph Grove

Property Bob Holsinger *Shirley Manbeck *David Manbeck Earl Walters

* Denotes Council Member Thrivent Rep-Robin Kessler A.L.S.M. Rep—?

Chairpersons are listed in bold at the top of each committee.

BELOW YOU WILL FIND THE COMMITTEES AS OF THIS DATE. PLEASE NOTIFY EI-

THER THE CHAIRMAN OR CHURCH OFFICE IF YOUR NAME DOES NOT APPEAR

WHERE IT SHOULD OR APPEARS WHERE IT SHOULDN’T. ALSO, PLEASE NOTIFY US IF

YOU WOULD LIKE TO SERVE ON ANY OF THESE COMMITTEES.