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FEATURED INSIDE... Page

Serving in Worship 2

Worship in March 3

Community Dinner 8

Community Lent Services 9

Pastor Dougherty’s Message 11

The Monthly Newsletter of Reeders United Methodist Church

— MARCH 2018 —

We are a faith-based community introducing people to Jesus Christ and helping them become fully devoted followers of Him.

Reeders Hope

6:30 AM at the Outdoor Stage

Bring your lawn chairs—stay and enjoy a hot breakfast after the service or come early for Sunday School at 7:15 am.

“A Reflection on Good Friday”

Pastor Sean Dougherty

REEDERS ANNUAL EASTER EGG

HUNT

March 17th 10 am - Noon

6:15 PM Enjoy a Soup

Dinner

7:00 PM

Regular Service 10:30 am.

All Children ages 18mth to 6th Grade are welcome.

See Pg. 4

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Serving In March March 4, 2018

Greater Love: Marcy McAdams Nell Cadue Anna Macias- Crowley Diane Naranjo Media Team: Brian Bolan Eli Hernandez Nursery: Leigh Frailey Jan Toepert Ushers: John Myra Donna Myra Lester Weinman Bob Bryson March 11, 2018

Greater Love: Kathy Andrews Tracy Altemose Deb Elmire Lee Munch Media Team: Brian Bolan Lynda Bolan Nursery: Judy Bryson Joyce Baker Vivian Roberti Ushers: Anna Macias-Crowley Mark Gerger Patricia Detrick William Detrick

March 18, 2018

Greater Love: Barbara Giffels Pauline Snyder Arlene Frailey Paul Schmid Media Team: Brian Bolan Eli Hernandez Nursery: Debbie Elmire Kathy Andrews Ushers: Scott Hower Steve Miller Steve Miller, Jr. Ed Tanner

March 25, 2018 (Palm Sunday)

Greater Love: Marie Loysen Linnea Weinman Paula Gordon Janet Henry Media Team: Lynda Bolan Anna Crowley Nursery: Tracy Altemose Jane Davalos Ushers: Lloyd Manter Eliezer Hernandez Elijah Hernandez Jason Besecker

MISSION OF THE MONTH

Pocono Plateau Camp & Retreat Center 304 Pocono Plateau Rd Cresco, Pa 18326 camp@poconoplateau.org

BUILDING SECURITY UPDATE!!

In order to provide additional protection for everyone during worship, the rear entrance (by the kitchen) will be locked by the ushers after worship begins (approx. 10:40). Anyone arriving after that time will need to enter from the main entrance. This ensures that no one can enter the building un-noticed or unmonitored. In the meantime, the Trustees will be reviewing new camera options to make sure that accessibility is not compromised due to these increased security measures.

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Worship In March

MILITARY OF THE MONTH

PFC Chelsea Slappey CMR 415 Box 9159

ADO, AE 09114-0093

This is a lent study evolving around the number 40 as a prominent fea-ture of many bible stories; 40 days and 40 nights of rain in Noah’s story,

the Israelites wandering in the wilder-ness for 40 years, the resurrected Jesus seen alive for 40 days. etc.

Study Groups are available: Sundays at 9:15 AM

“Open Door Sunday School Class”

Sunday Evenings at 5:00 pm In the Conference Room

7 WEEK LENT STUDY “AFTER 40– Ready for Action”

March 4th 3rd Sunday of Lent “Our Response to God's Pause”

Numbers 14:20-25 March 11th 4th Sunday of Lent

“Our Sin knows Us - Old Habits Die Hard” Deuteronomy 9:9-13

March 18th 5th Sunday of Lent

“Seeking God's Voice” 1 Kings 19.4-13

March 25th Palm Sunday “Outward signs of Inward Holiness”

Jonah 3 (Join us for a Good Friday soup supper at

about 6:15 before the service)

March 30th Good Friday 7:00 pm Communion Service

“Accepting The Change” John 13:21-27

April 1st Easter Dawn 6:30 pm at the Outdoor Stage

(Don’t forget to bring a lawn chair)

“Son Tanning” Exodus 24:12-18

(Join us for a light breakfast in the Fellow-ship Hall following the service or come ear-

ly before Sunday School )

EASTER SERVICE at 10:30 AM “What are you looking for?”

Acts 1:6-11

Piano Needs a New Home!!!

Reeders has a free piano to anyone in the congregation who is interested in giving it a new home. If you are interested, you must be able to make

arrangements to move the piano yourself. The piano is a Kranich & Bach of New York upright from the early 1900’s. Anyone interested in more information or to arrange to view the piano should contact the church office at 570-629-1712.

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April 21st at 9:00 AM Friends and Family are welcome!!!

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN MINISTRIES

Please note the following change in one of our ministry outreach programs. As a congregation, we have supported Faith Christian School via collecting Campbell’s soup labels. The Campbell’s Soup Program has been discontinued, but is being replaced with “Box Tops for Education”. Faith is excited about the Box Tops program because it adds up quickly, with each box top earning .10 cents which is 10 times what the Campbell’s program earned. The box tops may be placed in the UMW black collection box outside the church office. In addition to clipping the box tops, (see the box top below) the school may earn bonus credit by linking your ShopRite card to the program or by downloading the app to your cell phone to scan your store receipts. For more information, or to see a list of participating products, please visit their website at www.boxtops4education.com or see Jenn Herscap or Leigh Frailey.

Other UMW

Ministry updates:

In 2017 we

received $1,857 from the donations we received from the Weis Market Register Tapes, We also received $137.24 from the Kinsley’s Shoprite Tapes. Keep those box tops and tapes coming.

Volunteers Needed - Please pick up plastic eggs in the lobby at church and donate wrapped candy to fill them with. We also need volunteers to hide the eggs and guide the children on March 17th. Join the fun. Bring your children and your grandchildren. Contact Dawn Tanner at 570-629-2855 or Henrietta Kresge at 570-629-0466 to volunteer.

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February Winter Camp Retreat Update

Thank you to a congregation that through your financial support we sent 15 youth who enjoyed a retreat at Camp Mt. Gilead. Through Pastor Sean’s teachings, this is what the children learned:

Katryn - I learned what a witness is and I liked sledding.

Cassidy - learned a lot about gaining courage to tell people my testimonies. I en-

joyed all of it.

Olivia- I liked to learn about testimonies and I liked the sledding, Yahoo!

Catherine - I liked sledding and learning more about the bible and God & Jesus.

Emma - I learned more about God, I liked spending time with everyone and it was so

fun,

Jessica - I liked how we shared part of our testimonies.

Chance - I liked the schedule of events and girls (and boys) we were paired with. I

learned more about how to use the Bible.

Hannah - I enjoyed spending time with everyone. I liked the messages Pastor Sean

shared with us.

Elizabeth - I enjoy spending time with people I typically see on Sunday’s. I learned

that it is important to share our testimonies.

Norah Aynne - I liked the crafts and games. I learned you shouldn’t be afraid to

speak what you believe.

Rileigh - I liked spending time with my family. I learned what testimony means.

Skylar - I learned how to pray in public and I had fun learning other’s testimonies.

Christian - I like Camp Gilead because it is fun and I learned some new things.

Liam - I like Mt. Gilead because I like to hear the Pastor speak.

Chris - I like to sing songs.

As a continuation of the Presidential Article in the February Newsletter, one of the 2

presidents that had no religious affiliations said “We are endowed by our creator…”.

The second quoted Matt. 12:25, Mark 3:25 when addressing congress. Both used

KJV. Any guesses?

Joan Robbins

Christian Education

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Little Blessings Nursery School

2018/19 Programs REGISTRATION IS OPEN

If you are interested in registering for the 2018/19 school year, please register early. Classes fill fast. Registration forms are available on the church website, or from the information table in the church lobby.

Contact Kathy Andrews, Director at 570-629-6369 for more information.

March 11th Beginning Sunday, February 18th, bring pantry goods to donate to the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network to stock their shelves for the Easter holiday. Place your donations in the bin in the church lobby.

Volunteers Needed - If you can vol-unteer to help with setting up, serving, or cleaning up following the meal, please contact the church office and let us know at 570-629-1712 or rumc@ptd.net.

Pocono Mountain Community Chorus 2018 Holy Week Concerts

Sunday, March 25th at 3:00 pm Reeders UMC

Tuesday, March 27th at 7:30 pm St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran 9 North Ninth St., Stroudsburg

Wednesday, March 28 at 7:30 pm Zion United Lutheran Church

1919 Route 209, Brodheadsville

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March 4th - 1:30 pm Stroudsburg Soup Kitchen

March 11th - 5:30 Pancakes and PJ’s

March 18th - No Meeting March 25th - 5:30 In The Loft

“And He Told Them A Story” A Lenten Series Featuring

The Parables of Jesus offered by the Pocono Cluster of United

Methodist Churches

All Services begin at 7:00 PM an include a time of fellowship after worship. Child care will be offered during all services. The offer-ing will benefit camperships at Pocono Plat-eau and Puerto Rico Hurricane relief.

Wednesday, March 7th Cherry Valley UMC

“The Parable of the Prodigal Son”

Wednesday, March 14th Faith UMC

Centennial of Peace: A service of the Hymns of World War I

Wednesday, March 21st Wooddale UMC

“The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders”

“The Parable of the Sower” “The Parable of the Lost Sheep”

Pick up a brochure for all the services at the information table in the church lobby.

Liam Greenan 2nd Anna Marcias Crowley 6th Amanda McNeese 6th Skylar Warner 8th Ryan Rispoli 10th Quinn Lesoine 13th Steve Miller 13th Elizabeth Frailey 15th Justin Schmid 15th H. Avon Doll 16th Jennifer Waldron 18th Victoria McNeese 19th William Detrick 20th Denise Thomas 20th Brian Bolan 24th

LET’S CELEBRATE

NORTH DISTRICT “Tools For Ministry Training”

Attention all Reeders Church Leaders!!!

Please consider attending the “Tools for Ministry 2017 workshop on Saturday, March 10 at 8:30 AM that will be held at the First UMC of Schuylkill Haven Church sponsored by the EPAUMC. There are brochures on the Administration Bulleting Board or in the church office. The sessions will focus on “growing our Church” and the theme is “To Whom Am I a Neighbor?”. Contact Pastor Dougherty if you are interested in riding with him.

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Give Thanks! Notes and Thank You’s will be included in the monthly newsletters Please submit them to the office. Thank you for your cooperation.

Have a special “Thank You” for someone or a group?

Forward to rumc@ptd.net or leave your note in “Secretary’s Mailbox” in the office.

SOUPER BOWL LUNCHEON THANK YOU

The old saying is true, "many hands make light work"! So a BIG "thank you" to ALL those who helped out with the "souper bowl of caring" luncheon. Can you believe we had over 24 crock pots of delicious soup? What a hard time decid-ing which soup to taste!! And then there were the scrumptious desserts!! Thank you Sherri Hower for making the special Eagles/Patriots cake. Also a special, "thank you" to the Ed Tanner family for setting up the tables for the event. There were so many people helping with the kitchen work and the cleaning up of the social hall it would be hard to name them all without forgetting someone. So, as I said at the beginning "many hands do make light work!" THANK YOU ALL! Lastly, may I say you scored a BIG touchdown against hunger with your food and monetary donations to PVEN! May God bless you for taking care of those in need! In Christ, Yvonne Rispoli

Thanks to my church family for all your prayers, help and donations of Bibles. God Bless You All. Judie Gordon

There is no way to fully express our grati-tude for your donation. We at Valor are continuously inspired by the generosity of donors like yourself who answer the call to give again and again. Sincerely, The Valor Clinic Foundation.

New Church Accounting System Update!

Thank you for your patience with us as we continue to institute the new Church accounting system. We continue to inform each committee of the Church about the procedures for the payment of bills and reimbursements for materials. If you have any questions, feel free to ask either your committee chairperson, Marcy McAdams, or Linda Mikels. The monthly newsletter is a good way for us to let you know the financial needs of the Church. We encourage you to consider gifts for upcoming projects. Look for a list of some of those projects in the April Newsletter. Linda Mikels Finance Chair.

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“No Assumptions: Lent” I’ve learned not to make assumptions when entering somewhere new, not even assumptions about faith inside of a church. I was recently inspired when one of our bold young preparatory members asked me, “Why do we put ashes on our forehead?” What a great question, and during this season of lent when we hear of people fasting and giving things up, the question can be asked, “Why do we do this?” The answer, of course, is a discussion of Lent.

From when Jesus, the Christ, died on a cross, to when He was resurrected, His disciples moved in a time of loss. A time when they ‘did without’ so to speak. Their Lord and Savior had just been shamed, beaten, murdered. They began to doubt Jesus, because they felt they had lost Him. There is nothing we can willingly give up, that can equal what it must have felt like to be without Jesus.

We remember this time by giving up something that matters to us. Traditionally, Christians would give up a type of food (usually meat) for 40 days because Jesus gave up food (called fasting) for 40 days when He was in the desert; in this time He had to rely on God, the Father to provide for His needs. We might give up something that mat-ters to us, so that we remember during Lent what it means to do without something we desire and feel we can't live without. Maybe that's meat, or maybe television, or proba-bly for some of us: Facebook.

How will you fill this new time, this pause where you are waiting? Will you fill it with hope, believing in God's word, reading it, and looking for Him as you BELIEVE the promise that He is truly coming again? Or will you try to fill the emptiness with things of the world to make you feel good? The apostles, the friends of Jesus, didn’t do well dur-ing the 3 days after Jesus died. During this time of emptiness, they sought to fit in with society by denying that they even knew Jesus. In the end, Jesus did return. He fulfills His promises. He calls out and gathers the lost sheep back to Him, and brings even more.

Abstinence (giving things up), is often considered the first means of grace be-cause it makes space for God to show up. The second is prayer, in which we faithfully seek God in the emptiness we feel. Fill this season of Lent with God’s holy presence. Make space for Him in your life in whatever way will matter most to you, and then inten-tionally, faithfully, seek God and expect Him to show up. Watch as your relationship and love for Him grows and how your life is changed as a result. The disciples, are surprised by God's return.

May you, my dear reader, be delightfully surprised at the way God shows up in your life at the end of Lent and the way you are filled with new life, new purpose, and new hope. Jesus assures us He will come, and He has shown us that He can and does keep His word. May the sure foundation He has laid carry you through this season of Lent as we remember what He has done for us and the Hope He brings to us.

Your brother in Christ,

Shepherd Dougherty

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Reeders United Methodist Church P.O. Box 187

2167 Route 715 and Church Road Reeders PA 18352

Contact Information:

Phone: 570.629.1712

Email: rumc@ptd.net

Web: www.ReedersChurch.org

Pastor: Sean Dougherty

Email: sean.p_dougherty@yahoo.com

Phone: 272.200.2172

Pastor Dougherty will be available every Monday from 9 to Noon if you want to stop to visit with him. If you need to see him outside of those hours, please contact the church office, or the Pastor directly, for an appointment. The Church Office hours are 9 am to 4pm from Monday thru Friday.

NEED HELP FINDING EMPLOYMENT? Go to the Commonwealth Workforce De-velopment website and gain access to training assistance and job openings that you can apply for on line at https://www.cwds.pa.gov. Create a user name and password and develop an online re-sume’ and apply online for jobs that are posted. If you need assistance to set up your online account, you can contact:

PA CareerLink Monroe County 2937 Route 611 Merchants Plaza Tannersville, PA 18372 570-620-2850

Monroe County Habitat For Humanity

is looking for volunteers to help complete various community projects. Visit

their website and sign up at http://www.habitatmc.org/job-calendar/

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Hope for Veterans Do you know a veteran or the family of a veteran who needs help with housing, employment services, temporary financial aide? If so, please refer them to the SSVF (Support Services for Veteran Families) hotline at 1-855-583-8466 or email SSVF@communityhope-nj.org. They serve veterans and their families in Eastern PA and Central and Northern New Jersey. For more information contact: Shelton Miles 1-973-590-4546.

Need to file your income tax return for 2017 FREE - check out this on-line opportunity. It is sponsored by The Unit-ed Way and supported by H&R Block.