Shenkel United

Church of Christ

SHENKEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

1580 Shenkel Road

Pottstown PA 19465

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Shenkel United Church of Christ’s “The NEWSLETTER” is a monthly publication prepared, edited, and mailed by the leadership and staff to all members and friends of the church. It communicates news about our life, purpose, and mission as a Church of Jesus Christ. Information related to our partnership as a member of the United Church of Christ and wider church/community out-reach is included on a regular basis. The Church is located at Unionville & Shenkel Roads in North Coventry Township.

SHARINGS AND CONCERNS

JULY AND AUGUST, 2010

July 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Cluster Delegate Luncheon Noon

Book Study 7 PM

2 3

4

Communion Outdoor worship begins 9:30 AM

5 6

Quilters 9:30 AM

7

8

Book Study 7 PM

9

Safe Church Policy Training 7 PM

10

11

Healing Prayers Congregational Meeting after worship

12

Card Making Group 6:30 PM

13

Spiritual Council 7 PM

Consistory 7:30 PM

14 15 Healing

Prayer Gathering 9:15 AM Prayer Team Meeting 6:30 PM

Book Study 7 PM

16 17

18 19 20 Quilters

9:30 AM

Music and Worship 7 PM

21

Peace Service 7:30 PM

22 Reading Phillies Night

Book Study 7 PM

23 24

25 26

Community Meal Noon at Christ Episcopal Church

27

Stewardship Meeting 7 PM

28 29

Book Study 7 PM

30 31

August 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Communion

2 3

Quilters 9:30 AM

4

Agape 7 PM

5

Book Study 7 PM

6 7 Kids Club

Stargazing at Warwick Park Time TBA

8 Healing Prayers Safe Church Pol-icy Training 7 PM

9 Card Making Group 6:30 PM

10 Spiritual

Council 7 PM Consistory 7:30 PM

11

Board of Chris-tian Education 7 PM

12

Book Study 7 PM

13 14

Family Movie Night in the Grove Time TBA

15

16 17

Quilters 9:30 AM

18 Prayer

Team meeting 6:00 PM Peace Service 7:30 PM

19 Healing

Prayers 9:15 AM

Prayer Team 6:30 PM

Book Study 7 PM

20 21

22

Grove reserved

23

Community Meal Noon

24 25 26

Book Study 7 PM

27 28

29 Senior

Choir “Roundup” 3:00 PM

30 31

Quilters 9:30 AM

1580 Shenkel Road, Pottstown PA 19465 610.326.3535

Email: shenkelucc@aol.com www.shenkelucc.org

PAGE 3

The Pastor’s Pen

Pastor Bonnie L. Moore

484.524.8280

blmoore@comcast.net

Monday—Sabbath Day

Office Hours:

Tues., Wed., Thurs

9:00 AM—1:00 PM

Secretary: Judy Embriani Newsletter Editor: Kim Metzger Assistant Editor: Bill Baseley

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing…”

-1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

After the Sunday School Celebration Service on June 13th, several people commented that they

really connected with the prayer of confession we prayed that morning. It wasn’t original – the

Examen of Consciousness was composed by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the early 1500s with the

intention of helping the people be more attentive to the presence of Jesus in their daily lives, lead-

ing to more faithful discipleship.

Here is a self-directed, user-friendly version offered by Kent Ira Groff in his book Active Spiritu-

ality¹:

1.. Invite Christ, the Light of the world, to walk with you over the past twenty-four hours,

gently sifting through the events of the previous day.

2. Give thanks for some gift of the day.

3. Celebrate God’s empowering love at a time or at times when you were loved or were lov-

ing;

4. Celebrate God’s undefeated love at times when you were less than loving, and hear Christ

say, ―I know that, and I love you.‖

5. Ask God for a specific grace for the day ahead (for example, in light of your ―confession‖

above, you may pray for the grace of patience, or in light of a difficult meeting ahead of

you, you might pray for the grace of listening or discernment).

6. Finally, hold before the mind’s eye what your life would look like if that grace were

granted. Place a ―hidden video‖ at home or at work. Then see yourself walking into the

board meeting, your workplace or home – as whole, as God through Christ already sees

you.

This is a great prayer to pray at the beginning or end of every day (Ignatius would recommend

both times!) May it nurture and challenge your spirit this summer!

Be God’s,

Pastor Bonnie

______________________

¹Groff, Ira Kent. Active Spirituality: A Guide for Seekers and Ministers. Herndon, VA: the Alban Institute, 1993. p.97.

CONSISTORY

OFFICERS

President

Kimberly Yocom

Vice President

Barry Miller

Secretary

Sandy Rowe

Treasurer

Ken Bevan

Financial Secretary

Doug Allen

Assistant Financial

Secretary

Lori Scharneck

Director of

Music Ministry

Joan Valentine Johnson

Elders

Glen Hoff

Carol Lykens

Barry Miller

Sandy Rowe

Wayne Klein

Deacons

Barbara Burhans

Richard Golden

Vera Hoff

Claire Faust

Kim Yocom

Page 4 SHENKEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

July: Benefits North Coventry

Meals on Wheels.

This wonderful pro-

gram provides regular

meals to the elderly, sick or shut-in.

August: All proceeds will go to Mensch

Mill to assist with their ongoing operat-

ing expenses.

Please be as generous as you can.

Thank you.

Bulletins — $ 6.50 Flowers — $30.00 “Flours” — $30.00 “Flours” is a collection of pantry items or monetary

donations to the pantry. If a cash donation to the pantry is made, a wheat arrangement will be placed on the altar. While worship is held in the Grove, a single flower or “Flours” centerpiece is used. Please note, there are sev-eral Sundays available for sponsorship and dedication during these months.

How to order…. Please use the bright yellow enve-

lopes located in the Narthex to order altar flowers or “Flours,” the bright green envelopes to order bulletin dedi-cations. Please complete all the information on them, en-close your payment and either put the envelope in the offer-ing plate OR in the secretary’s box by the office door. Judy will then document your order and forward the money to the financial secretary and the flower requests to Louise Hine. Please do not sign the chart if you have not com-pleted an envelope. If you have any questions, feel free to call the church office.

JULY

DATE

7/4

NEED SPONSOR

The Gray

Family

7/11

Ron and Carol

Pearson

Ron and Carol

Pearson

7/18

Ann Baccari

Ethel Miller

7/25

Lynne Moyer

NEED SPONSOR

AUGUST

DATE

8/1

Vera Hoff

Gary and Sue

Stultz

8/8

Ralph and Ann

Hartzell

Ann Baccari

8/15

Ruth Klein

NEED SPONSOR

8/22

Barbara and Bill

Burhans

NEED SPONSOR

8/29

NEED SPONSOR

NEED SPONSOR

REMINDER: On, Sunday, July 11th, there will be

a brief congregational meeting

immediately following worship.

The purpose of this meeting is to

discuss some proposed updates in

the chancel.

Page 5 BULLETIN BOARD….

Beginning on July 4th, we will worship at

9:30 a.m. in the Grove, weather permit-

ting. Summer worship is informal – lawn

chairs and beach blankets are welcome!

In preparation for the 2010-2011 school

year, we are looking for Sunday School

Teachers. If you are interested, please

contact Stacia Bradley at stacia-

bradley@hotmail.com or 610-310-2721.

There is an old piano in the youth

room downstairs that is no longer

in use and we would like to get rid

of. The piano is offered (free) to

anyone in the church who would

like it. If interested, please contact

Kim Yocom at 215-519-4861 no later than July 15th,

when it will be removed from the premises.

SUMMER KIDS CLUB ACTIVITIES: Watch the church bulletin and check Shenkel’s website for details on Kids Club ac-tivities which are “in the works”….

~2nd Annual campout in the Grove…tentatively sched-uled for a Saturday night in July

~August 7 Stargazing at Warwick Park

~August 14 Family Movie Night in the Grove

COMMUNITY LUNCH

BUNCH

Our next event is scheduled

for Thursday, September 2nd, when we will be

hosting a bagpiper who will talk to us about all

the traditions associated with this special instru-

ment. He will also play for us. Rest assured,

there will be earplugs available for those who

want them.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!

Do you like to scrapbook, make cards, or just need something new to do that could also be a form of ministry? Join the Church's new

Card Making Ministry!!! This is an opportunity to not only make cards for your own purposes, but also to make cards for people within the Shenkel community who will be blessed by receiv-ing one. The sessions will be led by Angie Has-lett and Close to My Heart Consultant, Joyce Houck. They will be held on the second Monday of every month starting in July from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. The cost is $8.00 per a person, which in-cludes all card making supplies. Please let Angie know (484-686-7498 or ahaslett2008@gmail.com,) by the prior Friday if you plan to attend. Come out and join us for a great time!

A confirmation class for youth in grades 7 and up will be

offered again this year, beginning in September. Activities

will include a work camp at Old First UCC in Philadelphia

and worship at a local synagogue, among other adventures

in faith! Invitation letters will be mailed out in early July,

but if you know of someone who might be interested in

being part of this class who doesn’t receive one, informa-

tion will also be available from the church office and Shen-

kel’s website. Please spread the word with friends,

neighbors – anyone you know who might be interested!

Pastoral Relations Committee News While Shenkel’s members “wind down” over the summer months, the Pastoral Relations Committee (PRC) is “gearing up”. It’s the start of our annual congregational evaluation process. This year our congregation’s focus will be on the following 4 major areas:

Worship Wholeness Ecumenical Efforts Mission Outreach.

In addition, 2 secondary areas will be highlighted: Committee Structure Membership Revitalization.

Over the coming months, the entire congregation is asked to prayerfully consider these questions about our ministry in the areas of focus:

How are we doing? Where are we falling short? Where is God speaking to us? Where is God leading us?

This year’s PRC members (Keith Baker, Tim Durham, Carol Lykens, Mary Lou Smith, Freda Wanner, and Randy Berriker) welcome your thoughts and input as we move through the year. Our task is made easier because of the efforts of departing PRC members (Barbara Brown and Barry Yocom). In particular, thank Barry when you see him for his tireless efforts as the chairperson who guided the PRC during its first three years. Watch your newsletter for opportunities to directly participate in our focus areas. Be open to God’s “nudges” in the coming months. Randy Berriker, PRC Chairperson

Reminder - Peace Service Change!

During July and August, our monthly Peace Service will be

held outside in the Grove, weather permitting, on the third

Wednesday (July 21 and August 18) beginning at 7:30

p.m.

If you’ve never attended this contemplative service of wor-

ship, plan to take a break from your busy schedule and

join us over the summer. There is plenty of time for quiet

meditation and prayer; the repetitive Taizé style chants

and candle light (along with the bird songs and wind rus-

tling through the trees) help create a peaceful and reflec-

tive setting for worship. Communion is offered to everyone

at every Peace Service.

Board of Christian

Education News…

THANK YOU for a successful

2009/2010 Sunday School!

This year’s Sunday School teachers and children partici-

pants were recognized at late worship on June 13.

Also honored were Tracy Dise and Linda Foss who are

finishing their 2 ½ year term as Sunday School Superin-

tendents, Caleb and Angela Haslett for their service as

Youth Leaders, Betty Kreiger for coordinating the Adult

Sunday School program, and Barbara Burhans for MANY

years of dedication to our church nursery.

In addition, we welcome and offer our support to Stacia

Bradley as our new Sunday School Superintendent!

THANK YOU ALL for your dedication to Shenkel’s Chris-

tian Education!

PAGE 6

Page 7

News from the Pottstown Cluster

JULY/AUGUST 2010

The Pottstown Cluster Outreach Cen-ter is now open Monday through Fri-day from 9:00 AM -12:00 PM for client services and to accept donations.

PCRC Finds A Permanent Home!

After more than 15 years of searching, PCRC has found a new home at 57 N. Franklin Street. Thank you to all of our friends and supporters for your prayers and encouragement throughout the search process. We invite your ongoing support as we prepare our new home for our use. Please visit our site often to keep informed about our progress.

Pantry Needs for July and August 2010: peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce, cereal, oatmeal, toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, diapers, (sizes 4,5,6), baby wipes, shampoo, bar soap, and deodorant. Clothes Closet Needs: summer clothes (size 0-3 months), boys 2T clothing, onesies (newborn to 24 months), boys socks (3 months to 2T), children's dress hangers, summer pajamas (all sizes), pots & pans, sheets, blankets, silver-ware, plates, drinking glasses, Glad Trash bags (30-gallon size) and queen-, king- and full-size sheets.

WE WANT YOU TO KNOW….

AND DON’T FORGET….

The Pottstown Cluster Food Bank collection at Shenkel is the 1st Sunday of each month. Please place your items in the large plastic bins in the narthex.

AND...Please bring in your used cell phones and empty ink car-tridges and place them in the box across from the nursery, or in the box located on the coat rack shelf across from the office. These cartridges are re-cycled to Staples, and the church receives credits toward the purchase of office supplies.

The used cell phones are given to the police department to be distrib-uted to abused women.

Shenkel is on Facebook! Search Shenkel United

Church of Christ and become a fan.

BETHANY CHILDREN’S HOME

COMMUNITY FESTIVAL & 147TH

ANNIVERSARY DAY

CELEBRATION

On Friday, August 20, 2010, Bethany will host its

Community Festival & 147th Anniversary Day Cele-

bration and share its rich history of service to over

8,000 kids with the local community. A free event,

Bethany will provide live music in the afternoon by

The Keystone Band of Rehrersburg, and an evening

concert by The Uptown Band. There will be crafts,

children’s games, a car show, food and much more.

The evening will conclude with an incredible fire-

works display. Bethany is asking for support, both

financially and for volunteers to help at the festival.

Please see the flyer on the bulletin board in the so-

cial hall. Additional volunteer registration forms are

available by calling the church office.

Now available! Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) is

now an option for giving at Shen-

kel UCC! If you sign up for EFT,

your gift will be automatically

debited once each month from

your bank account, and can be

designated for the Current Fund, Our Church’s Wider Mis-

sion, and/or the Property Fund. Your contributions will be

credited to your Shenkel giving account, and will appear

on your year-end tax statement along with any other con-

tributions you may make throughout the year.

To sign up for EFT, complete an Electronic Funds Transfer

Authorization Form available in this newsletter (page 12),

on Shenkel’s website www.shenkelucc.org, or from the

church office. Complete instructions are on the form.

FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE NEWS

Outdoor Worship Fellowship….

When the outdoor services begin, the Fellowship Committee will be having a

social time after each service. We will need to have volunteers to sign up to bring refreshments (danish,

bagels, fruit, juice, etc.). The Fellowship Committee will provide the coffee and hot water for tea as well as the rest of

the fixings for the hot drinks. Look for the sign up chart in the narthex. See Tootie or Louise Hine with any questions.

Fall Festival/Country Fair:...

We will soon be getting started on the Fall Festival 2010. The date is yet to be determined, but we will let you know as

soon as possible. We will need a lot of help in getting the social hall ready as well with baking, gently used books, etc.

We will also need help in cleaning up the social hall and getting it ready for Sunday school. This is one of our biggest

fundraisers to help with a special project in the Church. If you know of anyone who would like to rent

a table to sell their crafts, yard sale items, etc. please let me know and I will send them information to

get them on the list.

Tootie Hine

Chair Fellowship Committee

CHURCH WOMEN UNITED

IN-GATHERING During September, Church Women United will be collecting

new articles to be given to eleven local agencies in the Potts-

town area. You might want to pick up some articles when there

are sales during the summer. The five nursing homes in the

area — Birthright, Alternatives, Montgomery Early Learning

Ctr., Salvation Army, Veteran’s Home, and Outreach Center —

will be receiving these items. Needed are the following:

Babies and Children:

Diapers (Pampers)

Crib sheets

Baby clothes

Underwear

Blankets

Warm shirts,

blouses, sweaters,

slacks, & jeans,

socks for boys and girls

Domestic Items:

Twin size bedding

Quilts

Pillows

Dish towels and dish cloths

Towels and washcloths

Wheel chair bags and walker bags

Adults: Men and women’s sweat

shirts and pants (L, XL,

XXL are most needed)

Underwear (men & women)

Socks (men & women)

Lap robes

Gloves

Jackets

Maternity clothes

SHENKEL QUILTERS Many of you have seen the finished

quilt in church. Raffle tickets will be

sold after the church services during

the summer and fall. Think of peo-

ple in your family, neighbors and co

-workers that would be happy to

purchase tickets. Kim Yo-

com made a beautiful colored pic-

ture of the quilt for you to take and

show, along with the raffle tickets. Remember, our cause is

to help the children of Haiti under the direction of Pastor

Bryan Sirchio. Some people aren't into quilts like most of us,

but what a wonderful Christmas, anniversary or birthday

gift this would make for someone who loves quilts! We will

be contacting the Mercury to run a short article about and

picture of our quilt and the quilters. The Shenkel Quilters

are always ready to welcome new members. If you don't sew,

we'll teach you and you don't even have to be a member of

Shenkel Church! It's a wonderful lifetime pleasure. The

meeting dates for the summer are on Tuesday(s), July 6th

and 20th. In August we will meet on Tuesday(s) the 3rd,

17th and 31st at 9:30 a.m. in the Church Social Hall.

Have a great summer!

Margie Allen

MORE TO KNOW…. Page 8

As of May 31, 2010

Year to Date Current Fund O.C.W.M

Budget 61,990.89 4,583.33

Actual 54,885.18 4,054.00

Difference (7,105.71) (529.33)

ADMINISTRATIVE NEWS….

Page 9

DO YOU HAVE NEWS

FOR THE

BULLETIN OR THE

NEWSLETTER?

Just a reminder that all bulletin announcements

should be at the church office by each Tuesday at

noon to be included in that week’s bulletin.

The next newsletter deadline will be August 15th.

Be sure to get your September news together early.

Thank you!

SAVE-A-TAPE PROGRAM

This is one of the easiest ways to help

our church financially!

Just ask for a Save-A-Tape card at the

customer service spot at your local Red-

ner’s store, show your card at the regis-

ter when you check out, then bring your

register tapes to church and deposit them in the box in the

Narthex. These tapes are collected routinely, presented to the

store, and Redner’s donates a percentage of your total pur-

chase to the church.

Early in June we received a check for $178.90 for the redemption of the tapes last submitted. WOW!

Be careful to bring your tapes in regularly instead of saving

them at home, as they do expire if not redeemed within a cer-

tain time period. Also, please return the entire register

tape. Redner’s will not accept any register receipt that

has any part of it removed.

At their June meeting, Shenkel’s Consistory….

Received thank-yous from Lancaster Theological Seminary and Bethany Children’s

Home for our contributions

Discussed some possible changes in the chancel area to provide greater flexibility for our music ministry

Heard an update on upcoming projects from the Property Committee, including adding barriers along the bank by

the road in the church parking lot

Referred a proposal for an updated policy for memorial gifts and bequests to the Stewardship Committee for their

review

Learned that $300 was raised with the ―Church Change‖ offering

Approved a Card Making Ministry to be coordinated by Angie Haslett

Complete copies of Consistory Minutes are available from the church office upon request.

If you have a computer, you can save paper and

trees…..Just ask to have your church newsletter

e-mailed! Please call Judy at the church office

at 610-326-3535 or e-mail her at shenke-

lucc@aol.com to request the change.

GOINGS ON…. PAGE 10

READING PHILLIES Thursday, July 22, 2010

Baseball AND fireworks!

WOW!

IT’S GETTING CLOSER…...but there’s still time to sign

up for our fun night at the Reading Phillies. Tickets

cost $9.00 each. Children able to share your seat are

free. Transportation by bus is provided, leaving the

church at 5:15 PM. Look for more information and a

sign up chart in the Narthex. Don’t miss this great

summer fun event!

See Ann Baccari with any questions.

SAVE THE DATE &

SPREAD THE WORD! Bryan Sirchio will be here to

share his music and update

on his ministry in Haiti on Sat-

urday, October 2, 7:00 p.m.

HOLY HUMOR….

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

A Sunday School teacher decided to

have her young class memorize one of

the most quoted passages in the Bible -

Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a

month to learn the chapter. Little Rick

was excited about the task - but he just

couldn't remember the Psalm. After much

practice, he could barely get past the first

line. On the day that the kids were sched-

uled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the con-

gregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it

was his turn, he stepped up to the micro-

phone and said proudly, 'The Lord is my

Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

SAFE CHURCH

POLICY

On March 10, 2010, Con-

sistory adopted the Safe

Church Policy in order to

provide a safe environment for the children, youth

and adults of our congregation as they participate in

our programs and use our facilities. Identical training

sessions for the Safe Church Policy will be held on

Friday, July 9th at 7:00 PM, and on Sunday, August

8th at 7:00 PM. If you will be teaching Sunday

School, working in the nursery, or working with the

youth of our congregation in any capacity, you will be

expected to attend at least one of the sessions of

training. However, all members are welcome to at-

tend either session to learn how the Safe Church Pol-

icy will help to keep us all safe here at Shenkel UCC.

Page 11

07/01 LAURA GOLDEN

07/01 Derek Painter

07/02 Lucas Gray

07/02 TYLAR MOSER

07/05 Jessica Knauer

07/06 Mike Kline

07/08 DANIEL SNYDER

07/09 Barbara Burhans

07/09 ERIKA AUGUSTINE

07/10 Stacey Keim

07/11 Leroy Heimbach

07/12 Joel Sweinhart

07/12 Leslie Hauze

07/12 Laura Hauze

07/13 REBECCA MAJOR

07/13 MARISSA MATTHEWS

07/14 Franklin Hartung

07/16 Anna Baccari

07/16 Evelyn Rodriguez

07/17 Olivia Body

07/18 Jess Miller

07/20 Sheree Scheler

07/20 LORI KLEIN

07/21 MAX MCCULLAGH

07/22 William Baseley

07/23 William Burhans

07/23 Robert Brown

07/23 JOSEPH,JR YANNICK

07/23 Bonnie Moore

07/24 JULIE ZACHESKY

07/24 Tammy Graef

07/24 Jim Nye

07/24 Rachel Berriker

07/24 COLIN DEVINE

07/24 Jordan Caplan

07/26 Cody Moyer

07/26 LUCAS ZACHESKY

07/28 Betty Kreiger

07/28 LINDSAY HOFF

07/29 NATHAN GERBER

07/31 Dottie McCann

07/31 Cole Bevan

08/01 MARGARET NESTER

08/01 Dillon Gaul

08/03 STEVEN BADE

08/04 Ruth Klein

08/04 Ted Gray

08/07 Sarah Hardy

08/08 Maryln Rohrbach

08/09 Katherine Derman

08/10 Barbara Sweinhart

08/10 Allen Bevan

08/10 Alyssa Rice

08/10 Hannah Apgar

08/12 Elaine Bevan

08/12 Grace MAJOR

08/14 Carol Stubbe

08/15 Miranda Brewer

08/15 Michaela McWilliams

08/16 Lindsey Martin

08/16 Morgan Scharneck

08/17 Ray Rowe

08/17 Jennifer Dyott

08/17 DANIEL SWEISFORD

08/17 CAROLYN GALE

08/18 Carol Pearson

08/21 Sue Kulp

08/21 RONALD LLOYD

08/21 ASHLYN AUGUSTINE

08/27 HORACE INGRAM

08/27 KAYA SKULSKI

08/28 KARL HUDICK

08/28 Lori Scharneck

08/28 JACOB SABO

08/28 JOSEPH YANNICK

08/28 Jeffrey Dyott

08/29 MELISSA ELLIS

08/30 Noah BRADLEY

08/31 WAYNE KLEIN

OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS….

Janice Metka passed away on

June 2, 2010. Janice’s strength,

as well as her gentle, caring

spirit, inspired many people –

from close friends and family

members to casual acquaintan-

ces and customers. We are

grateful for Janice’s journey

with us, and we give thanks to

God for the joy and peace she

added to the world. Please hold

her husband Karl, her daughters

Terry and Karen, and the ex-

tended family in your prayers.

LET’S MAKE MUSIC…. Page 12

A Summer of Music

First, thank you to all the members of Shenkel UCC who have already vol-

unteered to sing and play special music during our summer worship ser-

vices. We have everything from singers to marimba to flute to violin…so

come listen to our talented musicians this summer in The Grove…I know

you’ll enjoy hearing them. But wait…we still have a few openings for more,

so please call or email if you’d like to join this group and share your talent as a way to give to the church.

(610-321-1685 or dougoutnaomi@verizon.net)

Second, I want to thank Kim Metzger for her leadership of the Joyful Noise Choir over the past few years.

The kids all sounded wonderful, and it was also wonderful for Kim to give her time and energy. We will cer-

tainly miss her next year. It means that we’ll need someone to help with the Joyful Noise Choir during the

coming church season. If you’re interested, please contact me so we can plan together.

There are two special music Sundays coming up you’ll want to put on your calendars. On July 25th, The

Women of Shenkel will sing for the congregation. We’ll rehearse for that Sunday on July 11 and July 18

after church. If you’d like to sing with the Women’s Choir…(mothers, daughters, aunts, nieces and grand-

mas) please join us. (No men allowed!)

On August 15th…it’s the men’s turn during a special Spiritual Sunday service where all the music will be tra-

ditional spirituals…lots of favorites. Men…we’ll rehearse for this service on Aug 1 and Aug 8 after church…

dad’s, sons, uncles, nephews and grandpa) please join us. (No women allowed!)

We hear from many of you that Shenkel wants some new direction and new music. That is our plan for not

only this summer, but also for the entire Fall…right into Christmas season. To prove that ―we mean busi-

ness…‖ we will have a special Senior Choir Roundup open to anyone who just wants to sing on Sunday, Au-

gust 29 at 3:00 PM in Fellowship Hall. We’ll sing through every selection we have chosen from September

1 to January 1. If you like to sing, come join us for some fun, some singing and even a light supper. (It’s

really ―singing for your supper.‖) Our new music selection will be a broad variety of styles from traditional

to contemporary. But we need your help in making music come alive at Shenkel. Remember, you don’t

need to commit to every Sunday…just participate when you can, even just for Christmas season if you

want.

Singing, playing Chimes with Lois Baker, participating at any level in our music program is a great way to

share your God-Given talent with the rest of the church. Please join us. We need your help in growing and

changing the music program the way you’ve asked us to change…but we can’t do it alone.

Joan Johnson

Director of Music Ministry

STEWARD’S CORNER

Summer time is here, and many of you will be traveling to exciting places, enjoying

the scenery and activities. Families will have time to appreciate each other. I LOVE

summer time.

I have already had an exciting vacation experience that you won’t believe.

Well, maybe you will. Would you believe I was a stowaway in a back-pack? Well, I

was. Would you believe I was on the longest airplane ride of my life? Well, I was! To

tell you the truth, it was the only time I was ever on an airplane! It was fun!

Now comes the good part. I ended up in a place called ―The Holy Lands‖! It is in ―the Middle East‖, (not

in America…far, far away from our country.)

We landed in a country named Jordan, and the people talked different than we do. I didn’t know what

they were saying, but I knew they were friendly because they smiled and were very polite to us. They also

wore different kind of clothes, and it was neat to see how nice it looked. And the food…it was different

too, and I tried it and liked it (but I was glad to see a McDonald’s in one of the towns.)

That country had places to visit that are from the bible times…We took a tour to Mt. Nebo….I remember

hearing that story about Moses and the promised land – the land of milk and honey (I was anxious to

visit there!) Well, that Mt. Nebo was where Moses arrived after traveling with his people FOREVER! And,

can you believe, when they got to that valley that God promised them, Moses could only view it from Mt.

Nebo. His people settled on the land, but Moses never entered it.

Then, we traveled to the next country – Israel. Wow! There were amazing places to see there…

Bethlehem, where the baby Jesus was born and where the shepherds were in the fields with their sheep.

( I saw some sheep and shepherds out in the fields as we drove in a van to see all these ancient, but im-

portant places.)

We stopped at the Dead Sea…I never knew a sea could die – but I heard a guy telling some people that

water comes in to it but doesn’t go out of that sea, and that it is salty. I found that to be true when I wan-

dered near the shore and got a taste of that water!

I liked the Sea of Galilee better…it was gentle and beautiful, but even more, that guy told everyone that

was the Sea where Jesus came and found his helpers (they were Fishermen)…and that was the area

where people came to hear Jesus teach.

Then we went to some old city called Jerusalem with big walls around it and huge gates where you went

in. Inside that city was a place, like a big long alley-way, it was named Della Rosa…I don’t know who she

was, but I learned it was down the road that Jesus had to carry his cross. That was a sad place and the

other places after that were sad because of what happened to Jesus. He was a good, kind person, and

he worked for God.

But I decided it was good to see these places, and to realize where Jesus began his life and his work, and

how successful it was because now we all can read about it in the Bible and do our best to following the

way Jesus taught the people long ago.

Sincerely,

(A ―world‖ traveler, glad to get out of that Back-Pack!)

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SHARINGS….

7/4 Matthew Scharneck

Dawn Yocom

Mary Sue Moyer

Karen, Randy, Christian and Nathan Gerber

Gail, Ken, Christine and Carolyn Gale

7/11 Jennifer, Greg and Jacey Caplan

Cara Bevan

Barbara Sweinhart

Scott Kutz

Bette Burkhardt

7/18 Angela and Caleb Haslett

Christine, Tim, Jason, JT and Skyler Durham

Sheree and Rick Scheler

Kate McKiernan

Mike Kline

7/25 Brian Iezzi Ann and Ralph Hartzell Melissa and Jason Mellinger

Josh Palubinsky

Heather and Jim Nye

8/1 Tracy, Larry and Abby Dise

Barb and Bob Brown

Collin Gray

Tootie Hine

Carol and Ron Pearson

8/8 Joan and Ron Christman

Wanda, Steve, Tesia and Michaela Craner

Kurtz Kutz

Barbara Luckenbach

Judy Gaul

8/15 Deb and Hunter Matthews

Lois and Elliott Baker

Lori, Rick and Gabriella Megni

Dede, Pete and Julianne Wanner

Jess Miller

8/22 Nicole Miller

Pat and Fred Kerlin

Vicki, Noah, Ethan and Dylan Scharneck

Richard, Ricky, Ryan and Ariel Golden

Joan and Joe Granger

8/29 Gene, Emily and Nick Takach and Eric Croom

Kathy and Michael Iezzi

Julie, Bill, Clay and Lucas Zachesky

Alex Mocarski

Celia and Gerald Phillips

Shenkel will be praying for these randomly selected members and friends of our congregation this summer:

Shenkel UCC celebrates the sacra-

ment of Holy Communion on the

first Sunday of each month. Each

time communion is served, some of

the bread and non-alcoholic wine

that has been consecrated at the altar will be saved in a trav-

eling communion kit, ready to go to the homes or hospital

rooms of members who were unable to be present, and would

like to receive the sacrament. Please let Pastor Bonnie know

if you, or someone you know, would appreciate ―distance-

communing‖ with their Shenkel Church family!

Healing Prayers

We have healing prayers during the worship service on the sec-ond Sunday of each month. It is our hope that you will use this opportunity to participate. During

the collection of the offering, anyone who desires prayer for themselves or on behalf of another is invited to go to come to the front of the grove, where a prayer team will join you for prayer. A prayer team will also be available in the grove at the conclusion of the service.

Healing prayers are also offered the third Thurs-day of every month at 9:15 a.m. in the sanctuary. Anyone in need of prayers for them-selves or on behalf of another is welcome !