March, 2017

LETTER FROM THE DONIGIANS We have just finished what, for us, was a very positive sermon series on the Ten Commandments. What uplifted us so much was finding how much Jesus reinterpreted these laws. They had a definite meaning when they were carved on Moses’ stones. Jesus gave them a greatly expanded meaning for us. Jesus gave them life and application; they were no longer merely words on stone tablets.

We often celebrate the fact that God sent Jesus to die for our sins. We celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead, proving that death was defeated and we could look forward to eternal life. But we sometimes take His teaching, while He was alive, for granted.

When Jesus commented on the Ten Commandments, He always interpreted them through a lens of love and caring. In a world where so often we insist on getting what we want, which is a position of pride, Jesus’ teaching draws us to His way of compassion and humility. In a world which values exclusion, Jesus taught that everyone has the same opportunity before God.

Here are some of our favorite teachings.

God is love. This defines how we feel about ourselves, our neighbors, and the world.

A shepherd will search high and low for even one lost lamb, just as God searches for each and every one of us. With the same energy and commitment, we are to offer saving knowledge about Jesus to others who don’t have it.

God will answer, if we pray for what is in His will. We don’t always know God’s will, but we can always pray, and we should pray a lot.

We pray that you all will feel God’s love, for it is certainly there. We pray that God will put in your path those whose lives can be transformed by faith in Jesus. And we pray that you will experience the joy of answered prayer in your lives.

Blessings and peace, Pastors Doug and Joyce Donigian

LETTER FROM PASTOR DON Have you ever considered watching weather vanes for Lent?

For many years, wise curators have been adding weather vanes to museum collections of folk art in America. At antique shops, farm sales, and flea markets, avid fans seek out forms of this device that turns freely on a vertical rod and indicates the direction the wind is blowing from. So desirable is their acquisition, that some years ago, thieves using a helicopter in Ottawa, Illinois, lifted a large eagle weather vane from the rooftop of the Ottawa Silica Company.

The earliest known weather vane has a religious association. Built on the Tower of the Winds of Athens, during the first century B.C. by Andronicus, the vane took the form of Triton – a sea god of Greek mythology, human from the waist up and fish from the waist down.

About a thousand years ago, a papal edict instructed all the churches in Christendom to mount a rooster form on their steeples. The practice was designed to remind congregations to guard against denying their faith as Peter did immediately before the cock crowed, denying his Lord. Because the form of a rooster can be easily balanced, has both a head and a tail, and can point the wind direction as clearly (and more artistically) than an arrow, during the thirteenth century these stationary roosters adorning church steeples were converted to mobile weather vanes that were soon blowing in the wind.

Predating weather vanes in the time of Jesus were a number of expert readers of the direction of the wind. Without mechanical devices, perhaps they used the golfer’s practice of throwing a pinch of grass into the air to see which way the wind was blowing. Judas, sensing the wind was against Jesus, betrayed his Lord. Peter, lining up with the prevailing wind, denied his Lord. The religious hierarchy, with the wind at their backs, moved swiftly to condemn Jesus as worthy of death. Pilate, at first reluctant to sail with the breeze, finally delivered Christ to be crucified. And we all know how the crowd changed as the wind changed between Palm Sunday and the Day of Crucifixion.

During this Lenten Season, may I suggest that each of us takes a look for weather vanes. If you find one, note that unlike a windsock which points the way the wind is going, and unlike a flag that flutters with the wind, the weathercock faces into the wind, revealing the wind direction by going against, rather than with, the stream.

Do you and I face “into the wind” of the faith challenges in our lives? Or, do we “turn tail” and just go with the stream…, just to go with the most popular or the prevailing wind?

For those of us who call ourselves Christians, may this Lenten Season be a time of recognizing our need for forgiveness and grace, and then depending on God’s sustaining Holy Spirit to keep ourselves steadfast in our faith.

Grace and Peace to you and yours! With You in Christ’s Service! The Reverend Dr. Donald E. Moyer Minister of Pastoral Care and Visitation

ANNOUNCEMENTS UPPER ROOM - The new edition of the Upper Room has arrived (March/April). To make this daily devotional affordable for everyone, the Women’s Guild offers the Upper Room below cost ($1.00 for the regular and $1.50 for the large print). Please purchase your copy today!

EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT – SUNDAY EVENING WORSHIP - Come out at 5:15 p.m. for our Sunday Evening service in the Chapel for a time of music, teaching, and discussion. Holy Communion is served on the first Sunday of every month.

IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER - Call the church telephone answering machine, which will be updated with the latest information (215-536-4447) or you can go to www.firstucc.net, click on “Weather Update” at the VERY top of the webpage, which will redirect you to the Channel 69 website at www.wfmz.com (click on “school closings,” click on “church/worship/ libraries.”)

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION THROUGH MARCH 26 – ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING - The Sunday School and Faith Factory is kicking of their One Great Hour of Sharing Quarter Collection. For the next four weeks the children (and also the adults) will have the opportunity to take home M&M's candy containers, first to enjoy the M&M's then to collect quarters for donation to The Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia. With every quarter collected, the children will be able to hang a 'Fez' in the hall, with their name on them. We are inviting the congregation to join us in the collection efforts too! Feel free to take and fill as many or as few containers as you wish. All contributions are appreciated. (Please know, we accept all types of donations, not just quarters.) Thank you in advance!

Mark your calendars - VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL - July 10 – 14 - (Celebration Sunday July 16) - Rome – Paul and the Underground Church

ADULTS IN THE CHAPEL – “Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?” Does Prayer Change Us or God? Or Both? With author, Philip Yancey, we will experience the very heartbeat - the most fundamental, challenging, perplexing, and deeply rewarding aspect - of our relationship with God: prayer. What is it? How does it work? Does it work? Filmed in various locations in the Rocky Mountains, this series takes you to the mysterious intersection where God and humans relate. Prayer is a priceless point of contact between us and the God of the universe, but, it is often frustrating, confusing, and fraught with mystery. Join us as we explore prayer during our Lenten journey through the views and lessons of this DVD; a participant's guide and the book will be available to purchase to further explore your individual study.

March 5: Session 3: Keeping Company with God. March 12: Session 4: How to Pray. March 19: Session 5: Prayer Problems. March 26: Session 6: Does Prayer Change Anything?

COMMUNION Holy Communion will be celebrated on the following Sundays at 9:15 am (unless otherwise noted)

Lent Sunday, March 5 9:15 am Maundy Thursday, April 13 7:30 pm Good Friday, April 14 7:00-8:00 pm Easter Sunday, Apr 16 7:00, 9:15 &

11:30 am Pentecost Sunday, June 4 9:15 am Summer Communion Sunday,

August 13 9:15 am

World Wide Communion Sunday, Oct 1 9:15 am Advent Sunday, December 3 9:15 am

Holy Communion will also be celebrated on the following Sunday evenings at 5:15

March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, September 3, October 1, November 5, and December 3

CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations to Carol and John Edge at the birth of their first grandchild, Maisie May Edge, who was born to John and Amanda Edge on February 11.

COUNCIL NEWS At the regular meeting of the church council on January 9, the following matters of business were attended to:

Elders, Alyse Federsel and Doug Fraley, were installed. New council president, Bill Nagurny, welcomed new council members, and thanked past president,

Melissa Routson, for a job well done. The minutes of the regular meeting of council in January were approved. Christian Ed reported that the Fruits of the Spirit are being studied in Faith Factory. Kitchen Ministries reported that the chili dogs and leftover turkey pot pie were popular options for

the January meal and the Blue Team did a great job. Property Committee is working with a consultant regarding the spire and improved Wi-Fi is being

looked into. March 6 – COUNCIL MEETING RESCHEDULED – In March, please note that the regular meeting of council will take place on the first Monday of March, not the second Monday in March. Future council meetings will take place as originally scheduled, on the second Monday of each month.

KITCHEN MINISTRIES FEBRUARY COMMUNITY DINNER - Our guests enjoyed turkey pot pie, green beans, salad, rolls, dessert, and drinks on Thursday, February 16. The Blue Team did a great job of serving over 110 guests and volunteers. Thanks to Chef Frey for donating some of the pot pie and cooking all the turkeys! The WOW class did a great job of setting the tables and prepping the food. Our next dinner will be Thursday, March 16. All are welcome!

SOUPER BOWL OFFERING - The Souper Bowl Offering collected $1,100 so far. Donations are accepted anytime throughout the year. There are so many who benefit from this ministry. Thank you for your continued support with money, time, and prayers!

MARCH FOOD PANTRY Items of the Month are: Pancake mix and syrup, peanut butter, and jelly. (Food Pantry Items of the Month are coordinated with predictable sales cycle for each calendar month.)

LENT AT FIRST CHURCH March 1 – ASH WEDNESDAY EVENING WORSHIP SERVICE- Join us on Wednesday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. to begin the Lenten season with a meaningful worship service.

EASTER LILIES - Flowers like the Easter lilies and Christmas poinsettias are placed in the church every year “In Memory of” or “In Honor of” family members or friends. Many people are already

on our list for the yearly flowers and are billed automatically. If you would like to have Easter lilies and you are not currently on the list, you may call the Church Office and give us your name and how you want the tribute to read in the bulletin insert. Please specify if this is will be a one-time listing or if this is something you would like to do on a continual basis. The cost this year is $8.25. The deadline for ordering a lily will be Sunday, April 2.

Wednesdays, Mar 8, 15, 22, 29 Lenten Soup Suppers/Programs 5:30 p.m. Apr 5 Sunday, April 9 Palm Sunday Worship Service 9:15 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 13 Maundy Thursday Worship 7:30 p.m. With Communion Friday, April 14 Men’s Good Friday Breakfast 7:00 a.m. In Telford Ecumenical Good Friday Service 12:00 p.m. Silent Good Friday Service 7:00-8:00 p.m. With Communion Friday through Saturday Prayer Vigil 8:30 pm-8:00 am Sunday, April 16 Early Easter Communion Service 7:00 a.m. Easter Communion Service 9:15 a.m. Alternative Communion Service 11:00 a.m.

March 8 – LENTEN SOUP SUPPERS – Our popular Lenten Soup Suppers are beginning on March 8. Wednesdays (March 8, 15, 22, 29, and April 5) at 5:30 p.m. After supper, there will be a Lenten program. Please plan to attend this special time together. We are looking for soup makers and dessert bakers, as well as donations of bread, crackers, butter, cheese, salads. Please sign up in the Narthex. This year’s program will be a DVD study entitled “He Chose the Nails” by Max Lucado. Join us for this 5-week session as we examine the gifts that Christ gave at His crucifixion. These include not only the gift of the cross, but also the gift of the thorns, the nails, and the empty tomb. The cross is rich with God’s gifts of grace, and as we unwrap them, we will hear him whisper, “I did it just for you.”

1. He Chose to be One of Us 2. He chose to Forgive Us 3. He Chose to Invite us into His Presence 4. He Chose to Love us Forever 5. He Chose to Give Us Victory

MISSIONS 2017 MISSION TEAM GOLF OUTING - It is that time of year to mark your calendars for the ONE DREAM MISSION TEAM GOLF OUTING! This is our 4th year of this great fundraising event. We have people come to play from over 2 hours away because it is great fun and because of our service. We invite you to gather 3 friends and join the event. Even if you are not a golfer, we have many ways for you to help the team. A few are:

Sponsor a Hole and/or Golf Cart Kitchen Help (before and after) the event Monetary Donations

Door Prizes Donations (golf items and gift cards have proven to be the favorites) For additional information, see Linda Friday or take a pamphlet from the Mission Team bulletin board outside the Church Office. Thank you in advance for your support and prayers.

March 10 – PAINTING PARTY FUNDRAISER - One Dream Mission Team is inviting you to join them at a unique fundraiser, a painting party! It is being held at Amy's Art Shack (2210 Hendricks Rd, Pennsburg) on Friday, March 10. If you've never gone to a painting party, this is how it works - everyone starts with a blank canvas and a palate of paints. The teacher then walks you through how to paint the picture yourself. No experience required! Doors open at 6:30 pm and painting runs from 7-9:00. There are 30 spots available. Each painting spot is $40. The Mission Team receives a benefit for each person that attends. You must contact Kelly or Linda (missiontrips@firstucc.net) and submit payment to hold a spot. If this is a success, more painting parties will be scheduled. Feel free to contact us with any questions and invite your friends to join in the fun! Just 30 seats available. We are looking forward to a great event!

March 26 – MISSION TEAM MEETING - The 2017 Mission Team will be holding a mandatory meeting for all attendees.

WHEN: March 26, 2017 WHERE: Fellowship Hall, First UCC TIME: Noon - 2:00 ish

ALL youth that plan to attend the Mission Trip should attend this meeting with at least one parent/guardian with them.

PARENTS: If your teen/young adult is at college, please plan to attend in their place. If you are unsure if you are participating in the Mission Trip or would like to gather additional information, please attend this meeting.

MUSIC NEWS We welcomed the singers of StillSmallVoice to First Church on February 26. StillSmallVoice is an adult contemporary ensemble from Christ United Church of Christ in Trumbauersville. The debut performance of StillSmallVoice was Pentecost Sunday, May 13, 2007. The group wears red to symbolize Pentecost and the moving of the Holy Spirit in our midst.

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

March 8 - THE FIRST LAWN FETE MEETING will be March 8, Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. I would like to invite anybody that is interested in serving on the committee to come to the meeting. There is only four monthly meetings until June and everyone is welcome. Thanks, Barry

SYMPATHY We extend our condolences to our church family:

Carol Freed passed away on January 31. Gwyn Clark’s father, Norman Baringer, passed away on February 10. Janis Weil’s mother, Janis Uhl, passed away on February 10. Mary Fosbenner’s brother, Steve Perchinski, passed away on February 12.

THANK YOU Thank you to Pastors Joyce and Doug, Pastor Don, and Lisa for their many acts of kindness, concern and prayers while going through my treatments. Also, thank you to the congregation for the numerous cards, notes, phone calls, meals, and prayers. I felt your love and support. Myra Wilsey

To the Women’s Guild, thank you so much for remembering me at Christmas. Nancy Levy delivered your gift and we had a great visit. The cookies were delicious and the greeting and angel created by Kathy Walp are to be treasured now more than ever. Enclosed is a contribution to honor all the activities you support. Again thank you. Best wishes for a successful 2017. Janice Peischel

Thank you for the food preparation and serving at Kathy’s service. I thought it worked well with the way you did it. Please accept this donation assist you to carry on your good mission. Philip Walp

With special thanks to all of you – To know you is to know people who are kind, considerate, and thoughtful. To know you is to be grateful for the special things you do. For everything you’ve done, for being the special people that you are, thank you so very much. We at Outreach Care specially thank you all for this wonderful donation. This will help many people here in Quakertown. Sincerely, Joanne Cramer, Outreach Care

Dear Congregants, thank you for your generous donation of $2,433.50 in December. The Quakertown Food Pantry and its all-volunteer staff want to assure you that your contribution has already been put to good use. Last year, the Pantry provided 7,220 meals for children and 3,284 meals for seniors. We served over 696 households per month. In 2017, the Pantry replaced old, unreliable freezers with a new three-door commercial freezer. With your donation, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of many adults, seniors, and children. As you can see, your kindness supports our mission to replenish our shelves and provide food for those in need. Thanks for helping us provide this kind of support to our local communities. We value our partnership with you. We couldn’t do it without you. With gratitude, Melissa Nevill, Quakertown Food Pantry Representative

Dear Pastor and Church Members, thank you for the difference you have made in the lives of people, parishes, and pastoral leadership over the last year through your support of Our Church’s Wide Mission (OCWM). Whether you shared what you were able or included OCWM in your annual budget, you and your church extended the reach of the United Church of Christ to both local and global communities. At the close of 2016, PSEC congregations and individuals contributed $832,041 OCWM dollars toward the work of our Conference. We again offered Leadership and Congregational Vitality Training sessions through the Center for Progressive Renewal, supported 24 Members in Discernment, supported the participation of more than 130 PSEC youth and adults in the UCC National Youth Event, guided 43 congregations through the search and call process, sent delegates to a fantastically-faith filled Annual Spring Conference Meeting t West Chester University, strengthened global partnerships with fellow Cuban and German Christians and have now called a new Associate Conference Minster for Congregational Development. That is a short list of the Conference activities that make up a long list of changed lives! Although $29,959 short of our 2016 OCWM goal of $862,000 we were able to hold the line on expenses and ended the year in the black. On top of that, our shortfall was less in 2016 than in 2015 by about $7,500 so we are moving in the right direction. We understand that we can do better in 2017 and the Conference staff work hard to make sure our planning is in line with the approved budget. Again this year we will forward 1/12 of our national UCC commitment each month to assist brothers and sisters at the National Church in planning and implementing the good work they do on our behalf. We would encourage you to do the same with your contribution to our Conference. We are grateful that you have chosen to continue to express your generosity and support

through 2017 with your recent OCWM pledge. Thank you! We can’t wait to see what God has in store for us to do together! Grace and peace, Rev. William P. Worley, Conference Minister

WOMEN’S GUILD AND WOMEN’S MINISTRIES April 4 - WOMEN’S GUILD - The next meeting of the Women’s Guild will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4th in the parlor. Our guest speaker will be Mary Tilger, a member and past president of the Warrington Garden Club, who will share and demonstrate her extensive knowledge of flower arranging. We will be also be distributing our Easter remembrances for members who are sick or unable to attend church regularly. If you have any questions, please contact Sheila or Barb at womensguild@firstucc.net. Everyone is welcome!

REDNER’S TAPES - The guild sincerely appreciates the congregation’s assistance in saving register tapes from Redner’s. Aside from offering and donations, this is our only source of income and it helps us to do projects such as our Love Packages and gifts for our shut in members at Christmas and Easter. In order for us to get the percentage, you must sign up for a Rewards card at Redner’s. Ask at the service desk. You also will receive money back either for gas or as a credit on your order. We need the entire receipt – receipts that are not intact must be discarded. Receipts can be turned in at our guild meetings or to the office. Thank you for your help!

WORSHIP SCHEDULE EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT – SUNDAY EVENING WORSHIP - Come out at 5:15 p.m. for our Sunday Evening service in the Chapel for a time of music, teaching, and discussion.

Acolytes 3/5 Matt Wanamaker, Nathan Amey, alt. 3/12 Jake Wooden, Jacob MacCauley, alt. 3/19 Nathan Amey, Beth Melton, alt. 3/26 Jacob MacCauley, Simon Fletcher, alt. Lay Readers 3/5 Steve Clark 3/12 Jane Divok 3/19 Bruce Elsner 3/26 Ruthann Ely Greeters

Joe Juretus, Cheryl Bryan, Barry Stoneback First Fellowship Youth and Young Adults, Jon Bauman, Chair Ushers Barry and Cheryl Tice, Nick Unger, Jim Stoneback Flower Delivery 3/5 Floyd and Joan Bless 3/12 Floyd and Joan Bless 3/19 Linda Ripper 3/26 Linda Ripper

YOUTHWORX AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES Mountain Top Experiences

This past week, my youth lesson was about Moses hiking up a mountain to be taught by God in Exodus, and how Jesus took John, James, and Peter up a mountain to show them who he really was - GOD. Before their eyes, Jesus’ likely dirty face was transformed into a shining face like the sun, and his clothing, also likely dirty, shone like a light, and were white as snow.

In both stories, the people called by God up the mountain got to experience something that the others didn’t; personal time with God, and a message from God revealed specifically to them.

I get a little jealous here. I guess you could say that I covet their experiences…

Why doesn’t God speak to me like he did to Moses, John, James, and Peter? Why can’t I have these “Mountain Top Experiences”?

If I knew I could have one of these experiences with God, I definitely would hike a mountain to get to it - to get closer with God. It would be a no brainer. No matter how long it would take, no matter what cuts and bruises I would acquire....I’d hike that mountain.

Imagine meeting God face-to-face....that would reassure me of everything I believe in, make my problems seem smaller, and I would walk down that mountain a changed person. I wouldn’t allow myself to forget a moment like that.

But as much as I yearn for God to say to me someday, “Jon, hike this mountain and spend time with me”, I am worried that my response to God, and to the experience afterwards, won’t be satisfactory.

I know this because God offers me the opportunity to come before his presence all the time. But sometimes I am too tired, sometimes I forget to respond, and sometimes...the meal in front of me just looks way too enticing.

God offers me the opportunity to come into his presence every day through prayer, and there are sometimes where I don’t take him up on that offer.

You see, Moses, Peter, John, and James HAD to climb a mountain to speak with God. But because of Jesus, all we have to do is pray.

We don’t have to go through any rituals, we don’t have to do anything at all beforehand...all we have to do is pray.

And although we know that praying is easier than climbing a mountain...we still can have a hard time with it. Even behind closed doors, we sometimes sensor our hearts in our prayers.

“God can’t possibly want to hear this… ‘If I say this God will get mad at me…”

But God wants to hear your honest heart because it is the only way for you to process all the things that you keep hidden. God wants to hear your struggles of depression, anxiety, anger, lust, pride, and greed because he needs his child to know that he’s listening. God wants to hear your struggles because he needs you to know that he cares, and he wants you to take that weight off of your shoulders, and onto his.

Once we become honest with ourselves and with God in our prayers, we can begin to have these “Mountain Top Experiences” with God that will change our lives, and infiltrate the lives around us with hope, love, and light.

-Jon

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Game Plan for the Mountains

Task Check if Completed

1. Schedule your prayer times - Are you going to pray in the morning, evening, afternoon, before each meal? Put a schedule together that you can realistically keep.

2. Make a list of ways you can spend time with God - Take a walk and think about God. Take a hike to clear your head. Sit in quietness as you read the Bible. Listen to music that makes you think about God. Look out of a window at birds and the trees...reflect on God’s beauty.

Complete week 1 of your prayer goals, and one thing from list #2

Complete week 2 of your prayer goals, and one thing from list #2

Complete week 3 of your prayer goals, and one thing from list #2

Complete week 4 of your prayer goals, and one thing from list #2

Tell someone else about your month of “Mountaintop Experiences”

Would you like to hear more from me? Every week I write and record a message based on scripture readings. I do this because I have to prepare lessons for the youth group anyway, and because I like to challenge myself to keep growing in my own knowledge of the Bible, and in my own ability to present a message.

To listen to these messages, try these methods, or ask me to make you a weekly CD.

Podcast users - Look up the “Uncommon Lectionary Podcast” on your podcast app. I know for certain that the podcast is in the following applications:

1. iTunes “Podcasts” app - installed on every iPhone. 2. Podcast Addict - Free App 3. Tunein - Free App 4. Stitcher Radio - Free App 5. Google Play Music

On your Computer 1. Go to www.soundcloud.com 2. Search for “Uncommon Lectionary Podcast”

3. Subscribe with your email, or check back every week to see updates. On Facebook

1. Search for the “The Uncommon Lectionary” in the search bar, or type in this web address to your web browser: www.facebook.com/uncommonlectionary/

2. Like that page 3. All updates will show on your facebook news feed

Need Help? Just ask me at church, or call or email me! Office Phone: 215-536-4447, Email: jbauman@firstucc.net

GIANT GIFT CARDS will be on sale on the first Sunday of every month in the Narthex after the service. YouthWorx has a limited supply of gift cards in stock, ready for you. Thank you.

YOUTHWORX meets twice every month on the second and fourth Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Join us!

First United Church of Christ

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MARCH 2017 NEWSLETTER