FROM THE PASTOR
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Blessed is anyone who perseveres under trial, because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
(James 1: 2 – 4, 12)
Do Christians have car accidents? Do Christians get sick? Are they ever fired from their jobs? The answer to all three questions is, of course, yes. But that answer causes big problems for many Christians. Does not the Bible promise that God will look out for and protect his followers?
People puzzled by such difficult questions often refer to Old Testament books where God clearly promised success and protection to the Israelites.
God asked only one thing in return: follow the covenant agreement.
God predicted bluntly, “When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant” (Deuteronomy 31:20).
Deuteronomy may offer a clue to why God does not exempt his followers from every bad thing in life. Ironically, prosperity and health may make it harder to depend on God. The Israelites proved least faithful to God after they moved into the prosperity of the Promised Land. In the desert, at least, they had been forced to lean on God just for daily survival. But after a very short time in the Promised Land, they forgot about God.
Who are you depending on right now? Is it God? Or is it the god of success or something else? As we move closer to the joy of Easter, the lessons of Lent help us to realize what Jesus has accomplished for you and me. God’s gift of eternal life is a promise that you can bank on.
Our mid-week Lenten services, the Lenten Bible study and the special worship services of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter celebrations all help us to realize that God is stronger than death, and that makes a Christian’s joy indestructible. See you in church!
Pastor John
Lenten Schedule
Wednesday, March 2nd – Community Service
at Immanuel at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 9th – Community Service
at New Hope at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 16th – Community Service
at Trinity at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 20th – Palm Sunday with
Children’s Program during Worship at
10:15 a.m.
Thursday, March 24th – Maundy Thursday with Holy Communion at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 25th – Good Friday
Community Services – “Stations of the Cross” – 12 noon at Zion and Tennebrae Service at
7:30 p.m. at Zion
Easter – Sunday, March 27th
Sunrise Service followed by breakfast at
Immanuel (Sign-up sheet is on the bulletin
board in the hallway, or tell Bonnie.)
Holy Communion during 10:15 a.m. Worship
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This newsletter is in memory
of loved ones by Robin King.
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Consistory Highlights
§ This year’s Lenten envelopes will be designated for the Current Expense Fund and the Organ Fund.
§ The Auditors’ Report for 2004 was approved as presented.
§ Norma Day has made two new Acolyte/Confirmation robes.
§ In case inclement weather causes cancellation of our church service, you can find out in four ways: (1) WGAL TV – Channel 8, (2) WARM 103 WSBA FM, (3) a note on the church door, and (4) a message on Trinity’s answering machine.
§ If you have a church key you are no longer using, please return it to Pastor John or Bonnie.
March
Wedding Anniversaries
Bridgette and Michael Lonas will celebrate 5 years on March 3rd.
Joann and Ken Forry will celebrate 26 years on March 10th.
Margarita and Mitch Bubb will celebrate 5 years on March 18th.
Address Changes
Julie and Ryan Dougherty, P.O. Box 544, Millerstown, PA 17062
Joshua and Tara Trout, 14F Cambridge Arms Apts, Fayetteville, NC 28303
Glenn and Ruby Williams, 1440 Setter Run Ct., York, PA 17404 (Phone #717-792-1822)
Military Salutes
Please keep the following members in your prayers while they are proudly serving their country:
SGT CRAMER, DANE –
C CO 82ND ENG BN
UNIT 27520 BOX #19175
APO AE 09139
(We are so thankful that Dane has returned safely from Iraq and is back with his family in Germany. This address will be in effect until June 14th.)
PVT CRAMER, SCOTT –
B CO 143RD OD BN
CL#02B, ATTN: DS PLAYER APG/EA, MD 21010
(This address will be in effect for about two weeks until Scott goes to Ft. Benning, Georgia.)
PV2 DUBBS, DANIEL –
A-BTRY 3/27 FAR BOX 104
2732 MERRILL ST. STOP A
FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28310-7800
(Email Address – )
SGT TROUT, JOHN -
3 PLT (RECLASS) A CO
309 MI BN
FT HUACHUCA AZ 85635
SPC TROUT, JOSHUA –
(Please send Joshua’s mail to the new address listed for Joshua and Tara under “Address Changes”.)
Baby News
Lydia Fleischer Sides was born January 31st and weighed 8 lb., 14.2 oz. and was 22 inches. She is the daughter of Rick and Jessica Sides, the granddaughter of Rod and Marilyn Sides, and the great-granddaughter of Lenore Sweitzer. Congratulations to all!
Trinity’s Shut-Ins
Thelma Dubbs
2815 Ironstone Hill Road
York, PA 17403
PHONE: 741-1532
Delores Johnson
Country Meadows
1920 Trolley Road
Building 1 - Room 53
York, PA 17404
PHONE: 779-0148
Maurice Kline
Barbara Egan Nursing Home
Room 529 – 200 Luther Drive
Shrewsbury, PA 17361
PHONE: 235-2252
John McCullough
123 Ronald Street
Glen Rock, PA 17327
PHONE: 235-2252
Mary Miller
Country Meadows at Leader Heights
Room 317
2760 Pine Grove Road
York, PA 17403
PHONE: 741-0301
Tom Rohrbach
21 Royal Court at Waterford
York, PA 17403
PHONE: 840-1055
Nora Rohrbaugh
46 Glen Avenue
Glen Rock, PA 17327
Lloyd Snyder
Manor Care South
Room C119
100 W. Queen Street
Dallastown, PA 17313
John Yost
12872 Cross Roads Avenue
Felton, PA 17322
PHONE: 993-6774
Women of Trinity News
Women of Trinity met on January 27th and set the following dates:
May 4th – Mother/Daughter Banquet
June 4th – Glen Rock Street Fair
November 19th – Christmas Bazaar
November 30th – Christmas Party
Officers for this year are:
President – Lucille Waugh
Vice President – Holly Eyster
Secretary – Ellen Dougherty
Treasurer – Bonnie Nicklow
All ladies attending Trinity are welcome to attend these meetings. The next regular meeting will be held in the parlor at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30th.
Camp Brochures
Summer Camp Brochures from Hartman Center are here. If you would like one, please see Pastor John or Bonnie.
If you would like to check out Hartman Center’s website, it can be found at www.hartmancenter.com.
Fellowship Luncheon
Our next Fellowship Luncheon will be after worship on Sunday, March 13th. The menu will include corn beef, cabbage, potatoes, and cherry desserts. If you don’t like corn beef, sausage pie will also be available.
Tsunami Relief
The following items are needed yet in order to prepare 50 kits: 48 nail clippers/files, 37 combs, 33 bottles of water, 10 boxes of band-aids, 44 bars of soap, 10 toothbrushes, 30 wash cloths, 45 hand towels, and 4 boxes of gallon-size Ziploc bags.
This collection will continue through the month of March. Your help is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Amspacher at 428-2609.
Junior Youth News
Hey kids, if you are in 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade or 6th grade, you are invited to come and explore the opportunities of the Junior High Youth Group. Presently we have many activities planned, including a movie day which will be held on Saturday, March 12th.
The kids are also planning a “Hill-Billy Hangout.” This fun night will definitely bring you and your friends closer in your relationship with God. How cool is that – to come and play games, eat crazy hill-billy food, dress up like actual hill-billies, while serving in God’s marvelous eyes! This fun night has been scheduled for Saturday, April 3rd, beginning at 7 p.m. Oh, did I forget to mention? – come dressed up like a hill-billy (within moderate taste), bring along friends, and a can of soup and snack to share.
Our next regular meeting is scheduled for Sunday, March 13th at 6 p.m. Come out and help to plan this awesome night!
Senior High Youth News
The Senior High Youth Group will meet on Sunday, March 6th at 6 p.m. A lock-in has been planned for Friday, March 18th, beginning at 7 p.m. and will include midnight bowling. The lock-in will conclude on Saturday, March 19th.
The Youth Groups have begun to make plans for the 2nd Annual Turkey Dinner, which will be held on Saturday, May 7th. Mark your calendars now, and be sure to see a youth member to purchase your tickets soon. More details of the turkey dinner will be announced in the bulletin and the next newsletter.
God’s Little Blessings
The “God’s Little Blessings” program (also known as “Mommy and Me”) is looking for a new coordinator and will not be meeting until one is found. Karen Amspacher thanks you for your support over the past couple of years.
Vacation Bible School
Karen Amspacher will be the director of this year’s Glen Rock Community VBS program with Holly Eyster assisting. They have selected the curriculum – “Kingdom of the Son” - a safari theme by Gospel Light. There will be no morning sessions – only evening sessions – the week of July 17th.
The first meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 31st at Trinity. Curriculum will be distributed to the teachers, and the course outline will be reviewed.
Please prayerfully consider helping out with the VBS progam this year. Leaders are needed in the following areas: snacks, recreation, songs, Bible Story teachers, and the preschool group. If you helped last year, please notify Karen if you are still interested in helping and what specifically you would like to do this year. Karen’s email address is ; her phone number is 428-2609.
Choir Notes from Gwen
As we are now over half-way through this year’s choir season, the choirs are all busy preparing anthems for Lent and Easter.
Cherub Choir rehearsal will be at 7 p.m. every Tuesday in March. Cherub Choir will be singing on Sunday, March 6th. [Choir parents, please make sure your chorister is down in the choir room to get his robe and collar on before rehearsal. Gwen will come to the choir room to take the Cherubs to the library to rehearse.]
The Cherub Choir will not be singing on Easter Sunday because of the songs the children will be learning for the Sunday School Program on March 20th.
Junior Choir rehearsal will be at 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday in March. Junior Choir will be singing on March 6th, March 20th, and March 27th. [Choir parents, please make sure your chorister is in the choir room to get his music and be ready to rehearse at 9:50 a.m. Gwen will gather the choir members that are in Sunday School that morning. Junior Choir will robe up after rehearsal.]
Senior Choir should check the calendar to see when rehearsals are scheduled in March. Senior Choir will sing on March 13th, March 16th (Community Lenten Service), March 20th, March 24th (Maundy Thursday Service) and March 27th. Additional information about combined choir rehearsals and music for Good Friday will be forthcoming.
Southern York County Pantry
The Pantry items for the month of March are shampoo and paper products such as paper towels and tissues. Please put your donations
in the basket inside the front door of the church. All your donations are appreciated.
There have been 25 deliveries between January 3rd and January 18th. In January there were seven families assisted with their fuel bills.
A treasurer’s report is included with this newsletter.
The next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19th – Volunteer Appreciation Night at St. John Lutheran Church in New Freedom.
Southern York County Pantry
Regular Report (11/10/04 through 1/18/05)
Total Income (Donations) $10,846.85
Expenses
Answering Service $ 374.71
Food $13,065.93
Postage Stamps $ 18.50
Postal $ 17.09
Transfer
(split checks/donations)$430.00
Telephone $ 74.56
Total Expenses $13,980.79
Balance forward 12/31/04 $ 9,840.46
Balance forward 01/18/05 $ 9,057.90
Southern York County Pantry
Energy Report (11/20/04 through 1/18/05)
Income
Donations $ 6,620.50
Other $ 85.00
Total Income $ 6,705.50
Total Expenses (Assistance) $ 2,638.09
Balance forward 12/31/04 $ 7,347.37
Balance forward 1/18/05 $ 7,605.27
Total Assistance for 2004 (42 families) –
$ 9,047.10
“The Easter Story”
Students of Karen Amspacher’s 5th and 6th grade Sunday school class are making plans to see Grace Fellowship’s annual Easter Story. Tickets are $5 each. Anyone from the church is welcome to attend with this group on Saturday, March 19th at 7 p.m.
If you are interested in obtaining advance sale tickets, Karen will be ordering them at the beginning of March. Please contact her at 428-2609 for more information.
An Invitation
Penn Central Conference
of the United Church of Christ
cordially invites you
to the installation of
Conference Minister and President
Rev. Dr. Marja L. Coons-Torn
Saturday, March 19, 2005
11 A.M.
Colonial Park United Church of Christ
5000 Devonshire Road
Harrisburg, PA
Thank You
The Southern York County Pantry wishes to thank you for the generous donation of $425.00 from your special Christmas offering. It’s because of help like this that we were able to assist over 400 families with food this holiday season. God Bless!
D. Warfield
A big Thank You to everyone who sent cards, made phone calls, and brought wonderful soup during my recent surgery. I realize now what a true family I have in our members of Trinity. God Bless you all.
Kendra Todd
Thank you to my Secret Pal who sent me beautiful flowers for Valentine’s Day and my birthday.
Joyce McCullough
Everyone who had the pleasure of attending Cupid’s Café on Valentine’s Day sends their thanks to the Church Growth Committee for their excellent food and service.
All of us at Trinity want Bambi Case to know how proud we are of her for her mission work in Costa Rica. We appreciate the presentation of the highlights of that trip she provided for us during worship on February 20th.
Thank you to the Case Family for providing that delicious luncheon on February 20th.
Thank you to Arlene Nicklow for her many years of service providing coffee and snacks for fellowship time after worship. We also want to welcome Michelle Waugh to this new position. Thanks for stepping in, Michelle.