God S Call and the Great Kapok Tree

Zion United Church of Christ

Arendtsville, PennsylvaniaOctober 2011Page 1

Embodying the Love of God in Word and Action

Reverend Dr. KIM BLOCHEr, Pastor Dr. Fred Martin, Consistory President

Dear Friends:

This month we welcome a new class of 7th grade confirmands into our midst: Mikaela, Mackenzie, and Connor. They will join our 8th graders Mileigh, Alex and Cooley who are in their second year. This coming year we will go on a weekend retreat to Hartman Center and will also travel to Lancaster Seminary for Youth Discovery Day.

We have, of necessity, done some rearranging of our meeting spaces for Christian Education. Because we have an active senior high class this year, we decided that it worked well for them to meet around the conference table in Zion House. Given that, it made more sense to have the 7th and 8th grade meet in the parlor of Zion House. The two classes can share snack time and devotions together as well as share other resources. However, that displaced the adult class that had been meeting in Zion House, so they are now meeting in the Mustard Seed room.

Yes, it’s all a little confusing. However we know it will be a good year of learning and Christian growth. I am teaching the confirmation group of 7th and 8th graders, and Donna Hale has volunteered to teach the senior high kids. Donna is in her Clinical Pastoral Education unit at Menno Haven in Chambersburg and getting ready for her ecclesiastical council in January. She is also working on her ordination paper and UCC pastor’s profile! In other words, she is busy and we are grateful that she is willing to take on this additional challenge. Donna is waiting for the Holy Spirit to guide her to the perfect call!

I will be teaching the downstairs Fellowship Hall class once a month or so, and we are looking for other leaders for this class. There will be special speakers from time to time for that class. In January we look forward to having Ryan Bushey come to speak about his fascinating work in cancer research and what new trends are developing. We have also been in touch with Lou Hammann about a series on world religions.

Last, I want to remind you that we are beginning a new adult study the first and third Wednesdays, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. We will meet downstairs in fellowship hall. We are using a Kerygma series entitled “Discovering the Bible: A New Generation.” This study is for people who have never studied the Bible as well as for people who are very familiar with scripture. This is a guided program that takes us through the whole Bible, emphasizing major themes. If you’ve always said that you’d like to get to know your Bible better, this is for you. Enjoy the fellowship, study, and laughter as we open our hearts to God’s word.

We are moving into the busiest time of our church year. But there is always time to count our blessings that we are part of a wonderful church home that nurtures us in so many ways. I thank God for each and every one of you.

See you in church,

Pastor Kim

Worship In October And November

Worship: 9:00 a.m.

Sunday School: 10:15 a.m.

Worship is the best way to praise

God for all your blessings!

►Worship CDs◄

We are now set up to provide CDs of Sunday worship services. Just call the office, and we will mail one to you. Obviously this will benefit our homebound members, but it certainly is for anytime you’ve missed a worship service and would like to catch up.

Looking Ahead. . .

On November 13, we will include in our worship a veteran’s day observance. There will be special music and recognition of our veterans. Please encourage any veterans, members or not, to attend. We are making plans for a fellowship gathering after the service, and details will be announced soon.

December 11 is the date for the annual congregational meeting. Please mark your calendars for that date.

Hartman Center Fall Festival

October 15, 2011

Sponsorship Information

(Ways that you can help)

Zion United Church of Christ

Arendtsville, PennsylvaniaOctober 2011Page 1

Embodying the Love of God in Word and Action

Reverend Dr. KIM BLOCHEr, Pastor Dr. Fred Martin, Consistory President

Bounce House for children @$250

Inflatable Joust for Youth @$250

Be a Supporting Sponsor

$50, $75, $100

Donate an item or two for our Silent Auction

Just about anything would work….

Gift Certificates

Gift Item

Gift Basket

Collectables

Food Baskets

Zion United Church of Christ

Arendtsville, PennsylvaniaOctober 2011Page 1

Embodying the Love of God in Word and Action

Reverend Dr. KIM BLOCHEr, Pastor Dr. Fred Martin, Consistory President

Hartman Center / 5725 Old US Hwy. 322 / Milroy, PA 17063 /

Mission Projects

The Upper Adams Community CROP Walk will be held on Sunday, October 16, starting at 1:00 p.m. from the Wenksville churches. The purpose of the CROP Walk is to raise funds to feed, clothe and house people; install water sources; and provide self-help programs and recovery programs during national and worldwide disasters. This year once again, 25 percent of the money will go to the Gettysburg Soup Kitchen. Please join family, friends, and neighbors of the Upper Adams Community to support those less fortunate.

Funds may be turned in anytime, by sending to the church office, placing in the offering plate or giving your donation to Wayne (Chairperson). Please specify for the CROP Walk. As in the past, we will pass the volleyball in church. Checks may be made payable to CWS/CROP.

Thank you for your participation in this excellent cause. Remember – “Ending hunger one step at a time.”



On October 29 we will once again host a Wounded Warriors’ group for a fly fishing event at the Bennett’s lodge. Volunteers are needed to greet the Wounded Warriors and prepare lunch at the site. All are welcome to provide cards of encouragement and thanks for their service that will be distributed to the group.



A Cancer Support Group For Men: “We’re In It for Life”

“Men Living With Cancer” is a men’s group formed to provide support for men who have cancer, are in remission or have or have lost a significant other with the disease.

This Wellspan program, with the support of the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society and the American Cancer Society, meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Wellspan cancer offices behind the Harley Davidson facility.

Upper Adams Food Pantry

One of Zion’s Ministries is supporting our local food pantries. The congregation is asked to donate a food item every month to the pantry located at Centenary United Methodist Church in Biglerville. At the end of each month, Gina delivers the items to the food pantry. The Food Pantry item for October is canned soup.

Soup Kitchen

A thank you to everyone who supported by providing food supplies for the August Soup Kitchen. The post-summer luncheon was relished by all who attended. Approximately 45 people were served – the needy in Adams County have increased over the past few months, and as always those attending are so gracious and appreciative of the Zion UCC efforts. There are three remaining Soup Kitchens for the year – Saturday, October 28, Tuesday, November 29, and Saturday, December 31. Notices will be posted in the newsletter and weekly bulletins with updates and menus. Any questions and/or concerns, please contact Pam. The Soup Kitchen committee is open to all suggestions and recommendations on menus or help. The Soup Kitchen is aware of the pending holidays; and while everyone is caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, please keep in mind the need of those who attend the Soup Kitchen – any effort is always so appreciated. There are several people who attend on a daily/yearly basis and are known by first name along with their likes and dislikes. It especially means a great deal to those particular people that Zion goes the extra mile in helping provide food. Also, note – all food will be picked up always on Saturday’s by 9:30 a.m.

Hoss’s Community Night

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Community Night at Hoss's. We made $129.40. Our next Community Night will be Monday, December 5.

Book Group

No Book Club will be held in October. Our November meeting is on Thursday, November 3, 2011, at7:00 p.m. Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay will be discussed.

Synopsis:

De Rosnay's U.S. debut fictionalizes the 1942 Paris roundups and deportations, in which thousands of Jewish families were arrested, held at the Vélodrome d'Hiver outside the city, then transported to Auschwitz. Forty-five-year-old Julia Jarmond, American by birth, moved to Paris when she was 20 and is married to the arrogant, unfaithful Bertrand Tézac, with whom she has an 11-year-old daughter. Julia writes for an American magazine and her editor assigns her to cover the 60th anniversary of the Vél' d'Hiv' roundups. Julia soon learns that the apartment she and Bertrand plan to move into was acquired by Bertrand's family when its Jewish occupants were dispossessed and deported 60 years before. She resolves to find out what happened to the former occupants: Wladyslaw and Rywka Starzynski, parents of 10-year-old Sarah and four-year-old Michel. The more Julia discovers—especially about Sarah, the only member of the Starzynski family to survive—the more she uncovers about Bertrand's family, about France and, finally, herself.

Look for our monthly blogs on the website!

The Good News

Zion United Church of Christ

Arendtsville, PennsylvaniaOctober 2010Page 1

Embodying the Love of God in Word and Action

Reverend Dr. Kim Blocher, Pastor Anthony Bushey, Consistory President

Our next Trivia Nite is coming up on Sunday, October 16, beginning at 6:00. We enjoy a light supper followed by two rounds of questions. We then break for homemade desserts and coffee and recommence for two more rounds of questions. Why not get a team together and join us for a very enjoyable and entertaining evening? If interested, contact Gina.

If you are interested in a twice monthly Bible study in the fall, please see Pastor Kim. It will be held Wednesdays (1st and 3rd) from 6:30-7:30 p.m. starting in October. The study book we will be using, and sign up sheet, is on the credenza in rear of the church.

Don’t forget “Something More”— at Oakside Park boardroom on Monday, October 3, 2011, at 12 noon. This is an informal gathering of clergy and members of our Upper Adams churches. We share a brown bag lunch and dessert and beverage is provided. An unstructured program encourages us to share our spiritual journeys with each other. All are welcome.

The Good News

Zion United Church of Christ

Arendtsville, PennsylvaniaOctober 2010Page 1

Embodying the Love of God in Word and Action

Reverend Dr. Kim Blocher, Pastor Anthony Bushey, Consistory President

The Good News

Zion United Church of Christ

Arendtsville, PennsylvaniaOctober 2011Page 1

Embodying the Love of God in Word and Action

Reverend Dr. Kim Blocher, Pastor Dr. Fred Martin, Consistory President

“Tapestry Of Light”

A Celtic Christmas Celebration

One of the main reasons we love our home in Adams County is being able to enjoy the changing of the seasons. The beauty of the green awakening of Spring with the flowers of Summer following, then giving way to the beautiful leaves of Autumn, the Winter’s pure peaceful snow and the Christmas season.

This year’s Christmas Eve Cantata will be a little different than in the past. One of our favorite composers, Joseph Martin (affectionately known to the choir as Fred’s “Uncle Joe”) was inspired by recent trips to the British Isles including Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. He wrote this cantata while guiding a choir of 150 voices including about 50 from Adams and York County. This cantata celebrates the rich heritage of seasonal song that is part of the great Christmas tradition of scripture reading and candle lighting. By his interlacing traditional tunes such as Scarborough Fair, Greensleeves, Brother James Air, Londonderry Air, Forest Green, Ash Grove, Fare Thee Well, and Gloucestershire Wassail Song along with lyrics portraying the story of Christ’s birth, “Tapestry of Light” was born.

The joy and hope of Christmas is celebrated in this new Celtic-styled cantata. As Joe eloquently says “The music of Christmas is a treasure for both the ear and the heart. Each winter it covers our lives with a hopeful blanket of sound and reminds us that even in the silence of winter, there is song. Each tradition offers its own rich vocabulary of holiday carols joining together faith and art into a glorious fabric of melody and faith. From angelic acclamation to delicate lullabies, his message of God’s love leaps from the page of our songbooks and finds a home in the tender places of our hearts.”

As always, Zion’s Christmas choir, through the singing and sharing of this year’s Christmas Eve Cantata, hopes the Grace that inspired these time-honored tunes surrounds and inspires us all in celebrating God’s greatest gift.

The Christmas Choir will begin rehearsing Wednesday, October 12, beginning at 7:30 p.m. We would welcome and have enough music for at least a dozen new members. Please search your heart and come enjoy our fellowship for the Christmas/Advent season.

Consistory News From. . .

*Church cancelled on 8/28/11 due to storm-related power outage in Arendtsville; therefore, there were only three Sundays of offering income in August

Matthew 25 Update

Our Matthew 25 fund is set up to provide assistance to families in need, whether members or non-members. It is not designated for general mission or relief work; for that we use the Samaritan Fund. Each month we will report in the newsletter on the ways that the monies are being used. Typically, what happens is that a social service agency will call and report a need, and a small committee decides on whether the funds should be given. It really functions as a “front line” measure when families are experiencing a crisis. The Matthew 25 Fund receives its money from donations and the interest from the Edward Jones account. Remember, we no longer give to non-members directly when they phone the church office for assistance; we only work through county agencies who refer needs to us. The current balance in the Matthew 25 account is $3009.95.

* $150 from Matthew 25, and $150 from interest on our named CD’s—Willman, Diveley, Hartman

The Good News