PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Rev. William A. Schaefer, Pastor
Living, Learning, and Growing in the Word of God
1325 Mission Road, Latrobe, PA 15650 Webpage: www.princeofpeacelatrobe.com
Phone: 724-537-7273 Fax: 724-537-6039 Email:
♫ P.O.P. NOTES ♫
June 2014 Volume 52 Issue 6
A Quiet Summer?
One of the misconceptions about churches is that nothing happens during the summer months. There is a thought that things kind of stop while people are vacationing and enjoying the warmer weather. Yes, there is a bit of a slow down during the summer, but there is a ton of activity that goes on here at Prince of Peace during the summer.
Most congregations drop to one service during the summer. We at Prince of Peace add a service so that you have more choices on how to spend your Sundays during the summer. Our 8:15 AM service is held outdoors (weather permitting) and is a more casual service. Bring your lawn chairs, sing some of the well-loved hymns of the faith, and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation while we worship the living God! The 10:30 service holds a more traditional form for our worship and is held in the sanctuary. We also continue to Saturday evening service on the 3rd Saturday of each month. With these opportunities for worship, each of us should be able to find a time that is best suited for us to worship this summer. I hope to see you all throughout the summer.
We also have Vacation Bible School here at POP this summer as well. Once again, we will be working with Trinity Lutheran Church to put on or VBS. It will be an exciting week of learning and fun as the children and adults talk about the different seasons of the church year. We will be having a meal to start each day and sharing God’s love throughout our time together. If you would like to help out, please see Jen Schaefer for more information.
Our Bible Study Group begins a new study about the Gospel of John. We will be reading the book Encounters with Jesus by the Rev. Dr. Frances Taylor Gench. We will look at the various encounters that Jesus has with people in the Gospel of John and talk about their importance to us and our faith today. In June, we will be meeting on Wednesday, June 4th and Mondays, June 16th and 30th at 7:00 PM. I hope that you can join us for this interesting study into Jesus life as seen through the eyes of the Gospel of John.
As you can see, the summer months are not boring here at Prince of Peace. These are just a few of the things happening this summer. I hope that you will join us in these activities and the others that will be announced. God’s love for us knows no seasons or time. Our love for God and our brothers and sisters in Christ should be the same. Join us as we Live, Learn and Grow in the Word of God here at Prince of Peace this summer.
Yours in Christ,
The June Meeting of the Congregation will take place on Sunday, June 29th following the 10:30 AM worship service. On the agenda for the meeting will be electing member to the Congregation Council and acting upon changes to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Congregation (these changes are enclosed with this newsletter). These will be the only items that will be discussed at this meeting.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Rosie Nickle – Ministry Chair
Sunday school is on Summer break until September. We hope everyone has a great summer and we will see you back here in September
Mark your calendars for Vacation Bible School!!! VBS has been scheduled for Sunday, August 10th – Thursday August 14th from 6:00 PM-8:00 PM each evening. There will be a meal each night from 5:30 PM-5:50 PM starting Monday evening. This year the program will look at the different seasons of the Church Year. The site for this year’s VBS will be here at Prince of Peace as we again partner with our friends at Trinity Lutheran Church. If you are interested in helping out in anyway, please take a moment and contact Jen Schaefer.
FINANCE
Dwight Sarson – Ministry Chair
It is with regret that the Congregation Council accepted the resignation of Andria Wood as our Congregation’s Treasurer. We thank her for the time served as our treasurer.
At its April meeting, the Congregation Council appointed Mary Nelson to serve as Interim Treasurer for the remainder of Andria Wood’s term.
TREASURER’S REPORT – April 2014
CURRENT FUNDBeginning Balance / $ 40.07
Receipts / $ 11,044.00
Disbursements / $ 10,891.88
Ending Balance / $ 192.19
BENEVOLENCE
2014 Pledge / $ 15,500.00
4 months pledge / $ 5166.68
Amount Received to Date / $ 4118.00
Difference Over/(Under) for year to date / ($1,048.68)
BUILDING FUND
Beginning Balance / $ 22,630.26
Receipts / $ 1,325.00
Available / $ 23,955.45
Less Disbursements / $ 837.98
Ending Balance / $23,117.47
OUTREACH
Larry Weltz – Ministry Chair
Food Bank Collection – For the Month of June the Food Bank is collecting various Salad Dressings (No Glass bottles please)
80 years young? – It is our tradition here at Prince of Peace to present members in our congregation who are turning 80 a large print bible. If you, or someone you know is turning, or has turned 80 this year, please let the church office know so we can continue celebrating this milestone.
Cathie Schall is collecting items to send to our soldiers in Afghanistan and would like your help. The following items are being accepted and can be placed in the box in the Narthex: Nintendo DS games: Mario games & other action/adventure type games, any Movies or TV Series: Mostly Action & Adventure movies
Tan Tee Shirts (Any Size), Green or Black to the Knee Socks, Tooth Paste & Tooth Brushes, Foot Powder & Medicated Powder, Shampoo, Soap & Body Wash, Water Purification Tablets, Kuerig Coffees (Any Flavors), Flavored Creamers, Flavored Drink Mixes (single type are best), Chap Stick, Shoe Inserts (sizes 8-12), Flip Flops, Snacks (No Chocolate) (Single packs of cookies are great), Any Hard Candies or Gum, Any Flavor of Beef Jerky or Chips (small single serve bags), Gummy Bears/Sour Patch/Other Candies like these, Stamps, Stationary, and Envelopes
Peace for todayMay today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are
meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are
born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and
pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be confident knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your
soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
—St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897)
MUSIC AND WORSHIP
Pam Yuhaniak – Ministry Chair
Meeting –Tuesday, June 3rd at 7:00p.m.
Usher chart – for 2014 is in the Narthex along with the description of the usher’s duties. We welcome men, women, families and groups who would like to serve in this ministry.
Altar Care – chart for 2014 is being filled. Please contact Pam Yuhaniak to sign up for a particular month. People are needed for the Summer and Fall months.
WORSHIP ASSISTANTS
June 1st
Greeters: Jane Six
Acolyte: Ayla Sarson
Lay Reader: Jen Schaefer
Lay Assistants: Pam Yuhaniak & Dennis Guyer
Counters: Dwight Sarson/Bob Woller
June 8th
Greeters: Arlene Carnahan
Acolyte: Carolyn Hay
Lay Reader: Phyllis Orange
Lay Assistants: Jim and Marlene Colaianne
Counters: Vickie Onusko/Kathy Bangor
June 15th
Greeters: The Mentch Family
Acolyte: Zach Brewer
Lay Reader: Sue Tschupp
Lay Assistants: Glenn and Sheila Thompson
Counters: Pam Yuhaniak/Dave Bowser
June 22nd
Greeters: Bob and Elaine Woller
Acolyte: Noah Ankney
Lay Reader: Sue Tschupp
Lay Assistants: Ginger Warren & Sue Tschupp
Counters: Ed Sparber/Lee Semasko
June 29th
Greeters: Sue Tschupp
Acolyte: Noah Schaefer
Lay Reader: Noah Schaefer
Lay Assistants: Pat Fry & Sherry Stahl
Counters: Dwight Sarson/Margy Williams
Altar Care: Janie Hayden & Shirley Kelley
Are you Lutheran? Do you like Kennywood? – then the Southwestern PA Synod has a deal for you! Tuesday, July 29th is LUTHERAN DAY at Kennywood. Tickets for the day will be just $20.00 (THAT IS $21.00 off the regular admission price!). If you are interested in tickets, please see Pastor Bill or call the church office to get signed up.
STEWARDSHIP
Susann Tschupp – Ministry Chair
Strengthened by Grace
If you’ve done some carpentry, you’ve probably tried pulling out some very stubborn nails. The strength of a hammer may not be sufficient so you’ve had to bring in a pinch bar, that two- or three-foot metal rod with claws on the end. With the power from the pinch bar, you could wrench the nails out.
As helpless as we can be with just a hammer, we are even more helpless without God. As the pinch bar helps us with nails, God helps us in life. God enables us to understand that all we are, have, and do are the result of God’s grace in Christ. God’s grace not only brings us salvation: it trains “us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and Godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). Knowing our lives are gifts from God’s grace, we live our lives in gratitude for Who God is and what He has done for us. God’s purpose becomes our purpose. Strengthened by grace, we seek to do God’s will leading to productive and abundant lives.
Even though we are sinful and undeserving, God loves us and wants only the best for us. Through faith, He wants us to call upon the “strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). Being in a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus, our lives have purpose, and we are changed from being self-centered, selfish people to people who serve God by loving and serving others.
With God’s help, we are equipped and energized to do our best. The Apostle Paul tells us to “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10). Being renewed by God grace, we live the Godly lives He calls us to live. We live a new life marked by the mysterious union with Jesus described by Paul in these words: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). God directs us to areas and activities He wants us to pursue. God takes ordinary people like us and does some extraordinary things through us. We become his hands, feet, and mouth. We just need to be tools in God’s hands.
If you or someone you know from the congregation is in the hospital or is at home and sick and needs a visit from Pastor Bill, please call the office so that he can schedule a visit. The Pastor is only told by the hospital when a person is a patient if they ask for the church to be notified.
Prayer is an essential part of who we are as a people of God. Below is a list of people from our congregation to keep in your daily prayers. If you know of others who should be added to these lists, please contact the church office with the names.
*Note – those added to the prayer list are entered for two months. When the two months expires the program automatically removes them from the list. If you would like your loved one added for more or less time than two months please specify on the “Request a Prayer” card and it will be done. If your loved one has rotated off the list and are still in need of prayer please let the Pastor know.
From our congregation: Betsy Naggy, Bev Guyer, Dave Williams, Don Warren, Elaine Sherer, Jim Clegg, Kay Shaw, Mary Jane Hayden, Norie Schrecengost, Trudie Washnock, Verna Frontz, and Vi McIlnay
Our Shut-in members: Louise Johns (Beacon Ridge), Helen Albright(at home), Dolores Helfferich (Emeritus), and Violet Myers (Latrobe Care Center)
Others in need of our prayers: Andrew Walk, Betty Onusko, Bob McHenry, Cara Conroy Garcia, Carol Limegrover, Cecil Metz, Dan Schaefer, Doug Facemyer, Gene and Mary Evelyn Miller, Jason Fabian, Jessica Best, Mary Jane Bangor, Matthew Pickering, Natalie Rimmer, Pam Picciano, Paula Piper, Phillip Stickle, Rich Giron, Rev. Susan Luttner, Richard Hess, Jr., and Tootie Green.
Those in the Military: Sean Stewart, Justin Kowatch, Jordan Omlor, Richard Schall, Christopher Lindsey, Julene Stewart, Nathan Connelly, Casey Mitrisin and the 28th Military Police Battalion.
Patriotic Interfaith Service
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Latrobe Elementary School
7:00 PM
Someone’s Dad
by Norie Schrecengost
He stood six foot two in his stocking feet
Weight about two ten
A man I admired and looked up to
A wonderful friend
He retired after working forty five years
In nineteen sixty eight
Providing for his wife and family
Never missed work or was late
He often turned the other cheek
Until his face got red
Then look out
For he just might stand you on your head
His big heart was full of love
Showing it every day
Sharing with neighbors and their children
Which he steered the right way
He never was too busy for his own children
I have seen him play marbles on his knees
Kicking a football through the neighbor’s window
Hiding with the kids behind some trees
He always had an automobile
which he shared with other families and his own
Taking everyone to Idlewild Park
And back home safe and sound