Young’s United Methodist Church
316 Burn Hill Rd
Shermans Dale, PA 17090
Office: 717-582-0081 | Parsonage: 717-582-8356
Young’s Steeple Connection
Church News
If you have any items for the newsletter including all meeting & event dates, please email them to or call Sharon Dick at 582-7413. Each group, class, or chairperson is encouraged to submit articles for the newsletter to Sharon Dick; as well as meeting and event dates. Please have all newsletter items submitted by the 3rd Sunday of each month.
Membership Opportunity at BJs Wholesale Club
Eunice Sherman and Kelly Sherman will be starting a business account with BJs Wholesale Club. Beginning in October, you can get an annual membership for $30 instead of the usual $50 membership fee.
Please contact Eunice Sherman for more details. Eunice can be reached via email or by telephone 717-582-8262
Just for Fun Night
The Just for Fun Night staff ordered t-shirts so those in our community that don’t attend our church would know who to go to for help or with any questions about our church and missions. These really great looking t-shirts come with the Young’s Church name on the front and on the back, John 3:16 (which seems fitting since the parsonage address & rec field address both contain “316”).
THE BEST PART………the church has decided to purchase these t-shirts for any member who would like to order one. The t-shirts come in blue or gray and sizes S – 3XL. Please see George Binger with any questions or to order your very own t-shirt.
Also, don`t forget to tell your friends and neighbors about the family fun nights every Thursday night from 6-8. Food is also available to purchase. Come out and play softball, volleyball, horseshoes, bocce, corn hole, cards or just come and hang out. Hope to see you at 316 Old State Road this Thursday evening.
Chris & George Binger
CHRISTmas Treasures
Get your creative juices flowing! Theme Baskets are needed for the Old Iron Days at Lupfer’s Grove. Each year you have created wonderful, unique baskets to share with the CHRISTmas Treasures Ministry. The Theme Baskets are due on Sunday, September 4th. We again THANK YOU for your wonderful support of this ministry.
Chris & George Binger
Young’s Gathering Room Happenings
Please join us for fresh coffee, tea and hot chocolate every Sunday morning – available from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m.
A new flex-age group (0-99) is meeting in the gathering room from 9:00 to 9:45 for conversation and small group discussion. ALL are welcome!!! Each week is something different so no matter when you join us you will be current with the discussion and welcome to suggest topics/issues for discussion. The plan for the summer months is to watch selected I AM Second video clips and Christian videos with discussion/conversation around the topics.
If you are not familiar with I AM Second we encourage you to check them out on the web as they are real life testimonies that are thought and conversation provoking. This is a no pressure, relaxed environment so if you want to just come out and listen to the conversation that is great as well. We would encourage the young adults in the congregation to join us and share their perspectives.
The tentative schedule for the summer is as follows:
August 7th I AM Second RacismAugust 14th Education/Learning
August 21st I AM Second – WorkAugust 28th Bring a Topic Week – Open discussion
Hope you can join us sometime soon. Enjoy your summer!
Youth Group Summer Update and Return
As you many of you are aware, this summer the SonShine Club and Youth Group took a short break from our usual schedule in order to take full advantage of the Family Fun Night events. We have had a lot of fun playing games, and spending time with each other during these Thursday night gatherings. One of the best that we had was the Adults vs. Kids kickball games which included the literal stealing of bases at some points. However, much to the disappointment of our church’s children and youth, summer is coming to an end and school will be beginning soon. The good news is that also means that the SonShine Club and Youth Group are returning to their regular schedule!
In order to kick-off this half of the year, we will be having a special event! On August 18th, we will be having an event that we are calling “Summer Reset.” Summer Reset will be a time of fun, and fellowship to get the kids excited for the SonShine Club and Youth to start up again. We will be having it at the Rec. Field at 6:00 pm in connection of the Family Fun Night, making Summer Reset an event for the whole family. We will be having some special surprises for the kids during the event. Then, on August 22nd the SonShine Club and Youth Group will start meeting on Monday evenings at 6:00 pm. We have some other special plans in the works for this year that I will be sharing with everyone at a later time. I am very excited to get back to our usual schedule.
That is all I have to talk about this month. Be on the lookout for more fun things and updates in this newsletter, and my weekly email updates. If you wish to receive the weekly emails, or want more information about the youth group, you can contact me at my new church email: .
Ben Williams
Live Nativity
The Birth of Jesus Christ
Luke 2 1-7 – “In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the entire Roman Empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral home to be registered. Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s town. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was expecting a child.”
Hello everyone, we hope you are continuing to having a wonderful summer! Possibly this month you are enjoying the beach and the sun or keeping cool by kayaking down Shermans Creek or maybe you are relaxing in the woods! Please remember to take a moment or two and pray that God may lead you to help in the upcoming Live Nativity on Thursday, December 8 and Friday, December 9, 2016. from 6-8 P.M. at Young’s UM Rec Field.
The sign-up sheet has started to be sent around on Sundays and thank you to all who have already signed up to help spread the word of the birth of our Savior to our community.
There will be more to follow in the coming months. The Live Nativity committee is so thankful for all the help and participation in this awesome event from our church family at Young’s and Shermans Dale UM Church. We hope everyone will be able to be a part of it again this year. Remember there is a part for everyone!
Sunday School Happenings
In my lifetime I have been privileged to visit the seashore many times. I enjoy the ocean, but not necessarily to go swimming in it. I can always envision some unknown creature attacking me from the depths below. I think it has something to do with watching the movie “Jaws” too many times. So I usually observe the ocean from the safety of the shore.
In all seriousness, though, there is something grand and glorious about the ocean. I cannot look at the endless horizon and the power of the rolling waves without thinking about our Creator God which we serve.
When I stand by the ocean, it has a way of humbling me and putting me in my place. I realize how small and finite that I really am. I am not capable of creating one single drop of water. And yet, here before me, is a seemingly infinite body of water that our God created and sustains. It is literally too much for my mind to absorb.
I do not believe that I am alone when I have thoughts of God when I gaze out at the ocean. The Bible gives ample testimony to that.
In the Book of Job, we are encouraged to “stand and consider the wonders of God.” God was speaking to Job in Chapter 38 when He said, “Have you understood the expanse of the earth. Tell me, if you know all this.”
In Psalms 98, the psalmist says “Let the sea roar and all it contains…. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy.” Again, I cannot help but think David was also thinking of the endless sea when he penned Psalm Chapter 8. “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers… What is man that You are mindful of him and the son of man that You care for him?” These are only a cou0ple of scripture references as to the greatness of our Creator God.
There is a phrase in the song, “I Hope You Dance” that asks the question “Do you feel small when you stand beside the ocean?” I know that I sure do. And I never want to lose that feeling, because we serve a God that is so great and powerful and who is worthy of all of our praise and worship.
Don’t forget our Gathering Room activities which commence each Sunday at 8:30am. Join us before the start of Sunday School for hot coffee, light refreshments and good conversation.
Ed Bridge
Vacation Bible School
Barnyard Roundup Vacation Bible School
August 8 – 126:00 PM – 8:00 PM (light dinner 5:15)
Young’s Recreation Field, 316 Old State Road, Shermans Dale
Shermans Dale and Young’s Joint Vacation Bible School will be “farm-tastic!” In Barnyard Roundup VBS, children will learn that Jesus gathers us together. They’ll look into the Bible, God’s Holy Word, and explore five Bible accounts where Jesus graciously gathers us together to be with Him with His abundant provision and saving protection, now and forever.
Join us as we sing fun songs, do crazy crafts, eat yummy snacks, play awesome games, and more. Plus, you’ll learn all about Jesus our Savior and how He gathers us together. End the summer with a great week of fun and learning! Can’t wait to see you there!
Our goal this year is to reach as many of our community members as we can. Do you have neighbors who have children? Please invite anyone in our community - we have classes for preschoolers through adults. We will provide transportation upon request by calling 717-433-6538 by August 1st.
Registration is now open for preschool through adult participants who will attend VBS from Monday, August 8th to Friday, August 12th, 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM. Bring your family early and join us for a light dinner from 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM each night before our VBS fun begins.
Register your children using one of the methods below:
- E-mail and request a registration form
- Fill out the registration form in the newsletter or your bulletin and put it in the box provided in the vestibule
- On-site registration the day of the event
For additional information, call 717-645-7589 or e-mail
Young’s U. M. Administrative Board Minutes – July 12, 2016
The meeting was called to order by co-chairperson Ed Bridge
Scripture: Romans 12:4-13 read by Wanda Cupp
The treasurer’s report was presented by Treasurer Jayne Peters
MayJune
Income: $12,988.06Income: $10,240.40
Expenses: $6,693.89Expenses: $7,715.96
Balance: $105,791.69Balance: $108,316.13
Monies Available: $94,929.87Monies Available: $97,329.31
Updates:
Ed Bridge gave an update on the family with financial needs. The family is doing ok. The gentleman’s heart surgery went well; he will have testing done to see if his heart will return to normal size. No news on his request for Social Security Disability.
Wanda Cupp has been in contact with the insurance agent, but has not received a response from the agent to her telephone calls and/or emails. Wanda will keep following up with the agent; she will escalate the issue to the insurance company if she continues to get no response from the agent.
Jayne Peters purchased and presented the $100 gift certificates to the Smith and Richard families.
Ed Bridge has received the deed to the new parsonage and will put it in the charge safety deposit box at The Bank of Landisburg.
The Bank of Landisburg has agreed to allow us to use their billboard for advertising the Live Nativity. George Binger will contact them closer to the time.
Perry Printing mailed the VBS brochures, they arrived in the mail the week of July 11th. Rhonda asked for 50 extra to be placed at Join Hands. Lori McClellan from Perry Printing will drop off the brochures at Join Hands.
The trip to Impact has been cancelled; only 1 child signed up. Many families are on vacation that week. Ben will try to get the dates for next year’s Impact trip as soon as possible so that families can make plans to attend earlier.
Sharon Dick will check with the Department of Health about getting a grant for the purchase of an AED (automated external defibrillator) for the Church. Eunice Sherman was not at the meeting to give an update on any information she may have obtained.
The monies for the Save the Children Heifer Project by Hailey Brownawell still have not been sent. Jayne Peters is waiting for the final list of the animals being purchased.
Barb Appleman is still working on a bus trip to Sight and Sound to see Samson.
The pictures that Bonnie McAlister presented have been hung; 1 is hung by the elevator, the other by the front door. Thanks Wanda, Lois and Rena for framing and hanging these pictures.
Pastor Travis reported that the water system that was installed in the parsonage is working well.
Troop 7 held the blood drive on June 26th, no updates on how it went.
Barry Peters is still looking into the motion light and key pad for the front door. He is looking for a lamppost type of motion light and has not had any luck finding one.
New Business:
Pastor Travis has request an over the ear wireless mic. He likes to move around when speaking which may make it difficult to hear him with the stationary mic at the pulpit. A motion was made by Jayne Peters to allow Pastor Travis to purchase a wireless mic, 2nd by George Binger. Motion passed.
Wanda Cupp stated that Dale Weaver has been coming back to the church at least 3 times a week to pick up the garbage. It is out of Dale’s way to continually come back to the church just to take out the trash. A discussion was held on the benefits and drawbacks of a dumpster. The cost of a dumpster from CCD that holds 8-10 garbage bags: $55 for a weekly pickup; $45 for a biweekly pickup. A motion was made by Sharon Dick to get the dumpster on a trial basis with a weekly pickup, 2nd by George Binger. Motion passed. Wanda will contact CCD to get the dumpster. The Finance Committee will meet to discuss the budget for this expense.
Ben Williams stated that it’s been hard for him to spend time on the website working 10 hours a week. His hours are taken up with time spent on Sundays and the Family Fun Night on Thursdays. He has been going over the 10 hours/wk and has requested an extra 5 hours a week until the website is up and running.
Pastor Travis asked if Ben has a contract and a list of job duties; the answer was there was not contract, but job duties were outlined. Pastor Travis asked the PPRC members from Young’s work on creating a contract and a list of job duties for the position. Janetta Green volunteered to take the lead on the contract since she has experience in that area.
A motion was made by Pastor Travis, 2nd by Jayne Peters to give Ben 5 more hours a week to work on the website. Motion passed
Bill Earnest gave Wanda Cupp a plaque that his father, Pastor Clarence Earnest, a former Pastor of our churches, received in 1965 commemorating the establishment of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in our area. It was placed on the bookshelf upstairs.
Flo McAlister has resigned as the Charge Treasurer. She has served as the Charge Treasurer for many, many years. A replacement is needed.
Janetta Green is working with Join Hands to establish a pilot program where the church can act as ambassadors for Join Hands. She asked if they could use our parking lot for individuals who will use transportation provided by the state. An area of concern would be parking for funerals held at the Church. Janetta will get more information on these programs.
George Binger brought t-shirts to show. These shirts were purchased for the staff at the Family Fun Night events so that people would know who to go to with questions etc. The front of the shirt shows the name of the church and the back has an adaptation of John 3:16. The invoice for the initial set up and 20 shirts was $229.50. George asked if shirts could be purchased for all members who would like a shirt. A motion was made by Gloria Weaver to purchase the t-shirts for the church, 2nd by Ben Williams. Motion approved.