The Advance

West Side Moravian Church of Bethlehem, PA

Our Mission: “We are disciples who nurture each other,

pray with love and share the joy of Christ.”

Published Monthly February 2012 Volume XXI Issue No 2

From the Pastor

1 John 2:8

“The darkness is passing away

and the true light is already shining.”

That is the 2012 Watchword for Westside Moravian Church. This year I have decided that each month I will look into the meaning of the watchwords for the church’s organizations and I am beginning with the Congregation Watchword.

In 1 John chapter 2 we are being told that because we believe in Christ we are called to the light and in the light love is evident.

What this says to me is that West Side Moravian is getting better at loving all of those that God places in our lives and especially each other. We are moving from a dark place to a place where the light is shining.

I attest to that. We are smiling more and sharing more than we did when I first came. I can see God working and alive at West Side.

But, we must keep on our toes. We can’t rest on our laurels. God calls us to reach beyond ourselves and into the world. We’re doing that with the women’s shelter, with the village in Tanzania, with the Food Bank, prayer shawls and all that is good. Still there is more that we can do as we continue to live in the light.

I look forward to being your pastor as together we move forward.

Lost and Found

One morning last week, I discovered a Dunkin’ Donut coffee thermos on my desk. It is quite nice, even has some coffee it in. However, it is not mine. If it is yours please ask me about it or come and get it. If no one claims it, it is mine!

Weather Cancellations

“Oh, the weather outside is frightful and the fire is so delightful. I’ve really no place to go. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!”

If you do have somewhere to go, like church, check channel 69. We will call channel 69 when the Joint Board believes it necessary, which would be if they thought conditions were too dangerous for anyone to be out and about and church is cancelled.

Church Council

Church Council is on February 5. It is a time when the church is planning for 2012. You can pick-up your envelope containing a copy of the annual report along with a copy of the updated church directory at the back of the sanctuary. Please remember to bring your copy of the report with you to the meeting. 

We still need people who will step up and be nominated for several positions.

· Someone who is willing to be a Trustee

· Someone who is willing to attend the 2012 Eastern District Synod

· Someone who will be a member-at-large for the Personnel Committee

If you are interested and willing to serve in any of these positions, please talk to the pastor.

Senior Friends

Please come to a time of fellowship and uplifting entertainment Thursday, February 2 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. This month’s program will be a VCR concert of the Tamburitzans Dancers from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Please bring a bagged lunch and a friend. Call the church office at 610-865-0256 if you need a ride or can provide transportation.

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Those Who Are Serving

Sunday	Flowers Given by	Counters	Sacristans	Liturgist	Fellowship
2-5-12	Donald & Eleanor DeWalt Carl & Judy Young	Phil Pinkerton Shirley Leh	Don DeWalt Doug Yochum Sam Velez	Duffy Snyder	Sacristans
2-12-12	Ralph and Audrey Wanamaker, Jr.	Phil Pinkerton Terry & Jim Kleintop	Ralph Wanamaker, Jr. Don Richards Curly Wiles	Ann Pinkerton
2-19-12	Rhonda Kirka	Shirley Leh Mary Holland	Greg Clugston Mike Palmer Fred Kline	Ralph Wanamaker, Jr.
2-26-12	Luther Keck	Phil Pinkerton Bill Hassler	Don DeWalt Doug Yochum Sam Velez	Pastor

January 2011

1/2 1/9 1/16 1/23 1/30

50 48 52 45 64

January 2012

1/1 1/8 1/15 1/22 1/29

32 59 56 35 63

Food Bank Sunday, February 26

Donations of non-perishable foods and cash are always appreciated. The food bank also accepts infant items, such as diapers and wipes, hygiene items, and household items, such as toilet paper and paper towels. Those who use the food bank also need these items. The West Bethlehem Area Food Bank does not use cash donations to purchase these items. Please remember to bring a donation with you to church.

Called Home to the Lord

Betty Jane Heller was received into the more immediate presence of our Savior on January 8, 2012. Please hold Jonice Nerino and family in your prayers at this difficult time.

Mission Opportunities

Here are two opportunities for you to participate in Moravian Mission around the world:

The Christian Education Committee invites you to a POT LUCK DINNER on Sunday, February 12 to hear Nikole Raskovic talk about her up-coming mission trip to Nepal, to work with the Rev. Shanti and the Rev. Vani Pradhan.

Pastors Shanti and Vani ministering to a pre-school. Their immediate needs are:

· School Van

· Upgrades to school office equipment

· Computers for the classroom

· Children’s books (ages 2-5)

· Children’s DVD (Veggie Tale, etc.)

· Children’s toys and puzzles

· Colorful duct tape, dry erase markers and stickers

· Volunteer teachers.

The wish list for the church includes Christian DVD’s and books. Nikole has said she will take our gifts with her, thus assuring that they will get to the preschool. That means we should bring our gifts to church on or before February 12. We will have a display of all gifts for the children of Nepal.

Second, we continue to support the Mlongolo village in Tanzania. Remember, this is to support the orphans many of whose parents have died of AIDS.

Last year our drive was through Lent and so our new support check should be sent sometime in April. If you are interested in making a donation please mark it for Tanzania and it will support this ministry.

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MORAVIAN WOMEN

Meeting Schedule for February:

Moravian Women’s Executive Board – Monday, January 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Kathy Gramley Circle – Monday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

“Be Ye Kind” Circle King’s Daughters Meeting –

Tuesday, February 14 at 1:30 p.m.

Blanket Sunday:

Our congregation is participating in Church World Services “Blanket Program” again this year. One blanket will be provided for each $5 contribution. The blankets are distributed in disaster areas around the world. These blankets are used for shelter, warmth, privacy, carrying possessions, etc. Kickoff for Blanket Sunday will be Sunday, February 12. Ingathering will be Feb. 26. If contributing by check, please make the check to “West Side Moravian Women’s Fellowship.” An offering envelope is included in this month’s Advance. Everyone is encouraged to participate in this worthwhile project.

omen’s helter

Here at home, we continue to house homeless women on Tuesday evening. This includes an evening meal and breakfast on Wednesday morning.

Needs for the shelter are as follows:

· People to sleep overnight. We ask two volunteers to spend the night to basically chaperone the women

· People to cook and serve dinner

· People to organize breakfast. This involves coming to the church around 6:30 a.m. to serve breakfast

· Donations for food and toiletries for the women

· If you are unable to come to the church to serve, perhaps you are willing to prepare food for someone else to serve.

Please talk with Pastor Marge or Jonice Nerino for more information or if you would like to help.

$$ Financial Matters $$

GOOD NEWS –

We were able to pay our Provincial and District Assessments for 2011 completely!

Our 2012 assessments are as follows:

Provincial Common Ministries

$14,821.00

District Common Ministries

$5,467.00

Laugh a Little:

“Why do we always sing about food at church?” the little boy asked his grandma.

“I can’t think of any hymns with food in them,” she answered.

Her grandson persisted, “Well, what about ‘Sleep in heavenly peas’ and ‘Up from the gravy, a rose?”

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Mid-Week

Lenten Series

The Board of Elders has decided that we will not offer Mid-Week

Lenten Services this year.

West Side will hold services on Ash Wednesday. We will also read the Holy Week readings and have Communion on Maundy Thursday. Other than that we encourage you to attend Mid-Week service at one of the BAM Church, who have graciously invited us to be a part of their experience. Here’s what the churches are offering.

ADVENT

At this point we are not sure of the Advent program. We have been invited to participate, but the program is not yet set. Rev. Van Der Linden will call me as soon as she has the information and I will let you know.

EDGEBORO

The program will begin at 7 p.m. preceded by a soup dinner at 6 p.m.

The program is titled “Five Moravians Who Helped Make Us Who We Are.” Surely Hus and Zinzendorf will be some of those visitors.

CENTRAL

Living our Faith: A Lenten Ministry Exploration 

Located in Nitschmann Hall, lower level of the CE building Dinners begin at 6 p.m., and Speaker/Discussion at 7 p.m.  

February 29: Mission

The Rev. Tracy Robinson of the Bethlehem church start Esperanza will discuss his ministry and lead a discussion in mission. 

March 7: Christian Education The Rev. Dr. Steve Simmons, director of Continuing Education at MTS, will look at the importance of Christian education for all ages.    

March 14: Congregational Care and Outreach The Rev. Dr. Riddick Weber, professor of pastoral ministry at MTS, will lead a discussion on caring for our neighbor.

March 21: Facilities and Administration

Jeff Long, architectural historian and Central member, will explore some of the historic uses of our buildings, while asking us to think about how we might continue to use our buildings for the ministry of the present day.   

March 28: Worship and Music (program in the Old Chapel) Director of Music Rebecca Kleintop Owens and Harpist Andrea Wittchen will lead an experience of contemplative worship with quiet and reflective music.

COLLEGE HILL

Lent Meets The TWILIGHT ZONE ?

Well, not quite. But College Hill’s 2012 Mid-week Lenten Series, Tales From the Madhouse, will be quite unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.

Set inside the crumbling walls of a dilapidated Victorian Sanatorium, in each week’s video presentation a different, mysterious character will reveal their secret story to the visiting camera. Each of the characters are linked by one unifying and crucial event in their lives: each of them has had an encounter with Jesus of Nazareth in some way-- an experience that has left an indelible mark. Each character brushed with Jesus in some way, but most missed the moment, and now they are haunted by the memory of what was… and what might have been.

Produced by the BBC, this series will open up your eyes to the Scriptures, the story of Jesus, and Easter week in a new and fascinating way.

Starting Wednesday, February 29^th, and each Lenten Wednesday until Holy Week, all are invited to gather in the College Hill Fellowship Hall at 6:30pm for a simple Soup and Bread meal (volunteers to provide meals are welcome!). The meal will be followed by Tales From the Madhouse at 7:00pm. Each week’s ‘Madhouse’ session stands on its own, so participants who cannot attend every week are still encouraged to attend when they are able. And of course, everyone is welcome to both the meal and the movie—why not bring a friend?

These are the programs of which we are aware. Why don’t you begin with us for worship on Ash Wednesday, the chose one, or maybe two, or even attend a different church every Wednesday evening until Holy Week. And then join us here at West Side in the celebration of Holy Week.

Sundays during Lent

percentage

A series to help us to grow as believers

of Jesus Christ and as members of

his Church

Living