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.”
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.”
Do you think God, or the early Moravians, would
mind if I chose my own watchword for 2012?
Before you decide, let me tell you what I think it
would be. It’s Ezekiel 20:14a. In the Message Bible it reads: “But I thought
better of it and acted out of who I was, not by how I felt.”
God is angry and wants to get back at the
Israelites and he pauses to consider the implications of his acting out of
anger and decides that it could give him a bad reputation among those watching.
I often hear people say,
“Why go to church it’s just filled with a bunch of hypocrites.” Even some West Siders have said to me, “These
aren’t God’s people all they do is stab you in the back.”
Is it possible for us to act out of who we
are? The liturgy for Advent 2 says, “We
are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people” in
order to show the world God’s mighty deeds.
Yes, this year these words, “I acted out of who I
was, not by how I felt”, will guide my actions.
And I give you permission to remind of this when you see me acting
otherwise.
Have a glorious New Year, you are blessed be a
blessing.
With the love of God,
Marge
P.S. This year I might
have 2 Watchwords. I am enough of a
traditionalist to want to choose one as part of the congregation on January
8. I don’t think there are any rules
about having too
Coming in Lent
A series to help us to
grow as believers
of Jesus Christ and as
members of his Church
Church Council
Church
Council will be held Sunday, February 5 following worship. Reports should be sent to church office no
later than Monday, January 9. Please drop off your report in the church
office or email to mail@westsidemoravian.org.
Information
Update
We are updating
membership information. Please let us
know if your address or phone number has changed or if your birthday or
anniversary has been missing from the Advance
listing, so we can change/update the information in our membership
records. Please leave a message with the
church office at 610-865-0256, or email us at mail@westsidemoravian.org.
Page 2
Those Who Are Serving
|
Sunday |
Flowers Given by |
Counters |
Sacristans |
Liturgist |
Fellowship |
|
1-1-12 |
Available
|
Shirley Leh Phil Pinkerton |
Ralph Wanamaker, Jr. Don Richards Curly Wiles |
Jonice Nerino |
Christian Education
Committee |
|
1-8-12 |
Available
|
Phil Pinkerton Bill Hassler |
Greg Clugston Mike Palmer Fred Kline |
Pastor |
|
|
1-15-12 |
Available
|
Shirley Leh Mary Holland |
Don DeWalt Doug Yochum Sam Velez |
Audrey Wanamaker |
Betty Lou Hall Eleanor DeWalt |
|
1-22-12 |
Available
|
Shirley Leh Terry & Jim Kleintop |
Ralph Wanamaker, Jr. Don Richards Curly Wiles |
Mike Palmer |
|
|
1-29-12 |
Available
|
Phil Pinkerton Bill Hassler |
Greg Clugston Mike Palmer Fred Kline |
Peter Collier |
|
12/5 12/12 12/19 12/26
48 62 70 36
12/4 12/11 12/18 12/25
81 75 88 32
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.
The West Bethlehem Emergency Food Pantry
is located at and sponsored by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (514 3rd
Ave.). Volunteers for this worthy ministry are always welcome. Please call 610-865-2684 and leave your name
and phone number for more details on how you can help.
Called Home to the Lord
George W. Yochum was
received into the more immediate presence of our Savior on December 19,
2011. Please hold George’s family in
your prayers at this difficult time.
Senior Friends
Please
come to a time of fellowship and uplifting entertainment Thursday,
January 5 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. This month’s program will be “An Afternoon at
the Movies,” with the uplifting movie, “Simon Birch,” about a boy who is
different. 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.”
Thank You!!
Thank you from Turning Point:
Thank you for your help and
support. It means a lot to us and to the
women and families that we assist.
Merry Christmas,
Turning Point
A special thank you to everyone who chose a tag from the tree in the
sanctuary and purchased a gift for Turning Point.
Page 3
MORAVIAN WOMEN
Meeting
Schedule for January:
Moravian
Women’s Executive Board – Monday,
January 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Kathy Gramley Circle – Monday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Provincial
Women’s Assessment
The amount given in envelopes for provincial
assessment was $157, and $18 was added from Moravian Women’s treasury, making a
total of $175. This was given to the
church toward the assessment.
Election Day
Bake Sale
We sold out of baked goods
during the Election Day bake sale.
Proceeds were $281.50. Thank you
to everyone who baked, helped with the sale or
volunteered as a host or hostess.
Cookie,
Candy and Craft Sale
Our Christmas sales were
very profitable this year. We want to
thank the cookie bakers, candy makers, those who made and donated items to sell
and also everyone who purchased items.
These sales made the
following gifts possible:
$400 to our church
$178 to Samaritans Purse for the purchase of (1) goat,
(1) sheep and chickens
Thank you to those who helped to make
the Christmas season at
West Side very special:
Ø The Sacristans, who decorated the
candles and the church during the holidays
Ø Those who helped with Trim-a-Tree
during December’s Fellowship Time
Ø Those who helped with the luminaries
Ø The Christmas carolers, who shared
Christmas carols with our church neighbors
Ø The children and teachers who
participated in the Sunday School Program and those who helped with the
Christmas Turkey Dinner
Ø Women’s Fellowship, who made shut-in
gift bags, and those who delivered them to the shut-ins
Ø Members who donated gifts for Turning
Point and Karen Palmer, who delivered them to the organization
Ø Jane MacDonald for organizing and directing the Senior
Friends VBS program
Ø 
Jonice Nerino and all those who have
helped in various ways with the homeless sheltering program
$$ Financial Matters $$
As of December 19, 2011 we owe only
$2,252.33 on our 2011 Provincial Assessments.
We should be able to complete our
payment by December 31, 2011.
The Board of Trustees gratefully
thanks everyone.
Paid thru December 19:
Provincial Common Ministries
Monthly YTD
$1,508.17
$16,589.87
Still owe:
$1,508.21
Medical & Retirement Benefits
Monthly YTD
$1,569.08
$17,259.88
Still owe:
$744.12
District
Assessments are paid up to date.
District Common Ministries
Monthly YTD
$0.00 (completely paid)
$5,655.65
All current operating bills are paid to
date!
The December Noisy Offering of $91.60 went to the Sheltering
Project for Christmas gifts for the women.
Laugh a Little:
As he went out to play,
Aaron had this thought:
“Poor Jesus probably never got invited to play
hide-and-seek because he always knew where everyone was hiding.”
Page 4
Christmas
at West Side
