Western Pennsylvania District Highlights D istr ict H ...

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D istr ict H ighlights

September 2015 Vol. 15 No. 7

STAFF: Ronald D. Beachley

Tina S. Lehman Abby R. Shaffer Carole J. Horner

CONTACT: 115 Spring Rd. Hollsopple, PA 15935 814-479-7058 814-479-2181 814 479-2506 fax

WEBSITE:

OFFICE HOURS: Monday ~ Friday 8:00 a.m. ~ 4:00 p.m. Staff meeting each Monday, 8:00 a.m.

Please send all Highlights information to the District Office by

the 10th.

NOTES OF INTEREST...

I'm beginning to write this article just having finished my District Conference Report. Thinking that now that my conference report was finished I could turn my attention to some other items needing consideration. Wrong. It was now time to create an article for the Highlights. Struggling to think of what to share, I decided to emphasize some current and upcoming items of interest for pastors and congregations.

The first item deals with the Ordination Review for pastors. Many pastors have completed the process, but a few need to get their material in and encourage congregation leadership to do likewise. The second item to note is a continuing education event for pastors. A workshop entitled, "Ministry Essentials" will be held on Saturday, September 26, at the Maple Spring Church, from 9 till 2:30. Pastors will earn .5 CEU credits if attending this workshop. A third noteworthy event is excitement centered in the Resource & Development Team as they plan a pastoral leadership event focusing on the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. This spiritual renewal teaching event will be a time to sing, praise, and learn together about the power centered in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The event will be held at Camp Harmony the weekend of May 7, 2016. It's a joy and blessing to see persons who are planning this event become excited and looking forward to their next meeting.

Dale Galloway suggests that "if you want the Holy Spirit to communicate a vision to your spirit; then get away on a spiritual retreat, perhaps with other friends or fellow leaders. Seek God in prayer and in the Word until the Holy Spirit shows your inner spirit God's will, vision and dream for his church." When we seek God in prayer, He does provide direction and resources to meet our spiritual and physical needs. My prayer is that as individuals and faith communities we will gather next spring and be blest as the believers were on that first day of Pentecost!

One additional time for fellowship and sharing is the Heritage Festival at Camp Harmony on September 19, beginning at 9:00 am. For more information see the flier elsewhere in this issue of the Highlights. If you enjoy food, music, and fellowship you will not want to miss this day at Camp Harmony. Did I mention there is a basket auction? This is always a fun experience for all who participate.

Finally, I want to share an item which I believe is important and often has hindered the ministry and vitality of the local faith community. Congregations talk about renewal and reaching others for Christ and it doesn't happen automatically. Often people visit a local congregation and they do not feel welcome because we are not friendly to new persons or families. We, and I include myself, need to welcome new persons when they visit our church. Recently, a number of persons have indicated they would not be going back to a particular congregation because only three people said hello, and no one invited them to come back. Our attitudes and actions must be reviewed, "if," and that is a huge word, we expect new persons come and join us in worship. A closing thought to ponder, "Do my words and actions present a positive attitude and witness to a new person or family visiting for the Sunday morning worship experience?"

RDB

September 2015

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Western Pennsylvania District Highlights

District Office News

CONGRATULATIONS

LEADERSHIP

James Braunns - Licensed, Conemaugh 8/16/15

Stan Pisarski - Licensed, Conemaugh 8/16/15

Gary Green - Ordained, Hostetler 8/16/15

Craig Breegle- Called to serve as Part-Time Pastor, Rockwood 6/14/15

Lisa Fike- Called to serve as Full-Time Pastor, Greensburg 8/16/15

Vince Cable - Retired as Pastor, Uniontown 8/31/15

To Pastor Lee Smith (Mount Joy COB) and Laura Keslar who were married on August 8, 2015

SYMPATHY

To the family of Fred Baer who passed away in June.

DISTRICT DIRECTORY UPDATES

If you would like a paper copy or a CD, please contact the District Office at 814 479-2181 or email Tina Lehman at tlehman@.

HOSPITALIZED

Gerald Deffenbaugh, recovering after heart surgery

James "Ed" Houghton, recovering after double pneumonia

Shelby McCoy, recovering after stent procedure

Bettie Crable, wife of David Crable, recovering after falling and breaking her ankle

Homer Foster, recovering at home after brief hospital stay

NEW MEMBERS

Hostetler Congregation Helen Bowman Phyllis Bowman Gene & Carolyn Coughenour Naomi Sipple Mark & Myla Yoder Wes Canton Bill Schultz

Windber Congregation Amanda Wade Jason Hintosh Frank & Tammy Zeglin Lisa Zeglin

Corrections and additions will be noted in the District HIGHLIGHTS as they are received. Please note the following updates:

Page 30: Please send mail for Hyndman COB to c/o Linda Miller, 156 Pine Street, PO Box 15, Hyndman, PA 15545-0015

NEED YOUR HELP

If your congregation has or will produce a new directory in 2015, please drop off or send a copy to the District Office, 115 Spring Road, Hollsopple, 15935. It is very helpful to the District Office staff to have updated information from all the churches we serve.

Thank you!

October 2015 Highlights Deadline

September 10, 2015

Please send all Highlights information to the District Office

for the June issue.

September 2015

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Western Pennsylvania District Highlights

AbbsTract

September 2015

Mugs. We've all got them. Most of us have too many of them. It's a perennial problem at my parents' house. Too many mugs. The cupboard door doesn't close right, so the pretty ones get moved to a shelf. Maybe some of the ugly ones get moved to another cupboard, or perhaps to the yard sale box. The Goodwill store is loaded with them. We have big mugs and small mugs and standard-size mugs. There are the 8 or 12 mugs that came with your china. At least one has a broken handle. Then, there are the mugs that came with your every-day dinnerware. But those are boring, because they match the plates. We have funny mugs and serious ones, souvenirs and the ones you got for being a volunteer. Some mugs have a calendar on them ? they're only good for that year. Some have witty sayings or dirty sayings or inside-jokefrom-that-one-movie sayings. The Internet lets you buy mugs. Fine and dainty; thick and hefty. Mugs with the Central Perk logo. And Snoopy and cherry blossoms and International Harvester. And mugs with lizards or daffodils or Obama ("I like my president like my coffee: black and strong"). You can even buy a mug with Jake and Elwood Blues on it. The Internet also allows you to design your own custom mugs ? with photos, logos, monograms ? and you can purchase them in bulk, if you'd like. You can advertise your business, commemorate your family reunion, create a wedding favor, or remind people of your continuing battle against cancer. Fiesta ware mugs are collectible, as are Starbucks mugs and mugs from vintage TV shows. Anything Elvis or Star Wars or The Beatles is desirable; and mugs are no exception. I looked at my little assemblage of mugs today. There's a white one with green and brown squares ? it came in a hot cocoa gift set. There's a white one with pink flowers and blue specks that was a birthday gift from my college roommate, Katie. (It came with a Mylar balloon tied to it ? a deer balloon, because Wal-Mart didn't have any that said Happy Birthday.)

There's the "Keep Calm and Sparkle On" glittery mug from Tina, the colorful "I'm Awesome!" mug from Suzie, the white tulips mug with a verse about encouragement from Marcie. My Grove City College mug (I needed something to show for those four years), and a giant Ford Mustang mug I couldn't pass up. And the snowy mug on which the one little penguin looks comically distressed. There are so many others, packed away until I have a kitchen with more cupboards. And I do this odd thing where I choose a mug that suits my mood. If I'm going to have tea on a rainy afternoon, I'll use this one. If it's a busy morning,

that one. If I've had a bad day and I need a soothing cup of cocoa, it's this mug for sure. If I'm typing an endless article about mugs... you get the idea. Here's the crazy part: a mug has one job. It holds your beverage. That's it. That's what they do. They hold your beverage while you drink it. Then you drink it, and wash the mug and put it back until the next time. Simple. You and I are a bit like those mugs. We all look different. We're all shapes and sizes and colors and themes. Some of us are chipped and stained. We stand alone or come as part of a set. We're wacky or lovely or funny or ironic. We all have different messages. But those of us who are in Christ have one job: to be filled with God's Holy Spirit. To enter into a cycle of continuous filling and pouring out. God's love, God's grace, God's glorious hope. He fills us, we pour into others, He fills us again. Over and over. "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." -Galatians 6:9 NLT

Abby

September 2015

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Western Pennsylvania District Highlights

Local Church/District News

Save the Date

LOOKING AHEAD WITH JOY! SPREAD THE WORD!

"A Heavenly Harvest Hoedown"!!

September 19 ? 6:30 P M -8:00 P M

10th Annual Western Pennsylvania Church of the Brethren

District Auction

None of us wants to see the summertime fly by too quickly; but, we wanted to give you a thumbnail sketch of an event taking place on September 19 at the Geiger Church of the Brethren . We're calling it a "Heavenly Harvest Hoedown" and it's bound to be lots of fun. We'll be inviting the public to join us (much the same as we did last August) to meet in the church grove for some entertainment and refreshment. Once again we'll be treated to the music of "Cloud of Grace" and this time we'll all be dressing in country and western garb. We'll roast weenies and make s'mores. But that's not all...

This year we're planning a Petting Zoo and some of our youth are getting into it bigtime. A "corn box" will also be available for the little ones to have some fun. If you're not sure what that is... COME AND SEE. The time will be 6:30 till 8:00 and EVERYBODY is invited. Produce and canned goods will be collected for the Somerset Food Pantry.

Contact Pastor John and Pastor Linda Stoner at

814-444-8800 or E-Mail: jnljaunts@

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2015

9 AM

Camp Harmony 1414 Plank Road, Hooversville, PA 15936

Churches are invited to collect and contribute new or antique items for the auction in support of the ministries of the Western PA District.

TWO Saturday drop-off dates are scheduled to bring items to Camp Harmony. The dates are October 17, following District Conference, October 24, and October 31 from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon both days.

Breakfast at 7:30 am to 8:45 am

Lunch served

Fresh baked pies

Items can be previewed after 7 am

For more information see your congregation's Auction Advocate or call the District Office.

10% OF THE DISTRICT AUCTION PROFITS WILL GO TO THE NIGERIAN CRISIS FUND

September 2015

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Western Pennsylvania District Highlights

Local Church/District News

District Conference

October 17, 2015

at 9 am

Camp Harmony

Brethren Disaster Ministries needs your help. If you are interested in being a

part of future mission trips please contact Herb Ewald for more information

at 814-539-8530 or hjewald@

Other than the day trips to New Windsor all week long trips will be announced as the information becomes available.

THANK YOU

Day Trips Sept. 3, 2015 Sept. 15, 2015 Nov. 5, 2015 Nov. 17, 2015

Week Trips Oct. 4-10, 2015 Dec. 6-12, 2015

District Women's Ministries 2015 Loved Beyond Measure

"For God so loved the world...." John 3:16

Coming Events

October 8 - Home Day at the Pettikoffer House at the Church of the Brethren Home

The DWM Cabinet hopes to provide programs that will interest all of the women in the district. Please contact one of our cabinet members with

any suggestions you may have.

Events at the Penn Run Christian Outreach Center

(located directly across the street from the church)

PA Dutch Buffets - Saturday, October 3, 2015 from 4 pm - 7 pm

Quilt retreat - Saturday, October 10, 2015 from 8 am - 8 pm Call the church office at 724-463-0420 for more information

Scrapbook Retreat - Saturday, October 17, 2015, 8 am - 8 pm Call 724-840-2704 for more information

Holiday Home and Craft Show Saturday, November 14, 2015 from 10 am - 2 pm

crafters, home party vendors, silent auction - pie auction at noon - homemade soup & lunch items

Start your Christmas Shopping with us!

The Outreach & Service Team is looking for people

to represent Heifer International and Heritage and Peace

Focus.

If you are interested and feel called to

service, please contact Pastor Bill Wenger

at 814-539-7807 or pastormcob@.

September 2015

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