Don’t Forget About our Website (1) www.grovechurch.org Pastor’s Message “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” Luke 19:38 “Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!” Charles Wesley hymn Palm Sunday at many churches begins with a joyous procession of children and youth waving palm branches and singing “Hosanna!” It is an exciting event as even the people in the pews are encouraged to wave their palms and join in the exuberance of the day. A week later, on Easter Sunday, we are again in a celebratory mood, excitedly proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But in-between there is a valley of pain and suffering to be traversed. When we jump from one mountain top to another, the experience of Easter loses some its power. We can’t fully comprehend what Easter means to us until we have shared, at least vicariously, in the despair and grief of Good Friday. Too often, Holy Week is just a school vacation or a time to buy Easter clothes. I invite you to make it more meaningful this year by committing to a discipline of discipleship. Make a commitment to be in worship at one or more of the mid-week services – Maundy Thursday communion, Good Friday Noon or evening Tenebrae, and Saturday’s Jazz Vigil. Bring greater meaning to your celebration of Easter by experiencing the valley between the mountaintop experiences of Palm Sunday and Easter. Perhaps you will want to join me in an act of sacrifice by fasting from midnight Thursday night until the Easter vigil. If medical issues prevent you from ~ Page 2 — Safe Sanctuary Re-Training ~ Page 3 — Ministry Celebrations ~ Page 5 — Annual Mini-Golf Fundraiser ~ Page 7 — Holy Week Schedule ~ Page 9 — District Conference ~ Page 10 — Financial News ~ Page 11 — Calendar of Events ...and much more In This Issue... giving up food for those 40 hours, consider what else you might sacrifice: TV, coffee, electronic devices. It is through our identification with the suffering of Christ and the grief of the disciples that we better understand the extraordinary joy and wonder of Easter morning. And time spent in prayer always brings us closer to God. Maybe you will want to set a schedule of regular prayer during these three days. I hope you will take advantage of the many ways Grove offers to remember the enormous sacrifice of Jesus for us, and to celebrate what God has done through Jesus Christ. Happy Easter.
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April 2015
Don’t Forget About our Website (1) www.grovechurch.org
The Grove Newsletter
Pastor’s Message
“Blessed is the king who
comes in the name of the
Lord! Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest
heaven!”
Luke 19:38
“Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!”
Charles Wesley hymn
Palm Sunday at many churches begins with a
joyous procession of children and youth waving palm
branches and singing “Hosanna!” It is an exciting
event as even the people in the pews are encouraged
to wave their palms and join in the exuberance of the
day. A week later, on Easter Sunday, we are again in
a celebratory mood, excitedly proclaiming the
resurrection of Jesus Christ. But in-between there is
a valley of pain and suffering to be traversed. When
we jump from one mountain top to another, the
experience of Easter loses some its power. We can’t
fully comprehend what Easter means to us until we
have shared, at least vicariously, in the despair and
grief of Good Friday.
Too often, Holy Week is just a school
vacation or a time to buy Easter clothes. I invite you
to make it more meaningful this year by committing
to a discipline of discipleship. Make a commitment
to be in worship at one or more of the mid-week
services – Maundy Thursday communion, Good
Friday Noon or evening Tenebrae, and Saturday’s
Jazz Vigil. Bring greater meaning to your celebration
of Easter by experiencing the valley between the
mountaintop experiences of Palm Sunday and Easter.
Perhaps you will want to join me in an act of sacrifice
by fasting from midnight Thursday night until the
Easter vigil. If medical issues prevent you from
~ Page 2 — Safe Sanctuary Re-Training
~ Page 3 — Ministry Celebrations
~ Page 5 — Annual Mini-Golf Fundraiser
~ Page 7 — Holy Week Schedule
~ Page 9 — District Conference
~ Page 10 — Financial News
~ Page 11 — Calendar of Events
...and much more
In This Issue...
giving up food for those 40 hours, consider what
else you might sacrifice: TV, coffee, electronic
devices. It is through our identification with the
suffering of Christ and the grief of the disciples that
we better understand the extraordinary joy and
wonder of Easter morning. And time spent in prayer
always brings us closer to God. Maybe you will
want to set a schedule of regular prayer during these
three days.
I hope you will take advantage of the many
ways Grove offers to remember the enormous
sacrifice of Jesus for us, and to celebrate what God
has done through Jesus Christ. Happy Easter. United Methodist Men
April 2015
Don’t Forget About our Website (2) www.grovechurch.org
The Grove Newsletter
Don’t Forget About our Website (2)
Grove United Methodist Church’s
Upcoming Events
Prayer Shawl Information
Mark your calendars! ALL volunteers and staff
members who work with our children and youth at
Grove are required to attend a one hour Safe
Sanctuary "Re-training" on Saturday morning, April
18th at 10:00 am in Asbury Hall. The session will be
conducted by John Lafferty, the Vice Chairman of the
EPA Conference Safe Sanctuary Committee, and will
cover the new PA law changes concerning
individuals who work with children and youth. Please
plan on attending this important meeting.
Safe Sanctuary Re-Training
Because of Holy Week, our Prayer Shawl Meeting will be changed to Wednesday, April 8 from 1:00 to 2:30
p.m. in Z Lounge.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry is a vital part of our church. Many shawls have been sent to people in the
community. They are a comfort to those who receive them. We have a small dedicated group of knitters and
are willing to help you learn to knit or crochet. Prayer shawl ministry needs your help. Even if you do not knit
or crochet, you could be a part of this ministry.
We could use your help in many ways. COULD YOU?
make the tags that go on the finished shawls and squares
write articles for the newsletters, website, or Facebook
organize the yarn closet
make copies of the directions for making prayer shawls, prayer squares, and baptismal shawls
set up the sign up area such as who needs shawls, with ways to request them, who wants to make them
or who would like to be part of the group
take yarn to people who would like to work at home, but might not be able to come to get it
pick up those shawls or that person who would like to attend a prayer shawl meeting
write a brochure that explains the ministry
deliver prayer shawls to those who need them
make an inventory of the shawls with pictures
set up a directory of where the shawls go
These are non-knitting needs that a co-chair could help with. This would free up time to help others learn. If
you could help in any of these ways, leave a note at the sign-up table.
Visitors to Grove are invited to a Pastor's Coffee on
Sunday, April 26, at 4 PM in Z Lounge. Come learn
about Grove, its mission, it's ministries and
opportunities for living out your faith at Grove
Church.
Pastor’s Coffee
April 2015
Don’t Forget About our Website (3) www.grovechurch.org
The Grove Newsletter
Many Ministries to Celebrate
We continue to have this column to notice and celebrate the many ways people within our congregation are in
ministry:
The team that initiated, researched and now implement the Community Dinners.....Carol Moore, Jill Baldwin,
Judy Wadsworth and Brenda Lewis.
Jim Barcio, who came over to Grove at 6AM on an icy Sunday morning in February to check whether we had
electricity and to help determine whether worship should be cancelled (that was the Sunday that the 8:00 AM
service was cancelled).
Shawn Bergman and Jon Baker, who hung banners on our building during the cold winter!
The youth ministry team, consisting of amazing, devoted and creative volunteers who pour their time and love
into our student ministry at Grove. When you see them, be sure to thank Becky Aaker, Mike Hardie, Jeff Pop-
yack, Jim Barcio, and Lori Plunkett for all they have done and continue to do to make Grove's youth know
they have a second home.
Syd Raihall, and her helper Teri Goslin, who faithfully coordinate the Grove Prayer Chain, and distribute
prayer requests to those on the prayer chain email list.
Linda Schneider and Cindy George, who coordinate the Stop Hunger Now event, and who organize fundrais-
ers year round to support this event.
Penny Arndt and Joan Cross, who take care of the Paraments in the Sanctuary. That is, they change the altar
cloths with the season, and polish the brass.
Linda Seybold and Carol Moore, who coordinate the Home Communion program. When we celebrate com-
munion at Grove during worship, Linda organizes the team who goes out to our home bound members to take
communion to them. Carol prepares the kits with the bread and grape juice in travel containers. Look for those
kits on the altar next time we have communion - they are blessed along with the bread and wine we use during
the service.
Sandy Murray and Joan Cross, who are our church Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, handling all our reim-
bursement checks and paying the bills for Grove.
Brenda Lewis, who recruits and schedules our Greeters for all of our worship services.
Congratulations to Matt Popyack on making Regional Chorus!
Congratulations to Scott Byerly and Michael Shoremount and the students of Rustin for a great production of
“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
Congratulations to Matthew Hontz who will participate in the Region Orchestra On March 14 as well as the
All State Wind Ensemble in Hershey on March 28 and All Eastern Band in Rhode Island on April 9-12.
Congratulations to Bron Yocum on receiving her Doctorate of Ministry degree from Drew University.
April 2015
Don’t Forget About our Website (4) www.grovechurch.org
The Grove Newsletter
More About the Gilmores
It's not too late to start! You can come into this program at any time. Sessions
are designed on individual topics. It hurts to lose someone...get help
at GriefShare at Grove – A Grief Recovery Ministry for adults (18+) who have
lost a loved one due to death. Find encouragement and practical help as we
consider the following topics: Is This Normal?, Challenges of Grief, The Journey
of Grief – Part 1, The Journey of Grief – Part 2, Grief & Your Relationships, Why?, Guilt & Anger,
Complicating Factors, Stuck, Lessons of Grief – Part 1, Lessons of Grief – Part 2, Heaven, and What Do I Live
For Now? GriefShare meets on Wednesday nights from 7:00 - 8:30. (no meeting April 1) Persons from the
church and the community are welcome. The registration fee of $20 covers the cost of the workbook and
materials. Scholarships are available. Free child care is provided. Registration is requested. Sign up &
regi s t ra t i on fo rm s a re a t t h e e l eva to r l obb y t ab l e o r wi th Rev . Lin