STEP FORWARD IN FAITH
(January, 2010)
Happy New Year! May the supportive love of God be with you
always. I hope and pray that you will plan a closer relationship with God
throughout 2010 by making time for prayer, worship, devotional reading, and
quiet time in the presence of God. This kind of New Year’s resolution would be
a great step forward in faith.
You will most assuredly find joy in this kind of new
friendship with God throughout the year. You will also discover that you will
develop a kinder, gentler attitude toward others. God will be with you
throughout all that the new year brings, so there is no need to be anxious or
worried about anything. During your prayer times ask God for what you need with
a thankful heart. God’s peace will grow within you.
Step forward in faith during 2010 with a new commitment to
the ministries of Holy Trinity. Your parish family needs your faithful and
supportive presence at worship, educational events, in our ministries to the
poor, and with your financial gifts.
Our Family of Faith absolutely wants your help to continue
our Christian mission in the heart of Bethlehem. Make this the year that you
open yourself to the guidance of God’s spirit toward a responsible
participation in beloved Holy Trinity. God will bless you in surprising ways as
you step forward in faith.
Happy New Year,
Pastor Tom Lichner
What Stewardship is All About?
Stewardship is about more than money. But it is about money.
Your use of money and your other possessions are an important part of your
discipleship as followers of Jesus. The word “steward” comes from the
Anglo-Saxon term “sty warden,” the person who took care of the pig sty! The
term has evolved to describe anyone who is the keeper of another person’s
possessions. Steward describes your relationship with God the creator. It helps
you to see that God has “created me and all that exists” (Luther’s Small Catechism,
Apostles’ Creed, explanation of the First Article). And all that we are and all
that we have, come from God as blessing. It is your responsibility to take care
of and use wisely these blessings. They include your time, attention, physical
health, energy, talents, possessions, attitudes, relationships, and money. That
includes the sharing of your financial resources to support the ministry of the
church.
"I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I
know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any
and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going
hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him
who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11b-13)
******
Congregation Council Meeting
Monday, January 11, 7:00 PM
CARD SHOWER
Louis & Klovacs
Cleo Rohrbaugh
1217 Grenadier
Boulevard Moravian House/Apt. #1204
Bethlehem, PA 18018
737 Main Street/Bldg. 1
Bethlehem, PA 18018
Virginia Nonnemacher
Westminster Village/Room 314A
803 North Wahneta Street
Allentown, PA 18109
RECENTLY HOSPITALIZED
Helen Cool/Louis Klovacs/Joyce Wetzel
Property Committee Meeting
January 5th – 6:00 PM
NOTICE Annual Reports Due
Sunday, January 17, 2009
All committees and
organizations of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church are hereby notified to submit
annual reports to the Church office no later than Sunday, January 17, 2010, for
inclusion in the Annual Report of the Congregation.
Committee Nite
January 4th @6:30 PM
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
On behalf of Cadette
Troop 830, I would like to thank the members of Holy Trinity for allowing us to
participate in church services in November and December, 2009; and for
permitting us to sell homemade soaps, baked goods, and nut sale items before
and after the services. The girls who attended the November service enjoyed
being able to participate as Sara George’s guests in the Sunday School project.
We all walked away with a sense of family and love from the members of the
church. Again, thank you so much for supporting our troop in its efforts to
raise funds for our end-of-year trip and for encouraging the girls to be the
best that they can be …
Cathy Rimmer &
Val Sapirman (Troop Leaders)
2010 OFFERING ENVELOPES
Starting in January, 2010, Holy Trinity will be obtaining
our offering envelopes from a different company, Church Budget. As in the past
the envelopes will be mailed directly to each member. However, they will now be
sent quarterly, rather then bi-monthly as in the past. Thus, each packet will
contain the offering envelopes for three months.
Apartment Board Meeting
Tuesday, January 5TH , 7:00 PM
******
IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER …
Church Service Cancellations
If worship services need to be cancelled due to inclement
weather, you can consult the following television station or website to learn
if Holy Trinity’s services are cancelled:
WFMZ Channel 69/TV
Any delay or closing information will be
available at www.wfmz.com
at all times and on television only
when severe conditions warrant
OR
You can also call the Church office (610.865.2684) for a
recorded message from Pastor Lichner regarding cancellations.
******
DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS
The “Christ in Our Home-Light for Today” daily devotion
booklets are placed in the pew racks and literature stands for your use at home
and in your workplace. Please take one with you.
RED SCHEDULE BOOK
Please remember to schedule all church meetings in the RED
SCHEDULE BOOK.
For the sake of good communication and administration,
please reserve your time and space in the Red Schedule Book located in the
church office. This will also assure that your meeting will be advertised in
the weekly worship bulletin and the monthly newsletter. Phone the church office
Tuesday-Friday between 9:00 AM-2:00 PM to schedule your meetings.
The Mail Room will be open on Sunday mornings for you to
walk in and personally schedule a meeting in the Red Schedule Book. You will
find the book on the desk just inside the Mail Room the door.
Remember to include your name and telephone number when
reserving a meeting time and place in the Red Schedule Book and keep in mind
your request needs to be approved by Congregation Council at its monthly
meeting.
FLOWER/BULLETIN SPONSORS NEEDED
Sponsorships for altar flowers and weekly bulletins are
available for the following Sundays in January and February.
Altar – January 24
& 31
February 14
Bulletins – January
3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
February 7, 14, 24
& 31
REMEMBER: NO ALTAR FLOWERS DURING LENT
*** Please use a Sponsor Form in addition to signing the
chart to let us know how you want your gift acknowledged in the bulletin.
Simply fill out the form (attached to the flower chart) and drop it into the
mailbox on the church office door. (Flowers - $35.00/Bulletins - $20.00) Thank
you!
DEADLINE REMINDERS
Please be sure to
honor the
following deadlines
for the
Sunday bulletins and
monthly
newsletters:
FOR THE SUNDAY BULLETIN
We ask that all information be
submitted to the Church Office by
TUESDAY!
FOR THE NEWSLETTERS:
the 15TH of each month!
All Committee Reports must be
submitted to the Church Office by
10:00 AM of the FRIDAY prior to
the Congregation Council Meeting
(the first Friday of each month)
to be copied for Council members’
reading before their meeting!!
GO AND DO LIKEWISE
(Read Luke 10: 25-37)
High on a mountain in Peru, a community of farm families
gathered to dedicate a reservoir and irrigation system. The project illustrates
how the Lutheran church obeys Jesus’ teaching to “Go and do likewise.” Gifts to
the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and Lutheran World Relief provided the $7000
needed to build this system. Staff from local organizations offered expertise
and community members provided all of the labor.
The community’s school teacher spoke at the dedication,
saying, “I brought the children here today to see what their parents and so
many others are doing for their future.”
Along with Pastor Tom and Cheryl, you can help make these
kinds of projects possible. Won’t you join us in giving the cost of one loaf of
bread each week to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal by using the enclosed envelope
and envelopes in future newsletters.
God Bless You,
Pastor Tom and Cheryl
Lichner
Goodbye, old year
Old Year! Upon the Stage of Time
You stand to bow your last adieu;
A moment, and the prompter’s chime
Will ring the curtain down on you.
PASTOR ON VACATION
January 9-16, 2010
On-call for Pastor Emergencies:
Pastor Paul Braden
Salem Lutheran Church
610.866.8019 (O)/610.253-9055 (H)
Welcome Rev. Jim Henderschedt as
Guest Preacher – January 10
UPDATE ON MALARIA NETS APPEALA heartfelt thank-you to all who contributed to the Nets for
Malaria “noisy offering” appeal. To date, we have collected $340.09!!!! The
Women of the ELCA will continue to collect money for nets through the month of
May, 2010. The “noisy offering can” will appear in church the first Sunday of
January, February, March, April, and May for anyone who would like to continue
contributing. Again, many, many thanks to all.
CROP WALK UPDATE
Word has been received from Matt Piszel, CropWalk
Coordinator, that donations have passed $22,000.00, with a few more churches
still needing to report their final contribution figures. Matt thanks everyone
who worked so hard to make this event such a success. For photos and additional
information, log on to www.bethlehemareacropwalk.blogspot.com.
Congregation Council Meeting
December 14, 2009
The regular meeting of the HTLC Council was called to order
at 7:00 PM by Vice President Eileen Muschlitz. Pastor led devotions in the
Martin Luther Room
Courtesy of the Floor - Ed Cool led a discussion concerning
ELCA recommended changes in the HTLC constitution. Along with the recommended
changes, Lowell requested a change in C13.03 as follows: One of the members of
the Audit Committee may be a Council member. The recommended changes with the
Audit Committee change was passed. Please read the full changes in this
newsletter.
Treasurer’s Report - A motion to pay December bills was
passed. With the anticipated rise in 2010 electric bills, Lowell requested input
as to possible changes in our electric company provider.
The Audit Committee will meet Jan. 23rd to audit the ‘08 and
‘09 books.
President’s Report - The following were elected to be
Council officers for 2010: Ron Harmony, President, Eileen Muschlitz, VP. Rick
Miller, Sec., Sandy Beidler, Financial Sec., and Lowell Tomlinson, Treasurer.
Thank you letters were received from Victory House, Bear Creek, the Municipal
Band, and the Crop Walk. There will be a Bethlehem-Easton Mission District
Workshop in February for leadership training.
Pastor’s Report - Pastor is collating information regarding
the volunteers for the emergency housing of the Homeless at HTLC on Tuesday
evenings beginning Jan. 1. The Joint Venture Task Force will provide updates
for the congregation at worship on Jan. 17th.
Committee Reports - All committee reports were accepted as
presented. There was need to purchase a new motor for the furnace this past
week. It was noted that the furnace is very old and parts, if available, are
very difficult to obtain. The Stewardship Committee will show a 10 minute video
at the February Congregation Meeting. It is part of the 2010 response program.
The Worship and Music Committee are looking into the possibility of having only
one service beginning sometime in 2010. The Christian Ed Committee will
investigate the impact of one service with our Sunday School program. Members
are encouraged to visit the Holy Trinity website. All weekly announcements and
the monthly newsletter are posted there.
New Business - The Financial secretary presented a list of
people who needed to be removed from the HTLC rolls. Council approved the
removal.
The meeting adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Ebeling, Sec. |