faith worksfaith church’s penguin packs program at park forest elementary school (pfe) has ....

Faith United Church of Christ State College, PA 16801 814.237.3904 Worship: 10:45 amAn Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ

Works!FaithApril 2015

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

IN THIS ISSUE...Pastor’s Letter ............................ 2Consistory Corner .................... 3Penguin Packs ........................... 4Caring Network ........................ 5Stewardship ............................... 6Outreach and Service ............... 7Faith Happenings ..................... 8Faith in Photos .................... 9-10Church School Blog ............... 11Community Events................. 12Prayer Requests ....................... 12April Birthdays, Anniversaries and Volunteers ........................ 13

Photo: Members of the Chancel Choir sing during the March 8th worship service, recognizing Jacki Hunt’s 34 years of music ministry at Faith.

FaithWorks April 2015

We will celebrate the resurrection in a glorious Easter Worship Service! Signs of resurrection are already emerging around us. Have you seen them?

The children and youth will have fun participating in Easter Egg Hunt at 12:15pm following the worship service. Kimbr and members of EGMT will coordinate the activities and thanks to all the parents who will also assist. In an ongoing celebration of the power of the resurrection, we are excited about our church’s participation in the following:

1. Identifying a new Church School Coordinator to provide leadership for the faith formation for our children and youth 2. Discerning a new/renewed model for the Music Ministry and leadership for the vision that emerges 3. Forging and strengthening a spirit of unity, inclusivity (OnA) and diversity in our congregation

Hope is still alive in our church and calls to us! Listen to our Still Speaking God.

Resurrection Blessings...Pastor Monica

p.s. remember to hit the “like” button to join our new Facebook page … we’re up to 279 likes!

FROM OUR PASTOR

Dear Friends,

During Palm/Passion Sunday, we lifted high the Hosannas, while the children’s choir lifted up their voices in song and joined in the procession. Through storytelling, visuals and hymns, the Markan account of the biblical message was re-told.

The Good Friday service will be a community service graciously hosted at Grace Lutheran Church on April 3rd with six other churches participating. Our church will have the 3rd Word (12:55-1:20pm) and the Chancel Choir will provide an anthem. I encourage you to stay for as much of the service as you can (12 noon – 3pm). It is usually a very moving and somber reflection on the suffering and grace that emanates from the cross of Jesus Christ.


CONSISTORY CORNER

This spring is a busy time for the Consistory and its committees. The business of recent meetings included the following:

• TheChurch School Coordinator Search Committee has worked to develop a job description for the position and posted the opening in appropriate sites. The deadline to submit applications was March 18, and the committee is moving forward with the selection process.

• TheMusic Ministry Task Force has been formed with Larry Bair, Barbara Chellman, Richard Meyer, Clovis Morrisson and Lendi Stirewalt serving as members. Their charge is to consider the nature of Faith’s Music Program going forward and to develop a recommendation to Consistory.

• Throughoutthebudgetyearthereisaneedforspecial fundraising activities. The Consistory will continue on-going discussions of this matter. Jim Coder will serve as a fundraising coordinator to optimize the potential of fund-raising activities and to enhance coordinated planning among various projects.


Faith Church’s Penguin Packs Program at Park Forest Elementary School (PFE) has proceeded smoothly and successfully during the 2014-15 academic year. Each Friday, the program has provided bags of nonperishable food for students to take home to feed 15-20 families over the weekend. We have gratefully received several grants from community organizations and generous donations from our Faith Church family. A hearty “thank you” for this vital financial support and for the dedicated efforts of our Faith Church volunteers.

We are excited to report that this spring, we will be expanding the program on a pilot basis for the months of April and May. Earlier this year, Cindy Reed, PPP Coordinator, was contacted by administrators of the Northwestern Human Services (NHS) School of State College for Autistic Students. The administrators had heard of the PPP and were eager to determine if the NHS could participate. Following discussions of the parameters of this expansion and communications with the NHS regarding logistics, it was decided to move forward with the expansion on a pilot basis for the last two months of this academic year. A letter to parents of NHS students inquiring if they are interested in participating in the PPP went home in mid-March, and we should know how many families will opt in by early in April.

In other news, to assess and improve the PPP, surveys are being developed to solicit feedback from PFE families who have participated in the program thus far, PFE staff and teachers (we have been so grateful for their help!), and PPP volunteers. The information received will enable us to put improvements in place for next fall. One change we are considering is to streamline the scheduling of volunteers and volunteer activities once we have received input from those volunteers who complete the survey.

We will keep you updated regularly of our progress. In the meantime, come join us for a bit of fellowship time and community outreach by volunteering to help!

Consider donating about an hour of time (bring your friends!) to:

• meettheCentralPAFoodBankdeliverytruckatFaithChurchonthefirstand/ or third Mondays of the month and bring the boxes of supplies up to the third floor for storing. (2 volunteer task)

• packthebackpacks;AsendorfHallonWednesdaysat12:00noonoraweekday evening to be announced (4 volunteer task)

• transportanddeliverthebackpacks(loadedinbins)toPFEonFridaymornings. (2 volunteer task) You can volunteer one day at a time by initially contacting Nancy or Jim as follows:

Nancy de Streel [email protected], 814-422-0636 or Jim Welsh [email protected], 814-867-7100

Once your name has been added to the list, you will be able to go to the sign-up webpage directly to see what sign-ups are needed and volunteer as you wish.

Happy Spring to you!

Virginia Biber, Penguin Packs Volunteer

PENGUIN PACKSPENGUIN PACKS PROGRAM (PPP) EXPANDING


CARING NETWORK

Where I live at Foxdale Village, a life-care community, we have a system called Well-Check. Each resident is expected to push the black button on the emergency call device in their cottage or apartment every morning between 5:00 and 10:00 to notify central that we are up and around and okay.

Here, at Faith Church, we have a somewhat similar way of monitoring the “health” of our members. Our Caring Network has some ten volunteers who, with the pastor, look after the well-being-- needs, joys, sorrows, health of all our members in the ten geographical areas of their residence.

The Caring Network is our way of tending to God’s people gathered in this congregation. We love, we care, we serve-- you and every one of us.

Submitted by Ernie Hawk


Thank you for your gifts and generosity…

Time. Treasure. Talent.Stewardship

MARCH 2015 MONTHLY OFFERINGS: BUDGET VS. ACTUAL

March 2015 Total received = $ 16752 Total budgeted = $ 13204 Budget to actual difference = $ + 3548 Our fiscal year is January 1 to December 31, 2015

April Special Offering – FAITH UCC CHURCH SCHOOLAs a congregation, we are committed to keeping our children safe. We are in the process of updating our Safe Church policy to reflect recent changes in the Pennsylvania Child Protection Laws.

The new laws have significant increase in cost to complete required background checks, which extend to a wider range of volunteers and staff. Current cost per person is $48 (versus $10-20 previously). Please consider a dona-tion to help us offset the costs to keep our children safe.

Make checks payable to: Faith UCC (with “Safe Church” noted in memo section). Thank you!


We are really pleased with the ongoing outreach and service projects that connects our church and faith community to needs in the surrounding community. We are truly thankful for all who provide leadership and participate on each team.

Outreach Ministry Group Group leader/Coordinator Interfaith Initiative Centre County Virginia Biber Out of the Cold Centre County Chris Coble Open & Affirming/LGBTQA Coalition Brent Frank Penguin Packs Cindy Reed Weatherization First Seann Reed Environmental Stewardship Janet Swim Transportation Jim Welsh

If you have questions about any of the groups listed above, please contact the group leader/coordinator of the respective group.

The new OSMT members have been focused on developing strategies for intentional outreach to PSU students. In May, during FINALS WEEK, prayers and Care Bags will be offered to the students in our congregation. We will open Romig Hall for use as STUDY SPACE: Sunday, May 3 through Tuesday, May 5, 1:00pm – 10:00pm. Students will have access to our new Faith UCC Guest wi-fi access and light refreshments to keep them going as they study into the wee hours of the night.

In case you are wondering how you can support the students during this stressful time (you do remember what finals week was like, don’t you?)… there are ways for you to help:

• Providecookies,snacksand/ordrinks(StudySpacefor3days/9hourseachday) • SignupforshiftsasHOSTtoprovidewelcome,hospitalityandsupervision

Sign up lists for volunteers will be available in mid-April. Join us in welcoming ALL … including students… to Faith UCC!

Thank you for your ongoing support of outreach efforts!

Faith Eherts Tamra Fountaine John Frantz Jared Hammond Peggy Salamon Pastor Monica

OUTREACH AND SERVICE MINISTRY TEAM

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE OUTREACH AND SERVICE MINISTRY TEAM


FAITH HAPPENINGS STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

THANK YOU

UPCOMING MEETINGS... MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

This Year’s Strawberry Festival will be heldWednesday, June 17 from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. Plan on coming (and, hopefully, helping at...) while enjoying good food and fellowship!

The Trustees’ next meeting will be held Tuesday, April 21st at 7:00 p.m. in Romig Hall.

Daytime Women’s Guild will meet at noon on Monday, April 27th.

The 53rd Annual Meeting of the Penn Central Conference will be held June 12 - 14, 2015 at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove. If you’re interested in registering for this meeting, please contact Cyndi Vincenti before April 27.

FELLOWSHIP TIME HOSTS NEEDED

Fellowship Time hosts are needed. Please sign up for a turn. Fellowship Time is an important time in the life of our church family. It is a time when we can introduce ourselves to new attendees, and it is a time to “catch up” on the lives of our fellow worshippers that we only see once a week. It is definitely a community building time. Hosting can be done by one person, two people, one family, two families, or whatever match you can make. Sharing makes the job easier and more cost effective. If you are not sure what to do, please ask Jean Cole, June Irvin, or Edna Bicehouse. The sign-up sheet is in the Gathering Space.

Women’s Guild wishes to thank all who participated in the Sanctuary Clean Up / Polish Up Day on March 14th!

Terrific job!

NEW WIRELESS GUEST NETWORKNetwork name is Faith UCC Guest and the password is Shalom300.


FAITH IN PHOTOSEASTER EGG HUNT


FAITH IN PHOTOSRECEPTION IN HONOR OF JACKI HUNT


CHURCH SCHOOL BLOG Church School News

This past month the church school had a brainstorm session about a fundraiser that would help the community. We made a list of some possibilities, including Hearts for the Homeless, Paws, and a mis-sion trip. We also came up with ideas on how to raise the money, including organizing a lunch, mara-thon or bake sale. A couple weeks later we came back together and had a vote. We decided to put 75% of the money toward a mission trip and 25% toward Hearts for the Homeless. To raise the money we agreed to organize a lunch one Sunday after church. There was only one question left. What to eat? We agreed on a similar version of the Chili Café. Let’s get cooking!

Submitted by Abby Reed


COMMUNITY EVENTSOutreach updates from INTERFAITH HUMAN SERVICES

Communities of faith collaborating to help neighbors in need HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WRAP-UP The Centre County Fuel Bank served 66 families so far, providing over $24,750 in home heating products. The fuel bank buys the products directly from the vendor. The heating products purchased are fuel oil, wood or wood pellets, coal or propane: all deliverable by truck. The fuel bank families did not qualify for the Heating Assistance and Support Program due to either the type of fuel they use or their location in the county. The fuel bank closes each year on March 31st. The Heating Assistance and Support Program serves families who use fuel oil as their heating product. The money to provide this assistance comes from Marcellus Shale impact fees and from Act 137 funds. Families must reside in a township or borough that either has an active well or in a township or borough adjacent to it. The program continues through April and will reopen in October. It has served over 94 households (250 people) providing over $40,000 in heating products. Both of these programs keep families safe and in their homes. This winter was particularly brutal and IHS is thankful that, through your personal support of the fuel bank and the grants we receive, that so many families have been assisted. CENTRE SINGS 2015 AUDITIONS Auditions opened on March 1st for Centre Sings, IHS’s singing competition that also helps to raise money to support the programs and services of IHS. Auditions can be uploaded at CENTRESINGS.ORG along with your application. Soloists and groups of up to 12 are eligible to compete. We currently have contestants from age 6 to 75. A benefit concert on May 16 will announce the semi-finalists who will compete for a grand prize of $1,000 on June 6. Keep watching and keep singing! 2100 E. College Ave. www.ihs-centrecounty.org State College, PA 16801 Office: (814) 234-7731

Outreach updates from INTERFAITH HUMAN SERVICES

Communities of faith collaborating to help neighbors in need HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WRAP-UP The Centre County Fuel Bank served 66 families so far, providing over $24,750 in home heating products. The fuel bank buys the products directly from the vendor. The heating products purchased are fuel oil, wood or wood pellets, coal or propane: all deliverable by truck. The fuel bank families did not qualify for the Heating Assistance and Support Program due to either the type of fuel they use or their location in the county. The fuel bank closes each year on March 31st. The Heating Assistance and Support Program serves families who use fuel oil as their heating product. The money to provide this assistance comes from Marcellus Shale impact fees and from Act 137 funds. Families must reside in a township or borough that either has an active well or in a township or borough adjacent to it. The program continues through April and will reopen in October. It has served over 94 households (250 people) providing over $40,000 in heating products. Both of these programs keep families safe and in their homes. This winter was particularly brutal and IHS is thankful that, through your personal support of the fuel bank and the grants we receive, that so many families have been assisted. CENTRE SINGS 2015 AUDITIONS Auditions opened on March 1st for Centre Sings, IHS’s singing competition that also helps to raise money to support the programs and services of IHS. Auditions can be uploaded at CENTRESINGS.ORG along with your application. Soloists and groups of up to 12 are eligible to compete. We currently have contestants from age 6 to 75. A benefit concert on May 16 will announce the semi-finalists who will compete for a grand prize of $1,000 on June 6. Keep watching and keep singing! 2100 E. College Ave. www.ihs-centrecounty.org State College, PA 16801 Office: (814) 234-7731

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Centre County

announces plans for HouseWalk 2015, Sunday May 3rd at Tudek Memorial Park.

Please visit habitatgcc.org or contact Jill Redman, Executive Director, by email, [email protected], or phone, (814) 353-2390, for more information about how to register for the event.

Hartman Center 8th Annual Golf Outing

Saturday, May 9, 2015, 1:30 p.m.

Deer Valley Golf Course, Hummelstown, PA

For more information contact the Hartman Center at (717) 667-2431 or email Bruce Druckenmiller at [email protected]. An information packet is posted on the bulletin board in Romig Hall.

Heart-felt Condolences to the following families:

•Keck,Carr-ChellmanandChellmanfamily on the passing of John “Jack” Keck. •HaroldandVickyLongonthepassingof Marian Jones. •GentzelfamilyonthepassingofPhyllis Gentzel.

HarrisonS.(LisaHogan’sfather);CecilI.;RichardC.(Ali’sfather);LindaM.;SusanM.;Christopherandhisfamily(Cyndi’sgreatnephew);JoanandJohnG.;SylviaC.;LisaB.(JoAnnEdwards’sdaughter);HaroldL.,Allwhoaregrieving;JohnH.;RickyKline’sfamilyandfriends;babyViolet;Martin(JanetSwim’sbrother)


APRIL BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES AND VOLUNTEERSApril Birthdays1 Mary Elbin2 Zach Engle Lois Lunetta3 Christina Spackman5 Chase Childs7 Leah Bair11 Mark Meckstroth14 Drew Frank16 Jeff Woleslagle18 Miranda Morrison Tyler Morrison Bill Wild19 Asher Carr-Chellman Jules Carr-Chellman Barb Chellman21 Dane Aumiller Elyzabeth Engle26 Greg Fox27 Pembroke Childs Clovis Morrisson28 Bev Wilson29 Mark Engle Carolyn Meyer

April Anniversaries2 Marilyn & Clovis Morrisson5 Jeff & Kimbr Filko28 Ron & Pat Hertzog Jared &Margaret Hammond30 David & Robin Smith

Acolyte5 Jordan Reed12 Scotty Meyer-Hoess19 Jules Carr-Chellman26 Aila Carr-Chellman

Liturgist5 Pastor Monica12 Tina Aumiller 19 Cyndi Vincenti 26 Pastor Monica (Music Sunday)

Children’s Message5 Children’s Choir12 Chris Coble19 Davin Carr-Chellman26 Pastor Monica

Ushers 5 Wayne Bicehouse, Edna Bicehouse, Larry Bair, Davin Carr-Chellman12 Dan Pfaff, Eileen Pfaff, Jeff Wiest19 Mike Hogan, Lisa Hogan, Jim Welsh26 Neil Christy, Alva Chellman, Tina Aumiller Flowers5 Easter flowers12 Open19 Carolyn Meyer26 Open

Fellowship Hour5 Eileen and Dan Pfaff12 June Irvin19 The Reed Family26 Edna and Wayne Bicehouse

Sunday Trustees5 Shih-In Ma12 Tom Daubert19 Dan Pfaff26 Open

Church School5 No Church School12 Nancy de Streel Cindy Reed19 Ines Meyer- Hoess26 Nancy de Streel

Nursery5 Janet Swim and Jeff Davidson12 Lois Bair19 Jeff Filko26 Melissa Coble / Meeghan Hollis


Pastor: [email protected]: [email protected] Site: www.faithucc.info

We welcome children. Care provided for infants and toddlers during the service. We also offer Sunday School during the service for children ages 3 through 6th grade.

Communion is celebrated the first Sunday of every month.

Works!Faith

Faith United Church of Christ State College, PA 16801 Phone: 814-237-3904 Fax: 814-237-0336

Worship: 10:45 AM

Facebook: facebook.com/SCFaithUCCTwitter: twitter.com/FaithUCCSCPA

Faith United Church of Christ300 East College AvenueState College, PA 16801

faith worksfaith church’s penguin packs program at park forest elementary school (pfe) has ....

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