Stone Church is Blooming with Spring (3/18/16) (photo credit: Jonas Sterner)

The Living Stones Newsletter

St. Jacob’s (Stone) United Church of Christ

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Pennsylvania Dutch Service APRIL 3, 2016 - 10:15AM WORSHIP SERVICE

CONTINUING A TRADITION…

On Sunday, April 3, 2016, we will

commemorate our heritage with a

Pennsylvania Dutch message delivered by

Christian Miller, grandson of members Donald

& Faye Miller. Chris has an amazing story you

won’t want to miss! Following the service, you are invited to join

your church family in a Pennsylvania Dutch inspired hog maw

luncheon. Hope to see you there!

Do you have a favorite Shoo Fly Pie/Cake recipe? We are searching for bakers to bring cakes and

pies for the luncheon following the service on

April 3rd. If you can supply a dessert, please

let Michele Trump know. Thanks in advance!

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PEELERS, STUFFERS, SEWERS, SLICERS & SERVERS

Could you help prepare the maws at 2:00PM on Saturday, April 2nd? We need people to peel

potatoes, stuff the maws, sew the maws shut,

and the following day slice and serve the

finished products. This is fun every year, so

consider joining in the fun!

Lay Life & Work

Lay Life will hold their regular meeting on Wednesday, April 6th

at

7:00PM. Pastor Melissa Eicholtz will present a program entitled

“God the Son: His coming for His Saints & with His Saints.” Karen

Anstine & Delores Sullivan will provide refreshments. Please join us

in the church basement fellowship hall for this program.

Plan ahead to attend Lay Life & Work’s Family

Night Covered Dish on May 4th (Dinner starts at

6:30PM). Jonas Sterner is organizing a

Congregational Talent Show for this evening.

Have a talent you can share?

Contact Jonas to participate!

Youth News

Other Upcoming Events: Sun. May 8--Mother’s Day Coffee & Donuts

Contact Jeff Trump, Lorelei Fiedler Rohrbaugh or one of our

Youth for more information or to get involved!

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Members in Mission

Good people doing good works!

Missy Anstine & Mindy Sterner:

Special Olympics “2016 Polar Plunge”

While many of us our celebrating the end of cold

weather, two Stone Church members were eager

for a little more of winter’s chill. Members (&

sisters) Mindy Sterner & Missy Anstine share their

story of supporting York County Special Olympics

through their participation in the Polar Plunge:

Thank you for your support and

donations toward Special Olympics for the

Polar Plunge. We couldn't make the Plunge

in the Susquehanna River in Wrightsville,

rescheduled on Saturday, March 5, so we

recently dipped in Lake Marburg on

Saturday, March 19. Approximately 700

people participated in the 2016 plunge,

raising more than $120,000. Wow!

We loved doing the plunge! The cold

didn't bother us too much, especially since

it supported Special Olympics. I was so

proud that Missy and I could do this in honor

of those with disabilities. We're really looking forward to next

year. We encourage you to join us!

-Mindy Sterner & Missy Anstine

Check out media coverage of the 2016 Polar

Plunge by visiting the plunge’s website

(specialolympicspa.org) or Facebook page

(Polar Plunge PA). Missy & Mindy have

represented Stone Church well by offering

compassionate support for Special Olympians

and their families. Great work, Missy & Mindy!

Know a Stone Church member doing good works?

Share their story with the church secretary.

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Opportunities for Service & Sharing

at Stone Church

The Widow’s Bowl (in the rear of the

sanctuary) will support:

Good Samaritan Fund A little change from our pocket can

make a big change in another’s life!

Throughout the month, we’re

collecting t-shirts

to be dedicated on ‘Tee-Off

Sunday’ (4/24/16)

Hanover Area Council of Churches Needs for April:

PROVIDE-A-LUNCH SERVICE (PALS): Coffee Creamer, Sugar,

Canned Potatoes

CHANGING LIVES SHELTER: Deodorant, Conditioner/Shampoo

CLOTHING BANK: Diapers (size 5 & 6), Diaper Wipes, Men’s

Boxers/Boxer Briefs - All sizes including XL & XXL

RUTH’S HARVEST (single serve items, please): Mini-meals, Tuna

or Chicken Kits, Goldfish Crackers, Popcorn Items may be placed in the receptacles in the rear of the sanctuary.

Want a hands-on opportunity to be the “hands and feet of Jesus?”

Consider helping to prepare/serve a meal at PALS during our next

service: April 17th. Contact Don Miller for more info.

April Scripture Lessons April 3 Acts 5:27-32

Ps 118:14-29

Rev 1:4-8

John 20:19-31

April 10 Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)

Ps 30

Rev 5:11-14

John 2:1-19

April 17 Acts 9:36-43

Ps 23

Rev 7:9-17

John 10:22-30

April 24 Acts 11:1-18

Ps 148

Rev 21:1-6

John 13:31-35

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Monthly Giving Report

Date/Service Giving

2/7/16 $3,291.50

2/14/16 $2,617.01

2/21/16 $3,341.50

2/28/16 $2,985.75

Total for Month $12,235.76

Budgeted Amount $13,126.45

Date/Service Giving

3/6/16 $2,092.00

3/13/16 $2,790.35

3/20/16 $2,827.26

Total for Month $7,709.61

Ascension Day Service

Forty days after each Easter, many Christians around the world celebrate the Ascension. It’s the day when the resurrected Jesus was raised up from the earth into heaven. The Ascension is more important than many Christians realize. In his human body, Christ could be in only one place at a time. The risen Christ, however, can be spiritually present in any place at any time.

Stone Church will host an Ascension Day Service on Thursday, May 5th at 7:00PM. NOTE: we are moving this service to the evening. Join us for this special service!

Other Events Coming Up in May: May 4: Lay Life Family Night & Congregational TALENT SHOW May 8: Mother’s Day (Youth Breakfast, Sun. School Observance) May 15: Pentecost (WEAR RED!) & Geraniums May 21: Community Yard Sale (Contact Charlotte Pinette or

Michelle Brady to reserve a table or for info.) May 28: Sunday School Spring Supper May 29: Memorial Day Observance

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Thanks to all who sent cards, prayers and well wishes to my wife Patricia and I through her hospitalization and surprise passing, my cancer surgery and heart treatment during the last 6 months. As we continue to age, we never know what lies ahead, so we should be happy and enjoy each day as it comes!

Phil Gladfelter I would like to thank everyone for their prayers, cards & thoughtfulness during the illness and the passing of my wife Dorothy Rohrbaugh. A special thank you to Pastor Melissa for all her visits & the Lay Life for the luncheon.

Curvin Rohrbaugh

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Healing & Community

In [the] healing texts, Jesus does not just cure people’s

diseases and cast out their demons and then say, “Mission

accomplished.” He’s always after something more than that

because the healing is never fully accomplished until there is

a restoration to community. People are healed of disease, and

then he tells the folks just standing around watching to go

get them something to eat. The widow’s son is raised from

the dead and then [Jesus] gives him back to his mother. And

... the man healed of demons is then told to stay with his

people and speak of what God has done. In the Jesus business,

community is always a part of healing. Even though

community is never perfect. —Nadia Bolz-Weber, Accidental Saints

"His Glory" God sends rainbows after showers arching ’cross the freshened skies. Every rainbow shows God’s glory. Every wonder tells his story.

God sends Jesus down from heaven offering mercy, hope and life. On the cross he showed God’s glory. Every blessing tells his story.

God sends me forth into this world sharing love that offers life. And I hope to show God’s glory In the way I tell his story. —MaryAnn Sundby

A Shepherd's Role While traveling in Iran, writer Eric Bishop asked a

villager about an earthen enclosure topped with dry thorns. The man

said sheep stayed in the round space at night for safety. “What are the

thorns for?” Bishop asked. “If a wolf tries to break in and attack the

sheep,” the man replied, “he’ll knock against the thorns, and they’ll

make a noise, and the shepherd will wake up and drive off the wolf.”

Pointing out the enclosure’s doorless entrance, Bishop asked why

a wolf wouldn’t just enter there. Because, replied the villager, “that’s

where the shepherd sleeps; the shepherd is the door.”

Suddenly Bishop understood why in John 10 Jesus calls himself first

the door, or gate, for the sheep and then the Good Shepherd. Because

Jesus is the shepherd, he’s also the door that keeps us, his sheep, safe

within his care.

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Melissa Eicholtz 5338 Field Pointe Dr., Spring Grove, PA 17362 Email: MAE9902@comcast.net Home: (717) 225-6701 Cell: (717) 817-9085

Rev. George O. Butz 938 N. Penn Drive, Wernersville, PA 19565 Phone: (610) 927-6782

Fred Marsh, President Phone: (717) 632-4469 Jeff Trump Phone: (717) 465-1412 Jeff Forbes Phone: (717) 229-2330 Michael Sterner Phone: (717) 225-5452

Ray Thacker, Adam Marsh, Adam Shue, Donald E. Miller, Daniel Shue, Kevin Barnhart, Deb Taylor & Linda Bupp

James Sterner 93 Roth Church Rd., Spring Grove, PA 17362 Email: JSterner2004@msn.com Phone: (717) 225-4213

Cindy Forbes 5123 Sinsheim School Rd., Spring Grove, PA 17362 Phone: (717) 229-2330

Betty Trump 273 Bankert Rd., Hanover, PA 17331 Phone: (717) 637-2759

Jonas Sterner 5 Town Cir., Abbottstown, PA 17301 Email: greendovestar@gmail.com Phone: (717) 259-8530

Mr. & Mrs. Quincy Russell Phone: (717) 235-0651

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Daffodils decorate the altar for Hope Sunday, a Sunday School offering

supporting the American Cancer Society (3/13/16)

Robins? Nah! At Stone Church,

we look for our peacock to

signal the start of spring. (3/15/16)

The sanctuary was decorated for

couples to walk down the aisle to

renew their vows (3/20/16)

Friends & family gather for fellowship after the Vow Renewal Service

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