Newsletter Page 1

Text Box: Trinity Lutheran Church 6 York Street PO Box 218 Vol. 30 No. 4 Codorus PA 17311

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING ON JUNE 27 IS CANCELLED

Our congregational meeting set for June 27 had to be cancelled. In case anyone is unaware of our situation, I will review it quickly.

We have a heating system that is not working, and is being operated manually by several persons every day during the heating season. It will not hold pressure, and leaks are throughout the building in the floor and also the boiler. It is simply worn out. It will be very expensive to repair.

The study that was done throughout this past year started with air conditioning; this had to take a back seat because the heating system started failing. All the work then had to be looked at in a different direction. We are at a time in our church life that hard decisions must be made.

We have received four bids for a new heating system ranging from $308,800.00 to $388,750.00. The council is unable to recommend any of these bids, because of costs, and we do not have any other alternatives at this time for you to consider. A very workable system was sent out for the bids, with a

separate quote for both heating and air conditioning. Much time was given to this study. We will update you when we can give you more choices. Trinity Church is only a building. We are the Church. Our love for God must now be more alive than we thought possible.

Thank you for your understanding and continue to pray for us to make the right decisions.

Glenn M. Snyder, Council President

Text Box: This is the day which the Lord hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Text Box: Dear Friends, For me, this is a “wild and crazy” time. As many of you know, we tried to sell our house three years ago, and could not. So, when we put it up for sale this time, we thought maybe we’d see some action by the end of the summer. And, of course, two weeks later we had a contract. We’ve found a wonderful little rancher that we just love, and everything is going to be just fine (I keep telling myself), once we get there. But right now, our lives are in total chaos. We must walk carefully through the rooms of our current house, to avoid the boxes that are already packed. Yet, every time I walk into a room my blood pressure starts to rise because, despite the packed boxes, it still looks like absolutely nothing has been done! We’ve moved several times, so I know this is normal, but it’s still very stressful. At the same time, I’m leading a small group in the congregation through the study of a book entitled Unbinding the Gospel. This group is “testing” the ideas in the book; if they feel it would be valuable, we will share it with the entire congregation. Part of this study involves daily scripture reading, prayer, and some journaling. As I work through this study with the group, I am struck by the contrast between what is going on in my life, and the inner life that I share with God. One is chaos and stress, one is peace. One is all about guilt, fear, and worry, one is about giving all that to God in order to create space in my life to follow Jesus. In our gospel reading for Sunday, June 27, Jesus speaks to us about priorities. He says that for us, discipleship has to be “Job 1” as an old car commercial used to say. He’s saying that even the good things in life, things like family, work, community service activities, patriotism, and yes, quite possibly some church activities are secondary to true discipleship. In that same gospel lesson, Jesus says, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Often we church people spend a lot of time looking back, thinking about how things used to be, and wondering why things aren’t that way now. But Jesus us saying, look forward, follow me. If you think about it, when you follow someone, they have to be in front of you so you can follow, and you have to go forward,. Jesus led the people of his day to new ways of thinking, and new ways of doing, some of which made him very unpopular. And Jesus bids his followers to stay with him, through all the troubles and trials, all the way to the cross. What does this mean for you and me, in the 21st century? I believe the way of discipleship is a little different for each of us. For sure, it should involve study of scripture, prayer, and regular attendance at worship. For me, it means taking time to realize that the chaos my life is currently in is not the important thing; that I must carve out time for God before anything else, even though the boxes are waiting and the movers are coming in a week. What keeps you from regular prayer, Bible reading, and church attendance? What else are you called to do, not by the responsibilities of everyday life, but by the Holy Spirit? Pray earnestly and ask God what God wants for your life and for our life together as a congregation. Go fearlessly forward, even if it leads you into unknown territory. And wherever Jesus leads you, remember that he has been there before. Yours in Christ, Pastor Pat

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

A Sunday School class is going to be doing another book discussion group starting on September 26th. Anyone who is interested should sign up on the bulletin board by the end of August so we know how many books to get. The book is called "Same Kind of Different As Me.”. Cheryl Bohnert will be leading the discussion.

Text Box: From the Social Ministry Committee: The Social Ministry committee will be collecting health kit items again for Lutheran World Relief beginning in July and going thru September. Lutheran World Relief has made a special emergency request for health kits due to the number of disasters in the world during the recent past. A collection box will be set up in the greeting area and a list of items needed for the kits. You only need to donate the items on the list. The Social Ministry committee will assemble the items collected into the kits according to LWR regulations. Thank you for your support.

SEWING GROUP NEWS

The sewing group will not meet during the summer months. If you want to sew at home, check with Donnie Rohrbaugh for material. These quilts show the love of Christ to people all around the world.

THANKS to Linda Tome and Donnie Rohrbaugh for delivering the 92 quilts to New Windsor . Thanks to all who helped make them and keep the material coming. You can put it in the storage room next to Pastor’s office.

Donnie thanks everyone for helping to make the quilts and for the flowers presented to him.

Text Box: THANK YOU NOTES A THANK YOU was received from Dee, our seminarian, for the flowers we gave her last week. She enjoyed being with us and making new friends. “In celebration of my 96th birthday, I wish to thank the thoughtful folks who sent me a card. I received many beautiful cards and enjoyed them so much”. Mae Reehling “Thanks to my church family for making me feel so special on my 70th birthday. I appreciated all the cards and good wishes so much! Getting older isn’t so bad.. Thanks again.” Glenn Snyder. “We thank Pastor Pat for all her support, visits and prayers. Also thanks to Trinity friends for the prayers, cards, food and visits. We appreciated every kind act. God bless you all. Richard and Linda Krebs “I would like to thank all the people of Trinity for their get well wishes during my recent surgery! Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers!. Cindy Kuhn

LUNCH BUNCH will not meet until September. Watch the bulletin near that time for the next event. We try to get together the 3rd or 4th Sunday after church to have lunch together. (Dutch Treat) A sign up sheet will be available and car pooling from the church parking lot can be arranged.

LOOKING AHEAD...The new Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) hymnals have arrived. By approval of council we will begin using them on August 5. They have been in memory of Middy Rohrbaugh by Donnie Rohrbaugh and family.

Text Box: OUR JCPC PRESCHOOL….Registrations are being accepted for the 2010-2011 school year. Call Ms. Tammy at 229-2099 or the church office at 229-2619 for applications.

✁A PHONE PRAYER CIRCLE continues at Trinity.

Requests for prayers may be started by calling any of the following prayer circle members. The calls can be started in either direction. (All church members with listed e-mail addresses will also be notified from the church office.)

Church Office Pastor Snyder Lois Snyder

229-2619 843-6216 225-6953

Deanie Spangler

229-2124

Linda Krebs Barb Hoover

229-2294 225-0135

Vivian Hoover Deanna Wetzel

225-4412 225-4354

Ruth Lehr

225-1221

If anyone else would like to be added, on the phone circle please let us know in the office.

Give us your e-mail address if you want to be included in that way.

THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED WITH THE VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL !!

Text Box: OUR OUTDOOR WORSHIP SERVICE will be a combined Sunday School and worship service on August 22 at the Glatco Lodge. The service will begin at 10:30 a.m. with the Brodbecks Band providing the music and followed by lunch. Please bring a covered dish to share (plus extras for band guests) You may bring your own chairs.

Council Highlights, May 13, 2010

President Glenn Snyder reminded council that worship service will change to 9:00 am beginning June 6, 2010.

· Treasurer’s Report: Approximately $36,000 from the Gladfelter bequest was transferred into the general account to continue paying bills. The remaining $40.000 was turned back into a CD.

· Youth Committee Report: Jamie Tome has requested a grant of $1550.00 from the Mission Endowment fund for a mission trip with Lutheran Hands July 11 to July 17. Council also approved a request from the youth group to have a strawberry social on June 5. Plans are underway for a joint Vacation Bible School with Christ UCC, to be held here at Trinity.

· Social Ministry/Companion Congregation Committee: The Committee will collect health kits during the summer for LWR. A concert by the York College Chamber Singers is scheduled for October.

· Heating/Air Conditioning Committee: Mark Tome is donating his time to do an engineering study for the church’s proposed HVAC system.

Council Highlights, June 8, 2010

Council approved a motion to raise the tenant house rent to $695/month to pay the sewer bill. The increase will take effect when the sewer is complete and functioning.

· Heating and Air Conditioning Committee: The congregation is invited to the next meeting of the Heating/Air Conditioning committee on June 15, so that any questions may be answered. Bids from contractors are due June 18 . We expect bids from four contractors. Council will meet on June 22 to review bids with HVAC committee to prepare a recommendation for the Congregational meeting. A letter will be sent to all members informing them of the congregational meeting on June 27 after church, when the HVAC committee and council will present their proposal to the congregation and the congregation will vote on the project. Current projected completion date is around October 1, 2010.

There will be no council meeting in July, due to the special council meeting on June 22.

PARISH NURSE CORNER

Dear Family and Friends,

God’s richest blessings on your summer! This month I would like to consider the Role of the Family in Self-Esteem.

How can families help children develop self-esteem? There are several things a Christian family can do to foster self-esteem.

First, we can provide our children with an abundance of unconditional love. This is the love that we learn best from God. It is easiest for adults to share this with their children, if they can enjoy God’s love for themselves (see Rom. Ch. 5, and I Jn. Ch 3 & 4). Unconditional love speaks loudly to children that they are valuable because of who they are, not what they do. Each person is a precious and irreplaceable child of Our loving Father: of such worth , that Jesus died to redeem him or her!

Second, we can provide the structure and guidance that children need. Love without guidance, really isn’t love. Children need a sense of their role and position in order to sense that the world is logical and predictable. It helps them to feel safe, so they can focus on their real work.

Third, We can provide a positive environment that affirms one another. Children learn a great deal from watching their parents interact! “ Love is patient, love is kind… it is not rude…it is not easily angered… it always

protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (I Cor, 13:4-7).

May He who is faithful help us to experience wholeness and love in our family lives.

Sincerely,

Annie Baile, R.N., Parish Nurse

Surviving Job Loss

It seems that the phrase: “sorry we no longer need you,” are words anticipated and feared by workers at all levels these days. It makes no difference from administrative to maintenance positions that cuts and corporate “right sizing” are taking place. Whether the words come in the form of a pink slip or an early retirement, they mean a major change in how individuals see themselves and in how they see the world. In many respects, it means someone is joining the ranks of the unemployed or underemployed and that brings feelings of anger, betrayal, frustration, worry and isolation.

Unemployment is a very personal problem, but it can and does affect the lives of families and friends. If you are like most people, you might struggle or cannot find the right words to say to a person impacted by a job loss. So, rather than say the wrong thing, we say nothing at all, failing to communicate our support and concern. Ironically, when people need us the most, we find ourselves short on wisdom, feedback and understanding.

In some instances an impacted person doesn’t want to add to the burden of others by sharing their own frustration, doubts and insecurities. Instead, they carry the turmoil and loss of self esteem internally. So what is the appropriate thing for us to do? We will explore some things that could and might make a difference in reaching out to someone in this position.

The first step in coping with unemployment is to remember that the loss of a job is a major life crisis with far reaching consequences. People go through a period of anger and frustration in order to move on. The second thing to remember is that they will feel in control again. In order to make this transition to a position of hope and optimism, be aware of the danger signals which can slow the process down:

Extended withdrawal from friends and social contacts.

Continued overpowering feelings of anger and hostility.

Increased frequency of physical illness and complaints.

Radical change in eating and/or sleeping patterns.

Increased alcohol consumption or drug usage including those prescribed by a physician.

Continued expression of feelings of uselessness, failure and incompetence.

Extreme withdrawal from family, often isolating self for extended periods of time.

There are also things the separated employee and his/her family can do to help during the days of transition:

Give yourself a short break (take 3-4 days) before you again go looking for work. Find something relaxing that you enjoy.

Establish a routine to follow each week. Preparation time, actual job-hunting time and time to follow-up.

Set aside time for yourself and family.

Maintain social contacts which can lead to networking on job openings and that are supportive.

Sit down and develop a realistic budget and build in an occasional reward as well as funds for your job search.

Find some reason to smile each day.

Set aside specific times for your family to share their feelings about the present and the future.

Draw on your faith for comfort, strength and direction.

The loss of a job is a real game changer but there is help available. Counselors can help you and your family face feelings of frustration and helplessness. They, along with vocational schools, colleges and state employment offices, can help you explore career alternatives and maintain a positive attitude about your future. Feeling powerless may prevail for a period of time and weathering a period of unemployment can be a time for the family to draw closer and develop a sense of unity.

Brought to you by George Bennett, M.A., MAMS, LPC and Program Director, Lutheran Counseling Services with offices in Gettysburg, Hanover, York 866-998-2382; Chambersburg 866-319-5137and State College 866-441-9883.

A Community Outreach Service of Lutheran Social Services of South-Central Pennsylvania and a joint ministry of Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries