Shenkel United

Church of Christ

SHARINGS AND CONCERNS

December 2010 & January 2011

SHENKEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

1580 Shenkel Road

Pottstown PA 19465

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Shenkel United Church of Christ’s “The NEWSLETTER” is a monthly publication prepared, edited, and mailed by the leadership and staff to all members and friends of the church. It communicates news about our life, purpose, and mission as a Church of Jesus Christ. Information related to our partnership as a member of the United Church of Christ and wider church/community out-reach is included on a regular basis. The Church is located at Unionville & Shenkel Roads in

2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Agape 7 PM Confirmation Class 7-8:30 PM

2

Choir 7 PM

3

4

Advent Workshop 1 PM

5 Christmas Mu-

sical Rehearsal both groups after 10:45 worship

Hanging of the Greens 6 PM

Youth Group

7 –8:30 PM

6

7

Quilters 9:30 AM

8 9

Choir 7 PM

10

Deadline for gift giving for Bethany Chil-dren’s Home

11 Confir-

mation Trip to Bethany Chil-dren’s Home

Mandatory Music Program Rehearsal 9-11 AM

―A Christmas

12

Healing Prayers

Musical Rehearsal only preK-2nd grade after 10:45

Youth Group 7-8:30 PM

13 14

Elders 7 PM Consistory 7:30 PM

15

Deadline for Committee An-nual Reports

Confirmation Class 7-8:30 PM

16

Healing Prayers 9:15 AM

Prayer Team 6:30 PM

Choir 7 PM

17 18

Mandatory Dress Re-hearsal for Christmas Musical Pro-gram 9—11 AM

19 ONE SER-

VICE at 10:45 with Christmas Musical Program — Congre-gational Meeting after worship, Lunch to follow. Caroling 2-5 PM Youth Christmas Party 7-8:30 PM

20 21

Peace/Longest Night Service 7 PM

20

23

No Choir

24

Services: 7 PM 9 PM 11 PM

25

26

No Sunday School today

One Service only 10:45 - Blessing of the Toys

No Youth Group

27

Community Meal at Noon

28 29 30

No Choir

31

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

Communion

3 4

5

Agape 7 PM

6

Choir 7 PM

7 8

9

Healing Prayers

10 11

Elders 7 PM Consistory 7:30 PM

12

Confirmation Class 7-8:30 PM

13

Choir 7 PM

14

Youth Group Retreat

15

Youth Group Retreat contin-ues

16

Youth Group Retreat ends

17 18

Quilters 9:30 AM

19 20

Healing Prayers 9:15 AM Choir 7 PM

21 22

23

Dedication of new keyboard at 10:45 wor-ship service

Peace Service 7 PM

24

Community Meal 12 Noon

25 26

Confirmation Class 7-8:30 PM

27

Choir 7 PM

28 29

30

One service at 10:45 AM Annual Meeting immediately following wor-ship

31

1580 Shenkel Road, Pottstown PA 19465 610.326.3535

Email: shenkelucc@aol.com www.shenkelucc.org

PAGE 4

The Pastor’s Pen

Pastor Bonnie L. Moore

484.524.8280

blmoore@comcast.net

Monday—Sabbath Day

Office Hours:

Tues., Wed., Thurs

9:00 AM—1:00 PM

CONSISTORY

OFFICERS

President

Kimberly Yocom

Vice President

Barry Miller

Secretary

Sandy Rowe

Treasurer

Ken Bevan

Financial Secretary

Barry Miller

Assistant Financial

Secretaries

Doug Allen and

Lori Scharneck

Director of

Music Ministry

Joan Valentine Johnson

Elders

Glen Hoff

Carol Lykens

Barry Miller

Sandy Rowe

Wayne Klein

Deacons

Barbara Burhans

Richard Golden

Vera Hoff

Claire Faust

Kim Yocom Secretary: Judy Embriani Newsletter Editor: Kim Metzger Assistant Editor: Bill Baseley

“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

- Isaiah 43:19

On my recent vacation, I had an opportunity to visit my son Josh, who lives in Hunts-

ville, Alabama, and works for NASA. Before taking me on a tour of his workplace (I

have a great photo from the top of a 380 foot rocket test stand!) we visited the U. S.

Space and Rocket Center. Among the displays were some photographs and an audio ex-

cerpt from John F. Kennedy’s 1961 speech where he said, ―I believe that this nation

should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on

the moon and returning him safely to the earth.‖

My son has never known a time when space travel was an unimaginable dream, but I re-

member how impossible JFK’s proposal sounded in 1961. I had to remind myself – it

was fourteen years before Josh was born that Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong took

his famous ―one small step‖ off the Lunar Module's ladder onto the moon's surface.

It really is awesome, when you think about it, how much things have changed, and con-

tinue to change every single day. The other thing that struck me, while touring the

Rocket Center and Josh’s work place, is how many new things have, and continue to,

―spring forth‖ during the quest to conquer space. Did you know that smoke detectors,

virtual reality games, invisible braces, pacemakers, Doppler radar for weather forecasting

MRIs, scratch resistant lenses, and my favorite – duct tape – are among the many, many

unintended benefits of the technology developed for space flight?

Many of us will be thinking about ―new things‖ over the next couple of months – Advent

ushers in the new church year, and January 1 ushers in 2011. We may even be inten-

tional, like JFK, about resolving to do a new, seemingly impossible thing. But let’s re-

member that according to Isaiah, God is also doing new things in our midst, whether we

are intentionally looking for them or not!

Let’s keep our hearts and our minds open to what our StillSpeaking God would have us

perceive as we pursue our hopes and dreams in the upcoming year!

Christmas and New Year blessings to all,

Pastor Bonnie

PAGE 5 SHENKEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

EARLY

LATE

12/5

Ruth Klein

Faye and Ed Pedrick

Ron & Carol Pearson

Barbara Burhans

Clair Faust

Wayne Klein

Kim Yocom

Glen Hoff

12/12

Yvonne Strom

Yvonne Strom

Bill and Carolyn

Baseley

Angela Haslett and

Gabriella Megni

12/19

Barb and Bill Burhans

Gary and Sue Stultz

ONE SERVICE ONLY 10:45

Ed and Farye Pedrick

7 PM: Barb and Bill

Burhans

7 PM : Kim Yocom, Barry Miller, Barb Burhans

and Barry Yocom

9 PM: Sandy Rowe, Barb Burhans, Betty

Kreiger and Carol Lykens

12/26

Jeff Luckenbach

NEED SPONSOR

ONE SERVICE ONLY 10:45

Tootie and Louise HIne

EARLY

LATE

1/2

NEED SPONSOR

NEED SPONSOR

Ron and Carol

Pearson

Need two more ushers

for communion

Betty Kreiger

Ken and Betsy Bevan

Carol Lykens

1/9

NEED SPONSOR

NEED SPONSOR

Bill and Carolyn

Baseley

Ed and Faye

Pedrick

1/16

NEED SPONSOR

NEED SPONSOR

Lois, Brian and

Nicholas Iezzi

Connie Armbruster

and Seth Dawicki

1/23

NEED SPONSOR

NEED SPONSOR

Barbara Burhans

Ashlyn Augustine

The Dushanko Family

1/30

NEED SPONSOR

NEED SPONSOR

ONE SERVICE ONLY 10:45

Ron and Carol Pearson

PAGE 6 FOR YOUR INFORMATION….

9:30 a.m.

In the Social Room

Everyone is welcome

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

9:30 a.m. – in the Social Room

Everyone is Welcome

DECEMBER, 2010

December 5 – ―TRIP TO GOD‘S COUNTRY‖

Leader: SHERRI MOCARSKI

December 12 - ―THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE‖

Leader: SHERRI MOCARSKI

December 19 – ‗CHRISTMAS CAROLS‖

Leader: TOOTIE HINE

Watch the weekly bulletins for January‘s schedule.

Winter Inquirer’s

Class

Would you like to learn

more about the theology, mission,

and ministry of the United Church of

Christ and of Shenkel UCC? Join us

for a two session Inquirer’s Class on

Sundays, February 13 and 20, follow-

ing the 10:45 service of worship. You

are welcome at these sessions whether you are a

long-time member of Shenkel UCC, or are con-

sidering becoming a member – membership is

an option, but not a requirement, for those who

complete both sessions. Please contact the

church office at 610-326-353 or shenke-

lucc@aol.com to register. Childcare may be

available upon request.

November 7 was

National Friend Rais-

ing Sunday…

… and Shenkel UCC hosted 19

of the 4,200 people visiting UCC congregations

that reported their results for that day. (Way to go,

Shenkel!) The congregation with the highest num-

ber of visitors, of all the UCC churches that partici-

pated nationwide, was St. John’s UCC in Kutz-

town, PA. St. John’s welcomed 52 visitors includ-

ing 15 youth. The per-capita invitation prize went

to Journey UCC, a new church start in Delmar,

N.Y., where 36 members welcomed 33 guests.

Congratulations, Pastor Karl Jones and the congre-

gation of St. John’s UCC, and Pastor Sandy J.

Damhof and the congregation of Journey UCC!

SHENKEL QUILTERS

When you read this newsletter, the

drawing for the quilt raffle is over and

just maybe you had that lucky winning

ticket. I want to thank everyone who

participated in making the quilt, pho-

tographed our handiwork, sold and purchased raffle tickets that

will help Pastor Bryan Sirchio's mission to relocate a school and

feed the many children under his care in Haiti.

We are busy gathering new ideas for our next quilt. We have a

theme and have already started some blocks, but have not de-

cided on the quilt's design. This is going to be an original quilt

because we will be developing ideas as we go along. This is a

new experience for all of us.

December has only one meeting and that is on Tuesday the

7th. January, also has only one meeting and that will be on

Tuesday the 18th. We meet in the Church Social Hall at 9:30

a.m. We'd love to teach anyone interested the joy of quilting!

Shenkel Quilters wish you a Merry Christmas

and a Wonderful New Year!

And the Lucky Winner is…. Garson Wunderlich, of North Cov-

entry, held the winning ticket for

this beautiful work of art. The

ticket was drawn at our Community

Thanksgiving dinner on November

21st. Congratulations, Mr.

Wunderlich! The proceeds from

the raffle, in the amount of $1894,

will be given to Brian Sircho to

benefit his Haitian mission. Great

job, Shenkel Quilters!

November Consistory Highlights

Heard a proposal from a homeschool co-op who would like to use our

facilities

Received thank yous from the Pottstown Cluster, Prisoner Visitation

Support, North Coventry Meals on Wheels, and the Cluster Building

Campaign for contributions received from Shenkel

Approved a budget for 2011 to present at the December 19 congregational meeting

Approved a job description for the Bell Choir Director

Heard an update from Barry Miller about the Cluster Building Campaign, and discussed some possible

ways we could be involved

Learned that the parking lot barriers will be installed this month (Note: They were — they‘re beautiful!)

Approved a proposal from Cluster delegate Carol Stubbe to participate in their food and toy drive

Learned that the Field Ed. Lay Committee (Evelyn Rodriguez, chair, Carl Bade, Caleb Haslett, Carol Bade

and Sandy Rowe) met with the Field Education Placement Coordinator from Lancaster Theological Semi-

nary, Elizabeth Soto

Approved the purchase of an additional wireless microphone for the sanctuary

Expressed appreciation to Tom Klein for repairing the water fountain in the Social Hall

Approved the proposal from the Music and Worship Committee to purchase a new keyboard from the

Music Fund

OK‘d Pastor Bonnie‘s request to add a small patio off the back of the parsonage at her expense

Thanked Glen Hoff for installing First Aid kits in the church, and coordinating the training for the Safe

Church Policy

Set the date for the Annual Congregational meeting for January 30, 2011

Complete copies of Consistory Minutes are available from the church office upon request..

ADMINISTRATIVE NEWS…. Page 7

SAVE-A-TAPE PROGRAM

This is

one of the easiest ways to help our church financially!

Just ask for a Save-A-Tape card at the customer service spot

at your local Redner’s store, show your card at the register

when you check out, then bring your register tapes to church

and deposit them in the box in the Narthex. These tapes are

collected routinely, presented to the store, and Redners do-

nates a percentage of your total purchase to the church. Be

careful to bring your tapes in regularly instead of saving

them at home, as they do expire if not redeemed within a

certain time period. Also, please return the entire register

tape. Redners will not accept any register receipt that has

any part of it removed.

On November 2nd, we received a check for $207.98

for the collection of our register tapes! Thank you!

as of October 31, 2010

YTD Current Fund O.C.W.M

Budget 123,982.83 11,000/00

Actual 105,188.20 11,551.20

Difference (18,794.63) 551.20

Did you know that BOB uses EFT

(Electronic Funds Transfer) and

LOVES it? No more worrying

about forgetting offering enve-

lopes… An EFT form is available

at shenkelucc.org, or from the church office.

ADVENT HAPPENINGS…. This year we are changing things. Our new Director of Music, Joan John-

son, thought we might like to try a “Hanging of the Greens” service in

which we would decorate the sanctuary during the service. Joan and Doug

have done this in their previous church and thought we might like to try it

also. Thank you, Joan for making this suggestion. But first, we must plan

and prepare for this service. . . . . . .

ADVENT WORKSHOP: Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. We will meet on Saturday to decorate the social hall – put up the tree and decorate it.

Ruth Klein and Sandy Rowe will be decorating the wreaths and jabots which will be placed in the

Sanctuary on Sunday evening. During our time on Saturday, the families that have taken a window

will be able to assemble and decorate their basket with greens, holly and ivy. These baskets will

be placed in the windows during the Hanging of the Greens service. We will also be preparing the

garlands for the Sunday evening service. Linda Foss will be making soup, and we will also have

snacks.

HANGING OF THE GREENS: Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. Sunday after the late service on December 5th, we will need men to put

up the tree and put the lights on it. Since we have our new flooring, the tree

will be put on a table behind where the choir sits. It will not be on the railing,

which will save on any one person getting hurt. At this time the jabots will be

placed in the Sanctuary and on the front doors. We will also be putting up the

garland around the doors leading into the Sanctuary as well as on the altar

railings. All of the window decorations, poinsettias, etc. will be in the Nar-

thex. Betty Kreiger will be in the Narthex directing the families/groups when

to take their decorations into the Sanctuary. Once this is complete we can go

home and rest until the service at 6:00 p.m.

The Hanging of the Greens Service will be informal, filled with music and fun for all ages.

The whole sanctuary will be decorated during the service. Wear your favorite Christmas shirt or

sweater and have fun. At different times during the service, the windows will be decorated with

the baskets, candles and bells. The Poinsettias will be placed in the front windows. The tree will

be decorated with ornaments that you can bring from home – but if you forget, we will have a bas-

ket of ornaments for you to place on the tree. When you come up to place your ornament on the

tree, we will have another basket for your offering which will be given to Bethany Children’s Home.

What will you need to do?

Sign up for a window to decorate.

Sign up to purchase a poinsettia to adorn the sanctuary.

Bring an ornament for the tree

Bring a stuffed animal for the Nativity

Come and watch the Church being transformed for the Advent and Christmas seasons.

Bring a plate of cookies to share after the service during refreshment time.

This should be an exciting and fun filled evening!! If you have any questions, please see any-

one on the Advent Committee.

See next page for more Advent happenings….

PAGE 8

ADVENT HAPPENINGS, continued….

CHRISTMAS CAROLING: Sunday, December 19th, 2 –5 p.m. following the holiday lunch in the social hall. We will be going Christmas Caroling on Sunday, December 19, 2010

from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. We will be taking a bus provided by Klein’s

and returning to the Church for cookies and hot chocolate. This

should be another fun filled outing, and we hope to have a bus full!

Come out and be part of all the Advent Happenings!

Tootie Hine, Advent Committee Chair

The Wholeness Committee wants you to know, it's not too early to pick up your copy of the new Ad-vent Meditation booklet. Copies are in the Nar-thex. This is a booklet put out by the United Church of Christ and is designed to help make your Advent journey very spiritual and meaning-ful .

Welcome, Shenkel‘s Newest Members!

Judith Andrien comes to Shenkel from a Catholic background, and was drawn to Shenkel by her quest for

community, and for God in others. She is interested in nature, plants and animals, art, sculpture, literature

and cooking.

Ruth Andrien is a widow and the mother of ten adult children. She is interested in baseball

and politics, and is delighted to have found a place to worship close to home.

Pat Laverty is married to Don, and has three kids, four grandsons, and one great-grand-daughter. She

works part-time at the VNA, and loves quilting and sewing, and watching tennis and the Phillies. Pat was

drawn back to Shenkel by the people of the congregation as well as the inner peace she finds worshipping

here. She is happy to be back in the Shenkel family again!

Jim White is the dad of Marcus Goodfellow and Taylor Lynn White. He works for Bracalente Manufacturing

Company as a Quality Engineer. He loves sports, especially football and baseball. Among his many and

varied other interests (―Come talk to me!‖ Jim says) Jim also loves to travel and camp. Jim, the son of cur-

rent member Charlotte White, first attended Shenkel when he was six years old, and was confirmed here.

Blessings, Judith, Ruth, Pat and Jim, as your faith journey continues at Shenkel UCC!

MORE NEWS…. PAGE 9

MEET TRENT…. This handsome little guy

joined the Moore and the

Shenkel Family on Novem-

ber 8th. He is Pastor Bon-

nie‘s new puppy prodigy

from The Seeing Eye. He‘s

a lovable little ball of fur

and smart as a whip! He‘s

the perfect addition to the church office during work

hours, and he loves coming to church, so watch for

him at Sunday services.

SHENKEL LOVES TO GIVE….

AND DON’T FORGET…. The Pottstown Cluster Food Bank collection at Shenkel

is the 1st Sunday of each month. Please place your

items in the large plastic bins in the narthex

AND...Please bring in your used

cell phones and empty ink car-

tridges and place them in the box

across from the nursery, or in the

box located on the coat rack shelf across from the of-

fice. These cartridges are re-cycled to Staples, and the

church receives credits toward the purchase of office

supplies.

The used cell phones are given to the police

department to be distributed to abused

women.

FYI….The Pottstown Clus-ter Outreach Center is now open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM -12:00 pm for client services and to accept donations .at 137 Walnut Street in Pottstown.

Pantry Needs: Jelly, Size 4,5,6 diapers, baby wipes,

chunky soup, canned vegetables, canned fruit and spaghetti sauce Clothes Closet Needs: Desperately need newborn boys and girls clothing Please check out the Pottstown Cluster Outreach Cen-ter website at www.pottstowncluster.org. On the site is information about volunteering, making donations and current needs at the Cluster.

Page 10

The mission of the Christmas Fund is to provide assistance dol-lars in situations of critical need, including Pension Supplementa-tion, Health Premium Supplemen-tation, Emergency Grants, and Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks to lower-income retired UCC pastors. The offering on Christmas Eve benefits Shenkel’s Help Fund.

Bethany Children’s Home

Christmas Wish List

2010 BETHANY CHILDREN‘S HOME

CHRISTMAS WISH LIST

The youth currently living at Bethany are between the

ages of 13-18. Please DO NOT wrap your gifts, as they

will be distributed among all the youth. The Staff at Beth-

any will wrap them after sorting. Much like other teenag-

ers, the kids at Bethany LOVE to shop! Gift cards from

area malls, Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart, craft stores, etc. are

ALWAYS appreciated.

Please see the list posted on the bulletin board in the

social hall, or under the giving tree in the narthex, for a

full list of gift suggestions. Gifts may be placed in the

narthex, under the giving tree, or brought to the Hanging

of the Greens Service on December 5th. The deadline for

donating gifts is December 10th as our Confirmands will

deliver them to Bethany on December 11th.

Please note that Bethany cannot accept used clothing, toys or

personal products. They do not have infants or

toddlers in their care.

The Pottstown Cluster is providing

a Christmas holiday meal for needy

families in Pottstown and Shenkel

will be participating! We have com-

mitted to providing at least 150

15. 25 oz cans of corn to help ful-

fill this need by Sunday, December

12. Donated cans can be placed

along the chancel rail.

Thank you.

Sara Helmers has organized a Shenkel Giving Tree as a confirmation project. The tree, in the nar-

thex, lists requests for holiday toys to be donated to Bethany Children's Home and to the Pottstown

Cluster Toy Drive. Please help make the holiday special for these children by taking an ornament

and bringing a toy or gift certificate to church. Suggestions for gifts are printed on the back of the

ornaments and on the flyer on the table. Gifts must be at the church by December 10th. Please

contact Sara at 610-323-7020 with questions.

BULLETIN BOARD…. PAGE 11

DO YOU HAVE NEWS FOR THE

BULLETIN OR THE NEWSLETTER?

Just a reminder that all bulletin an-

nouncements should be at the church

office by each Tuesday at noon to be in-

cluded in that week‘s bulletin. Newslet-

ter articles must be submitted by the 15th of each month

to be included in the next issue.

NOSTALGIC CHRISTMAS

COMMUNITY LUNCH BUNCH

COME ONE, COME ALL….

FOR: Lunch, fun, holiday fellowship and a special program.

At our next event, we will welcome the Christmas holiday sea-

son with some festive nostalgic stories presented by Ted

Maurer. Come hear this wonderful speaker and quickly slip

into the holiday spirit.

WHEN: Thursday, December 2, 2010

from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Shenkel UCC’s Fellowship Hall

1580 Shenkel Rd

Pottstown, PA 19465

All participants are asked to contribute $6.00 to cover the cost of the lunch. Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex or call the Shenkel UCC church office at 610-326-3535 by the Mon-

day prior to the program to reserve your spot..

For more information please call Ruth Klein at 610-326-4520

On Sunday, December

19th, We will have one wor-

ship service at 10:45 a.m. and

a congregational meeting im-

mediately following the service.

The agenda for this meeting

includes the election of the

2011 Consistory and the ap-

proval of the 2011budget.

Please make every effort to at-

tend.

On Sunday, January 30th, we

will again have just one service of

worship at 10:45 a.m. and immediately

following the worship, the annual con-

gregational meeting will be held.

Copies of the 2010 Annual Report and

new Shenkel UCC Church Directory

will be available for you to order.

It‘s that time of year!

Are you a committee chairperson?

End of year reports are due at the

church office by December 15th..

GO GREEN!

If you have a computer, you can save paper

and trees…..Just ask to have your church

newsletter e-mailed! Please call Judy at the

church office at 610-326-3535 or e-mail her

at shenkelucc@aol.com to request the change.

Coming soon... a CD of original piano music recorded

by Collin Gray. You can place your advance

order (pre-ordered CDs will be sold for $15

each) by contacting the church office or

placing a check, payable to Shenkel UCC, in

the offering plate clearly marked CD or-

der. Watch for details in upcoming worship bulletins!

“Flours” is a collection of pantry items or a monetary do-nations to the pantry. If a cash donation to the pantry is made, a wheat arrangement will be placed on the altar. Altar flowers are $30.00 and bulletin dedications are $6.50. Food Sculptures are also gladly accepted. The entire month of January is open for sponsorship and dedication during this and the upcoming months. Please complete one of the special flower/bulletin en-velopes below the sign-up chart, enclose your payment, and either put it in the collection plate or in the Secre-tary’s box by the office door. You should then sign your name on the chart in the narthex by the appropri-ate date. Thank you.

DECEMBER AT SHENKEL….

Christmas Worship Opportunities (in brief)

Please see our website shenkelucc.org for additional details!

Sunday, December 5, 6:00 pm – Hanging of the Greens Service

Sunday, December 19, 10:45 am – ―On Our Way to Bethlehem‖ – a Christmas musical (Please

note – there is only one service at 10:45 this morning.)

Tuesday, December 21, 7:00 pm – Longest Night service, designed to offer hope and healing

Friday, December 24, 7:00 pm – Family Christmas Eve Service, geared towards families with chil-

dren, and will include familiar Christmas Carols, some special children‘s songs, a re-telling of the Christmas

story along with communion and the singing of Silent Night under the glow of light sticks

Friday, December 24, 9:00 pm - a traditional Lessons and Carols Candlelight service, including music from the

Chancel Choir, Holy Communion and the singing of Silent Night

Friday, December 24, 11:00 pm – a quiet, contemplative service, welcoming in Christmas Day

PAGE 12

Music Ministry Way back in September, the Chancel Choir began preparing music for the Christmas Season.

It is difficult to get into the spirit of the season when you haven‘t finished the summer…but

your choir is ready and eager to help you prepare for Christmas by sharing their talents.

The Christmas season at Shenkel has a new addition this year with the Hanging of the Greens

at 6:00 PM Sunday evening December 5th. During this celebration service, everyone partici-

pates in the decorating of the church in preparation for the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The music ministry participates with four wonderful compositions including one from our Youth

Group, and even the youngest of our musicians participating with the Chancel Choir. I know that you, your family

and friends will enjoy this wonderful service filled with Christmas song and sights. We believe that this service will

become one of your favorites of the year!

AND…you‘ll all hear a brand new musical instrument during this service…it‘s a surprise!

Our children are featured during the December 19th 10:45 AM service (only one service that day) to present a

Christmas musical ―On Our Way to Bethlehem‖. At least twenty of our youth have been practicing very hard, memo-

rizing their lines and music. Come hear them and encourage them to continue to use their talents throughout the

church year…but especially at this special time. The same kids who are involved with the musical will be asked to

share a song one more time on Christmas Eve at the 7pm service. (The little ones singing ―Away in a Manger‖ and

the older ones singing ―Rise Up Shepherd‖.)

Also on Christmas Eve, the Bell Choir will present a Christmas Anthem during the 7:00 PM Family service, and the

Chancel Choir will sing at the 9:00 PM traditional candlelight service. Everyone has worked extremely hard this fall

to prepare for these special services…so I want to take this opportunity to thank the choirs for their service to Shen-

kel and the hours of practice to make Christmas at Shenkel a very special time.

Beginning January 9, 2011, Joyful Noise Choir (preK-through 2nd graders) will resume (same time as before, after

the children‘s talk at the 10:45 service) under the leadership of Evelyn Rodriguez, assisted by Amy Shenk. A BIG

thank you to these two wonderful ladies for agreeing to help continue this important music ministry.

On that same day, January 9, 2011, we will be adding a NEW JUNIOR CHOIR to our lineup. The new choir will in-

clude 3rd grade through 6th grade. Many of the kids in this age group have been part of the Christmas Musical and

are extremely talented. I will be working with these kids directly after the 10:45 service (as we have been doing for

the musical). Our rehearsal will be about 20 minutes in length and we will probably sing 3 times between January

and May. Please let me know if you child might be interested!!!

THANK YOU CHOIRS FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO SHENKEL MUSIC!

PAGE 13

STEWARD’S CORNER

What a wonderful night when Shenkel church celebrated its 173rd anniversary. Everybody was a

star shining brilliantly that night and having a wonderful time. I learned a lot about many of the

members.

After a welcome by Pastor Bonnie, there was a delicious supper that Linda and Andrew prepared,

along with Louise and Tootie Hine…and a beautiful birthday cake for dessert.

Carl and Marie Bade were Host and Hostess and Forrest Kreiger greeted people with a gift of a special ―Shenkel

Church‖ pen. Carol Lykens (Shenkel’s Vanna White) presented each honored guest with a pretty ―Magic‖ STAR

wand. Jody Sweinhart began the program with an inspiring ―Media presentation‖

and Joan Johnson played appropriate music throughout the program. Betty Kreiger was just busy being bossy.

Randy Berriker was the emcee – who could be better? He was born and raised at Shenkel Church, so he knows eve-

rybody. Besides, he’s funny!

Those honored were persons who joined Shenkel church starting with 1941 to 1970, (Verna Walters and Dottie

McCann were at the top of the list…having been members 69 years to date!) 37 persons were among that ―Super

Stars‖ list, 25 of whom were in attendance. Each presented his/her story of early days at Shenkel, along with memo-

ries and stories, often sparkled with humor. Pastor Dan Moser and his wife, Peggy were invited guests, and Dan

ended our program with an ―Amen‖ speech.

Placemats at the table gave people a chance to write or draw on them and share their Shenkel memories. The place-

mats were collected and put on the bulletin board in the hallway and some in the social room. I had a great time

reading them and enjoying the drawings too.

So many of those messages mentioned Shenkel Church as ― a friendly church‖, ―a wonderful place to raise a fam-

ily‖, ―loving‖, ―caring‖ , ―sharing‖, ―the best years of my life were spent here at Shenkel‖.

Here are some of the highlights of Memories that were so meaningful:

Summer corn roast, Church picnics, home made pizza for Youth Fellowship meetings, climbing the big tree on the

parking lot, Sunday school, being an acolyte, decorating for Christmas, Christmas caroling,

Christmas plays and pageants, ―being a lamb in the Christmas play‖. ―Fernbrook Frolics‖, Bells and

Chimes, Rev. Reiff singing at Good Friday and Christmas services, clearing the grove, fixing shingles on the roof,

weddings, baptisms, helping clean dishes after the flood, ―my ordination into the Christian ministry of wholeness

and healing, Pastor Bonnie gathering the ―troops‖ to help at my mom’s house so the flood would not ruin the furni-

ture………AND ON AND ON…

Go look at the bulletin board yourself and see the many terrific memories that have touched people’s lives. Maybe

you would like to think about your own memories here at Shenkel church.

Shenkel Church is indeed caring, friendly, educational, inspirational, a place to share both joys and sorrows – a

church family. I am proud to be part of it all here at Shenkel Church!

We sang a song at our 173rd anniversary party with these words that sum it all up:

―I AM THE CHURCH…..YOU ARE THE CHURCH…..WE ARE THE CHURCH TOGETHER!‖

Happy Birthday, Shenkel Church

Love,

LONGEST NIGHT

PEACE SERVICE www.shenkelucc.org

610-326-3535

Christmas can be a painful time for some individuals. It may be the first Christmas without a loved family

member who has recently died; it may be a time that has always been difficult.

The constant refrain on radio and television, in shopping malls and churches about the happiness of the

season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost or

have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of

ill health, the pain of isolation—all these can make us feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and

shopping.

We need the opportunity and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern. We need to know that we

are not alone.

Our spirits sink, as days grow shorter. We feel the darkness growing deeper around us. We need encour-

agement to live the days ahead of us.

For these reasons, a special ―Longest Night‖ Peace Service is being offered on Tuesday, December 21,

2010 at 7:00 p.m. at Shenkel United Church of Christ, 1580 Shenkel Road, Pottstown. Come and join us

in sharing and hearing prayers, Scripture, and music that acknowledge that God‘s presence is for those

who mourn, for those who struggle - and that God‘s Word comes to shine light into our darkness.

Everyone, regardless of church background (or lack of it), is welcome. Please extend an invitation to your

friends, neighbors and colleagues.

PAGE 14

YOU SHOULD KNOW….Sunday worship is never cancelled due

to snow or inclement weather. If possible, though, please plan to

attend the 10:45 service to give the snow removal crew time to clear

the parking lot and sidewalks. The choir directors and Sunday

School teachers will contact you if there is a cancellation of any pro-

grams. Of course, you should always use your judgment as to

whether it is safe enough to drive.

Happy Winter!

PAGE 15

SHARING WITH OUR CHURCH ….….

AS ALWAYS AT SHENKEL….

Shenkel UCC celebrates the sacrament of Holy Com-

munion at both services on the first Sunday of each

month. Each time communion is served, some of

the bread and non-alcoholic wine that has been con-

secrated at the altar will be saved in a traveling com-

munion kit, ready to go to the homes or hospital

rooms of members who were unable to be present,

and would like to receive the sacrament. Please let

Pastor Bonnie know if you, or someone you know,

would appreciate ―distance-communing‖ with their

Shenkel Church family!

Healing Prayers

We have healing prayers during both ser-vices on the second Sunday of each month. It is our hope that you will use this opportunity to participate. During the col-lection of the offering, anyone who desires prayer for themselves or on behalf of another is invited to go to the back of the church, where a prayer team will join you for prayer. A prayer team will also be available in the front of the church at the conclusion of the service.

Healing prayers are also offered the third Thursday of every month at 9:15 a.m. in the sanctuary. Anyone in need of prayers for themselves or on behalf of another is wel-come !

Shenkel UCC will be praying

For these randomly selected members and friends of our congregation during

December and January.

1/2 Denise, Joseph and Joseph Yannick Virginia Johnson Joanne, Kevin, Justin, Taylor and Madelyn Murphy Freda Wanner Joan and Joe Granger

1/9 Lois and Elliott Baker Paula and Steve Terrell Diane and Dave Reinert Maryln Rohrbach Sherri, Bob and Ben Mocarski

1/16 Vicki, Noah, Ethan and Dylan Scharneck Mindy and Isheunesu Chidawu Gail Munion, Ken, Christine and Carolyn Gale Sue and Barry Miller Heather Burhans 1/23 Breanna Megni Alyson Painter Bonnie Moore Jody, Joel and Kaleena Sweinhart Tammy, Robert, Colin, Jared and Joshua Devine 1/30 Sharon and John Sabo Alex Mocarski Meredith Hampton Taylor Helmers Julie, Bill, Clay and Lucas Zachesky

12/5 Wanda, Steve, Tesia and Michaela Craner Julie, Michael, Madison and Jonathon Miller Jessica, Brandon and Gavin Knauer Lindsay Hoff Marilyn and Dave Lloyd 12/12 Ethel Miller Nicole Miller Laurie and Kurt Painter Kay and George Ellis Ruth Klein 12/19 Katie, Jacob and Liza Eames Elizabeth Bevan Kathy and Ron Lloyd Robin, David and Timothy Klein Barb and Bill Burhans 12/26 Linda, Andrew, Analexis, Brandon and Aaron Foss, Michael Zurek, Christine, Laura, Leslie and Mark Hauze David Phillips Pat and Fred Kerlin

OUR CHURCH FAMILY AND FRIENDS….

A big Thank you to Tom Klein for fixing

the water fountain in the social hall. It is

now ready to use!

PAGE 16

12/03 Kyle Hudick 12/04 KORTNE HUDICK 12/04 Taylor Baker 12/05 DAVID REINERT 12/05 Nicholas DeVito 12/06 Carl Bade 12/07 Maggie McCullagh 12/09 Abigail Dise 12/10 ELLEN FAUST 12/10 DIANE WILLIAMS 12/10 ROBIN KLEIN 12/10 CHRISTINE NYE 12/15 Verna Walters 12/15 Analexis Foss 12/16 DAVID ELLIS 12/17 PATRICIA KERLIN 12/17 ELLA WOODMAN 12/18 Gillian Caplan 12/18 Sierra Miller 12/19 GIONNA ALTENDERFER 12/20 Judith Gergle 12/20 Amy Shenk 12/21 Betty Bortz 12/22 Sara Helmers 12/22 TIMOTHY KLEIN 12/22 Jim FAUST 12/23 KAREN GERBER 12/23 Dave Miller 12/23 Josh Palubinsky 12/24 TJ AUGUSTINE 12/25 DAVID BADE 12/26 JEFF LUCKENBACH 12/26 Anna Bevan 12/27 TOM MCKIERNAN 12/28 ADDISON MARKLEY 12/29 GEORGE HAMPTON 12/31 Joan Johnson 12/31 MELISSA MELLINGER

01/01 Lori Brewer 01/03 Jean Munion 01/03 Tammy Baker 01/04 Kimberly Yocom 01/04 Jenny Scheler 01/05 Susan Miller 01/05 DENISE YANNICK 01/05 Noah Apgar 01/08 Tim Durham 01/09 Olivia Dushanko 01/13 Freda Wanner 01/13 Andrew Andrien 01/13 Brandon Foss 01/20 Frank Brewer 01/21 Mike Martin 01/21 Kailyn Painter 01/22 STEFAN BILINSKI 01/22 Aurora Keim 01/23 Lucy Body 01/24 DAVID KLEIN 01/24 Matthew Metzger 01/25 JARED DEVINE 01/26 Richard Walters 01/26 SHARON WOODMAN 01/27 ERIC KLEIN 01/29 Brian Iezzi 01/30 JILL HUDICK 01/31 Crystal Heimbach

KIDS IN CHURCH…..

After the christening of his baby brother in

church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the

back seat of the car. His father asked him

three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy

replied, ”That preacher said he wanted us

brought up in a Christian home, and I

wanted to stay with you guys.‖