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The Joyful Noise Newsletter Schoeneck Moravian Church

August 2021

From Screens to Relationship

In a 2016 report from Apple, the tech company reported that the average iPhone user unlocked his or her phone approximately eighty times per day. One can only imagine how that number has only increased over the last five years as more people have come to own smartphones, and more time has been spent on them especially during the pandemic. While electronic tools like our iPhones or Android phones have enhanced our lives in many ways, they have also subtracted from them as well. Whereas we used to drive by the bus stop in the morning to see youth conversing with one another, now we see each youth’s eyes glued to a phone. In reference to the iPhone statistic mentioned above, Christian writer Arlene Pellicane wonders how life would be different if, for all the times we reach to unlock our phones, we instead reached out to our spouse to interact with him or her.

1 Can you say that you have pursued your husband or wife even just eight times a day,

let alone eighty times a day? Can you say that you have reached out to a friend or family member more than just a couple of times per week? Why is it that we have become so comfortable reaching out to our devices instead of people? Our devices can do just about everything but wash the car. On them, we can make dinner reservations, pay our bills, check on the game, read our emails, listen to music, watch TV, and this is just touching the tip of the iceberg. With all these distractions, it’s no wonder we reach out to our phones instead of people. Our pocket-sized computers are an endless source of entertainment. There is also the truth that relationships sometimes require work. They aren’t always easy. Differences of opinions must be talked about. Feelings need to be shared. Time needs to be spent paying attention to and listening to the other person. This can be tiring. It can be risky. Sharing feelings risks someone getting hurt. Pulling out our phones seems so much easier, so much safer. While our devices aren’t inherently evil, they often take the place of something that is more difficult but that is far more important and life-giving: relationships. Rather than encourage us to live separate lives, Scripture implores us to move closer to one another in our thoughts and feelings. The phrase “One another” occurs at least 90 times in the New Testament.

2 The command to love one another occurs at least 16 times

3 and is accompanied

by other commands such as these: be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10), honor one another (Romans 12:16), admonish one another (Romans 15:14), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), teach one another (Colossians 3:13), encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11), pray for one another (James 5:16), confess your faults to one another (James 5:16). And the list goes on. The early church serves as an example of the way we ought to be prioritizing relationships in our lives. After approximately three thousand people joined the church on the day of Pentecost, the ranks of new believers didn’t just go about their business but rather they committed to being together, growing in faith together, spending time together: “All believers were together and had everything in common…every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts” (Acts 2:46).

1 “Taking Back Your Home from the Phone,” Family Life Today, July 12, 2021: https://www.familylife.com/podcast/familylife-today/taking-back-your-home-from-the-phone/. 2 https://biblehub.com/greek/240.htm

3 “The ‘One Another’ Passages,”https://www.mmlearn.org/hubfs/docs/OneAnotherPassages.pdf.

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Highlights from the Board of Elders and Board of Trustees

July Meetings

Board of Elders

New members installation and reception on July 25

Looking for someone to serve as Diener Coordinator

Snack & Yack to start up on August 1

Board of Trustees

Eagle Scout project underway

Discussed Trustee of the Month duties

Discussed hiring new administrative assistant

“But relationships are hard!” you say. God no doubt knows that, and Scripture encourages us not to give up on them despite this: “If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). “If you are offering your gift on the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). “Do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26). All these Scriptures point out the importance of persevering in our relationships. “But what for?” After all, our phones require much less effort and are guaranteed to make us smile for at least a little while. The answer is that we should pursue relationships because God has commanded us to, and also because like all of God’s commands, there is great reward in keeping them (Psalm 19:11). Sure we can find relief in the devices that entertain us, but what happens when life gets tough? We need friends, we need our spouse, we need our church family, and we need God who binds us together and gives us the words and the heart to help one another. We need relationship. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 tells us, “Two are better than one…if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” We need each other. We can find comfort and joy in many things, but God describes an even greater joy that flows out of good relationships, ones that we have fought hard to maintain and restore. God’s word says, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1) You can have the finest food on the table, the best phones in the hand, the nicest house on the block, but if that home is devoid of love and relationship, it will always be missing something. This week, instead of swiping to unlock your phone, reach out to your spouse. Reach out to a friend or neighbor. Ask them about their day. Build relationship. Work through the challenges. And be encouraged because in doing this, you are doing the work God calls you to do, and in doing it there is great reward. God bless, Pastors Garritt and Sanette

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Worship the Lord with Us! Every year on July 6 we celebrate the life of John Hus, the Czech reformer who sought to restore the

Roman Church from its abuses and error and transform it into a church that truly loves and follows

Jesus Christ. Hus was burned at the stake on July 6, 1415 for his refusal to back down from the call to

stand for truth that Jesus had placed on his heart.

Today we celebrate John Hus’ life, but some ques'ons for us are these: do we really know what Hus

taught and fought for? Do we really consider what he died for? And does that ma,er to us today?

During the month of August, we will be looking at a number of John Hus’ sermons and discovering

what the great reformer believed and taught and why it should ma,er to us today.

August 1: Sermon: John Hus’ Le,er to the Rector of Pracha'cz (1408)

August 8: Sermon: John Hus’ Le,er To The People of Pilsen (1412)

Aug. 15: Sermon: The Chalice

On this Sunday we will celebrate Holy Communion with a lovefeast a6er worship in

the fellowship hall.

August 22: Sermon: John Hus' Le,er To His Friends in Constance (June 18, 1415)

On this Sunday we will have a special thanks and prayer for the leaders of our church.

August 29: Sermon: John Hus’ Final Declara'on (July 1, 1415)

We need your help!!

Looking for volunteers to help run the Livestream on Sunday Morning.

No prior experience is needed;

training will be provided.

We are hoping to have a rotating schedule of

volunteers to take turns running the equipment.

Please contact Pastor Garritt, Pastor Sanette, JoAnn Heckman, or

Denise Morris-Ng if you are interested.

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Health Ministry

Greetings!

I hope everyone is staying cool & well hydrated during this heat wave.

Our topic this month is Alzheimer’s.

What does this mean to you? Have you had personal experience with this disease? Something to

fear? You know someone who has it? It can mean many different things to many different people. I

believe this disease is harder on the family of the person who is affected.

When Alzheimer’s enters a caregiver’s life, it is a completely new experience for which most of us

are totally unprepared. In the early stages, the person may be aware of what is happening and this

alone can cause pain & insecurity. As the disease progresses, the caregiver will need family and

friends, as well as professionals, who can help provide the best possible care for their loved one. To

get through this journey, it is important to realize that others are a source of comfort & support.

Four ways to help friends & family understand Alzheimer’s:

Share the news of diagnosis as soon as possible: The sooner you tell others, the sooner you

will get support. If possible, try to include the individual in the process. Remember, many

people have already noticed something was wrong, so this will create understanding.

Explain briefly what it is and progress made over the years. Your person will have memory

loss, difficulty following through on a task, and may forget where they are. Focus on the

strengths, and how they enjoy spending time together.

Be proactive about encouraging others to visit: Social interaction improves the quality of

life. Share with others the best time of day to visit. If you cannot meet in person, encourage

virtual visits like Facetime and Zoom.

Support interaction: Remind others of the activities your person is able to do (have coffee,

play cards, listen to music, read, do a craft, sit or take a walk). Being together is a source of

comfort for everyone.

Assist with communication: Provide suggestions on how to greet someone with

Alzheimer’s. Like say, “Hi! I am Mary.” Ask visitors to avoid correcting the person.

Suggest that they just respond to the person and to feelings expressed. Remind them not to

take lack of recognition or anger personally. The person living with Alzheimer’s is

responding to the confusion in his brain.

In the meantime, stay safe, enjoy your summer. Hope to see you on Sunday!

Blessings!

Cookie Knauss

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JUNE MONTHLY FINANCIAL SUMMARY

2021

JUNE ACTIVITY

JUNE TOTAL REVENUE $29,463

JUNE TOTAL EXPENSES -$25,342

JUNE NET REVENUE $4,121

YEAR TO DATE ACTIVITY

YTD TOTAL REVENUE $179,271

YTD TOTAL EXPENSES -$174,703

YTD NET REVENUE $4,568

ALL PROVINCIAL/ DISTRICT OBLIGATIONS WERE PAID

IN FULL THROUGH JUNE 2021.

TOTAL MONTHLY OBLIGATION IS $7,165

Time, Talent and Treasure JUNE

SPECIAL OFFERINGS

Provincial Administration $1,255

Special Projects—VBS $20

Special Projects - Camp Hope $20

Special Projects - Nazareth Social

Work Program

$280

Special Projects - Cemetery

Perpetual Care

$445

Community Dinner Donations $417

Moravian Open Door $77

Communion/ Lovefeast $5

Father’s Day Bulletin Insert $27

Memorial Gifs - Elwood Warner $325

Organ/Roof Repair Fund $7,467

Total $10,338

SPONSORS FOR AUGUST 2021

FLOWERS - $10.00 BULLETINS - $10.00

8/1 Sandy & Kevin Love 8/1 Mel Stocker

8/8 Bob & Marianne Sweitzer 8/8 Dolores Klipple

8/15 OPEN 8/15 OPEN

8/22 OPEN 8/22 OPEN

8/29 OPEN 8/29 OPEN

AUGUST SAFE HARBOR

Ka'e & Bill Ellio,,

Bob & Marianne Sweitzer

AUGUST RECYCLING SPONSORS

Dolores Klipple

Redacted from online version for privacy.

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Elder’s Devotion

In my younger years, being a single parent of 3 all under the age of 7 was difficult on many levels. Most of

the time I felt tired and overwhelmed by all my responsibilities. A lot of days, I felt like the whole world

rested on my shoulders. Somedays when I tried to carry the load, I was too weak. I continued to fight, I

tried harder, I HAD to be strong!

Then I came across a verse designed for weakness & hope. From 2 Corinthians12:9 “And He said to me,

My Grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will

boast in my infirmities, the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

This is what Paul did in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10—He prayed repeatedly about a difficult situation in his life,

asking the Lord to take it from him. God responded, “My Grace is sufficient.”

By looking at this verse in it’s original Greek, the word “rest” means a tent or covering. Christ’s power

over our circumstances and in our weakness, is a shelter in which to rest. Take refuge from the storms,

and is our protective covering.

Looking for & acknowledging God’s strength in my weakness was better for my attitude than complaining.

Complaining was just a dead end. However, boasting what God can do in me infused my faith, causing me

to depend on His strength more and more. His promise became a reality in my life.

For when I am weak, he is strong!

Sharon Schuler

Elder

Plastic Recycling Update: July 16, 2021

It is estimated that only about 13% of the “recyclable” material that is picked up curbside by our local trash collectors is actually recycled and reused here in the US. However, 100% of the plastic we collect for the TREX COMPANY is used by them in manufacturing their building products. Our participation is an act of stewardship, keeping polluting material out of landfills. In order for our goal of 500 pounds to be collected over a six-month period, we need to average about 85 pounds per month, or about 20 pounds per week. By the end of June, I dropped off at Wegman’s Easton/Nazareth (our community partner) 79 pounds. They, in turn ship it to TREX. So far in the first half of July, 50 pounds have been delivered to them. We are on track. Keep up the good work.

Mark Your Calendar!

Schoeneck will once again participate in

the Upper Nazareth Community Day event

Friday, August 27th, 5pm-9pm

Tuskes Community Park, 3040 Bath Pike, Nazareth

All are invited to visit Schoeneck's booth at this family-friendly event. We'll have activities for the children and

a prayer station. Come out and support your

church!

If you'd like to volunteer, please contact Cookie Knauss or

Ann Dalton.

-Sponsored by the Mission & Evangelism Ministry-

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Community Dinners Mobile Pick-up Only

Tuesday, August 24 Pork & Sauerkraut

4:30 - 6:00 PM (or while supplies last)

Needed from the congregation:

Accepting donations of homemade desserts that can be individually wrapped or bagged.

Snack and Yack is back !!! Sundays August 1st - September 5th

Please join us in the Fellowship Hall immediately following worship for a time to socialize with old friends and

hopefully make some new ones.

Men’s Bible Study Wednesdays at 7:00 PM

Interested in enhancing your walk with God? We welcome you to join the Men’s Bible Study this summer on Wednesdays at 7:00 P.M. starting July 14. This summer we will be studying the New Testament book of Titus. We will meet in-person at the church and simultaneously over Zoom for those not comfortable meeting in person. Please join us for what we pray will be a fruitful study of God’s word!

2022 Daily Text Pre-Orders

Due in the church office by July 31.

Checks should be made out to Schoeneck

Moravian Church. Any questions,

please contact the church office.

Last Wednesday of Each Month

11:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall

Join us for tea, refreshments, and fellowship time.

The Sr. Youth Group is collecting

School Supplies

for Esperanza

Donations of school supplies can be

left on the bench by the Sr. Youth

Group bulletin board. Esperanza

will use these supplies in a

Community Outreach program to

provide them to any child in need,

not just the kids of their

congregation.

Any school supplies are welcome.

Here are some suggestions:

backpacks Spiral notebooks

folders

rulers

#2 pencils

erasers

crayons

glue sticks dry erase markers

hand sanitizer

kid-sized scissors

pencil boxes

Crayola markers

boxes of tissues

colored pencils

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Congratulations to the Rev. Otto Dreydoppel

on his retirement!

Louis Murante

David & Sunny Kline

John & Lori Deutsch

Curtis & Bonnie Hoffman

Congratulations on the birth of Elise Sallah on July 5, 2021

to parents Melissa & Jared Sallah, brother Colin, and grandparents

Sue and Charles Anascavage.

Many thanks to John Beitel, Katie Elliott, and

Ron Minnich for their assistance in the roadside

cleanup along Jacobsburg Road on Saturday,

July 10th. Next cleanup is scheduled for

Saturday, October 9 (rain date: October 16th).

Thank you once again for your faithful contribution to the Nazareth Area

Support Program. Our social worker has been working hard to ensure

that all who contact her get the services they need to live successful lives.

One such person and his service dog had been experiencing homelessness

for some time. In conjunction with the Nazareth Borough Police, she

was able to get him the services he needed and into stable housing. There

are many other stories of people getting aid, being connected to agencies,

and receiving counseling. Your support helps to make this possible.

Sincerely,

The Rev. Scott A. Hall

Treasurer, Nazareth Ministerium

Thank you to Carol & Mel Messinger for all

of their help with the June Turkey BBQ

Community Dinner. They donated the

turkeys, their time, and their wonderful

homemade BBQ sauce! Praise be to God!

Sharon & Gloria

Thank you for the many prayers and cards

during my recent illness and relocation to

Alexandria Manor.

Betty Warner

Thank you for prayers, cards, and Casserole

of Care during recent surgery and continued

treatments. God continues to bless me

through my church family.

Karin Silvius

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PRAYER CONCERNS

HOMEBOUND MEMBERS

SERVING IN THE MILITARY

1 - Wayne & Kristin Frick (29) 2 - Ron & Linda Minnich (52)

4 - Amy & Gary Edelman (31) 5 - Fred & Peg Koehler (21) 5 - Dwayne & Lisa Moyer (5)

8 - Deb & Doug Charles (8) 8 - Glenn & Debra Geosits (40) 13 - Bill & Katie Elliott (44)

18 - Carol & Richard Saeger (37) 25 - Thomas & Sharon Giovanni (42)

28 - James Huleatt & Ann Millham (28)

29 - Jeff & Carol Faust (40)

2 - Amy Lirag Jeremy Searock*

Cody Smith* 3 - Sally Huber 4 - Lois Barry*

6 - Richard Ressler 8 - Wayne Frick Geoff Holland

9 - Marietta Hartzell Bob Sweitzer

11 - Susan Duffield Bill Orsinger Courtney Schnyderite

13 - Katelyn Davies Brian Dishong

Garritt Fleming Nathan Hahn Dwayne Moyer

Jocelyn Szulborski (19) 14 - Elenora Kachline

Rachel Miller* 15 - Bekka Haidle (18)

16 - Nicholas Dorion Gary Oplinger*

17 - Carol Hunt* 18 - Trudy Brown Melissa Gillette

Sarah Hriniak* 19 - Julie Nichols Carson Schrantz (18)

20 - Guiseppe Silimperi 22 - Frank Searock*

Jordan Smith 24 - Gayle Searock Melody Stocker

25 - Pat Davies 26 - Cassandra Culp

Allen Faust* 27 - Halle Rampulla* 29 - Bill Elliott*

31 - Lou Dishong

*significant

Birthday ending in

a “5” or “0”.

*With respect for the rights each one has to privacy, please secure an individual’s permission before adding them to our prayer list, or sharing their concern during worship. Please remember to contact the church office when names should be removed from the list.

PRAYER CONCERNS * (Friends)

Our Church Family

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Adult Sunday School classes remain on summer break for the month of August while our church services are on the summer schedule.

Summer Sundays at Schoeneck continue this month for the children. After the Children's Moment during the church service, we continue to meet downstairs in room #2 and continue to study the Books of the Bible (we are just finishing Judges) with short lessons and slide shows, reading out of the Bible, sometimes a short video

and at times a craft. We still send out the link to our children to join us on Zoom if they are unable to make it to church.

September is just around the corner and that means that the Christian Education Committee will be starting to organize and plan for Rally Day on September 12th. So, if you are on the Christian Education Committee, please remember to check your emails for updates and notices about upcoming meetings to get a jump start on our planning. Also, anyone interested in helping teach or being a Shepherd for any of the upcoming classes, please contact either myself, JoAnn Heckman, or the Pastors.

Blessings on your day! Pamela Stampf

Sunday School Coordinator

Our vacation Bible school, "BOLT Totally 80's" motored by July 6th - 9th from 10am- 12pm, with our own TOTALLY TUBULAR, Miss Sarah, leading all the dudes and dudettes in her 80's dance moves to some gnarly BOLT Totally 80's music, and her showing and letting them all play with her newly acquired 80's toys! The Bible Studies came from the book of Acts for all 4 days, with the children learning how the "Believers share everything" and how Saul's name was changed to Paul after becoming a Christian. They also learned that PRAYER is the most powerful force in the universe and how it helped in Peter's Great Escape in Act 12:1-17. The last day was about Paul & Silas

sharing the "Good News" and how Jesus died for our salvation. They even played a game called "Paperboy" where they threw a make believe rolled up newspaper through a hula-hoop to deliver the good news! They made a "Time, Talent and Treasure" paper clip chain, made themselves a name tag using their "new 80's name", a prayer box and shared a post it note with others in their group with a prayer request on it, and lastly painted a cross sun catcher.

Of course, they had Bible verses to recite each day, but they also learned a new 80's word each

day, as you can see by the highlighted words in the first paragraph. We started the week with 14 children and little Miss Esther and added children each day, and by

Friday, we had 18 plus little Miss Esther! (12 from Schoeneck, 2 from Nazareth Moravian, 1 from Prince of Peace, 2 from Life Church and 2 with no church affiliation).

Volunteers: Adults-8 including myself and Sarah and Youth helpers-9. Our first two days were spent outside entirely, and boy was it hot, even under our church pavilion. The last two days were spent in the Fellowship Hall due to the possibilities of rain and thunderstorms. (We had a lot less complaining when we were in the air conditioning!) A special thank you to all who donated their time, talent and treasures for making this week possible, and to those who gave monetary donations, and lastly for all the prayers that this week would go smoothly considering the year and all its difficulties! Blessings to all! Pamela Stampf

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SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

10th Sunday after Pentecost 1 9:30 AM Worship in the Sanctuary and Livestream Summer Sundays at Schoeneck 11 AM Snack & Yack 12 PM Pastoral Counseling

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Pastors’ Vacation

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6 PM TOPS

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9 AM Women’s Bible Study

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11th Sunday after Pentecost 8 9:30 AM Worship in the Sanctuary and Livestream Summer Sundays at Schoeneck 11 AM Snack & Yack

Pastors’ Vacation

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10 6 PM TOPS 7 PM Elders Meeting

11 12:30 Public Retirees 7PM Men’s Bible Study

12 9 AM Women’s Bible Study

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Moravian Pentecost Holy Comm. 15 9:30 AM Worship in the Sanctuary and Livestream Summer Sundays at Schoeneck 11 AM Snack & Yack

16 Heather’s Vacation

17 6 PM TOPS

18 7PM Men’s Bible Study

19 9 AM Women’s Bible Study 7PM Scout Parents Meeting

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13th Sunday after Pentecost 22 Leadership Recognition 9:30 AM Worship in the Sanctuary and Livestream Summer Sundays at Schoeneck 11 AM Snack & Yack

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24 4:30—6 PM Community Dinner 6 PM TOPS

25 11 AM Women’s Fellowship 7PM Men’s Bible Study 7PM Scout Pack Meeting

26 9 AM Women’s Bible Study

27 Participate in Upper Nazareth Day

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Education Sunday/ Blessing of 29 the Backpacks 9:30 AM Worship in the Sanctuary and Livestream Summer Sundays at Schoeneck 11AM Snack & Yack 12PM Private Event

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6 PM TOPS 7PM Joint Board

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Schoeneck Moravian Church August 2021

Our Lamb has conquered, let us follow him. In Essentials, Unity; In Nonessentials, Liberty; In All Things, Love.

Rev. Garritt Fleming, Pastor Rev. Sanette Fleming, Pastor Ryan Morrow, Director of Music Heather Scholtes, Administrative Assistant

9:30 am Worship in the Sanctuary and Livestream

Our Mission Statement “To follow the example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to love and serve all.”

Schoeneck Moravian Church 316 North Broad Street Extension Nazareth, Pennsylvania 18064-9522

schoeneck@schoeneckmoravian.org https://schoeneckmoravian.org 610-759-0376

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

The Joyful Noise