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TLC News

Sunday School 9:00 a.m. February 2017 Worship 10:30 a.m.

Our Mission: “To become more like Jesus, reaching out to our community with God’s love.”

THE ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL

REPORT for 2016

Trinity’s Annual Congregational Report reviews

our ministry and finance for the previous year. The

Annual Congregation Report for 2016 will be

available to all members of the congregation at

church starting Sunday, February 12th. If you

would like the Annual Congregational Report

mailed to you, please send an email to

trinitymcclure@gmail.com or call 570-658-2262

and leave a message.

LENTEN SOUP SUPPER AND STUDY

Trinity’s annual Lenten Soup Supper and Study will

be held on Wednesdays at 6 pm starting March 8th

and continuing through Wednesday, April 5th. All

are invited to enjoy breaking bread & sipping soup

together. This year’s class will feature DVDs on

the places in the Holy Land where different parts of

the Bible took place. If you can’t travel to the

Middle East to see these sites in person, why not

come to Soup Supper and Study and see them there!

Volunteers are needed to provide a kettle of soup,

loaves of bread, and/or to “set-

up” and “clean-up” for our

Lenten soup suppers on

Wednesdays during Lent.

Please sign up at the

Information Table. Thank you!

LENTEN DEVOTIONALS

On the Information table are free Lenten

devotionals for individuals and families. Please feel

free to take one and use them to add to your

worship and understanding of this Lenten season.

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE NEWS The Fundraising committee will be making Peanut

Butter & Coconut Cream Thursday’s at 9:30 am.

We will need helpers to coat and package the candy.

If you can help please contact Sandie Snook.

Fundraising’s “Olde Fashion Christmas” took in

$378.00; this amount was matched by Trinity’s

Special Gifts fund. All proceeds were donated to

the “Meals for Mustangs” program, which provides

meals for students in need at the Midd-West School

District. Thank you all!

FAITH MILESTONES PRAYER PARTY TO

BE HELD on FEBRUARY 26

The 3, 4 and 5-year-olds of Trinity will be attending

a Prayer Party on Sunday, February 26, during the

Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. The event will include

games and crafts, special gifts, and learning more

about praying to God. And just as Simeon and

Anna were both present at the Temple when Mary

and Joseph brought the baby Jesus there for his

presentation, there were elders in faith—people who

could pass on their love of God to others. Our 3, 4,

and 5-year-olds will be partnered with their own

Annas and Simeons of our congregation who are

willing to be prayer partners with some of our

littlest members. Watch for invitations in the mail!

Their prayer partners are also invited to the Prayer

Party!

Then during worship on February 26, in our 10:30

am worship service, the 3, 4, and 5-year-olds and

their prayer partners will come forward as we

celebrate the Faith Milestone of Prayer in their life.

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“From the Pastor’s Desk”

The month of February begins with a "holiday"

which started here in Pennsylvania, Groundhog's

Day, the day when a furry rodent prognosticates

whether there will be an early spring or six more

weeks of winter. Almost 25 years ago, there was a

movie named after our Pennsylvania holiday and

that movie is now considered an American comedy

classic.

The plot of the movie, "Groundhog's Day," revolves

around Phil Connors (played by actor Bill Murray).

Phil is a weatherman who is assigned to cover

Groundhog's Day in Punxsutawney. Connors

makes no bones about how much he hates the

assignment, the town, and the townspeople, whom

he considers "hicks." When a blizzard strands

Connors in Punxsutawney, he becomes stuck in a

"time loop" in which every morning when he wakes

up, it's Groundhog's Day again. It's a cycle Phil is

doomed to repeat until he comes to some

realizations about himself, his attitude, and what he

can do to make life better, for himself and for

others. Naturally, these realizations do not happen

overnight; in fact, it is quite a while until Phil

realizes this.

Like the Christmas classic, "It's a Wonderful Life,”

the theme of "Groundhog's Day" is one with which

people identify. What makes this movie resonate

with us is the thought of what we would do, and

how we would feel, if we were stuck reliving the

same day over and over until we got it right. Or, at

least, made some realizations about our own

attitudes and what we can do to make life better for

ourselves and others. Since we are Christians,

imagine if you will a Christian version of

"Groundhog's Day."

Imagine if you had to live February 2 - or any other

day - over and over until, as a Christian, you got it

right, obeying God's Laws completely. You can be

sure that having to re-live a day until it was sin-free

would make us a lot more aware of the ways in

which we do sin, both the obvious ways and the

not-so-obvious ways. If, like weatherman Phil, you

were stuck in a time loop, how long would it take

you to realize the depth of your sinful nature?

How long would you be in a "time loop" until you

got it right?

Moreover, how long would it take until you

realized, and really understood, what Jesus did for

you when He was crucified for your sins. When the

Son of God died for us on the cross, after living

perfectly sinless every day of His life, He ended any

time loop that we might have had to undergo. In

fact, it was because God knew that we couldn't get

it right - that it would take forever for us to obey

His Laws - that He sent His Son as the perfect

sacrifice for our sins.

The "holiday" that is Groundhog's Day is one in

which we try to predict the end of winter and the

beginning of spring. And, while each season is a

blessing from God to which we should look

forward, we are even more blessed that we do not

need to go through even one day trying to be perfect

according to God's Law. Praise be to God who has

ended the winter of our sin and brought us to the

spring of new life in His Son, Jesus Christ, our

Savior and Lord!

In Christ's Name,

Pastor Lisa

Pastor Lisa’s Office Hours:

At the Parsonage study:

-- Tuesday & Wednesday evenings,

6:30-8:30;

-- Wednesday & Thursday mornings,

9 – 11 am;

Or, by scheduling an appointment at your

convenience, contact her at: 658-2040 or by email:

prlschuster@yahoo.com.

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FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

Pastor Lisa Schuster 2/2

Diane Roush 2/4

Ace Weaver 2/5

Janet Walter 2/6

Cathy York 2/6

Rufina Mitch 2/6

Louella Ritter 2/7

Angela Ulrich 2/12

Lori Worrell 2/13

Robin Randolph 2/14

Andrea Amu 2/16

Keith Seler 2/17

Tim Benner 2/23

Travis Weader 2/25

Lisa Shirk 2/27

Zachary Brittain 2/27

FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES

Missy & Tim Moyer 2/7

Harold and Florence Reitz 2/14

BAPTISMAL ANNIVERSARIES

Glenn Folk 2/1

Edna Laub 2/3

Corey Flood 2/8

Geraldine Flood 2/10

Ace Weaver 2/12

Audrey Ritter 2/21

Heidy Oldt 2/27

Tanya Schreffler 2/27

WELCA FOOD BANK

OFFERING

February’s WELCA Food Bank

offering is: Soup, crackers,

peanut butter and jelly and all

other non-perishable food items.

Those in need of food should

call Beaver Lutheran, 570-658-

2001, to arrange to a pick up; there is a one-bag

limit at the Beaver Lutheran Food Bank (one-bag

limit).

STAYING SAFE, STATISTICALLY

SPEAKING!

Where is the safest place to be in the world today?

1. Avoid riding in automobiles because they are

responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.

2. Do not stay at home because 17% of all

accidents occur at home.

3. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16%

of all accidents involve these forms of

transportation.

4. Avoid walking on the street or sidewalks because

14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians.

5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in

hospitals. So, above all else, avoid hospitals.

You will, however, be pleased to learn that only

.001% of all deaths occur in worship services in

church, and these are usually related to previous

physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the

safest place for you to be at any given time is at

church! Bible study is safe too. The percentage of

deaths during Bible study is even less!

So... attend church and read your Bible - it can save

your life! And your life hereafter. God, bless you

and keep you safe!

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FEBRUARY WORSHIP LEADERS

February 5

Assisting Minister: Dave Weader

Greeters: Schreffler Family

Ushers: Keith Seler

Jenni Boonie

Lector: Dave Weader

Nursery: Denise Boonie

Treasury Asst: Edwin & Diane Weader

February 12

Assisting Minister: Dave Weader

Greeters: Ange Ulrich & Family

Ushers: Karen Segall

Sandra Snook

Lector: Ange Ulrich

Nursery: Jan Gilbert

Treasury Asst: Edwin & Diane Weader

February 19

Assisting Minister: Dave Weader

Greeters: Toby & Melanie & Ava Stoner

Ushers: Bonnie Jones

Martha Wert

Lector: Dave Weader

Nursery: Ange Ulrich

Treasury Asst: Edwin & Diane Weader

February 26 Transfiguration of Our Lord

Assisting Minister: Dave Weader

Greeters: Steve & Erma Knarr

Ushers: Ange Ulrich

Janet Walter

Lector: Denise Fike

Nursery: Jennie Boonie

Treasury Asst: Edwin & Diane Weader

*Please note that when you are scheduled to be a

greeter, you are also an usher for that Sunday. If for

any reason, you are unable to serve at your appointed

time, please secure a replacement and notify the church

secretary prior to the printing of the Sunday bulletin.

FEB. WORSHIP SUPPORT CHAIRPERSONS

Greeters/Ushers/TA: Karen Segall

Lectors: Ange Ulrich

Acolyte: Tayla Schreffler

Flowers: Vickie Seler

Bread: Jenni Boonie

Set-up: Tom Pheasant

Take Down: Jim & Bonnie Jones

Please remember the following people in

your prayers…

Gene Knepp, Ronald Henry, Diane Hallinan, John

Ritter, Robin Randolph, Alfred Kahley, Sure Bair,

Jane Freed, Tanna Snook, Debbie McGill, Judy

Renninger, Erdnal Laub, Marian Laub, Pete Swab,

Mandy & Dan Baxter, Giselle Miller, Harold Reitz,

Stanford Kline, and the families of Frances Erb, Lisa

Beiler and Sylvia Joy.

Our College Students: Kayla Fisher, Jarrett

Hassinger, Cassie Oldt, and Danielle E. Ulrich.

Military Personnel in Our Prayers: Joe Haskins

(USA), Craig Hassinger (USAF), Dylan Holmes (US

Army), Brooke Seler (USAF), and Kelly Weader

(USN).

Also, pray for our friends at Conewago-Snyder, near

and far, and all the residents and workers at Beacon

Light.

OUR SHARED MINISTRY

--BY THE NUMBERS—

Our Worship Attendance:

Nov. 27: 58 Dec. 25: 95 Jan. 22: 53

Dec: 4: 71 Jan. 1: 50

Dec: 11: 65 Jan. 8: 63

Dec: 18: 59 Jan. 15: 47

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2017 INCOME THRU JANUARY 22ND

Our Offerings (by envelopes, loose, Sunday School)

Envelopes: $ 7,927.00

Loose Plate: $ 244.25

Sunday School: $ 53.00

Total Income: $8,547.75

Total Expenses: $3,838.11

Line of credit: $7,942.83

STAYING SAFE, STATISTICALLY

SPEAKING!

Where is the safest place to be in the world today?

1. Avoid riding in automobiles because they are

responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.

2. Do not stay at home because 17% of all

accidents occur at home.

3. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16%

of all accidents involve these forms of

transportation.

4. Avoid walking on the street or sidewalks because

14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians.

5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in

hospitals. So, above all else, avoid hospitals.

You will, however, be pleased to learn that only

.001% of all deaths occur in worship services in

church, and these are usually related to previous

physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the

safest place for you to be at any given time is at

church! Bible study is safe too. The percentage of

deaths during Bible study is even less!

So... attend church and read your Bible - it can save

your life! And your life hereafter.

God, bless you and keep you safe!

WELCA FOOD BANK

OFFERING

February’s WELCA Food Bank

offering is: Soup, crackers,

peanut butter and jelly and all

other non-perishable food items.

Those in need of food should

call Beaver Lutheran, 570-658-

2001, to arrange to a pick up; there is a one-bag

limit at the Beaver Lutheran Food Bank (one-bag

limit).

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

The deadline for the March newsletter will be

February 20th. If you have any information to

contribute, please place on the desk in the office or

email it to the church at trinitymcclure@gmail.com.

Thanks for your help!

FAITH MILESTONE -

ANNIVERSARY OF BAPTISM

At our worship service on January

8th the congregation of Trinity

celebrated the “baptismal

anniversaries” of Bucky Wright, Mason Swope,

Isaac Stuck, and Justin Fisher, who were baptized

on March 27, 2016. As part of the family of God,

we rejoice with these young men and their families!

OUR FINAL NICKEL

SUNDAY UPDATE

The last Nickel Sunday

offering taken in

December 2016 was

$48.18. Your nickels and a generous donation

have paid off the Clinic mortgage! Glory to God!!!

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DECEMBER COUNCIL

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

The Council meeting for December was held on

Monday, December 12th in the Social room at

Trinity. The following are highlights from that

meeting:

-- Need for an assistant Council secretary was

discussed and agreed upon. This would be someone

from Council who would “sub in” for the Council

secretary when absent;

-- The Halls will be ending their Communion wine

ministry this year so Trinity will need to supply

wine for weekly Communion. Pr. Lisa is checking

prices at the PA State stores and Shade Mountain

Winery;

-- The 2017 Spending Plan was approved and new

Council members Cindy Graybill, Annette Knarr,

and Dave Weader were elected at the Sunday,

December 11th Congregational meeting. Denise

Boonie was also elected to a three-year term on the

TLC Ministry Fund;

-- The Clinic committee will be meeting with

Reliance Therapy owner, Pat Gay, on Wednesday,

December 28 at 2 p.m.

-- The Fundraising Committee’s Olde-Fashioned

Christmas was a success; it was well-attended and

raised $378.00 for the Meal for Mustangs program.

(Trinity matched this amount for a total donation of

$756.00.);

-- The Children’s Christmas program, “O, Come All

Ye Faithful,” will take place on Sunday, December

25th during worship;

-- BSA Troop #408 will hold an Eagle Scout Court

of Honor for Eagle Scout Blake Gudonis, on

Saturday, January 7, 2017 at Trinity.

A hard copy of the Council minutes for this meeting

is available in the Trinity notebook on the

Information Table. The next Council meeting will

be held on Monday, January 16th at 6:30 p.m. in the

Social room. All are welcome to attend.

JANUARY COUNCIL

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

The January Council meeting was held on Monday,

January 16th at 6:30 p.m. in the Social room at

Trinity. The following are highlights from that

meeting:

-- Officers for 2017 were elected: President Karen

Segall; Vice President Janet Walter; Secretary

Cindy Graybill; Assistant Secretary Jenni Boonie;

and Treasurer Jim Jones.

-- Council voted to that a 10% tithe to the Special

Gifts/Matching Fund be made from every donation

to Trinity which has not been allotted for a specific

purpose. The Special Gifts/Matching fund is the

fund from which Trinity matches all charitable

donations that the church makes;

-- The offering of $785.00 taken at the Candlelight

Christmas Eve service went to the General Fund;

-- The Love Offering for January will be donated to

Lisa Beiler, a mother of 5 who has been diagnosed

with pancreatic cancer;

-- The Hospitality committee served a meal after the

funeral service of Trinity member Betty Shawver in

December. The committee has decided that a set

menu will be offered for future Remembrance

meals. The meal will be: ham, baked beans,

macaroni salad, applesauce, pickles, cake, coffee,

punch;

-- The Clinic committee met with Pat Gay, the

owner of Reliance Therapy, and Doug Knepp on

Wednesday, December 28th about leasing the Clinic

building. They will be in contact with Trinity in a

few weeks to discuss the lease agreement and

possible renovations for the building;

A hard copy of the Council minutes for this meeting

is available in the Trinity notebook on the

Information Table. The next Council meeting will

be held on Monday, February 13th at 6:30 p.m. in

the Social room. All are welcome to attend.

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COMMUNION WINE After many years making the wine for Holy

Communion, JoAnn & Sam Hall have decided to

put aside this ministry. We are so thankful for their

many years they have provided "the blood of

Christ" to our congregation!

Wine for Holy Communion will now be purchased

from Shade Mountain Winery at the cost of $15.00

a month. A Communion Wine fund has been set up

for the sole purpose of purchasing wine for worship;

anyone who would like to donate money to this

fund may do so by placing your contribution in your

offering envelope and marking it "Wine" on the line

provided or by giving a contribution to our

treasurer, Jim Jones.

NICKEL SUNDAY JARS

The nickel jars for the Clinic mortgage have been

removed because at the end of December, an

anonymous donor paid off the Clinic mortgage.

Another sizable donation was given to Trinity from

James "Sonny" Bickel in memory of his wife,

Dolly. Let us thank God for these blessings and

pass on to others the blessings which He gives us!

Look for the Nickel jars to return soon for another

opportunity for ministry at Trinity.

“O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL”

The children singing at worship on Christmas Day

in the Christmas program, “O’ Come, All Ye

Faithful.”

WE GIVE THANKS…

We give thanks to God and to those who have

carried out ministry to the church here in McClure

and in the world within the past few months,

especially for those who:

-- helped with the Bean Soup Parking Lot fundraiser

for the Youth, & the Fundraising Bake Sale Stand at

the Fair;

-- support others who are grieving;

-- are in WELCA and helped with the WELCA

Christmas supper & shared their Christmas

reminiscences;

-- made the church look beautiful for Advent and

Christmas, especially Edwin Weader, Ned Boonie

Jr., Janet Walter, and Pam Weaver and all the

helping hands from Conewago-Snyder;

-- sing in the Choir all year and Annette Rager,

Trinity's Choir director;

-- were involved in "O, Come All Ye Faithful," the

Christmas Children's Program, including Heidy

Oldt, Jenni Boonie, Diane Weader, & the Sunday

School teachers;

-- served on Council including outgoing members

Jim Wert & Betty Rager;

-- volunteered to run for Council & to those newly

elected to Council, Cindy Graybill, Annette Knarr,

& Dave Weader;

-- are raising their children and grandchildren (and

great-grandchildren) in the church;

-- are members of the TLC Ministry Fund

committee, especially outgoing member Steve

Knarr & incoming member Denise Boonie;

-- visit our members who are no longer able come to

church;

-- pray for all people including their "enemies".

Thanks, be to God for all the blessings which He

gives to Trinity Lutheran and its members and how

He enables us to continue to share those gifts with

others.

BUMPER STICKER OF THE MONTH

Coincidence is when God chooses to

remain anonymous.

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CONTACTING THE PASTOR Just a quick review on the best way to contact

Pastor Lisa:

Calling the parsonage, 570-658-2040 until 10 p.m.,

is the quickest way to get in touch with the Pastor,

unless she is out on a visit or attending a meeting.

If you can’t reach her at the parsonage, please leave

a message on the parsonage answering machine or

with Pastor Matthew. You can also call the church,

570-658-2262, and leave a message but it's not

necessary if you’ve left a message at the parsonage.

Pr. Lisa’s cell phone number is 570-204-2219,

however, she is not one who is “married” to her cell

phone so the best way to get in contact with her is

by leaving a message at the parsonage.

In case of an emergency, call - or have a family

member call - at any time, including Fridays. *

Upon admission, hospitals may ask for church and

pastor’s names, however, HIPA laws prevent

hospitals from calling pastors and informing them

when a member is in the hospital. In addition, some

McClure residents receive information about

emergencies through emergency scanners and pass

that information to the Pastor. In those situations,

Pr. Lisa immediately prays for the person and their

family but she does not go to the hospital or start

the Prayer Chain until receiving a call from a family

member or close friend requesting her to do so. In

addition to respecting current privacy laws, the

Pastor considers a call from a family member or

close friend as the signal that her presence is

needed.

(* Friday is the Pastors’ day off; please limit calls

on Fridays to emergencies.)

AN OLDE-FASHION CHRISTMAS

The Young-at-Heart room at Trinity was turned into

a Christmas cookie station during events at the Olde

Fashion Christmas on Saturday, December 10th.

EAGLE SCOUT COURT of HONOR

An Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Blake Gudonis

of Troop #408 was held on Saturday, January 7th at

Trinity. Blake is pictured here with his father and

mother. Congratulations, Blake, for earning the

highest of Scout awards!

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