Keep on praying An update on the

Chibok schoolgirls

On April 14, 2014, Boko Haram abducted more than 270* girls from a school in

Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria. Their kid-napping sparked outrage around the

world, and prompted the #BringBackOurGirls movement. The

majority of the girls—ages 16 to 18 at the time—were from families who attend con-gregations of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nige-ria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in

Nigeria), although Muslim as well as Christian girls were kidnapped.

When asked what the American church could do, EYN asked for prayer and fasting. A letter was sent to the Church of the Brethren congregations in the US and Puerto Rico,

assigning a girl’s name to each church for prayer.

Little Swatara was invited to pray for LUGWAH MUTAH. Please add her name to your prayer list. See our IN THE NEWS bulletin board in the narthex for more information

or the December MESSENGER.

************************************** Trinity Rehrersburg's Out Reach Committee is having a Turkey & Waffle Din-ner with vegetables and dessert included to help secure funds for medical bills for little Lily Rae Siegfried who was born prematurely last October with her in-testines on the outside of her body. Lily is progressing nicely after numerous surgeries. The dinner will be held at Trinity Rehrersburg on February 18 from 11 am to 2 pm by donation. Reservations are appreciated, but not required.

****************************************** For Easter Dawn Service 6:30am, Altalaha Church is looking for a few good

trumpet players! If you would be willing to provide your talent, please contact Dolores Hill, 933-5925.

*************************************

Little Swatara Preschool is collecting Labels for Education before the program is

discontinued this year. Please deposit your Labels (NOT Boxtops - we cannot redeem these) in the red boxes outside of the classroom hallways. Labels must be collected by the end of May to be redeemed. Thank you!

Women's Fellowship News

**A volunteer is needed to be our contact person at Lebanon Valley Brethren Home. **Every Thursday morning at 9:00 we quilt and knot comforters. ** Also mark your calendar for upcoming fundraisers: Breakfast Buffet - February 18 from 7:00 - 10:00 a.m. Sub Sale - March 9, 2017. Look for order forms in February.

Volume LXVII January 22, 2017 Number 4 LITTLE SWATARA CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

Church Web Page - www.LittleSwatara.org www.facebook.com/LittleSwataraCOB/ Phone: 717-933-4723

Outreach: The Gathering Place Café Contact: gatheringplacecafe.com / Phone:717-933-5958 Café Hours: Mon-Fri 6-11am & Sat 7-11am

GIVING LAST SUNDAY

General Fund 4,197.00$

Building Fund 295.00$

Family Assistance 610.00$

Maintenance 530.00$

Sunday School 145.00$

Global Food Crisis 25.00$

HAITI Mission Trip 4,820.00$

Nigerian EYN 100.00$

Women's Fellowship 70.00$

Mission of the Month 75.00$

TOTAL 10,867.00$

Last Sunday’s Attendance Worship 53 +148 = 201 Sunday School = 113

GENERAL FUND BUDGET 2017

$283,688.00

Mortgage Balance—$00.00

Prayer Concerns

Rufus & Dorothy Merkey Ruth and John Hoover—healing Carl & Faye Balsbaugh Earl Miller Carol & Pete Sanchez Bonnie Schwenk-healing Amanda Heckman—surgery Lauren Cass—relief from seizures Bruce Moore– comfort/hospice care Mike Hulsdander and family-comfort Ruthe Conover-healing Ruth Ann Boltz-healing (Marlene B sister) Suellen H.-healing Pastor John Bream & wife Deb-healing

************************ Prayers for the mission team to Haiti are greatly valued; for some it is a first for flying, others, out of country. As much unrest lies in parts of Haiti, pray-ers for protection are valued as well. May the Lord prepare our hearts and provide all we need to accomplish our mission of building a home and minis-tering to the community. Pastor Matt

******************************

Reminder: Bread & Cup Communion -

Next week, Jan. 29th both services. **************

Pastor John of Brooklyn is looking for a reasonably priced small truck. If you know of one, please let Pastor Matt know.

****** A BIRTHDAY BOX is On the Narthex table For cards to Randy Keeney. The last day to bring cards will be February 6th, his birthday.

Haiti Mission Trip Update

Goal—$17,150.00

Received to date-

$15,626.00

NEEDED to reach our Goal—

$ 1,524.00

Pastor MATTHEW S. CHRIST e-mail - PastorMatt@littleswatara.org Office Hours: Tues, Thurs. Fri. 9-12noon, Café-Wednesdays

PASTOR MATT: 570-246-8196 Church Office: 717-933-4723 For Counseling or Appointments, contact the pastor or church office. Facebook: Matt Christ Instagram & Snapchat: mdchrist99

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Secretary—Charlene K. Anspach OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Fri, 8:30 am-12 noon Substitutes: Denise Christ, Dianne Younker E-mail: secretary@littleswatara.org Treasurer—Dianne Younker, phone: 717-269-0803. E-mail: treasurer@littleswatara.org.

Volunteers for January 1,8,15,22 and 29, 2017

VIDEO PROJECTION Glenn Riegel & Mark Myers—CVLI#502613280; CCLI#157691 ORGANIST Marlene Blatt A/V Equipment - Carl & Miles Kauffman OUTDOOR SIGN CHANGER : JAN/Sam Forry; FEB/Miles Kauffman; MARCH/Pat Timmins

CHORISTER 1st Sunday 2nd Sunday 3rd Sunday 4th Sunday 5th Sunday

8:15 Pam G Richard Frantz Kara Henning PRAISE TEAM Pam G 10:30 Dianne High PRAISE TEAM Allen Rebman Pam G Dianne H. PIANIST Diane Duell Christine Doig Sarah Wise PRAISE TEAM Dianne D AUDIO Alan Bashore Jayne Diamond Kauffman bros Todd Rebman Todd R.

WORSHIP CENTER

Pam G. 1 Jennifer Speraw 2,3 Tanya/Diane Feathers 4,5

EXTENDED SESSION 10:30am (age 2-Grade K) Matt & Debra Yordy Diane & Bonnie Behney Chris DeMille Leah Blatt Diane Long Tanya Feathers Deneen Ebling Sue Hartranft WELCOME CENTER

8:15 Sharon Dosch Louise Graby Michelle Snyder Sally Emerich

10:30 Ruthe C./Pat T Sandy Manbeck Dorothy Gensemer Barbara Batz Connie Manbeck USHERS 8:15 10:30

1st Sunday, Marvin Luckenbill Robert and Wendy Lingle Andy Wise Samuel Forry, Matt Blatt 2nd Sunday, Andrew Brubaker Richard Dundore, Jeremy Platchek Christopher Brubaker James and Gerald Bowman 3rd Sunday, Daniel Landis Kenneth Duell, Dakota Himmelberger Jason Schwalm Buddy and Debbie Seigfried 4th Sunday, Dorinda Kauffman Richard Yenser, Derek Yenser Carl M. Kauffman J.R. Yenser, Kyle Yenser 5th Sunday, Marvin Luckenbill Robert & Wendy Lingle Andrew Wise Sam Forry & Matt Blatt

NURSERY (Infants & up to age 2 ) Becky Rebman (717)933-8810

1st Sunday, 8:15 - Becky Rebman

9:15 - Carol Peace & Becky R 10:15—Becky Rebman

2nd Sunday, 8:15 - Mike & Carol Peace

9:15 - Dianne High, Wendy Lingle 10:15 - Jim & Karen Weinhold 3rd Sunday, 8:15 –Shelley & Alexis Yenser 9:15 - Debbie Seigfried/Chris DeMille 10:15 - Jonathan & Tiffany Bicksler 4th Sunday, 8:15 - Becky Rebman 9:15 - Becky & Allen Rebman 10:15 - Deb Yordy 5th Sunday, 8:15 - Joe & Brenda Brubaker 9:15 - Becky & Allen Rebman 10:15 - Sue Hartranft

*TOPS Meets weekly, Thurs. 5 to 6:30pm

JANUARY EVENTS 22, Newsletter Deadline

Camp Swatara, Sr. High Retreat

23, 7:30pm Steward & Property Mtg

24, 6:30pm Den Mtg

Ministry Team Minutes Due

25, 7pm PO, Ladies Bible Study

28, 7am Men’s Ministry Breakfast

29, 8:15 and 10:30am Bread & Cup Communion

FEBRUARY

1, 7pm PO, Men’s Bible Study

2, 9am, P. Matt/Thirsty Thursday w/ Preschool

9am, Women’s Fellowship Mtg

4, Mission Team enroute to HAITI

8:30am-2pm, Camp Swatara, Deacon Retreat

1pm FH, 50 Plus Mtg

5, 5:30pm O, Den Mtg

6pm Café, Christian Poetry Fellowship

7, 7pm Leadership Team Mtg

8, 7pm PO, Ladies Bible Study

9, 7pm Christian Ed Mtg

11, Youth Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser

12, Food Pantry Collection

13, 7pm, Preschool Board Mtg

7:30pm EVERY MEMBER COUNCIL MTG

14, 6:30pm O, Den Mtg

15, 6-8pm O, Pack Mtg

7pm PO, Men’s Bible Study

17, 2-6pm Bethel Food Pantry

LV College, Jr. High Lock-In

18, 7-10am WF Buffet Breakfast

7pm S, “Friends with the Weather” Concert

21, 7pm Ministry Team Mtgs

22, 7pm PO, Ladies Bible Study

24, 6pm FH Res/PS set up

25, 7am Men’s Ministry Prayer Breakfast

12n FH Res/Preschool Art Show

26, NEWSLETTER DEADLINE to Kathryn Z.

11am-6pm FH,K Res. P.Stupp

28, Ministry Team Minutes Due to Sec.

6:30pm O, Den Mtg

MARCH

1, ASH WEDNESDAY

Mission of the Month - January 2017

Student “We Care Packages”

QUILTING

& Knotting

Thursdays

@ 8 am

EXERCISE CLASSES

8:45 & 10am Mon & Wed In the Fellowship Hall

2016 CHOIR/GROUP PRACTICE - Sanctuary Jubilee—Wed. 7:00-7:30 pm (K-5th grade)

JOY—Wed. 7:30 - 8 pm (6-12th grade)

PRAISE TEAM, Wed. 8-9pm

Senior —Thurs 7 - 8 pm (Adults)

Lit t le Swatara Church o f the Brethren

Pastor Matthew S. Christ

Sunday, January 22, 2017 ~ 8:15am PRAISE TEAM SERVICE

GATHERING MUSIC

WELCOME ... ANNOUNCEMENTS (please sign the friendship register and pass to your neighbor)

OPENING WORSHIP “Holy Spirit” “Be the Centre”

JOYS and CONCERNS, OFFERTORY and PASTORAL PRAYER

WORSHIP “How deep the Father’s Love”

CHILDREN’S STORY

WORSHIP “Good, Good Father”

MESSAGE Series — Conceiving the Deceiver “Defeating the deceit”

Pastor Matt SCRIPTURE John 10:10 and Romans 7: 15 –25

CLOSING HYMN “Our God Saves”

BENEDICTION

MUSIC FOR THE JOURNEY

Activity for Children—There are Children’s Bulletins provided on the table in the back of the sanctuary for two age groups. Help yourself.

Music & Worship Team

Bible Studies In the Pastor’s Office 7- 8 pm Men meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month

Ladies meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month ~All are welcome to attend~

Sunday, January 22, 2017, 10:30am

GATHERING MUSIC WELCOME ... ANNOUNCEMENTS (please sign the friendship register and pass to your neighbor) HAITI Mission Team Prayer and Anointing OPENING HYMN “Take my life” #389 JOYS and CONCERNS/PASTORAL PRAYER HYMN “Here I am, Lord“ #395 OFFERTORY and PRAYER Jubilee “The Gifts he offers you” & “Trust in the Lord” CHILDREN’S STORY HYMN “Healer of our every ill” #377 MESSAGE Series — Conceiving the Deceiver “Defeating the deceit”

Pastor Matt SCRIPTURE John 10:10; Romans 7: 15-25 CLOSING HYMN “God of grace and God of glory” #366 SENDING OUT MUSIC FOR THE JOURNEY

Lit t le Swatara Church o f the Brethren

Pastor Matthew S. Christ

JR/SR HIGH YOUTH CALENDAR Jan 20-22—ANE District Youth Retreat (Camp Swatara) Feb 11—Spaghetti Supper

From the Christian Education Team:

February is Marriage Month at Little Swatara! Look for a Marriage Enrichment Resource Table in the narthex starting in

February. FAMILY LIFE presents A Weekend to Remember, because marriage takes

two. Sign up Today!! Now through Jan. 23 spouses go free. ($174) Date: February 17-19 Place: Hershey Lodge

This is a two and a half day weekend getaway that equips couples with practical tools and resources. Don’t just survive—discover a marriage that

THRIVES! See insert.

”The Art of Marriage” Conference

March 31—April 1 (at Little Swatara)

Watch for more details coming soon! Pastor Matt

IN CONCERT February 19, at 7pm

Here at Little Swatara Church

“Friends with the Weather”, a new project from the trio of singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalists Seth Hendricks, Chris Good, and David Hupp, is a continued explo-ration of Hendricks and Good's longtime songwriting partnership of 16 years. While those familiar with “Mutual Kumquat” will recognize familiar lyrical & musical stylings, and many guest musicians in their performances, “Friends with the Weath-er” brings a freshness of new material, written in the midst of unique times, creating new sonic textures amidst new collaborations. Friends with the Weather joins the community supported music collective, Earthwork Music, that believes in the intrin-sic and historical power of music to raise both community and self-awareness and serves to facilitate and encourage original music in the state of Michigan and be-yond. More on “Friends With the Weather” can be found on their web site at www.friendswiththeweather.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Friendswiththeweather.

An IPhone was found in the church. If it is yours, please identify and retrieve from Mark Myers.

************************************

If you are recycling last years directories, please return the binder and we will re-use it. A drop box is in the narthex.

Thank you! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++