palm leaves january - february 2019
TRANSCRIPT
Inside this issue:
Youth News 2
SLHC Events 3
Calendars 4&5
Caspar’s Corner 6, 7
SLHC Lectures 8
Valentine’s List 9
Community Meal 10
Special Points of Interest:
Youth News Birthdays Annual Report Lectures and Events at SLHC
Caspar’s Corner — Institution of the Sacraments, 1877 Installation of Officers Mayflower Society Pics
Brown Bag Lunch Lectures Pastor’s Pause Harvest Home Pic Congregational Meeting
Epiphany Party for All Valentine’s Day Wishes Weather Alert Information
Palm Schwenkfe lder Church
PALM LEAVES
you undertook this adven-
ture I hope that you were
blessed with both devo-
tional opportunities and
questions and challenges
from the Word of God. If
you started the journey and
kept getting further and
further behind I remind
you of the gracious love of
God, and ask that you offer
yourself some loving grace
as well. And if you thought
that last year’s resolution
was one of my strangest
ideas to date, you may well
be right, but I am sure
more will be coming up in
the future.
For me, the signifi-
cance of daily Bible read-
ing is found in the focus,
attention, and intention to
seek God, to be touched by
the Spirit, and engaged in
“For the last several years,
during the seasons of Ad-
vent and Lent, Palm
Schwenkfelder Church has
been invited to participate
in daily Scripture readings
based on the Revised Com-
mon Lectionary during the
daily time of prayer at
noon. I was delighted last
Lent within a few days of
one another, that a couple
of different people asked me
for the full list of readings
so they could keep up when
they were out of town and
unable to get the weekly
calendar from the bulletin.
Those conversations
prompted for me the oppor-
tunity to expand our devo-
tional life, and to issue a
challenge, or perhaps a
new year’s resolution, to
read the Bible in its entirety
in 2018.”
The words which open
this article are from the start
to my newsletter article for
January 2018. Some of you
took me up on this Biblical
challenge, and as I find my-
self writing this article, I am
nearing the completion of
Eugene Peterson’s Biblical
translation The Message. If
faith and faithful living.
There were days when I
had to play catch-up,
when the schedule had
gotten too hectic. There
were times when I had to
remind myself in the
midst of all my ongoing
thoughts that I was actu-
ally to be about reading
God’s Word in that mo-
ment. And yes there are
still times when I wonder
why in the world some
stuff is in the Bible in the
first place! But far more
than all of the questions
and repetition, is the gra-
cious presence of God
inviting us to an even
deeper relationship.
Biblical reading is a
spiritual practice, and not
unlike practicing for any
sport or activity, it takes
discipline, repetition, and
commitment. Spiritual
practices build endurance
for our lives of faith and
guide us upon the jour-
ney. So for 2019 I invite
you to engage in a mean-
ingful spiritual practice
for you, maybe that is
Scripture reading and
(Continued on Page 7)
Pastor’s Pause—A New Resolution
VOLUME 9, I SSUE 1
JANUARY—FEBRUARY 2019
Page 2
PALM LEAVES
Y O U T H N E W SY O U T H N E W SY O U T H N E W SY O U T H N E W S January Youth BirthdaysJanuary Youth BirthdaysJanuary Youth BirthdaysJanuary Youth Birthdays A Very Happy Birthday to…
Lily Hoffman (1/4), Ian Ross (1/5), LJ Morasco (1/14),
Dillon Reinert (1/15), Johanna Kinsler (1/25)
February Youth BirthdaysFebruary Youth BirthdaysFebruary Youth BirthdaysFebruary Youth Birthdays Andrew Pence (2/4), Samuel Pusey (2/26)
Happy 18th Birthday to Stacey May (2/6)
Please notify the church office if someone has been missed or if a date is incorrect.
It’s “that” season again; when snow, sleet, ice, wintry mix (whatever that is), and just plain old lousy weather can make
getting to church difficult, or even dangerous. So, In the event of said crappy weather, please use the following media
sources to find out if any events at the church have been postponed or cancelled.
www.palmschwenkfelderchurch.com WFMZ-TV Channel 69 www.WFMZ.com
www.facebook.com/palmschwenkfelderchurch
Thank you for a fun Fall and Christmas season.
Look for more youth fellowship events coming up in the New Year!
U p c o m i n g Y o u t h E v e n t s
Winter Rally Don’t let the cold winter get you down. We have an
exciting second half of our Sunday school year
ahead of us! Join us for a combined Youth Winter
Rally on Sunday, January 6th.
Page 3
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1
Grundsau Lodsch fer Yunge
Sunday, February 3, 2019, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm (snow date Sunday, February 10)
Join us for our 10th annual "Grundsau Lodsch fer Yunge." There will be plenty of crafts, ac-tivities, and goodies. Come discover the history of this cultural festival while also learning about the PA German dialect! Please register for the event by contacting Museum Edu-
cator Alyssa McQuirns at [email protected] or call her at 215-679-3103.
FRIENDS OF THE SCHWENKFELDER LIBRARY
& HERITAGE CENTER The Friends of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center was organized as a not-for-profit as-sociation to provide on-going support for the projects, programs and goals in both preservation and education at the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center. The Friends accomplish their
mission by hosting adult educational programs twice yearly and funding Heritage Center conser-vation projects.
Powwowing in Pennsylvania:Powwowing in Pennsylvania:Powwowing in Pennsylvania:Powwowing in Pennsylvania: Healing Rituals of the Pennsylvania Dutch CountryHealing Rituals of the Pennsylvania Dutch CountryHealing Rituals of the Pennsylvania Dutch CountryHealing Rituals of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Sunday, January 13, 2:00 pm (snow date, January 20)
Patrick Donmoyer, presenter This talk will explore the historical and cultural roots of traditional customs, rituals, and
folkways known among the Pennsylvania Dutch as Braucherei or powwowing. Drawing upon the speaker's personal and family experiences with the tradition, as well as particular
emphasis placed on manuscript pieces found commonly in family Bibles, ledgers, and personal papers, the audience will be introduced to a wide range of ritual applications of prayers and processes used primarily for the healing and protection of humans and their domesticated
animals. Images of ritual objects, original manuscripts, and written blessings will demonstrate the broad-reaching scope of folk customs in Pennsylvania throughout four centuries and into
the present day. Patrick Donmoyer, formerly of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, is the Director of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University, a folklife museum and research center on the Kutztown campus. A fluent speaker of Pennsylvania Dutch and advocate for
regional folk culture, Patrick's work blends language, traditions, and vernacular architecture in his folklife research. He is the author of numerous articles, and three books, entitled Hex
Signs: Myth and Meaning in Pennsylvania Dutch Barn Stars in 2013, Powwowing in Pennsylvania, and is the editor of Don Yoder's The German Bible in America.
The program is free to the public.
Schwenkfelders and the
Sacraments, page 50, de-
scribes the institution of the
sacraments by the Schwenk-
felders of the Lower (or Mid-
dle) District as happening in
1877, stating, “Details of the
first observance are not avail-
able…” Then on page 53, we
read, “It is impossible to deter-
mine the year or place of the
first Baptism…” A footnote
directs the reader to Howard
W. Kriebel’s Schwenkfelders
in Pennsylvania, page 100,
who wrote the first observance
of the sacraments by the
Schwenkfelders: “…finally
resulted in the institution of
the sacraments in the Lower
[Middle] District at the private
house of Anthony K. Heebner
in 1877.”
Rev. Williams Anders of
the Lower District, recalled
that event and the circum-
stances leading up to it in the
following letter, dated March
16, 1882, printed in the March,
1907 Schwenkfeldian and ad-
dressed to Howard W. Kriebel
of the Upper District. The
letter is part of an article re-
flecting on the life of Rev.
William Anders (1940-1907)
and provides a first-hand ac-
count, five years after it hap-
pened, of the institution of the
sacraments for a select group
of members of the Lower Dis-
trict of the Schwenkfelder So-
ciety. The letter is followed
by a remembrance verifying
the actions of Rev. Anders and
the challenging time in which
he served.
Dear Brother: Your letter
of the 13th is at hand, and will
endeavor to answer the ques-
tions you ask in regard to the
institution of the Sacraments
in our congregation. From the
contents of your letter I infer
that there are some who still
criticize the way by which
they were instituted. I at that
time heard such criticisms
myself, but they came either
from highly ritualistic or from
such persons who regarded the
Lord's dying commands as of
no account, and might be ne-
glected or observed at pleas-
ure. Such were not consulted,
but the opinions of Christian
men of the Presbyterian, Men-
nonites and other churches
were obtained and duly
weighed, and the Aufsatz
[essay], made in the year 1858
by brother Joshua Schultz and
subscribed to by all the minis-
ters of the congregation at that
time were taken as a guide.
But above all it was made the
subject of our prayers to Al-
mighty God, that He should
direct our steps in wisdom,
grant His counsel, help, and
grace that our actions might be
consistent with His will so that
we might be benefited and His
great name glorified. Brother
Joshua Schultz at a special
conference held I think in the
spring of 1875 agreed to take a
leading part, with a view to
their institution in the near
future, when the time came, he
refused, the consequence was
a further delay of 2 years.
When in the autumn of 1877
finding that no aid or partici-
pation could be expected from
the brethren of the U. D.
[Upper District], we con-
cluded to go on, and accord-
ingly met in pursuance to a
previous announcement at the
house of A. [Anthony] K.
Heebner whose wife was an
invalid and for years desired to
be baptized. I suppose about
25 were baptized. I first bap-
Caspar’s Corner — Institution of the Sacraments, 1877 tized brother Meschter [Rev.
George Meschter]; then
Meschter myself; I the others.
I hope this mode will meet
your approval. You will re-
member that all beginnings are
difficult, and this because of
its importance was especially
so, and pressed heavily upon
my mind at the time, but I trust
the good Lord of the fullness
of His grace has, and will in
the future supply that of which
we are deficient. And in regard
to the other questions the time
is not set for the celebration of
the Lord's Supper. Preparatory
services are always held the
day previous, on which day
members of the congregation,
as well as others who desire it,
are baptized. None however
but those who have some time
before notified the ministers or
elders of their wish. If already
members, or such who have
received catechetical instruc-
tion a further instruction is not
considered necessary. If, how-
ever, the applicant is thought
to be wanting in such knowl-
edge, he is taken through a
short course of instruction. A
more definite plan will un-
doubtedly be adopted in the
near future. Dear Brother,
write again telling me what are
some of the criticisms you
hear and by whom made.
Come down soon and preach
English for me. Brother J.
[John] B. Krieble, has been
unwell all winter, and I am
nearly always alone in
Worcester. Yours in Grace, W.
[William] S. Anders.
A neighbor and good
friend of the family, writing
after the passing of Rev. Wil-
liam Anders in 1907, shared
these words: “He introduced
the Holy Sacraments into your
church at that memorable
(Cont. next page)
Page 6
PALM LEAVES
Rev. Williams Anders of the Lower District, recalled that event and the circumstances leading up to it in the following letter… addressed to Howard W. Kriebel of the Upper District.
“You will remember
that all beginnings are
difficult, and this because
of its importance
was especially so, and pressed
heavily upon my mind…”
Page 7
meeting at the home of the late
Anthony Heebner. Only twenty
members gathered. The holy
ordinance of baptism was first
administered to Rev. George
Meschter by Rev. Anders and
then reversed, and afterward to
the members assembled among
whom were the parents of Rev.
Anders. The young pastor and
the few members who es-
poused this new doctrine were
not very cordially received at
first by the congregation at
large. Yet the pastor's attitude
at no time was such as to en-
gender strife or dissension.
Rev. William Anders saw the
fruits of his labors, for in due
time members of long standing
were willing to receive baptism
and the Lord's Supper.”
Caspar’s Corner is provided
monthly to The Schwenkfelder Church by the Schwenkfelder Li-
brary & Heritage Center.
C a s p a r ’ s Corner (Cont.)
Installation of Officers
On January 13th, during the worship service, we will have the installation of all new officers. Please greet and congratulate the new officers at the reception in the Adult Sunday School room after the installation.
(Pastor’s Pause C o n t . )
study, perhaps it’s praying
or embracing a new spiri-
tual discipline. It might be
an active prayer form while
walking or hiking, but
whatever you pick may we
all open ourselves even
more to the God who first
loved us.
I conclude this article
with my favorite quote
from The Message, which
spoke to me when I first
read it and continues to in-
spire me today:
We don’t yet see things
clearly. We’re squinting in
a fog, peering through a
mist. But it won’t be long
before the weather clears
and the sun shines bright!
We’ll see it all then, see it
all as clearly as God sees
us, knowing him directly
just as he knows us!
But for right now, until
that completeness, we have
three things to do to lead us
toward that consummation:
Trust steadily in God, hope
unswervingly, love extrava-
gantly. And the best of the
three is love. (1 Corinthians
13:12-13)
We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1
Rev. William Anders saw the fruits of
his labors, for in
due time members of
long standing were willing to
receive baptism and the Lord's Supper.”
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Harvest Home
Photos by Lee Schultz
Page 8
PALM LEAVES
S L H C L E C T U R E S E R I E SS L H C L E C T U R E S E R I E SS L H C L E C T U R E S E R I E SS L H C L E C T U R E S E R I E S
At the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center
Wednesday, January 9, 2019 noon Revealing a Hidden Gem:
Montgomery County's Sunrise Mill
Presented by Alana Blumenthal Join us to learn about the unique history and current restoration efforts of Sunrise Mill, a historic grist mill in Schwenksville,
Pennsylvania. Founded in 1737, the mill's earliest owners provided flour during the blockade that followed the Boston Tea Party. In the early 20th century, it was the home and laboratory of world-renowned medical pioneer Dr. Chevalier Q. Jackson.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 noon Tales from the Genealogical Record, Chapter 2
Presented by Candace Perry Join Curator Candace Perry for another deep dive into the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families. Who will we discover this time? Some Hartranfts with tragic and dramatic stories?
A congregational meeting will be held on Sunday, February 17h,
immediately following the worship service. At this meeting the
Trustees will present the Annual Report for 2018.
Thanks to All!
The Ladies’ Aid Social Service Committee would like to thank
everyone for the great support we had this year for our
Christmas Project. It was a great success. We were able to
send 40 Christmas stockings to Pennsburg Manor, and at their
request, 60 plastic bags to Norristown State Hospital.
Social Service Committee Members: Miriam Hausman, Ruth Weaver,
Sally Wright, Sandy Kriebel, and Ethel Soffa
Page 9
Altar Flowers and BulletinsAltar Flowers and BulletinsAltar Flowers and BulletinsAltar Flowers and Bulletins
The Deacons would like to thank the members of Palm for sponsoring bulletins and real flowers throughout 2018! Everyone who did sponsor, please remember that bulletin sponsorships are $15, and flower sponsorships for 2018 were either
$25 for one bouquet, or $50 for two. The new 2019 charts will be in the hallway outside of the office soon, and for this year the Deacons are once again giving people the option of sponsoring
one arrangement or both arrangements. The cost of one arrangement will remain $25, and the cost of sponsoring both arrangements will remain at $50. If you would like to sponsor one arrangement, you need only sign up on one chart, but if you’d
like to sponsor both arrangements, you will need to sign up on both charts for that particular Sunday. Or if you choose, you may sponsor one arrangement on one Sun-day, and sponsor a separate arrangement on a completely different Sunday. If you
have any questions, please speak to one of our Deacons. Thanks!
Valentine’s Day Wishes Please prepare valentine cards or treats for
the church members listed below. You may
make your own cards, or use store bought
cards. Place the cards in the Valentines box
in the Narthex by February 3rd. The
Valentines will be delivered (in some cases
mailed) in time for Valentine’s Day,
February 14th .
Grace Beard Payton Keyser
Lucille Berky Pauline Kloenne
Kylene Bertoia Hart Erma Kriebel
Jack & Evelyn Bold Grace Kuhns
Perma Bower Meg Lester
Ray Davis Helen Pannepacker
Edward Fegely Beverly Phifer
Mae Gerhart Bryan Schwoyer
Alyssa Guldin Margaret Schultz
Heinz & Mary Jane Herrmann Bill Shermer
Gladys Hoffman Dorothy Trumbauer
Lucile Jones Adam Walter
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1
Page 10
PALM LEAVES
The Ladies’ Aid Epiphany Party will be held on January 8, 2019 at 12:00 noon beginning with a covered dish luncheon. Please note the date change from our usual meeting schedule. Along with a variety of many delicious foods, we will be collecting monetary donations for Open Link. This event is open to all so please make plans to join us! (And don’t forget to bring some-thing yummy to share!) Monthly Ladies’ Aid business meeting will follow the luncheon.
Open to A l l Epiphany Party Covered Dish Lunch
Palm is Hosting the First Monday Community Meal
at Pennsburg UCC on March 4, 2019
The Deacons at Palm Church are sponsoring a free community meal at
Pennsburg UCC on Monday, March 4th. We will provide, prepare and serve dinner. Volunteers
are needed: 6 people to cook and prepare the meal between 3:00 – 6:00pm, and 8-10 people to
help serve, box up leftovers and clean up from 5:45-7:45pm. Monetary donations and food do-
nations will be needed. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the narthex at a later
date. If you would like to help cook or serve the meal on March 4th, or make
a monetary or food donation, please see Kevin or Barb Master.
Youth are welcome to help!
Souper Bowl Sunday
On Souper Bowl Sunday, February 3rd, the Ladies’ Aid will be
selling soup after the worship service. So whether you’re a
football fan or not, please plan on purchasing some delicious
soup for lunch!
“Change Our Hearts” Offering“Change Our Hearts” Offering“Change Our Hearts” Offering“Change Our Hearts” Offering
In conjunction with the First Monday Community Meal
that Palm will be hosting on March 4th, we will be having a
special change offering during the months of February and March to help offset the costs
of this meal. So during these months please remember to bring in all your extra change
(or bills), for another successful meal!!
Page 11
Annual Report
It’s that time of year again. Well, Christmas and New Year’s, sure, but I mean Annual Report time. So, to all department heads, committee chairs, and
church leaders, I humbly request that you submit any and all information to be included in the Annual Report by January 8th, 2019.
If possible, please email your information to the church office. And if you have any questions,
please direct those inquiries to Lawrence Croll.
HOLIDAY BAZAAR
Once again another successful Ladies’ Aid Holiday Bazaar is in the books! We would like
to take this opportunity to say “Thank You” to everyone who helped in any way. From the
initial planning stages to the last crumb cleaned, it wouldn’t have been a success without
many helpful hands. The Holiday Bazaar is our biggest fundraiser and enables us to con-
tinue our tradition of giving- to our church as well as donating to many charitable organi-
zations throughout the Valley. The hard work involved and the time put in by many spreads
beyond our walls into the community. That makes it all worthwhile!
Thanks so much again!
Ladies’ Aid
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1
M E M B E R N E W S
Sympathies to… Congratulations to… ...the family of Ray Fox John and Krista (nee Keller) Ludy on their marriage ...the family of Carol Schafer
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
833 Gravel Pike
P.O. Box 66
Palm, PA 18070
PALM SCHWENKFELDER CHURCH
Administrator/Office Phone: 215-679-5321
Fax: 215-679-2650
E-mail: [email protected]
www.palmschwenkfelderchurch.com
SAVE THE DATE!
January 8th — Ladies’ Aid Lunch and Epiphany Party
January 13th — Installation of Officers
February 3rd — Souper Bowl Sunday
February 10th — Scout Sunday
— Troop 79 Annual Banquet
& Court of Honor
February 17th — Congregational Meeting
February 24th — Grace Notes Studio Piano
Party
Dated Material
Please Do Not Delay
Rev. Nicholas L. Pence, Pastor Barbara Master, Youth Director
Dan Ferry, Church Administrator Kevin Master, Sexton
Ed Bieler, Director of Music Peg Jacob, Organist