Bergstrasse Evangelical Lutheran Church October 2011

Stitches of Love will receive bids for six of the blankets/quilts (60‖ x 80‖) they have made during the year. The blankets/quilts will be available to view in Neidamyer Hall from October 2-9. Place your bid on a card with your name and phone number and drop it in the bag corresponding with the number on the quilt you are bidding on. Winners will be chosen on October 9, by the highest bid on each individual blanket/quilt. The money from the bids will go for shipping costs and also for supplies needed by Stitches of Love.

Peter’s Porch Zion Lutheran Church

435 Main St., Akron

Peter’s Porch is open every third Saturday of the month.

New hours beginning October 15:

Doors open at 8:30 AM—10:30 AM. Join us for a free breakfast, free clothing and

free groceries/toiletries for families and singles.

Would you be willing to volunteer at this community outreach? The two Wednesdays before Peter’s Porch is prep—packing groceries and sorting through donations. The month of October we gather on the 5th and the 12th from 6-8 PM in the fellowship hall. Winter clothing donations may be dropped off at Zion Monday—Friday, 9 AM—2 PM.

Questions can be directed to Tracy in Zion’s Church office: 859-2100 or zionluth@dejazzd.com.

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Fall and the harvest time is upon us. It is time to gather the harvest from that which we have sown and cultivated. What kind of harvest will it be? A colleague of mine in a recent newsletter article used a story I had read before some time ago. It appeared originally in Pulpit Helps, a clergy journal for preaching. Years ago, a group of Chinese farmers decided to eat the best potatoes from their fields and used only the smallest leftover potatoes for seed. Unfortunately, a new understanding of the laws of life was soon revealed to them. In a short time nature had reduced all of their potatoes to the size of marbles! Through harsh experience, the farmers learned they could not keep the best for themselves, and leave the leftovers for seed. The laws of life decreed that the harvest would eventually reflect the planting. It is well known among botanists and farmers that in order to harvest the best crop,

one needs to plant the best seed crop, the largest, healthiest, purist—seed from the best plants of the previous year’s harvest. This is true not only of potatoes, but of any plant or vegetable. This truth about potatoes (and all plants and vegetables) is also true for us in life. Sadly though, in our culture, planting small potatoes remains a common practice. We live in a culture that encourages us to take the best for ourselves and to plant the leftovers. The expectation is that the path to the ―good life‖ is found by a self-oriented lifestyle, and keeping the best for ourselves will bring us ever greater blessings. The Bible of course shows us a different picture, what those Chinese farmers learned ―the hard way‖. Planting small potatoes means that all we can expect in return is smaller potatoes, and once again our life experience illustrates this truth. This fundamental law applies in all areas of our life, in our family life, our friendships with others, and also the quality of our community life with those around us. The principle of small potatoes applies also to churches and to our individual and congregational life. In Jesus’ Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30, we hear a fascinating parable about the relationship between our faith investment and the blessings that result. When we are willing to risk ourselves in new

The Bell is published monthly (except a combined July-August edition) by

Bergstrasse Lutheran Church 9 Hahnstown Road Ephrata, PA 17522

(717) 733-7808 bergluth@dejazzd.com

Sunday Church School – 9:00 AM

Worship - 10:30 AM

The Rev. Herbert A. Lohr, Pastor 687-6460 (home)

Jean Wilhelm, newsletter editor

Due date for the November newsletter is October 16.

activities of service reaching out to others (planting the best potatoes), when we give the best of our time, talent, and treasure to the church and our ministries (planting the best potatoes), we receive even greater blessings from God. As an example, recall what happened when we put our new roof for our social hall on hold so that we could aid a sister congregation in Bangladesh put a new roof on their church building. Giving for our new roof, which had stopped well short of what we needed to proceed, suddenly took off again. In a short time, we were able to replace our roof. Meanwhile, the new roof our gift made possible for our sister congregation in Bangladesh, brought new life to a struggling church. The explosion of enthusiasm in both our congregations enabled even more blessings. We improved more of our facilities and expanded our mission outreach both in our local community and around the world. Our sister congregation called a new pastor, welcomed back some members who had drifted away, and made plans to start a school and clinic for their village. This was definitely not ―small potatoes‖. As we look to our future as a congregation, we need to remember this lesson from life and God’s Word. ―He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and he who sows

(Continued on page 3)

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October 2 Pancake mix you make with water, pancake syrup 9 Peanut butter, jelly 16 Toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, powder 23 Instant coffee, hot chocolate, instant oatmeal 30 Soup Monetary donations are appreciated for help in buying meat products and heating oil as cold weather approaches. Please help to keep EASS shelves filled for those in need.

generously will also reap bountifully‖. In the Kingdom, we are to plant the biggest and best ―potatoes‖ of all that is ours, so that God can bless us with even greater ―potatoes‖.

Pastor Herb

(Pastor’s Message continued from page 2)

Bergstrasse Lutheran is again in charge of the Community Meal on Thursday, October 13, at Bethany United Church of Christ on Main St., across the street from Holy Trinity. If you are willing to help in any capacity for the meal, please let Almanara or Mary K know. We are in need of about 16 people to help prep and serve the meal. We will also need eight cakes for dessert. Thank you.

―No man ever got very high by pulling other people down. Don’t knock your friends. Don’t knock your enemies. Don’t knock yourself.‖ Alfred, Loyd Tennyson

Pastor Lohr will be taking his final days of vacation October 1—9. If you need pastoral services during this time, please call the church office, 733-7808. Rev. Glenn Beard will be the guest preacher and liturgist for Sunday, October 2. Pastor Beard is a chaplain for Hospice of Lancaster and has been with us before to lead worship and preach. Members Curt H and Ben G will be the preacher and liturgist for Sunday, October 9. Do lend your support. Thank you to Curt and Ben for filling in for Pastor Lohr.

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Gerry D Ben G Lyman H Ira H Lydia M Vernon S Jeff S Neil and Vera S Clarence W Jr. Dan A (Chris A’s father) Nancy A (Mildred W’s daughter) Connie A (Lisa C’s aunt) Dan B Doris B Joe C (Lisa C’s husband) Theresa D Robert E (Donna D’s father) Lorenzo F (Jean F’s brother) Marian G (Pastor G mother) Naomi G (Jane Ps mother) Elsie H (Polly G’s sister) Addison H (Ron and Wendy H’s granddaughter) Ruth Ann L (Polly G’s friend) Wanda L (friend of Deb B) Lucas M (Mary D’s neighbor) Joyce M Ruth M (Darlene K’s sister) Martha R (Mary Ann S’s mother in Bangladesh) Susan R Louis R (Erma S’s nephew) Terry S (Polly G’s nephew) Roxanne S Carl S (Gail S’s husband) Patrick S (Peggy R’s brother) Linda S (Erma S’s daughter-in-law) Lori S Neil S (Almanara B’s brother) Brian S Ruth T (Darlene K’s aunt) Gladys W Whitney and Kevin Z (children of friends of Ron and Shirley M)

Music at Gettysburg October 9 4:00 PM

Gettysburg Seminary Chapel

The concert will be a sampler of some of the area’s favorite artists performing their favorite music. Admission is free with encouragement to give an offering towards the newly renovated chapel.

Congratulations to those with October birthdays: 3 Anna M 11 Selma H 14 Bob H 21 Janelle M 22 Riley A 26 Wendy H 27 Justine H 30 Brooke S Anniversaries 1 Brad and Susan H 10 Ronald and Shirley M 15 Noah and Joan S

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Worship participants for October

Ushers Communion Ushers

Oct. 2, 30

Altar Guild

October

Curt H Nevin R Darlene K

Jane P

Ben G Clarence W, Jr.

Selma H

Jane P

October 2 9 16 23 30

Greeters Neil and Vera S Jean F Derek and Lori C

Chad and Kathy L

Paul and Evelyn M

Lector Chris A Peggy R Polly G

Cleone R Chad L

Acolyte

Blade R Justin C Brandon R

Jordan C Anna M

Nursery Megan A Kathy L Wanda and Kendall M

Lisa and Brooke S

Counters Lori C Chad L

Lori C Chad L Lyman and Selma H

Lyman and Selma H

Bonnie G Sandy S

Organist Gail S Gail S Gail S Anne L Gail S

Flowers Lyman and Selma H

Bulletin

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Council highlights September 12, 2011

:Cemetery: Busiest burial season in July and August in a long time. Major Winters’ burial site is receiving lots of memorabilia from all over the world. These items will be displayed at a future date. Christian Ed: Sunday classes began on September 11 for 3 year old through adult. Parish Family: Church picnic was held at Ephrata Township Park on September 11. Everyone attending enjoyed being outside for the picnic, with lots of good food and bingo playing. Property: Painting of women’s rest room downstairs is completed. Lots of debris from the two storms were cleaned up on the church and cemetery property. Wanda D’A will be on vacation from September 25—October 8. Tuesday Boys volunteered to clean in her place. A recommendation from property committee to approve a lock in for fuel oil for 2012 with a $6,000 upfront fee was voted against by council. New Business: 2012 budget was unanimously approved with all Bergstrasse Lutheran employees receiving a three percent increase in wages for 2012. The total budget for 2012 will be $159,977. In the near future a committee will be formed to review the building use policy for all rentals of the property. A motion was made and unanimously approved for the Bergstrasse wedding planners to receive a fee of $50 for their services at the weddings, with the $50 coming from the rental fee.

Balance as of 8/31/11 General Fund $ 6,627.28 Improvement/ Capital Improvement $8,321.31 Mission Plus $20,746.33 Mission Plus 2 $ 2,643.79 Parsonage Rent Security/ Memorial Fund $ 2,281.07 Handicap Accessibility $ 685 .00 Organ Fund $ 107.92

To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible

than to be alive without breathing.

Martin Luther

Hospice volunteers

Hospice of Lancaster County is looking for volunteers to support patients and programs, particularly those who might be willing to care for or visit with patients in their homes. Volunteers also ser-vice in their inpatient centers, welcome visitors and families, help with clerical tasks and support other programs. Training is provided. Please call 295-3900 for more information, or visit their website at www.hospiceoflancaster.org, clicking on ―How You Can Help‖ for details about volunteering.

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Bergstrasse Evangelical Lutheran Church

9 Hahnstown Road Ephrata, PA 17522

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Our mission at Bergstrasse is to widen the

community of people who know, love, and follow God.

EASS Afternoon of Family Fun Sun., October 9

2:00 PM Ephrata Rec Center

Ryan and Friends, ventriloquist and Al Grout, magic, balancing, juggling

will be the entertainment. A free will donation will be taken.