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TLC News

Sunday School 9:00 a.m. February 2018 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 2017

Trinity’s Annual Congregational Report reviews

our ministry and finance for the previous year. The

Annual Congregation Report for 2017 will be

available to all members of the congregation at

church starting Sunday, February 11th. If you

would like the Annual Congregational Report

mailed to you, please send an email to

tlcmcclure@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 p.m.. starting February

21st and continuing through Wednesday, March

21st. All are invited to enjoy breaking bread &

sipping soup together. This year’s class will feature

a DVD series, “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus,” a

story about Islam & Christianity as told by a

Muslim convert to Christianity. Come learn the

ways in which Islam & Christianity are alike and

differ!

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.

ASH WEDNEDAY

Ash Wednesday worship service will be held on

Wednesday, February 14th at 7:00 p.m. This is the

Church’s solemn beginning to Lent where we

receive the cross of ashes, think about our

repentance, and celebrate Holy Communion for the

forgiveness of our sins. Those who would like

receive the imposition of ashes in the morning may

attend Matins in the Parsonage Study at 9:00 a.m.

WE CELEBRATE BAPTISM!

At our worship service on Sunday,

January 7, the congregation of

Trinity not only celebrated the

Baptism of Our Lord but also the

Faith Milestone “baptismal anniversaries” of

Abigail Stimely and Amber Pheasant. Abigail and

Amber were both baptized in 2017. As part of the

family of God, we rejoice with these young children

and their families!

THE GIFT OF CHRIST’S BLOOD

Wine for Holy Communion is now 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. (Trinity uses “Rascal Red”

wine from local vineyard, Shade Mountain Wines.)

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“From the Pastor’s Desk”

Mark your calendars: this year Ash Wednesday falls

on Valentine’s Day, or it may be more appropriate

to say that Valentine’s Day falls on Ash

Wednesday. Either way you look at it, both Ash

Wednesday & Valentine’s Day occur on February

14.

It may seem a bit odd to celebrate Valentine’s Day

& Ash Wednesday on the same day, given that they

seem so different. After all, during Valentine’s

Day, we celebrate our romantic love for another

person; it’s all glitter, cards, flowers, candy, &

maybe even a special meal Ash Wednesday is the

beginning of the season of Lent, a bare time with no

flowers on the altar, no candy (especially if you are

giving it up for Lent), no glitter, just ashes. It’s

hard to imagine celebrating them on the same day!

Actually, we can celebrate them both on the same

day if we realize that both Ash Wednesday and

Valentine’s Day are about love. Setting aside the

secular “spending fest” that Valentine’s Day has

become, most of us know that Valentine’s Day is

really Saint Valentine’s Day, in tribute to the saint

who loved Christ so much that he was a martyr for

the Church.

Ash Wednesday is about love as well, the more

profound love which God has for us. A love that is

not celebrated with cards, flowers, candy & a fancy

meal but is celebrated through prayers, repentance,

ashes, & Holy Communion.

Yet, even though both days are about love, it is hard

to compare romantic love with the God’s love for

us. Romantic love, Valentine’s Day love, is

changeable; it can diminish over time. For instance,

we may no longer prepare as we once did for

Valentine’s Day, or maybe not with the same

enthusiasm, or maybe not at all. Our romantic love

may even focus on another person than it did once-

upon-a- time.

But God’s love... well, God’s love for us has not

changed, & it never diminishes. The Scriptures tell

us that God loved us before we were born, & loves

us still. It is a love so big, so unimaginable, that we

don’t take just one day to celebrate it, as we do with

romantic love on Valentine’s Day, but we set aside

the 40 days of Lent to reflect on God’s love.

We meditate on God’s love from Ash Wednesday

until Good Friday, the day when His love for you

was nailed to the cross as God sacrificed His only

Son, His Beloved, for the forgiveness of your sins.

His love for you then arose from the tomb on Easter

with the promise that you too will arise when Christ

comes again. It is not a love that asks you to buy

cards or flowers or gifts but instead asks you to

repent of your sins and seek forgiveness and receive

His love in the gift of everlasting life.

On Valentine’s Day this year, you may buy your

beloved a card, flowers, candy, or a special meal.

Then, remember that February 14th is also Ash

Wednesday &, as God’s beloved, you have been

invited to share His everlasting love with

repentance, prayer, ashes & a special meal of His

Son’s body & blood - God’s never-ending love for

you!

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: 570-658-2040; or by

email: prlschuster@yahoo.com. Pastor Lisa has a

new cell number: 570-600-2852, however, it is best

to call her at the parsonage.

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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

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

☺ 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 4

Assisting Minister: Dave Weader

Greeters: Schreffler Family

Ushers: Talitha Dobson

Robert Etzler

Lector: Dave Weader

Nursery: Denise Boonie

Treasury Asst: Edwin & Diane Weader

February 11 Transfiguration of Our Lord

Assisting Minister: Dave Weader

Greeters: Ange Ulrich & Family

Ushers: Mary Ann Greager

Jan Gilbert

Lector: Ange Ulrich

Nursery: Jan Gilbert

Treasury Asst: Edwin & Diane Weader

February 14 Ash Wednesday

Assisting Minister: Dave Weader

Greeters: Keith & Bonnie Seler

Ushers: Cindy Graybill

Annette Knarr

Lector: Bonnie Seler

Nursery:

Treasury Asst: Edwin & Diane Weader

February 18

Assisting Minister: Dave Weader

Greeters: Toby & Melanie & Ava Stoner

Ushers: Karen Segall

Keith Seler

Lector: Dave Weader

Nursery: Ange Ulrich

Treasury Asst: Edwin & Diane Weader

February 25

Assisting Minister: Dave Weader

Greeters: Steve & Erma Knarr

Ushers: Ange Ulrich

Cathy York

Lector: Erma Knarr

Nursery: Jenni 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.

FEBRUARY WORSHIP SUPPORT

CHAIRPERSONS

Greeters/Ushers/TA: Jan Gilbert

Lectors: Ange Ulrich

Acolyte: Tayla Schreffler

Flowers: Vickie Seler

Altar Guild:

Bread: Jennie Boonie

Set-up: Tom Pheasant

Take Down: Jim & Bonnie Jones

LET US PRAY!

Please remember to pray for these people…

Finley Snook, Darryl Shirk, Jen Shaffer, Sue Bair,

Dermot Cribbin, Roger Thorsen, Patsy Crawford,

Jerri Johannes, Kyle Nally, Caitlin Boonie, Albert

Benn, Bill Peters, Nancy Folk, Sam Hall, Jeff Seler,

Doris Erb, Starr Corson, and the family of Karmyn

Wagner.

Our College Students: Jarrett Hassinger, Cassie

Oldt, Danielle E. Ulrich and Garrett Ulrich

(PSU/Harrisburg)

Military Personnel in Our Prayers: Joe Haskins

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

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

Weader (USN), Issac Stuck (US Army), Daniel

Hoffman Ferguson (US Army), Nicholas Heimbach

(USMS), Pierce Heimbach (USMC).

OUR SHARED MINISTRY

-- BY THE NUMBERS --

Our Worship Attendance:

Nov. 26: 58 Dec. 31: 44

Dec: 3: 58 Jan 7: 51

Dec: 10: 62 Jan. 14: 46

Dec: 17: 63 Jan. 21: 47

Dec. 24: 93

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2018 INCOME THRU JANUARY 21ST

Our Offerings (by envelopes, loose, Sunday School)

Envelopes: $ 5,571.00

Loose Plate: $ 239.00

Sunday School: $ 98.00

Total Income: $6,110.25

Total Expenses: $4,857.87

Line of credit: $5,094.78

CALLING ALL CHRISTIAN MEN

The Western Snyder Co. Christian Men’s group will

be meeting on Thursday, February 8 at 6:30 p.m. at

Beaver Lutheran Church in Beaver Springs. All

Christian men who are interested in supporting each

other and their communities are invited to attend.

See Ryan Pheasant for details, 570-541-3838.

THE MIDDLE CREEK COUNCIL of

CHURCHES LENTEN BREAKFAST

The Middle Creek Valley Council of Churches will

hold their annual Lenten Breakfast at First United

Methodist Church in McClure at 8:00 a.m. on

Saturday, March 3. The speaker will be Jenna

Tyson, director of Child Evanglism Fellowship of

Snyder and Union Counties. Come, enjoy breakfast

& fellowship with your brothers and sisters in

Christ!

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 tlcmcclure@gmail.com.

Thanks for your help!

FOOD BANK OFFERING

February’s 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). This is the time of year when food

banks are hit hardest; remember the Lutheran Food

Bank when you do your grocery shopping!

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE NEWS

Fundraising’s “Olde Fashion Christmas” collected

$708.00, which included matching funds from the

church. 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 to all who gave graciously of their time,

talent, and money!

IT’S SPARE CHANGE SUNDAY

The first Sunday of

every month has

changed from Nickel

Sunday to Spare

Change Sunday. In

December 2016 an anonymous donor generously

paid off the Clinic mortgage. Nickel Sunday took a

break for a few months and, when the collection

was started up again, the money was placed in the

Fundraising account for church property

maintenance & improvement. This year, Nickel

Sunday has become Spare Change Sunday & the

proceeds will go to funding new carpeting in the

sanctuary. January’s Spare Change collection

totaled $62.80. Your spare change will continue to

benefit Trinity for which we thank God.

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DECEMBER COUNCIL

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

The December Council meeting was held on

Monday 18, at 6:30 PM in the Social room at

Trinity. The following are highlights from that

meeting:

-- Pastor Lisa welcomed all the new Council

members: Cathy York, Mary Ann Greager, Robert

Etzler, & Talitha Dobson.

--Council thanked all the outgoing members for

their hard work & dedication to Trinity: Jenni

Boonie, Bonnie Jones, Sandie Snook, Janet Walter,

Marty Wert, & Ange Ulrich.

-- Treasurer’s Report: The checkbook balance is

$4,870.01, $326.87 of which is set aside for the

Communion wine account. The outgoing council

members will help with Trinity’s yearly Audit on

January 25 at 6:00 p.m. Trinity received a check of

$147 from Community Aid for donations in the last

quarter of 2017.

-- Clinic committee: The committee received a

TLC Ministry Fund Grant of $7,500 for Clinic

improvements to include vinyl siding, capping, &

new windows.

-- Fundraising committee: The checkbook balance

for the Fundraising committee is $16,181, which

goes toward property maintenance.

-- Hospitality committee: The Olde Fashion

Christmas was a big success. The leftover cookies,

barbeque, & soup were taken to shut-ins.

-- Learning committee: Jenni Boonie & Betty

Rager are preparing Christmas bags for the children

to be given out after the Children’s Christmas

program on Sunday, December 24.

-- Property committee: The Parsonage porch needs

new posts & railing. Pastor Lisa received a bid of

$5,200 from Ken Wright. The pastors are willing to

pay half of the cost. Property chair Dave Weader

will get estimates on updating the electric wiring in

the Social room to prevent the roasters from

tripping breakers.

--Love Offering: December’s Love Offering will

be taken for Jennifer Renninger. She is going to be

a living kidney donor.

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 15 at 6:30 PM in the

Social room. All are welcome to attend.

JANUARY COUNCIL

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

The January Council meeting was held on Monday,

January 15 at 6:30 PM in the Social room at Trinity.

The following are highlights from that meeting:

-- Election of officers for 2018 Council:

President: Karen Segall

Vice President: MaryAnne Greager

Secretary: Cindy Graybill

Council members also volunteered as liaisons for

Trinity’s various committees. (See Annual

Congregational Report.)

-- Treasurer’s Report: The checkbook balance as of

council meeting was $6,270.28. The TLC fund is

$2,413.80; TLCC fund, $5,029.63; Matching fund,

$523.50; Communion wine account, $326.87, and

the line of credit is $5,094.78. Last year’s Income

was $106.510.61, expenses were $108,439.22, for a

year-end loss of $1,928.61.

-- Clinic Committee: Trinity members Robin

Randolph & Annette Rager are interested in renting

part of the clinic to for their fledgling catering

business, R Creations. The Clinic committee will

have a meeting to discuss the renovations and rent.

-- Property Committee: During the cold spell, Erb’s

needed to be called in to address some heating

problems. Also, the hot water heater in the

downstairs’ restroom needs a new circulator. Karl

Bubb didn’t get to check the wiring in the Social

room yet.

--Andrew Oldt’s Eagle Scout & Confirmation

Projects: Andrew is proposing to provide new

framework for the McClure church signs at the east

& west ends of Rte. 522 approaching town. He is in

the process of having his Eagle Scout project

approved. Andrew will also be working on

removing the platform from the Parish Hall as a

Confirmation project. Council thanks Andrew for

his ministry to the community & the church.

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 12, 6:30 PM in the

Social room. All are welcome to attend.

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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;

-- support others who are grieving;

-- were members of Trinity’s Women of the ELCA

and their ministry;

-- 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 "Sleepover in a Stable," the

Christmas Children's Program, including Heidy

Oldt, Jenni Boonie, & the Sunday School teachers

& parents;

-- served on Council including outgoing members

Jenni Boonie, Bonnie Jones, Sandie Snook, Ange

Ulrich, Janet Walter, Marty Wert;

-- volunteered to run for Council & to those newly

elected to Council, Talitha Dobson, Bobby Etzler,

MaryAnne Greager, Cathy York;

-- are raising their children and grandchildren (and

great-grandchildren) in the church;

-- are members of the TLC Ministry Fund

committee, especially outgoing member Diane

Weader & incoming member Bonnie Seler;

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

church;

-- have become involved in the western Snyder

Christian Men’s group;

-- 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.

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 has a new cell phone number. 570-600-

2852, 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.)

BUMPER STICKER OF THE MONTH

Why pray when you can worry?!

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ADVENT & CHRISTMAS 2017

AT TRINITY

Amanda & Bucky Wright decorate the tree in the

sanctuary for the Olde-Fashion Christmas.

Did Matthew Brytczuk get a little carried away

while wrapping presents for Trinity’s Youth Group?

Heidy Oldt turns daughter Lorna into a goat for the

Children’s Christmas program, “Sleepover at a

Stable,” which was held at Trinity on Sunday,

December 24th during worship.

Teagan Schreffler & Lorna Oldt are all smiles &

doing a great job wrapping gifts.

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The Choir serenades Trinity members with the

cantata, “Let the Whole World Sing,” on Sunday,

December 17.

In the sanctuary, Shade Mountain Strings plays for

the Olde-Fashion Christmas.

It’s Santa C.J. showing us his Christmas spirit!

MARRIAGE RETREAT WEEKEND

Time is running out to sign up for your spring

Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend. Please

consider taking a weekend to learn how to make

your marriage a more intimate, loving, Christian

union. Following are the scheduled Northeast US

spring Weekends:

* March 16-18, 2018 at Heritage Hotel Lancaster in

Lancaster, PA. A newly-renovated hotel, home of

the unique treehouse-inspired restaurant, "Loxley's."

* April 6-8, 2018 at Toftrees Golf Resort in State

College PA. A peaceful resort surrounded by a golf

course and nestled in the woods in the center of PA.

Registrations are also being accepted for the fall

Weekends: September 14-16, 2018 at Spruce Lake

Retreat in Canadensis, PA; October 19-21, 2018 at

Olmsted Retreat Center in Ludlow, PA;

and November 9-11 at Hampton Inn Berkshires in

Lenox, Massachusetts.

Two nights lodging, 5 meals for each of you, and all

supplies are included with your $100 per couple

registration fee, plus toward the end of the weekend

you will be given an opportunity to make a

confidential contribution of whatever amount you

wish to help cover expenses and ensure the

continuation of the program.

To be sure to get the Weekend of your choice, sign

up TODAY. Simply go

to: www.GodLovesMarriage.org , choose the

Weekend desired, and pay the $100 registration fee

with your credit card, or mark the option to mail a

check. For questions, please contact Northeast US

Contacts for Lutheran Marriage Encounter, Fred &

Julie Schamber, at 724-325-

3166 or fjschamber@comcast.net.

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