WESLEY MESSENGER
Wesley United Methodist Church
40 West Main Street, Strasburg PA 17579
Church email address: [email protected]
Web: www.wesleychurch.us
717.687.6392
April 2016
Volume 8, Issue 4
Worship Schedule
Inside this issue:
8:30 a.m. Traditional ~ 10:50 a.m. Contemporary
9:45 a.m. Holy Grounds Fellowship in Epworth
Worship
Schedule
1
Pastor’s
Ponderings
2
Members at
Home
3
Worship
4
Education
4
Fellowship &
5
Missions
6
Trustees
6
Bishop’s Blog
7
Office Hours:
8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday
Office Phone: 717.687.6392
Rev. David Alderson - Pastor
Kim Badman - Organist/
Choir Director
Kerri Shindle - Director,
Noah’s Rainbow Preschool
Laura Martin - Treasurer
Holly Miller - Secretary
10:00 a.m. Sunday School
Sunday April 3—2nd Sunday of Easter
Combined Service @ 10:00A.M.
This is My Story!
Acts 1:1-14
Mark 6:7-13
Sunday April 10—3rd Sunday of Easter
Resurrection Power Prevails
Acts 3:1-10
Mark 6:53-56
Sunday April 17—4th Sunday of Easter
The Church @ Thessalonica
Resurrection Power & Holy Spirit
Acts 17:1-9
1Thes 1:1-10
Mark 13:9-11
Sunday April 24—5th Sunday of Easter
The Power of Our Witness / The Power of Evangelism
1Cor 1:10-18
Mark 9:34-35
Acts 18:1-4
Our Mission:
WORSHIP GOD; SERVE GOD; WITNESS for GOD;
by the POWER of GOD through the HOLY SPIRIT.
Pastor’s Ponderings …
I have always really appreciated music, especially with regard to the contemporary Christian music.
Not all of this music, however, is theologically or doctrinally correct. We must always be careful as to
what we are feeding our souls, and even more careful that we’re not getting caught up in the emotional ties to the melody or chorus of a particular song. I’m not saying that all contemporary Christian
music is this way; believe me when I tell you that a lot of the music we hear on the radio or in our
worship settings today is very powerful and biblically accurate. I recently read a quote from an unknown author that states; “Where words fail, music speaks.” I think we can add another step to that…
“And this is yet another way to hear from God.”
But how do we know we’re hearing from God in our music, or in other areas of life? The simple answer is this; does what we hear, or what we are listening to, align with the Word of God? We can ask
that question with everything in life. How do I know the will of God for my life, especially when I am
torn between two options? Does it align with the Word of God? How can I know that my Sunday
school lesson or Bible study lesson is the right one for my class? Is what you’re teaching in alignment
with the Word of God? You see, we can ask all sorts of questions, and even come up with some pretty
good answers on our own, but do they align with the Word of God? Even when preaching I must
make absolutely certain that what I preach is from God and is in alignment with his Word.
The story of the Ethiopian Eunuch is one of my favorite stories in the entire Bible. We find this story
in the book of Acts, chapter 8, where an angel of the Lord directs Philip to go in a certain direction,
only to find that he has an encounter with someone who needed to hear from God. Read these words
as recorded by Luke in the Book of Acts:
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Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that
goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of
the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was
sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go
to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man
reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come
up and sit with him. 32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led
like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not
open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his
descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
34
The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself
or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told
him the good news about Jesus.
36
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said,
“Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?”
38
And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down
into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but
went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about,
preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
(continued on page three)
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Pastor’s Ponderings …
(continued from page two)
I believe the will of God (the angel advising Philip to go in a certain direction without knowing all of
the facts) aligned with the Word of God (preach the GOOD NEWS), and a life was forever changed
because of it. What if Philip didn’t heed to God’s voice to move? Sure, God could have used someone else; but there’s a good chance that this man could have gone through life without ever knowing.
Perhaps God is asking you to move in a certain direction? Perhaps it’s time you yield to his voice
and move! There will always be other things to do, but what God has you doing is far more important! You’ll never know if you don’t go!!!
Karen Bender, Chair-Worship
Kim Badman, Organist/Choir Director
John Botham, Head Usher
Ed Nusbickel Breakfast
Men’s Prayer Breakfast
at Hershey Farms
On Sunday, April 10, the Wrestling with Words
Sunday school class will offer its “Every So Often
Whenever We Feel Like It Ed Nusbickel Breakfast”
during the Holy Grounds fellowship time between
worship services. Ed was a treasured member of our
Sunday school who was very active in providing this
special fellowship time whenever we had it. We do
this partly in order to remember and honor him.
Make it a point to be present! Invite others!
(The sausage, egg & muffin sandwiches will be
a product of Ron Henderson’s culinary expertise.)
Men, if you desire fellowship, a good breakfast
and a deepening prayer life, if you want to serve
by listening to the Lord, join Pastor Dave and fellow disciples for our Men’s Prayer Breakfast at
Hershey Farms Restaurant on Saturday morning,
April 16, at 8 o’clock. Please call the church office
so we can count you in!
Come… Break Bread with Us...
Liana Kieley, Children/Youth - 687.7074
[email protected]
Kerri Shindle, Noah’s Rainbow - 687.7109
[email protected]
Nursery Coordinator - Open
Christian Education Chair:
John Lewis
Cradle Roll: Betty Heffner
Adult Sunday School
There are two Sunday School Electives for Adults to consider:
The Inquirers Class: The Inquirers who meet in the small Sunday school room off the Asbury room on the
second floor, are pondering a study of the Holy Spirit, aided by the thoughts of Billy Graham. You are welcome
to join us. The class is facilitated by Fred Price.
The Wrestling with Words Class: In 1995 social worker David Kaczynski became convinced that his estranged
brother Ted was the notorious Unabomber, the terrorist responsible for a 20-year string of explosions, killings
and maimings. David’s book, Every Last Tie, is his memoir. It’s a powerful story raising issues of faith and family,
forgiveness and justice, mental health, healing, wholeness, right and wrong. Starting April 17, Wrestling with
Words will take time out from our Max Lucado study to read and discuss David Kaczynski’s book. If you would
like to join us, please contact Roy Rineer.
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Family Game Night @ The Firehouse
Saturday, April 23 ~ 6 p.m.
Come out for a night of family fun & laughs!
Games provided; bring a friend
& a snack to share
ADULT EGG HUNT - SUNDAY, APRIL 3RD!
It’s true! Just for you—all the adults who long to search will now be
able to shove one another out of the way to be the first to clutch
that spectacular Easter egg!
But first, join us for a Casual Dress Combined Worship Service
at 10 a.m. with a pot luck luncheon to follow. Keep your ears open
that day for discussion about starting a Supper Club!
On Sunday, April 3rd, bring a friend, bring a neighbor! Sign up on
the bulletin board in Epworth by March 27 so we know how many
to expect. You have one month to improve your observation and
deduction skills; don’t forget to work on that sprint speed!
You are invited to a Ladies Tea to be held
in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, May 1.
Enjoy a lovely time of Fellowship,
Sweet Treats,
Tea & Coffee,
& Special Entertainment!
Tickets (see Wanda or Maria) are $10.
Look for a signup sheet in Epworth room.
Spring training has begun!! Baseball is here! Cheer in
person for the Barnstormers or the Reading Phillies this
summer, or both! The Fellowship Committee is checking out
group rates for May and June home games and will soon need
to order tickets. Sign up in Epworth now to let us know
your preferences! “Baseball, it is said, is only a game.
True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona” George F. Will.
Winter’s gone; it must be the season of Baseball!
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Chair - Open
Team Wesley: Lynda Houck
Team Wesley & Pennies for Missions
John 15:12: This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Team Wesley 2016 invites you to join us for our next meeting - Tuesday, April 5, at 7 p.m.
***
Pennies for Missions
In the month of February Wesley raised $22.95 through Pennies for Missions. Pick up a soup can
on the counter in the Epworth Room. Then at home, for every meal you eat, place two pennies in
your soup can. On the last Sunday of each month, look for the basket marked “Pennies for Missions” and
place your pennies there. All pennies collected are used to support Wesley UMC mission projects. Next
Pennies for Missions collection is March 27.
Red Cross Blood Drive—Wednesday, April 27
The American Red Cross will hold a Community Blood Drive in our Fellowship Hall
on Wednesday, April 27, from 1 to 6 p.m.
Sign up in the Epworth room, online at www.redcross.org or call 1-800- .
Registering in advance will save you time that day!
Please consider giving the gift of life.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
outreach ministry
to those in need
1-Stop-Shop APRIL Mission Challenge:
Desserts!
Thank you for your generous support of our L-S School District families! We celebrate your donations of
Cleaning Products during March’s
Mission challenge.
If you know a loved one or friend who
would appreciate a shawl or wrap, please
contact Joyce Strubel or Ruby Botham
and we will have one made for them!
Would you like to knit or crochet a
prayer shawl or wrap, or learn more about
how the prayer shawl ministry started?
We will be glad to share with you!
During APRIL you are invited to
bring to worship your gifts of
DESSERTS for local families!
Spring Cleanup Day is here!
Saturday, April 30 - 8:00 a.m.
We are landscaping & doing yardwork; all are welcome!
Bring yard gloves & tools to plant flowers.
If you would like to donate money for flowers,
please give it to Pete Kingsley who will buy
the flowers in bulk.
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