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THE WORD
THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED
FOR THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF
September, 2006
On Sunday, September 10, 2006, The Men of Reformation Fellowship Ministry will host their 19th Annual Men’s Day. The theme for this year Men’s Day is “Men Who Have Decided to Make Jesus Their Choice”. Our guest speaker will be Dr. Marc Lamont Hill. Dr. Hill is an assistant professor of Urban Education at Temple University. Trained as an anthropologist of education, he holds a Ph.D. (with distinction) from the University of Pennsylvania.
A sought after public speaker, at churches across the nation, Dr. Hill has also lectured widely and provided commentary for numerous print and television media outlets such as The Baltimore Sun, Miami Herald, Village Voice, Vibe Magazine, BET, and CNN. His column, The Barbershop Notebooks, appears regularly for PopMatters Magazine, and is often syndicated through various websites such as SeeingBlack.com and the Alternet. In 2005, Ebony Magazine named him one of America's top 30 Black leaders under 30 years old.
Our Men’s Day choir will also be lifting up the praise in song under the joint direction of Sheralina Baker and Charlene Jenkins. The dress attire for Men’s Day will be the same as last year, dark suits and African inspired bowtie. If you have the bowtie and cummerbunds, please wear both if you like.
Please invite your family and friends for this day of celebration and fellowship!
We have so many ways in which we mark a new year. There are birthdays and anniversaries. There is January 1st on the calendar and the beginning of Advent on the church calendar. For many people the end of August or beginning of September is the start of a new school year or program year. That is certainly true here at Reformation.
In September, we will have the blessing of teachers and students on September 3rd and the installation of Sunday School teachers and Sycamore Tree staff on Welcome Back Sunday, September 17th. Both of these are opportunities to mark the beginning of something new as we look forward with excitement.
September 17th will also mark the beginning of a six-week sermon series on being a congregation focused on discipleship. This particular list comes from the book Power Surge, by Michael Foss, which the council has been reading this summer. In it, Pastor Foss identifies six marks of discipleship: Worship, Serve, Pray, Relate, Give, and Read. These marks, he suggests, are at the center of a congregation focused on discipleship. Instead of trying to meet the needs of the members, the focus is on equipping disciples to do ministry. It is my hope that through this sermon series the wider congregation will get a sense of what the leadership has been discussing through the summer.
September will also bring the opportunity to engage in conversations as a congregation about our identity. As I reported to the congregation in June: “In the fall there will be numerous opportunities for small groups to meet and discuss the past, present, and future of Reformation. This is an opportunity for members to be engaged in the process of telling the story of Reformation.” There will be a series of three meetings held on the same day and time over three weeks beginning the week of September 17. The various times are: Mondays at 1:00 pm, Wednesdays at 10:00 am, and Wednesdays at 7:30 pm. Another round will be scheduled later in October.
As we begin this new school and program year, may God’s blessing be with you as God continues to be doing a new thing.
In Christ,
Pastor Jeff
Final Farewell from Vicar Ari
Thank you all for your love, encouragement, and wonderful hospitality to me during the past year. I have learned very much from my experiences with you that will shape my ministry for years to come. I also thank everyone who attended my farewell reception and final service for your support and generous gifts. They are greatly appreciated by me, Kate and our daughter-to-be, Aase. I hope to return after Aase is born to visit you all and I will certainly keep Pastor Jeff and the office informed on major developments in my life. God bless you all through this transition and beyond.
Shalom,
Ari Mattson
PLEASE NOTE:
On Sunday, September 17th, we will return to our two-service schedule – 9:00 am and 11:00 am – with Sunday School at 9:45 am. Please make sure to get your children in Sunday school on time!!
Liberian Gospel Concert coming!
The Liberian Gospel Music Ministers, all based in North America will be holding its 1st annual Gospel Music Festival, Gospelfest, on Sunday, September 3, 2006. There will be many great choirs there, including Messiah’s Men. This event will be held at the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia. The concert will be at 5pm and the tickets are $10. Please contact the church office for tickets.
Prayer Concerns
Please lift up the following 
members in your prayers~
Vicar Ari, Herbert Bomar, Helena Barefield, Patsy Smith, George and Sophia Edwards, Kathy Mattis, Joyce Rose, Gladys Holder, and Antonia Williams.
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
1. Alona Crenshaw
2. Temilayo Butler, Marcus Robinson, Chance Rutherford
3. Patricia Robinson, Clara Sheard
4. Concita Byrd
5. Patricia Steers
6. Ashley Fulton, Karen Sobers-Brown
7. Brandon Milton, Adrienne Stewart
8. Ameyrah Kittrell
9. Arthur Muir, Vivian Rice
10. Michele Bright, Wesley Brown
11. Larry Edwards, Constance Evans, Lyric Holt, Aisha Johnson
12. Theresa Casimir, Shelli Dixon, Darryl Washington
13. Samantha Byrd, Ann James, Charlene Threadgill
14. Paulette Bailey, Ciara Bradley, Tina Rutherford
16. Brittany Lindsay, Jennifer Redmond
17. Lateff Caffie, Mae Flowers
18. Cia Choates, Ciani Choates, Jeremy Holland
19. Joseph Salber
20. Aaryn Cann
21. John Banks, Melissa Haskins, William Kittrell
22. Michael Cebollero, Hank Rawlerson, Gwendolyn Sebastian-Hill
23. Duane Archie, Maya Davis, Lamontez Johnson-LeGare, James Redmond, Ronald Rouse
24. Tiffany Cherry, Kelly Keaton
25. Angela Dean, Eryn Dennis, Angie Henderson
26. Imani Bosworth, Nadirah Johns, William Warner
27. Taylor Moore
28. Alex Jenkins
29. Yaseer Jenkins
30. Derrick Garrett
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o you like reading? Have you ever read a really good book and wish you had someone to discuss it with but kept coming up blank? Then the newly-formed Reformation Book Club is for you! Join us for an informational organization meeting Tuesday, October 3, at 7pm.
Church Picnic a Success
It was a crisp, sun struck day on Saturday, August 12th...the perfect day for a picnic. Reformation family and friends came out in large numbers to celebrate our annual church picnic. Held at Mermaid Lake in Blue Bell, there was plenty to do. Children played in the pool or on the playground, as the adults enjoyed cards, board games, and dancing. There was even a train that took you around the grounds, which was enjoyed by all. We dined sufficiently on chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, baked beans, and a variety of salads. Old friends were reacquainted, while new friendships were formed between new and old members. Between line dances, a group photograph was taken of everyone in attendance. Great fun was had by all!
STEWARDSHIP CORNER
“THOUGHTS ON GIVING”
Giving to the church is an experience that can be satisfying and warming to the soul, because it is a reflection or indication of our gratitude for all that we have been given.
When we sing “Thank-you, Lord”, we are acknowledging the many gifts God has given us. As we strive to become a tithing church, we ask you to prayerfully and thoughtfully consider your response to God’s blessings. “And of all that you give me I will surely give one tenth to you”-
Genesis 28:22
The fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks will be remembered at two services at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lansdale, at 8 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11. Bishop Claire Burkat will participate in the morning service. The preacher will be the Rev. Dr. Wyvetta Bullock, executive for leadership development in the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop. More information is available on the SEPA Synod website: ministrylink.org/.
DID YOU KNOW?
A few members of the congregation have asked about the appropriate roles for lay people during the communion service. According to The Use of the Means of Grace: A Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament, adopted in 1997 by the Churchwide Assembly, an ordained minister presides in the service of Holy Communion and proclaims the Great Thanksgiving. Designated and trained laypersons may serve in a variety of leadership roles in the Eucharist. Among these assisting ministers will be readers, interpreters, cantors, musicians and choir members, servers of communion, acolytes, leaders of prayer, those who offer hospitality. Thanks for this liturgical question. Are there any others?
Tests that can help
Save Your Life!
Stroke is America’s 3rd leading killer. It is also the #1 cause for nursing home admissions. Unfortunately, half of all stroke victims have no warning signs before a stroke occurs.
Life Line Screening is America’s leading provider of quality health screening. They are coming to Reformation on Thursday, Sept. 28th. The following tests will be administered: stroke screening/carotid artery, abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, and peripheral artery disease screening. Please come out and get these non-invasive tests to protect your health…and maybe your life. Pre-registration is required. Call 1-800-324-1851.
This is being sponsored by our Health Ministry. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Johnson.
STRETCH ACADEMY NEWS
It’s time to get back from vacation and gear up for a new school year. Many of our college kids are already off to a university or trade school to pursue careers in various fields. But before we move into fall, let’s take time to congratulate several of our high school graduates who were 2006 scholarship recipients. Honored at the annual luncheon held on August 6th were:
Ø Michele Edwards- Community College
Ø Cory James- West Chester Univ.
Ø Tony McAllister- Florida A&M Univ
Ø Justin Neville- Penn State Univ.
Ø Anya Smith- Penn State Univ.
Ø Tenea Wilson- Community College
Also, a Special Note Of Thanks goes to the many people who worked at Camp RC this summer, and a Special Note Of Thanks goes to our summer reading volunteers: Mary Anderson, Addie Butler, Mary Sanders, Barbara Blount, Alyssa Baker, and Jim Redmond. The children clearly enjoyed spending time in the reading circle each afternoon.
"I've gained 2 lbs; do I get to go into
a new Sunday School class?"
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last updated 8/21/2006