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THE WORD
THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED
FOR THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF
REFORMATION LUTHERAN CHURCH
AUGUST 2005
That’s Right, Reformation has a website! On the website you will find all kinds of things from this very newsletter to a calendar of Church events. You will be able to access the weekly prayers and devotional readings as well as sermons new and old. There are helpful links and fun pictures to look at as well as e-mail addresses for all of the church staff and descriptions of our many ministries. Reformation’s address is listed on the national Lutheran church (ELCA) website as well as several local directories. As the church moves into a new age of technology creating a website is an important step in keeping in touch with members and reaching out to new people. The Welcome Place website will be a great tool for ministry in the 21st century and a wonderful way for the community to stay in touch. Check the site often for updates and new information. If you would like to help with the website or if you have questions or suggestions, please contact the church office, or e-mail: pmtairyref@gmail.com.
Some churches get quiet in the summer. It’s kind of “time off”. Not at Reformation. We are busier than ever, especially because of Camp RC.
I hope you realize what a wonderful ministry your church is performing in the summer. This year more than 160 different children participated in our programs. Many of them attended all 10 weeks. The children sang songs, learned Bible stories, did arts and crafts, played games, went swimming, attended several different nature programs, went to various playgrounds, attended baseball games, and participated in a host of other activities.
Most of all, however, the program isn’t about the activities, it is about the children. Children who grow and learn. Children who make new friends. Children who sometimes get into trouble and have to figure out how to get out. Children we try to love with the love we ourselves have received from God.
I had the opportunity to visit in many of the Camp RC homes this summer. Parents really appreciate what our church is doing for them. Camp RC is a wonderful witness.
We are grateful for so many people who make Camp RC possible. Gloria Hamilton, with an assist for a couple of weeks from Donna Peterson, has served as camp director. Assistant directors were Lee Perkins, Robynn McCollum, Amber Malone and Sandra Wilson. A couple of dozen young people served as counselors and junior counselors.
There were volunteers from the congregation who helped with registrations: Margaret Garner, Carolyn Harris, Lydia Banks, Barbara Williams, Evelyn Lyons, Faye Matter. Other volunteers came to read to the children as a part of a program sponsored by the STRETCH Academy. Camp RC added to the work loads of Charlene Jenkins, our musician; Vernon Marshall, our sexton; Evelyn Trent, our parish administrator who does payroll; Sandra Wilson (wearing her other hat) as office secretary); and Doris Edwards and our crew of offering counters. This was really a group effort!
We are the Welcome Place, and this summer we welcomed children! Thanks be to God!
--Pastor Simmons
MEN’S DAY COMING ON SEPTEMBER 11
Reformation’s annual Men’s Day will be held on Sunday, September 11. The Men’s Day Service will be at 9:00 only. It will be a service of the Word, with Pastor Joseph Alsay, our former vicar now serving at Trinity Episcopal Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the guest preacher. The service will also include the Men’s Day Chorus, and presentations of the Man of the Year and Youth of the Year awards.
Following the service, there will be breakfast served in Spirit Hall.
There will also be an 11:00 service on September 11. It will be a service of Holy Communion and Pastor Alsay will again be the preacher.
Action from the Congregation Council Meeting of July 26
--agreed in concept to recommend to the congregation that Reformation participate in a special appeal from the Seminary to raise funds for their new classroom building. The goal would be to dedicate a room in the name of our Addie Butler. Further work will be done on this proposal at the September meeting, and the recommendation will be brought to the congregation meeting in January.
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
1. Alona Crenshaw
2. Temilayo Butler, Marcus Robinson, Chance Rutherford
3. Patricia Robinson, Clara Sheard
4. Choncita Byrd
5. Patricia Steers
6. Karen Sobers-Brown
7. Adrienne Stewart
8. Ameyrah Kittrell
9. Arthur Muir, Vivian Rice
10. Michele Bright
11. Larry Edwards, Constance Evans, Lyric Holt
12. Theresa Casimir, Tiffany Frederick, Darryl Washington
13. Samantha Byrd. Ann James, Charlene Threadgill
14. Paulette Bailey, Ciara Bradley, Tina Rutherford, Anthony Vitucci
16. Brittany Lindsay
17. Lateff Caffie. Mae Flowers
18. Cia Choates, Ciani Choates, Jeremy Holland
19. Jassen Bronson, Jennifer Redmond, Joseph Salber
20. Cann Aaryn
21. John Banks, Melissa Haskins, William Kittrell,
22. Michael Cebollero, Hank Rawlerson, Gwendolyn Sebastian-Hill
23. Duane Archie, Maya Davis, Johnson-Lamontez James Redmond, Ronald Rouse
24. Kelly Keaton
25. Angela Dean, Eryn Dennis Angie Henderson
26. Nadirah Johns, William Warner
27. Taylor Moore
28. Alex Jenkins
29. Fran Bronson, Yaseer Jenkins
30. Derrick Garrett, Chelsea Mitchell
KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS…FOR HEALING: Gloria Myers, Florence Mattis-Brown, Addie Butler, Brian Wynne, Ruth Robinson, Barbara Broadnax, Erika Daniels, Marguerite Rueger, Sophie Edwards, Rosetta Singleton, Kathy Mattis, Herbert Bomar, Nicole Matthews, George Edwards, Dorothy Taylor, Beulah Waters, Tammy Archie, Janice McClary.
DATES TO SET ASIDE:
August 28 Potluck dinner as a send off for Vicar Amber, following the 11:00 service.
September 10 10:00 Women’s Day Fellowship
September 10 Work day at Habitat for Humanity site in North Philadelphia
September 11 9:00 Men’s Day Service
September 17 4:00 Dedication of new Learning Center at Seminary.
September 24 6:00 Shepherd’s Dinner
September 24-November 6 “Forty Days of Purpose”
October 2 First Fruits Sunday
October 15 Previously announced Open House postponed; watch for new date.
FORTY DAYS OF PURPOSE TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER Reformation, along with a hundred or more other Philadelphia churches, will be participating in “Forty Days of Purpose” beginning on September 24. The programs comes from the book by Rick Warren, entitled The Purpose Driven Life. Warren says in his book that we were all created by God with a purpose in life. He writes: You were made by God and for God – and until you understand that, life will never make sense. During this 40-day period, ending on November 6, we will be seeking some spiritual renewal. It will be a time of prayer, of reading the Scriptures, of trying to understand God’s purpose for our lives. Hopefully, many will read (or re-read) The Purpose Driven Life during this period. There will be small discussion groups which will be organized during this period which will meet weekly. The program will end with a grand service at the Liacorus Center on Saturday, November 5. Rick Warren himself will be the speaker, and funds will be raised for the Stand With Africa campaign. Watch for further details.
FIRST COMMUNION CLASS
Children who have completed kindergarten or above are invited to a first communion class which will be held on Monday-Thursday, August 29-September 1, from 10:00-12:00 daily. The first communion will be on September 4.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday School will begin in the fall on September 18. It will meet weekly at 9:45. We have a great Sunday School! Plan now on sending your children every week for the fall term.
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF REFORMATION?
We are the Welcome Place, and we’d love to have you as a part of our family. Our goal this year is to receive 100 new members, and we are making good progress, but there is still room for you. Pastor Simmons normally meets with persons to prepare them for membership. Speak with him if you would like more information.
Generation On A Mission plans for 2005 -2006:
Monday, September 26, Trolley Diner. Saturday, October 1, Taylor’s Home Food Workshop. Make your reservation with Evelyn Lyons NOW.
Events in planning stage include The Christmas Celebration, Evangel Cathedral, Upper Marlboro, MD on Saturday, December 3.
Plans for 2006 consist of, Cross Country Amtrak, Ace in the Hole, Retreat to mention a few. Please be in touch with a committee member if you are interested in participating: Phyllis Graves, Evelyn Lyons, Ruby Nicholson. Thekla Scott, Mary Stewart, Bill Warner.
YOUTH GROUP: SIGN UP FOR SAN ANTONIO
Next summer may seem like a long ways a way, but now is the time to sign up for the ELCA’s National Youth Gathering. It will be held in San Antonio from July 2-9. This is a great event, with worship, workshops, sight-seeing, parties, and meeting people from all over the country. If you want to go, your registration must be in by September 1. The registration fee is $150. The remainder of the funds will be raised by the group. If you need more information, please ask. Speak with Gwen Mayant or Pastor Simmons.
Farewell From the Vicar
As my time at Reformation draws rapidly to a close I have been reflecting back on my time here. Reformation welcomed me on a hot Sunday last September with open arms and hearts full of Christ’s love. As Christians we are called to welcome the strangers that come into our lives. When the Christian church had its beginnings the apostle Paul wrote letters to various churches commending them to take in the leaders and teachers that he sent by welcoming them, listening to them and teaching them. Every year for fifteen years Reformation has received a letter sometime in the early spring asking that they take in another intern, that they welcome them, that they receive the intern’s teaching and preaching and that they, in turn, help to train that student to be a leader of the church. Taking on an intern requires sharing resources, community time, pastoral time, patience and love. When I arrived at Reformation the community did this with zest. It is clear that this congregation loves being a place of learning and thrives on the change and variety provided by interns. Because of this I can say unequivocally that I have had a wonderful experience at Reformation. I have learned, loved, laughed, cried and grown and each step of the way I been supported. Training the leaders of God’s church is a tremendous joy and responsibility. Reformation has heard God’s call to this ministry and has answered it magnificently. May God continue to bless you as you participate in the ministry of teaching and nurturing! In saying goodbye to you I praise God for the ways that this community has blessed me personally and professionally. As I return to California and as I set out in my future ministry I will keep Reformation in my heart and prayers.
{Vicar Amber Malone}
“LISTEN:
GOD IS CALLING”
--YOUTH AND ADULTS IN CONVERSATION ABOUT LIFE, PURPOSE AND FAITH --
--UNDERSTANDING VOCATION: WHAT IS GOD CALLING
YOU TO DO?--
Saturday, October 22
9:00-3:30
Lutheran Theological Seminary
7301 Germantown Ave.
Adults and students in grades 9 through college sophomore encouraged to attend
Contact: trybacki@the fund.org or
Pastor Leah Schade (610-891-0600)
STRETCH ACADEMY NEWS!
As this hot, hot summer comes to an end, STRETCH Academy and the Scholarship Center are gearing up for the upcoming school year. While many of you enjoyed your summer of reading and leisure, our summer reading program at Camp RC was a resounding success. Many thanks to our readers (Mary Anderson, Barbara Blount, Addie Butler, Faith Powell, Rose Redfield, Jim Redmond, Luvenia Witherspoon, and Marta Zehner) who volunteered their time to read over the last six weeks to our campers on Monday through Thursday. Small reading circles with about 10 campers each enjoyed reading with our volunteers. Over fifty campers participated.
On August 14th, the Scholarship Committee sponsored a luncheon to honor 8 seniors who received $500 scholarships to be used for their freshman year of college. The recipients were Jasmine Edwards, Janay Green, Alex Jenkins, Darryl Smith, , Tianna Tucker, Tierra Whitley, and Donnica Wyatt. Congratulations to them all.
Our 8th grade After School Program will resume on Monday, October 3rd. This year, we plan to accept up to 30 students who need tutoring in language arts and mathematics. Our hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 3:15 pm to 5:45 pm. We will also have a mentoring program for our youth. If you know an 8th grade student who would benefit from participating in this great program, please contact Charlene Jenkins at the church for details and enrollment forms. This program is open to all 8th graders in our community.
Upcoming Events
- SAT Prep classes
- Computer classes
- Creative writing course
Read next month’s WORD for details.
SPOTS STILL OPEN FOR FAITH AND LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
Interested in a great continuing education opportunity? The Synod’s Faith and Leadership Academy at the Lutheran Seminary may be just what you are looking for. It will be held on Saturdays from October 15 to November 19, and includes topics on faith, Church history, the Lutheran heritage, leadership, and vocation. Please speak with Pastor Simmons if you are interested.
VICAR’S LAST SUNDAY
BEGINNING OF “40 DAYS OF PURPOSE”
LUTHERAN CHARITIES APPEAL SUNDAY
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TO CONTACT THE CHURCH, PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE: 215-548-4332. (fax: 215-548-4334) The office secretary is Sandra Wilson. The parish administrator is Evelyn Trent. The vicar is Amber Malone 215-924-3918. Pastor Simmons’ home phone number is 215-242-6719.
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Reformation Lutheran Church
1215 E. Vernon Road
Philadelphia, PA 19150
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©2005 Reformation Lutheran Church.http://www.welcomeplace.org/
last updated 10/22/2005