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 School Kits needed
Share the LOVE in February: School Kits needed We received a message from Church World Services that there is a great demand for school kits. “These kits give children in impoverished schools, refugee camps or other difficult settings, some of the basic tools for learning. Each kit should have the following items (many can be purchased at the Dollar Store).
- 1 30 centimeter ruler (12”)
- 1 Hand held pencil sharpener
- 1 Pair blunt metal scissors (rounded tip)
- 1 Large eraser
- 6 New unsharpened pencils with erasers
- 1 Box 24 crayons
- Three 70 count spiral notebooks or notebooks totaling 200 – 210 pages (NO loose-leaf or filler paper)
- 1 12 X 14 to 14 X 17 inch canvas bag with cloth handles (sold at Michaels or JoAnn Fabrics, use the 40% off coupon in Sunday’s paper)
Place all items in the canvas bag and bring to church. Look for box in chapel labeled SCHOOL KITS. We will collect these through February and ship the first week in March. Please think about filling a whole bag or bring individual items, which can be mixed to create a bag. This would be a great family or individual project for Lent. Thank you from the Social Ministry Committee.
 Family Bowling at Earl Bowl – Quakertown February 11
On Saturday, February 11th, starting at 5 PM we will be having our annual Family Bowling & Pizza at the Quakertown Earl Bowl. Complimentary shoe rental and pizza. Bowling is $3.50 per game.
Please sign up on the Christian Ed. bulletin board if you plan on coming.
 The OWLS head to The Rave February 14th
On Tues., Feb. 14th, the OWLS will go to the RAVE Theater at the Promenade in Center Valley. At noon there will be a “Classic Cinema” showing old movies, but the price is right. For $3.00 you see the movie, get popcorn, and a soda! We will see “My Favorite Brunette.” We’ll car pool from the church at 11:00 and stop, at Inside Scoop in Coopersburg for dessert on the way home. Note the date change from usual meeting date. Sign up sheet is in the chapel.
 Pizza and a Movie Night February 18th
Our next Pizza & A Movie night will be Sat., Feb. 18th at 5 pm. We will be showing the multigenerational film, "The Philadelphia Story."
A sign up sheet is available on the table in the Chapel or call Patty Helmick at 215-679-3533 by 10 am on Sat., Feb. 18th. All ages are welcome to attend!
Pastoral Training for Non-Ordained Church Volunteers begins Feb. 20th
Pastoral Training for Non-Ordained Church Volunteers - Are you a pastoral visitor, elder, deacon, or Eucharistic Minister, but have never taken a basic pastoral skills course? Penn Foundation is offering a Basic Pastoral Skills Course for non-ordained church volunteers. The purpose of this course is to help congregational caregivers to understand and integrate the dynamics of their pastoral care more fully into their ministry.
Beginning on February 20th, a class of about 12 participants will meet on six consecutive Mondays from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Tuition for the entire 6-week course is $50 per student – which helps us cover the cost of weekly handouts, etc. This fee may be paid by you or your church. Registration is required.
Topics will include: Pastoral Presence and Pastoral Listening Skills; Do's and Don'ts of a Hospital Visit; The Spirituality of Aging and Retirement Home Visitation; and The Use of Prayer and Scripture during a Pastoral Visit.
To register or if you need more information, please contact Donna Massey at 215-453-5180 or dmassey@pennfoundation.org. Thank you!
 Ash Wednesday Soup and Bread Supper Feb. 22nd
The Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22nd. Beginning at 6 PM, a Soup & Bread Supper will be served at St. John's. Donations have been requested. A sign up sheet is on the table in the Chapel. Our worship service will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church at 7:30 PM. We invite you to join us for the Sacrament of Holy Communion and conclude with the imposition of Ashes for those who wish to receive them
 Women's Retreat is scheduled for Feb. 25th
The Women's Retreat is scheduled for Feb. 25th at our church with a snow date of March 3rd. Our speaker this year will be Wanda Cramer from Penn Southeast Conference, U.C.C. Wanda is a well known and respected speaker on topics of personal spirituality. So, put the date aside because you won't want to miss it. More, information will follow in February's newsletter.
 Family Swim at YMCA February 26th
Our Family YMCA Swim is scheduled for February 26th at 6:00pm. Please sign up on the Christian Ed bulletin board if you plan on joining us.
 Prayer Shawl Ministry meets February 28th
Our Prayer Shawl Ministry started in 2006, with a GEM grant from PNEC, when a group of women got together to knit and crochet prayer shawls. As we knit we offer up prayers for whatever kind of healing or comfort the recipient needs. Sometimes we know who will receive the shawl. Other times we simply know God knows. We have given away 130 shawls and innumerable lap robes. In addition, we have enjoyed the fellowship among our group as we do our needlework.
Our group is small and we would like to invite any of you, women or men, who are interested, to come join us. We meet the 4th Tuesday of each month at Pat Brubaker's at 1:30 PM. One of our members comes on her lunch hour. You, too, are welcome, regardless of your ability, even if you are a novice. We will teach you. You could start on a smaller project such as a "prayer patch" to take to a doctor's office etc. Chemo caps, or hats, scarves, or mittens for the Christmas tree are other suggestions. Or you could knit dish cloths to wrap around soap for someone in a nursing home. We even have yarn. There are also a variety of small cross stitch projects. Our working together has brought our group together in a special way.
 Wednesday night Bible studies at 7:30 PM
This year, St. John’s Lutheran Church and Trinity (Great Swamp) UCC will be holding Wednesday night Bible studies at 7:30 PM. For this year, these will be in place of our evening worship services. The dates for these will be: Feb. 29th (at TGSUCC)
March 7th (at St. John’s)
March 14th (at TGSUCC)
March 21st at (St. John’s)
March 28th (at TGSUCC)
The Bible Studies held at TGSUCC will be conducted
in our Chapel area.
Because the season of Lent is often compared to a spiritual journey, we will be looking at passages that deal with the journey of the People of Israel into the Promised Land. We hope you will join us as we seek to grow in understanding of how we are meant to take the journey of faith into our own lives. We’ll see you there!
 March 11 – 2:00pm Family Game Day and Cook-off (Meat Pies)
Details to follow.
 March 24th – 10:00am Family Kite Day
Details to follow.
 April 6 – 6:00-8:00pm "EQPP" Dinner
Details to follow.
 April 28 – Keep PA Beautiful
Details to follow.
 May 12 – Outdoors at Great Swamp
Details to follow.
 June 17 – Lehigh Valley "Iron Pigs" Baseball Game
Details to follow.
 JONAH, bus trip to Sight & Sound in Lancaster, PA July 14th
Christian Witness is sponsoring a bus trip through Perkiomen Tours to Sight & Sound in Lancaster to see their newest production, Jonah, on Saturday July 14, 2012. It is billed to be a whale of a tail and perfect for the entire family. We will be picked up at the church at 10:45am, arrive at Sight & Sound for the 1:00pm show, then taken to Shady Maple for dinner. Arrive home about 8:00pm.
Price of $115 includes the bus trip, show ticket and dinner. Call as soon as possible to reserve your seat, Jean Mader @ 215-723-3390. First payment of $40 is due by January 29, 2012; second payment of $40 is due March 25th; and last payment of $35 is May due 27th. Envelopes will be available on the table in the Chapel.
Pricing for children is as follows: $83 Teens (13-18 years); $73 Child (12 and below)
I hope we can fill the bus to see this inspirational play. Any questions, please call Barbara Mader @ 215-529-5444.
 Vacation Bible School July 16-20
VBS will be from 9:00am to 12noon at Trinity Great Swamp.
Details to follow.
 Recycling!
We are participating in the “Abitibi” Paper Recycling program. The bins are in the parking lot.
What goes in the Bin?
Newspapers
Magazines
Mail
School & Office Papers
Catalogs
Details on how to use it are here. The Christian Education Commission also continues to collect aluminum cans. Aluminum cans may be dropped off at the church parking lot the 3rd Sunday of each month. There is a red Ford truck parked in the old parking lot and aluminum cans should be deposited there.
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