Newsletter of Calvary Lutheran Church, Laureldale, PA
CALVARY’S BOOSTER
Volume 87 September 2011 Issue 8
Women of the ELCA’s
Sandwich Sale
Rally Day Goes Tropical!
September 11 Saturday, September 10
Join us on Sunday, September 11, in the Schaeffer Pick up 11:00 a.m. - noon
Room at 9:15 a.m. for a special kick-off of the Sunday
School program for the school year. Bring your Italian, Turkey, Ham or Ham & Cheese
surfboard and wear your Hawaiian shirt or just come! $4.00 each
We will be playing an active game where groups will (No special orders.)
explore miracle stories in the Bible and deliver answers Order forms are included with this newsletter
in exciting and innovative ways. We will also honor or call Kathleen Sharp, 610-929-3726,
Hilda Palmer for her 56 years of service in the Sunday to place your order. Order by Sept. 3!
School. Of course, when we honor someone, we have to
eat, so there will be lots of refreshments!
All ages are invited. Please join us
for fun, learning and fellowship. Then
come back on Sunday, September 18,
when children will be introduced to their
new classes and teachers. See you there!
New Organist Has Arrived!
We welcome Mark Reppert to the organ bench at
Calvary. Mark has accepted the position of organist,
beginning in September. Mark has served as an organist Some members have expressed an interest in an
and choir director since 1979. His experience includes evening Bible study to help us grow in our Christian
four churches in Pennsylvania: Friedens Lutheran in faith. A study will be held on Wednesday nights from
Stony Run, St. Paul's Lutheran in Hamburg as interim 7-8:30 p.m. on the Blue Level, beginning September 21.
organist, Jacobs Church in New Tripoli and, most A sign-up sheet will be posted in the narthex soon!
recently, St. James in West Reading. He previously If you're interested, please sign up so we know how
traveled and performed as a tenor soloist with "Joy," an much material needs to be prepared for the study group.
outreach contemporary music ministry based in Bonnie DeTurck and Tucker Irwin are
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We ask God’s blessings on organizing the study. Call them if
Mark when he leads us from the console as we sing you have any questions.
God’s praise!
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Church Directory
All phone numbers are 610 area code
Office:
Phone .......................................................................................... 929-9606
Holy Baptism
Email .............................................................. contactcalvary@verizon.net This summer we celebrated two baptisms:
Fax............................................................................................... 929-4372 July 16, Travis Michael McNeal, son of Michael and
Web ............................................. www.calvarylutheranlaureldale.com
Beth (Seaman) McNeal.
August 14, Ava Marie Epler, daughter of Sydney
Domagalski and Justin Epler.
We pray for God’s richest blessings on these
children and their families in the years ahead.
Women’s Mystery Dinner
Ladies, you are invited to the women’s group’s
Mystery Dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 20, in the Schaefer
Room. The evening begins at 6:00 p.m.; the meal begins
at 6:15 p.m. Having Surgery or
Please sign up on the sheets in the rear of the church. Being Hospitalized?
It is important that we have an accurate count of how Please call the church office to let us know when
many will attend. A donation will be received for the you will be admitted.
cost of the meal.
?
Pastor Irwin visits hospitals every week and prays with
What’s the mystery? Guests decipher people before surgery.
clues to order a meal. To tell you Studies have shown that prayer actually promotes
anymore would spoil the fun (and
?
healing and wellbeing–so give us a call and let prayer
your dinner!) enhance your healing!
Everyone is asked to bring
pieces of wrapped candy for
six
after- ?
dinner games. Catechetical Event
Schedule
Sept. 11 Holy Baptism: Newness of Life
Sept. 25 Holy Communion: Taste and See
Oct. 16 God the Creator and Provider
Oct. 30 God the Preserver
Thank you to all who donated their time and Muhlenberg Churches
participated in our Vacation Bible School program this Food Pantry
summer. We had 84 who attended (74 children and 10 The food distribution at the pantry is Thursday,
adults). In addition we had 33 adults and teens help as Sept. 15, from 4-6:00 p.m. It is always held the third
leaders and helpers. Thank you to all who donated Thursday of each month. Location is Good Shepherd
snacks, items for Family Promise, and money to help Lutheran Church, the corner of Tuckerton and Stoudt’s
finance the week of fun! We will wear our t-shirts again Ferry Bridge Roads.
for the CROP Walk. Do you know of someone—friend or neighbor—in
We hope the experience was a blessing to all who the Muhlenberg Township area who could use our help?
were involved, and we pray the new children we reached No advance registration is required; the simple
will come back for Sunday School. enrollment process can be completed that day.
Calvary’s Booster
Published monthly to share information with the friends and family of Calvary Lutheran Church, 1009 Elizabeth Ave., Laureldale, PA 19605. Donation: $10 annually.
Articles received after the deadline may be included in the following issue. Editor reserves the right to edit for content and space.
POSTMASTER: send address changes to The BOOSTER, Calvary Lutheran Church, 1009 Elizabeth Ave. Laureldale, PA 19605.
Deadline to submit articles for the next Booster is the first business day of the month. Submit articles to the church office.
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Property Committee News
Several projects are going on around the church. Choir Corner
We are replacing the emergency generator, which is by Melinda Rentz
no longer able to be repaired. The new generator will be
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has
placed on the Freemont Street side of the church near the
done marvelous things. Psalm 98
rear entrance. You will soon see a fence-enclosed area
near that door. Our thanks to Richard and Dolores Barth It is here again! It is time to return
for their generous donation toward the cost of this to choir rehearsals after a refreshing summer vacation.
project. Funds from the 2010 candy sale also went toward We will begin our rehearsals on Thursday, September
this project, as well as your offerings. 15.
The carpeting in the central area of the Blue (upper) Jubilate Bell Choir: 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Level and the two connecting hallways was replaced. The Senior Choir: 7:30–8:45 p.m.
existing carpet was the original (from 1983). Thank you
to the members who helped to empty those areas and then We welcome any new singers who would like to
return everything in time for Sunday morning’s classes. share their talent of music with our congregation from
This project was funded by your donations to the Grade 8 to adult. We will host Thanksgiving Eve with
Building Fund. Rosedale UCC at Calvary this year, so we look forward
to singing with our neighbors down the street again. If
you would like to sing with us for just a short period of
time rather than the entire choir season, please let me
Squirting Harry know, and we will work out a plan.
The annual Hunsicker Organ Recital will be held on
We love our new kitten, but he’s driving us crazy.
Sunday, November 6, at 3:00 p.m. Caleb Flick, Director
Harry does all those delightful kitten things: plays soccer
of Music from First UCC in Reading, is the featured
with a crushed bathroom cup, startles himself–launching
recitalist. Our own Jubilate Bell Choir will join Caleb in
all four feet off the floor–at any sudden sound, chases his
a combined number for organ and bells. You certainly
tail until he’s exhausted. When he’s happy, he purrs so
won’t want to miss this fine program! Please mark it on
loud you can hear him in the next room.
your calendar.
We keep a squirt bottle of water handy for when he’s
naughty–which is mostly when he decides to ―play‖ with
our seven-year-old cat, Katana. The old cat is not
amused and is quickly irritated by this ball of energy.
This is when Tucker or I take our best shot at Harry. It
surprises him every time and sends him off licking the
water from his fur. When will he learn?
According to a survey of cat owners by ―Whiskas,‖
75% of cat owners say they sometimes wish THEY could
be cats; 90% are jealous of their cats’ independence, lack of
responsibility, and life of leisure; and 50% are jealous of Sing, Sing, Sing!
how much cats get to sleep. September is here, school is starting, and we are
I don’t envy our cats, but on my worst days I getting ready to raise our voices and SING, SING, SING
sometimes wind up ―licking the water from my fur‖ after here at Calvary! We will start our choir rehearsals on
I’ve done something stupid. When will I ever learn? Wed., September 14.
Oh, that’s right, ―We are captive to sin and cannot Children ages 3-6 are welcome to join our Cherub
free ourselves,‖ and yet our Lord continues to love me Choir from 6:15-6:30 p.m. Joyful Voices is for youth
and keep in the covenant of his grace. The next time I ages 7-12 and will rehearse from 6:30-7:00 p.m., our
―baptize‖ Harry, I will remember how the one who loves Good Spirit Singers is for youth 13 through high school
me continues to meet me in remembrance of my baptism, and will rehearse after school 4:30 –5:00 p.m.
especially when I ignore his We sing once a month at church services and also at
guidance. several special services throughout the church year. We
also play bells at several services and invite children who
Asking God to keep me play instruments to share their talents with the
from ―straying,‖ congregation. Please come and join us on Sept. 14. You
Pastor Irwin can share your love for Jesus through song and make new
friends as well! Call Donna Sweigart at 610-929-0931if
you have any questions.
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Book of Faith
by Joy Gerhart
I recently taught a youth Sunday School class where
we watched a video addressing the question: Who Wrote
the Bible? God or Humans? For those who like simple
answers, we could say ―yes.‖ The video went on to say
that we believe the Scriptures were written by people
who were inspired or ―breathed into‖ by God. So God
“Have a Ball Day” Sun., Sept. 18, 2-6 p.m. - Fun speaks through humans in the Bible.
awaits when we gather at the church at 2 p.m. and play all The video also addressed the topic of the canon—the
sorts of ball games: bocci ball, wiffleball, croquet, accepted, authoritative collection of books of Scripture.
volleyball and more! We will share a picnic supper of Criteria for the decision to include books into the canon
hot dogs, chips, etc. at 5 p.m. Youth in grades 3-12 are included: use by churches at the time, authorship of the
invited as well as parents and friends. We simply ask that book/ letter by an apostle or associate of an apostle,
you sign up so we can buy food and supplies. content, and, of course, consideration through prayer.
There are other books that did not ―make it‖ into
CROP Walk Oct. 9 at Grings Mill - Scripture. One of these is the Gospel of Mary, which
Mark your calendars and plan to join us for the CROP some have heard about in The DaVinci Code. (There are
Walk on Sunday, October 9. Sponsor sheets will be many ―gospels‖ that did not become part of the Bible.
available after September 8 for you to get pledges to fight Some, like the Gospel of Thomas, are considered to be
World Hunger and provide support to local food banks Gnostic, a heretical version of Christianity.)
and pantries. All ages are invited to participate. The Scriptures help provide a firm foundation for our
Registration starts at 12:30 at Grings Mill, and the walk faith. It is important to know that these are not purely
begins at 1:30 p.m. Please sign up and let us know if you human books but words inspired by God. I think it is
need a VBS t-shirt to wear on the walk. helpful to know that the early Christian church very
carefully decided which books were worthy to be called
Potato Project October 15 - Once again we’ll travel to Holy Scripture. Some books of the Bible might speak to
the Kutztown area to gather and bag potatoes to you more than others. (Martin Luther was not enthralled
contribute to our local pantry. We will meet around 8:15 with all the books of the Bible and even called the Letter
a.m. to get to the fields by 9:00 a.m. The work is not of James an ―epistle of straw.‖) Read the ones that speak
without rewards—lots of French Fries are served, made to you, but read some others, too!
from freshly-picked potatoes! Mark your calendar and Today the Scriptures are as important as ever to
plan to come and help. This is a good service project for provide a firm foundation for our faith. When everything
catechetical students. Be sure to sign up and complete a else is shaky and uncertain, open the Bible and hear God
permission slip. speak to you!
Looking ahead, the Youth Service will be Sat., Nov. 12,
and Sunday, Nov. 13.
Medi-Loan Program
Some of you may not be aware of it, but Calvary
loans medical equipment to members and friends through
its Medi-Loan program. There are walkers, bath chairs,
E-mail, Cell Phones, Home Phones, wheelchairs, and a few other items available for loan.
Items are returned to the church when they are no longer
Mailing Addresses… needed.
Living in a world with so many ways If you need this type of equipment, call
to stay in touch means there is even more the church office to find out if it is
information to keep updated. available and make arrangements to pick it
Please share any address changes, phone number up. Your information will be kept on file
changes (home and cell), and e-mail addresses with the until the item is returned. Calvary does not
church office. charge a fee for the equipment, but
Mail it, phone, e-mail it or drop it off. Our contact donations are welcome.
information is at the top of page 2.
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Chiari People of Pennsylvania’s
2011 Walk
Making “Wishes & Rainbows”
Come True
Contributions to the Memorial Fund may be made to
Calvary and mailed to the church office.
In memory of Richard Schaefer from …
Esther Jerald
Jan Hecht
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Kline
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Beards
Jacqueline Feltenberger
Carol Wertz
Sat., Sept. 17 The Hopkins Family
Gring’s Mill Recreation Area Col. & Mrs. Thomas Schaefer
Registration 9 a.m.
A donation was also received in honor of Ruth
Walk 10-12 noon Schaefer from Jan Hecht.
Raffle 12:30 p.m.
Please come enjoy a scenic 2.4 mile walk from
the Barn to the Heritage Center and back to
the Barn.
Thrivent Choice Dollars
Thank you to the Calvary members who have been
instructing Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to donate
Stands include registration, t-shirts ($10),
Thrivent Choice dollars to Calvary. So far this year, the
baked goods, raffle, Chiari/Syringomyelia congregation has received $1,449 and the Preschool has
information, and refreshments. Alternative received $255.
therapy stands will also be represented. If you are a Thrivent Financial member who has the
opportunity to direct some of Thrivent’s charitable
giving, we hope you will consider us as your recipient.
But, most importantly, direct it somewhere. If you don’t
Prizes for the individual and team with most
designate where the funding should go, it is as if you are
money raised at the Walk.
throwing the money away.
You have the option of setting up a recurring
donation to Calvary or the Preschool—which means
Benefits Wishes & Rainbows, a non-profit every time you have Thrivent Dollars become available,
organization dedicated to supporting and it will be automatically be donated to us.
assisting persons and families with
This is not your money you are giving away, but
rather you are directing some of the money Thrivent
Chiari/Syringomyelia.
Financial donates to non-profits doing good works.
Thank you, Thrivent, for providing another way in which
your members can help their congregations and organization
Contact Lori or Courtney Christ at 929-4389 important to them!
for more information.
5
An Update from Dutch Apple Dinner Theater
Tucker Irwin Our women’s group has planned two trips to Dutch
Apple Dinner Theater. The group had a wonderful time at
Dear Friends, the show last fall, and so we will be going again.
Here’s my latest news. Oct. 1: I Love a Piano, a salute to Irving Berlin, a
nostalgic musical journey with more than 60 Berlin
In June I tried working for two hours a day to see if I songs.
could do it. The result was exhaustion. Testing showed a Dec. 3: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, a
continuing problem with a low red blood count. While at musical based on the movie Miracle on 34th Street.
the rehab center in February, I had had a transfusion, and
my levels indicated the need for one two weeks ago. Both are 1:15 p.m. matinee performances. Dinner
Next week I will see a hematologist who will, I hope, begins at 11:45 a.m. We will carpool from the church
develop a game plan for getting to the bottom of the parking lot at approximately 10:35 a.m.
problem. In the meantime, I have very little energy and Tickets are $47. Please submit reservations to the
need frequent rest periods during the day. church office. Payment must accompany your
reservation.
The good news is that the lingering lung infection
I’ve been dealing with is gone!
St. Paul’s Child Development Center has kept me on
indefinite medical leave for as long as I want. Last week,
with school beginning in three weeks and lots of kids
returning, I officially resigned/retired so my bosses could
replace me with a definite staff person to cover the The women’s group at Calvary has
necessary schedules for the school year. It was a hard a Prayer Shawl Ministry as a way for
decision because it was a wonderful place to work, a our church to reach out with love and
ministry to and for children, and wonderful bosses. care to people who are hurting or who
I haven’t been to worship or Sunday school very may need a special blessing. What
often because of the exhaustion. When I was in worship makes a Prayer shawl different from
a few weeks ago, I found it too difficult to stand for the any other shawl? The shawl maker
liturgy. If I go somewhere, I rest before and after the begins each shawl with prayers and
excursion and need to keep my time away to about three blessings for the recipient. The shawl
hours. maker continues praying while making the shawl…think
of each stitch being intertwined with prayers. After the
Please keep my in your prayers.
shawl is completed, it is blessed with a final prayer and
Tucker
then dedicated in church.
If you know of someone who may benefit from the
gift of a shawl, contact Wendy Sharp in the church office.
Editor’s note: Tucker, Pastor Irwin’s wife, is recovering
Although we do not charge for the shawls, donations
from serious health problems that began in January.
are welcome to help cover the cost of the yarn. Shawls
can cost from $10 to $15. If you would like to sponsor a
shawl, place your donation in an envelope marked ―shawl
ministry‖ and either mail it to the office or place it in the
offering plate.
Let Go!
Much attention is being paid to the heavy backpacks kids now lug to school. My fifth-grader’s backpack weighs
nearly 20 pounds—more than one-quarter of her body weight!
This year I bought my kids backpacks with wheels to ease the muscle strain. Problem solved? Wrong. They continue
lugging the packs on their backs, and I keep reminding them to put the packs down and roll them.
I don’t understand it—or do I? We adults carry heavy burdens, too. They pile up and weigh us down. The cumulative
weight can be crushing. But we don’t have to carry our troubles. Jesus tells us to let him shoulder the load (see Matthew
11:28). Jesus already took away our biggest burden by dying on the cross. So we can truly “Let go … and let God.”
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In the Mailbox…
Dear Calvary,
All Women are Invited to the Thank you so very much for all your kindness on
Music Sunday and my last Sunday as your organist. I
was overwhelmed by all your well wishes and kind
Fall Meeting of the comments as well as all the cards, the Coffee Café, and
West Berks Women of the ELCA generous gifts. I want to thank the church council for
the beautiful hanging plant and gift card on Music
Saturday, Sept. 24 Sunday, Melinda and the Choirs for the Coffee Cafés,
Donna and Bill Sweigart and the children’s choirs along
with their families for the beautiful flowers and card,
Trinity Lutheran Church, 527 Washington Street, when they sang, and the entire congregation and Pastor
Reading Irwin for the certificate of appreciation, card and
Registration 8:15-9:00 a.m. generous gift.
I feel very blessed to have known all of you and
think of you often. Thank you again and peace be with
Bold Women, Celebrating the Bold you.
Women in Our Lives Diane Spohn
Dear Calvary,
Speaker: Rev. Ginny Biniek, Chaplain of the Lutheran
I wanted to say thank you to everyone for all of
Home at Topton
your prayers, cards sent to me and your support. Prayer
is power, and I and my family truly appreciated it.
Morning events include a Bible study and a panel of
Thank you again so much.
ladies who will share their situations
Love,
An offering and in-kind gifts will be received for Melanie Kummerer
Wisdom 31 (formerly Motivated Moms)
Dear Calvary Friends,
Drink boxes/pouches, fruit roll ups/fruit snacks, Thank you for the lovely flowers, all your prayers,
goldfish, teddy grahams, Cheez-its calls and concern. It is wonderful to have a loving
Gallons of spring water, plastic cups (7 or 9 oz.), church family.
paper towels. Tissue boxes,(pop-up), hand Thanks again,
sanitizer (pump bottles), disinfecting wipes Jack and Betty Hauze
for counters, wipes (hand sanitizing)
Dear Calvary,
Crayola crayons (regular or fat size), Tacky glue
Thank you for your recent donation of $282.50
(brand name), markers, colored pencils,
from your Joyful Noise offering. Camp Dragonfly is a
tempera paints, foam sheets, Sharpies, stamp
free-of-charge weekend camp for children, ages 6 to 15,
pads
who have experienced the death of a parent,
Children’s stickers, super balls, hair grandparent, sibling or other close family member. It’s
ties/barrettes, decorated pencils, Dollar Store donors, like you, that remain essential to the Camp’s
toys survival.
Thank you for being the wind beneath our Camp
Dragonfly wings!
Our sanctification does not depend as much on Dear Friends,
changing our activities as it does on doing them for Thank you for the beautiful flowers I received from
God rather than for ourselves. - Brother Lawrence Calvary on July 10. I really appreciated them.
Your friend,
God has given us two hands: one to receive with Violet Mengel
and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for
hoarding; we are channels made for sharing. - Billy
Graham
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