1. shopping
2. gifts

Ziegels
Union Church
Breinigsville, PA
November, 2014
Newsletter
Volume 14, Issue 11
Communion During November
The sacrament of Holy Communion will be offered on
the first and third Sunday of each month
at both the 8:30 AM UCC service and
11:05 AM Lutheran service. The dates
for this month are November 9 and
November 23. Communion by intinction
will be offered at the Union Thanksgiving
Eve service on November 26.
The
service begins at 7:00 PM.
21 Day Prayer Challenge of Gratitude
We will begin a 21 Day Prayer Challenge of
Gratitude on Thursday, November 6.
The
Challenge will end on the Eve of Thanksgiving.
You may follow this Challenge on Facebook or
we will also give an opportunity for people who
are not on Facebook to post notes of thanks in
the Sanctuary. Post-it Notes and pens will be available on
the windowsills. People may post their notes on the walls.
Join us as we give thanks and praise to God from whom all
blessings flow.
Remembrances on All Saints’ Day
All Saints' Day, which will be celebrated on
November 2, provides a time for the faithful to
remember, reflect upon, and thank God for their
loved ones who have died.
You are invited to
bring pictures of loved ones who are no longer
alive but who were important in your faith life and
place them on the windowsills in the sanctuary.
These
pictures will remind us that we are surrounded by the
saints, people who were formative in our lives.
Additional Singers for Advent Night of Music
Ziegels annual Advent Night of Music will be held the
evening of Sunday, December 7. This year we welcome the
vocal performing group from Southern Lehigh
High School in Center Valley, under the
direction of Mr. Matthew Wehr. In addition, our
Union Senior Choir will be singing a few
selections. Rehearsals for the Advent music
began Thursday, October 23 but additional
singers are still welcome to come to the remaining
rehearsals. Practice for Advent begins at 7:45 PM and ends
at 8:15 PM. Please join the choir if you would like to
participate in Advent Night of Music!
Patrons are Needed for Advent Night
Patrons are needed for our annual Advent Night of
Music program. If you would like to help defray costs for
this program, please place $10 in an
envelope, write “Advent Night of Music” on
the front, and put your name on the
envelope as you would like it printed in the
Advent Night bulletin. You can place your
gift in the offering any Sunday on or before
November 23 or feel free to bring it to the church office.
Thank you.
Can You Help with Refreshments?
We are in need of refreshments for Advent Night of
Music on Sunday, December 7. Donations of the following
would be appreciated: cookies, vegetable trays,
hors d’oeuvres; cheese balls; crackers, dips;
fruit salad (1 qt.) If you would be willing to
supply any of the above items, please contact
the church office (610-285-6157) or drop a note in the
Sunday offering.
Also, help would be appreciated to prepare these items
prior to the concert and also for clean up after the concert.
Please let us know if you could volunteer in this area.
Sunday Fellowship Hour
Volunteers are needed to bring baked goods for the
Fellowship Hour and also to set up before and clean up after
our social time. A signup sheet is located on the desk in
the Upper Narthex if you might be willing to help.
Order Your Poinsettias Now
It’s time to order your Christmas
poinsettias.
The cost is $9.00 and the
deadline to order is November 30. Colors are
red, white, pink, and marble. Order forms are
available in the narthex and fellowship room.
At the end of this month most of us will gather
around our kitchen and dining room tables, surrounded by
our loving families and dear friends, to give thanks and
praise for all the blessings in our lives.
Thanksgiving is
one of my favorite times….the planning and the
preparations, the wonderful meal, and the love and
togetherness fills my heart with happiness and joy. I feel
so sad at the end of the day that it has come and gone so
quickly.
I always pray that the gratitude we feel during the
Holidays could somehow be present in our hearts and
minds the whole year through; not just on Thanksgiving
Day and at Christmastime. We need to focus more often on
our blessings and how we might respond in our daily lives
to the gifts God has given us.
After spending a week with the Mission Team in
Tuscaloosa, Alabama I cannot help but reflect on this
passage from the Gospel of John:
“After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the
Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. A huge
crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they
saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. Then Jesus
climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around
him…… Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to
look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, ‘Where can we
buy bread to feed all these people?’ He was testing Philip,
for he already knew what he was going to do. Philip
replied, ‘Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have
enough money to feed them!’ Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s
brother, spoke up. ‘There’s a young boy here with five
barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this
huge crowd?’ ‘Tell everyone to sit down,’ Jesus said. So
they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone
numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave
thanks to God, and distributed them to the people.
Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as
much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told
his disciples, ‘Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is
wasted.’ So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve
baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from
the five barley loaves. (John 6:1-14, NLT)
The disciples were focused on the large number of
people who needed to eat. They were thinking practically
and not trusting Jesus. Where would they go to find bread
for all these people? Where would they get the money to
feed everyone? How could they, with what they had (five
loaves and two fish), possibly feed all those who were
hungry? All valid questions….if Jesus had not been there.
Jesus changes everything.
I saw the face of Jesus in Tuscaloosa. The Habitat
for Humanity construction crew, who work with many
volunteers from all over the country each week, trusts that
what they need will be provided. All things are supplied –
materials, funding, labor and love. In this world of hope
that they have created they do not ask, “How can we help
everyone? Where is the money? How will we find volunteers
to help us?”
Businesses donate and sponsor homes, homeowners
work side by side for their “Sweat Equity,” and the
volunteers, well they return again and again. Everyone has
the same sense of gratitude and awe. Everyone knows it is
one family at a time, one home at a time. And this
Thanksgiving many families will share a meal in their new
home, thanks to a leap of faith!
God leads us to places where we can help, whether it be in
Biloxi, Tuscaloosa, Joplin, or our own neighborhoods and
homes. God provides for us the opportunities to serve and
to share our gratitude if we just trust Him and respond to
His call.
We are blessed, in response we should be a blessing.
We are forgiven, in response we should forgive. All good
things God has provided, in response we should provide for
others. One person can make a difference; one person can
change someone’s world.
At Thanksgiving and always let us step out in faith
and respond to God’s call to us!
Lori
Classes are held each Sunday from for
children and youth age 1 through eighth
grade. Children are asked to gather in
their classrooms by 10:00 AM and classes
will end at 10:55 AM. Please note that children should
not be sent to their classrooms before 9:55 AM and
should be picked up by 10:55 AM. The schedule allows
just enough time for our Sunday School teachers and
helpers who attend early service to get to the classrooms
and those who attend late service to get to their service on
time.
An adult Sunday School Class is offered every
Sunday morning at 10:00 AM. The class is led by Ralph
Wilhide and meets in the Matthew Room.
I would like to recognize the following students for their
faithful attendance during the month of September:
• Pre-K – Emily Doran, Ashlyn Malsch, Caeden Schaffer
• K and First – Nicholas Doran, Sophia Schaffer, Alexis
Watson
• Second and Third – Makela Frantz
• Fourth, Fifth and Sixth – Dartanyon DeLillo, Mia
DeLillo, Sam Fatzinger, Kira Schafer
• Confirmation – Zach Anderson, Ashley Bennicoff,
Sean Cardinale, Maddy DeLillo, Zach Gehringer,
Hayden Bobbyn, Sydney Derr, Bryce Heckendorn,
Dylan Heckendorn, Ben Heintzelman, Ethan Hyrcko,
Ryan Masters, Ashlynn Meurlott, Erin Randall,
Lindsey Rex, Mikayla Shankweiler, Emily Stevens
A Fire Drill will be held this fall. During this drill please
move from your location to the area designated on the
evacuation instructions located in each room in the Church.
Please remain in this area until the “all clear” is given. In
the event of a true emergency, please exit the building and
allow your child/children to move outside with their class.
Once everyone is outside of the building attendance will be
taken and children will be released to their parents.
Our annual Sunday School Christmas Program will be
held on Sunday, December 14 at 10:10 AM in the
Sanctuary. Our children and youth will help us prepare our
hearts and minds for the birth of Jesus! Please mark your
calendars and plan to attend.
Jesus’ Birthday Party will be held on Sunday, December 21.
Please join us at 10:15 AM in the Fellowship Room for cake!
like a book or two, remember the coupon books make great
Christmas gifts!
Learning Ministries
Our next scheduled Learning Ministries meeting will
be Monday, November 17 at 6:00 PM. If you have an
interest in the Christian Education of our members and
would like to be a part of future events, please join us. A
Sunday school teacher from each class is encouraged to
attend.
The Learning Ministries Committee is proud to
sponsor a Live Nativity on Sunday, December 14 from
5:00 PM until 6:30 PM. The Christmas Story will be
presented at 5:00 PM, 5:30 PM, 6:00 PM, and 6:30 PM.
Donations of cupcakes, cookies, cider and other
refreshments will be needed. We would also appreciate
monetary donations toward the expenses of the animals. If
you would be willing to help as a character or in the
refreshment stand please let Lori know. Please invite your
family and friends to share this very special evening with
us!
The Confirmation Class for 7th and 8th graders meets in
the Acts Room (upstairs) from 10:00 AM until 10:55 AM.
The class will meet every Sunday in November. Our lesson
plans for November will be “Jesus Calls the First Disciples,”
“The Beatitudes,” “Gerasene Demoniac,” “Feeding of the
5000,” and “The Transfiguration.”
“Enjoy the City” books are here! The cost will be $20.00
per book and the proceeds benefit the Confirmation Class.
Please see Lori or any Confirmation student if you would
Did you know that the Learning Ministries Committee has
determined that it costs $220.00 per student per year for
the Confirmation Program? A donation of $100.00 per year
is requested from each family, but for some this is a major
financial hardship. If you would like to sponsor a youth, a
donation in any amount may be made out to your
congregation and marked Confirmation Program.
Your
support is greatly appreciated!
Mark Your Calendars for Youth Group Stuff
A Junior Youth Group Movie Night for children
ages 3 years through sixth grade will be held
on Saturday, November 15 from 6:00 PM
until 8:00 PM.
Children are welcomed to
wear their pajamas and bring their favorite
blanket, pillow pet or sleeping bag. We will
begin with a pizza dinner at 6:00 PM and then move to our
basement “theater” for “The Lego Movie.” Donations of
popcorn, juices and other snacks would be welcome. A sign
up sheet will be located outside of the Sunday school office
or e-mail Lori at [email protected]. Also, if you have a
suggestion for the movie, please see Lori.
On Saturday, December 6 the Learning Ministries
Committee will be host a “Baby Shower for Jesus”
beginning at 5 PM and ending at 8 PM. All children and
youth and parents are invited to attend and the cost will be
$5.00 per participant, with a cap of $15.00 per family. In
addition, everyone is asked to bring a small baby gift
(blankets, bottles, rattles, diapers, etc.).
We will be
spending our time together sharing a light dinner (“shower
style”), playing games and working on a craft.
The
proceeds will benefit the Lowhill Food Pantry and the
“shower” gifts will be given to the Sixth Street Shelter in
Allentown. Please be sure to sign up to attend, this is a
great opportunity for parents to do some Christmas
decorating, baking or and preparations!
Please watch your bulletins for more information on these
coming Events!!
• Junior Youth Group Movie Night – Saturday, January
24, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
• Junior Youth Group Dinner with Mom and Dad –
Saturday, February 21, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
The Mission Response Team will hold their next
meeting on Monday, November 17 at 7 PM for those who
are interested in serving in our community as well as
traveling with the Team on Disaster and Mission trips.
Discussion will be held on fundraising and other Mission
business. Please join us!
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Thank you…………..
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everyone who participated in the Blessing of the
Animals on Sunday, October 5.
to everyone who wore their pajamas and brought a
new pair for a child in need. All donations were given
to the Lowhill Food Pantry for the children of their
clients.
to everyone who supported the Confirmation Class
with their donations of clothing and other items for
their recent clothing drive and a special to those who
helped to load the truck. everyone who participated
in the Fall Foliage Drive on October 19.
to everyone who came out to enjoy our annual Trunk
or Treat Night on October 25, those who decorated
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their trucks and those who supplies cupcakes,
cookies and drinks for the evening.
to those who traveled with the Mission Team to
Tuscaloosa, Alabama and to those who kept the
Team in their thoughts and prayers during our week
of service.
The Team is blessed to be your
ambassadors of love to those who are in need.
everyone who participated in the CPR class and to
Diane Hemerly for organizing this important training
class
Christmas Caroling is Coming!
The congregations of Ziegels Church will be going
Christmas Caroling on the evening of Friday, December
12. Caroling will be done at Phoebe Home
and Lutheran Home in Topton and possibly
for some of our shut-ins. We are checking
on bus transportaion. Please sign up on
the sheet outside the choir room if you are
interested in joining us for this fun event!
Purchase a Gift for a Child
This year we will again buy Christmas gifts for some of
the children from the Lowhill Food Pantry and from The
Caring Place in Allentown.
The names and gift suggestions will be available early this
month and gifts will need to be returned to the church no
later than Sunday, December 7. In this way we will be able
to meet both organizations’ distribution deadlines.
We Are Filling Christmas Stockings
Once
again
this
year,
Lonnie
Damiano will be organizing a Christmas
Stocking Ministry for the many children
(100+) who benefit from the Lowhill Food Pantry. Each
child will have a stocking on Christmas morning.
The children range in age from newborn to 15 years
old. Lonnie will provide the stockings. If you would like be
a part of this ministry you may either purchase items to fill
a stocking(s) or, if you prefer, make a monetary
contribution and she will do the shopping for you.
To participate by taking a stocking or to give
monetary gifts, please contact Lonnie Damiano at 610-3932106 or email her at [email protected] and she will
provide you with details such as gender and age of specific
children. Please do not put food items in the stockings.
Stockings must be returned by Sunday, December 7.
Ingathering Time
The Annual Christmas Ingathering of the
Northern Lehigh Valley Mission District
(ELCA) will be held on Thursday, December 4 at
St. John's Lutheran Church in Nazareth PA.
Packing of stockings and wrapping of gifts will
begin at 1:00 PM. If you would like to go along,
please contact Sharon Meckes at 610-395-2624.
Donations of gift items make Christmas brighter for
the residents of several area institutions (Hamburg Center,
Lutheran Home at Topton, Kids Peace, Allentown Rescue
Mission, Gracedale, Sayre Center.). A box for your gifts is
located in the Fellowship Room.
Monetary gifts are also needed and may be placed in
an envelope with the word “Ingathering” and included in
the offering any Sunday morning.
Some suggested gift items are:
Female
Male
Non-skid booties
Shaving cream
Non-breakable cosmetics
Belts (34”-44”)
Panty Hose (M-XL)
Non-Breakable cologne
Nail polish & remover
Flannel pajamas (M-L)
Nighties (S-L)
Duffle bags
Jewelry (no pins)
Bubble bath
Lipstick (pastel shades)
Non-breakable cologne
Sewing kits
Hair nets
Scarves
Needlework kits
Male/Female
Lip balm
Sweaters
Shirts
Sweatshirts (L-XL)
Gloves
Playing cards
Wallets
Change purses
Slippers with soles
Postage stamps
Hair Dryers
Small Lamps
Batteries (9V, AA, AAA)
Baseball caps
Robes / Blankets
And
Wrapping paper
Gift bags
Tissue Paper
Colored T-shirts (M-XL)
Socks
Ski caps and faces
Boxer Shorts
Shirts
Non-breakable after shave
Handkerchiefs
Underwear
Also
Stuffed toys
Mittens
Paint by number
Puzzle books
Plastic mugs
All-occasion cards
Jumbo crayons
Hair brushes and combs
Embroidery sets
Bedspreads (Twin)
Wall calendars
Decaf tea bags
Puzzles (100 piece or less)
Dietetic candy, snacks, etc
Children's Games
Ribbon on bows
Scotch Tape
Gift Tags
Donate Hams and Turkeys
The Lowhill Food Pantry would welcome donations of
turkeys for Thanksgiving and hams for Christmas in smaller
weights (10-12 pounds), which will be given to those in our
community who use the services of the
Food Pantry.
Please bring them to the
church and place them in the freezer in the
back of the choir room. Thank you!
Boars Head Dinner is Returning!
Upcoming Events at Ziegels!
Ziegels Union Church will celebrate its
2nd Annual Boar’s Head Festival the
weekend before Epiphany. The dinner is
scheduled for Saturday, January 3 at 5:30
PM.
The snow date will be Sunday,
January 4. The Boar’s Head Festival originated in England in
the late 1300’s and has continued to modern times as a
celebration during the Christmas season. The festival at
Ziegels will be complete with a banquet of traditional food,
servers, vocal and instrumental English Christmas music,
and more. We are in need of actors for the pageant, cooks
for the meal (the planning of the menu has been done!) as
well as meal servers and other participants. This would a
great way for the confirmation students to earn some
service hours!! Please contact Terri Lundberg at 610-3495222 if you are able to be of assistance.
Mark your calendars for this new and exciting event
planned by the Fellowship and Outreach (F & O) committee
for the congregations at Ziegels Union Church.
The Fellowship and Outreach committee will have a PA
Dutch Style Potato Filling sale. Pick up is on November 22
after 3 PM. The filling will be sold in containers, already
cooked, so you just have to reheat and serve! The cost will
be $4.50 per pound or $20 for 5 pound.
Volunteers are Needed
The Union Fellowship Committee is in need of
volunteers to help with the planning of events and outings
for our church family and community. If you have an
interest in serving on this committee please drop a note in
the offering plate or call the main office.
Help Is Needed
The Penn Northeast Conference Disaster Response
Ministry will be helping a woman in Lehighton whose home
was damaged by the storms of 2012. All congregations are
invited to serve.
There are several ways to provide
assistance: pray, volunteer for construction work, make a
monetary donation or a donation of supplies. Please speak
with Lori Brawn at 610-573-9764 or e-mail her at
[email protected] for more information.
Bake Sale at Renninger’s
The Social Services Committee of the Lutheran
Congregation will be having at bake sale at
Renninger’s Market in Kutztown on Saturday,
November 22 from 8:00 AM-12:00 PM. If you
would like to donate baked goods all items
should be at the Church by Friday night at 5:00
PM. Please call Gloria Hausman at 610-285-6741 if you
have any questions
Blood Pressure Screenings
Blood pressures are being taken in the room next to the
fellowship hall on the second Sunday of each month.
Someone will be available to take your blood pressure
between the 2 worship services, generally 9:45 AM to
11:00 AM. Whether you have a problem with
your blood pressure or not, feel free to stop
in for a screening. It’s always good to know
how your blood pressure runs! It take s tow
minutes to do, is completely painless, and
free, so please stop by. The next screening is November 9.
Community News
The following people are the sponsors for the month of
November:
• Lowhill Food Pantry -Vernon Fenstermaker
• Church Website - Kerry and Drena Merkel in honor
of their anniversary
Thank you for sponsoring!
Sign up sheets for the next calendar year are available in
the narthex for the following sponsors:
Website – The monthly cost for website sponsors is $30
Nursery – Nursery sponsors are needed throughout the
year. Your sponsorship helps cover the cost of having a
nursery attendant available for our families with small
children who worship on Sunday mornings. Cost is $34 per
Sunday or $17 per service.
Food pantry - The monthly cost for food pantry sponsors
is $70.
Zumba classes at Ziegels have resumed on
Monday evenings. The class meets from 6:00
PM to 7:00 PM in the Acts/Galatians room. Watch the
bulletins for more information.
The classes began
September 22 and are led by licensed instructor Missi
Fugazzatto. Please bring a towel and water. Childcare is
not provided.
Genealogy Workshops, open to the public, will take place
on the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 AM to
2:00 PM at the Weisenberg/Lowhill Township Historical
Society, 4585 Werleys Corner Road, New Tripoli (the next
one is on September 13.) Wi-Fi internet access is available.
Come when you want, leave when you must. Bring snacks,
drinks, lunch. For information, call 610-285-2693 or 610395-0763 or email [email protected]
In Our Mailbox
Blood Donations
The following people have donated blood during the month
of September:
Brad Heintzelman
Bruce Krause
Kim Lapp
Kevin Taylor
Ann Wertman
Ralph Wilhide
You may donate anytime by calling the Miller Keystone
Blood Center at 1-800-223-6667.
I wish to extend a very big thank you to Karin Lilly
and Elsie Heist and their helpers who worked so hard to
make the Tea Party and Quilt Show a very special and
beautiful and memorable event…..the display of colorful
quilts in the Sanctuary was breathtaking….I hope we can do
this event again and surely hope that more people come to
experience the beauty and blessings.
Karin Boyd
Dear Friends,
I am writing to inform you that I will be retiring from
my position as Administrator for Parish Ministries of Ziegels
Lutheran Congregation on January 31, 2015. After much
thought, consideration and prayer with regards to my
current health situation, I have come to this decision - on
that I feel is best for both y church family and for me.
I can't begin to tell you what a joy it has been for me
to work with the staff and members of Ziegels Lutheran and
Ziegels UCC these past 34 years. It's been a wonderful
journey and I am most grateful for the opportunity I had to
share this journey with you and the many who served
before you as well as all the members of our congregation.
I have always felt blessed that God called me to work with
so many wonderful people in a place that I love.
Although I am retiring, I look forward to our
worshipping together on Sunday mornings.
May God
continue to bless you and our church family.
Sincerely, Renee L. Miller
*Note - Renee's letter was given to the Lutheran
Congregation Council Vice-President and shared at the
October meeting of the Council.
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The Mission Team had 16 members from our church
and 3 members from Wisconsin went to Tuscaloosa
for a week in October. They had a great time and
worked hard in some very hot temperatures. There
will be presentation by the Mission Team members at
the both church services on October 19, 2014.
The Mission Team will be helping a local family in
moving and also, will be helping to make space for a
helper to stay with Jerry and Renee Miller, if needed,
in the future.
Food Pantry is in need of more food. The Rotary
supplies a table outside the Food Shelter for fresh
produce for people to take.
Food Pantry is looking for hats, gloves, scarfs with
the approaching of colder weather.
The next Union Church Committee meeting will be Tuesday,
November 11 at 7:30 PM in the church.
Contact Information
Union Council Minutes
Highlights from the Union Council meeting, held Tuesday,
October 14 included:
• a letter of resignation from Renee Miller as secretary
for Lutheran Parish Secretary
• Andrew Graff received a letter of resignation from
Lori Brawn as Director of Learning Ministries for the
Union Church and Sunday School effective as of
December 1, 2014.
• Halloween Parade in Topton on October 11,, with it’s
Noah’s Ark theme was a success and everyone had a
great time. Lance Kramer supplied the tractor and
the trailer for the float.
• A prayer challenge will be held on Facebook for 20
days, beginning November 6.
You can reach us:
e-mail address: [email protected]
Website: www.ziegelschurch.org
Church Office (Hours: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
Phone: 610-285-6157
Fax: 610-285-2647
Bruce D. MacLaughlin, Lutheran Pastor
Candi Cain-Borgman, UCC Pastor
Renee Miller, Lutheran Administrator
Marlene Frantz, UCC Admin. Assistant
Lori Brawn, Director of Learning Ministries
Diane Moyer, Church Caretaker
Barbara Moyer, Director of Music Ministries
Terri Lundberg, Choir Director
Andy Graff, Union Church President
Don Peters, UCC Consistory President
Terri Lundberg, Newsletter Editor
610-262-7191
610-762-9391
610-298-2240
610-285-6631
610-573-9764
610-285-4751
610-704-4921
610-349-5222
610-760-9293
610-398-0828
610-349-5222