Old Zionsville

Friday, October 11, 2024

Hi All!

Thanks to all for your kindness in putting up with my voice issues following the parathyroid surgery. I have an appointment with an ENT doctor on October 24 and an appointment with the Speech Therapist on October 30. I’m hoping those will help me.

Prayer for 40 days, please pray every day: This prayer comes from our National Offices of the United Church of Christ.  We have been encouraged to pray it every day during these 40 days before the election.  Perhaps you want to print and cut this out and place it where you will see it each morning.

God of all Creation, we seem so grounded in political party identity.
Give us imagination to ground ourselves in other identities too.
How would it be to take on the identity of bridge-builder, unifier, or
compromiser? Help us to lift these up. Amen.

Remeber Light in the Night: The Mennonite Church has requested our help with the Light in the Night program at the Upper Milford Township Building on Sunday, October 20 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Please let Pastor Lori know if you are willing to offer some assistance by running a game, leading a craft or helping in the kitchen. This is a great event for local families to have a safe and Happy Halloween experience together. You can just come and hang out with me as we help in the kitchen. Easy way to support our Mennonite siblings.

Do any of you like to “tinker” to fix things? We have received a donation of a Keurig and I was told that it could use a little help. The owner lime scaled it or whatever you call that but it still seems to sputter. We also received a Kitchen Aid mixer that needs some TLC. There is no deadline to get these things fixed, but we would be grateful if any of you enjoy doing this kind of “repair/restore” work to link you with these needy appliances. Please let me know. Thanks in advance.

Other News

• Thank you so much for the bags of batteries you have given to the church! We have taken them to Staples and have been given points we can use in the future for free supplies for the church! Do you have expired batteries to get rid of? Don’t throw them away; bring them to the church to recycle!! Staples will accept certain types of batteries for recycling, and our church will get credit for taking them in. I will have boxes at the front and ramp doors for your “contributions.” Batteries to recycle by bringing them to the boxes at church:
  • Lithium ion (Li-Ion)
  • Nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH)
  • Nickel zinc (Ni-ZN)
  • Non-rechargeable lithium
  • Rechargeable nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd)
  • Single-use alkaline
  • Small sealed lead acid (SSLA/Pb)
• HELP! Is anyone or any family willing to help with an ongoing ministry in our church? It requires a total of about an hour a month on the communion Sunday of worship. You can select just one month to help or several months to help. Maybe you would like to do this in memory of a loved one? Or do it for service hours needed for Scouts or school. Anyone can do it and instructions and on the job training are included. Thanks for considering to enrich the life of our church! Special thanks to our Upper Elementary Sunday School class for stepping up to prepare communion for Sunday Oct. 6. We appreciate YOU!
• Upcoming Events
  • All are welcome to join in the watching of The Chosen season 2. We will meet in the lower social hall on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. to watch the DVD together and then stay to discuss any parts that intrigue us. Snacks included. Invite your friends. We usually wrap up in about an hour or so. We will meet weekly until we complete Season 2.
  • Youth Group has resumed on a monthly basis Our next meeting with be either October 25 or 27 from 6 – 8 p.m. in the lower social hall. All aged youth are welcome. Join us for the history of Halloween and a possible craft and spooky food. Have fun at Youth Group!
  • ****CANCELLED – This work has been rescheduled to Spring 2025**** Sept. 30 – PLEASE NOTE – Hovan the Sealing Man and company will be on the property to re-seal and repair our church parking lot across the street. Please plan to park around the church during that week.
  • Harvest Home (Sunday October 20 and Oct. 27)and All Saints day (Oct. 27)are coming up. You may bring items for Harvest Home and place on the pew outside of Pastor Lori’s office. Mark them Harvest Home please.
  • Nov. 9 we will be holding our annual Filled Basket Auction and Bazaar. Spaces for vendors are sold out! To get on the waiting list, please let me or the church office know.
• Watch for more information upcoming about the vote that will be taken in the four Pennsylvania Conferences of the United Church of Christ. The vote is to approve the merger of these 4 conferences into one KEYSTONE Conference. Kathy Latshaw and I are your voting delegates. All four conferences will be meeting in their respective areas on Nov. 9 and will vote at 11:30 a.m.

As always, we have many members and friends in need of prayer due to death, illness, loneliness, new living situations, and other difficult times; remember, too, those who still recover from war, oppression, and natural disasters all around the world, including the devastation resulting from hurricanes Helene and Milton. We also have many members and friends celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and other joys, from new babies to cancer remission and so much more. Please continue your faithful prayers for comfort, strength, healing, and thankfulness. Thank you for being the church!

Peace to all,
Lori Esslinger
Part Time Pastor, Old Zionsville UCC
call or text:  610-393-3522

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