Church news

Shepherd of the Hills Church 527 Hoffmansville Road, Bechtelsville.

The Prime Timers will have a fellowship breakfast at the Pied Piper Diner in Bally on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 8:30 a.m. The Young Adults will meet for fellowship on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Boy Scouts meet Monday at 7:00 p.m. Cub Scouts meet Thursday at 7:00 p.m. AA groups meet at the church on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m., Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. and Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. Al Anon meets in the church on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. Shepherd of the Hills Church is located at 527 Hoffmansville Road, Bechtelsville.

Trinity Lutheran Church, Bechtelsville Rev. Eugene C. Zaiser, Pastor 1749 S. Main Street, Bechtelsville, PA 19505 Trinity’s events for the upcoming week:

Our Sunday Worship Services are 10:15 a.m., Sunday School 9:00 a.m., Contemporary Worship Service 8:00 a.m., the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. Congratulations and God’s blessings upon the birth of Carolina Rae Hansley, born at Reading Hospital on October 6th, 7 lbs., 1 oz., 19 1⁄2” long. Carolina is the daughter of Brian and Ariel (Stauffer) Hansley. The granddaughter of Vanessa & Rich Deskie and the great-granddaughter of Bob & Louise Wolfgang and Thelma Stauffer. CRAFT SHOW – Please support the craft show on Saturday, October 21st 9:00a.m.- 2:00 p.m. This year we will be featuring a book-signing by faith-based author Will Carpenter. Also, our newly formed Quilt Group, has made 2 quilts that will be raffled off. We are accepting donations of used books for the book sale and need volunteers to help out on the day of the show for an hour or two, or by shopping! Quarts of Chicken Pot Pie will be available to pre-order at the Craft Show for $8.00. Thank you! Any questions, please see Cathy Yoder. Firefighters Recognition Sunday will be held on October 22nd. Please join us as we thank and recognize our local firefighters. A free-will offering will be taken for the Eastern Berks Fire District. A pot-luck luncheon will follow the service. Please bring your favorite dish to share, cake will be provided. Youth of all ages are invited to our annual pumpkin carving in the Parish Hall, Sunday, October 29th, 4:30— 7. Pizza and pumpkins will be provided, but make sure you contact Vanessa and let her know you, your family, and friends will be coming! Email her at deskie725@aol.com. Samaritan’s Purse-We are collecting “filled shoe boxes” for children, as a Christmas Project. Gift suggestions: School supplies, small toys, hygiene items, other items (t-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, etc. If you need a shoe box or have any questions, please see Kathy Kuser. Please return the filled boxes by Sunday, November 12th. Mark your calendars, the Christmas Cantata will be Sunday, December 17th, “The Song Heard ‘Round the World” by Joseph Martin at the 10:15 a.m. service. Encore presentation will be Sunday, January 7, 2018 at 3:00PM WAWA HOAGIES—As part of a Relay for Life Fundraiser, we are selling WAWA Shorti Hoagie Gift Cards for $4.00. Please stop by the Scrip table after church on Sunday or you can stop by the church office (Monday-Thursday 9-2) to purchase them. Please participate in Trinity’s Gift Card Program: With every purchase, Trinity earns a percentage of every dollar you spend. Our Gift Card program includes: Weis Markets, Redners Warehouse & Giant Foods. Scrip Cards can also be purchased for your favorite restaurants and stores. For additional information or for a list of retailers who participate in Scrip, please contact Pat Brensinger or www.glscrip.com You may sponsor Altar Flowers, the price for one vase is $25.00 and $50.00 for two vases, please see Mary Snyder. You may also sponsor the bulletins for $15.00 per week. When sponsoring flowers, please use a flower envelope found in the rack in the narthex or clearly mark the envelope. “Flowers” If you sponsored flowers in the past but no longer wish to, please let Mary Snyder (610-473-8885) or the church office know. Need a ride? We have volunteers in the congregation who are willing to provide transportation to medical appointments, etc., for those who can’t find a ride. Please contact Pastor Zaiser 610-322-0901 if you need a ride or would like to volunteer as a driver. Trinity’s events for the upcoming week: Sunday, October 22nd-20th Sunday after Pentecost-Firefighter Appreciation Sunday, 9:00 a.m. Sunday School, 10:15 a.m. Worship Service, the Worship Assistants will be: Greeters: Karen Essig & Linda Brunner, Ushers: Ron Endy, Debbie Dempsey, Oscar Smith, Angie Smith, Acolyte: Katelyn Dulin, Crucifer: Nicole Kratz, Lector: Bill Eddinger, Nursery: Janice Sheetz. There will be a Potluck luncheon following worship. Monday, October 23rd-6:30 p.m. Boy Scouts, Tuesday, October 24th-6:30 p.m. Cub Scouts, 7:00 p.m. Discipleship Mtg., Wednesday, October 25th-6:30 p.m. Sewing Club, Thursday, October 26th-6:30 p.m. Senior Choir Practice, 7:30 p.m. Cantata Practice. For more information, please check out our website: www.trinitybech.com Boyertown Mennonite Church 275 Mill St., Boyertown Pastor Nelson Shenk Every Sunday morning we have Sunday School classes for all ages from 9-10 a.m., and worship at 10 o’clock. We also have quilting on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring your family on Saturday, November 4th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for our annual “Fall Festival” of games, prizes, and snacks. The Sunday sermons can be heard at http://boyertownmennonitechurch.org/ by clicking on “Audio of Services”. We love having visitors so come check us out. We can be reached at 610-369-1974 or email at <bmc19512@yahoo.com>. St. Luke Lutheran Church 35 Wilson Ave. Gilbertsville We’re looking forward to seeing our St. Luke JAM (Jesus and Me) participants and “The Fruits of the Spirit” in Saturday night’s

Halloween parade!! On Sunday morning, the Adult Sunday School Class will meet at 8:30 a.m. Come join in the rich, and sometimes lively, discussions! We’ll observe the 19th Sunday of Pentecost during our 9:30 a.m. worship service. Please join us! Holy Communion will be celebrated. The Senior Choir will sing, “Praise to God, Immortal Praise,” arranged by Williams. Following the service, A Reformation: 500Years Celebration study group will meet. Sunday’s topic will be “Toward Reformation 1000 – Bishop Eaton Statement.” Many thanks to Pastor Donald Nice, Pastor Luther Johnson, and Pastor Mary Ann Siefke for leading this group. The Cherub Choir will rehearse Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. The Community Clothing Rack will be open for distribution on Wednesday from 1:00-4:00 p.m Come out and volunteer your time with this beneficial community ministry! On Wednesday evening, the handbell choir rehearses at 6:30 p.m., and the Senior Choir at 7:30 p.m. Catechism will meet at 7:00, p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church.

St. Joseph’s Hill Lutheran Church Koch Road and Franklin Street in Pike Township

Worship news: October 22- 20th Sunday after Pentecost; Reformation luncheon follows late service October 29- Reformation Sunday; Festival worship service at 10am; Holy Communion November 5- 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, All Saints’, Holy Communion November 12- 23rd Sunday after Pentecost; Dave Stahl Sacred Orchestra here, 1 service at 10am CHOIR INFORMATION: The Junior Choir rehearses on Wednesdays, 6-6:30pm; Senior Choir rehearses on Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30pm. Bethlehem Choir (K-2), continues on Wednesday, October 18, 6:30pm. Christian Education News: Regular Sunday School classes for Pre-K thru Adult, 8:45- 9:45am, with an opening in the nave at 8:45am Special Reformation Sunday event- for all ages at 8:45am with craft projects and table talk discussion, on October 29 Day Care News: - A 10% discount is available for church families. For more information, please call 610-367-1980 or email hillchurch@ptd.net Youth and Children News: October 29- Regular meeting, 2- 3:30pm Other news: - Month-long fund drive for Navajo school in Rocky Point, AZ in October - Month-long collection for the Lutheran Pantry in Reading - Weight Loss group (TBMP)-next meeting on Wednesday, Sept. Oct. 18, 6pm - Meal and Music Ministry continues Wednesday, October 18, 5:30pm - Boscov’s Friends Helping Friends passes available. Event scheduled for October 17. Benefits WELCA. - Ken Medema concert at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Allentown, Oct. 28, 4pm - Holy Land trip in January 2018- for more info, please contact Rev. Caitlin Kurtz at pastorckurtz@gmail.com - Simply Giving program now available- paper registration forms at church, or online through a link on our Website - Our Fellowship Hall is available for event use. We can accommodate bridal showers, baby showers, wedding anniversaries, birthday parties, AA, NA, Weight Watchers, and more. Please call Jill, Church Secretary, at 610-369-0990 “Like” our Facebook pagewww.facebook.com/stjoeshill St. Joseph’s is located at the intersection of Koch Road and Orchard Road in Pike Township (mailing address: 244 Koch Road, Boyertown, 19512). The building is handicapped accessible. All are welcome to worship and other events held at St. Joseph’s Hill. Please visit our web site at www.stjosephshill.com for a calendar of events, history, a pastor’s page, and Day Care and PreSchool link. Pastor Jeff Odgren’s email: pastor@ stjosephshill.com Church Office email: secretary@ stjosephshill.com Worship times: Regular schedule, with worship services at 7:45 & 10am. Interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing normally on 1st and 2nd Sundays of the month. Sunday School: Church office phone 610369-0990; fax 610-3690912; email at secretary@ stjosephshill.com Day Care and Pre-School phone 610-367-1980; email hillchurch@ptd.net Worship/activity cancellation info: call the church office and wait for message, go online to wfmz.com, or check WBYN-FM, Boyertown.

Calvary United Church of Christ 1231Route 100 Barto, PA 19504 610-652-5023calvaryucc@gmail.com

Mark your calendars now for our next free concert in the Alton Acker memorial concert series. It will be held Friday, October 20, 2017 from 7 – 8:30 PM. We will be having Keith Brintzenhoff and the Toad Creek Ramblers. Come listen to old timey, folk, bluegrass, gospel music and PA Dutch folklore. As a special treat, there will also be 3 hoedowns included in this performance. Tell your friends and family. You won’t want to miss this fun filled night! This year’s 10:15 am womenled Service of Worship at Calvary on Sunday, October 22nd will focus on domestic and family violence awareness. Often we think of domestic/family violence in terms of physical abuse, however, there are other forms of abuse and oppression. The oppressor frequently uses verbal, emotional, spiritual, financial, and social abuse to violate their victims. All forms of abuse go against the way Jesus calls us to live. All forms of abuse leave scars. All forms of abuse deny the love, the grace, the mercy of our God. Please join us as we leave the shadows and shine the light of God on abuse of all forms of domestic/family violence. The month of October is designated as Domestic/ Family Violence Awareness month and the color associated with this recognition is purple. Consider wearing purple to support those who live lives shattered by abuse at the hands of someone they loved and trusted. On Sunday, October 22nd Calvary will hold their second Annual Trunk or Treat event in the church parking lot from 2-4 pm. This is a wonderful safe way for your children to come trick or treat. Spread the word and come visit us! Bible Study meets on Monday afternoons at 1:30 pm. We invite you to join us! Choir practice takes place every Thursday at 7:30 pm and we always welcome new voices to join in. Sunday School for all ages takes place at 9:00 am on Sunday mornings in the social hall. Remember, you are always welcome and wanted at Calvary United Church of Christ. For no matter where you are on life’s journey, there is a place for you in our family of faith. Join us on Facebook! Everyday Pastor Linda will have a post of inspiration! This may be a prayer, quote or something else. You can find us on Facebook by searching Calvary United Church of Christ-Barto The church is located at 1231 Route 100 about a 2 miles south of Bally. Visitors are always welcome. The church is handicapped accessible. The church website is www.calvaryuccbarto.org

Church website: www. calvaryuccbarto.org Visitors are always welcome. The church is handicapped accessible.

Christ Lutheran Church 222 Niantic Road Barto, PA 19504

We invite you to join us on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost on Sunday, October 22, 2017 at our worship hours of 7:45 and 10:15 a.m. Rev. Matthew Ollikainen will lead the congregation in the worship service; deliver the message for the day and the Children’s Sermon. During both services, we will have a Healing Service for those who need a laying on of hands and special prayers. The new Edu/Worship Service will begin on this Sunday in the sanctuary at 9:00 a.m. Confirmation will be held at 9:00 a.m. in room I of the church. Those ministering at the 7:45 a.m. service are: Acolyte; Jonathan Lewis; Lector; Terry Flicker, and Greeters/ Ushers; Stephen and Sandy Hoffman. Those ministering at the 10:15 a.m. service are: Acolyte; Julia Menear; Lector: Dale Reichert; and Ushers/Greeters: OPEN. On Tuesday, October 24, Council will meet at 7:00 p.m. in the parlor. The Bell Choir will rehearse at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25 and then the Senior Choir will rehearse at 7:30 p.m. The Good Grief Support group will gather on the evening of Thursday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the parlor of the church and then the Junior Girl Scout Troop #1730 and Cadette Troop #1994 will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the social hall. The final Leadership Retreat will be held on Saturday, October 28 from 9 a.m. till 12 noon in the parlor of the church. This is for all council members, committee members or anyone who participates on a ministry team. The church is located at 222 Niantic Road between Routes 663 and 100 about a mile east of Bally. An Edu/ Worship for all ages is held at 9:00 a.m. beginning on October 22 in the sanctuary. Visitors are always welcome! The church is handicapped accessible and air conditioned! Visit the church’s website at www. christniantic.com for more news and information about the church and upcoming events. Huff’s Union Church Hereford Township Pastor Jane M. Kropa Sunday, October 22nd - Worship is at 8:00 and the 10:30 a.m. Adult Sunday School is at 9:15. Sunday School is at 10:30. Confirmands - 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, October 17th, Bell Choir - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 18th Children’s Choir - 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 19th - Sr. Choir - 7:30 p.m. - Anyone interested in choirs may contact Mrs. Gloria A. Adams at 610-914-8116. Saturday, October 21st Oyster Pie & Wixon Shoo-Fly Pick-up 9:00 until Noon Tuesday, October 24th - Bell Choir - 7:30 p.m. Website: www.huffschurch. com , Office 610-845-2626.