Church news
Shepherd of the Hills Church
527 Hoffmansville Road, Bechtelsville. Boy Scouts: meet Monday at 7 p.m. Christmas program rehearsals: for the youth club choir will be held Wednesday at 6:15 p.m Cub Scouts: meet Thursday . AA groups: meet at the church on Wednesdays at 8 p.m., Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. Al Anon meets in the church on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Helping Hands of Bechtelsville: will hold their Holiday Dance at the fellowship hall of Shepherd of the Hills Church on Friday, Dec. 9.
Trinity Lutheran Church, Bechtelsville
REV. EUGENE C. ZAISER, PASTOR 1749 S. MAIN STREET, BECHTELSVILLE, PA 19505 TRINITY’S EVENTS FOR THE UPCOMING WEEK:
SUNDAY, DEC. 11: 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT. HANDBELL DEDICATION AT 9 a.m., SUNDAY SCHOOL; 10:15 A.M. WORSHIP SERVICE WITH THE DEDICATION OF THE NEW HANDBELLS. THE WORSHIP ASSISTANTS WILL
BE: Greeters: Angie & Sharon Renninger, Ushers: Sharon Renninger, Karen Irey, Janice Sheetz & Debbie Dempsey, Acolyte: Paige Starry, Crucifer: Drevyn Deskie, Lector: Bob Huggins, Nursery: Sharon Renninger. There will be a Congregational Meeting following worship. DEC. 12:-6:30 P.M., BOY SCOUTS
DEC. 13: -6: 30 P.M. CUB SCOUTS, 7 P.M., COUNCIL MEETING
Dec. 15: 6:30 p.m., Senior Choir Practice, 7:30 p.m. Cantata Practice.
Dec. 17: 10 a.m., Cantata Full Rehearsal.
Dec. 18: Christmas Cantata, “Go Sing It on the Mountain,” 10:15 a.m. followed by a Potluck Luncheon. The Cantata will also be presented on Sunday, Jan. 8 at 3 p.m. For more information: please check out our website: www. trinitybech.com
Boyertown Mennonite Church
275 Mill St., Boyertown Pastor Nelson Shenk
Worship: Every Sunday morning we have Sunday School classes for all ages from 9-10 a.m., and worship at 10 a.m. On Sunday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. Dennis and Barb Freed will share about their work at an orphanage in Guatemala. 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 610-3691974 or email at bmc19512@ yahoo.com
St. Luke Lutheran Church
35 Wilson Ave. Gilbertsville
Sunday Dec. 11: Third Sunday in Advent. The Adult Bible Study class will meet in the Green Room, beginning at 8:30, a.m. The worship service will begin at 9:30, a.m., and communion will be celebrated. The Senior Choir, directed by our Music Director, Karen Huss, will sing “Say He will Come,” by Lau. The third candle on our Advent wreath will be lighted, and we will sing “Come, Lord Jesus, we are Waiting,” by Christopherson. A Congregational Meeting will follow the service. The purpose of the meeting is to elect council members for a three year term, from Jan, 2017 to Dec., 2020. The Cherub Choir: rehearses Tuesday night at 6:30.
Choirs: The handbell choir rehearses at 6 p.m., Wednesday and the Senior Choir rehearses at 7:30 p.m. Worship and Music Committee: will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday evening.
Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church, Route 73 and Neiffer Road, Obelisk
St. Luke’s Praise Service: will be held in the Fellowship Hall on Dec. 11 led by the praise band, Messenger. “Love Boxes” will be assembled and delivered to homebound people at 11:15 a.m. on Dec. 11. The annual cookie bake will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10, all day. The cookies will be donated to St. Luke’s homebound members and to the Boyertown Area Salvation Army, who will include cookies in their holiday food boxes that go out to families in need. The knitting group will meet in the Welcome Center on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. The monthly free Community Dinner will be held on Thursday, Dec. 15 in the Fellowship Hall from 5:306:30 p.m.
Worship: The Rev. Paul Chapman will conduct the 8 a.m. Holy Communion Service and the 10:15 a.m. worship services. Members participating in the 8 a.m. Holy Communion service are: David Semmens, Head Usher; John Rose, Sr., John Rose, Jr., Greeters; Charlotte Christman, Reader, and Robert Metka, Communion Assistant. The Praise Band, Messenger, consists of members Lance Breidor on bass, guitar, and keyboard, Dennis Faust on vocals and guitar, Gail Faust on vocals and keyboard, Al Fink on guitar, Vicky Gaucker on vocals, Doug Killough on vocals, bass, guitar, John Orr on bass, David Semmens on banjo, and Bob Gehringer on drums. Members participating at the 10:15 a.m. service are: David Rose, Head Usher; Eve Gehringer, Madison Gehringer, Greeters; JoAnne Murray, Alex Samsel, Ushers; Alison Huffman, Power Point, and Jen Christman, Reader. Handicapped facilities: are available. Saint Luke’s website: is www.stlukeslutheran.church.
St. Joseph’s Hill Lutheran Church
Koch Road and Franklin Street in Pike Township Dec. 11: 3rd Sunday of Advent . 7:45 and 10 a.m. services. Praise Band and Interpreter at 10 a.m. Interpreter for the deaf and hard of hearing at 10 a.m. on 1st and 2nd Sundays of the month. Sunday School for all ages: begins at 8:45 a.m. in the nave. Christmas Caroling: Dec. 11, 1 p.m. at the church
Day Care News: A 10% discount is available for church families. For more information, please call 610-367-1980 or email hillchurch@ptd.net
Website: at www.stjosephshill.com for a calendar of events, history, a pastor’s page, and Day Care and Pre-School info. Pastor Jeff Odgren’s email: jwodgren@ptd.net Church office phone 610-3690990.
Calvary United Church of Christ
1231 Route 100 Barto, PA 19504 610-652-5023 calvaryucc@gmail.com
Worship: On Sunday, Dec. 11, Sunday School for all ages will be held at 9a.m. At 10:15a.m. our Third Sunday in Advent worship service will be led by Pastor Linda Kozlowski. On this day the Children of Calvary will present their Christmas Program, titled “Fumbling, Bumbling Angels.”
Santa Breakfast: will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 8-11 a.m., Santa will be on the premises from 9-11 a.m. This is an all you can eat breakfast of Pancakes, sausage, coffee, tea, apple juice and orange juice. The cost is a free will donation to our Relay for Life team. Facebook: Everyday Pastor Linda will have a post of inspiration! 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
Christ Lutheran Church
222 Niantic Road Barto, PA 19504
Worship Dec. 11: Third Sunday of Advent — services at 7:45 and 10:15 a.m. Pastor Matt Ollikainen will be leading the congregation in the worship service, present the sermon and will present the Children’s Sermon. . During both services, the Prayer Shawls will be blessed. Confirmation
Class will be held at 9:00 a.m. in room I. Sunday School for all ages will be held at 9:00 a.m. in various rooms in the church basement. During the 9:00 hour, the children participating in the Sunday School Christmas Pageant will rehearse. Those ministering at the 7:45 a.m. service are: Acolyte; Braden Bartman, Lector; Sue Hoffman, and Greeters/Ushers; Keith and Nancy Folk. Those ministering at the 10:15 a.m. service are: Acolyte; Eva Ollikainen, Lector; Nancy Fioriglio, and Greeters/ Ushers; Nancy Fioriglio and Tammy Hoffman. Dec. 13: Strategic Mission Team committee will meet at 6:30 p.m.; Daisy Troop #1206 and Brownie Troop #1661 will meet in the social hall at 6:30 p.m. The Finance committee will meet at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 The Bells will rehearse at 6:30 p.m. followed by the Senior Choir at 7:30 p.m. Website: www.christniantic. com for more news and information about the church and upcoming events.
Huff’s Union Church
Hereford Township Pastor Jane M. Kropa
Dec. 11: Worship is at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Continuous Communion. Sunday School is at 10:30., 9:15 Confirmands.
Dec. 11: Children’s Christmas Musical : Huff’s Union Church (540 Conrad Road, Alburtis) invites you to its Children’s Christmas Musical entitled “Away in a Manger.” Sunday, Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. Come hear the greatest story that has ever been told. Sixteen of the congregation’s children will present the story, with Christmas carols by the bell choir, a violin solo by Maisy Funk and piano solo by Chase Longacre.
Dec. 12: 7 p.m. - Union Council Meeting Dec. 13: 7:30 p.m. - Bell Choir1 Dec. 21: Blue Christmas/Longest Night Service: at Huff’s Union Church Dec. 21 at 4:30 p.m. This brief worship service will contain prayers and scriptures to comfort those who, because of grief or loss, cannot enter into the holiday festivities
with joy. Website: www.huffschurch.com ,Office 610-845-2626
Good Shepherd United Church Of Christ 35 W Philadelphia Ave., Boyertown PA 19512
Worship: On Sunday, Dec. 11, Pastor Matt Hoover will deliver the message at the 7:45 a.m.
service and the children will perform the Christmas Pageant at the 10:20 a.m. service; All are welcome. Monday: Cub Scouts at 6:30 p.m.; Boy Scouts at 7 p.m. Wednesday: Shepherds Café, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Thursday: Girl Scouts at 6:30 p.m.
For more information: call the Church Office at 610-3672842.
Bally Mennonite Church
Route 100, Bally, PA Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, a special service of scripture and carols, at 7 p.m.
Dec. 25: Christmas Day worship service, Sunday, Dec. 25, at 10:30 a.m., as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.