Please join Church of the Apostles’ former Handbell Choir Director Ron Bellamy and his wife, Linda Young Lorgus, in a Christmas concert titled “Sounds of the Season” on December 18th at 3pm in the sanctuary at Church of the Apostles.

Mr. Bellamy and Mrs. Young Lorgus are both accomplished handbell ringers, and their exciting program is sure to help usher in the season! The church will provide van transportation for residents of Homestead Village that would like to attend the concert. The van will arrive at 2:40 PM on the day of the concert for any interested residents. 

If Christmas is difficult, please enjoy this quieter Christmas service. We still remember the wonder of God’s gift in Jesus Christ, and acknowledge that Christmas no longer feels the same. This year our Blue Christmas Service will be online only and available on our Facebook and YouTube pages starting December 21st.

Please join us on Monday December 5th for our Children’s Shopping Night and Cookies with an Elf! Children will have the chance to purchase gifts (prices $1-$5) for every member of their family, including pets! After shopping there will be time for children to enjoy cookies, activities and music with one of Santa’s elves! This event is co-hosted by Church of the Apostles and Apostles Community Preschool and open to members of our congregation and families of the preschool!

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Week of August 12, 2018

Food Bank
Needs: cold cereal, potatoes (dry or canned), rice, pasta, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, mac ‘n cheese, tuna or hamburger helpers, cookies, canned items including: beans, tuna, fruit, soups, vegetables, and canned meat

Apostles Assistance Fund
Needs: laundry detergent, deodorant, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes. Financial gifts are also appreciated.

Market Basket
Do you shop at Stauffers, Weis, or Giant? If you do, you can buy grocery cards that will support the Outreach Commission in helping the needy. The stores give churches a discount. The cards are available in the church office after each service.

Church Family Picnic
Join us for the last Church Family Picnic Night of the summer on Wednesday, August 15 at 5:15 pm. All are welcome to join us for a family-style picnic! Hot dogs, buns, and drinks will be provided. We ask that each family bring one dish to share. Come for fun and fellowship! Please sign up at the Rader Park bulletin board in the lobby if you plan to attend.

Women’s Luncheon: Let’s Talk Faith, Family, and Work
Church of the Apostles and the Lancaster Interfaith Coalition are hosting a women’s interfaith luncheon on Sunday, August 26 from 1-3 pm at the Pavilion in Rader Park. All women and their children are welcome to attend. The group will meet for this special event to celebrate what women of all traditions and backgrounds have in common and what is unique about each of them. Everyone attending is encouraged to bring a dish to share with the group that reflects their own tradition and background. The Coalition requests that shared dishes made with milk products or meat be identified and that they not include pork or shellfish, if possible.

Donations for the Domestic Violence Shelter in Lancaster City are welcome and will be collected at the event. Luncheon details and the shelter’s wish list is located on the bulletin board outside of the church office. If you have any questions, or would like to RSVP, please contact the church office at (717) 392-5718.

New Beginnings
Join us for a new season of “New Beginnings” on Thursday, October 11th at 1 pm. Milt Gockley will be testing our knowledge with his game “What in the World is This,” better known as WitWit. Please bring a dessert to share and meet us in Fellowship Hall for the fun and friendly competition.

Black Rock Retreat (October 12-14)
Our Life Group is searching for two people to fill fall retreat spots for Marty and Betty Holmes. With Betty’s recent health challenges, she and Marty will be unable to fulfill their commitment for this retreat. It is a three-day retreat only half hour away at beautiful Black Rock Retreat Center in Quarryville, PA. It begins with check-in on Friday evening and ends after lunch on Sunday. The fee covers two nights of lodging in a motel style setting and five meals. We will have Bible study and enjoy food and fellowship with a lot of relaxation in a beautiful setting. For more information, please call Donna Carr at 717-475-5285 ASAP. The deadline is September 2nd.

Choir Retreat
A Choir Retreat will be held on Saturday, September 1 at the McKonly homestead from 9:00 am to noon. Our morning of rehearsing anthems for the fall season will be followed by a delicious meal, including a wonderful variety of soups, sandwiches, corn, and sides! There is a sign-up list posted outside of the choir room.

Our present choir is a dedicated group who like to sing and have fun. We can always use more voices, so please consider joining us at the retreat. You are welcome to come, even if you can’t make it to choir every Sunday. For directions, or if you have any questions, please contact Nathan Sheffer or Cindy Kahler at (717) 392-5718.

COA Garden
During the last two weeks, our church garden sent 126.8 pounds of vegetables to the Hempfield Food Pantry. Thank you to everyone who has been helping us in the garden!

Wishing Well
We are collecting home care and personal care items for the Apostles Assistance Fund. Items needed are posted on sticky notes on two posters (one in the cloak room and one on the Outreach bulletin board). Thank you for supporting this outreach ministry.

Food Bank
Needs: cold cereal, potatoes (dry or canned), rice, pasta, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, mac ‘n cheese, tuna or hamburger helpers, cookies, canned items including: beans, tuna, fruit, soups, vegetables, and canned meat

Apostles Assistance Fund
Needs: laundry detergent, deodorant, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes. Financial gifts are also appreciated.

Market Basket
During the first three Sundays of each month, you have the opportunity to buy grocery cards in the office after service. You can buy cards for the following month and pick up the ones you ordered last month. Remember, the discount we earn from purchasing cards in bulk from Giant, Stauffers, and Weis provide food for the Saturday Breakfast downtown once a month. Helping others is easy, as well as a wonderful thing!

Wacky Wednesday
Wacky Wednesday continues on August 8 at 10:00 am in Rader Park. Bring your child(ren) ages preschool through third grade (and their friends!) to enjoy a story, activity and snack, and learn more about the park and its native wildlife.

Friday Night at the Movies
Join us on Friday, August 10 at 6:30 pm in Rader Park for a night at the movies to see “Disneynature: Earth,” the story of how three animal mothers, a polar bear, an African elephant, and a humpback whale, keep their young safe in increasingly dangerous environments.

Bring your blankets, chairs, and bring a friend! Popcorn, pretzels, and drinks will be provided. There is no charge to attend this event. Please RSVP at the Rader Park bulletin board in the lobby.

COA and Transitional Living Center Picnic
There’s still time to sign up for the picnic COA is hosting for the Transitional Living Center (TLC) on Sunday, August 12 from 1–4 pm. We are proud to support this vital ministry that assists persons and families to transition from homelessness to permanent housing.

We can all help make this a memorable experience for TLC. How can you help?

• We need two “grill masters” to cook hot dogs and burgers
• We need donations of “covered dishes” to go with the hot dogs and burgers, even if the donor(s) can’t attend
• We need enough food donations to feed as many as 100 people in total
• We need people to help set up as well as clean up

Most importantly, we need YOU! We need our church family to attend and to fellowship with our guests, play games with them, and make them feel at home.

Thank you, in advance, for participating in this exciting event. Together, we can continue to positively affect the lives of those at TLC! If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact Andy Appel at (717) 490-0093. Please sign up to volunteer at the Rader Park bulletin board in the lobby.

Church Family Picnic
Join us for the last Church Family Picnic Night of the summer on Wednesday, August 15 at 5:15 pm. All are welcome to join us for a family-style picnic! Hot dogs, buns, and drinks will be provided. We ask that each family bring one dish to share. Come for fun and fellowship! Please sign up at the Rader Park bulletin board in the lobby if you plan to attend.

Wishing Well
For the remainder of the summer, we will continue to collect home care and personal care items for the Apostles Assistance Fund. Rev. Kathryn Kuhn and Rev. Heather Giffen receive many requests for home and personal care supplies, so we need to fill these needs through the Apostles Assistance Fund. Items needed are posted on sticky notes on two posters (one in the cloak room and one on the Outreach bulletin board). Thank you for supporting this outreach ministry.

Food Bank
Needs: cold cereal, potatoes (dry or canned), rice, pasta, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, mac ‘n cheese, tuna or hamburger helpers, cookies, canned items including: beans, tuna, fruit, soups, vegetables, and canned meat

Apostles Assistance Fund
Needs: laundry detergent, deodorant, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes. Financial gifts are also appreciated.

Wacky Wednesday
Wacky Wednesday continues on August 1 at 10:00 am in Rader Park. Bring your child(ren) ages preschool through third grade (and their friends!) to enjoy a story, activity and snack, and learn more about the park and its native wildlife.

New Mom—Meal Sign-Up Sheet
We need your help to support the Reich family and their new addition. Mikki is set to be induced on August 2, and we have set up a meal delivery sign-up sheet for the family at www.takethemameal.com/IMKV1195. Mikki and Steven Reich have three children ages 7, 5, and 3, in addition to the newborn. They have no special dietary concerns. Please consider signing up to deliver a meal. If you have any questions, please contact Donna Carr at (717) 475-5285.

Family in the Park Science Series
Bring your family and invite your friends to explore Rader Park on Saturday, August 4. We will meet at the Pavilion at 9:00 am, and a light breakfast will be provided. Please sign up at the Rader Park bulletin board in the lobby or call the church office at (717) 392-5718 to register.

All-Church Campout
The 6^th annual Rader Park Campout and Cookout will be held from Saturday, August 4 at 1 pm—Sunday, August 5 after the 9:15 service. All ages are welcome; we will have activities and games for everyone! At 4:30 pm, Rev. Heather Giffen will lead a Vesper service and dinner will follow at 5:30 pm. Burgers and hot dogs will be provided. We ask that everyone please bring a dish to share with others. You can sign up to bring a dish to share at www.PerfectPotluck.com/GQLR5192. Contact Leigh Breslin at leighannbreslin@gmail.com if you have any questions about meals.

As a reminder, you can also join us for the day’s activities and not camp out.  If you plan to camp out, please submit a registration form to the church office by Wednesday, August 1. Flyers and registration forms can be found at the Rader Park bulletin board in the lobby or at www.apostlesucc.org.

Friday Night at the Movies
Join us on Friday, August 10 at 6:30 pm in Rader Park for a night at the movies to see “Disneynature: Earth,” the story of three animal families on a journey across our planet.

Bring your blankets, chairs, and bring a friend! Popcorn, pretzels, and drinks will be provided. There is no charge to attend this event. Please RSVP at the Rader Park bulletin board in the lobby.

COA and Transitional Living Center Picnic
COA will be hosting the residents of Transitional Living Center (TLC) on Sunday, August 12 from 1–4 pm for a picnic at Rader Park. We are proud to support this vital ministry that assists persons and families to transition from homelessness to permanent housing.

We can all help make this a memorable experience for TLC. How can you help?

• We need two “grill masters” to cook hot dogs and burgers
• We need donations of “covered dishes” to go with the hot dogs and burgers, even if the donor(s) can’t attend
• We need enough food donations to feed as many as 100 people in total
• We need people to help set up as well as clean up

Most importantly, we need YOU! We need our church family to attend and to fellowship with our guests, play games with them, and make them feel at home.

Thank you, in advance, for participating in this exciting event. Together, we can continue to positively affect the lives of those at TLC! If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact Andy Appel at (717) 490-0093. Please sign up to volunteer at the Rader Park bulletin board in the lobby.

Wishing Well
For the remainder of the summer, we will continue to collect home care and personal care items for the Apostles Assistance Fund. Rev. Kathryn Kuhn and Rev. Heather Giffen receive many requests for home and personal care supplies, so we need to fill these needs through the Apostles Assistance Fund. Items needed are posted on sticky notes on two posters (one in the cloak room and one on the Outreach bulletin board). Thank you for supporting this outreach ministry.

Food Bank
Needs: cold cereal, potatoes (dry or canned), mac ‘n cheese, tuna or hamburger helpers, cookies, canned items including: tuna, fruit, soups, and canned meat

Apostles Assistance Fund
Needs: laundry detergent, women’s deodorant, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes. Financial gifts are also appreciated.

Market Basket
During the first three Sundays of each month, you have the opportunity to buy grocery cards in the office after service. You can buy cards for the following month and pick up the ones you ordered last month. Remember, the discount we earn from purchasing cards in bulk from Giant, Stauffers, and Weis provide food for the Saturday Breakfast downtown once a month. Helping others is easy, as well as a wonderful thing!

Children’s Ministry Team
Everyone is welcome to join the Children’s Ministry Team for an important meeting on Sunday, July 8 at 12 noon in room 304. Topics of discussion will include: distribution of fall Sunday School classes, the Sunday School curriculum, Sunday School teachers,  and implementing procedures to keep the classes safe from an intruder. For more information, please contact Pastor Heather or Judy Waltman.

Wacky Wednesday
Wacky Wednesday continues on July 11 at 10:00 am in Rader Park. Bring your child(ren) ages preschool through third grade (and their friends!) to enjoy a story, activity and snack, and learn more about the park and its native wildlife.

Volunteers Needed: Honduras School Furniture
Volunteers and two large trucks are needed to move desks, chairs, and green boards being donated to school children in Honduras by Lancaster County Christian School. We will meet Thursday, July 12 at 6 pm at Lancaster County Christian School (2390 New Holland Pike) to pack the truck(s) and transport the furniture to our storage trailer at Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Co. (207 Pitney Road). If you are able to help, or have access to a box truck or open bed truck, please contact Andy Appel.

Family in the Park Science Series
Bring your family and invite your friends to explore Rader Park on Saturdays, July 14 through August 4. We will meet at the Pavilion at 9:00 am, and a light breakfast will be provided. Please sign up at the Welcome Center or call the church office at (717) 392-5718 to register.

Church Family Picnic Night
Join us for our next Church Family Picnic Night on Wednesday, July 18 at 5:15 pm. All are welcome to join us for a family-style picnic! Hot dogs, buns, and drinks will be provided. We ask that each family bring one dish to share. Come for fun and fellowship! Please sign up at the Welcome Center if you plan to attend.

Family Night at the Movies
Our next Friday Night at the Movies will be held on Friday, August 10 at 6:30 pm. Meet us at the Pavilion in Rader Park and bring a blanket or chair and join us for popcorn, pretzels, and drinks as we watch “Disney Nature Earth.” Please sign up at the Welcome Center if you plan to attend.

Wishing Well
We will continue to collect personal hygiene and home care supplies for the Apostles Assistance Fund throughout the summer. There are two posters (one above the Wishing Well and one on the Outreach bulletin board) with sticky notes listing items needed. Thank you for your generous contributions!

Save the Date
COA will be hosting the residents of Transitional Living Center (TLC), a short-term housing facility in Lancaster City that assists persons and families to transition from homelessness to permanent housing, on Sunday, August 12 from 1–4 pm for a picnic at Rader Park. Please save the date! As TLC ministry supporters, we are inviting all COA members and their families to come enjoy food, games, and fellowship with TLC residents. More details will follow shortly.

Food Bank
Needs: cold cereal, potatoes (dry or canned), mac ‘n cheese, tuna or hamburger helpers, cookies, canned items including: tuna, fruit, soups, and canned meat

Apostles Assistance Fund
Needs: laundry detergent, women’s deodorant, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes. Financial gifts are also appreciated.

Market Basket
Do you shop at Stauffers, Weis, or Giant? If you do, you can buy grocery cards that will support the Outreach Commission in helping the needy. The stores give churches a discount. The cards are available in the church office after each service.

Cottage Meetings & Survey
The Growth Task Force is looking for your wisdom to create a strategic growth plan. To achieve this, we are hosting Cottage Meetings. The next meeting will be held at the Burkholder Chapel in Homestead Village on May 21 at 1:30 pm. Please sign up for a meeting on the bulletin board in the lobby and join us to be a part of this important process.

Wishing Well
We are collecting children’s pajamas for boys and girls ages 18 months-18 years to support Conner’s Comfy PJs through May 24th. Thank you for your support!

Worship Service: May 20
There will be one worship service on Sunday, May 20 at 10 am. Please join us to observe Pentecost and to support our youth on their Confirmation day.

Volunteers Needed to Pack Food
On May 20th at 1 pm, help is needed to put together food packs at First Presbyterian Church (140 East Orange Street). We plan to pack as many as possible for the Central American Relief Efforts to ship them to schools in Honduras and provide the often one meal a day these school children can enjoy. We need a lot of helpers! Please contact Andy Appel at (717) 490-0093 or andyappel@epix.net if you can help. Remember our youth are raising funds to ship the food pack to Honduras!

Strengthen the Church Offering—Sunday, May 27
Our next special offering will be collected on Sunday, May 27, 2018. Please join us in planting the seeds needed to grow and sustain our denomination by making a gift to the Strengthen the Church offering. Envelopes are available at the Welcome Center.

New Beginnings
Kick off your summer on Thursday, June 7th at 12 pm in the Fellowship Hall with our End of the Year picnic. Hot dogs, rolls, condiments, and beverages will be provided. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. Following the picnic, entertainment will include a hymn sing and a presentation by Rev. Kathryn Kuhn focusing on her travels while on sabbatical.

Rader Park Events
Would you like to learn how to take better pictures outdoors? If so, save the date of June 12 at 5:30 pm for an informational session at the park. More details to follow.

Perennials Needed
The flower gardens in Rader Park could use your unwanted, non-invasive, and not-too- tall perennials. Any stray flagstones you may have would be appreciated too. Please bring them to the office or contact Carol Nielsen at (717) 391-2815.

COA Directory
Lifetouch has advised that we are able add new members’ contact information (including address, email, and phone numbers) to the Mobile Directory. However, we will not be able to add photos to it at this time, as Lifetouch requires at least 15 new congregation members for them to hold a new photography session. Once we reach 10 new members, we will begin to collect the names of those who would like to participate in a new photography session for COA. If you have any questions, please contact Donna Carr at (717) 475-5285 or Michelle Ayala at (717) 392-5718.

Handwork Group
The Handwork Group will meet on May 23 from 1-3 pm in from 305. If you are interested, you are welcome to join us and the Craft Group.

VBS Song Leader Needed
Church of the Apostles is teaming up with Salem UCC for another meaningful and fun VBS on June 24-28 from 6:30-8:30 pm. However, we are in need of an enthusiastic song leader! Please Contact Judy Waltman at (717) 285-7395 if you are interested or can suggest someone.

Food Bank
Needs: cold cereal, potatoes (dry or canned), mac ‘n cheese, tuna or hamburger helpers, cookies, canned items including: tuna, fruit, soups, and canned meat

Apostles Assistance Fund
Needs: laundry detergent, women’s deodorant, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes. Financial gifts are also appreciated.

Heritage and Horizons
Heritage and Horizons will continue on Tuesdays April 24 and May 1. The five-week series costs $15 for as often as you choose to attend. Sessions will be held from 9:30 am—11:50 am and includes a 20-minute break with snacks and refreshments. Program brochures are available on our website and in the church office.

Crown Concert
Please join us today, Sunday, April 22 at 4 pm for a Crown Concert as we welcome the Ephrata Cloister Chorus. The concert is free and open to the public. An offering will be received.

Hondurans Visiting Church of the Apostles
On Sunday, April 29, Beatrice Espinal and Marel Hernandez will be attending our 9:15 am service. For those who have visited Honduras, Beatrice is the “angel on earth” who provided our wonderful meals and ran an amazing pharmacy. Marel helped us in many ways, including translating for us. They are looking forward to seeing not only those who have been to Honduras, but all members of Church of the Apostles—which built a school in Honduras about three years ago. Please come to this special time of sharing.

Let’s Clean Up Good Drive!
Today, Sunday, April 22 from 6-8 pm, Outreach and the Youth Group invite you to help pick up trash along Good Drive. We will meet at the parking lot of Community Aid and follow with a meal together in the Youth Center. All help will be greatly appreciated!

Race Against Racism
Please join our COA team in the Race Against Racism on April 28^th at 9 am. For more information, please visit www.ywcalancaster.org. Register under COA. If you have any questions, please contact Leigh Breslin at (717) 421-8655.

Cottage Meetings & Survey
The Growth Task Force is looking for your wisdom to create a strategic growth plan. To achieve this, we will be hosting Cottage Meetings. Join us to be a part of this important process as we get to know one another better while discerning the future into which God is calling us. Please see the bulletin board and sign-up sheets in the lobby for meeting dates, times, and locations.

Wishing Well
We will continue to collect children’s pajamas for boys and girls ages 18 months-18 years to support Conner’s Comfy PJs through May 24^th. Last year we collected 67 sets of PJs, and we would like to set a goal of 100 this year!  Thank you for your support!

Fellowship Host
Volunteers are needed to host the Fellowship Table on Sundays between services. To sign up, please visit www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4fafa9229-fellowship or contact Erika Neiderer at erikamn@comcast.net.

Scholarships
The Education Commission is pleased to announce that there are two scholarships available for graduating seniors – the Helen Elmer Scholarship for a student
going on to college, and the Ken Bernhardt Scholarship for someone attending a trade or technical school.  Interested seniors wishing to be considered for either of these scholarships should submit a letter of interest to the office in the mailbox of Barbara Achtermann.  Letters should include the student’s involvement in Church of Apostles activities, and are due back by May 1^st.

New Beginnings
Kick off your summer on Thursday, June 7^th at 12 pm in the Fellowship Hall with our End of the Year picnic. Hotdogs, rolls, condiments, and beverages will be provided.  Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. Following the picnic, entertainment will include a hymn sing and a presentation by Rev. Kathryn Kuhn focusing on her travels while on sabbatical.