Food Bank
Needs: Beans, rice, canned vegetables, Hamburger Helper meal mixes, potatoes, canned meals, soup, grocery bags. Packers: Mary Ellen Bachman, Dawn Dougherty, Bernie Fickes

Apostles Softball
Baseball schedules are available at the Welcome Center—in just the right size for your refrigerator. Come to have fun and support our team!

Congregational Forums
Your Search Committee will be holding two forums to update the congregation on the status of the search and the remaining steps in calling an Associate Pastor. This forum will also include some discussion on topics related to the pastoral selection process. The forums will be held today, June 14 at 2 p.m. and June 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, and will last approximately one hour. We hope that you will be able to attend one of the forums.

Vacation Bible School
The deadline to register for VBS is tomorrow, June 15. Please complete a registration form located at the Welcome Center, or online at www.apostlesucc.org.

Summer Camp at Hartman Center
Summer camp season is upon us. Hartman Center, Penn Central Conference’s UCC church camp, is still accepting registrations for the many camps available. The church provides camperships for one-half of the cost for children of church members to attend camp. Please contact Linda Lewis at 392-7437 if you would like to apply for a campership. Please visit www.hartmancenter.com for more information on all summer camp programs.

 Worship
Do you have a passion for Worship? Do you have ideas for Worship? If so, please join the Worship Commission. They meet the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Choir Room, and would love to see you there. Please contact the Worship Chair, Bernie Fickes, at (717) 393-6644 for more information. All are welcome!

Would You Like to Host a High School Student?
SHARE! Northeast is looking for volunteer host families for foreign students who would like to learn first-hand about the American Way of Life. Students arrive in August to spend a semester or academic year studying at local high schools. For more information, please contact your area coordinator Sherri Hershberger at 717-203-0325. You may also call the SHARE! Northeast Regional Office toll-free at 1-866-900-3738.

Food Bank
Needs: Beans, rice, canned vegetables, Hamburger Helper meal mixes, potatoes, canned meals, soup, grocery bags. Packers: Beverly Hoffman, Leroy Hoffman, Audrey Markle

New Beginnings
There will be an end-of-year picnic on Thursday, June 11 at 12 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Come enjoy a summertime favorite—hot dogs! Please bring a side dish or dessert to enjoy with the hot dogs. We will conclude with an old-fashioned hymn sing.

Congratulations Graduates!
Congratulations to:
Bryce Walburn who graduated from Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering
Matt Forney who graduated from Hempfield High School. Matt is scheduled to join the U.S. Marines in December.

Apostles Softball
Baseball schedules are available at the Welcome Center—in just the right size for your refrigerator. Come to have fun and support our team!

Congregational Forums
Your Search Committee will be holding two forums to update the congregation on the status of the search and the remaining steps in calling an Associate Pastor. This forum will also include some discussion on topics related to the pastoral selection process. The forums will be held on June 14 at 2 p.m. and June 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, and will last approximately one hour. We hope that you will be able to attend one of the forums.

Summer Camp at Hartman Center
Summer camp season is upon us. Hartman Center, Penn Central Conference’s UCC church camp, is still accepting registrations for the many camps available. The church provides camperships for one-half of the cost for children of church members to attend camp. Please contact Linda Lewis at 392-7437 if you would like to apply for a campership. Please visit www.hartmancenter.com for more information on all summer camp programs.

Village Corner Shoppe at Homestead Village
The Gift Shoppe is looking for additional volunteers to designate two hours per month for working in the Shoppe. There will always be two volunteers in the Shoppe. Please call Karen Longenecker at (717) 397-4831 ext. 132 for more information.

Worship
Do you have a passion for Worship? Do you have ideas for Worship? If so, please join the Worship Commission. They meet the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Choir Room, and would love to see you there. Please contact the Worship Chair, Bernie Fickes, at (717) 393-6644 for more information. All are welcome!

Volunteers Needed—Furniture Donation to Honduras
Penn Manor School District has donated the furnishings of Pequea Elementary School for use in Honduras through the direction of Central American Relief Efforts. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, June 13 and Saturday, June 20 at 8:30 a.m.

Please contact Andy Appel at (717) 490-0093 or andyappel@epix.net and specify the day(s) and time(s) you are available.

Food Bank
Needs: Beans, canned vegetables, Hamburger Helper meal mixes, potatoes, canned meals, soup, grocery bags.
Packers: Linda Schock, M. Van Buskirk, Cindy Williams
Drivers: Landisville Church of God

Garden Helpers Needed
The garden is growing and so are the weeds! Please stop by on Saturdays between
8-10 a.m. to help remove weeds; someone will be there to garden with you.

New Beginnings
There will be an end-of-year picnic on Thursday, June 11 at 12 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Come enjoy a summertime favorite—hotdogs! Please bring a side dish or dessert to enjoy with the hotdogs. We will conclude with an old-fashioned hymn sing.

40th Anniversary T-Shirts
The deadline to order t-shirts has been extended to today, May 31. To order, please complete an order form at the Welcome Center or contact Cathy Kenlin at
(717) 940-0364.

Summer Sunday School
Summer Sunday School will be held from May 31 – September 6th at 9:15 a.m. Children ages preschool through 6th grade are welcome to join after the children’s message in room 215.

Village Corner Shoppe at Homestead Village
The Gift Shoppe is looking for additional volunteers to designate two hours per month for working in the Shoppe. There will always be two volunteers in the Shoppe. Please call Karen Longenecker at (717) 397-4831 ext. 132 for more information.

Worship
Do you have a passion for Worship? Do you have ideas for Worship? If so, please join the Worship Commission. They meet the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Choir Room, and would love to see you there. Please contact the Worship Chair, Bernie Fickes, at (717) 393-6644 for more information. All are welcome!

Volunteers Needed—Furniture Donation to Honduras
Penn Manor School District has donated the furnishings of Pequea Elementary School for use in Honduras through the direction of Central American Relief Efforts. Volunteers are needed! We expect to fill two shipping containers. Church of the Apostles has been a loyal supporter of education in Honduras—please help as you are able.

On Saturday, June 13 at 8:30 a.m., we will need to disassemble desks for space saving in their container. There will also be tables that will need legs removed for shipping. We will work until everything is ready for loading. Phillips head and Allen wrench bits will be needed.

On Saturday, June 20th at 8:30 a.m., the containers on site will need to be loaded; this work is more strenuous as lifting in required. There will also be a need for some volunteers to keep inventory as we load.

The only way we’ll be able to send this shipment to Honduras is if we can recruit enough volunteers for each Saturday. About 20-25 volunteers will be needed each weekend. Volunteers are being recruited from a variety of groups and Church of the Apostles’ presence has been significant in past efforts. If you can help either or both weekends, please contact Andy Appel at (717) 490-0093 or andyappel@epix.net and specify the day(s) and time(s) you are available. If you have friends or family who may be willing to help, they will be more than welcome! We will be meeting at Pequea Elementary School, which is located at 802 Millwood Road, Willow Street, PA 17584.

Food Bank
The food bank will be closed on May 25th.

Garden Helpers Needed
The garden is growing and so are the weeds! Please stop by on Saturdays between 8-10 a.m. to help remove weeds; someone will be there to garden with you.

Play Ball!
Our baseball team will be playing on our field at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 28th. A second game will follow at 7 p.m. Bring your family to relax and watch the game.

New Beginnings
There will be an end-of-year picnic on Thursday, June 11 at 12 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Come enjoy a summertime favorite—hotdogs! Please bring a side dish or dessert to enjoy with the hotdogs. We will conclude with an old-fashioned hymn sing.

Village Corner Shoppe at Homestead Village
The Gift Shoppe is looking for additional volunteers to designate two hours per month for working in the Shoppe. There will always be two volunteers in the Shoppe. Please call Karen Longenecker at (717) 397-4831 ext. 132 for more information.

Worship
Do you have a passion for Worship? Do you have ideas for Worship? If so, please join the Worship Commission. They meet the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Choir Room, and would love to see you there. Please contact the Worship Chair, Bernie Fickes, at (717) 393-6644 for more information. All are welcome!

Volunteers Needed—Furniture Donation to Honduras
Penn Manor School District has donated the furnishings of Pequea Elementary School for use in Honduras through the direction of Central American Relief Efforts. Volunteers are needed! We expect to fill two shipping containers. Church of the Apostles has been a loyal supporter of education in Honduras—please help as you are able.

On Saturday, June 13 at 8:30 a.m., we will need to disassemble desks for space saving in their container. There will also be tables that will need legs removed for shipping. We will work until everything is ready for loading. Phillips head and Allen wrench bits will be needed.

On Saturday, June 20th at 8:30 a.m., the containers on site will need to be loaded; this work is more strenuous as lifting in required. There will also be a need for some volunteers to keep inventory as we load.

The only way we’ll be able to send this shipment to Honduras is if we can recruit enough volunteers for each Saturday. About 20-25 volunteers will be needed each weekend. Volunteers are being recruited from a variety of groups and Church of the Apostles’ presence has been significant in past efforts. If you can help either or both weekends, please contact Andy Appel at (717) 490-0093 or andyappel@epix.net and specify the day(s) and time(s) you are available. If you have friends or family who may be willing to help, they will be more than welcome! We will be meeting at Pequea Elementary School, which is located at 802 Millwood Road, Willow Street, PA 17584.

Weekly Announcements
If you would like to receive our new Weekly Announcements newsletter, please visit www.ApostlesUCC.org to sign up. On Mondays, the Weekly Announcements will provide you with our Sunday announcements if you were unable to attend services, but would like to stay informed about special events and updates.

Food Bank
The food bank will be closed on May 18th and May 25th.

Welcome Rev. Nora Smith
Rev. Nora Smith was ordained at Church of the Apostles in September 1981 and joined the ministry team with Rev. Glen Rader and Rev. Nevin Schellenberger as the Minister of Education. Nora then served First Congregational UCC in Boulder Colorado as their associate minister for ten years before moving from parish ministry into the hospital setting, where she directed spiritual care programs in two downtown Denver hospitals and supervised chaplains in a hospice program in Boulder Colorado. She completed a Merrill Fellowship at Harvard Divinity School, has a certificate in Buddhist studies from Naropa University and is presently in the Inaugural Class of the Living School, an alternative orthodoxy Christian wisdom tradition program with Fr. Richard Rohr, Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, and James Finely, Phd. In retirement, Nora is adjunct faculty at Naropa Univeristy in Boulder, CO and teaches pastoral care in the Masters of Divinity program.

LCCC Food Hub Grand Opening
Lancaster County Council of Churches will be celebrating the grand opening of the Community Food & Resource Distribution Center at 812 North Queen Street on Tuesday, May 19th. The day will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. and a dessert reception at 6:30 p.m. Sweets will be served at the evening event, including Miesse Candies and various flavors of ice cream courtesy of Carmen and David’s. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to jmiller@lcchurches.org to advise which event(s) you will be attending.

Garden Helpers Needed
The garden is growing and so are the weeds! Please stop by anytime between 8-10 a.m. to help remove weeds; someone will be there to garden with you.

Grocery Cards
Please remember that today is the last Sunday this month to order grocery cards for next month.

Play Ball!
Our baseball team will be playing on our field Tuesday, May 19th and Thursday, May 21st at 6 p.m. Thursday will even be a double-header. Please come support our team and bring a lawn chair…you can even picnic while you watch.

Volunteers Needed—Furniture Donation to Honduras
Penn Manor School District has donated the furnishings of Pequea Elementary School for use in Honduras through the direction of Central American Relief Efforts. Volunteers are needed! We expect to fill two shipping containers. Church of the Apostles has been a loyal supporter of education in Honduras—please help as you are able.

On Saturday, June 13 at 8:30 a.m., we will need to disassemble desks for space saving in their container. There will also be tables that will need legs removed for shipping. We will work until everything is ready for loading. Phillips head and Allen wrench bits will be needed.

On Saturday, June 20th at 8:30 a.m., the containers on site will need to be loaded; this work is more strenuous as lifting in required. There will also be a need for some volunteers to keep inventory as we load.

The only way we’ll be able to send this shipment to Honduras is if we can recruit enough volunteers for each Saturday. About 20-25 volunteers will be needed each weekend. Volunteers are being recruited from a variety of groups and Church of the Apostles’ presence has been significant in past efforts. If you can help either or both weekends, please contact Andy Appel at (717) 490-0093 or andyappel@epix.net and specify the day(s) and time(s) you are available. If you have friends or family who may be willing to help, they will be more than welcome! We will be meeting at Pequea Elementary School, which is located at 802 Millwood Road, Willow Street, PA 17584.

Watercolor Classes through our Apostles Academy of Arts & Sciences
A watercolor class with artist Steve Wilson is open for members and friends on Monday nights from May 11-June 29th. It meets in Rooms 308-310 from 6:00- 9:00 pm.

Do You Know a Graduate?
It is the season when many who are in high school, post-secondary education, or training are preparing to graduate. If there has been a graduation in your family since last June, or if there will be one in the near future, please call the church office at (717) 392-5718 with their information so that we may honor them in worship on June 7.

Disaster Relief for Nepal
The UCC is committed to disaster relief globally and is already supporting the on-the-ground efforts in Nepal. Financial contributions are the greatest present need. You may donate by writing a check made out to Church of the Apostles UCC, noting “Nepal Relief” in the memo line, and placing it in one of the pew envelopes. Your continued generosity is how we are “Sharing Christ’s Love with All People.”

Celebrating 40 Years of Ministry
Our 40th Anniversary is next Sunday, May 17. Please plan to join us at either service. As part of the celebration, Rev. Nora Smith—the first congregant to join COA’s pastoral team—will be joining us. Memorabilia from the early years will be displayed, and our Parish Life Commission will host our fellowship time between services with plenty of goodies to enjoy.

Seeds of Hope Garden
Garden season is quickly approaching! Please sign up to help in the garden shed on the sign-up sheet located at the stairway in the Narthex. The shed is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Women’s Exercise Classes
COA has been invited to sign up for new pilates classes being held on church grounds beginning Mondays on July 6 at 7:15 p.m., or Tuesdays on July 7 at 5:30 p.m. Sessions are 13 weeks and the cost is $130 per session; each class is one hour long. Pilates will address flexibility, core strength, balance, and focus.

Weight Training for Women may also begin that week, if the instructor signs up enough attendees. Using equipment provided by the instructor, as well as gravity/body weight, you will work to improve bone density, balance, and general strength.

Please bring an exercise mat and wear comfortable clothing. Classes may include equipment provided by instructor, and exercises can be modified to address all levels of fitness. Payment is due to the instructor, Karen Cox, on or before the first class. To sign up, or if you have any questions, please contact Karen at (717) 203-8081, or email her at kcox@ptd.net.

Volunteers Needed
Hospice & Community Care needs volunteers to solicit donated items from area businesses for the 31st Labor Day Auction. Volunteers will be asked to call a list of local businesses requesting a donation, pick up items, and deliver them to storage. Interested parties are invited to attend an informational meeting and brief training on May 21, 2015. The Labor Day Auction is Hospice & Community Care’s largest fundraising event and is essential to support patients and families who are coping with serious illness and end of life. For information, please contact Natalie Scolnick at (717) 735-2497.

Wishing Well Ministry 
We are collecting pajamas in support of Conner’s Comfy PJs for children undergoing cancer treatment. If you wish to participate in this wonderful ministry, please purchase pajamas for a boy or a girl (sizes 2T to 12) and place them in the Well by May 24. Please help a child feel more comfortable during challenging times. Thank you!

Sunday Morning Art Walk
Apostles Community Preschool is presenting a “Sunday Morning Art Walk” today for the congregation to visit the Preschool hallway and classrooms between services. Come and enjoy the beautiful artwork done by the children that is based on their studies of famous authors and illustrators, such as Eric Carle, Robert McCloskey, Mo Willems, Lois Ehlert, and Leo Leonni.

Do You Know a Graduate?
It is the season when many who are in high school, post-secondary education, or training are preparing to graduate. If there has been a graduation in your family since last June, or if there will be one in the near future, please call the church office at 392-5718 with their information so that we may honor them in worship on June 7.

Disaster Relief for Nepal
The UCC is committed to disaster relief globally and is already supporting the on-the-ground efforts in Nepal. Financial contributions are the greatest present need. You may donate by writing a check made out to Church of the Apostles UCC, noting “Disaster Relief” in the memo line, and placing it in one of the pew envelopes; or you may contribute online through our website or at www.ucc.org/disaster_nepal_earthquake. Your continued generosity is how we are “Sharing Christ’s Love with All People.”

Regional Prayer Summit
A Regional Prayer Summit will be held on Thursday, May 7 at 11:00 a.m. in Binn’s Park on North Queen Street (in front of the county offices). Prayers will be offered for first-responders (firefighters, police, EMT’s, etc.) as well as for communities and families threatened by violence and poverty. Please join us in this effort to pray for peace in our nation.

Celebrating 40 Years of Ministry—Save The Date!
On May 17, 2015, we will celebrate the beginning of our 40th year with an anniversary celebration. Please mark this date on your calendar and plan to join us at either service. As part of the celebration, Rev. Nora Smith—the first congregant to join COA’s pastoral team—will be joining us. Memorabilia from the early years will be displayed, and our Parish Life Commission will host our fellowship time between services with plenty of goodies to enjoy.

Special Offering: Missionary Support
For decades, our church has supported the missionary efforts of John Campbell-Nelson who has served through the Common Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church and the United Church of Christ in West Timor, Indonesia. He is part of the theological faculty that has helped train 90% of the pastors for the Evangelical Church of West Timor, our partner church. After many years of dedicated service, John will be retiring within the year. This will be our final opportunity to support his ministries. If you are interested in reading more about John and Karen’s experiences, please visit the Global Ministries website at www.globalministries.org.

Talent Show
Join us for a night of fun and talent on Saturday, May 9 from 6-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is welcome to share a talent; it can be anything from singing, dancing, playing an instrument, juggling, poetry, etc. To participate in the show, please register on the night of the show at 5:45 p.m. or call the church office at 392-5718 to pre-register. For more information, contact Judy Waltman, Erika Neiderer, Patty Rineer, or Leigh Breslin.

Wishing Well Ministry 
We are collecting pajamas in support of Conner’s Comfy PJs for children undergoing cancer treatment. If you wish to participate in this wonderful ministry, please purchase pajamas for a boy or a girl (sizes 2T to 12) and place them in the Well by May 24th. Please help a child feel more comfortable during challenging times. Thank you!

New Beginnings
Join us for a Dessert Social and presentation on the plight of Lancaster’s Homeless given by Doug Hopwood from the “Transition Learning Center” (Tabor Industries). We will meet on Thursday, May 14th at 1 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

Talent Show
Join us for a night of fun and talent on Saturday, May 9 from 6-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is welcome to share a talent; it can be anything from singing, dancing, playing an instrument, juggling, poetry, etc. To participate in the show, please register on the night of the show at 5:45 p.m. or call the church office at 392-5718 to pre-register. For more information, contact Judy Waltman, Erika Neiderer, Patty Rineer, or Leigh Breslin.

Celebrating 40 Years of Ministry—Save The Date!
On May 17, 2015, we will celebrate the beginning of our 40th year with an anniversary celebration. Please mark this date on your calendar and plan to join us at either service. As part of the celebration, Rev. Nora Smith—the first congregant to join COA’s pastoral team—will be joining us. Memorabilia from the early years will be displayed, and our Parish Life Commission will host our fellowship time between services with plenty of goodies to enjoy.

Special Offering: Missionary Support
April 19th is the established day for collecting our Missionary Support offering. While that day has come and gone, the wonderful thing about our special offerings is that you can make a donation anytime!

For decades, our church has supported the missionary efforts of John Campbell-Nelson who has served through the Common Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church and the United Church of Christ in West Timor, Indonesia. A professor at Artha Wacana University for over 30 years, he is part of the theological faculty that has helped train 90% of the pastors for the Evangelical Church of West Timor, our partner church. John was originally hired by Paul Gregory, and—after many years of dedicated service—he will be retiring within the year. This will be our final opportunity to support his ministries.

If you are interested in reading more about John and Karen’s experiences, please visit the Global Ministries website at www.globalministries.org to access their extremely interesting newsletters.

Ephrata Flea Market and Bake Sale
Ephrata Manor’s flea market and bake sale will be held in their chapel on Friday, May 1 from 9 a.m.—4 p.m. and Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m.—1 p.m. Donated items will be accepted throughout the day this Thursday, and baked goods (packaged and priced) will be accepted Thursday afternoon and Friday & Saturday before 9 a.m. Tables are available to rent at $8 each. Please contact Maria at 738-4940 for more information.

New Members Will Be Received

On Sunday, March 22 at both services we will be receiving new members. If you are interested in joining our journey of faith, we invite you to speak with Pastor Kuhn. There will also be an information session on Sunday, March 15 at 2 PM.

The Jesus  Fatwah: Love your (Muslim) Neighbor as Yourself

A 5 week study course about the Muslim faith.  It will be presented in the Parlor each Sunday through March 8,  10:45 a.m.-noon.  All are welcome to attend.  For more information contact Doris Robb 393-7788 robbed@paonline.

Housing Needed for Special Retreat

The Penn Central Conference is undergoing a time of Self Study in order to chart a vision for the future and to prepare to call a new Conference Minister.  Part of that Self Study will involve a RETREAT on Friday, April 24 to Saturday, April 25 at Church of the Apostles here in Lancaster.   About 40 people will be attending the retreat and some of those people will need accommodations for Friday night the 24th.  The group includes the Conference Board of Directors, Conference staff, the Self Study Task Force, and officers of Associations of the Conference.

COA and other UCC churches have been approached to see if there might be members willing to open their homes for that one night stay.   It is hoped that the guest will have a bedroom and a separate bathroom.  The Friday evening agenda is completed by 9 p.m.   Saturday’s meeting begins at 8:30 a.m.  It would be helpful if the guests could eat breakfast with the host families that morning.

If you are willing to host a guest PLEASE talk to Pastor Kuhn or email Dave Bushnell  (co-chair of the Self Study Task Force) at  abushnell@aol.com.

Parish Life Workshops

All workshops are free to members of our subscribing congregations.  Visit www.ParishResourceCenter.org or call 299-1113 for more information—and to register.

Intergenerational Ministries

Monday, March 16 at 7 p.m. at the Parish Resource Center

Led by Liz Perraud, GenON Ministries

Children and Worship

Thursday, March 19 at 7 p.m. at Mountville Church of the Brethren

Led by Kitty Collier

In this workshop, at Mountville Church of the Brethren, Kitty Collier will show her church’s dedicated space for worship with children.  She will provide an introduction of the basic concepts of helping children worship in this style and participants will explore the setting the church has created for this style of children’s worship. Limit 12 people.

Summer Camp at Hartman Center

Hartman Center is Penn Central Conference’s UCC church camp, located between Lewistown and State College. Brochures for this summer’s camp are posted on the bulletin board outside the nursery. The church provides camperships for one-half of the cost for children of church members to attend camp.  Please contact Linda Lewis at 392-7437 if you would like to apply for a campership.

Hartman Center Spring Retreat

A special one-night camping retreat will be held at Hartman Center on April 10 – 11, for children in 3^rd through 6^th grades.  This “Younger Youth” camp is to introduce campers to what Hartman Center has to offer.  Please take a registration form from the bulletin board outside the nursery.  The $60 fee includes overnight accommodations, pizza, sundae bar, bon-fire, and a camp-wide scavenger hunt!