YOU are part of the Body of Christ

The weekly Newsletter of 
ALL SOULS ECC 
A Welcoming Family of Faith!
January 21, 2016
Dear Michael,
 
Thanks to those who joined us for our January Pot luck and first ever Game Night!  We had good food, great fun, and outstanding fellowship.  Hope you will join us for out next pot lucks – dates below!!!
Lent is just around the corner – make plans to join us for Ash Wednesday service and start your Lenten meditation with All Souls.
Please take the time to read the articles and information in this week’s “GOOD NEWS” including clicking on our prayer list and pray for the requests there – and see the information below about possible winter weather related cancellations of Sundayservices. Feel free to forward this newsletter to a family member or friend, or share it on your facebook page or twitter by using the “like” and “share” icons at the top of the page.

This weeks readings and question of the week:
Take time to mediate on God’s word and prepare for worship this Sunday.  And as you meditate on them, consider the Question of the Week:

Whom can I identify – poor, bound, blind as I carry out in my own life the mission of Jesus?

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

Psalm 19

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members. Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth, and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, Titus 3:5. But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ’s body. And by communion with Christ at the Lord’s supper, we are strengthened, not by drinking the wine, but by drinking into one Spirit. Each member has its form, place, and use. The meanest makes a part of the body. There must be a distinction of members in the body. So Christ’s members have different powers and different places. We should do the duties of our own place, and not murmur, or quarrel with others. All the members of the body are useful and necessary to each other. Nor is there a member of the body of Christ, but may and ought to be useful to fellow-members. As in the natural body of man, the members should be closely united by the strongest bonds of love; the good of the whole should be the object of all. All Christians are dependent one upon another; each is to expect and receive help from the rest. Let us then have more of the spirit of union in our religion.(Matthew Henry)

CHILDREN’S EDUCATION – January 24

January 24 is Children’s Ed Sunday!   So we invite your kids and grand kids to join Joan for Children’s Ed after church on these dates!

NEW ROTAS – NEW VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!  FINDING YOUR MINISTRY

At All Souls, we are ALL MINISTERS!  We welcome everyone to participate in the ministry of all Souls.  Besides our periodic outreach ministry opportunities – we also have ways you can be part of our ministry each week.

If you can come early, we need help setting up each Sunday or clean up after the service.  Hospitality, reading scriptures, greeting, sharing musical talent, helping with children education, and even helping provide rides for individuals or families that need a ride to or from the church.  You don’t have to do these things every week – but even if you volunteer once or twice a week – that would be great!

We will also be doing a training course for those wanting to explore being a Lay Assistant later this spring.

You can click on the ROTA links to the left to see where we have current openings for various Sundays.  Or talk to Ben Renkus or any board member about how you can get more involved in the ministry of All Souls.

Winter Storm Scheduled for this weekend – keep up to date about any possible service cancellation.

Just a reminder that if service is cancelled this weekend or anytime this winter  – we do put a notice on WFMZ-TV / Channel 69.  We will also post on our All Souls Website and send out an email via Constant Contact.  Of course these only work if the electricity is on.  If you are still unsure, you can call the church phone @ 610-621-1738 – again, if we are able to, we will update the message if service is cancelled or not.

OF COURSE – ALWAYS USE YOUR BEST JUDGMENT AND INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO DECIDE IF YOU FEEL SAFE TRAVELING.   Depending on where you live – you may have more snow or ice (or vice-versa).  We also take into account if Calvary has had time to shovel and/or plow the sidewalks and parking lots.   We will make this judgement call no later than 11 am on Sunday – earlier if possible.
Wednesday, February 10 – 6:00 pm; Chapel

Start your Lenten meditation with Ash Wednesday service.
Mark your calendar, we hope you can join us.

WINTER/SPRING POT LUCKS – Save the dates!


We had a great January Pot Luck Game Night.  We had rousing round of UNO!

Please make plans to join us for our remaining Winter/Spring Pot  Lucks!
February 20
March 12
April 16
If you have ideas for future pot luck activities – please let anyone on the board know your ideas!!!!
       HOSPITALITY UPDATE:
Jay and Jasmine have volunteered to take over as Hospitality Coordinators! Wendy, Val and Danny will assist them but we still need other volunteers to help out. If you would like to help out with our hospitality ministry before and/or after service please see Jay, Jasmine or Wendy.
We can still use some help with transportation ministry as well.  If your willing to pick up parishioners from time to time and bring them to church, please let Jerry know.  This is a great way to build friendships – its amazing how you can get to know someone or a family with a short 10 minute drive.

How are you doing answering this  past week’s 
question of the week? 
For whom do I need to intercede this week?  What is Jesus telling me to do that life’s water might be transformed into the wine of God’s mercy and love.