Salem United Church of Christ

Hello, I am Pastor Bob Witmyer and I welcome you to Salem UCC. Thank you for visiting our website. We especially enjoy welcoming new friends, and we hope you will visit us soon!

THIS WEEK @ CHURCH

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 27 — MARCH 4

Thursday
5:00 PM – Choir Rehearsal
Saturday
11:00 AM – Choir Rehearsal
Sunday
9:15 AM – Sunday School for All Ages
8:00 AM – Worship/Communion
Monday
8:30 AM – Quilters & Crafters
9:30 AM – Women's Guild Meeting
11:30 AM – Senior Luncheon @ Christ Lutheran


NEWS & NOTES
Ash Wednesday
	Services will be held on Wednesday, February 26th, at 7:00 PM. This service is an appropriate way to begin our Lenten journey. It is a service of repentance and remembering who we are as children of God. God expects our repentance; therefore, it is only right, in fact, necessary, that all Christians should begin the Lenten journey by remembering who they really are. This year, we will be again joining with Friedens UCC in worshiping on Ash Wednesday. Salem/Christ Lutheran will be hosting the service as our combined choirs lead us in worship.
New Worship Schedule
	With the affirmative vote for the shared ministry with Christ Lutheran we will be moving to a different worship schedule. The first and third Sunday of the month, Salem will worship at 8 AM (we will continue to have communion at this service as we have in the past) Christ Lutheran will worship at 10:30 AM. The second and fourth Sunday of the month, Salem will worship at 10:30 AM and Christ Lutheran will worship at 8 AM. If there is a fifth Sunday in the month, worship will be at Salem at 10:30 AM. We will make sure that the appropriate times for worship are marked on the calendar we send out with the newsletter. Please check the calendar so you the proper times and locations. I encourage everyone to take advantage of these worship possibilities and I look forward to seeing everyone in worship.
Worship Schedule for Jan. / Feb.
	Jan. 5 Salem/Communion 8 AM Christ Lutheran/ Communion 10:30 AM Jan. 12 Christ Lutheran 8 AM Salem/Communion 10:30 AM Jan. 19 Salem/Communion 8 AM Christ Lutheran 10:30 AM Jan. 26 Christ Lutheran 8 AM Salem 10:30 AM Feb. 2 Salem/Communion 8 AM Christ Lutheran/ Communion 10:30 AM Feb. 9 Christ Lutheran 8 AM Salem/Communion 10:30 AM Feb. 16 Salem/Communion 8 AM Christ Lutheran 10:30 AM Feb. 23 Christ Lutheran 8 AM Salem 10:30 AM
Little Free Pantry
	During the month of February 2020, Christ Lutheran & Salem UCC would like its members to be stewards for the Little Free Pantry located at Friedens Lutheran Church on Rt. 73 in Oley, PA. The Little Pantry is an addition to the large food pantry at Friedens. It sits outside the front of the church and is always available to anyone in need. We are asking for specific donations during the month of February 2020. Each Sunday in February, a volunteer group will travel to Friedens after worship and stock the Little Pantry with donations from that Sunday’s worship. A second day to stock the pantry will occur during the middle of the week. We need 4 to 5 volunteers to do that stocking. Christ Lutheran has gotten a grant for $250.00 through Thrivent to help supplement the supplies needed for the month. The items recommended: Shampoo Peanut Butter/Jelly in Plastic Jars Soap Boxed/bagged Grains/Beans Chapstick Pastas/Mac & Cheese Tampons & Pads Pasta Sauce in Plastic Jars Deodorant Cereal Hot/Cold Toothpaste & Brushes Applesauce in Plastic Jars Paper Towels & Toilet Paper Dried Fruit Kleenex Granola/Other Bars
Mid Week Lenten Services
	This year Salem UCC, Christ Lutheran and Friedens UCC will be again joining together in Mid-week Lenten, Wednesday night, services. Feb. 26th – @ Salem UCC-- Ash Wednesday – 7 PM Focus: “A New Way of being in the World- Holy Communion/ Ashes, March 4 –@ Friedens UCC – Soup and Bread at 6 PM Worship at 7 PM- Focus : From Sadness to Gladness”, March 11 – @ Salem UCC at 7 PM – “Focus: “A New City”, March 18 – @ Friedens UCC – Soup and Bread at 6 PM Worship at 7 PM - Focus: Living at Peace in a World Full of Woe”, March 25 – @ Christ Lutheran- at 7 PM Focus “An Unembarrassed Singing of Miracles” , April 1 –@ Friedens UCC- Soup and Bread at 6 PM Worship at 7 PM- Focus “ The Power of the Cross”. We will not have a service on the Wednesday during Holy Week. What a great way to journey to Easter than with our brothers and sisters in the faith. Join us as we worship this Lent together and prepare for Easter.
Soup & The Word
	This year, I would like to again offer an opportunity for those who would like to spend some time in a Lenten devotional journey. The last several years, we have had a good response to this event. This year, it will again be held every Wednesday during Lent, starting with March 4th. Those attending would meet from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM for Soup, Bread and the Word. There will be a signup sheet to get a general idea about how much food to prepare. Please don’t hesitate to come if you didn’t sign up; there will be enough for all, I’m sure. If you can only come to one or two sessions, please come.