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 MARCH 22 — MARCH 28

Saturday
11:00 AM – Choir Rehearsal
Sunday
9:00 AM – Sunday School for All Ages
10:15 AM – Sunday Worship
12:00 PM – Confirmation Class
Monday
8:30 AM – Quilters & Crafters
6:30 PM – AED & CPR Training
Tuesday
9:00 AM – Bible Study
7:00 PM – Shared Ministry Meeting
Wednesday
11:30 AM – Soup & Word
7:00 PM – Lenten Service @ Salem UCC
Thursday
5:00 PM – Choir Rehearsal (Optional)


NEWS & NOTES
Cancer Awareness Sunday
	Sunday March 24th will be Cancer Awareness Sunday. On this Sunday, we will be centering on the theme of “Cancer”. We will remember all those who have been touched by this disease. During this service, we will light candles, lift up our prayers and remember as well the survivors among us. The worship committee has purchased silk daffodils that folks can sponsor in memory or honor of loved ones. The daffodils will be used in the worship and the all the money will be given to the cancer society. The daffodils will remain at the church so we can reuse them on future Cancer Awareness Sundays. Doing the daffodils in this manner will mean all money used to sponsor a bunch can be sent to help fight cancer instead of only a portion. The sponsor form is in the bulletin and also in the narthex. Deadline to turn in forms is March 17th.
One Great Hour of Sharing
	OGHS Offering – " Give and change the world---It really is that simple” On Sunday, March 31st, we will join with Christians in nine other denominations in receiving our One Great Hour of Sharing offering. Did you know One Great Hour of Sharing responds to disasters on average every 2.5 days, while it changes lives 365 days each year? Your gift to One Great Hour of Sharing is hard at work in 138 countries, including the U.S. When you make a gift to the offering, you become a partner in the refugee, disaster relief, and community development efforts of the United Church of Christ. Through One Great Hour of Sharing, our gifts meet compelling needs, while also bringing the blessing of compassion into our own lives. The current economic situation is challenging for many of us. For many others, it has pushed beyond challenging to be life-threatening. I intend to increase my gift this year, and encourage you to consider doing so, also. Let us come on March 31st with a generous, even sacrificial, gift for One Great Hour of Sharing. Sharing your resources, you'll change lives — including your own. " Give and change the world---It really is that simple”
Mid Week Lenten Services
	This year, Salem and Friedens UCC will be again joining together in Mid-week Lenten, Wednesday night, services. Starting with Ash Wednesday, March 6 – @ Friedens-- Ash Wednesday – Holy Communion “The Road of Newness ” Psalm 121 , March 13 –@ Salem – “Reaching Beyond Ourselves” Matthew 15:28, March 20 – @ Friedens – “Chased by God’s Powerful Love ” Psalm 23, March 27 – @ Salem – “Walking into God’s Future” Genesis 17:4-6, April 3 – @Salem – “Don’t Be Afraid” Isaiah 43:1, April 10 –@Friedens – “A Rigorous of Faith” Daniel 1:19-20. We will not have a service on the Wednesday during Holy Week. We will begin the evenings at 6 PM with soup and bread at Friedens and then worship at 7 PM, at Salem we will only have worship at 7 PM with no soup at 6 PM. 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 & 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 13th. 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.
Ham & Dandelion Supper
	Supper Slated: The General Fund committee has set the date for the Church supper for Saturday, April 13th. The menu again will be Ham and Dandelion. Please be sure to reserve that date so that you can help out with the supper. We will need all the help we can get to make this a successful fundraiser. Please see Eleanor Shaner or Janet Schlegel if you can help. The cost of the meal is $10.50 for adults and $5. 00 for children 5 to 11 years old. Remember you are our best publicity. Tell your friends, neighbors and family and invite them to come out for a fine meal.