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Annual Reports for 2003

Christian Education

Bergstrasse joined with Holy Trinity, once again, for Vacation Bible School.  It was held at Trinity from July 20-24.  The theme this year was S.C.U.B.A., Super Cool Underwater Bible Adventure.  All who participated had a great time and learned a lot.

      Rotation Sunday School youth are studying many stories with the theme:  Faith:  Our World Mission.  Youth, pre-school age through grade 7, rotate through our various workshop rooms learning the importance of having faith, sharing faith with others and studying the faith of those in the Bible.  They also are learning that one way to share their faith is by doing mission projects for others.  The Sunday School offering is going to support a child at the Living Hope Christian Orphanage in China.

      Music You Will Never Hear in Church is the name of the Sunday School class for older youth.  The teens study the music and lyrics of contemporary Christian music and examine the meaning behind the songs.

      Adult Sunday School is discussing the book Martin Luther as well as contemporary issues.

      The Wheelbarrow Pushers, a men’s Bible study group, continue to meet at the Akron Restaurant Monday mornings at 11 AM.  They have a Bible study, pray and share lunch together.

     

Family and Youth

·         Hosted youth from New York and participated in Operation Carelift

·         Youth made and delivered fruit plates to homebound members

·         Souper Bowl Sunday

·         Attended Youthquake in Harrisburg

·         Attended Youth Congress in Virginia Beach

·         Youth hosted Captive Free at our church

·         Attended a pool party with Holy Trinity

·         Participated in roving lock-in with other churches and provided breakfast Monday morning for about 100 youth

·         Attended Women of Faith conferences

·         Attended Lost and Found concert

·         We had several fundraisers including a car wash, sub sale and the fair parking lot

 

Social Ministry

Ongoing social ministry activities include:

·         Blood bank—as of September report 9 units have been met.  Our quota is 14.

·         Lutheran World Relief—24 school kits and 13 blankets were received

·         Harvest Home—food collected will be taken to Luther Acres

·         Lay distribution of communion to shut-ins

 Committee members include Mary Keisling and Edie Lausch.

 

Cemetery

Projects completed in 2003

·         Chain link vinyl fence replaced along Route 322.  Total footage replaced was 470 feet.

·         Pending proposal:  remove (2) Norway Maples and pruning (1) Norway Maple at McCracken Memorial.  Sharing cost with church.

·         Lot prices increased from $325 to $400 per burial space.  Last increase was 1994.

·         Grave and cremation openings remained the same:  grave opening $475, cremation opening $125.

 

Project planned for 2004

·         Website for cemetery in process

 

Property

Projects completed in 2003

·         Paid off cemetery loan

·         New sound system

·         Fundraising chart in narthex for project fundraisers

 

Projects for 2004

·         Bell tower reconstruction

·         Brick and mortar work on outside of sanctuary

·         New roof on parsonage

·         Dehumidifier system for basement

I would like to give a special thank you to the wheelbarrow pushers and anyone that does the “behind the scene” things.  The upkeep on the building and grounds has been great!  A lot of things get fixed and cleaned up without anyone noticing.  BUT I NOTICE!  Thank you for the help everyone has given me to keep this place looking great and functioning.

 Chad Landis

 

Call Committee

At this time all the paperwork has been approved and filed with the Bishop for possible matching with a prospective minister. 

 

Worship and Music

Continuing and new ideas done this year include:

·         Greening of the church for Advent and Christmas

·         Soup suppers for Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday evening communion services

·         Participation in and hosting one of the Lenten Cluster Services

·         Easter Dawn service

·         Pentecost service with red geraniums accentuating the color symbolic of the Holy Spirit's presence

·         All Saints' Sunday memorialized departed members of the congregation with white flowers and tolling a bell following each member's name

·         Christmas Eve family worship with three choirs

·         Congregational use of the With One Voice setting for Eucharist services

·         Using loaves of bread for communion services

Worship and Music Committee members:  Pastor Oliphant, Almanara Buffenmyer, Bonnie Grater, Gail Roomsburg and Jerry and Ruth Ulrich.

 

Parish Family

The Parish Family committee was formed in June 2003.  The purpose of this committee is to provide help, Christian fellowship, fun and encouragement showing our Christian love for all our brothers and sisters.

      The committee is responsible for the casserole ministry to provide meals in emergency situations (hospital stays, deaths, births), provide luncheons, monthly activities for the Bergstrasse family to have fellowship and fun and to show our Christian love for each other.

      Thus far we have had a bingo party, church picnic, fall harvest party, provided casserole ministry for two families, two luncheons after funerals.  Future plans include a dinner after the congregational meeting and Christmas hanging of the greens lunch.

      The committee meets the first Tuesday of the month.  Members are Almanara Buffenmyer and Linda Reber, co-chairpersons, Evelyn Coldren, Mary Duing, Polly Gunzenhauser, Edie Lausch, Sara Miller and Wendy Hainley.

      New members are always welcome and also names to help provide casseroles when needed.  Please see one of the committee members if you are interested in helping.  Also, give us your thoughts and ideas for our monthly activities.

Yours in Christ,

Almanara Buffenmyer and Linda Reber