“April 2023 Worship Team”
Sunday School-9:30am
Worship Service-11:00am
Interim Pastor: Rev. Dennis Blauser
Phone: 724 981-2050
April 2 11:00am – Palm Sunday
Celebrate First Communion
James Antel -Assistant
Elaine Madasz – Reader
Seth Kuchmak – Acolyte
April 6 Maundy Thursday -7:00pm
Ron Tomko-Assisting
Bill Spon-Reader
Gabrielle Lucas-Reader
“Easter Sunday”
April 9 Cynthia Kapusta-Assisting
Bill Spon-Communion Assistant
Gabrielle Lucas-Reader
Abby Ruffo-Acolyte
Eli Ruffo-Crucifer
April 16 William Spon-Assisting
Ruth Klein-Reader
Acolyte: Maeli Kornbau
April 23 Ron Tomko-Assisting
“Youth Service”
Acolyte-Alyssa Antel
The Children will be reading the Lessons
April 30 James Antel-Assisting
Jill Antel-Reader
Isabel Faber-Acolyte
On Maundy Thursday the people who will be stripping the Altar are as follows:
James Antel Bill Spon
Ron Tomko Barry & Sandy Kimmel
Rev. Dennis Blauser
“May You have…
The gladness of Easter which is hope.
The promise of Easter which is Peace
The Spirit of Easter which is
Love
If you need to talk to Pastor Blauser please call the office or Pastor’s cell phone. The office phone number is 724 981-2050 and Pastor’s number is
724 699-3747. Please know, if you need advice or just a ear to listen all you have to do is call to make an appointment. He will be there to guide or help.
We would like to acknowledge Stephen Banjak and thank him for the stellar Holy Trinity brochure that he organized, put together and had printed. It is fantastic!
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Dorcas’s meeting was held Monday March 20, 2023, at 1:00pm with 11 members 1 guest and Pastor Blauser present. Karen Borden was hostess; Devotions were given by Cathy Haywood. The minutes were read and approved. The treasurer’s report was read and approved. In correspondence, a thank you from Sandy Kimpan was read for food and well wishes sent to her after recent foot surgery, as well as thank you from Nadine Vellente and Melinda Vellente for the very generous financial gift sent to Nadine who is battling cancer. Updates were given on homebound members.
In old business-The Philadelphia Easter candy is being delivered March 30th.
In new business– Dorcas will purchase 2 yellow tulips for Easter Sunday. Cathy Haywood made a motion, Linda Savach seconded.
Several members are planning to see the Tamburitzas Sunday April 30 at 2:30pm at the ACTS performing Arts Center in Sharon. General admission tickets are $30. And can be purchased online through Eventbrite.com.
A one day bus trip to Ohio Amish Country is planned for May 11 through Anderson Tours. So far 12 people have signed up. If interested see Cathy Haywood or call Anderson Tours to see if seats are still available.
An estimate was received from Kurtz Woodworking of New Wilmington for a new kitchen cabinet to replace the existing cabinet that holds the silverware and coffee cups. The finish and design will match the new pantry recently purchased and will have knobs. It will be shorter on length and line up with the doorway. Ruth Klein made a motion to accept estimate and order, Linda Savach seconded. Motion passed.
Workdays for upcoming Election Day Bakesale in May are Sunday May 14 before service and Monday May15 starting at 8:00am. Any and all help is appreciated! Joe Turney has planned a Welcome Luncheon for Pastor Blauser after the service on May 21. Dorcas will assist and provide side dishes. All members are encouraged to stay after church and welcome Pastor Blauser. Joe Turney is also planning a possible Mother’s Day/Father’s Day picnic with Dorcas June 18, more information to come. The newly organized Activities Committee has planned a Polka Service for July 9. After the service there will be a picnic with polka music and dancing in the pavilion. The band will play for 2 hours, and Dorcas was asked to provide food. Linda Savach made a motion to participate and provide food, Cathy Haywood seconded. Motion passed to provide a limited menu for purchase. Dorcas will need help with transporting food from kitchen, set-up, etc. In community outreach, Cathy Haywood made a motion to send an additional monetary donation to Nadine Vellente for cancer treatment expenses. Donna Ekis seconded; motion passed. Next Dorcas meeting is April 17 at 6pm. Cathy Haywood will be hostess. Motion to adjourn made by Linda Savach, Ruth Klein seconded. Meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Melinda Vellente
We want to thank our dedicated and gifted director of music James Vasconi. No matter what happens, we can always count on James. He is so talented but what I admire most about him is his dedication. Having him to count on means everything. Thank you, James, we hope you have a very Happy Easter! And thank you to our gifted choir as well, you all sound heavenly.
It’s time for the annual cemetery clean-up. Please remove your old decorations by the end of April so the cemetery board can prepare for Memorial Day. Also, anyone interested in serving on the cemetery board, please contact Myron Jones at 724 854-3220 for further details. Thank You because any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
Here are some of the organizations we continue to sponsor…
World Hunger-the first Sunday of every month we have “Loose Change for World Hunger” in our offering plates. We are currently one of the most giving congregations in the ELCA.
Joshua’s Haven-We have an ongoing collection of items they need and when the tote is full Stephanie Banjak sees to it that Joshua’s gets the items.
American Red Cross-The American Red Cross uses our Fellowship Hall twice a month, the first and third Thursday of the month to have a blood collection drive to help victims of catastrophic emergencies and to keep the blood banks full in the area hospitals.
Camera Club– Twice a month our local club meet in our Fellowship Hall to explore new and different ways to take pictures of everything from animals to pretty flowers. Walter Cowan along with Bob Rehner are some of the members of this unique club. They are always looking for new members to join them. Talk to Walter Cowan if you are interested.
Opening our hearts and doors to the community is a very important part of our mission and your continued participation in them is very much appreciated.
We would like to express our deepest sympathy to the Bryan Family. May our Lord comfort you and give you His peace. The peace only He can give. Our most sincerest condolences.
Please be advised that the office will be closed every Monday. Patty requested Monday’s off and council is going to try it out for 90 days before they give the okay or not just to make sure our members needs are met. Pastor Blauser will be here at 2:00pm on Mondays to help in any way he can. I will be in the office the next day if what you need assistance with can wait until then, if not Pastor will be here to help.
We have great news…Linda Chalupka was able to contact a Flower Greenhouse to supply us with Easter Flowers. We want to thank Linda for finding us a place that is helping us make sure our church looks as festive as always in celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. The place is called Hartford Greenhouses. Again, thank you so much Linda for doing this. We are ever indebted.
“Happy Easter to all!”
Mark your calendars, invite your relatives and friends! Sunday, April 23rd will be Holy Trinity’s first “Youth Sunday” service; As a result of a suggestion made by someone in our congregation who answered the survey on “special services”, it will be presided over by our Sunday School youth under the direction of Superintendent, Denise Germani, along with Pastor Blauser.
Church council has established a “Special Events” committee to address the year over year downward trend in church attendance. With that in mind, the committee is asking that all of our members attend a “Townhall Meeting” on April 16 immediately following the service. The purpose of the meeting is to inform our members of the plan the Committee has proposed and to provide an opportunity to receive suggestions from the congregation. We do not expect the meeting to last more than an half of an hour. Please plan to attend and encourage others to do so.
Our council approved putting a brochure together describing our church and the wonderful people in it. Stephen Banjak took the project over and wait until you see how very nice they turned out. Looking at one really makes you proud to be a part of Holy Trinity. Thank you Steve for taking on this monumental project and for doing a really professional job. We are so blessed. There are some in the basket on the table in the back of the church, get one and see what we mean.
SUNDAY OF THE PASSION /
PALM SUNDAY
Parades and Long Walks
The stories we hear for Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday are marked by a series of parades. The crowd shouts “Hosanna” as Jesus processes into Jerusalem. After his arrest, he is paraded to the home of Caiaphas to be confronted by the scribes and elders. They bind him and parade him to Pilate. The soldiers lead him to the governor’s headquarters before he is paraded to Golgotha to be crucified.
These were not celebratory parades. For Jesus, each of these journeys was another step on his long walk toward death. We may not know what it is to be paraded about before crowds of people as Jesus was, but we can understand the long walk toward death.
Perhaps you have taken the long walk from a hospital parking lot to the information desk, from the desk around the corner to the visitors’ elevators, and from the elevator through the maze of hallways to the bedside of a loved one to sit vigil as they breathe their last. Maybe you have made the long walk between cubicles to your boss’s office during a time of layoffs, knowing what news is coming. The walk from a classroom to the principal’s office is long and scary, for both the student and the parent who was called in to school from work.
Life has plenty of long and painful walks we would just as soon avoid. Jesus’ prayer at Gethsemane tells us he did not want to take his walk either. And yet he did take that walk. In so doing, he joins us in all of our long and weary wanderings that end in the things of death. Jesus is with us in our deepest pain. But the story does not end there. The journey continues as the women walk to the empty tomb, as Jesus walks with disciples to Emmaus, and as he continues to walk us to places of new life.
Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress
We are very please to announce that
Maeli Kornbau and Paige Urey will be receiving their First Communion this year. What a very special Palm Sunday for them. A very blessed day for sure.
JESUS CALLING…
In a world of unrelenting changes, I am the One who never changes. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Find in Me the stability for which you have yearned, I created a beautifully ordered world: one that reflects My perfection. Now, however, the world is under the bondage of sin and evil. Every person on the planet faces gaping jaws of uncertainty. The only antidote to this poisonous threat is drawing closer to Me. In My presence you can face uncertainty with perfect Peace.
Revelation 22:13; John 16:33
Thank you once again Karen for sharing such a meaningful message with us.
Want a dessert recipe worth its weight in gold? Well we’ve got you covered. The recipe is called simply Apple Cake.
“Apple Cake”
Ingredients:
¼ cup orange juice
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 ½ teaspoons of vanilla
1 teaspoon of salt
3 cups sifted flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup of oil and 4 eggs
What To Do:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease and flour a bunt pan.
- Peel and cut 5 or 6 apples in thimble size chunks. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons cinnamon and 5 tablespoons of sugar—set aside.
- Mix by hand, beat till smooth. Pour 1/3 batter in greased and floured bundt pan. Put in ½ apples and pour remaining batter over. Top with rest of apples.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.
This recipe came from the Holy Trinity Church cookbook. The recipe was given by L & R Kitchens. Sounds good especially if you like apples and a moist cake. Maybe drizzle icing over it when cooled?? Sounds so good…
April 6, 2023
MAUNDY THURSDAY
It’s All about Love
On the night before he is killed, Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment: to love one another as he has loved them. Before Jesus speaks these words, he shows the disciples what this love looks like and feels like. With a basin and a towel, he bends down and kneels before them, one by one. Stooping low, he cradles their dirty, smelly feet in his hands, washing them with tenderness and care.
Jesus does all this knowing what is to come—he will soon be betrayed, be killed, and rise again. Knowing that the disciples will be shaken to the core as they enter the valley of the shadow of death, Jesus chooses to take the time to silently care for them.
We are reminded that the love of Christ is the lifeblood of Christian community. We lovingly and vulnerably step into these ritual practices of serving one another in the ways that Jesus taught us on the night when he was betrayed. We wash one another’s feet, and we serve one another the bread and wine of holy communion. In our awkwardness and care, in our washing and eating, in our giving and receiving, we can trust that God’s grace flows among and through us. We are united as one body, sharing in the servant way of Jesus.
Christian community isn’t defined by how great our programs are, how thoughtful our worship is, the brilliance of our preaching, or the quality of our music. All of these things are valuable, to be sure, insofar as they put us in touch with the unconditional love of God and inspire, encourage, and strengthen our will to love each other as Jesus loves us. As we walk through the valleys of the shadow of death in our lives and in the life of our world, we can hold on to what Jesus shows and teaches us on this night: it’s all about love.
Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress.
April 7, 2023
GOOD FRIDAY
Witnessing to the Truth
When Jesus is interrogated by Pilate, he describes his mission in this way: “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth” (John 18:37). Even in his terrible suffering and death on a cross, Jesus witnesses to the truth of God’s love, life, and power to the end. Refusing retaliation, Christ reveals to us divine power at work through the vulnerability of suffering love and nonviolence. Crucified as a criminal, Christ demonstrates divine solidarity with all who are persecuted and victimized. Weak and dying on the cross, Christ bears witness to divine presence in the depths of human pain.
This night we also bear witness to the false claims and mocking cruelty of those who condemn Jesus to death. Pilate, who has the power to release or condemn Jesus, utterly lacks moral clarity and courage. How might this story serve as a mirror, leading us to reflect on and lament ongoing injustices today, from our broken system of mass incarceration to our pollution and waste of God’s good creation? What lies are told and what cruelty is inflicted against God and our most vulnerable neighbors today?
As we name these truths about our world broken by sin and truths about God’s unfathomable love in Christ, we gather around the cross in our worship spaces as a family formed by Christ, like the ones who stood faithfully by Jesus’ side as he took his last breaths.
We pray for the wounded creation, for the sick and dying, for those who find their dignity denied, and more. We pray, placing our hope in the God who yet promises to bring new life. And as we pray, we wait, and we witness to the truth that God is here, abiding with us and hearing our cries.
Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress.
April 8, 2023
RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD, VIGIL OF EASTER
A Feast of Memory and Hope
On this most holy night, the church gathers with everyone and everything whose memory is invoked in our stories tonight: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; Ezekiel, Moses, Miriam, and the freedom-bound Israelites; plants and birds and sea monsters and every living creature of every kind that moves upon the earth. But none are more significant than Mary Magdalene, the first to come upon the empty tomb.
We know from other stories in the gospels that Mary Magdalene spent a lot of time around Jesus. She was one of his most devoted disciples, accompanying him on his journeys from village to village as he proclaimed God’s love to the poor, the lonely, and the oppressed. She was herself a living testament of God’s saving power. And she was there on that Friday afternoon, keeping watch with Jesus’ mother as he was lifted up on the cross for us all. But now she stands before us as the herald of good news, the “apostle to the apostles,” the first to hear the risen Christ calling her name.
As we tell the ancient stories again, as we join our “alleluias” with hers and with all of God’s faithful saints who have gone before, as we light candles in the darkness, wade together in the water, and eat the bread and drink the cup, something amazing happens: God continues to put our broken bones back together. God comes like light to warm, like water to cleanse, like food to strengthen, like words to bless, like breath to awaken.
Whatever kind of death you find yourself in, whatever doubt you struggle with, whatever grief you carry in your heart, the risen Christ comes to you like he did to Mary, calling your name. Rejoice, O holy church: this is the night!
This is the night of salvation! At the Vigil of Easter, we gather around fire, word, water, bread and wine, proclaiming through story and song that ours is a God who continuously brings life out of death. On this night we experience again the heart of God’s baptismal promise and the center of our faith; we are claimed and cleansed, renewed in the death and resurrection of Christ. We gather with all the saints of every time and place to celebrate the good news:
Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress.
April 9, 2023
RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD,
EASTER DAY
The Stone-Moving Power of God
Special effort had been taken to seal up Jesus’ tomb. Pilate and the religious authorities had taken great care to make absolutely certain there was no way Jesus’ followers could move that stone themselves. They posted armed guards all around.
If they had had the technology back then, we could well imagine that floodlights, security cameras, and an alarm system would have been added to the tomb. But none of that would have mattered. For nothing in heaven or on earth could have stopped the stone-moving power of our God. An angel messenger comes in a brilliant flash to roll that stone away, and then he sits on it to share the good news that Jesus is alive. What had been intended by those who persecuted Jesus as a period—a full stop for the Jesus movement—becomes a pulpit for proclamation: “Do not be afraid!” (Matthew 28:5). Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
As we remember the story of Jesus’ resurrection, we tune our hearts and minds to trust that this God who brings life out of death is still at work. What stones might God be moving today? Might we sense the Spirit at work in our lives here and now, rumbling the ground of our hearts and rolling away the messages of shame, fear, or rejection that have weighed us down? Might God be at work, rolling away stones of oppression and injustice in our world? Might we be sent, like these women, to not let fear rule our hearts, but to go, tell, and witness to a God who continues to open up a new future for us? Yes! The risen Christ appears to us today—present in word, and bread and wine, and water—ready to bless, nourish, call, and send. Nothing can stop this God. Jesus Christ is risen, indeed—Alleluia!
Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress.
A few words from Patty…
A happy April to you all! Easter will be here before we know it. Having Pastor Blauser here is monumental. He is a blessing from the Lord that is for sure. He is a very wise, informed, kind, helpful man of God with compassion and caring about everyone he meets. Now you can understand why I don’t want to retire. He makes me smile…I’m really looking forward to Holy Week and Easter.
As you probably read already I am down to four days. I’m hoping that extra day off gives my body the boost it needs to be the energy bunny once again. I find myself having less energy with the passing years, not to mention the memory. So although it won’t give me my memory back I’m hoping I’ll say to myself…
“I can’t wait to go back to work tomorrow, enough cleaning for one week.” Ha! Ha! Well we’ll see how it works out. I can only try. We’ll see…
Our Sunday School is so great. We are so blessed to have them. On April 23rd, they will be doing a large part of our worship service. Denise Germani, Jayne Kornbau and the rest of the Sunday School staff and Pastor Blauser will be guiding our children to the first “Youth Sunday Service.” Doesn’t that sound interesting? I can’t wait to be part of the congregation and see exactly what will happen. A service we all should attend don’t you think, I sure do.
Our long time florist Palo Floral has decided to retire and close its doors for good. Now that leaves us without a Floral shop to provide our flowers for the Altar and Standard. Worship & Music are going to handle this dilemma for us.
And when they find an answer they will let me know and I will let everyone know via the weekly bulletin along with the prices. Whatever they decide I just know it will work for our church.
Some really good news…Joyful Diversions is going to provide a complimentary Easter Breakfast before our Easter service at 11:00am. They will have fresh hot coffee, tea, orange juice and fresh baked coffee cake. Doesn’t that sound great? Plus one thing they can’t provide without you is Christian Fellowship. Celebrating Easter and each other who could ask for more.
I personally want to thank Karen Blosz and Donna Pavcik for having such a great idea and for putting it all together for us. Thanks, girls, for sharing your gifts with us. The best of the best that is what you are…
So in closing for this month I want to wish you all a very “Happy Easter!”
Alleluia! Our Lord is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed!!!
God’s Peace,
Patty
Alleluia! Let us sing to the Lord, who has triumphed gloriously; our strength and our might, who has become our salvation. Alleluia… (Exodus 15:1-2)
This is a very busy month for us!
Saturday, April 1st, is our Easter Party and egg hunt. This year the younger children will be hunting eggs and the older kids will be following clues to find their hidden Easter bags. We will also have donuts, fruit, and juice, and some fun activities.
April 2nd, Palm Sunday, is a very special day for two of our students, Paige Urey and Mira Kornbau will receive their First Communion! We hope you can all be there to help them celebrate. Sunday School will also lead the Palm Processional at the beginning of the service.
On April 16th, five students will get fitted for their robes and begin their acolyte training. They are; Brady Spon, Paulie Jones, Ariana Cutter, Astyn Antel, and Leo Kuchmak. They will train with our current acolytes May-August.
Our last big event is the April 23rd worship service led by the Sunday School. On this day, the Sunday School children will have special parts before and during the 11am service. You can read all the details in the flyer in this month’s Dorcaszette. Please join us for this extra special service!
Whew! That’s a lot going on!
Before I go, I would like to invite everyone to our closing program on May 7th. We will be singing a few songs and recognizing our wonderful students and amazing teachers and helpers!
Donuts, coffee, and juice will be available after the program.
Happy Easter and God Bless,
Denise
I know it has been said before and believe me it needs repeated.
Beginning with our Church Council who month after month meet and decide on a maraud of problems and issues. Our music director, our choir, our money counters, our recycle person, our readers, our ushers, our maintenance worker, our Sunday School teachers, Superintendent and assistant Superintendent, our beloved Dorcas ladies, Joyful Diversions, our Library Staff, our High Tech, sound and Live Streaming person, our Altar care people, the people who care way above and beyond, the ones who change the flowers, plant the flowers, and always make sure our church looks great.
Thank You, Thank You everyone for helping in the unending care of our church. We are so very grateful and believe you we notice and say to ourselves…“How blessed we are to have you. Everything looks great and is great!”
Abundance
Rooted IN
An Easter Reflection: Do Not Be Afraid
Cn. J. Davey Gerhard, Executive Director of TENS
At both ends of the Resurrection story as Matthew presents it for Easter Day, the words “Do not be afraid,” are said. First, by the angel who meets Mary Magdalene and Mary at the tomb, and then by Jesus himself to the same women when he sends them off to tell the others that he has risen. The words are at the same time soothing and encouraging. At the tomb do not be afraid soothes people seeing something terrifying and unexpected. And then, at the sending-forth, do not be afraid to speak the truth, to go out into a hostile city.
In fact, the words “do not be afraid,” or “do not fear” appear 365 times in the Bible, from Genesis through Revelations. Why do we need to hear this so often? Over the many times these encouraging words are written and read to us, the two most common reasons are the ones that appear in Matthew’s Gospel on Easter Morning.
In the course of following Jesus, you will see many unexpected things. Lives transformed by prayer; communities changed by service; members reconciled by love. We will share our gifts with the church and see them translated into ministry that will impact our neighbors, heal the sick, lift up the needy, be companions to the lonely.
As we walk with Jesus we will encounter hostility where speaking truth will go against our culture. We will discover times in which we will be the only voice advocating, seeking justice, upholding our values.
And in these moments, we hear Jesus whisper behind us, “Do not be afraid.” We who dare to believe that life can overcome death, and that light can outshine darkness, bring our Easter truth and joy into a world that needs to hear “be not afraid.”
Our Easter Stewardship Reflection serves as a reminder of the power of the resurrection for our daily living. That power not only frees us from power of sin and death, but from the fear and angst of our daily life and complicated relationships.
As we strive to love, worship and serve our God, I pray that you may experience a life without fear and bold to love your neighbor as yourself.
May the peace and blessing of the Easter season be yours at all times!
Yours in Christ
Pr. Denny+
HAPPY EASTER
