About half of the Leadership Retreat time on Saturday, February 28, was spent on the big event this year for both me as your pastor and you as the congregation: the summer sabbatical. That’s right, even though receiving the grant for the sabbatical was announced in October, we haven’t left yet!

Let me clear up misconceptions about the sabbatical time. These three months away are not for

me to decide what I want to do with my life, or for me to interview elsewhere, or for me to lie

on a beach and watch my fair skin turn pink.

These three months are for me and my family to take some time to renew and refresh so that we may

serve as pastor and pastor’s family with integrity, energy, and longevity. The simple fact is that I don’t pace myself well, and we are tired. This once-in-a-lifetime grant has been graciously awarded to us to do what we love – travel and explore in ways that renew and refresh us. For the Bullis family, the time will consist

of travel to Greece, the West Coast, and Thailand with a week on each end of the sabbatical for me to take time for renewal at a retreat center.

Now, I suspect that the congregation is somewhat tired, too. We have done much in ministry, maintenance, and growth in the last 5 ½ years! So, this grant is designed to renew and refresh you, too. But that’s not by taking the summer off of worship and community life – it is by doing what you do best. Our church is a stable, gifted, thoughtful, and faithful congregation that has much to offer not only Philipsburg, but the larger church. This summer sabbatical for me is a wonderful opportunity for you to teach a young pastor about solo ministry. In giving this time to Michael and Rachel Ludwig, our pastor intern and his wife, you are helping serve the larger church. Bill Moore will be a mentor to Michael, and you will be companions in that journey.

So, part of that ministry means being in church to respond and grow under Michael’s developing leadership.

It means giving him your attention and time, knowing three months is short, but knowing you will make a significant difference in his life as a pastor.

In a practical way, the Leadership developed this list of ways to welcome and teach Michael and Rachel. If you have an interest in any, please speak with Pastor Tracie, Bill Moore, or any leader:

Welcome to them in June and say Farewell to them in August

Music Ministry summer party, or special gathering

Introduction to the town/hospital routes

Heritage Days visit

Someone at the church door to make introductions in June

Sermon feedback group

Individual families inviting them to dinner

Lunch with the "lunch bunch" of ladies after church

Gathering for Young Couples

Gathering with the Junior High youth

Gathering with the Elementary kids

Be creative with the Ludwigs, and plan now to dive into the summer as the good

community of faith that you are. Your time will be a gift to everyone!

Palm Sunday (April 5) – passing out the palms, picking up The Promised Journey Pentecost devotionals

Maundy Thursday (April 9) – Communion and Tennebrae service at 7:30 PM

Good Friday Service with Trinity United Methodist Church (April 10) at NOON

Easter Sunday (April 12) with: 7:00 a.m. Sunrise Service followed by breakfast

9:30 a.m. Sunday School Egg Hunt

10:30 a.m. Worship celebrating our Risen Lord,

including the Cantata "What a Morning!"

 

 

 

 

 

Our Easter cantata is "What a Morning!" written and arranged by Jay Althouse and Sally K. Albrecht.

It features Jill Reed as soloist in "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna." Pastor Tracie Bullis, Paul Springer and

Julie Jo Johnston will provide narration.

"What a Morning!" is a dramatic cantata vividly recounting the journey of Jesus from his

triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the Last Supper with his disciples, from his struggle and

betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane to His trial and conviction in Pilate's hall and

from His agonized crucifixion and death to His victorious resurrection.

Another outcome of our Leadership Retreat on February 28, is the desire to see our children find ways to

grow together outside of Sunday School and church. To this end, we are looking for volunteers to plan

ways to develop fellowship and service opportunities for our elementary children and junior high youth on a quarterly basis. These teams will likely be two separate teams that design options for our children and

youth based on their age needs. Will you commit to helping in these gatherings? If so, please

contact Pastor Tracie or Jen Starner to begin forming Oversight Teams.

At the March Session meeting, our church was informed that the Holt Memorial Friends of the

Library Committee has decided, in light of diminishing funding opportunities and the unforeseen state

of the economy, to halt plans to build a new library at the corner of Front and Presqueisle Streets.

As an alternative, the committee has the opportunity to purchase the building owned by David Mason

on Front Street. This option provides a permanent home for the library and is excellent stewardship

of our community’s limited resources.

Our session applauds this decision, and voted to extend our support in whatever way we can. This

support includes inviting the committee to shift the funds raised through the Alternative Christmas gift

project from building a new building to purchasing a building. Either way, your gifts went towards a

square foot of our town library’s permanent home!

Saturday, April 25, is the date set to install the Cold Stream Park playground

equipment. Consider giving some hours to this worthwhile project that

needs the community’s help to see happen!

Saturday, May 2 – Work Day at Krislund from 9 AM to 4 PM (or however long you can be there),

with every kind of help needed to get ready for summer campers!

Saturday, May 16 – Open House for Krislund, to come see the camp, have some fun, or introduce

camp to someone new!

When we hold Church Work Days, we manage to knock out about 100 hours of labor on tasks that

are too much for any one person. Please make time in your schedule to join a work day on

Saturday, April 18, 9 AM to noon, and be part of making our church look fabulous.

Sign up for a specific job at the 5^th Street Bulletin Board, or just come and work where needed!

Lunch is served to all the workers, which is a great time of fellowship!

Lots of helpers this last month helped out at the church. We give our thanks to: Darrell Hollis and Harold Shirey, who hosted the groups providing Lenten Lunches … Thanks! Those who sponsored Daffodils for the American Cancer Society … Thanks! Todd Dixon, for taking care of our parking lot and sidewalks in the

snow … Thanks! Walt Chorle who updates and improves design of our website … Thanks! Marty Bullis, who raked and swept the winter gravel from the church grounds … Thanks! Tyler Good, for stepping in for Gary Barnett while he recovered from hip surgery … Thanks! Jill and Don Blake, who helped with decorations for our St. Patrick’s Day wedding … Thanks! Holly Kithcart and Darrell Hollis, who shared the fun of Krislund volunteers … Thanks! Those who attended or provided lunch for our Missional Church gathering on

March 28 … Thanks! And many of you who continue to work behind the scenes in ways we don’t

even realize … Thank you so much!

The Young at Heart will resume their monthly luncheons on Wednesday, April 22^nd at 12:00 p.m. in Westminster Hall. Please contact Helen/Darrell Hollis at 342-3376 or Gertie Clyde at 342-4371

for more details and reservations.

You are ALWAYS welcome to join in the Women’s Bible Study, even if we have just one

more study left! Come and join in on Monday, April 27, 7-8:30 PM in the Parlor.

Deacons: Tuesday, April 7^th @ 7:00 p.m.

Session: Monday, April 20^th @ 7:00 p.m.

Trustees: Tuesday, April 21^st @ 7:00 p.m.

PW: To Be Announced

• Leadership highlights: Talked about Pastor Tracie’s sabbatical, kitchen orientation, and

being present in church during the summer and helping our intern

feel welcome in our church & in our community. Also the need to

give constructive feedback to intern as this is a learning experience for all.

• Deacons are buying Easter flowers for the homebound (Karen made a motion/Dave 2^nd)
• Upcoming Events: April 10-Community Good Friday service at Trinity United Methodist Church

April 12-Easter sunrise breakfast

May 17-Youth Sunday Luncheon

May 31-Pastor Tracie’s farewell luncheon (more discussion later)

June 30-Bloodmobile

 

 

 

 

2^nd – John Kashella 20^th – Ruth Kashella

3^rd – Ralph Nelson 24^th – Rodger Pleskonko

7^th – Chelsey Henry 25^th – Lois Blake

10^th – Laura Warner 25^th – Mary Beth Eyet

10^th – Paige Rishel 27^th – Rose Calvin

12^th – Mikayla Henry 27^th – Matthew Starner

15^th – Christy Johnson 30^th – Fran Tepsic

15^th – Tara Storck

7^TH – Brian and Tina Askey – 30^th years

12^th – Rob and Colleen Viehdorfer – 29 years

26^th – Bob and Joy Branstetter – 29 years