ANNOUNCEMENTS
The attendance at the April 18th Good Friday Tenebrae service was 73
The attendance at the April 20th Easter Sunrise worship service was 75.
The attendance at the April 20th Easter Festival worship service was 136.
The flowers gracing the altar for the April 27th worship service are presented to the glory of God and in memory of Janet Gindlesperger by the Millard & Jean Thomas family.
The single rose on the piano for the April 27th worship service is in honor and in memory of Tyler Lee Shaffer. You are forever missed and continue to be part of our earthly life. You were everything we wanted you to be. Mom, Dad, Elliott, Sally, Lucy, and Lance
This is a reminder that the 2025 NALC Continental Convocation will be in Downtown Pittsburgh this year--August 3rd thru August 8th at the Omni William Penn Hotel. As the host Mission District, we are being asked to help staff this event with volunteers to help out. We are looking for hosts, registration, display assistants, ushers, first aid/medical responses, and camera operators' audio/video. Orientation and training is provided for each role. If you are interested in helping, please see Pastor Nila.
Unfortunately, a name was missed from the flower list on Easter morning by accident. There was a flower given by Stacy and Paul Pollino in memory of Stacy's son, Frank.
We would love to have your congregation join the Old Shade Church at our next celebration "Spring Service" on May 3rd at 2:00 p.m. This year the church turns 132 years old. Our speakers for our upcoming celebration are Pastor Jeff Yeckley from Shade Creek Ridge Church of the Brethren and Pastor Jeff Bassette from Graef's Evangelical Lutheran Church. A donation basket will be at the entrance of the church if you wish to help support the continued upkeep of the church.
It has come to the attention of the council that there is a need to accommodate worshipers who have physical disabilities (for example, wheelchairs). The sanctuary was examined and most of the pews are too close together to remove a piece for wheelchair access. However, the front pews have the room. The council decided that a section of each of the front pews--off the center aisle--will be removed after Easter. We hope this act will be a welcome benefit to those persons with physical disabilities.
The Garrett Christian Community Church Choir and Friends will present their annual Easter cantata, "It is Finished" on Sunday evening, April 27th at 7:00 p.m. at their church at 800 Walker Street in Garrett. A time of fellowship will conclude the evening. This is the former Garrett United Methodist Church.
Our annual road clean-up will be towards the end of April. The youth will be working parts of Ridge Road on Saturday, April 26th. They would appreciate any help. If you or your family help to clean the litter off Ridge Road or one of the side roads of the Ridge, please inform Pastor Nila. All litter collected from the road can be deposited down towards the grove and will be picked up at the end of April.
The Chicken BBQ dinner will be held at the Grove on May 17th from noon--2 pm. or till sold out. The meal includes 1/2 chicken, baked potato, coleslaw, applesauce & roll. Tickets are now on sale for $12 and can be purchased from members of the Food Service Committee at the church after service or by emailing StThomasFoodService@gmail.com.
Due to the rainy weather, Grove clean up days have been rescheduled to April 28th and 29th. Everyone is welcome to come out and help!
The Food Service Committee will be holding and Election Day Soup & Sub Sale on Tuesday, May 20th. Varieties of soup include beef vegetable, beef noodle, chicken noodle, and ham & bean. Varieties of subs include original w/onion, original no onion, turkey w/onion, and turkey no onion. The cost of the soup is $8.50/quart and 17 inch subs are $10. An order form is on the table in the narthex. Orders must be picked up at the grove between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The May schedule for acolytes, lectors, communion assistants, and offering counters is posted on the bulletin board. Please check the schedule if you volunteer for any of these.
The lectors for May are Levi Thomas, Elliott Shaffer, Eric Smith, and Tim Thomas. Lectors, please pick up your readings on the table in the narthex.
Heartland Hospice Volunteer Program is currently looking for volunteers in our area. Our volunteers offer support, companionship and practical, compassionate help. Some interact directly with patients and families. Others prefer to work behind the scenes in the office setting. As a volunteer, you help determine which tasks you're best suited to perform. For more information, please visit heartlandhospice.com or call (814)443-6450. A flyer is also posted on the bulletin board.
Upcoming dates in April:
April 26--Road Clean-Up
April 27--Worship Service w/Anointing for Healing
April 28 & 29--Grove Clean-Up
The flower chart for 2025 is now posted on the bulletin board. Please consider sponsoring flowers. The prices are $25 for chancel flowers and $35 for altar flowers. A reminder that if you would like an announcement placed in the bulletin, please let the secretary know by noon on Wednesday of the previous week. There are announcement papers available near the flower chart or announcements may be emailed.
All contributions given to missionary will now be directed to Heart for Mission. This is a mission group run by the Thorstad family in Laos/Thailand. If you would like more information, please see their website www.heartformission.com.