202 East Third Street, Williamsport PA 17701

Phone 570-322-1110 E-Mail director@uclc.org

Rev. Gwen N. Bernstine, Executive Director and Editor

Volume XXVII Number II February 9, 2010

The number is 322-5762.

It's available 24 hours a day.

Devotions are three minutes or less, change weekdays and once on the weekend, and are designed to lift your spirits and help you to have "A Closer Walk with God." The devotionalists this fall include:

POVERTY - A FAITH-BASED RESPONSE  from our Christian Social Concerns Committee

The devil said to him, "if you are the Son of God command this stone to become a loaf of bread.  Jesus answered him, "It is written, "One does not live by bread alone.(Lk 4:3-4) Many of us will read this first temptation of Jesus in the desert on the First Sunday of Lent’s Gospel. Jesus does not reject bread. He rejects the manipulation by the devil. Bread and other food, however, are key food items that strain the monetary resources of people living in poverty. How will we make sure there is sufficient and nutritious food for all in need in our communities, nation, and the world? Jesus later says to the devil: "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" (Lk 4:8) We serve God by serving those in need.

This Lent may we resolve to increase our efforts to assist the poor in our county and to advocate for legislation in congress that eliminates child hunger and helps working families in need.

Our United Churches/Center City Food Pantry provides a three day supply of food to those in need. This January we helped 160 families, including 198 adults, 85 children and 64 elderly for a total of 347 persons.

Each of you that support us, financially, physically and emotionally, never cease to amaze me. Typically we get most of our food donations the first Monday of the month. Many congregations have a basket or boxes in the vestibule where members drop off food and then a good hearted soul collects the food and brings it to us.

This week we had a cheerful person pop in with extra donations because their congregation was concerned that all the attention focusing on the needs of the Haitian people would deter folks from supporting those in our community who know all too well the feeling of hunger in their bellies.

What a blessing that the needs of both are being considered, those of our community and those of a nation thousands of miles away who’ve had their world devastated!

When there are needs to be met, whether in our own backyard or somewhere half a world away, the folks of Lycoming County know how to step up to the plate and help their brothers and sisters in Christ. How very special you are! Remember that you are always in our prayers.

Donations, if possible, should be brought in on Monday mornings from 9:30 - Noon. We are in the Sojourner Truth Ministry building, next to our Shepherd Ministry on the corner of High & Center Streets. Items the pantry especially needs this month include:

Oodles of Noodles
Cake Mix & Frosting
Canned Fruit
Mac-N-Cheese
Oatmeal
Crackers
Canned Veggies
Cookie Mixes
Chunky Soups
Pancake Mix
Syrup

Persons needing food should call 322-1657 and leave their name and number on the answering machine to make an appointment to receive food on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 - 3 and at other times by appointment.

A great big THANK YOU for all who helped make the Thanksgiving Basket give out a success this year. Your faithful participation once again made this endeavor a success. Without your contribution there would be on thanksgiving dinner for over 350 families, involving over 1,000 children.

Also, thanks to Gail Burkhart, our food pantry administrator, for her leadership from registration to final clean up. We also thank the many youth and others who helped put the baskets together, the volunteers who worked administering the day, and the women of the Pre-Release Center who helped at the give-out itself. God bless all of you.

A great fear comes upon many of our community who cannot pay the high price of fuel (oil or gas) and soon electric, for heating their homes. Many live in homes that are poorly insulated, others were unable to pay last year’s price and have unpaid, overdue bills prohibiting them from getting their utility activated.

We received a grant for utility payments in December and began distribution on December 2nd . It was gone by the 4th. It was for $18,000. We have continued to receive requests and each voice has that fear…the fear that their home will be very cold this winter, and the fear that they will be evicted, and the greatest fear of all …that Children and Youth will take their children because the have no heat.

‘Tis the season for blankets and clean, fresh bedding. We constantly are looking for good, warm blankets. If you have blankets that you no longer use, bring them by our office at 669 Center St.

Remember, many of our clients have no way to wash their sheets. So they sleep on them until they can’t stand it, and come to us for a fresh set. Again, if you have sets of full, twin, queen sheets that you no longer use, we can recycle them immediately.

We were paying about $1,500 per week in prescription costs in November, but since then we are paying about $2,500 per week. This is because so many have lost their job and with it, their medical insurance. But, drawing unemployment (average $560 per month) puts them over the maximum to qualify for Medical Access at the Department of Public Welfare. These have turned to us for life-sustaining medications, adding to our clients who are uninsured and under-insured.

Again, thank you for your faithfulness…it is overwhelming.

We thank all of those who collect hygiene items, bedding, and baby needs for us. We appreciate the monetary contributions to fund our general budget to keep our ministry open, and the donations for discretionary and prescription funds. The list of hygiene items we use follows, and are regular sizes of:

Church Women United of Lycoming Countywill hold their service on Friday, March 5 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Paul-Calvary United Methodist Church, 1427 Memorial Avenue, Williamsport, PA.

As you may or not know, the World Day of Prayer is a world wide ecumenical movement of women of many faith traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first of March. Each year a different country serves as the writer of the worship service. The women of Cameroon invite you to "Africa in Miniature" a country in which climate and culture are rich with diversity and where people are bound together by a love for music, family and faith. Women shine in every religious activity, displaying great conviction and tireless participation in ecumenical work. The worship service emphasizes the importance that the people of Cameroon place on music and celebration in their praise to God and music.

Walker and catheter bags will be collected at this service to be distributed at area nursing homes.

The students have settled in to the semester and things are going well. We have had some interesting Faith Talk discussions this semester. Thanks especially to Pastor Deibler for an inspiring prayer service recently. We are working on getting things ready for our fundraisers. Our mission trip has changed. We didn't have as many students sign up to go to West Virginia as we had hoped for, so we are making alternate plans do something locally that more students can be involved in.

Lent is just around the corner, and we look forward to joining some local churches for their Lenten dinners and Worship. We will begin by joining with Trinity Episcopal Church for their Ash Wednesday service.

We are always looking for new students to join us for a Monday night Faith Talk on campus, or for the Wednesday evening dinner and worship at Trinity Episcopal Church. If you have any Penn College students in your congregation, please let them know about UCM. Also, if you are interested in finding out more about United Campus Ministry, we are always happy to come and visit your church and let you know who we are. Blessings to all of you in this approaching Lent season.

We want to invite you to be part of a very important conversation and endeavor for the future of ecumenical ministry in our county.

Our conversations have included:

Additional ideas and help are welcome and needed. Please contact Ms Pam Markle, at pam.markle@thrivent.com  or 323-9727 or Rev. Gwen Bernstine at 322-1110 uclc@sunlink.net

Join us from 12 to 1 p.m. for the Wednesday Noon Ecumenical Lunch Program. Enjoy a tasty $4 lunch, warm, ecumenical fellowship and a thoughtful program designed to enrich your life mentally, physically, spiritually and socially. The parking is free in the Pine Street lot north of the church from 11 to 1:30 p.m. No reservations are necessary.

To check about cancellations due to winter storms listen to WRAK or call Gwen at 419-1464.

This is a ministry that everyone in our congregations and community is welcome to participate in. Make plans to join us and you’re welcome to bring a friend!

Please help by:

The Lord is alive and active in the Prison and at the Pre-Release Center. Thank you and thanks be to God.

Chaplain Andy France

Keeping in mind the Biblical passage, "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded" (Luke 12:48) we can consider what our ancestors bequeathed to us. We also need to ask ourselves how we, will be regarded by future generations.

Being good stewards of our worship spaces (the NCC theme) involves ecological stewardship, fiscal discipline and social justice responsibility. Building these practices include:

Specific Earth Day Sunday resources include sermon starters, a bulletin insert, tips for successful stewardship, and adult and youth study discussion activities.

All this and more is available at the NCC web site (http://nccecojustice.org/resources .)

To learn about future programing opportunities contact Debbie Best at bestd@diakon.org  or 320-1520.

The course incorporporates curriculum developed by the International Parish Nurse Resource Center and is provided by Ephrata Community Department of Staff Development CME, and has been approved for 49.6 contact hours. Ephrata Community Hospital is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Each student completing the course will receive the Contact Hours certificate. Make check payable to Diakon Congregational Health Ministries and mail to Debbie Best, Cong. Health Min. & Family Life Svs, 522 N. Grier St, Wmst, PA 17701. Contact Debbie at (570) 320-0520 or bestd@diakon.org  for details.

Can a person be spiritually immature as differentiated from spiritually mature? The scriptures of all the world religions indicate such to be the case. What would be the characteristics of ‘spiritual’ maturity, and how would it be attained?

Employing the developmental model, an evolving international and interdisciplinary consensus among theologians, philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists and neuropsychologists suggests a paradigm of six stages of spiritual development.

In this two-session workshop, we will examine this paradigm as it applies to the nature of the divine, human nature, good and evil, divine-human and human-to-human relationships, salvation and the meaningful existence. Illustrations of the stages will be offered from Judaism, Buddhism and Christianity.

Handout materials will be provided for each registered participant. Enrollment is limited. Reservation absolutely required. To register, call Tina or the voice mail at 570-271-3700 and leave the workshop title, your name, contact phone number and email address.

YOKEFELLOW

In 1996 song writer Ray Boltz wrote the following song which was put to music by Steve Milliken. This song has a message for us to ponder: Has everyone been served? The response to that question was a resounding,

With tears in their eyes they prayed for the cities

where millions of people suffer each day,

they live and they die never knowing why.

No, No, not until all have been served.

No, no, we need to take them to his word.

In every nation let this cry be heard,

No, no, not until all have been served.

We can never be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. It's time for the Church to take our religion out of the box and get involved! It's time to get up off our blessed assurance and educate ourselves. It's time to let our voices be heard in Washington and Harrisburg and at the voting booth. Our elected officials need to know that God is not satisfied, and there are throngs in the world who have not been served! It's time for change and if we don't get involved in changing things, then who will? If not now, when? If not us, then who?

Dr. Martin Luther King said, "I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed; "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men and women are created equal."

"We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people." No, no not everyone has been served!

Crime rates haven't changed dramatically since 1973... But sentencing policy has grown increasingly punitive with huge increases in felony convictions and longer sentences. Pennsylvania is listed among the states with the 2nd highest prison growth rate in the nation! Our state prison population has increased 24% since 1999 to more than 47,000 prisoners. The PA Department of Corrections is growing at the rate of 3.7% per year. We of the church hold the bread of life in our hands! Will you help take the Word to them. Will you go to show them the way? We are the light and we know the truth. So, can we implore God, No, no, not until all have heard. No, no, we need to take His word to every prison. Let this cry be heard, No, no, not until all have heard!

When disaster strikes in a far away place - I like to have someone who has been there help to make some sense of it for me. I remembered our friend, Rev. Bob Wallace, now serving in York, PA who has been to Haiti several times, most recently in September of 2008. I wrote to him, and this is part of his response....

"We ended up being there when one of the hurricanes hit on the north side of Haiti. We were not really impacted in Port-au-Prince though the people obviously were very jittery from past experiences."

"We volunteered at Grace Children's Hospital in Port-au-Prince who reaches out to children with tuberculosis and AIDS. They have numerous out-clinics and village programs which helps improve the health of the children. They do much with little. We were able to help change, bathe, dress, and feed children and simply spend time with them. Their spirit was amazing. The Haitian spirit is special. They have such a desire and will to survive. It humbled us all."

"This January we have been told that the main building of Grace Children's Hospital was severely damaged in the quake. One child died from internal injuries. They also lost one of their beautiful staff members, his wife, and their two year old son who were crushed in their home."

"Staffers are now caring for the children in the courtyard that had served as a ‘playground’ for healthier children. They are looking for another facility to use temporarily for the Hospital. Work is difficult as supplies run out."

"The home where we stayed, (St. Joseph’s Home for Boys) was completely destroyed. However, not one of the boys was inside at the time. There was a staff person who jumped off the 7th story to save his life and eventually has been brought to the USA for treatment. (Bill Nathan is his name; his rescue to the USA was on TV. He is an exceptional Christian man)."

Kits are currently being accepted in the Colonial Park Depot (Harrisburg) and directions are available at our United Churches office.

We will also have our annual collection in May here at First UMC, Williamsport. Lots of items will be needed - the cupboards are getting bare.

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE BLANKET AND KIT COLLECTION

This sheet outlines ways churches can begin NOW to respond to the Blanket, Kit and Layette Appeal of Church World Service. Our collection will take place Saturday, May 1 at First United Methodist Church. With the disaster in Haiti these kits are desperately needed, and then warehouses will need to be restocked. You can help insure that when disaster strikes, these relief items are available. The school and health kits are the most needed.

PASTORS

Please remove or duplicate this page and share it with your key leaders who will translate them into action.

LEADERS:

Please share this sheet with others whose response will bring great blessings to many others.

A BLANKET is the basic component of every disaster response!

The causes are many - war, disaster, civil strife. The results are tragically the same - people moving, running. With them are only the few possessions they wear or carry. For many, one of our blankets serves as a shelter, a roof between a family and bad weather. It is privacy in a crowded camp, and a tote in which to gather a few salvaged belongings.

$5 allows CWS to purchase wool-blend blankets in bulk from manufacturers.

Durable donated blankets, including quilts and comforters are also accepted.

They must be 60" X 68" minimum. Please add $2.00 each for processing.

SCHOOL KITSMake the first days of school a dream come true.

Imagine new paper, pencils and crayons all because someone far away shared a school kit!

Each School Kit contains:

- 1 pair blunt scissors

- 2 pads 8 ½ x 11" ruled paper (150/200 sheets)

- 1 pencil sharpener

- 1 large eraser

- 1 box of crayons (24 crayons)

- 12 sheets colored construction paper

- 6 new pencils with erasers

- 1 cloth bag (~12 x 14") with cloth handle and a closure

(Some bags may be available from United Churches office – Thanks JanWay!)

Place all items in a cloth bag, and secure contents via a button, snap or velcro closure.

Please add $2.00 each< for processing.

HEALTH KITS bring clean hands, good grooming, and bright shiny smiles to friends around the world!

- 1 new bar of soap (bath size)

- 1 washcloth

- 1 toothbrush

- 1 comb

- 1 tube of toothpaste (4-7 oz)

- 6 band-aids

- 1 metal nail file or nail clipper

NEW: EMERGENCY CLEAN UP BUCKET KITS sent nationally and internationally now.

1 - 5 gallon bucket with reseal able lid

5 - Scouring pads

1 - 8 oz cleaning towels (reusable like Easy Wipes)

7 - Sponges, assorted sizes

1 - 50 oz dry laundry detergent

1 - Scrub brush

1 - 12 oz bottle household cleaner (like Lysol)

50 Clothes pins

1 - 28 oz bottle disinfectant dish soap (like Dawn)

2 Pairs latex gloves

1 - 100 ft Clothesline (or two 50 ft clotheslines)

1 Pair work gloves

5 - packages dust masks (like Benchtop)

1 - 24-bag heavy-duty trash bags (33-45 gallon)

6 to14 oz insect repellent (drops or lotion, NOT aerosol)

Please purchase all liquids in unopened plastic bottles. Place all items in the plastic bucket and seal the lid.