WORSHIP GOD WITH US EVERY SUNDAY SERVICE @ 10:15 a.m.
SUNDAY SCHOOL (Currently we are not holding Sunday School but hope to in the near future.)
Youth Group meets Wed. nights 6:30-8 p.m. ALL ages welcome!
For more information, please contact Church Office (717) 272-8663
CHURCH EMAIL: [email protected]
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The Reverend Yohan Oh, Pastor (717) 274-3337, CELL: 214-861-0450
Email: [email protected]
HUB is relocated to Palmyra First UMC. THANK YOU, Jim & Jeanne, for your many years of service!
FUNDRASING EVENTS/INFORMATION: [email protected]
We now have an AED in the hallway leading to the office stored in a box right past the calendar. Thanks to Leon Earhart for construction the box and staining it for the AED. An AED or automated external defibrillator is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It's a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. Any questions, see a member of the Trustees.
Jon Harwick
PRAYER CHAIN: If you have joys or concerns for which you would like to be lifted in prayer, please contact Lynn Brown, prayer chain leader. She will also be glad to hear from you if you are interested in becoming a member of the prayer chain. Please contact Lynn at [email protected]
Monthly Church Events
First Sunday 11:30 am Trustees
Every Wednesday 6:30 pm Youth Group
Second Sunday 11:30 am Administrative Council
Second Monday 9:30 am LCCM Noon Meal
Third Monday 6:30 pm HUB
2nd & 4th Thursday10:00 am Bible Study
Communications for the church should either be sent to the church’s email address or the secretary’s mailbox in the foyer. If a Holiday is on a Tuesday or Thursday, the office will be open on the Wednesday or Friday with the same hours.
Pastor’s Office Hours:
Mon. 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Wed. 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Any other time by appointment.
Friday is the Pastor’s Day off.
Contact the Pastor to:
Request Holy Communion at home
Inform the Pastor of illness/hospital stays of church family
Inform Pastor of a death in the family
Schedule appointments with the Pastor
Announce a birth or schedule a Baptism
SUNDAY SCHOOL (Currently we are not holding Sunday School but hope to in the near future.)
Youth Group meets Wed. nights 6:30-8 p.m. ALL ages welcome!
For more information, please contact Church Office (717) 272-8663
CHURCH EMAIL: [email protected]
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The Reverend Yohan Oh, Pastor (717) 274-3337, CELL: 214-861-0450
Email: [email protected]
HUB is relocated to Palmyra First UMC. THANK YOU, Jim & Jeanne, for your many years of service!
FUNDRASING EVENTS/INFORMATION: [email protected]
We now have an AED in the hallway leading to the office stored in a box right past the calendar. Thanks to Leon Earhart for construction the box and staining it for the AED. An AED or automated external defibrillator is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It's a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. Any questions, see a member of the Trustees.
Jon Harwick
PRAYER CHAIN: If you have joys or concerns for which you would like to be lifted in prayer, please contact Lynn Brown, prayer chain leader. She will also be glad to hear from you if you are interested in becoming a member of the prayer chain. Please contact Lynn at [email protected]
Monthly Church Events
First Sunday 11:30 am Trustees
Every Wednesday 6:30 pm Youth Group
Second Sunday 11:30 am Administrative Council
Second Monday 9:30 am LCCM Noon Meal
Third Monday 6:30 pm HUB
2nd & 4th Thursday10:00 am Bible Study
Communications for the church should either be sent to the church’s email address or the secretary’s mailbox in the foyer. If a Holiday is on a Tuesday or Thursday, the office will be open on the Wednesday or Friday with the same hours.
Pastor’s Office Hours:
Mon. 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Wed. 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Any other time by appointment.
Friday is the Pastor’s Day off.
Contact the Pastor to:
Request Holy Communion at home
Inform the Pastor of illness/hospital stays of church family
Inform Pastor of a death in the family
Schedule appointments with the Pastor
Announce a birth or schedule a Baptism
IMMANUEL UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH MESSENGER
DECEMBER, 2023
PASTOR’S CORNER:
What Is Advent?
History and Meaning
"Jesus is the reason for the season.” Advent is a beautiful time to remember God's promises to send a Messiah and how Jesus Christ fulfilled those prophecies. This year, Advent starts on December 3rd. I want to share helpful information regarding Advent, written by Justin Holcomb on Christianity.com.
Some people may know that the Advent season focuses on expectation and think it serves as an anticipation of Christ’s birth in the season leading up to Christmas. This is part of the story, but there’s more to Advent. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word ‘Adventus,’ meaning “coming,” which translates to the Greek word ‘Parousia.’ Scholars believe that during the 4th and 5th centuries in Spain and Gaul, Advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January
feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1), his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist (John 1:29), and his first miracle at Cana (John 2:1). During this season of preparation, Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration; originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas. By the 6th century, however, Roman Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ. But the “coming” they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but his second coming in the clouds as the judge of the world.
The Advent season was not explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas until the Middle Ages. Today, the season of Advent lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas. At that time, the new Christian year begins with the twelve-day celebration of Christmastide, which lasts from Christmas Eve until Epiphany. (Advent begins on Sunday that falls between November 27th and December 3rd each year.) Advent symbolizes the present situation of the church in these “last days” (Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2), as God’s people wait for the return of Christ in glory to consummate his eternal kingdom. While Advent is certainly a time of celebration and anticipation of Christ’s birth, it is more than that. It is only in the shadow of Advent that the miracle of Christmas can be fully understood and appreciated, and it is only in the light of Christmas that the Christian life makes any sense. It is between the fulfilled promise of Christ’s first coming and the yet-to-be-fulfilled promise of his second coming that Karl Barth penned these words: “Unfulfilled and fulfilled promise are related to each other, as are dawn and sunrise. Both promise and in fact the same promise. If anywhere at all, then it is precisely in the light of the coming of Christ that faith has become Advent faith, the expectation of future revelation. But faith knows for whom and for what it is waiting. It is fulfilled faith because it lays hold on the fulfilled promise.” The promise for Israel and the church is Jesus Christ;
The Lord has come to earth and will arrive again. This is the essence of Advent.
Pastor Johan Oh
Sunshine corner
Virginia (Ginny) J. Brown, 205 S. Long Street, Annville, PA 17003
Florence Fuhrman , 115 North Garfield Street Cleona PA 17042
Irene Henise, Room 226, 1200 Grubb Road, Palmyra, PA 17078
Rita Hill, Celebration Villa, Apt. 151, 860 Norman Drive, Lebanon, 17042
Ray Kalbach, 1 Veterans’ Drive, Spring City, PA 19475
Gloria Metz, Lebanon Valley Home, 550 East Main Street, Annville, 17003
Nancy Putt, 1592 Berry Drive, Lebanon, PA 17046
Gail Reich, SEM Haven, Willow Way, Room 306, 226 Cleveland Avenue, Milford, OH 45103
Bonita Royer, Kadima Rehabilitation and Nursing at Campbelltown,
2880 Horseshoe Pike, PO Box 1137, Palmyra, PA 17078
Marilynn and Aaron Shearer 538 West Locust Street, Cleona PA 17042
Susan Fox Stickler, 48 North Railroad Street, Annville, PA 17003
Lena & Gerald Worcester, 202 Ridge Road, Annville, PA 17003
Committee News
We still collect Soda tabs! They are sent to the Ronald McDonald House in Hershey. In an effort to raise funds to support the Ronald McDonald House of Hershey and to create greater public awareness of their mission, the collection of aluminum beverage tabs began in 1996.
SERVANTS OF CHRIST:
The Servants of Christ are doing a collection starting January 7,
2024 for the Cleona Elementary School. We will be collecting until February 4, 2024. There will be a box in the Foyer for collections. The following items are needed: Clothing is for Kindergarten to Second Grade (Sizes 4 to 14)
Boys and Girls
New Undergarments
New Socks
New Hats, Gloves, Mittens
Sweatpants
T-Shirts
Coats or Jackets
Snacks for use of Nurses/Teachers
Graham Crackers
Granola bars
Peanut Butter Crackers
Animal Crackers
In the Community:
MISSION CENTRAL HUB AT CLEONA
End of Year Letter
If these walls could talk, what would they say? What started out as an empty warehouse 21 years ago has been transformed into a hustling, bustling hub of community connection, hope, and support. Mission Central is a one-of-a-kind organization in the North Eastern part of the
United States. While most organizations have one specialty, Mission Central is unique in operating in a multitude of ways, and we pride ourselves on this. When someone crosses the threshold into our warehouse, we often hear gasps. Our building is truly impressive, and so are the stories and truths that it holds. Mission Central’s warehouse is a place where our partners can turn to for assistance. When one of our 600 partners needs a resource, they can reach out to us. Thousands upon thousands of people enter our doors each year. Whether they are coming to work, volunteer, donate, or even receive, there is a place for everyone. They come because they believe in what is happening between these walls and have a passion for meeting needs and sharing that energy and love with local, national, and even international communities. Mission Central’s warehouse is a place where collaborative operations happen.
Whether it be cleaning supplies, pet food, diapers, furniture, food, or
computers, our building houses them all. In 2022, 20.4 million dollars in
supplies left our warehouse, bound for over 6.3 million people. About 50% of those resources stayed in PA, 30% were distributed through the rest of the United States, and 19% of those resources were distributed outside of the country. Mission Central’s warehouse is a place where hope is being packaged. Whether it be one of our 10 kits that go out to help our neighbors in need, shoes or clothing, medical supplies, cleaning supplies, school supplies, Flood Buckets to help during times when a natural disaster hits, or more, these resources are transported to places and people who desperately need that hope. Mission Central’s warehouse is a place where people can feel valued. In 2022, 4,396 volunteers worked 13,893 hours, valuing over $416,000. Volunteers come
as groups or as individuals, are from all races, nationalities, and religions, and have a variety of capacities. We can find a place for everyone.
Mission Central’s warehouse NEEDS YOU. In this very unique time, your
contribution is even more essential. It costs $2,000 daily to keep this
warehouse open. Your donation of $250 will be put to work immediately and allow us to continue to have a direct impact on those in need now and into 2024. We are funded solely through donations from various churches,
businesses, individuals like you and other community-minded organizations. Join us today in our mission! Your gift can go a long way in helping us to Connect God’s Resources with Human Need. Thank you for helping us do what we do.
In gratitude,
Hope Harrison
Executive Director
P.S. Thank you for your continued support! Your gift of $250 will allow us to assist at least 50 people next year!
November 2023 HUB Report
Details in this report represent the last year’s activities from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. On February 28, 2023, the HUB marked the 13th year of activity at Immanuel UMC. With relaxing of health restrictions nationwide the HUB was more active. People from a variety of places volunteered to help with the preparation, assembly and organization of supplies that have been sent out to help those in need locally, nationally, and globally. The HUB saw an increase of volunteers, nearly 100 more than last year. VOLUNTEERS: 278 Monthly work sessions were held inviting people to work together on a variety
of projects. There were faithful volunteers from Immanuel who showed up
each month, one regular volunteer from Lebanon Church of the Good Shepherd and LVC students throughout the school year. Special work sessions were held for these groups:
•
Lebanon Valley College Field and Track Team in January
•
Gretna Glen Confirmation Camp in April
•
Lebanon Valley College Freshmen in August
•
Lebanon Valley College sorority, Gamma Sigma Sigma in October
•
Youth Group from Curllsville, PA in September
Churches which participated by being at the regular work sessions or by doing work projects on their own that were sent to the HUB for distribution
included:
•
Bushkill UMC
•
Church of the Good Shepherd, Lebanon
•
Grace Community Church, Curllsville, PA
•
Calvary UMC, Mohnton
•
Lansdale UMC
•
Falmouth UMC
•
Bellegrove UMC
UMCOR KITS DELIVERED TO MISSION CENTRAL
Each HUB across the Northeast prepares specific emergency kits that are
defined and distributed by the UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)
network. These two kits go throughout the US.
#DELIVERED
EST VALUE
TOTAL• Cleaning Kits 12 $75 $ 1950
•
Hygiene Kits 425 $12 $ 5100 $ 7050
UMCOR discontinued the collection and distribution of items for School
Kits, so school items that have been gathered by the HUB, went out to local students who had needs. But in addition to these two kits several deliveries went to Mission Central including medical items, computers and computer peripherals, books, shoes, suitcases and handbags.
SECHLER CANCER CENTER
This year the HUB found a new mission which helps both local residents
and those throughout the region. Sechler Cancer Center in Lebanon contacted the HUB about food supplements that are sometimes unused. Food supplements usually in cans are needed by cancer patients at various stages of treatment. Some supplements change as the cancer treatment changes. Doctors prescribe these supplements and Sechler Cancer Center through their dieticians and other medical staff assist patients with obtaining and using these supplements. Many of them can be quite expensive. When patients no longer use a particular supplement, they cannot be returned to the provider because the case has been opened, but they continue to be useful. Some patients bring their excess supplements to Sechler. A Sechler dietician contacted us about finding a useful way to get these items to patients in need. Mission Central is a partner with the Oley Foundation that maintains a national registry of available food supplements. Mission Central provides these supplements free to patients in need. Our HUB is now collecting these food supplements from the Sechler Cancer Center and from individuals and delivering them to Mission Central so that someone can use them. In the past few months, we have made several pickups at Sechler and one at a private home where the survivor of a cancer patient wanted to know that the leftover supplements from her deceased husband were going to a good purpose. We have also been able to refer several new patients to Mission Central so they could find the type of food supplement they needed quickly and without charge. Helping our community in this way has been a blessing to the HUB.
AFCA
Deliveries are also made to the AFCA (American Foundation for Children
with AIDS) warehouse in Lebanon with medical supplies, including shower
seats, braces, adult diapers, crutches, and walkers. These items were shipped to hospitals in Africa. AFCA is one of Mission Central’s partners in mission, giving many of their medical supplies to them for use each year. Since we are close to the warehouse, we deliver directly to them. Many medical supplies go to AFCA, such as gauze, braces, syringes, wheelchairs, walkers, and canes. But two of the items that we deliver there are Mission Central kits with specific supplies. These go to midwives to assist in birthing in homes and hospitals
#DELIVERED VALUE TOTAL•
Maternity kits 273 $12 $3276
•
Baby kits
122 $45 $5490 $8760
DONATIONS RECEIVED BY THE HUB•
Cash donations from church members, some who give on a monthly basis are appreciated and put to use as soon as possible. In 2023 the HUB received $1060 in personal donations.
•
Immanuel’s budget donated $300.
•
Funds were raised by HUB volunteers at the dance recital concession
stand for a total of $1444.
•
The Eastern PA Conference of the UMC donated $200.
•
Bellegrove UMC donated $200
•
A special gift was received from Covenant UMC, Lebanon HUB. The HUB
there was closed this year due to lack of staff and the balance in their treasury of $2259.89 was donated so it could be used in mission ministry.
OUTREACH
All of these activities allowed Immanuel UMC to reach out to their community and beyond. If you count up the various kits made just here in Cleona you will see that over 800 individuals were touched by this congregation. This does not account for the miscellaneous items, like walkers, computers, and shoes that have been given. The HUB allows us to reach beyond our walls and share God’s love with people we don’t know.
Lebanon County Christian Ministry needs:
Men’s slacks
Sneakers
Socks
NEW Underwear & Boxers
Paper Products (toilet tissue, Paper towels, Facial tissue)
Manwich
Ketchup & Mustard
Large Jars of Jelly
Pastor’s Office Hours:
Tues. 9 am to 1 pm
Thurs. 9 am to 1 pm
WEDNEDAYS ARE AT MOUNTVILLE
Any other time by appointment.
Friday is the Pastor’s day off.
Only emergencies will be handled on Friday.
Please contact the pastor at 717-274-3337.
For emergencies only call: 610-428-7651.
PASTOR’S CONTACT INFO:
Pastor: 717-274-3337/ cell
214-861-0450/[email protected]
Address:
104 North Lincoln Street, Cleona, PA 17042
Contact the Pastor to:
Request Holy Communion at home
Inform the Pastor of illness/hospital stays of church family
Inform Pastor of a death in the family
Schedule appointments with the Pastor
Announce a birth or schedule a Baptism
NOTICE: Deadline for articles to be submitted for the January, 2024 Messenger is December 19, 2023.
Please email them to Bonnie at: [email protected]
Monthly Church Events
First Sunday 11:30 am Trustees
Every Wednesday 6:30 pm Youth Group Second Sunday 11:30 am Administrative Council
Second Monday 9:30 am LCCM Noon Meal
Third Monday 6:30 pm HUB
2nd & 4 Thursday 10:00 am Bible Study
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Tuesday...........9:00 am to 1 pm
Thursday.........9:00 am to 1 pm
Communications for the church should either be sent to the church’s email address:
(cleonaumc@ comcast.net) or may be put in the secretary’s mailbox in the foyer.
If a Holiday is on a Tuesday or Thursday,
the office will be open on the Wednesday or Friday with the same hours
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
CHURCH MESSENGER
DECEMBER, 2023
PASTOR’S CORNER:
What Is Advent?
History and Meaning
"Jesus is the reason for the season.” Advent is a beautiful time to remember God's promises to send a Messiah and how Jesus Christ fulfilled those prophecies. This year, Advent starts on December 3rd. I want to share helpful information regarding Advent, written by Justin Holcomb on Christianity.com.
Some people may know that the Advent season focuses on expectation and think it serves as an anticipation of Christ’s birth in the season leading up to Christmas. This is part of the story, but there’s more to Advent. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word ‘Adventus,’ meaning “coming,” which translates to the Greek word ‘Parousia.’ Scholars believe that during the 4th and 5th centuries in Spain and Gaul, Advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January
feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1), his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist (John 1:29), and his first miracle at Cana (John 2:1). During this season of preparation, Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration; originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas. By the 6th century, however, Roman Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ. But the “coming” they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but his second coming in the clouds as the judge of the world.
The Advent season was not explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas until the Middle Ages. Today, the season of Advent lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas. At that time, the new Christian year begins with the twelve-day celebration of Christmastide, which lasts from Christmas Eve until Epiphany. (Advent begins on Sunday that falls between November 27th and December 3rd each year.) Advent symbolizes the present situation of the church in these “last days” (Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2), as God’s people wait for the return of Christ in glory to consummate his eternal kingdom. While Advent is certainly a time of celebration and anticipation of Christ’s birth, it is more than that. It is only in the shadow of Advent that the miracle of Christmas can be fully understood and appreciated, and it is only in the light of Christmas that the Christian life makes any sense. It is between the fulfilled promise of Christ’s first coming and the yet-to-be-fulfilled promise of his second coming that Karl Barth penned these words: “Unfulfilled and fulfilled promise are related to each other, as are dawn and sunrise. Both promise and in fact the same promise. If anywhere at all, then it is precisely in the light of the coming of Christ that faith has become Advent faith, the expectation of future revelation. But faith knows for whom and for what it is waiting. It is fulfilled faith because it lays hold on the fulfilled promise.” The promise for Israel and the church is Jesus Christ;
The Lord has come to earth and will arrive again. This is the essence of Advent.
Pastor Johan Oh
Sunshine corner
Virginia (Ginny) J. Brown, 205 S. Long Street, Annville, PA 17003
Florence Fuhrman , 115 North Garfield Street Cleona PA 17042
Irene Henise, Room 226, 1200 Grubb Road, Palmyra, PA 17078
Rita Hill, Celebration Villa, Apt. 151, 860 Norman Drive, Lebanon, 17042
Ray Kalbach, 1 Veterans’ Drive, Spring City, PA 19475
Gloria Metz, Lebanon Valley Home, 550 East Main Street, Annville, 17003
Nancy Putt, 1592 Berry Drive, Lebanon, PA 17046
Gail Reich, SEM Haven, Willow Way, Room 306, 226 Cleveland Avenue, Milford, OH 45103
Bonita Royer, Kadima Rehabilitation and Nursing at Campbelltown,
2880 Horseshoe Pike, PO Box 1137, Palmyra, PA 17078
Marilynn and Aaron Shearer 538 West Locust Street, Cleona PA 17042
Susan Fox Stickler, 48 North Railroad Street, Annville, PA 17003
Lena & Gerald Worcester, 202 Ridge Road, Annville, PA 17003
Committee News
We still collect Soda tabs! They are sent to the Ronald McDonald House in Hershey. In an effort to raise funds to support the Ronald McDonald House of Hershey and to create greater public awareness of their mission, the collection of aluminum beverage tabs began in 1996.
SERVANTS OF CHRIST:
The Servants of Christ are doing a collection starting January 7,
2024 for the Cleona Elementary School. We will be collecting until February 4, 2024. There will be a box in the Foyer for collections. The following items are needed: Clothing is for Kindergarten to Second Grade (Sizes 4 to 14)
Boys and Girls
New Undergarments
New Socks
New Hats, Gloves, Mittens
Sweatpants
T-Shirts
Coats or Jackets
Snacks for use of Nurses/Teachers
Graham Crackers
Granola bars
Peanut Butter Crackers
Animal Crackers
In the Community:
MISSION CENTRAL HUB AT CLEONA
End of Year Letter
If these walls could talk, what would they say? What started out as an empty warehouse 21 years ago has been transformed into a hustling, bustling hub of community connection, hope, and support. Mission Central is a one-of-a-kind organization in the North Eastern part of the
United States. While most organizations have one specialty, Mission Central is unique in operating in a multitude of ways, and we pride ourselves on this. When someone crosses the threshold into our warehouse, we often hear gasps. Our building is truly impressive, and so are the stories and truths that it holds. Mission Central’s warehouse is a place where our partners can turn to for assistance. When one of our 600 partners needs a resource, they can reach out to us. Thousands upon thousands of people enter our doors each year. Whether they are coming to work, volunteer, donate, or even receive, there is a place for everyone. They come because they believe in what is happening between these walls and have a passion for meeting needs and sharing that energy and love with local, national, and even international communities. Mission Central’s warehouse is a place where collaborative operations happen.
Whether it be cleaning supplies, pet food, diapers, furniture, food, or
computers, our building houses them all. In 2022, 20.4 million dollars in
supplies left our warehouse, bound for over 6.3 million people. About 50% of those resources stayed in PA, 30% were distributed through the rest of the United States, and 19% of those resources were distributed outside of the country. Mission Central’s warehouse is a place where hope is being packaged. Whether it be one of our 10 kits that go out to help our neighbors in need, shoes or clothing, medical supplies, cleaning supplies, school supplies, Flood Buckets to help during times when a natural disaster hits, or more, these resources are transported to places and people who desperately need that hope. Mission Central’s warehouse is a place where people can feel valued. In 2022, 4,396 volunteers worked 13,893 hours, valuing over $416,000. Volunteers come
as groups or as individuals, are from all races, nationalities, and religions, and have a variety of capacities. We can find a place for everyone.
Mission Central’s warehouse NEEDS YOU. In this very unique time, your
contribution is even more essential. It costs $2,000 daily to keep this
warehouse open. Your donation of $250 will be put to work immediately and allow us to continue to have a direct impact on those in need now and into 2024. We are funded solely through donations from various churches,
businesses, individuals like you and other community-minded organizations. Join us today in our mission! Your gift can go a long way in helping us to Connect God’s Resources with Human Need. Thank you for helping us do what we do.
In gratitude,
Hope Harrison
Executive Director
P.S. Thank you for your continued support! Your gift of $250 will allow us to assist at least 50 people next year!
November 2023 HUB Report
Details in this report represent the last year’s activities from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. On February 28, 2023, the HUB marked the 13th year of activity at Immanuel UMC. With relaxing of health restrictions nationwide the HUB was more active. People from a variety of places volunteered to help with the preparation, assembly and organization of supplies that have been sent out to help those in need locally, nationally, and globally. The HUB saw an increase of volunteers, nearly 100 more than last year. VOLUNTEERS: 278 Monthly work sessions were held inviting people to work together on a variety
of projects. There were faithful volunteers from Immanuel who showed up
each month, one regular volunteer from Lebanon Church of the Good Shepherd and LVC students throughout the school year. Special work sessions were held for these groups:
•
Lebanon Valley College Field and Track Team in January
•
Gretna Glen Confirmation Camp in April
•
Lebanon Valley College Freshmen in August
•
Lebanon Valley College sorority, Gamma Sigma Sigma in October
•
Youth Group from Curllsville, PA in September
Churches which participated by being at the regular work sessions or by doing work projects on their own that were sent to the HUB for distribution
included:
•
Bushkill UMC
•
Church of the Good Shepherd, Lebanon
•
Grace Community Church, Curllsville, PA
•
Calvary UMC, Mohnton
•
Lansdale UMC
•
Falmouth UMC
•
Bellegrove UMC
UMCOR KITS DELIVERED TO MISSION CENTRAL
Each HUB across the Northeast prepares specific emergency kits that are
defined and distributed by the UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)
network. These two kits go throughout the US.
#DELIVERED
EST VALUE
TOTAL• Cleaning Kits 12 $75 $ 1950
•
Hygiene Kits 425 $12 $ 5100 $ 7050
UMCOR discontinued the collection and distribution of items for School
Kits, so school items that have been gathered by the HUB, went out to local students who had needs. But in addition to these two kits several deliveries went to Mission Central including medical items, computers and computer peripherals, books, shoes, suitcases and handbags.
SECHLER CANCER CENTER
This year the HUB found a new mission which helps both local residents
and those throughout the region. Sechler Cancer Center in Lebanon contacted the HUB about food supplements that are sometimes unused. Food supplements usually in cans are needed by cancer patients at various stages of treatment. Some supplements change as the cancer treatment changes. Doctors prescribe these supplements and Sechler Cancer Center through their dieticians and other medical staff assist patients with obtaining and using these supplements. Many of them can be quite expensive. When patients no longer use a particular supplement, they cannot be returned to the provider because the case has been opened, but they continue to be useful. Some patients bring their excess supplements to Sechler. A Sechler dietician contacted us about finding a useful way to get these items to patients in need. Mission Central is a partner with the Oley Foundation that maintains a national registry of available food supplements. Mission Central provides these supplements free to patients in need. Our HUB is now collecting these food supplements from the Sechler Cancer Center and from individuals and delivering them to Mission Central so that someone can use them. In the past few months, we have made several pickups at Sechler and one at a private home where the survivor of a cancer patient wanted to know that the leftover supplements from her deceased husband were going to a good purpose. We have also been able to refer several new patients to Mission Central so they could find the type of food supplement they needed quickly and without charge. Helping our community in this way has been a blessing to the HUB.
AFCA
Deliveries are also made to the AFCA (American Foundation for Children
with AIDS) warehouse in Lebanon with medical supplies, including shower
seats, braces, adult diapers, crutches, and walkers. These items were shipped to hospitals in Africa. AFCA is one of Mission Central’s partners in mission, giving many of their medical supplies to them for use each year. Since we are close to the warehouse, we deliver directly to them. Many medical supplies go to AFCA, such as gauze, braces, syringes, wheelchairs, walkers, and canes. But two of the items that we deliver there are Mission Central kits with specific supplies. These go to midwives to assist in birthing in homes and hospitals
#DELIVERED VALUE TOTAL•
Maternity kits 273 $12 $3276
•
Baby kits
122 $45 $5490 $8760
DONATIONS RECEIVED BY THE HUB•
Cash donations from church members, some who give on a monthly basis are appreciated and put to use as soon as possible. In 2023 the HUB received $1060 in personal donations.
•
Immanuel’s budget donated $300.
•
Funds were raised by HUB volunteers at the dance recital concession
stand for a total of $1444.
•
The Eastern PA Conference of the UMC donated $200.
•
Bellegrove UMC donated $200
•
A special gift was received from Covenant UMC, Lebanon HUB. The HUB
there was closed this year due to lack of staff and the balance in their treasury of $2259.89 was donated so it could be used in mission ministry.
OUTREACH
All of these activities allowed Immanuel UMC to reach out to their community and beyond. If you count up the various kits made just here in Cleona you will see that over 800 individuals were touched by this congregation. This does not account for the miscellaneous items, like walkers, computers, and shoes that have been given. The HUB allows us to reach beyond our walls and share God’s love with people we don’t know.
Lebanon County Christian Ministry needs:
Men’s slacks
Sneakers
Socks
NEW Underwear & Boxers
Paper Products (toilet tissue, Paper towels, Facial tissue)
Manwich
Ketchup & Mustard
Large Jars of Jelly
Pastor’s Office Hours:
Tues. 9 am to 1 pm
Thurs. 9 am to 1 pm
WEDNEDAYS ARE AT MOUNTVILLE
Any other time by appointment.
Friday is the Pastor’s day off.
Only emergencies will be handled on Friday.
Please contact the pastor at 717-274-3337.
For emergencies only call: 610-428-7651.
PASTOR’S CONTACT INFO:
Pastor: 717-274-3337/ cell
214-861-0450/[email protected]
Address:
104 North Lincoln Street, Cleona, PA 17042
Contact the Pastor to:
Request Holy Communion at home
Inform the Pastor of illness/hospital stays of church family
Inform Pastor of a death in the family
Schedule appointments with the Pastor
Announce a birth or schedule a Baptism
NOTICE: Deadline for articles to be submitted for the January, 2024 Messenger is December 19, 2023.
Please email them to Bonnie at: [email protected]
Monthly Church Events
First Sunday 11:30 am Trustees
Every Wednesday 6:30 pm Youth Group Second Sunday 11:30 am Administrative Council
Second Monday 9:30 am LCCM Noon Meal
Third Monday 6:30 pm HUB
2nd & 4 Thursday 10:00 am Bible Study
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Tuesday...........9:00 am to 1 pm
Thursday.........9:00 am to 1 pm
Communications for the church should either be sent to the church’s email address:
(cleonaumc@ comcast.net) or may be put in the secretary’s mailbox in the foyer.
If a Holiday is on a Tuesday or Thursday,
the office will be open on the Wednesday or Friday with the same hours
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Immanuel United Methodist Church
July Newsletter 2023 Messenger
A Message from the Pastor:
July 2, 2023
Dear members of the Immanuel United Methodist Church family, I am Pastor Yohan Oh. It is with tremendous joy and gratitude that I can serve each one of you as your new senior pastor in this beautiful spiritual journey we share.
Please allow me to introduce myself to you. I was born in South Korea and raised in a faithful Christian home. My father has been an elder pastor of the Korean Methodist Church. He's served Korean Methodist Church for about 46 years. He's going to be retired next year. My mother is a woman of prayer. She has helped him a lot. I admire them because they are faithful Christ's servants who truly love and serve God and His people. They taught me the Christian faith by example. I could learn many valuable lessons from them. I am blessed to be raised by such parents.
Speaking of God's calling, it started when my parents prayed for me to become a pastor. As Hannah did in 1 Samuel 1:28, they had given me to God. Because I had heard such stories since I was a child, the thought of becoming a pastor in the future had been deeply rooted in my mind. So, after graduating high school, I
studied theology at Mokwon University. And I obtained my Bachelor of Theology there.
In my mid-twenties, God confirmed that He called me to His ministry. I attended a seminar relating to church ministry. And I heard the sermon that inspired me to be willing to become a pastor. It was about Moses' staff to stood out to me from the sermon. Although his staff would've been just a plain wooden stick
commonly found in the wilderness, it became a tool that showed God's presence and mighty works when held in Moses' hand. I was convinced that God wanted me to become His staff and be used for His church and work. So I determined I would become a pastor. After that, I earned my Master of Theology at the Graduate
School of Mokwon University. And I got ordained as an Elder Pastor at the Seoul Annual Conference of Korean Methodist Church in 2011.
My family has five people: my wife, three children, and me. My wife is Geun Young Bok. We met at the church where I first served as a pastor of the children's ministry. She was a teacher in that children's ministry. I liked her cheerful and energetic personality. Many people around her often call her 'Happy Virus.' After five
years of love, I finally married her in 2008. She likes traveling and singing with the piano.
God has given us three beautiful children. My oldest daughter is Eunbyeol Oh. Her nickname is Esther.
She is an 8th grader. She's calm, thoughtful, and sincere. She likes reading, skateboarding, and listening to music. And she loves drawing.
My second son is Eunseok Oh. His nickname is Daniel. He's the 5th grader. He is outgoing, energetic, and humorous. He likes riding a hoverboard, drawing, and making paper crafts. His friends love playing with his paper crafts. And he's good at singing.
Lastly, my youngest son is David Eunchan Oh. He's been a gifted-talent student since he was in kindergarten. Now he's the third grader. He's bright, confident, and courageous. He likes playing soccer, listening to music, and making paper crafts. I'm so thankful to God for allowing me to have them as my family.
I have served churches for about 19 years since 2004. I have a wealth of experience in church ministry.
My two spiritual gifts are worship leading and preaching the Bible. With these gifts, I'm happy and passionate about helping people grow more like Jesus.
My pastoral vision is making Jesus' disciples who walk with Him
always.
As I assume the senior pastor role, I am aware of the weight of responsibility that comes with this position. I commit wholeheartedly to serving, guiding, and nurturing your spiritual growth. Together, we will make Jesus' disciples who pursue a
deeper relationship with Him and strive to live out His teaching in our daily lives. I invite you to join me in prayer as we begin this new chapter of our journey together. May God bless our efforts, guide our steps, and fill our hearts with love and compassion as we serve Him faithfully.
Thank you for your trust, support, and warm welcome. I look forward to getting to know you and building lasting relationships within our church family. Let us hold fast to our faith and embrace the exciting future.
In
His love,
Yohan Oh
Senior Pastor
July Newsletter 2023 Messenger
A Message from the Pastor:
July 2, 2023
Dear members of the Immanuel United Methodist Church family, I am Pastor Yohan Oh. It is with tremendous joy and gratitude that I can serve each one of you as your new senior pastor in this beautiful spiritual journey we share.
Please allow me to introduce myself to you. I was born in South Korea and raised in a faithful Christian home. My father has been an elder pastor of the Korean Methodist Church. He's served Korean Methodist Church for about 46 years. He's going to be retired next year. My mother is a woman of prayer. She has helped him a lot. I admire them because they are faithful Christ's servants who truly love and serve God and His people. They taught me the Christian faith by example. I could learn many valuable lessons from them. I am blessed to be raised by such parents.
Speaking of God's calling, it started when my parents prayed for me to become a pastor. As Hannah did in 1 Samuel 1:28, they had given me to God. Because I had heard such stories since I was a child, the thought of becoming a pastor in the future had been deeply rooted in my mind. So, after graduating high school, I
studied theology at Mokwon University. And I obtained my Bachelor of Theology there.
In my mid-twenties, God confirmed that He called me to His ministry. I attended a seminar relating to church ministry. And I heard the sermon that inspired me to be willing to become a pastor. It was about Moses' staff to stood out to me from the sermon. Although his staff would've been just a plain wooden stick
commonly found in the wilderness, it became a tool that showed God's presence and mighty works when held in Moses' hand. I was convinced that God wanted me to become His staff and be used for His church and work. So I determined I would become a pastor. After that, I earned my Master of Theology at the Graduate
School of Mokwon University. And I got ordained as an Elder Pastor at the Seoul Annual Conference of Korean Methodist Church in 2011.
My family has five people: my wife, three children, and me. My wife is Geun Young Bok. We met at the church where I first served as a pastor of the children's ministry. She was a teacher in that children's ministry. I liked her cheerful and energetic personality. Many people around her often call her 'Happy Virus.' After five
years of love, I finally married her in 2008. She likes traveling and singing with the piano.
God has given us three beautiful children. My oldest daughter is Eunbyeol Oh. Her nickname is Esther.
She is an 8th grader. She's calm, thoughtful, and sincere. She likes reading, skateboarding, and listening to music. And she loves drawing.
My second son is Eunseok Oh. His nickname is Daniel. He's the 5th grader. He is outgoing, energetic, and humorous. He likes riding a hoverboard, drawing, and making paper crafts. His friends love playing with his paper crafts. And he's good at singing.
Lastly, my youngest son is David Eunchan Oh. He's been a gifted-talent student since he was in kindergarten. Now he's the third grader. He's bright, confident, and courageous. He likes playing soccer, listening to music, and making paper crafts. I'm so thankful to God for allowing me to have them as my family.
I have served churches for about 19 years since 2004. I have a wealth of experience in church ministry.
My two spiritual gifts are worship leading and preaching the Bible. With these gifts, I'm happy and passionate about helping people grow more like Jesus.
My pastoral vision is making Jesus' disciples who walk with Him
always.
As I assume the senior pastor role, I am aware of the weight of responsibility that comes with this position. I commit wholeheartedly to serving, guiding, and nurturing your spiritual growth. Together, we will make Jesus' disciples who pursue a
deeper relationship with Him and strive to live out His teaching in our daily lives. I invite you to join me in prayer as we begin this new chapter of our journey together. May God bless our efforts, guide our steps, and fill our hearts with love and compassion as we serve Him faithfully.
Thank you for your trust, support, and warm welcome. I look forward to getting to know you and building lasting relationships within our church family. Let us hold fast to our faith and embrace the exciting future.
In
His love,
Yohan Oh
Senior Pastor
A Message from the Pastor:
August 2023 Newsletter:
Rest in Jesus Christ
Hello, Immanuel family. Summer is often considered a time for rest, refreshment, and revitalization. Many people go on vacation this season hoping for rest. And yet we often find ourselves feeling even more tired than usual after going on vacation. As Christians, thinking of what God tells us about rest is recommended. I would like to share what I have read recently with you.
The Bible speaks quite highly of rest. It is a repeated theme throughout Scripture, beginning with the creation week (Genesis 2:2- 3). God created for six days; then He rested, not because He was tired but to set the standard for mankind to follow. The Ten
Commandments made resting on the Sabbath a requirement of the
Law (Exodus 20:8 - 11). All God's people and their servants and
the animals were to have one day in seven to rest.
The command to rest was not an excuse to be lazy. You had to work for six days to get to the Sabbath. God is very serious about rest. God desires rest for us because it does not come naturally to us. To rest, we have to trust that God will take care of things for us.
For the Christian, the ultimate rest is found in Christ. He invites all who are "weary and burdened" to come to Him and cast our cares on Him (Matthew 11:28; 1 Peter 5:7). It is only in Him that we find our complete rest- from the cares of the world, from the sorrows that plague us, and from the need to work to make ourselves acceptable to Him. We no longer observe the Jewish Sabbath because Jesus is our Sabbath rest. In Him we find complete rest from the labors of our self- effort, because He alone is holy and righteous. We can now cease from our spiritual labors and rest in Him, not just one day a week, but always.
I hope you spend this season walking with Jesus whether or not you go on a vacation. Wherever you are, you can come to and rest in Him. Why don't we fully rely on Him and give Him all our worries and cares? He cares about us.
May His rest and peace be with each of you.
Pastor Yohan Oh
August 2023 Newsletter:
Rest in Jesus Christ
Hello, Immanuel family. Summer is often considered a time for rest, refreshment, and revitalization. Many people go on vacation this season hoping for rest. And yet we often find ourselves feeling even more tired than usual after going on vacation. As Christians, thinking of what God tells us about rest is recommended. I would like to share what I have read recently with you.
The Bible speaks quite highly of rest. It is a repeated theme throughout Scripture, beginning with the creation week (Genesis 2:2- 3). God created for six days; then He rested, not because He was tired but to set the standard for mankind to follow. The Ten
Commandments made resting on the Sabbath a requirement of the
Law (Exodus 20:8 - 11). All God's people and their servants and
the animals were to have one day in seven to rest.
The command to rest was not an excuse to be lazy. You had to work for six days to get to the Sabbath. God is very serious about rest. God desires rest for us because it does not come naturally to us. To rest, we have to trust that God will take care of things for us.
For the Christian, the ultimate rest is found in Christ. He invites all who are "weary and burdened" to come to Him and cast our cares on Him (Matthew 11:28; 1 Peter 5:7). It is only in Him that we find our complete rest- from the cares of the world, from the sorrows that plague us, and from the need to work to make ourselves acceptable to Him. We no longer observe the Jewish Sabbath because Jesus is our Sabbath rest. In Him we find complete rest from the labors of our self- effort, because He alone is holy and righteous. We can now cease from our spiritual labors and rest in Him, not just one day a week, but always.
I hope you spend this season walking with Jesus whether or not you go on a vacation. Wherever you are, you can come to and rest in Him. Why don't we fully rely on Him and give Him all our worries and cares? He cares about us.
May His rest and peace be with each of you.
Pastor Yohan Oh
Worship with us every Sunday @ 10 a.m.
ALL ARE WELCOME - PLEASE JOIN US!
ALL ARE WELCOME - PLEASE JOIN US!
Our worship service is live-streamed on our Facebook page and is then available for viewing at any time. https://www.facebook.com/cleonaimmanuelumc/Facebook
Check out the 'Calendar of Events' tab for
upcoming information and dates to look forward to!
Youth of all ages gather every Wed. 6:30-8:00 pm
Youth Group meets on the second floor during the school year.
(Starting Sept. 6, 2023-May 2024)
Please join us if your schedule permits!
upcoming information and dates to look forward to!
Youth of all ages gather every Wed. 6:30-8:00 pm
Youth Group meets on the second floor during the school year.
(Starting Sept. 6, 2023-May 2024)
Please join us if your schedule permits!
