“Let us come before God with thanksgiving,

and praise God with music and song.”

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

There is so much to be thankful for. We have received blessings upon blessings. Now is the time to remember all the good things in our lives. Now is the time to tell all about how good God is. Now is the time to thank and praise God.

This is a great month for Nan and I. We will celebrate our church wedding ceremony Saturday, November 7th and are glad so many of you will join us. For us, this is the important time for our marriage covenant to be shared in front of all our family and friends. We are so very thankful that God has given us one another. After the wedding, we will be going on our honeymoon. Thank you for all your love and support which you give to us.

Rev. Brad Rentzel will be preaching and leading worship Sunday, November 8th and 15th. Brad is a retired minister who also happens to be a farmer. Brad and I have worked together at his farm and I am very glad that I am not a farmer. He is also an auctioneer and has been in New Holland many times over the years. Brad is a great speaker who should be enjoyed by all.

The last Sunday in November is the First Sunday Of Advent, when we began to look forward in hope for Jesus’ first coming and Jesus Christ’s second coming.

Thankful for you,

Rev. David Goode

November Scriptures…

11/1 TOTENSONNTAG SUNDAY (PEW Communion at both services/ Food bank Sunday)

SERMON: “A Multitude in Heaven”

SCRIPTURE: Prophecy: Revelation 7:9-17; Gospel: Mark 12:28-34

11/8 TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SERMON: Rev. Brad Rentzel

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44

11/15 TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SERMON: Rev. Brad Rentzel

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 10:11-14, 19-25; Mark 13:1-8

11/22 REIGN OF CHRIST SUNDAY

SERMON: "A Kingdom Not Of This World"

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 1:4-8; John 18:33-37

11/29 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

(Communion services. 8:15 pew and 9:30 continuous.)

SERMON: "Looking Forward In Hope"

SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Luke 21:25-36

STEWARDSHIP 2009

Our 2009 stewardship campaign ended on Sunday, October 25^th, when we

all gave our “Stewardship of Time and Talent” pledge cards, as well as

our Financial “Faith Promise to God” information. It was a good

response and it’s not too late to make your pledges to God

known. Here at St. Stephen, we know that “From Jesus’ fullness

we have all received, grace upon grace”

(John 1:16).

OUR CHURCH WORK WEEKS will be October 26^th through November 7^th. Areas in Bachman Hall, the Breezeway, and Narthex will be marked with a colored piece of paper. Please bring your own supplies and clean a marked area at your convenience.

CHECK OFF THE AREA YOU CLEANED ON THE MASTER SHEET LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH OFFICE. Any questions please call

Mollie Ruth at 475-6715. Thank you! Housekeeping committee

THERE’S A CHILL IN THE AIR so once again it’s time to rid your closet of clean gently used coats, jackets and snowsuits. The Lancaster County Council of Churches donation box will be in the narthex. Thanks!

The Outreach Committee.

ANYONE WISHING TO DONATE furniture, etc. to the church should contact the housekeeping committee: Connie Gehman, Mollie Ruth or Mary Ann Linde. Items should not be left at the church without first speaking with someone on this committee. Thanks! Housekeeping Committee

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1^ST AT 11:00 AM, Strawberry Square in Harrisburg will host the 22^nd Annual Taste of Central Pennsylvania. Proceeds will benefit the Central Pennsylvania food bank. Please check the bulletin board in the Narthex for more information.

CEMETERY FALL CLEAN UP will be done after the first killing frost. Please remove any decorations you want to keep. Cemetery Committee

DON’T FORGET!!! Daylight savings time ends, Sunday, November 1^st, 2009.

“FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM”, a Community Men’s Breakfast, presented by Evangelist Steve Wingfield will take place Saturday, November 7^th from 7-8:30 am at the Bethany Grace Fellowship on Reading Rd. in East Earl. Sign up sheets are on the bulletin board in the Narthex

ELANCO MINISTERIUM NEWS: It was reported at the most recent meeting that one out of every 4 ELANCO students are receiving reduced lunches. The Cross Connection Youth Center is providing meals to our youth on Friday and Saturday evenings. They need help from churches in the area with providing a meal once a month. Also, one church in our community is offering a free meal on a monthly basis that is open to everyone. ELANCO Ministerium asked that other churches consider ministering to the community in a similar manner. St. Stephen is in a good location to do that. Talk to Pastor Goode with your thoughts on this important ministry opportunity.

PLANS ARE UNDERWAY FOR THE ANNUAL COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER

here at St. Stephen. Any one wishing to donate a 15 - 20 pound turkey should contact Nancy Hibshman by November 7^th. We also need volunteers to roast them. Freezer space is available so cooking can be done ahead of time. The following items are needed: plastic grocery bags, homemade cookies, cakes, and pies (not pumpkin), individual cans of soup, snack size packs of crackers, individual size applesauce, fruit, or pudding, dinner rolls, and butter. You may put the items in the kitchen and mark them "Thanksgiving". Please check the sign up sheets in the narthex for a list of how you can help. Simply take one, fill it out and return it to the basket. God is sure to bless you as you reach out to those in need at this time of year. Call Nancy at 445-4636 with any questions.

THE THANKSGIVING COMMUNITY SERVICE will be on Wed. evening, November 25^th, 7 pm at the Evangelical United Methodist Church in New Holland. Judy Zook, pastor at New Holland Mennonite Church will have the sermon. The Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and their scout leaders will be recognized for their community contributions. There will also be a table for contributions of canned or boxed food for the New Holland Area Food Bank. Hope to see you there.

THE TIME IS COMING QUICKLY for the Spanish International Food Festival, Saturday, November 7 from 3:30pm to 7:00pm. We will be serving different types of foods and desserts from many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean . This year we are raising funds for all the women’s ministries that our church is involved in. Tickets are $10.00 per plate for adults and $5.00 per plate for children between 5-11 years. We are located at 24 North Roberts Avenue, New Holland, PA. It is a time when our Church (New Holland Spanish Mennonite Church) has the opportunity to share with the community the diversity of our culture while at the same time learning from all the wonderful melting pot of cultures that surround us. We want to celebrate both our differences and similarities. To make a reservation please call email Wanda Coleman at wandycol@yahoo.com or call and leave a message at 717-201-7061.

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? Find out how YOU and cookies can help supply over 900,000 meals to starving people in Haiti and Jamaica on November 22nd!

“THANK GOD FOR ...” is a column in our Gleanings. You can contribute to this by advising us of outstanding achievements by our members in AND out of the church—There is a basket in the Narthex, along with forms for you to nominate someone. It only takes a minute of your time!!

Thank you God for.....

… a Congregation where ALL are welcome at the Lord’s Table.

… our older members who continue to serve in ways they are able.

… the nurses in our Congregation who move quickly to help where needed.

… Tom Weaver, Chuck Kidhardt, Art Loewen, John Martin, AJ Young, Clair Gehman and many others who keep the 9:15 Class such a vital part of St. Stephen.

… two new committees that were formed to keep St. Stephen looking bright—the Kitchen Committee consisting of Paula Houck, Raymell Houck, Ruth Kapp, Betty Hillard and Betty Ludwig. AND a sub-committee of Property to work with the custodial staff consisting of Mollie Ruth, Mary Ann Linde and Connie Gehman.

… all who helped with the Farm Show stand, especially Paula Houck, Tom Weaver, Ruth and Charlie Kapp who gave countless hours of their time.

THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE would like to thank everyone for your support of buying Farm Show Ride Tickets. We made a profit of $388.75 to help fund our many projects. Thanks to Deb Kreider, Viki Eberly, and Donna Sawyer for helping sell tickets. Special thanks to Mollie Ruth for selling a bunch at her Salon, Charlene for helping us, and to Cheryl Weaver for putting a sign in her yard that really helped sell lots of tickets! Thanks for your support!

DEAR ST. STEPHEN UCC, Thank you so very much for all your prayers and concern for Tommy and the entire family. It is so comforting to Tommy to have a caring group of church members to support him through everything he has walked thru in life lately. Your prayers are greatly appreciated! The Kopps

I WOULD LIKE to thank all of the volunteers (too many to name! ) who participated in this years successful New Holland Farm Show Ox Roast food stand. We couldn’t do it without each and every one of you! Tom Weaver and Farm Show Committee members

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK all of our friends and staff in St. Stephen UCC for the many cards, visits and prayers that helped our daughter and me get through this ordeal. Virginia’s long battle with Parkinson’s disease was as difficult for us as it was for her. Thanks to your prayers she passed away while sleeping which was a blessing. Personally, I thank you all again because without your support I would never have survived to the end. Ed Simon

WORDS CAN’T EXPRESS my gratitude to the members of St. Stephen for your acts of kindness, your prayers, your visits and for the cards I received following my recent health problems! Thank you again and God bless you all. John Ressler

Best Wishes to the following November Birthdays. Please help us keep our records up to date by notifying the office of any Birthdays listed incorrectly!

CONNIE GEHMAN was honored at the Lancaster Association 2009 Laity Recognition Banquet on Tuesday, October 6^th. “Connie Gehman is president of Consistory at St. Stephen United Church of Christ in New Holland. She has been the principal guide in 2008-2009, during a significant time of change. Connie is the right person in the right place at the right time. All her lifelong leadership skills were needed to lead us through this time of opportunity and transformation. In the past few years here at St. Stephen, she has also served as a Member of the Profile Committee, taught Adult and children’s Sunday School classes, and Chaired the 275th Anniversary Celebration. The lists of Connie’s positions in Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, community committees, as

well as awards and recognitions would fill pages. She is a lifelong active member in church, fifty-five years of service to Girl Scouting, thirty-seven years of service to Boy Scouting and a life time of leadership to many different community service organizations. God has blessed our church with her leadership skills and willingness to utilize them.” Thank you Connie for all you have done for us here at St. Stephen UCC!

Our Sympathies to...

The family and friends of Virginia Simon. Virginia passed away Saturday, October 17.

Please keep each of her loved ones in your thoughts and prayers over the weeks to come.

Marine Band Member Celebrates 35 years with “The President’s Own”

Marine Band Historian Master Gunnery Sergeant Michael Ressler celebrated 35 years as a member of the U.S. Marine Band on July 29, 2009. Sgt. Ressler is currently the most senior enlisted member of the United States Marine Corps and the longest-serving member of the Marine Band.

“Mike” was a member of the New Holland Band prior to joining the Marine Corps. He credits Russ Sumpman, deceased former resident of Columbia, Pa, his Euphonium teacher, and Sam O. Zimmerman, former director of the New Holland Band as his most influential teachers.

Mike auditioned for the Marine Band Euphonium section in 1974 at the age of 22 and, after a second place finish, was offered a position in the Marine Band Library. Two months later he was assigned to the Euphonium section as an active member of the Marine Band. He had served four years in the section, when he returned to the library staff once again as Chief Librarian. “I made the switch because I felt that I could make a bigger contribution to the band working in administration than I could as a player.” Sgt. Ressler said. In the fall of 2008 Marine Band Director Colonel Michael J. Colburn created the position of Historian and appointed Mike to this role. In this new function he devotes all of his time to researching the band’s storied history and managing the historic archives of the Marine Band.

Son of John Ressler of St. Stephen, Sgt Ressler began playing the trombone at the age of 10. He began playing the Euphonium at the age of 13 when he began to study with Russ Sumpman. While in high School, he joined the New Holland Band which was under the direction of Sam O Zimmerman. After graduating from Garden Spot High School, he attended West Chester state University and then joined the Marine Band. He says that his greates accomplishments were becoming a member of the Marine band, marrying former New Holland Band member Susan Hoober of New Holland and together raising two fine sons.

Revised from the New Holland Band Newsletter

St. Stephen UCC

Special Consistory Vote

At the September Consistory meeting, Bill Snyder (interim Treasurer) presented the three options to resolve the issue of the floor in Upper Zwingli which did not match. These options are:

1) Replace the existing floor with the same material at no cost to St. Stephen.

2) Replace the existing floor with a commercial grade material at a cost of $2200 to St. Stephen.

3) Do nothing and be reimbursed $2500 from General Flooring.

At this same Consistory meeting, an issue concerning the floor in Upper Zwingli needed to be resolved. The floor was buckling in several places. In order to do this, Connie was to call Doug Gerlitzki. After talking with Doug, he repaired the floor the same week.

The Consistory members were then asked to vote on the above three options either by phone, in person or by e-mail. A majority voted to take Option 3. Connie advised Bill Snyder of this, and he would pursue with General Flooring.

Submitted by

Connie Gehman

Boy Scouts of America – Hall of Leadership

In February of 2010, Boy Scouts of America will celebrate 100 years of Scouting. This milestone event will be celebrated in many ways on the national and local level. All of the events seek to promote the fundamental values of Scouting, while honoring and giving tribute to Scouts, registered leaders and volunteers who have displayed extraordinary level of leadership and who have significantly made a difference in the life of others with their service and model Scouting virtues. The Pennsylvania Dutch Council of the BSA is asking for Scouting stories of inspiration to be submitted with a nomination to the BSA 100^th Anniversary National Hall of Leadership. Submit your entry online within the Hall of Leadership section of www.scouting.org/100 years. Nomination period ends 2/8/10. Twelve outstanding individuals will be inducted into the Pa Dutch Council Hall of Leadership at a recognition event in April. Any questions, contact Josh Glacken at the Boy Scout Council, 394-4063. (For additional information, see the poster on the bulletin board.)

Upcoming events…

December 5^th – Breakfast with Santa / Christmas on Main

December 20^th - Cantata

December 24^th – Christmas Eve Services at 7 pm and 10:30 pm

DESTRUCTION/CONSTRUCTION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

There will be a lot of construction activity at HARTMAN CENTER this fall and winter. In addition to the First Phase of the Multi-Purpose Building, the heating system in the Chapel will be replaced and 2 or 3 cabin bathrooms will be renovated. This is all in addition to the normal fall and winter maintenance and repair of the camp facilities. All this activity will keep the Property Manager, Harold Karschner very busy and in need of some assistance.

-Volunteers are needed to help with: the demolition and disposal of the old heating system components in the Chapel at the end of October. The heating contractor is scheduled to install the new system in November. There will also be some patching and painting needed in the Chapel.
-Volunteers are needed to help with: the demolition of the existing bathrooms and disposal of the debris from the cabins that are scheduled for renovation this fall and winter. That work also needs to be done at the end of October or beginning of November. There could also be opportunities for volunteers to help with some of the construction and finishing of the cabin bathrooms.
-There are other areas where he could use some assistance throughout fall and winter.

If any individuals or church groups would be willing to help Harold, please email him at howienlin@embargmail.com or call his cell phone (717 994-3247) or email Bob Brandis, Chairman of the Property Committee at rbrandis@compuserve.com or call Bob's cell phone (717 623-5333).

Any amount of help would be appreciated so these needed projects can be completed in a timely fashion without incurring additional costs to hire manpower. Please contact Harold or Bob if you can provide a day, a couple of days, a weekend, or several days during a week. Meals and sleeping accommodations will be provided. To learn more about Penn Central Conference go to www.pccucc.org.

Needed each week: $3,273.85

Needed each month: $14, 186.67

Needed annually for general fund: $170,240.00

Behind in giving as of Sept 31, ‘09: $11,962.07

STAFF

Pastor: David Goode

President of Consistory: Connie Gehman

Treasurer: Bill Snyder

Sexton: Penny Klopp

Office Administrator: Charlene Good

Organist: A.J. Young

Music Director: Kelly Saylor

CONSISTORY MEMBERS

President: Connie Gehman

Vice President: Jean Martin

Spiritual Council: Betty Hillard,

Tess Miller, Mike Saylor,

Tom Weaver, Kathy Loewen

Treasurer: Bill Snyder

Consistory Secretary: Donna Sawyer

Education Ministry: Bill Hartman

Music Committee: Tom Kopp

Altar Guild: Mollie Ruth, Mary Ann Linde

Greeters: Dot Koble

Youth Representative: Kayla Sawyer

Property: Phil Laukhuff

ACOLYTES

Nov. 1 8:15 Ron Snyder

10:30 Kayla Sawyer

Nov. 8 8:15 Becky Snyder

10:30 Destanie Kemery

Nov. 15 8:15 Michael Snyder

10:30 Eric Hood

Nov. 22 8:15 Molly Ruth

10:30 Jaden Hood

Nov. 29 8:15 Don Singletary

10:30 Brady Mellinger

Dec. 6 8:15 Becky Snyder

10:30 Cody Mellinger

LITURGIST

Nov. 1 8:15 Connie Gehman

10:30 Mary Ann Linde

Nov. 8 8:15 Connie Gehman

10:30 Mary Ann Linde

Nov. 15 8:15 Connie Gehman

10:30 Mary Ann Linde

Nov. 22 8:15 Connie Gehman

10:30 Mary Ann Linde

Nov. 29 8:15 Connie Gehman

10:30 Mary Ann Linde

COUNTING TEAM

Nov. 1,8,15 – Vi Helenthal and Dot Koble

Nov. 22, 29 – Bill and Joyce Snyder

GREETERS

Nov. 1 8:15 John & Sharon Sheaffer

10:30 Harry & Pauline Hoffman

Nov. 8 8:15 Sylvia Martin

10:30 Kay Ickes & Betty Smith

Nov. 15 8:15 Ron & Dot Bensinger

10:30 Tracey Zalegowski

Amador Cruz

Nov. 22 8:15 Bill Poole

10:30 Phillip Laukhuff

Nov. 29 8:15 Cynthia Blakeslee

10:30 Gene and Viki Eberly

USHERS

November 8, 15, 22, 29

8:15– *William Snyder, William Snyder Jr.

10:30– *Chuck Kidhardt, Jean Martin,

Rich Miller, Tess Miller

November 1 – Communion Sunday

8:15– *William Snyder, William Snyder Jr.,

Betty Hillard, Ron Snyder

10:30– *Chuck Kidhardt, Jean Martin,

Rich Miller, Ernie Orr, Tess Miller,

Chuck Kuipers