A fun time was had by ALL celebrating Back-to-School with our Families and Youth!
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Important Update on In-person Worship Gatherings
At our recent Joint Board Retreat, we were guided by these words from I Peter 5:10:
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.
We are thankful that God is helping us restore some of the things that we have missed over the past year. We are grateful that God has continued to support and strengthen some of our ongoing ministries and activities. And we are excited about some of the new opportunities that we believe God wants to establish in our congregation (stay tuned for more on that!).
Some of the elements of our Sunday Morning Worship services are being restored. We have opened the doors to in-person attendance in keeping with the safe gathering guidelines that we have set. Please consider attending in person on Sunday morning. Our online registration (through the New Philly website) helps to “save your spot” and you may also simply “show up” on Sunday morning (you will be asked to fill out a contact card and place it in the offering plate in the vestibule before you leave).
For the time being, masks are still required. We are using liturgies that include shorter congregational responses so that you can take part in the liturgy if you feel comfortable doing so. Hymnals and pew Bibles have been restored to their places and may be used during the service. We have marked off available seating in the sanctuary and we have about 95 “spots” where people may be seated. If you attend with other people from your household or “inner circle,” you are all welcome to occupy the same “spot.”
Please continue to hold our congregation (our members, our staff, people who are involved in worship leadership, our musicians, our tech team, and others) in your prayers. The past year has not been easy but Peter’s words remind us that God will indeed restore, support, strengthen and establish us as we move forward rejoicing in hope!
On Palm Sunday (March 28th) we were blessed to welcome 5 new members (Mac Greenwood, Cora Hawfield, Noah Macemore, Sam Spach and William Starling) into our congregation by the rite of Confirmation; and one new member (Blake Woods) by the sacrament of Baptism. Two young adults (Bethany Davis and Hal Westmoreland) were also confirmed into the membership of Fries Memorial Moravian Church. The Rev. Joe Moore was the officiating pastor. Joe began classes with these students in 2019 but the classes had been put on hold for a year. We welcome you among us here!
We look forward to welcoming more members on Pentecost Sunday (May 23rd) through Confirmation, Baptism and Letter of Transfer.
Wednesday, March 31
12:00 Noon Wednesday Lenten Reflection & Reading
Meeting ID: 915 1686 2339
Thursday, April 1
7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Registration now open for in-person attendance or take part online.
Friday, April 2
12:00 noon – 6:00 p.m. The cross will be in front of the sanctuary
6:30 p.m. Good Friday Service with The Seven Last Words Registration now open for in-person attendance
8:00 p.m. God’s Acre Drive-in 7 Last Words Experience Details below *
Sunday, April 4
10:00 a.m. Easter Sunday Worship in the Sanctuary Registration now open for in-person attendance
10:45 Resurrection Service begins in front of the sanctuary and continues at God’s Acre (no registration required!)
* Good Friday God’s Acre 7 Last Words Experience instructions:
If you do not attend the in-person service at 6:30, please plan to arrive at the church around 7:45. Come in one of the 2 driveways off of Kilpatrick Street. You will be directed to drive around God’s Acre in a counter-clockwise direction. Please drive slowly and take time to read the words printed on the banners and see the lighted candles on the graves. Please remain in your car and continue on around the back of God’s Acre and then exit by driving around the rear of the church and out onto Country Club Road.
New Philadelphia Easter Celebration Window Art Challenge
This activity is for EVERYONE, kids and adults, too. Join in the fun and let’s decorate for Easter AND share the message with our community that Jesus is risen!
You will need:
• small containers
• Tempera paint (get it anywhere in the craft aisle)
• dish soap
• painters tape
• drop cloth or plastic table cloth
Before you begin painting, place painters tape on window edges and window frame. Cover the floor with a drop cloth or plastic table cloth.
1. Start by choosing a few different colors of paint and adding a small amount to each bowl.
2. Next, add a few drops of dish soap to the paint and mix.
3. Once the mixture has been mixed well, it can be painted on to the windows. Painters tape can also be used to create lines or borders.
The window paint will dry on the windows but can easily be washed off with a cloth and warm water.
Windex will get rid of any remaining streaks.
Super easy and fun! Clean up is a breeze.
Once your masterpiece is finished, send Evie a pic (evie@newphilly.org) so we can include it in our pre-service news! Set your creativity free!
12 Days Till Easter…and lots of opportunities packed into a dozen days!
Wednesday, March 24th
12:00 Noon Join Pastor Gray and others at 12:00 Noon for a Weekly Wednesday Reflection on Zoom. If you sign in at 11:00 a.m. you can watch the Day of Prayer Service from Konnoak Moravian. Bishop Carol Foltz will bring the message. The Zoom link is on the church calendar.
7:00 p.m. The Justice and Reconciliation Team is sharing the Lenten Series, “A New Way of Being: From Confession to Hope.” Ronda and Tracy Robinson are ordained Moravian ministers from Nicaragua (good friends with Steve Gray when they were growing up!) and are serving in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. They will share their race-related experiences in America, Nicaragua and in the Moravian Church. This Zoom link is also on the church calendar.
Friday, March 26th
8:00 a.m. Men’s Breakfast in the Pavilion
Palm Sunday, March 28th
10:00 a.m. Worship Service (In person and live-streamed, registration is required for in-person). Installation of Board members; Mission Moment; Hosanna! and more!
Come at 9:30 and listen to the band playing on the front lawn!
4:00 p.m. Confirmation Service for the students who began in 2019. You are welcome to register for in-person attendance or watch it live online.
Tuesday, March 30th
7:00 p.m. Readings for Holy Week, via Zoom. Stay tuned for more details!
Maundy Thursday, April 1st
7:00 p.m. Holy Communion (register for in-person or take part virtually)
Good Friday, April 2nd
12:00 noon A cross will be placed outside in front of the sanctuary. Come by and “nail your sins to the cross.”
6:00 p.m. The sanctuary will be open for a time of reflection and meditation.
6:30 p.m. Evening service with Holy Week readings and presentation of “The Seven Last Words” oratorio (register for in-person or watch live online).
8:00 p.m. Drive-in Seven Last Words visual experience at God’s Acre
Saturday, April 3rd
Preparation for Easter Sunday: in God’s Acre you will find a cabinet with cleaning supplies and all of the water faucets will be unlocked.
Women’s Fellowship will place flowers on God’s Acre beginning at 9:00 a.m. – you’re welcome to lend a hand!
Easter Sunday (April 4th):
9:30 a.m. Band prelude on the front lawn
10:00 a.m. Easter Service (In person with registration and Live stream)
10:45 a.m. The service continues on the front lawn and then at God’s Acre.
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