T HE E MMANUEL H EILMAN C ONNECTION

V OLUME 19, I SSUE 3 M ARCH 2019

Pastor’s Page
“I know I will never live as long or as well as I could have because I drank that water,”
a resident of Flint, Michigan, told me and several of my colleagues from the ELCA
churchwide organization. I sat in stunned silence and listened to this man and others speak to us in the
basement of Salem Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Flint.
Gather “Water and the Abundant Life” Feb 7, 2019

Have you ever heard of the Gather magazine? It is the publication of the Women of the
ELCA. If I had once known that I had forgotten. So when a seminary colleague highlighted
the article, and on the website of the magazine it showed a corroded water faucet, I decided
to look. Then I read, and thought. What made me think was the word … silence.
It is a suitable word as we enter the season of Lent. A word of reflection; a word of
meditation; a word of inward thought as we consider all that God has done for us. It is also a
word of neglect; a word that speaks of things not said; a word that challenges us for what we
have heard about and then forgotten. Maybe you remember the water crisis in Flint Michi-
gan. Maybe you have forgotten it. Honestly, it had faded from my mind as I have worked to
bring Emmanuel Heilman and Grace together.
The article speaks of all the Biblical references that present water as life. We know that
water is life giving. We live in a place where water is plentiful, and at times too plentiful as it
floods our basements. Some of us use water filters, while some of us prefer bottled water.
Some of us drink water straight from a tap. How important is water in your life? I know it is
absolutely vital in mine. The article speaks of God leading the people to water, and of Jesus
leading us in the end to the water of life.
On the issue of clean water, where will we stand? How do you feel when you hear
someone say “As a church, the ELCA is committed to accompanying communities that lack
access to clean water and appropriate sanitation, both in the United States and international-
ly, through ministries supported by ELCA World Hunger.” This is another quote from the
Gather article. Does clean water, drinkable water, and safe water, have a place in our Lenten
devotions and prayers? Think about it. I commend the article to you. Go to
www.gathermagazine.org and you will find it under “articles.”
Pastor Jack Delk
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Pastoral Information: Pastor Jack Delk can be contacted by calling 724-448-

4231 (Cell), 724-337-3641 (Home) or emailing pastor.jackd@gmail.com.
WE ARE ON THE WEB: Bulletins, Newsletters, and the Calendar of
Events are now available on our website! Check it out at
www.emmanuelheilmanlutheranchurch.weebly.com
Facebook: The church Facebook can be found at www.facebook.com/
emmanuelheilmanlutheranchurch. Like our page to stay connected.
Bulletin Deadline: The bulletin deadline is Wednesdays at 12 PM.
April Newsletter Deadline: is Wednesday, March 13th. Please submit
all items before or on the deadline.
Home office hours: The church secretary will be working from home
the following hours:
1-3:30 PM (Monday– Thursday)
Loose Offering: The Loose Offering for March is designated to Orphans
of the Storm.
Council Meeting: Council will meet Tuesday, March 12th at 7 PM.

March’s Worship Schedule:

March 3 Reverend Jack Delk Holy Communion

March 11 Reverend Jack Delk Holy Communion
March 17 Reverend Jack Delk Holy Communion
March 24 Reverend Jack Delk Holy Communion
March 31 Reverend Jack Delk Holy Communion
T HE E MMANUEL H EILMAN C ONNECTION Page 3

Pastor’s Report – January 2019

I expected January to be a quiet month catching up on visits as the weather permitted
and doing year-end reports, and mostly that is what happened. But none of us were quite
ready for 18 inches of snow which thankfully did not come. But we did cancel church for
the first time in years and this left a hole in my monthly hours so could not get to 40 per
week this month. Also the last week of the month I had to back off on visits because of
weather. Happy January!
Based on December 28th through January 24th,
averaging 19.5 hours per week**;
Worship 8% (3 services)
This includes time spent with worship committees, time spent planning and prepar-
ing for worship services, and actual time leading worship.
Sermon 26% This includes time spent reading for, developing, writing, and
preparing sermons.
Pastoral Care 17% This includes time spent visiting with individuals in our
parish in the many situations that people find themselves.
Home 4 0 Weddings
Hospital 2 0 Funerals
Nursing Home 0 2 Baptisms
Office 0 1/20/19 Maddux Martin
Total Visits 6 1/20/19 Emmett Rollick
Education 8% This includes time spent observing, teaching classes or at
youth activities.
Administration 34% This is time spent in meetings, and with Council matters,
and general planning and organizing.
Synod Activities 7% This is time outside the parish attending synod functions
and the Ford City Ministerium.
Continuing Education 0% This is time spent at meetings and conferences try-
ing to be a better pastor.
Pastor Jack Delk
** 19.8 hours per week Grace, 19.5 hours per week EH; total 39.3 hours per week.
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Community Lenten Services at Ford Memorial UMC

Monday Nights at 6pm
The Ford City Ministerium is once again hosting community Lenten services on Mon-
day nights at 6pm. Please bring a covered dish to share. We will be at Ford Memorial
United Methodist on 4th Avenue. Each Monday a different pastor will provide the mes-
sage. The first one will be Monday March 11th.
Pastor Jack Delk

Mark Your Calendars:

Thursday Apr 18th – Maundy Thursday 7pm at Grace
Friday Apr 19th – Good Friday 7pm at Emmanuel
Saturday Apr 20th – Easter Vigil 8pm at Grace

Confirmation – Fall / Winter Schedule

Confirmation has started for this school year and meets selected Saturdays at 9am at
Grace Lutheran in Manorville. Our next three months will be 3/2/2019, 3/23/2019,
5/4/19 and 5/18/19. No classes in the month of April. Pentecost is coming; this year it
is June 9th.
Pastor Jack Delk

Lutherlyn Camp Blast – May 11, 2019

Save the date on your 2019 calendar. Invite your family, friends, and church members
to come enjoy a totally FREE day of fun at Lutherlyn. This fun day highlights all we have
to offer and is the perfect opportunity for people to learn more about our programs.
(No registration is required; just show up!)
Pastor Jack Delk
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Reading Luke as a Synod

In a continued effort to re-kindle a passion for the Gospel, we are encouraging all
within our Synod to read through the book of Luke and share in conversation together.
This week's reading is currently posted on the SWPA Lutheran Synod Facebook page and
will continue to be posted weekly. You are invited to share your thoughts in the com-
ments section as well to share these posts.

Midweek Lenten Luncheons

Wednesdays at Noon
Emmanuel Heilman and Grace will host our midweek Lenten Luncheons every
Wednesday at noon. There will be a short informal service followed by the meal. This
year the theme will be the “I AM” statements in the Gospel of John. The host churches
will provide the luncheon. Here is the rotation:
Wed. Mar. 13th at Emmanuel Heilman
Wed. Mar. 20th at Grace
Wed. Mar. 27th at Emmanuel Heilman
Wed. Apr. 3rd at Grace
Wed. Apr. 10th at Emmanuel Heilman

Shrove Tuesday– will be held on Tuesday, March 5th at 6 PM at Grace with pie and ice
cream.

Ash Wednesday– Will be held on March 6th at 7 PM at Emmanuel.

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Thrivent Financial: Thrivent members please call in and remind them where
you want your choice dollars to go to. Their no. is 1-800-847-4836 . Try to
have your Thrivent no. ready. Thanks Monna
T HE E MMANUEL H EILMAN C ONNECTION Page 7

Thank you note from Pastor Free’s family:

It is said so often that life is short. In our grief and sorrow, we truly realize the signifi-
cance of these words. Bob’s death reminds us to love those who love us and cherish each
day of our lives, for no one is promised a tomorrow. There is so much that happens that is
not God’s will. Some things will happen that are unfair and cruel and even people that
love and serve God will be hurt and suffer and experience death. But we have God’s
promise that he is faithfully near and with us. Nothing can separate us from the love of
God. God will raise us out of whatever pains us and give us the hope of eternal life.
Bob wrote these words to all of us before his death:

“God has always blessed me. Blessed with everything and now blessed to go and see my
loved ones (although I am quite fond of the loved one still living). Blessed to serve people
and blessed to say goodbye. I will try to figure out a way to signal back down to you…not
giving too much away, of course. Each day is important.You see quality in and from each
day.”
What can you do for me? Keep the faith!

Some people leave footprints on our hearts and we are never the same. Those we love re-
main with us for love itself moves on. Cherished memories never fade because a loved
one is gone. Those we love can never be more that a thought apart. For as long as there is
a memory, they live on in our heart.
While death is our loss, it is indeed heaven’s gain!
Thank you for all your kindness and sympathy. Thank you for your donations to Lutheran
World Relief in Bob’s memory (The Bread of Life, O may I share with honor, and may
you feed a hungry world through me…) especially thank you for all your prayers.Your
support and thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.

Bonny and family

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Prayer List: Jim Boarts, Cliff Fennell, Ray Goldstrohm, Lori and Jessica Pickering,
Glenn Reed, Bill Roberts, Jane Schrecengost, Ed Spence, Janet Stitt, Kathy Stitt

Family and friends of our church: Laura Bisping and daughter (Belle), Khaleesia
Kotyk, Richard Lightcap, Miken Spence, Jessica Zacour & family

Our shut-ins & homebound: Helen Campbell, Danna Shaffer, Helen Stitt, Janet Stitt

Service men and women: Jeremy Beals, Mike Blystone, George Boguslawski,
Peter Booker, James Bowser, Jason Boyer, Andres Crissman, Jason Ferraro, Paul France,
Derrick Gallagher, David Grates, Jon Grates, David Harkleroad, William Harkleroad,
Heith Johns, Terrance Laykish, Michael McGuire, Chris Montgomery, Matthew Nesbit,
Andrew Osborn, Eric Petrosky, Chris Roberts, William Roberts, John Shaeffer, Megan
Smith,Scott Stitt, Brig. Gen. Robin Swan & his troops, Jim Thorpe, and Jim Yode
T HE E MMANUEL H EILMAN C ONNECTION Page 9

March Birthdays

March 9 Tracey Zeigler March 23 Amanda Johns

March 13 Joyce Graham March 24 Anna Venesky
March 16 Elizabeth Zeigler March 25 Pam Goldstrohm
Jane Schreckengost March 26 Lois Relich
Olivia Fennell March 29 Emily Pickering
March 21 Megan Smith March 30 Carol Andryka
March 22 Nick Pocetti Zachary Wolfe

March Anniversaries

March 15 Dave & Amanda Johns

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M ARCH 2019
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2
Confirmation @ Grace
Emily Pickering Wed-
ding Shower

3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Shrove Tuesday Ash Wednesday
@ Grace with pie Service @ Emmanuel
and ice cream 7 PM
6 PM Girl Scouts
6-8 PM
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Community Lenten Council Meeting Midweek Lenten Scrapbooking
Service @ Ford Me- 7 PM Luncheon @ Emmanu- 6-11 PM
morial 6 PM el 12 PM
Newsletter Deadline

17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Community Lenten Midweek Lenten Confirmation Class
Service @ Ford Me- Luncheon @ Grace @ Grace
morial 6 PM 12 PM 9 AM
Girl Scouts
6-8 PM

24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Community Lenten Midweek Lenten
Service @ Ford me- Luncheon @ Emmanu-
morial 6 PM el 12 PM

31
V OLUME 19, I SSUE 3
T HE E MMANUEL H EILMAN C ONNECTION Page 11

W ORSHIP A SSISTANTS
Greeters

March 3 Ray Goldstrohm

March 10 John & Diana Heilman
March 17 Dan Heilman
March 24 Carol Bowser
Kathy Relich March 31 Ruth Zeigler
Acolytes
Beth Gerboc
March 3 Michelle Kesler
Nick Gerboc
March10 Olivia Fennell
March 17 Jane Harding
March 24 Stella Venesky
March 31 Kolby Relich
Prelude
March 3 Karen Toy
March 10 Amanda Johns
March 17 Sandy Fennell
March 24 Melissa Venesky
March 31 Amanda Johns
Lectors
Kathy Relich
Beth Gerboc March 3 Pam Augustine
Nick Gerboc March 10 Nick Gerboc
March 17 Sue Boarts
March 24 Sandy Fennell
March 31 Linda Jacques
 E MMANUEL H EILMAN
L UTHERAN CHURCH
854 Garretts Run Rd
Ford City Pa 16226
Return Service Requested

Pastor Jack Delk

Office Phone: 724-543-5291
emmanuelheilmanlutheranchurch@outlook.com

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BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH

THE GOSPEL

Post Office: This mailing contains dated material. Please deliver promptly.

Emmanuel Heilman Lutheran Church is a

member of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America and it’s Southwestern
Pennsylvania Synod.
March
Emmanuel (Heilman) Lutheran Church
Sunday School: 9:45 AM
Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM

Kurt F. Kusserow, Bishop

Our Missionary in Singapore

Rev. Jeffrey Truscott
Email: Jeffrey@tcc.edu.sg