SOLOMON'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK

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3/28/2023

Back at it!

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Hello Friends!
It’s been a while. What a wild and wonderful few months! My daughter, Louise, was born just a few days before Christmas. Ben and I are so in love with her, and we’re starting to sleep through the night again. We enjoy seeing her smile and listening to her coo! What a delight it is to watch her learn the world around her.
 
I loved being on maternity leave and getting to have that time with my family, but I am also so glad to be back with you all! As we get into 2023, there is lots to accomplish. We’re going to continue working on our community garden, so if you have any scrap wood boards, cardboard, soil, mulch, or other garden supplies you’d like to donate, we’re happy to arrange pick-up! We’re hoping to have some veggies sprouting by the summer time.
 
The steering committee is also continuing to look into livestreaming options for our worship service, ways to share our building and space with the community, and how to best reach out into the community. If you’re interested in serving on this committee or have any ideas to present, please let us know!
 
The Consistory has organized four additional committees on which anyone can serve! They are:
  • Nurture Committee – responsible for worship, fellowship, and care of the Solomon’s UCC community.
  • Outreach Committee – responsible for Solomon’s missions, communication, and Solomon’s presence in the wider community.
  • Works Committee – responsible for care and upkeep of the church building and grounds.
  • Finance Committee – responsible for the stewardship of tithes, offerings, and donations, as well as the accountability of all those who handle church finances.
 
The goal of all these committees is to ensure that the business of the church continues and is accomplished in a timely and meaningful manner. Please pray about how you might be able to contribute your time and talents to God’s work through the church, and consider serving on one or more of these teams.
 
We have an exciting year ahead! God is truly at work at Solomon’s UCC, and we have the honor of getting to participate in that work. May God’s callings be loud and clear for each of us!
     – Pastor Julia

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11/30/2022

Entering into advent

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​Hello Friends!
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We have been busy this fall! From community Thanksgiving worship to Bible study; from above and beyond giving opportunities to visionary planning; from welcoming new members to re-establishing volunteer opportunities. It seems like every Sunday came with a long list of announcements and dates to remember!

As we move into the advent season, let’s try to slow down a little in order to reflect on what this season means for us. Yes, advent comes with all the preparation for Christmas: letters to Santa, tree trimming and decorations, cookies in the oven, shopping, get-togethers with loved ones, and maybe some travel plans. But in the midst of all of that joyous chaos, remember that this is also a season of waiting.
 
We are awaiting the arrival of our Messiah, Emmanuel, God-with-us. We are awaiting the arrival of a tiny baby whose teachings and way of living would inspire generations of others to welcome God into their lives and, hopefully, love into their hearts.
 
In my final “ordinary times” sermon, I talked about the compelling nature of Jesus as God. The idea that Jesus, that tiny Christmas baby in a manger, was actually God enfleshed in a human body, ready to share our human experience from birth to death, makes Jesus’ ministry so much more powerful for me. This advent season, I encourage you to reflect on that.
 
Every now and then, in the midst of your Christmas preparations, stop to remember that this season is also about preparing our hearts and minds for the arrival of our God. Stop to remember that the reason for the season is God going to great lengths in order to be with us, to understand our lot, and to show us a better, more loving way of living. Let those reflections and meditations prepare you for the rest of the Christian year, which begins with the first Sunday of Advent.
 
Wishing you all a joy-filled holiday season, health and happiness in the new year, and insightful Advent reflections!
– Pastor Julia

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11/17/2022

What i'm reading

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I've only just started this book, but I've been looking forward to reading it for some time! Jonah is one of my favorite characters in the Bible because I find him SO relatable. 
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How many of us have tried to run the other way when we feel God's calling? How many of us have sulked because we don't like God's form of justice? (Which, by the way, often involves forgiveness and mercy.)

I've also been looking forward to reading this book because of its author. Jared Byas is a co-host of the podcast "The Bible For Normal People," on which he and Pete Enns (one my favorite Biblical scholars!) explore the library of ancient texts in a way that helps normal people - those of us who aren't super smart and don't have time to dive all the way into the depths of biblical studies - understand what our Bible actually is and how it works. They manage to do that with a good amount of humor, too! 

So, if you're not into hefty academic biblical studies, but want to know more about this ever-so-human prophet and the whale he supposedly lived in for three days, I can recommend this book! Here is Amazon's summary:

Jonah’s encounter with a big fish is one of the most widely recognized—and misunderstood—stories in the Bible. In this highly accessible guide to the book of Jonah, Jared Byas invites modern-day readers to explore the context behind the story, and consider the questions Jonah’s early audience faced: questions about the relationship between justice and mercy, what it means to be a worshipper of Yahweh (and who gets to be one), and what happens when God doesn’t act how we would like.

Through explorations of genre, language, history, themes and theology, Byas skillfully guides us on a journey with Jonah into the depths of the unknown . . . and finds many of these questions are still relevant today.


Let me know your thoughts!
​- Pastor J

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11/2/2022

An october recap

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Hello Friends!
I know I started my
note with this last month, but what a month it’s been! We celebrated World Communion Sunday on October 2, when we partook of the sacred meal with Christians around the globe. It gives me goosebumps to think about how we’re all connected to one another through our faith in Jesus, and how each of us is connected through time and space to Jesus. What a blessing!
 
October 16 was a big day! Our altar was decorated with a myriad of food items that YOU donated to the Maranatha Ministries, Inc. Food Pantry. It was a beautiful display of love, generosity, and hope. May God’s love be known through those items, and may those who receive them be blessed. After worship, several of us headed downtown for the Church World Service CROP Hunger Walk. THANK YOU to everyone who contributed! Again because of your generosity, we met our goal of raising $500 to end hunger! This is what it looks like to be the body of Christ in the world. Amen!
 
There will probably always be extra giving opportunities at Solomon’s. In November, we’ll be collecting the Neighbors In Need offering, which supports wider UCC justice missions and disaster relief. I also want to plug Brussel’s Café in Chambersburg. If you haven’t been there, it’s a great place for crepes, waffles, lunch, and coffee! I’m plugging them because they are helping a Ukrainian Refugee family settle in our area. The family’s needs have mostly been met, but cash and grocery store gift cards are still a big help as they wait for their work visas. You can give by taking gift cards or cash directly to Brussel’s Café.
 
Remember, giving is not about giving to all the things. It’s about giving what you can, when you can, to what you care about. Be prayerful and discerning when considering what and when you can share!
 
Things are really happening at Solomon’s! The Steering Committee is meeting and working hard. We’re moving forward with the community garden, and it’s almost Advent!! In addition to this newsletter, you can stay informed by checking the website regularly or following our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/solomonsucc1594  
 
Wishing you all a wonderful season of gratitude!
– Pastor Julia

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10/12/2022

What i'm reading

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I'm currently reading Finding Messiah: A Journey into the Jewishness of the Gospel by Dr. Jennifer M. Rosner. Dr. Rosner was one of my seminary professors, and I learned so much from her! You can visit her website here.

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I think it is so important for us to understand the Jewish roots of our Christian faith, the perspectives of our Jewish siblings, and Jesus' Jewish context. I have found that exploring Judaism enriches my faith and understanding of Jesus, far from inhibiting it. 

Here is GoodReads' summary of the book:

"Jesus was Jewish, and his Jewish identity informed every aspect of his work, words, and witness. He came as the Messiah of Israel, God's covenant people, and he spoke the language of God's faithfulness to this people. So why does it seem that Judaism has little to do with our Christian discipleship today?

Jennifer Rosner, a scholar of Jewish-Christian relations, takes us on a personal and corporate journey into the Jewish roots of Christian faith and practice. Understanding Judaism―and the way in which Judaism and Christianity became separate religions―is essential for a rich and holistic Christian identity. As a follower of Jesus who was raised in a Jewish home and who continues to live a Jewish life, Rosner has seen firsthand how a Christian faith can become impoverished when divorced from its Jewish roots.

Finding Messiah follows Rosner's own journey in rediscovering the role of Judaism and God's covenant with Israel in Christian life and practice. When we begin to understand Christianity's indelible relationship to Judaism, key aspects of the Christian faith come alive and the wonder of the gospel becomes clear in new and powerful ways. Jesus' Judaism provides the foundation for the church that is built upon his name. Rediscover the Jewish Jesus, and in so doing, experience a deeper and richer faith than ever before."

This is a book I emphatically recommend! Feel free to reach out with your thoughts, too. 
​-- Pastor J

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9/30/2022

A month in...

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Hello Friends!
What a month it’s been! First, I want to thank you for letting me start this month on vacation. Ben and I had a lot of fun at the beach with my family. What a delight it is to watch our nephew play with the monster trucks we got him last Christmas! He’s also a big fan of bubbles. Oh, the joy of simple things!
 
Upon our return, I dove right into things here at Solomon’s! It was so neat to meet the High School volunteers who pack for the Power Pack program. The team have a great system! It is so special to know that this congregation, with the help of Solomon’s Lutheran, New Franklin Assembly of God, and the Ruritan club are feeding 20 kids every weekend! If that’s not God’s work in the world, I don’t know what is. Thank you all for your continued support of the Power Pack Program!
 
I love Solomon’s focus on one particular mission area. I think focusing on food resources in our community is a great way to establish our “niche” and our identity as a congregation. Other opportunities to address food insecurities are coming up! Both the Harvest Home food drive and CWS Crop Hunger Walk will be on October 16. Please prayerfully consider supporting one or both of these missions!
 
As we continue getting to know one another, here are some logistical things to keep in mind. I won’t have regular church office hours, but I am available to meet by appointment. Simply give me a call or send an email and we’ll set up a time and place to meet. If calling/texting, just be sure to let me know who you are and how best to get back in touch with you. If I don’t answer a phone call, especially if it’s “after hours,” please leave a voicemail – I do listen to those prior to returning a call. That also lets me know if it’s an urgent need/emergency or if a response can wait until the next day (if after hours).
 
I’m excited about all that is happening at Solomon’s! In addition to this newsletter, you can stay informed by checking the website regularly or following our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/solomonsucc1594
 
May the peace of God surround each of us this fall, and may the harvest season remind us to always be grateful for God’s provision.
– Pastor Julia

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9/1/2022

Let's get started!

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To everyone at Solomon’s, thank you! I am so excited for what God is doing at this church, and I feel so blessed to get to be part of it! I know that pastoral transitions and visionary planning take a lot of work, prayer, conversation, discernment, and creativity. You’ve worked hard to figure out who you want to be and, more importantly, who God is calling you to be. It will be my honor and great privilege to walk alongside you all in this new journey.
 
As we get started together, I want to encourage you all in the leadership you’ve already shown. I am not here to “take over.” I am here to help you be the church you’ve envisioned. Keep up that visionary work, that creativity, that prayer and discernment! I am here to “’Wow’ your ideas to life,” not “’how’ them to death.” (I think I heard that from Andy Stanley during a Global Leadership Summit…) Together, we will faithfully pursue God’s calling as we understand it.
 
A little bit more about me. I grew up in Fairfax County Virginia. My Penn State education in Animal Science brought me to Hagerstown, MD, and my parents moved to Waynesboro, PA around the same time. I’ve been in this neck of the woods for a little over seven years. I have an older brother, Jeff, who is married with two kids.
 
My husband, Ben, and I met online in 2019, shortly after I started Seminary. We got married in November 2021 and we’re expecting our first child this Christmas! Ben went to Shippensburg University and now works at the YMCA. We have a dog, Pepe, and two cats, Hank and Monty. They are the loves of our lives as well as the banes of our existence! Lol!
 
We’re looking forward to getting to know all of you and to becoming part of your community. See you soon!
​-- Pastor Julia

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Join us for Sunday morning worship at 10:15.
1594 Swamp Fox Road
Chambersburg, PA 17202
717-263-3616

solomonsucc@embarqmail.com
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  • Home
  • From the Pastor's Desk
  • Upcoming Events
  • Outreach & Missions
    • Power Pack Program
    • ACTS
    • Community Garden
    • Memorial Garden
  • Bible Study